The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

To be good at something must mean that one must be successful. By that metric, we’re certainly good at it when compared to the people and or things we’ve defeated. But, on the other hand, if you consider good to mean practiced, then we’re not since we’ve only been in a few fights. In some of those cases we won handily, in others, not so much. To be completely fair, I’d say we are competent at harming, tolerable at killing, but we excel at surviving. 

Silent nods at the points Magnum makes, then squats down in attempt to meet the girl at eye-level. You're mighty young to be asking about killin' things, little miss. Someone botherin' you? 

Our rates are reasonable.

Dunno, the girl says.  Gran said find someone who's good at killing.  Not 'tolerable'.  But I guess she's paying a tolerable amount, and I haven't seen anyone else with a big sword today, so you'll do.  Gran wants someone to come kill the wolves in the forest.  You better come.  People don't keep Gran waiting.  Please?  she adds the last word as an afterthought.

Magnum looks at Silent.  She did say please. I guess we should go murder some local wildlife.

Yeah, says the girl helpfully while waiting for Silent's response.

Silent grins. Can't really say no, now, can I? Let's meet your Gran. 

She nods.  Yep.  Tomorrow.  We live out of town. Meet me right here an hour after dawn.  Bring a tent.  It's two days' trek out to our village.  Thanks misters!  She half-runs, half-skips away.

Two days...? Silent looks over at Magnum, brow furrowed. Long trip for an Empire kid, I would've thought. 

Two days just to kill some wolves?

I dunno... if their wolf problem is bad enough that they're sendin' kids out to find sellswords it might be something to check out. Maybe we can ask around about this village, see if it's on the way to Zadash. 

This all feels odd. A little girl taking a trip to see her grandmother and kill some wolves? Just sounds like something my father would come up with.

When you put it that way... yeah, feels kinda off, don't it? Silent looks worried for a moment before his face clears and he lets out a hearty chuckle.. Bet ol' Gran is a witch in the forest, eh? Haha! Hahaha! 

Magnum whispers, We’re so ****ed.

As the little girl skips away, you are still standing in the centre of town.  What would you like to do?

Silent will clap Magnum on his shoulder plate and say Let's go find ourselves a watering hole and some stories from the locals, yeah? Least that way we won't be goin' in completely blind. 

Magnum agrees. 

You find yourselves outside the Candleglow Inn, and enter.   It's busy inside, and there are no free tables, only space at a booth that is also occupied by a group of three men playing cards.  Make a Perception check.

Perception 23 

Magnum’s Perception - 8.

Auspex’s Perception - 17