The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Balassar just looks at them and waves as he walks over picking up a stick and trying to draw in the dirt what happened.

Alton gives the giants a friendly wave and will help Balassar with telling the giants what happened.

The younger giant clasps hands with Alton, Silent and Wash, and even touches the nose of the slighty hesitant Trogdor, though he does allow it.  The giant smiles and invites you all to sit.

Balassar, the elder giant puts a massive hand on yours to stop you writing in the dirt.  She gives a beckoning gesture, and says a word in giant which you guess to mean 'come'.  She brings you into the cave, which has been transformed during your short absence.  A fire burns brightly in the centre of the cave, stocked with new reserves of fuel and clearly intended to burn for a long time.  It illuminates the cave walls which are now covered, every inch, in giant runes, some of which seems to sparkle in response to the fire.  Even you are able to sense that there is magic filling this place, but you don't feel that there is any danger.

The elder giant puts her massive hand on your shoulder and speaks.  In giant.  And this time, you understand her perfectly, as though it were your mother tongue:

The young ones who took our cave, they still live and have their freedom.  Are you pleased with this outcome, dragonborn?

Balassar follows and is taken in by the designs looking around and as the giant speaks he is taken back a moment before trying to respond "To be honest they shouldn't have been there in the first place. One of them made a deal and then backed out because it wasn't what he expected. Though part of me does understand he did it for his family, but he should've known what he was getting into in the first place. So I'm okay with the outcome, not gonna hunt him down over it or anything."

Good.  I'm glad you do not seek death.  It would not be the best use of what I must show you.  Come.

She takes you to the wall, and stands you in front of a particular rune.  I believe that you have come here to learn something.  Something that I must pass on to you, as I have taught many others.  Something that you are ready to learn.  Now, trace the rune on the rock.  She demonstrates tracing the rune, her giant finger skillfully drawing on the rock, and then in the air, the exact same design, and she looks to you to see if you will attempt the same.

(OOC: I'm guessing none of the rest of us understand Giant, correct? But it looks like Balassar is being taught something from our perspective?) 

The rest of you are still outside the cave, and can't see what's going on.  The younger giant would have discouraged you from following Balassar, though he wouldn't have resisted if you forced the issue.

If you stay outside, the younger giant invites you to sit at their campfire; they've caught several deer and are in the process of cooking them.  He smiles and points to one of the carcasses that smells very appealing.

Alton happily sits down by the fire and pulls out his lute to play some light music.

The younger giant seems to like the idea of music, and a broad smile crosses his face.  Make a Performance check for Alton.  

Performance: 15

The music is a gently winding melody, relaxing and comforting to those listening.  The giant nods his head, seeming to trace the rise and fall of the tune, and then he begins to hum.  It's a little strange at first, but you soon realise that his voice is an instrument that he wields as skillfully as you do your lute, and the harmonies he creates are unexpected and not quite like anything you've heard before.  Wash and Trogdor are both utterly engrossed, and Silent, you feel a strong desire to join in.

Balassar just begins to follow the older giants lead tracing in the air as well “Like this?” He asks

Yes, she replies.

Balassar, as you trace the rune, you feel strange; it's magic, you're certain of it, but it's not within you like a wizard or sorcerer might feel.  You feel as though you are dipping your finger into a pot of magical ink, and using it to draw something powerful.  But, there's something wrong with the rune, an imperfection.  You're not sure where, but as you complete it, the rune seems fine but the magic fizzles and dissipates.

A good start.  But you will need practice.  The elder giant smiles at you.  Rare to find one gifted among the smallfolk.  Perhaps 'gifted' is the wrong word.  Someone with potential.  Within this cave, we can speak, and I can show you.  This magic will aid you, strengthen you and your comrades as you fight.  It is old, as old as the mountains.  And I would like to teach it to you.  Do you wish to learn?

Balassar just looks at his hand a little as the strange feeling comes over him "Feels like when my dad was teaching me metalwork." he just looks at the giant as it asks him if he wants to learn more and nods "Yeah, if it'll help us out then I'm willing to learn."

After listening intently to Alton and the giant for some time, Silent will inwardly cross his fingers hoping not to screw up and pull out his lute, pluck a few exploratory notes and then do his best to add some bass tones beneath the harmonies. 

Performance 20  

Silent, you don't feel completely happy with your performance, but it's decent, and from the others' perspective it just adds to the atmosphere.  Trogdor starts doing little dances in the air above you, and you all feel relaxed, genuinely rested and calm, for the first time  in a while.

Balassar, your lessons continue the rest of the day, and though you don't feel like you're making much progress, the giant reassures you that you are.  You all spend the night in the company of the giants. 

However, the following day the elder giant, who introduces herself as Merema, informs Balassar that his instruction will take several more days, perhaps a week.

Balassar just looks at his companions after being informed about the length “I can always rejoin ya in a week. That way you all aren’t losing any time reporting back, or maybe we got caught up in the investigation and gave those ones heading to the girls a little more time.” He adds with a smirk.

I can take a message back to Felderwin, Wash suggests.  I think... maybe I need to talk to the Lawmaster about something as well.  I'm happy to say that you are all busy handling negotiations with Rilt's new giant neighbours.  It's even true, sort of.

Silent will defer to Alton and Wash's judgement on who should head back to Felderwin as they've known each other longer, though he is happy to accompany Wash back if Wash feels the need for a travelling companion along the (potentially dangerous) road. 

Alton will accompany Wash to the town of Rilt to help explain the situation and also to see him off when he heads back to Felderwin.