The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Magnum, the spike from your grapple line slams into the man, exposing the armour beneath his clothes; as the cable retracts he is yanked off the horse and pull to land at your feet.  He is not grappled, but he is now prone and right next to you.  He shouts in anger: What?  What in the hells are you doing!  Help!  Help!  he shouts loudly and in a panicky voice, though there does not appear to be anyone else around.

(If you are taking any further hostile action against him, you need to roll intiative)

Sir, I suggest you remain still and silent. If you cooperate, you may yet live through this.

In response to the dragonborn's yell and Magnum firing off the grappling hook, Silent will firmly grasp hilt of greatsword without drawing it just yet. He's keeping his eyes trained on the approaching rider, but says:

Stay down. If you're innocent you got nothin' to fear, we'll have your back. But if you start running I'm gonna get annoyed. You won't like that. 

Before Art can reply, the dragonborn is upon you, or rather, he brings his horse to a halt a few feet from you.  He continues to hold up the metal object, which you can now see is a badge of some kind, and he nods. 

Thank you for the help. This man is a horse thief, seems I lucked out with you all being ahead. I can offer two platinum for you and... he looks at Magnum your companion for assisting in stopping him. Are you okay if I approach to take him and exchange the money over? he asks . He waits for an answer, keeping a wary eye on the situation.

Magnum nods and gestures to the presumed thief. Have you been pursuing him for long?  Your horses look exhausted

Hold on a sec... Silent still has his hand on his sword and is thinking back to his encounter with the Zhelezo many weeks prior. You got a nice shiny badge and nice shiny coins but how do we know you're on the right side of this little skirmish? Meanin' no disrespect, you don't look like no thief yourself. But d'you have any proof of this man's crimes? Otherwise, I ain't too inclined to sell him out.  

(OOC: Not sure if any Insight checks would be warranted here) 

Oh, that is an interesting question, my friend.  What sort of proof could he offer that would be satisfying?  Perhaps we could examine the horse to see if it's evidently not his?

Silent scratches his beard, brow furrowed. That might work, yeah. 

Knew a fella back in the military who swore he could talk to the horses. Sounded like a load of bull but he'd be right helpful here... Maybe someone's got proof o' payment from a stablemaster? That'd be nice and easy. 

The dragonborn keeps his distance, and nods: My companions are maybe a day behind us. That horse...  he points to the one the half-elf was riding, and is now standing riderless in the middle of the road looking a bit confused.  He can confirm that was his horse. Additionally, roughly one day back is an innkeeper and his wife who will also confirm that we woke up in the morning in a panic to find our horse missing and my friend had something stolen as well. If both of those are not enough, then our employer Mr. Birick in Hupperdook can vouch for us.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an old uniform insignia: You mentioned military time, where were you stationed? I served for a bit at Ashguard.

Silent is inwardly kicking himself for mentioning his service, but he removes his hand from his sword. Ended up serving in Bladegarden for a while... lots of my kind there, easier to fit in. Ashguard though... fought some of those Xhorhasian scum, eh? Musta been rough.

Silent then looks at the half-elf, scowling deeply. Sounds like this man's got a whole bunch of fellas to back his story up. You got anythin' to say for yourself? 

I don't see no bunch of fellas, the half-elf replies.  I see some tall tales, and no-one actually here now to back them up.  I'm sorry, I understand that from your point of view it's my word against his.  I don't know what to suggest, except to go to Felderwin and let the authorities there sort it out. 

Look, he says to the dragonborn, I get that you thought I was easy pickings, just a lone traveller in the countryside.  Just leave me be, that's all I ask.  Ride off and I won't pursue this with the Crownsguard.

Silent looks to Magnum. What d'you say, wanna head towards this guy's friends and the inn a day back, get the full story? Or should we press on to Felderwin? Can't say I got much faith in city guards myself. 

Oh that is rich, sir.  A play at being magnanimous. Well played.  Magnum bows to the half-elf at his feet.  My friend and I have had some experience with highwaymen and ambushes along these roads and I assure you, not a one of them would have pushed his horse to exhaustion for "easy pickings".  No, that is nonsense sir.  This man has pursued you with great effort and yet he hasn't tried to kill you as you originally claimed was his aim. I say we go to Hupperdook and clear this matter up. 

Silent agrees with Magnum's plan. 

The dragonborn responds to your earlier point:  War forces us all to do things at times. Hell of an assignment though Bladegarden. If we ever cross paths in a more friendly environment we'll have to exchange stories.

If he wants to involve the Crownsguard then I won't object since it only hurts him. My companions are headed that way anyways and we can always have them send a letter for information to our employer that will prove our point. Just a shame since if I remember right horse theft is a serious offense. As he said Art, I have more people to back up my point then you. You picked the wrong marks this time and it's come to bite you."

He turns back to you both:  I know you're putting yourself out of the way with this issue and I'm sorry about that. Hate to waste someones time. I'm still willing to pay you all no matter what you decide and can understand not wanting to turn him over to just me also. Seems like the decision is yours then but you'll make four platinum either way. Plus you'll know if I was lying if you get to the inn back that way and they don't know what your talking about.

(So the plan is to head north and meet the dragonborn's witnesses?)

If the dragonborn's companions are already headed towards Felderwin, Silent is willing to travel there as a group. Does he think the dragonborn seems to be telling the truth? 

In case that calls for Insight 22  

Magnum is fine with heading in either direction or even waiting for the companions to catch up if they're eventually heading to Felderwin.

The dragonborn seems happy to bring you north to meet his witnesses.  He's a little hard to read; he's not the most charismatic person you've ever met, but you don't get a sense that he's lying about anything.

You and the dragonborn come to an agreement that you will head north together.  The half-elf, apparently named Art, is of course unhappy and protests loudly, but I would assume that you take measures to persuade him.  You set off, a very odd group of four, back towards the Rillway Road heading north.  

Is there anything you are planning to do with the half-elf on the journey?  Or anything you want to talk to the dragonborn about?

Magnum recommends tying his hands together, wrapping the rope around his waste and lashing him to a horse to walk behind it.