The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Looking at Balassar's scars.  Impressive, someone managed to hit you. At least you finally used an interesting word.  Unlawful.  Tell me, is necromancy legal in the Dwendalian Empire?  I'll save you the trouble of answering.  It isn't.  The man you pursued on horseback from Hupperdook was clearly in league with someone who could animate the dead or control them.  Magic like that is forbidden.  Has been for a long time.

Why, then, would he be set free?  Why would the Cerberus Assembly pull strings to have him released?  Everything we saw from the lawmaster tells us that they are fair and took the situation seriously.  Suddenly the lawmaster is silent while the starosta conscripts and threatens us?  Can't you see, unlawful things are going on all around us and these same people are using this war for some other end.  There's more to this than you seem to grasp.  We should speak to the lawmaster.  Alone.

Balassar just looks to the side for a moment "Yeah, a whole lot of someones." he just listens to Magnum as he speaks his peace "Look I don't know if Art is, or isn't practicing necromancy - none of us do. All we know is that he was targeted by those things. Let me ask you this though if he was and got a disfavorable sentence - what do you think would happen to this town. No offense to the guard and villagers here but it'd be a slaughter. So tell me what's better letting other mages more experienced in the magical arts handle a necromancer, or a bunch of lambs for the slaughter. I'm not a fan of the Assembly, but in this matter I thinks it best for them to handle it. As for the unlawful claim. There's nothing unlawful around us - in times of war Empire citizens which most of us are can be conscripted to aid the effort. I'm sure the lawmaster wasn't happy with what happened, but I'm sure if we were to go ask him he would even back up that nothing unlawful is happening. At least we are getting a chance to volunteer and earn more money. He could've immediately conscripted us and sent those who turned him down to prison. I say for now we go with Wash's idea, make the money, help the people and find a better way to get our freedom back than running."

Magnum stands.  Do what you want.  The only thing you're apparently capable of doing is killing for whoever pays you.  How noble it must feel being a tool.  I admit, I'll never look at something as thick as a hammer in quite the same way.  Magnum leaves.

(OOC: Balassar mentioned that he knew an Empire commander who was an Echo Knight - has Silent ever heard of Dwendalian Echo Knights? This seems like a pretty big point.) 

Silent almost stands up but watches Magnum leave. Magnum's a clever one, and he's raised a good point about Art. We know he was in league with those undead spooks, they'd decided to put a hit out on his life and said that the "operation wasn't sanctioned".  And if this Cerberus Assembly is bailing him out... yeah, it looks like this might go deeper than we thought. I have no problems with tryin' to speak to the Lawmaster. 

I agree that there's no real choice to be made here... between conscription and money, money is the lesser evil. But if I take the money, I'll be looking for an escape at the earliest possible opportunity, not waiting for some orders I don't agree with. Had enough of followin' bad orders back in Xhorhas, and I don't see any guarantees that we'll be able to pick our missions going forward... frankly, I reckon the deeper we go, the less choice we'll have. There won't be any avoiding moral lines, not in a war like this. 

He looks at Wash. Seems like you and I are on the same page about fighting the Dynasty. Magnum clearly wants no part of this. Alton, you don't strike me as a soldier... hell, you remind me of my older brother, you'd probably like him a lot. We've all got lines we won't cross if we take this job. He turns his glance to Balassar. What about you, mate? What's the line that you won't cross? Let's say we hunt down these giants, help some innocents, do some good... and then the Starosta tells us to fix some border conflict where we kill some "cricks." Would you deny that order and become a fugitive? 'Cause that's what I'd do, and I reckon we should all be on the same page if we go forward. 

Silent has never heard of Echo Knights serving the Empire - it's hard to imagine how that could come about.

Balassar just watches as Magnum leaves and just takes a sip. As Silent questions him he just nods "Two simple lines" he just holds up his hand and lifts a finger as he says each number "1. Non-combatants are off limits and 2. I don't kill kids." he just takes a sip "As for Kryn Soldiers, they understood what they were getting into when they decided to fight for whatever reason they may have. If we are paid enough to go fight them, then I've got no problem fighting them. If someone looks to draw blood from me they understand, just as I do, that their is a potential of dying. As for being a fugitive, I can't afford to be one. I've got family in the Empire who has a struggling business. As simple as running seems for you all its not for me. My actions will affect the ones I love and that's the reason running is off the table for me. It's a decision that doesn't just affect me, but my family."

Alton nods, "Yeah, I'm not made to be a soldier; that would be my sister. She has a similar sense of duty to the Empire that Balassar has." he sighs, "I wish she was here to help me with this." He takes another drink from his mug as he thinks about what everyone has said and then smiles as he gets an idea, "There is something I can do though." Alton hops down from his chair and starts rummaging through his backpack, pulling out a pouch and some extra clothes. Moving around the table to a spot where he would least likely be seen by anyone, Alton opens up the pouch and starts setting up a simple disguise. "I wish I knew a spell that could do this for me, but I'll work with what I've got."

Stealth: 23 if needed.

Alton puts on some ordinary, but not too clean, tunic and hose; along with mismatched boots and a tattered cloak, and finishes it off with a fake long white beard and mustache that a wizard would have. Once finished he packs his things back up in his bag, making sure to place the map and journal near the bottom so it is covered by the rest of his stuff. "I got all this stuff together too look like my favorite wandering storyteller, I don't know his real name, but people just call him The Old Wolf. He tells the best stories and makes them seem so real that you're actually there. Anyway, I'm going to see if I can talk with the Lawmaster, I get the feeling he did want to say something but couldn't. Oh, someone should go get Magnum before he wanders too far." With that Alton drinks the rest of the ale from the one mug and heads out to find the Lawmaster, throwing the hood of his cloak up to cover the rest of his head.

Silent watches Alton leave and stands up to go look for Magnum. Before he leaves he says to Balassar, I understand. You got roots here and family to protect, you got loyalty to the land that built you, and you got good reasons to shed no tears for Kryn soldiers. Running ain't easy for me either, I'm already an exile and was hopin' to find somewhere to belong... don't want to end up freezing my arse up in Shady Creek. But I'm not willin' to sell myself out to the Empire any more than necessary and I'm going to be breakin' this deal at some point. And if that means your family needs protection from Empire reprisals, you'll have my help. But Art and this Assembly thing... I get the feeling we might have gotten tangled in something real bad. 

He leaves the tavern, looking around for Magnum. Perception 22   

"Good luck Alton." he says as Silent continues the conversation. Balassar sighs as he finishes his drink "Do you though? or are you always going to find a reason to keep running Silent. You have the opportunity to settle down here, build a house, start a family - we just have to make our lines clear to the Starosta when he hires us. We have to come up with our lines as a group." he just raises his hand as Silent leaves for another drink and looks to Wash "You gonna leave to, or are we going to work out a decent plan to not turn everyone into wanted men by the Empire?"

Magnum steps out of the tavern, back into the streets of Felderwin and the troubled morning mood of a town that finds itself at war.  A few people are talking in small groups, while others pass by at a hurried pace. 

What does Magnum do next?

Magnum heads for the lawmaster's office.

He will arrive there a few minutes before Alton leaves the tavern, given that it takes time to don a disguise, and there was some additional conversation.

There is a guard at the Lawmaster's house (which also serves as his office, it seems).  The guard is one you have seen around, but not spoken to before; she looks surprised to see you back.  I thought you just left.  Here to see Master Atterly?  Without waiting, she calls inside,  Lawmaster!  Master Magnum is here to see you.

The voice comes from inside:  Send him in.

And with that, you are shown back into the office of the Lawmaster.  He stands behind his desk, gestures to a chair, and sits down.  You are back sooner than I expected, he begins, then waits for you to speak.

Only because I have questions.  Per the law, what is the penalty for abstaining from combat?  I'm not really a fighter.  While I have had some success defending myself in my travels, this has had more to do with the competence of my companions than my own efforts.

If I am able to abstain from combat, as the starosta implied, would I be allowed to travel to Hupperdook and help in weapons development there?  That is where my talents lie, I'm afraid.

The lawmaster looks down at several books that now litter the top of his desk.  The problem, I'm afraid, is that the law changes during wartime.  Many folk, and even a few lawmasters, have to catch up on all the detail.  To answer your question directly, the penalty for refusing conscription during wartime is death.  He quickly raises a hand:  Of course, it will not come to that.  I will not allow it, whatever the starosta might say.  Conscription into the workforce would, I think, be a reasonable option, though there may be others.  Initially it would be in Felderwin, but in time there will be a chance to move you to Hupperdook I imagine - if that is where your talents best serve the Empire.

Magnum nods. I believe that is where I can do the most good. I can probably do quite well here, as I don't require much rest, food or water. 

Magnum thinks for a moment.  What's your opinion of this situation, sir?  Honestly. 

The lawmaster takes a while to respond, seemingly lost in thought.  He then replies carefully: Of the war, Magnum?  Or of your personal situation?  

Magnum says the war. 

War is a terrible thing, the Lawmaster replies.  But it is here, and there is little to be done except to work together to make it as short as possible.  

Wash has been looking quite awkward as the conflict between Balassar and Magnum unfolded and has kept fairly quiet, nodding when Silent spoke to him.

When the rest leave and it is just Wash and Balassar left, he responds to Balassar's question "the problem is that I agree with many of Magnum and Silent's points. I think that after we take on this first task that we try to extricate ourselves from the Storasta's service. I agree with you that we take the first task on voluntarily and that we try to break the relationship without becoming fugitives if at all possible, but if that is not possible, I would prefer to be a fugitive than be party to a war I don't believe in."