The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Alton goes over to the captain's of the guards, "Thank you all for your help. I never thought skeletons would be so hard to fight." He smiles as he talks with them. 

Quote from StevenDM >>

Magnum [...]  Auspex isn't in his truest form.  This owl is just a shape he assumes when he answers my summons [...].

 Wash asks Trogdor "can you also change forms? Are you also a celestial being?"

The halfling woman leading the Crownsguard removes her helmet.  She looks at each of you in turn before finally settling on Alton and ignoring Balassar:

Skeleton horses and... whatever those riders were, she says.  Ghouls, maybe?  Never seen the like, and never hoped to.  They rode ride past us, didn't even seem to notice us.  They rode to attack you.  Why?

Wash, Trogdor speaks in your mind.   Yes.  And you can give me other forms.  I would ask first, if I were you.    I like this one though. 

(Man, the crownsguard just don't like Balassar)

Alton shrugs, "They really didn't attack us, but were attacking our.. um.. prisoner, I guess you could call him." He snaps his fingers, "Oh, that reminds me. He has something of mine we were trying to get back before the fight happened. Excuse me for a moment." With that Alton heads over to where Art is tied up "Hey Art, we just saved your life a few times back there. I think that means you owe us, if I've heard the rules of saving someone correctly. I'd like my map you stole back and the reason why you stole it. Do you know something about it?" If Art doesn't seem responsive, he will splash some water onto his face to get his attention. 

(Well, he did just insult them...) 

The halfling follows you as you go to Art, who is tied up securely and somewhat injured though in better shape after Wash's healing (I've healed him for the appropriate number of hit die.)

She looks with some surprise and concern at the half-elf.  This man was the target of the creatures' attacks?  Why is he tied up?

Alton, Art seems about to speak but when the halfling guard captain speaks, he seems to change his mind.

Oh, that.  I suggested tying him up before we were attacked.  Magnum gives a little wave.

My friend, Silent, and I were on the road to Hupperdook when this fellow Art stopped us.  He said he was being pursued by bandits, and frankly I didn't believe him.  When the dragonborn gentleman, Balassar, rode up he showed us a badge and told us Art was a thief.  I subdued the man and we tied him up and agreed to go back to Hupperdook to settle the matter with the Crownsguard.  Then we were attacked by these creatures.  Then you rode and that brings us to now.

A badge, the guard captain says flatly.  She turns to Balassar.  Let me see this badge, please.

Honestly, it wasn't the badge that swayed me in his favor.  It was this guy's really idiotic story about bandits pursuing him for quote-unquote, mysterious reasons.

Magnum gestures at Art.

Balassar just holds up the badge and his patch from his unit "Take your pick. Though this man stole from my friend, couldn't let him get away with it."

While the guards are distracted with Balassar, Alton will lean in close to Art with the best evil grin he can make and whisper so only Art can hear him. 

So, a former soldier.  A man tied up, and you claim he's a thief.  And three undead horsemen intent on killing him.  The guard captain sighs deeply and looks at Alton who is leaning in close to Art:  Please untie him and let him stand.  

When Art is on his feet, she looks up at him.  These men are saying you are a thief.  Is that right?

Art looks very nervously around him; he is the very picture of guilt, but when he speaks, his story does not quite match yours: Please, captain, these men attacked me, tied me up on the road to Felderwin and brought me north.  Please help me, and don't believe what they say.

Art's Deception (with disadvantage from Alton's successful intimidation):  6
Captain's Insight 10

She turns to Alton.  What exactly did he steal?

Alton looks at Art with disappointment and shakes his head before turning to, the guard, "He stole a map that my great-grandfather made in his travels. It is like a family heirloom. Oh, and he stole Wash's horse to get away from us." He goes and describes what the map looks like to the guard.

That map belongs to me, Art says defiantly as the guard captain begins to search him.  It doesn't take her long to find the map tucked into a jacket pocket.  That's mine! repeats Art, as she takes it and opens it, frowning at the contents for a moment before folding it up.  

I don't believe you for a second, friend, she says to Art.  I don't like the look of you.  But I don't suppose I have much proof either way.  

She raises her voice to speak to the whole group.

My name is Captain Tanda Ressin.  What we have here is either the theft of a map and horse on the one hand, or a kidnapping on the other.  That will be for the Lawmaster to decide.  You'll need to accompany us back to Felderwin.  I hope there's no objection?

No objection at all, says Art cheerfully, rubbing his now-freed wrists.  

The rest of the guards have begun to pile the corpses of the dead creatures in one place, away from your camp.  They seemed to be keeping an eye on you all as they do so, but not expecting you to resist.

Magnum has no objections. 

Silent mutters something about having no objections, sheathing his sword and shooting Art a nasty look. 

Balassar shrugs “Sounds good to me.”

Hopefully the necromancer who sent these creatures after Art doesn't decide to attack again, in case he's a liability to them.  What was it the creature said to you, Art?  This operation wasn't authorized?  I'm sorry, Captain Ressin.  I neglected to mention that one of the walking corpses addressed Art while we were fighting.  It nearly slipped my mind.

Wash is curious as to why Art seems so keen to get to the Felderwin Lawmaster, though does not object.

He communicates with Trogdor (via find familiar rather than limited telepathy) Can you stay out of sight? I have a bad feeling about what is coming next.

Alton nods, "I don't have an objection Ms. Ressin." He gives his topknot a small tug as a thought pops into his head, "May I make a suggestion though? If nothing else to maybe save some time later."

Wash, Trogdor takes to the air without a response and is soon lost behind the nearby trees.

The guards are now setting up camp, near to your own spot but not intrusively so.

Go ahead, the guard captain says cautiously to Alton.  She still has the map in her hand.

An interesting point, she says to Magnum.  One that the lawmaster will want to hear about in detail.