The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Go to the Empire.  Find a small town beneath Nefrayne's notice, and establish myself quietly.  He turns and looks back in the direction of Nicodranas; you think you see sadness on his face.  It was a good life.  Perhaps ill-chosen, but hindsight is of little value.  Yes, you should avoid Nefrayne.  As I should have.

What are your thoughts, Silent?  Shall we escort this man on his way?  Assist him in his time of need?

Sounds good to me. We're all equally damned by his lordship now, ain't that right? Means we gotta look out for each other. 

Excellent.  Consider yourself protected while on the road, then. 

I... that is most kind, he replies.  I... can perhaps assist you a little... when we reach the borderpost with the Empire.  You might not need it, but Lord Nefrayne has contacts and I doubt they know of my... new status.

That would be helpful, I think.  In return, I might be able to help you find assistance in the Empire.

Magnum approaches Solro.  This is entirely up to you, of course, but I have a suggestion for where you can go when we get to the Empire.  Do you have money?

I do, he says, wary again.  Why do you ask?

I want to make sure that you have the means to travel a good distance. There's a town in the Empire called Deastok.  I have family there who would be willing to help you...if I gave you a letter vouching for you. I believe they could provide adequate protection from Lord Nefrayne.

Kind of you, the halfling mutters.  But Lord Nefrayne has eyes in that town.  I will find my place elsewhere.

Interesting. 

Well if that's settled... let's get moving then, yeah? 

The road now heads north, and though previously you occasionally passed through small villages, or at least near enough to see them from the road, no longer.  And the road is climbing, slowing you down somewhat, as you now head into the Wuyun Gorge.  You start to see rock faces and sheer cliffs to either side, casting you in shade for much of the day.  The green and luscious land of the Menagerie Coast is giving way to browns and greys of a land where the earth is less fertile and less welcoming to life.

Seven days after leaving Nicodranas, you see the Wuyun Gates rising up ahead of you.  There's a small line on this side of people being checked and having their belongings searched before entering the empire, and you see uniformed Crownsguard and Zhelezo up ahead.  Solro says:  Let me go first.  You will be searched; you don't have anything that would alarm them, I hope?

I'm carrying tools used to pick locks.  Does that count?

Silent grunts Just a big ol' magic sword. 

I’m a talking person made of metal. Is that alarming?

Tools and swords will be fine, I'm sure, the halfling replies.  Have either of you passed this way before?  They might forget a half-orc, but not a talking construct, I'm sure.

You are coming up to the gate, and you see some of the other travellers: a group of halflings with an overloaded cart, arguing now with the gate guards over a tariff they claim they are not liable to pay.  Behind them four humans, wearing a uniform that suggests a mercenary company, though you don't immediately recognise any particular symbol.  Next in line a rich-looking carriage, the passengers inside unseen - six guards wearing the uniform of a noble house of the Menagerie Coast stand around, waiting patiently and chatting to the Zhelezo.  You fall in behind this group, and are fourth in line.

Try not to act or behave as though you are nervous, Solro says, and you can see he makes a conscious effort to look relaxed and in control.  He's surprisingly good at it, and for the first time he looks again as he did when you first saw him - confident and calm.

Out of curiosity, do any of the halflings look familiar? 

Make a Perception check.

Perception - 4