The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Magnum ponders what Solro said. 

Heroism? No. That's just where bravery meets good public relations. And bravery is an impulse control problem leading to successful outcomes. It was clearly a trap, in my view, but the idea of using unwary travelers' corpses as bait vexed me. So I made sure they couldn't do it again. That's not heroism. It's petty vengeance. 

Now petty vengeance is a thing I do understand, Solro replies, smiling slightly.  Though it is important to practise it in moderation, of course.

You walk through the countryside, not noticing anything unusual in your travels over the next three days.  You continue to pass merchants, travellers, even a few adventurers on the road as they head to the excitement of the Menagerie Coast.  The barren rocks of the Wuyun Gorge give way to lush green fields and hills - not quite the tropical greens of Port Damali and Feolinn, but still the sign of a rich agricultural heartland.  You are now in the Empire proper, and once or two Crownsguard patrols pass by on the way to the Wuyun Gate, though they pay you little mind.  Solro seems pleased to be in a more civilised place, and he chats with you pleasantly as you travel, if you engage with him.

Trostenwald stands on the banks of a river, and is home to perhaps ten thousand people.  You reach the town at midday, and you see various small shops, temples or shrines to the five approved gods of the Empire, and taverns dotted in amongst the houses.  What would you like to do?

Magnum turns to Silent.  Tavern or inn?  

Silent looks around at the surroundings and grins. Tavern. Let's get some drinks and hear some stories. 

Magnum will also casually ask about the intended recipient of the letter he found.

You're standing near the south gate of the town, in what appears to be a relatively wealthy area.  You don't see any taverns immediately - you see mostly residences, nice-looking houses with gardens, some hidden behind walls but some clearly on show to impress and delight.  There are people passing by;  they might be travellers headed through the town onwards to another destination, but some are not dressed for travel, and you take them as townsfolk about their business.

what would you like to do?

While Magnum asks about the letter Silent will attempt to engage one of the townsfolk in a conversation. 

'Scuse me friend - just rolled into town with a few of my mates. Any ideas where a fellow can get a drink? He gestures around at the residences. Probably not in this area, I'm guessing this is a bit... uh... high-brow for us. 

Husseldorf, Bambauch, or von Brandt?  the man replies.

Uhhhh... Husselgorf, for sure. Only the best for me and my mates. 

Are these places?

Hussel-dorf, the man says, emphasising the 'd' and sounding generally disapproving.  Well, if that's your taste, I suppose there's no helping it.  He points along the street.  There's a filthy decrepit establishment run by folks with no morals or judgement called the Golden Lute.  You'll get what you want there.  He shrugs and moves on.

Halfway across town, you do find the Golden Lute on the same main street; it looks fine as low-end establishments go.  You also notice, in the same small market square, stalls selling equipment for cooking, food, and a small smithy.

Silent will gesture to the smithy and look at Magnum. Might be worth seeing if this fellow has anything worth picking up, eh? 

He'll head over to it to scope out any items or weapons on display, with a particular interest in armor. 

Magnum accompanies Silent. Still asking about the letter's intended recipient. 

The smith is a human woman in her early thirties, very chatty and eager to talk as she works.  You in town long?  Headed into the Empire?  You from the Menagerie Coast then?  Whereabouts?  I have a cousin on the islands, now I think she is, always a traveller that one.  You'll want to take care around Alfield, there was some trouble a few weeks ago, though they're rebuilding as I hear it.

The woman's name is Miara Cammat, and she has a variety of armour for sale - everything from the PHB except half-plate and plate:  https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/equipment#ArmorandShields.  Is Silent looking for anything in particular?

She will also buy any weapons or armour you want to sell, for the standard price of half what the PHB says.

(Magnum, I would say it's fairly obvious now that Silent is avoiding your questions about the letter - it's up to you how you want to respond.)

(OOC: Not sure if there was some miscommunication on my end - I have no problem with Magnum asking about the letter. I don't think Silent read the letter and I figured Magnum was independently asking townsfolk about it, not Silent. I can't imagine that Silent would know anything about the recipient of that letter.)

Silent is interested in looking for splint armour, but he probably realizes it's out of his price range. Instead he latches onto her comment about Alfield. Armour aside, what's this about Alfield? What kind of trouble we talking about? 

 Sorry, my misinterpretation then.  Is Magnum asking the townsfolk about the letter's recipient?  If so, exactly what is he asking?

Don't know much to be honest.  Nothing big, but trouble in the villages round the town, I guess.  A few people gone missing, and a couple of farms destroyed.  Dunno much more than that, I'm afraid.

Magnum is asking townsfolk. 

If you're interested in anything in particular, Silent, I can assist with funds.  Especially if it's something that might help you in combat.  

But exactly what question is he asking?  Is he asking "Do you know who Aunt Annai is?"