The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

You ride on, and approach Wildshire, a pleasant village of perhaps thirty houses and over a hundred people.

Alton, would you like to describe it as you remember it? What impression would a visitor get?  And what would people normally be doing on an autumn afternoon?

As Alton directs Silent to and through Wildshire, he begins to describe the area to him and Balassar, "This is a fairly quiet village, with the only excitement sometimes being escaped animals that needs to be caught. The goats are the best when they get out, some of them end up in the trees; oh and some will just fall over if you give them a good spook. There's also the Inn, Amber Waves, where we've gotten some interesting travelers from time to time; I guess we are the interesting travelers this time." Alton continues on with telling Silent and Balassar about Wildshire, and from his descriptions you get the feeling that this quiet village is homely and a place, that can be assumed, that everyone knows everyone. While he goes on, Alton can't help but be slightly distracted with waving to the people they pass while also looking for someone or something. After the main harvest most of the work would be towards the livestock. Although, there are still some fields being tended to that have late autumn squash, hay, and other various crops. 

Alton, everyone waves back, and most of them come up and talk to you. It slows your progress somewhat, and Ghost is getting rather skittish again as the number of halflings flocking to your cart grows:

8

And... he's gone. A group of three halfling children run towards him, keen to pet the new doggie, and he bolts for the woods. Alton, you would know the woods near the village are large enough, and quiet enough, that he'll be fine there and able to rejoin you if he chooses, and you can also find him there without too much trouble if you want.

Reaching the central common land of the village, you spot your brother, Balto, pushing a large wheelbarrow full of stones in your direction.  He stops, sets the wheelbarrow down carefully, stares at you, grins, and comes running for a hug.  You're back! is all he manages to say before he grabs you.

Silent will look for any sort of stout tree or outpost to hitch the horses and cart to before jumping off . He is inwardly marveling at the sense of quiet and peace, and is initially keeping his distance from Alton and the hafling he is now speaking to. 

A suitable post for the hitching of horses is present at the end of the common in the centre of the village. Silent ties the horses to it, and the gaggle of halfling kids, recovering quickly from the loss of the doggie, come and start fussing over the horsies. There's food involved, so the horses seem happy enough.

Some of the breath leaves Alton as he gets hugged, "Good to see you too Balto. I think you got a little stronger." He hugs him back for few seconds before letting go. "I brought some friends along too. These are Balassar and Silent." He gestures to them in turn as he says their names. "How have things been here at home? Have you guys heard anything from Nara?" 

Balassar just watches as Ghost runs off and shrugs. He just stands next to Alton as he holds out his hand to Alton's brother "Nice to meet ya."

Good to meet you, Balto offers his hand to shake. Glad to meet the people who've been keeping my brother safe. You're always welcome in Wildshire. Dunno about Nara, haven't heard anything, but then no news is good news, right? A war! Can you believe it? Of all the things to happen, and so soon after Nara joined up. Have you... been anywhere dangerous? Like, on the front? Or that? No, don't answer, you don't have to tell me if you can't, but come, I reckon Mom and Dad have already heard you're here, so we'd better get a move on.

Balto ushers you quickly down the main street and towards the small cottage that is so familiar to you, Alton. Nothing seems to have changed, nothing at all. As you walk towards it, the door opens and both your parents are standing in the doorway.

Alton gives Balto a big grin, "They've been doing a good job of it too. I've got some stories for you; and some have been really dangerous!" He gives Balassar a slap on the side, "They're probably the best fighters I've ever seen!" Alton then shifts his tone a bit, "I do hope Nara is alright though and yeah that is a bit crazy; and I've been close to the front. I don't think she was in Bladegarden, or at least I didn't see her there. Oh, you haven't seen Joy around have you? I'd like to surprise her, but you know how talk travels through here. " He continues with some normal chatting with Balto as they walk; catching up on what's been going on in Wildshire.

When the door to his home opens, Alton rushes ahead and gives his parents a big hug, "Surprise! Haha." He turns back around and makes introductions, "Mom and Dad, these are some of the friends I've made; Balassar and Silent." He gestures to each in turn, "They might look scary, but they're good people. Guys, these are my parents, Balton and Anara. Come on in, just, uh, watch your heads." 

Joy? She left. A few weeks after you did. Said she was going to visit family somewhere. I thought she'd have been back by now, but maybe it's harder to travel now there's a war on. Still, things should quiet down soon, don't you think? Balto adds hopefully, but without much confidence.

We will cut to an hour later; you are all inside the main front room of the Wildcloak residence, clearly the only room in the place that is capable of accommodating folks the size of Silent and Balasaar - barely, and there's some care required not to bump any wooden beams with your heads. You have been well fed and well watered, or aled depending on your preference. Balto is ferrying even more food in from the kitchen, and despite the chill air outside, the fire makes this room warm and welcoming. You all had massive hugs from Alton's parents, though so far you've mostly been engaged in small talk - catching up on news from around the village, the grain harvest and some newborn calves that have been keeping your mother busy.

Silent rubs a lump on his head sustained from a bump to one of the wooden beams while he sips his ale and enjoys the atmosphere. He listens closely to the conversation with Alton’s parents, especially interested if any mention of the treasure hunt comes up, but does not quite feel comfortable being the one to bring up any sensitive topics like the war. 

Alton happily sits in his favorite spot by the fire sipping on a mug of water as he catches up with his family. After catching up he remembers one of the reasons he wanted to come back and goes to grab his backpack, “Oh, I got some things for you while I was Hupperdook.” He digs through his bag and carefully pulls out the colorful music box with the pictures of the Marrow Fields and sets it on the coffee table; along with a pouch that has about half of his money.

Amazingly, the delicate music box has survived the dangers of the road without so much as a scratch. Your father winds it up, and lets it play - it's quite lovely, as lovely as when you bought it, playing the unfamiliar, but beautiful tune. The family gathers round to inspect it. Now, you know you didn't have to bring us anything, Anara Wildcloak says firmly as she places it in pride of place on a shelf with pictures of all the family. It's wonderful, though, dear. Thank you. I will play it when you are away, and think of you. I don't recognise the tune - a Hupperdook song, is it?

Your father looks at the coin purse, and picks it up, feeling the weight of the coins in his hand. It's a lot of money anywhere in the world, but even more so in a place like Wildshire. In happier times, I might not accept this, he says. The farm's doing well, and no reason to think that will change, except... well, there could be hard times ahead, for us or for others in the village. I'll use this to help, and get folks through, as best I can.  Now tell me, what did you do to earn such money, eh? My lad, an adventurer for real, if you can believe that!

Balassar just smiles enjoying the family interact as he just nurses on some ale.

"I think so. The merchant, um... Tinkertop I think, said it was the last of ten made between him and someone from Toast-in-wall; I think that was the name of the place." Alton gives his dad a big smile, "Not only an adventurer, but a badged adventurer." He pulls out the two badges, the one from Hupperdook and the one from Felderwin, and shows them off. "Balassar, myself, and Wash all helped capture an escaped prisoner in Hupperdook. Wash was another friend I made, but he had other things to attend to and couldn't stay. Oh, and there was Magnum too, I met them when I met Silent. Magnum didn't like how we got roped into working with the Lawmaster of Felderwin, so they left." Alton lets out a small sigh, "Too bad they both couldn't stay with us. Anyway, I've been on lots of adventures with these two guy and they are really cool. Balassar can grow to the size of a house and Silent can make a shadow appear and fight. Oh, and we even have a name for our group; we call ourselves the Tarrasque Abs." As he talks about Balassar and Silent, Alton has that appearance of a kid who just made a cool new friend and wants to share everything cool about them; and probably will. 

(OOC: The amount of coin he handed over was 35 platinum, 171 gold, 66 silver, and 7 copper.)

Balto takes the badge, looking it over and passing it to Alton's parents. Impressive, he says, and he sounds genuine. You're, like, unofficial Crownsguard? I never would have thought that. Nara won't believe it if I tell her, not unless she sees the badge for herself.

I hope your other friends are well; it's a strange life you've chosen, I suppose people meet and part quickly and easily, Alton's father says quietly, as though the thought of such a life didn't appeal much. Well, we're not going anywhere, and you all are welcome to visit and stay as long as you like, he adds, directed at Silent and Balasaar. 

Hey, Balto says, since you're adventurers and all, you could go investigate the Wildshire Ghost!  He laughs, and Anara rolls her eyes.

Silent leans in and sets down his empty mug. What's this about a ghost? 

"There's a ghost!" says Alton's father, at the exact same time his mother says "There's no ghost!".  They look at each other and burst out laughing. "Fine, no harm to it," his mother says, and begins to clear a few empty plates to take into the kitchen.  "Tell them the story, for all it's worth."

Maxie Oldhill says she saw a ghost, Alton's father continues, a few days ago, in the woods. Says it was a big folk ghost, like an old man, and it waved at her, but she ran away.  Probably just imagination run wild, I mean she's what, nine years old now? Still, a sensible little one, probably didn't just make it up. So her mum went in with her to take a look - said she didn't see anything, but felt a chill, like more than just the weather, and all the hairs stood up on the back of her neck, so she turned round and came home and won't set foot near the place now.  That got folks' attention.  It would be good to know what's in there. No-one in the village feels like having a look, but since we have three genuine adventurers visiting... He grins and looks at you all expectantly.

Silent cracks a grin. Aye, I don't reckon we could pass up a ghost hunt in good conscience. What d'you say, lads? This a job worthy of the Tarrasque's Abs? 

Alton gives a nod, "I think so, and it will help put everyone's mind a ease too."