The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Silent, rubbing his aching head and eyes, stretches and finds Balassar and Alton in their rooms. To the Lawmaster, then, lads?  I'm sure there's nobody he'd rather see this early in the morning. 

And so, after a breakfast of porridge and fruits, you make your way to the Lawmaster's now familiar cottage, and are shown inside, directly to the study where the Lawmaster, the halfing Hector Atterly, stands and greets you, this time with a firm shake of the hand each. It is good to see you back; I know you completed the task that was assigned, and saved the lives of many of our Crownsguard and common folk. I have had reports, of course. Though I doubt I have heard the full tale. Please, sit, sit.

The lawmaster is friendly than before, and seems relaxed - to trust you, perhaps? In any case, he is eager to hear the stories of your adventures, and what has kept you busy and away from Felderwin for so long. You've been gone over a month, and would have been back about two weeks earlier if you'd returned directly.

What will you tell him of what you've done?

Balassar just walks in and finds a wall to lean against "Alton's the best storyteller among us." he says crossing his arms waiting to hear how the halfling would recant the tale.

Alton takes a breath and keeps quiet for a moment to think and also for dramatic effect. He then begins to weave the tale of the adventures of the Tarrasque's Abs after they left the Lawmaster. "Not long after leaving the Lawmaster's office, we found ourselves on the road as part of a supply caravan to Bladegarden. We hoped for peaceful travel all the way there, but this would not be so; for nature and perhaps more plotted against us. Not two days passed after leaving Felderwin when from the skies came a horrible cry as the caravan was attacked by a group of perytons. The battle was fierce! Swords clashed with talons, arrows and spells flying in all directions; and a few of the crownsguard almost lost their lives. Once the dust settled, only a few crownsguard lay severely wounded and horse or two lay dead. Unfortunately, that would not be the end but only the beginning; for along that stretch of road were attacked by hill giants and more perytons. We would not find rest until a day out from Bladegarden." 

Alton gives a pause to let Silent or Balassar to add anything, and to see if the Lawmaster responds. 

Silent nods emphatically at the descriptions of the fierce battle, but says nothing further, watching the Lawmaster with narrowed eyes. 

Perytons, the Lawmaster says grimly. Attacks have been more and more frequent. I know the Cerberus Assembly believes the enemy is controlling, or at least influencing them somehow. So far, the nearby villages have been spared, but the roads are dangerous. This was in the report I received, but I'm glad to hear it directly from you.

Please go on.

The Lawmaster's son comes round, offering snacks from a tray.

Alton takes a few of the snacks with a nod before continuing. "After reaching Bladegarden we managed to get a little bit of a rest before Captain Fray had us going out on another mission. This time to find some missing kids in the town of Trean. Thankfully the road to Trean was quiet, but the weight of knowing kids were missing made the road feel heavy. We asked around town about the kids and found someone who saw the kids going into the forest. We also learned that another group was looking for them; they were calling themselves the Red Company. So, off we went hoping that we could still find them alive, but that first day would not be so fruitful. We made camp for the night and just as we got settled we were ambushed by goblins! Though the goblins fought hard, they were no match for our little band and were easily disposed of. On the second day we finally found the kids, but that other group found them first and had beaten and tied them up claiming the children were spies. After some rough talks, Balassar challenged their leader to a one-on-one duel, which was foolishly accepted, for the honor and release of the children. The duel was one-sided with Balassar coming out the victor with not even a scratch. The Red Company's leader must have seen Balassar as a true dragon in that duel; for Balassar's size appeared to match his unwavering resolve. Afterwards, the other group let the kids go and left with nothing but the bitter taste of defeat. We healed the kids up as best we could and took them back home; finding out along the way that they were just playing a game of Heroes and Villains that got a little out of hand. Once back to Trean, we reunited the kids with their families with tears of joy being shed and a wave of relief washing over the town. Then we were on out way back to Bladegarden." 

Alton takes another pause to munch on a few of the snacks he grabbed and for Balassar and Silent to add anything, if they wanted. He also, keeps an eye on the Lawmaster's for any reaction.

Balassar just smirks a little at the comparison of hun to a dragon, staying quiet as Alton tells the story.

The Lawmaster nods, satisfied. I'm glad to hear you've been making yourselves useful; really, this is exactly what was hoped, that you would take on tasks that would normally be done by those in uniform, so that our guards and soldiers could focus on the war effort. You are to be commended, and more so for resolving the situation without bloodshed. I've encountered a half dozen mercenary groups by that name over the years; all rather short-lived, if I remember rightly.

Alton, as you're attempting to note the Lawmaster's reaction, make an Insight check.

Insight: 17

Alton, you would say that the Lawmaster seems pleased. You don't sense that he's keeping anything back, or hiding his feelings.

Alton leans back into the chair, "No sense in having to fight, if it can be avoided. I'd wager the groups that take that name end up trying to punch way too high above the belt; and end up in situations they can't handle."

He lets out a breath, "Lets see, next we were tasked with investigating talk about giants attacking people on the road. Witch turned out to be more than a giant problem." Alton chuckles at what he thinks is a clever pun. "After gathering some supplies we set off once again on the road, luckily with out any trouble, and eventually find the tracks of hill giants. Following the tracks we found ourselves at the base of a ruined tower. Though at first glance there didn't appear to be anyone inside, after some scouting around we found someone or something inside the tower. Balassar took the front of the tower while Silent and I snuck inside though a collapsed window, as Balassar tried to talk with whomever was inside. Despite his best attempts at a civil conversation, the mad man attacked Balassar along with some giants he kept in the tower. Though the mad man was knocked out of the fight early, the giant was a large problem to deal with. Balassar and Silent fought fiercely and bravely, but this fight would not be without it's peril; for the giant struck a mighty blow to Balassar that nearly claimed his life." Alton gives a pause for dramatic effect, letting it linger for a minute. "However, this would not be the day Balassar falls in battle. Other worldly forces moved through me and brought Balassar back from death's clutches. On shaky legs Balassar stood and with a defiant roar, both to the giant and to death, dealt the fatal blow to the giant. The mad man wasn't dead and we got him tied up and were ready to bring him back to Bladegarden for questioning. Unfortunately, our road back would not be as peaceful. As we left the tower more giants showed up and gave chase after us. Already tired and wounded from the fight in the tower, we stood our ground and were able to hold our own against the giants. During the fight, our captive broke free of his bonds and dropped the guise of a man and before us was some undead creature. Unwavering at the sight, Silent charged the creature and in one swing lopped its head right off before it could get any attacks off. As the creature fell and crumbled into dust, so did the giants fall and the fight was over. We gathered what remains of the undead creature we could and brought them back to Bladegarden where Captain Fray said she would take them to be studied in Zadash, I think." Alton sinks more into the chair once finished with telling the Lasmaster this section of their adventure.

The Lawmaster listens, concerned. I am glad you have ended this threat. The Gods know what harm this undead thing could have done, if left alone to its machinations. Fray is a good guardswoman; I'm glad to see you've been working closely with her, and sad that she wasn't permitted to return to us, but that's the way of things in war time, or so I am learning.

Truly, I am grateful for everything you have done for the Empire; I doubt any mercenary group has done so much, especially since you were forced into it unwillingly. Thank you, for all your efforts. You have made Felderwin and the Empire a safer place.

Now, is there more to tell? Surely after all of that, your return to Felderwin was uneventful?  He pauses, waiting for the last part of the story.

Found a ghost, grunted Silent. Might've been... Righteous Brand, if I got that right, Balassar? Not much else to report. 

"Killed some zombies with that to. Before that we helped save a Righteous Brand unit and stopped some Krick spies they were tracking." he added with a nod "Additionally, was wondering if you could help point me in the direction of any potential commanders for the Brand around here. I need to return some soldier bracelets."

The Lawmaster replies: You can pass them to me. I will arrange for them to be sent to Zadash; what Righteous Brand presence there was in town is now entirely moved to the front. As for the spies, I would need to have the full story of that, to pass on to the appropriate authorities in command of the war effort. He has been listening intently to your story up to now, but at this point he takes up a pen and gets ready to record your account.

You can tell the story in bullet points if you wish, unless you want to recount the whole encounter with the drow in full?  Do you have anything else to add to the Lawmaster?

Balassar just nods as he pulls his pack off and pulls out the bracelets of the soldiers. He then walks over and just holds them out "Here you go. As for the spies, we were on our way back when we heard some noise at night and followed it. Found a bunch of Righteous Brand attacking a group of drow, so we stepped in to help them try to capture them. Since they were this deep in figured they must've been spies."

The Lawmaster takes the bracelets, and regards them somberly. Too many deaths, he says. He shakes his head, and puts the wooden items down on the top of his desk. I will need a little more detail. Exact date and time, and the name of the commanding officer of the Righteous Brand you encountered, at the least.

(Will you provide that?)

Silent will volunteer the information (if he remembers it...). 

He probably does... :)

The Lawmaster makes a note. 

Thank you, for all you have said and done. Please, accept the promised sum. He hands each of you a pouch containing 75 gold.

And so, now we must come to discuss the future, and your next task. Your final task, I think. But one that is not ready yet. There is... a package, I was told. I was not given details, but I suspect in truth this is a prisoner, perhaps more than one, captured on the front lines. I was told to arrange a highly skilled escort, and I was in truth praying that you would return. The prisoner or prisoners will need to be escorted to Zadash - that is pretty much all I know.

And once this task is achieved, I believe that it is no longer fair to impose upon you. You clearly have the Empire's interests at heart, and I would rather you use your own judgement about how best they can be deployed, rather than taking orders from the starosta or myself.

I have little more I can tell you about the task now. Secrecy of war, you understand - I know very little myself, though you are free to ask questions that I will try to answer. But for now, I would ask you to wait, rest and recover in Felderwin. 

Will you accept?