The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Balassar,  you hit the guy twice, two powerful blows with the flat of your blade.  It's obvious to the spectators, or should be, that he's outclassed.  But Jules persists, swinging his mace:

Attack: 18 Damage: 7
Attack: 14 Damage: 3

Just as futilely as before.

Balassar is up.

Balassar just takes another swing at the man.

OOC:

Attack: 24 Damage: 7

It hits.  He's close to dropping.  He's staggering.

One of the others of the group, a half-elf woman, steps up:  Don't be stupid, Jules.  This isn't worth.

Jules roars with anger and rushes at Balasaar:

Attack: 18 Damage: 8
Attack: 7 Damage: 5

No luck.  He's still on his feet though, stubborn to the end.

Balasaar is  up.

Balassar just swings one last time.

OOC:

Attack: 13 Damage: 8

The flat of your blade clonks the guy round the back of the head, and he drops to the ground, seemingly dazed.  He struggles to get up, then faints dead away.

There's an awkward silence; the four remaining mercenaries and three captives just stare, waiting for someone to say something.

Balassar just sighs and puts away his blade “Need to learn to listen to your band. Reputation is worthless in the end. Your companions though are priceless.”

He just looks to the band and nods “Get better and earn the name. If this had been a real fight he would be dead and most likely so would the rest of you. You need to be fighting for more than reputation if you’re going to make it.”

With that he just looks to Silent and Alton “What next?”

Alton glances at Silent, "I didn't really think he was as strong as a wet blanket." He moves up next to Balassar, "I guess what is next depends on what these guys want to do. We could all head back to the village together, or they could gives us the kids and we go our separate ways." He looks over at Adrin, "Adrin, right? Does your group have any healing potions, or somone that can heal Jules up? We did get jumped by goblins last night and having to carry your friend out might slow your group down." 

We can take care of our own, Adrin says, somewhat resentfully you think.  Take the brats and go.  He shoves one of the teens in your direction, and crouches down to start cleaning Jules' wounds. 

The other two members of the Red Company look at each other, and hand the captives over to you without comment.  They are not releasing the teens, just giving them to you.  Adrin and the two others then pick Jules up and start to carry him away.  It's clear they don't want to have anything more to do with you.

Silent looks to Balassar and says, Let’s get the hell outta here. He’ll take hold of the captives, start untying their bonds and gags but waits until the Red Company are a decent distance away before taking a leap of faith and whispering to one of them in Xhorhasian Elvish. Sorry you had to see all that. We’re here to help. Just stay cool and we’ll figure this out. 

If they don’t appear to understand him, he’ll repeat the message in Common. 

Silent, the three seem nervous and wary of you all as you untie them, their eyes darting between you all and the retreating members of the Red Company.  When you speak to the one you think might be Ema Harpin (the other two are similar enough to be siblings), she gives a small cry of shock and steps away from you at the sound of your elvish.  She covers her mouth, and just continues to stare at you.

Balassar just gives a light smirk at Alton's comment "Better lesson getting beaten here than death. Really though Aiden should be leading you all, let's be clear I went easy on him. I'm not looking to kill people we may work along side later. However, the monsters that you will encounter in the wild won't go light on ya lot." he just looks at the kids as he begins to help direct them to Silent "We will ensure they get back to the village and that you all get mentioned for your part. We'll also make sure to mention they should be kept under watch for a few days. We'll also leave out the detail of tying up the children like they were criminals."

As Silent leads the children away he will look at Aiden and the two others "What made you all think these children were committing treason and not just loss or lured away?"

Seeing her reaction, Silent keeps speaking quietly in Elvish to Ema, raising his voice slightly so that the other two can hear him (while Balassar keeps the Red Company occupied). 

You've got no reason to believe or trust me, but I'll ask you to do so anyway. I have some inkling of what you're going through, and my comrades and I are here to help you. We're not beholden to anyone's orders - we're just trying to figure out what's going on and get you to safety, wherever that might be found. And I can swear to you that I won't be taking you anywhere against your will. If you want freedom now, say the word. I'll give you the weapons and equipment I can spare. But if you wish for my aid, you shall have it. He offers a sad smile. It's been too long since I've met others with memories of home. 

Seeing the situation pretty handled for now, Alton brings out his mage hand and digs out some of his rations looking for their new wolf friend.

Balassar, Aiden and the others are carrying Jules away, and clearly want nothing more to do with you.  Aiden laughs at your question.  Talk to them.  See what nonsense they're spouting today.  They're cricks, or they think they are, or think it's fun to pretend so.  Spies or dangerous lunatics, it doesn't matter which, both will earn a good reward.  He and the rest of the Red Company are leaving, unless you stop them, carrying the unconscious and faintly groaning Jules between them.

Alton, the wolf is following about forty feet behind you.  It seems willing to accept food from the Mage Hand, as it doesn't have much of a smell to alarm the creature.

Silent, Ema hesitates for a long time before answering, which gives the other girl, whose name you recall is Carri, a chance to speak.  What do you think you know?  What could you possibly...  She trails off, seemingly uncertain how to proceed.

The boy steps forward.  What do you know?  he asks.  It's part plea, part challenge.

With the Red Company gone, Silent switches back to Common so Alton and Balassar can understand him. He sits down so he can look at the kids on eye level. 

Right, lemme be clearer. I'm from Xhorhas, grew up there, seen a bit of the old magic those folk wield. Souls being reborn in new bodies. Here's my hunch. You lot have been havin' dreams of being... different beings. Drow from the Kryn Dynasty, if I ain't mistaken? You ain't goin' crazy, that's what I can tell you. You're just... remembering who you were. Like wakin' up after a long dream that you thought was real.

He cracks a grin at this point. How am I doin', eh? Completely off base? Or right on the money?  

As they walk off Balassar just looks to Alton "Don't think that made us any friends, but hopefully they got the point."

With that he just walks over to where Silent is with the children and crosses his arms as Silent continues to speak with the children "Now I'm a little lost, so they are cricks...but not cricks because they were born in children of the empire? So does that mean we need to turn them in or get them back to their parents and live a normal life in the empire?" his voice clearly showing that he is trying to understand the situation but does not quite grasp it yet.

No!!! shouts Carri, that's not true!  We're not drow!  You're... you're one of them.  The ones who did this to us.  Get away from me!  She backs away.

Seomon and Ema do not back away.  They are staring at Silent as though struck by lightning.  Who... we were?  Ema eventually asks.  What... what does that even mean?  How do you know about...  about the memories?

To Balassar, Silent quietly says, Kryn, mate, not “cricks”. They’re still kids. They just got memories of… old lives. Weird magic. Ain’t never been smart enough to figure it out. But as for what they’ll do or where they’ll go… I reckon that decision is theirs to make. He turns to look at him directly. They won’t be ending up in an Empire cell, though. Not on my watch. 

To Ema he says, I don’t rightly know what it means, to tell you the honest truth. What you do with those memories seems like it’s up to you. But as for how I know, like I said - born and raised in Xhorhas. That’s where this magic is from, I’d seen and heard tales about it growing up. After hearing the rumours about what happened from your folks in Bladegarden, I had a hunch. Situation seemed real familiar to me. 

Alton looks to Balassar, "I don't think those are people we want to be friends with. They didn't seem to be very nice." He moves to join the group all the while seeing if he can get the wolf to come closer to them with the bit of ration and his mage hand. He glances back at the kids, "Are you guys hungry? I find having some food in my belly helps calm things down and be a bit more relaxed when having to talk about serious matters. We are here to help you and your folks after all." He swings his pack around without waiting for an answer and digs out what rations he has left and holds them out to the teens with his usual goofy smile, "I don't have much left it looks like, but they are all home made by my Ma and brother and are still pretty tasty." 

Alton, the wolf will not get closer at this point, not even for food.  It looks at the large group of people and whines a little, then backs away and lies down, eyes on you, Silent and Balassar.

However, the three kids do take the rations and wolf them down.  At least they're talking to us, Ema says to the others, and her eyes flash with anger.  The 'Red Company' treated us like animals, or worse.  They enjoyed making us frightened of what would happen.  Stupid kzeqlati!  That last is a drow elvish insult specific to Xhorhas, and Ema flinches when she realises what she's said. 

The others just stare at her.  That's happening more and more, Seomon comments, mouth half full.  You'll really just let us go, if that's what we want?

We don't need to go anywhere, says Carri.  We were looking for answers, and if he's got them, we can just ask him and then go home, right?  So, tell us, who put these... memories... into our heads then?  Was it the drow?  That's their language, right?  What Ema just said.