The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Balassar will just stand his ground staring at the Bugbear “Make me leave you overgrown furball.”

You don't understand, we're going to kill you and eat you if you don't run, the bugbear growls, but he doesn't step forward again.  He raises his morningstar threateningly. 

The other now speaks to you, Balassar.  It's time for you to go, and if you want to live, make sure you don't tell anyone what you've seen.  This place is dangerous for the likes of you.

8 

Balassar just smiles bashing the sword against his shield again “Go ahead and make me. You’re head will be a nice trophy.” He looks back at the others in the cave “All of them.”

The bugbear takes a few more steps forward; he's now about ten feet from Balassar, morningstar raised and ready to strike.  He replies:  You're outnumbered, worm.  I'll use your skull as a mug for my ale.  He then continues, but in a language you don't understand.  

Alton, you don't understand either, but Silent, you do.

For Silent:

Seeing the bugbear raise his morningstar, Silent stands up from behind his rock with his handaxe raised and calls out in the same language, Think again, little goblin.  

Balassar just smiles taking a step forward "And I'll make a nice rug out of every single one of you. Put it in front of my fireplace." as he continues on in the language Balassar just lets out a roar of frustration "Are you going to try and talk me to death all day or are we going to actually exchange blows." As Silent reveals himself he gives him a quick look before recomposing himself as he takes another step.

OOC:

Move 10 ft forward.

How far away is the bugbear now?

Balassar is right up in the first bugbear's face now.  The bugbear flinches as Silent appears, or perhaps at his words, it's hard to tell.  When he responds, he speaks to Balassar in common but glances at Silent as he does so.   So, you're here to kill us, I get it.  How much is Den Olios paying you?  His expression is no longer threatening, and you see hopelessness cross his face.  The other bugbear keeps her weapon raised menacingly, but starting to waver a little.

Balassar just looks him over “Not gonna lie, don’t even know who that is. Here because you messed with those giants which pushed them into scaring some villagers that called us to take care of the giants. Confronted the giants and they paid us to get rid of you.” He just looks at Silent “Did I miss anything?” He asks in Silents direction.

(OOC: Shot in the dark here - is Den Olios one of the Krynn Dens that Silent might have heard of?) 

Silent gives Balassar a thumbs-up. Nope, think you got the whole story. 

He looks to the bugbear who was speaking and cracks a grin, switching back to Common. Ain't so enthusiastic about skull mugs now, eh? Well, how's about the two of you drop your little weapons before this turns ugly? My dragonborn friend here ain't a patient man... but I don't wanna kill you unless you give us a real good reason. You talk to us and don't do anythin' stupid, you can walk away from this with your heads still on your shoulders. Choice is yours. He nonchalantly throws the handaxe up and catches it repeatedly while talking. 

Alton moves out from his hiding spot 15 feet towards Balassar, with is crossbow lowered, "Well this is kind of awkward. For the record, you two were really scary. He just really was looking forward to a fight. It has been a few days and that itch is growing." He looks at Balassar, Silent, and the two bugbears before adding, "Would we all be good to have a talk about this? I don't want to fight too, if it can be helped."

(OOC:  Silent, make a History check about your knowledge of Den Olios.)

Silent, your words and Alton's sink in to the bugbears, and as you toss the handaxe up again and again, you notice the strange runed that the giants carved - it glows for a moment, and then fades away.  Make an Intimidation check with advantage.)

History 8 

Intimidation 22 

(Woo! Big rolls!) 

Silent, you know that Den Olios rules in Asarius, so that makes sense with what you've heard.  Lady Zethris Olios leads the Den and governs the city at the moment, or at least the last time you were in a position to get news.  Through Den Olios, the Kryn maintain strong control over Asarius, which contributes a vital part of the Dynasty's military force and is a key strategic asset.

The bugbears both drop their weapons and take a step back.  Are you here to take us back? the leader asks glumly, but the other one interrupts.  No, he said giants.  The giants who were in this cave?  She turns to face Balassar, though still clearly intimidated, asks: They sent you?

A goblin face appears in the cave mouth, and stares at the scene in front of her.  You think it's the one who saw you approach.  She just takes in the scene, and does not move or speak.

Balassar nods looking at the woman "Yeah, running people out of their homes makes them not like you."

Silent hooks the handaxe back onto his belt and walks out from behind his rock, trying to maintain a calm demeanour as he approaches the two bugbears and Balassar. 

How many other fighters you got back in there? He jerks his head toward the mouth of the cave, briefly trying to catch the eye of the goblin. Before we start havin' a nice chat about giants and Olios, I wanna be real certain that ain't none of your friends gonna shank us when we're off guard. 

Silent, are you speaking common or elvish?

Either way, the second bugbear is the one to respond:  They're not fighters.  None of us are, really.  That's the point.  She looks at you, still very wary.  You really weren't sent from Asarius?  We were sure...  there was someone... I don't know.  I guess we weren't sure.

Alton makes his way closer to the group, "I don't even know where Asarius is; we came up from the valley." He points in the general direction of where Felderwin is. "We were sent here to investigate a problem with giants. We found the giants and they gave us the story of being ran out of their home. Now we found you all and I guess you have a story of being ran out from your home."

Silent has switched back to Common now to make sure everyone can understand the conversation, though he'll repeat any of his speech in Elvish if any of the bugbears don't understand Common. 

Building off Alton's explanation, Silent scratches his beard and says, I'm a Xhorhasian but I ain't from Asarius. We can talk about who you're runnin' from but before that... if you lot ain't fighters, how the hell did you manage to run those giants outta their home? 

The pair listen to Alton, and the female bugbear answers:  I... sort of, I guess.  I didn't know we were so far west.  Is this... is this the Dwendalian Empire then?  They both look a little alarmed at the idea and look anew at the group.

(FYI:  It's not quite clear if you're still technically in the Empire's territory - you are close to the border, given how far you've trekked.)

To Silent, the male bugbear responds:  The intimidation thing worked better with them, I guess.  He looks a bit sheepish now.  Or maybe it didn't.  Maybe they just didn't want to fight.  Giants are weird; who knows why they do anything.

Balassar just blinks looking at the situation "So are we fighting or not...? This has taken a pretty boring turn."