The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Balassar will just chime up looking at his companion "Can't be a bad idea."

Alton nods, "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." 

Silent's Echo draws its blade and cautiously walks over the pond and stops in the center (I'm not sure if the Echo has any weight that would make it sink - if it does, Silent will have it float a few centimeters above the pond, if not I guess it'll just stand on the water). 

Silent, your Echo walks forward; it's like a breeze has stirred up some ripples on the surface of the pond, but the Echo just walks across.  You know from experience that it can't fly, any more than you can, but it doesn't seem to swim either.  Just hover.

If you were hoping for, or expecting, a reaction from something below, you don't get one. The Echo crosses the pond and halts on the other side. The woods are still, quiet, peaceful as far as you can tell.

Right lads, looks fine. I'm gonna go take a look myself. Silent walks over to the edge of the pond himself and looks in, trying to be careful not to teeter and fall. 

Alton watches Silent get close to the edge of the pond and gives Balassar a nudge flashing him a mischievous smile. He tries to quietly cast mage hand and floats it right behind Silent. Once he thinks Silent is focused enough on the water, Alton will have the mage hand firmly grip Silent and give him a tug.

[Tooltip Not Found]: 9 to cast mage hand without being noticed. 

Silent, you are scanning the pond, watching the movement of the water as your Echo passes, when suddenly something grabs you from behind.  You didn't even hear it approach.

(Since I think Silent's attention would be on the pond, I'm using his passive perception for this, which Alton handily beats.)

(LOL this is great) 

Silent lets out a high-pitched scream and draws his blade. He whirls and starts looking around. Eyes up lads, he's here! Just tried to attack me, the sneak. Show yourself, old man! I ain't afraid of no ghosts! 

Alton tries to hold it together, but the high-pitch scream that come from Silent sends him over the edge. Alton, collapse on the ground with just gut busting laughter. The mage hand just floating there in mid air next to Silent.

Silent looks at the mage hand and sheathes his blade with a crooked grin on his face. Right... This means war, mate, and I ain't gonna go easy. Gonna get you back tenfold, just wait, just you wait... 

He looks down at the pond again, says, May as well go for broke then, and will kneel down beside the water and stick a finger in. 

Silent, you stick a finger into the pool; the water is chilly, reflecting the season. It creates a small ripple, as you would expect, but there's no other response.

How deep does the pond look?

Make a Perception check.

Perception 16 

Silent, you look down; you can't quite see down to the bottom, as the water is not the clearest. It's certainly too deep to wade across.

What do you think lads? Should one of us try diving down to see if there's anything at the bottom? 

Alton stretches out on the grass putting his hands behind his head, "There might be some things down there. If one of us does dive in we should tie a rope around them, just in case." Alton looks up at the sky, "I think we won't see the ghost until it gets dark though. I've never heard of ghost coming out during the day time; its always at night for some reason, or in really dark places." 

Last time I went for a swim it didn't go too well for me. I like your idea, Alton - let's camp out here until it gets dark, see if gramps comes out to play.

You make camp, and spend the hours talking and resting, glad of the peace and chance to recuperate after your many travels. Alton, you can't help but think of the times you've spent here, by the pool, in the forest and in the village, and the memories that come to you. But also the desire to go out and see the world, explore and find your own adventures, ones to rival even your impressive family history.

As the sunset comes, the air grows cooler, and then cooler still. The change is slow, almost imperceptible, until you notice, with surprise, that you can now see  your breath.  There's no way the temperature should be freezing, not yet, not at this time of year.

Above the pool, a figure slowly becomes visible to you; a man, with the look of an old soldier, wearing armour that might be Righteous Brand or something very similar, certainly Empire in make.  He has a face worn with long experience and worry, but is now wearing an expression of amusement as he looks at the three of you, resting at the poolside. He gives a formal nod of respect to Silent, his eyes flickering to the massive greatsword lying at your side. He winks with a half-smile at Alton, and his eyes open a little wider for a moment as he seems to see something he recognises.  The smile deepens, but then his expression becomes more serious as he looks at Balasaar.  He snaps a formal military salute at the dragonborn.

Balassar wakes up picking his sword up before his attention is drawn to the pool his face contorting into shock and disbelief “That’s not possible.” He says as he begins to walk towards the figure inspecting it cautiously “Song! Is that really you?” He shouts as he approaches the figure.