The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Silent looks at Balassar. All I heard was ”wizard” and “gag him”. You know what this guy’s doing with a giant in his house? I don’t much like the idea of askin’ him… 

Balassar just looks at them “Don’t know I started asking questions and he was focused on some halfling named Wildcloak. I told him I don’t know a halfling with that name and then he started drawing back and getting ready for something. Thought he’d be better alive then dead after seeing his eyes.”

What do you say we do with him? Can’t keep him tied up forever. 

Alton looks at the half-elf a bit closer before turning to Balassar and Silent, "That sounds like an unusual name for a halfling. Oh speaking of unusual halfling names, I've heard of a family that's named Barrelrider. One of the traveling storytellers that came through said she was from the Margarine Coast and saw a family of halfling ride down a river to a port city; she said it was pretty funny to watch." He turns his attention to the rest of the room and begins looking around for anything that might be useful, "We could keep him tied up while we look around, or at least two of us look around; he might try something when we're not looking. After that, I guess take him back alive to Felderwin to turn in to the guards." 

Alton, make an Investigation check.

Investigation: 7 

Alton, the bookcases contain books, some in languages you understand, others not.  You notice there are several books on the many geographical areas of Wildemount and even of the other continents of Exandria.  Some books seem to be about languages, written in common but referring to languages you've never heard of.  Some seem to be about codes and ciphers.  There are books of magic, all schools, and some containing information about strange and exotic creatures, perhaps magical ones or fictional, it's hard to tell from the pictures.

Looking away from the bookcases, you inspect the desk that the half-elf appeared to be using.  Several books are stacked on top of each other, and you pick up the top one and take a look inside.  You can't understand a word of it - it seems to be written perhaps in a code or lost language, and you stare at it a moment before you realise that something about the symbols reminds you of something you have seen before.  On a very particular map that you have in your backpack.

Also on the desk are map showing the area surrounding the tower - Felderwin, other parts of the Dwendalian Empire, even some areas that might be in Xhorhas.  Next to these are notes, with areas of the maps copied onto separate parchments and annotated with words and lines, arrows and numbers.  It's hard to puzzle out exactly what they all mean.

While Alton looks around the room, Silent squats down and props up the half-elf into a seated position against the wall so that they can look at each other face to face. He jerks a thumb toward the dead giant and says, Sorry about your buddy but he kinda started the fight. Now, lemme ask you this... you the one behind the red-eyed giants killing folk on the road? Gimme a nod or a shake. Silent spreads his hands and says apologetically, I'd take the gag out but if you're a wizard ain't no tellin' what you'll do. Nothin' personal. 

Silent, the half-elf doesn't struggle or attempt to resist, but he just stares at you, and then fixes his gaze upon Alton.

Alton gives the map and documents a look over, "I wonder what all this is about." He looks up from the papers scratching his head before giving a sigh and ducking down behind the desk to get out of view. He digs through his backpack to pull out the map and journal giving them a look over.

Alton, you confirm that the symbols on the map and in the open book look very similar to your eye.  You're not sure how much you can discover until you have time to sit and read the book fully, or get help from a scholar.

The half-elf eyes you coldly, watching every movement but not attempting to speak or struggle.  Silent, he does not respond to you at all, just focuses on Alton.

Silent, following the half-elf's gaze, leans in closer and growls, Now, I reckon we might have a problem, mate. My friend already said it - he ain't the man you're lookin' for. So how's about you use that wizard noggin (Silent taps his own forehead) and make this calculation? You keep pressin' the issue, that equals us roughing you up. Or, we can chalk this up to a case o' mistaken identity and talk about the giants. I ain't no wizard but even I know which option ends better for you. Whaddaya say? Willin' to see some sense and work with me here? 

Silent, the half-elf turns to look at you, and you see the faint glimmer of red in his eyes, far less than in the giants you saw, but still there.  No response.

Silent slowly gets to his feet. Well, guess I can't blame you for not bein' helpful. S'pose I wouldn't be in your situation. But you'll have plenty of time to think. You get in a helpful mood, gimme a good yell. That gag ain't too great, I'm sure I'll hear it.

He looks over at Balassar and says, Only thing I'm getting here is this fella's got some red in his eyes, like the giants. And here I thought he was the one doin' the mind-controlling. You think there's a bigger fish out there pulling this one's strings? 

Alton puts his map away, making sure that it is buried in his backpack, "Alright, lets see what other goodies this place might have stashed away. Do you guys want to take a look down that trap door?" He also pulls one of the healing potions out from his backpack and holds it out to Balassar, "Here, you might want to take this."

Balassar takes the potion as he downs it "I don't know, figured he was the controller. We could always ungag him and ask."

He just points his sword down at the elf "If I hear anything magic coming out of his mouth easy to just stab him now."

Seeing Balassar position his blade, Silent says to Alton, Maybe let's ask him if there's anything down that trapdoor that'll try to kill us. He will slowly remove the half-elf's gag and say, in his dialect of Elvish, It'd be in your best interests to cooperate. 

Silent, the half-elf ignores you and addresses Alton in common:  Give me the map.  Give it to me now, and you will be spared.  Otherwise you will pay for your ancestor's crime, and death will be no release for you.

Alton looks at the half-elf confused, "Crimes? What crimes? The only crimes I know of here is you sending giants out to attack people on the road. Besides the map I have was made by my granddad when he was off adventuring." 

Oh, and can you read the thief's map?  Do you know where it points? the half-elf replies with a sneer.