The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Silent, with Balassar right behind you and Alton waiting with Wash two dozen feet behind, you approach  the cave and stick your head in.

Inside you see what is a fairly large cave.  Inside are two huge creatures, busily tending a fire in the centre of the space.  They are about twenty feet tall, but both sitting at the moment and not looking at you.  You see a pair of huge packs over to one side, and a few possessions, including weapons and books, strewn around one side of the cave.  

The creatures are clearly giants, one older and one younger.  The older one looks up and looks at Silent directly in the face.  They raise an eyebrow, and then resume poking the fire with a stick that is probably actually a branch.

Silent lowers his blade and raises a hand. Howdy. He cranes his neck backwards to look at Alton and Balassar and hisses We got company, boys. 

Alton moves up behind Balassar and peaks around him to look inside the cave, "It doesn't look like they are hostile. Did they see us?" He looks back at Wash, "Do you have anything that will help us talk with them?"

The elder giant grunts in response, and points the branch to a spot near the fire without even looking at you.  The younger one scoots over to make way, and as he does so he turns slightly to look at Silent, his face calm, before he looks away again.

"I think they are inviting us inside." Alton says as he moves up next to Silent. "I hope they speak common."

Balassar just looks at them and puts away his weapons "One way to find out." he says walking towards the giants and giving them a wave "Can I join you?" he asks first in common and then in draconic to see if they understand either as he approaches.

The older giant points again at a space near the large fire, and grunts.  

Silent sheathes his sword and follows Balassar in, walking extremely slowly and squatting down near the fire. 

Balassar just walks to the area and sits down waiting to see what happens.

You both sit down, as Wash remains warily at the mouth of the cave.

The older giant sighs, and seems to relax a little.  She pokes the fire a few times, but does not speak.  

The younger giant takes out what appears to be a large book and seems to start drawing or writing something.

Alton will walk up and sit up by the fire next to Silent. 

Balassar will just look at what the giant is drawing to try and understand.

Balassar, you get a glimpse of the giant's book; he is drawing the scene in front of you, two giants and four (Wash joins as well, following Alton) humanoids, seated around a fire in a cave.

The elder giant says something, slowly and warily, looking at each your faces in turn. It's in giant, so I guess none of you understand?  Will you do anything in response?

Balassar nods as he draws in the dirt four stick figures pointing to him and the rest. He then draws two giant stick figures and points to the giants. His final addition to the drawing is an equal sign that shows the six figures all holding hands "Maybe they'll understand drawings?"

Alton nods at Balassar, "Good idea, it is worth a try." He will look around the area to see if there are any loose rocks on the ground to use to mark on the cave walls.

Alton, you do find loose rocks that could be used for that purpose, and much of the cave walls are smooth and could hold markings, though they are blank now.

The elder giant studies Balassar as he draws, a thoughtful expression on her face.  As you have finished, she clears a patch of earth next to her, huge hands smearing the dirt and mud to one side and exposing smooth rock beneath.  She takes a small tool that you do not recognise from a bag at her side, and begins to make scratch marks on the stone.  At first, it seems that she is drawing a similar picture of stick figures, but she starts joining the lines in a way that indicates this is a rune or symbol rather than a descriptive picture.  She makes the final stroke with what might be a flourish, and turns to regard you all.

Wash, Alton and Silent, it's a rune that you do not understand.

Balassar, you have no idea why you know this, but the rune means:

Alton picks up one of the stones and draws some stick figure sheep on the cave wall.

Silent watches the giants and his comrades intently for a long time before setting down his pack and opening up his lute case. He holds the lute forth so the giants can see it and plucks a few tuneless notes. You fellas like music? He tries to catch Alton's eye while he's drawing and winks. 

Alton, make a straight DEX check to try to represent a sheep in a way that the giants will understand.

Silent, if you start playing, make a Performance check; Alton, please make one too if you are joining in.  The giants regard your instrument with some curiosity, but don't otherwise respond when you bring it out.

Dex roll to draw sheep: 23

Alton is too focused on drawing stick sheep at the moment to notice Silent pulling out his lute.