The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Silent unhooks his two handaxes from his belt, as well as his old Aurora Watch-issued rapier and lays them on the ground. To Seomon he says, Aye, if you want to roam free, I won't stand in your way, and you can arm yourselves with these. That is, if you reckon you're ready to take up arms. Because out here, it's kill or be killed. Especially in a time of war. The next "Red Company" that comes around might not be takin' no prisoners. 

To Carri, he says, Yeah, a good strong Kryn swearword, that. Not sure if the drow did this to you, necessarily. Far as I know, there's... artifacts that can collect souls of dead drow. They sorta sense when a new life comes into the world, and the souls get siphoned into that body. Really a luck of the draw thing. Begs the question of how one o' those artifacts got into your village... actually, Silent's brow furrows, you lot ain't never seen no fancy lookin' crystal-orb thingy hangin' around the village, yeah? Like a ball with a bunch of points and faces? 

Only... in the memories, Ema half-whispers.

Seomon takes the rapier, and holds it as though it might turn into a snake at any moment. It's clear from his grip that he's never held a proper weapon in his life, and then... he drops into a practised combat stance, and makes a few flourishes with the weapon, as though he had been using it his whole life.  He lowers the weapon, and swears under his breath, but he doesn't drop it.

You said... you don't know much about what's happened to us, Ema asks.  If we go to Xhorhas, what will happen to us there?  Will they kill us as Empire spies?

Balassar just watches his eye raising at the display with the rapier “Should’ve let him fight that Jules guy.” He says chuckling.

As the girl asks her question he just stands a little more straight “You don’t get there. We are taking you back to your parents, that’s what was asked of us. Silent can help to explain to you what’s going on before you were reborn, but your not Xhorasian anymore by birth and you have family broken up over your disappearance.”

Silent is frowning deeply. The situation is clearly stressing him out. Haven’t been home in years but I can tell you this. Kryn soldiers won’t kill you on sight. I was one; that ain’t how they operate. They’ll want information from you first. If an idiot like me can see what’s happened, you can bet Kryn wizards will know more about your situation. And if they find out what you are… you’ll have a place in the Dynasty. For better or worse. 

He acknowledges Balassar’s statement and stands up, looks at him. I’ll only take ‘em back home if that’s what they wanna do. You’re right. They ain’t Xhorhasian, not really. But d’you reckon they’re still just Empire kids? Those mercs wanted ‘em locked up as spies, or worse. I’d bet my sword that if half the soldiers in the Bladegarden garrison found out what they are, they’d agree. You know as well as I do - in wartime you don’t take no chances with the enemy. So what kind of life waits for these kids back home when the rumours get out? And how long d’you reckon they can hide what they are, what they’re becoming? They got every reason to not wanna go home - I sure as hell ain’t gonna force ‘em to go anywhere they don’t wanna be.  

Balassar just looks at Silent “I guess they better not say anything then and neither will we…about this at least. However, The Red Company knows we have them and I’m sure that means the guards will find out. So we need to at least take them back home. From there I would say it’s up to them the life they live. You kids know about each other, I would keep this between you.”

Balassar just takes a sigh “As for what the Red Company was saying about them being spies. We can say the kids were playing a game that was in poor taste. Every kid likes to play war, these ones were supposed to be the crick spies and they got carried away.”

If you take us home, we'll just run again, Ema says abruptly.  If that's enough for you, then so be it.  We can lie until you've gone, and then leave again.  No-one will say it's your fault.  

Seomon is looking at his weapon, turning it carefully in his hand.  Would you take us to Xhorhas?  Or, to the border at least?  So we can get our answers?  His sister is avoiding making eye contact with anyone at all.

(It seems they're not in agreement on the right course, any more than you are.)

As the conversation goes on, Alton sits on the ground tugging at his topknot, "Why don't we do both? We can take you back to Trean and explain to your folks what is going on and you can rest up for a day or two; then decide on what you want to do. If do really plan to travel to Xhorhas it would be better to at least have some provisions for traveling. Also it would give some ease to your folks to know what you're doing and to hear it from you." He stands up and dusts himself off, "How does that sound to start with?" 

Silent steps away from the conversation and looks into the distance eastward. Without looking back he says, Whatever you end up deciding, I’m willin’ to make the trek to Xhorhas with anyone who wants to go. It ain’t gonna be no berry-picking trip, though. Think on it carefully, and I mean real carefully. And make the decision for yourself, not for no one else. 

Silent, please make a Persuasion check.

Persuasion 20 

Balassar just listens and crosses his arms “I already told ya two I’m not looking to be a fugitive. Especially during these times.” He just looks at the kids “When we get them back we should go to Ashguard and help out there. If someone were to say follow us and in the midst of confusion slip across the border…”

Silent takes a very long pause before looking back at Balassar. He responds very quietly. 

Aye, I remember. But you heard the lass. Power of these memories ain't no joke. If they wanna make the journey, I don't blame 'em, and if they ain't locked up they'll be makin' their own way to Xhorhas. Alone, their odds of survival out here are next to none. Can't have that on my conscience. Not when I can do somethin' about it. 

I ain't volunteerin' you for this, Balassar. And you too, Alton. Last thing I want is to drag you both into a warzone. I can go it alone, I should be able to protect the kids and I know the way well. But if they're making the journey, I just can't let them go it alone. You, Balassar... when we teamed up in Felderwin, you told me I had to make a choice. To quit runnin' from things. To make somethin' of myself, serve the people, help the victims of this damned war. Well, now I've got a chance to make the right choice, make those amends. I have to take it. You understand.  I have to. 

If there are answers in Xhorhas, then I want to go to Xhorhas, says Seomon.  Ema nods.  But...maybe... for the moment, it's enough to know we're not crazy.  And I don't want ma and pa to get in trouble, if the Empire thinks we're spies, or traitors.  

Ema looks at Carri, then at Seomon, and says:  We need to talk this through.  Can you give us a few minutes?

Without waiting for an answer, they move apart some ways and begin to talk in hushed voices.

Balassar just looks at them and nods as the girl speaks "Would be a shame if this decision got your parents killed. But yeah take the time you need to make a decision." he says still standing close clearly not letting them have to private of a conversation.

Balassar looks at Silent "If they want to go that's on them. However, there are consequences for their actions if they just take off. Especially since it will give weight to the argument that they are traitors or spies. As the girl said the next move would be to interrogate their families to see if they were also spies and depending on the interrogator that can get pretty nasty. It's the same reason I'm not necessarily okay with going against the Empire, can't have my family losing their shop because someone thought I was a traitor."

He looks back to the kids for a moment "Look I'm not down with taking kids into Xhorhas, but that one can clearly handle a weapon and who knows what the others can do. They just need a real reason to be crossing, especially since I'm sure the border will be better protected than when you made it across. Hell maybe they go back and buy some equipment inspired by their heroic rescue and they want to apprentice under us. Whatever it is though they need a good reason and more than one of them needs to know how to fight or else we are just walking them into their deaths."

They’ve got a real reason for crossing. Those memories, the language they can speak. The reason he can handle a weapon is because those memories are still flooding into him - given time, they’ll probably have more of that knowledge available. And like I said, the Kryn don’t kill on sight - even in wartime. They’ll recognize me, and they’ll recognize what the kids are becoming. And once that’s clear, they’ll be through. The fighting will be happening on the way to the Dynasty, not inside it. At least, not for them. I’ll be in danger, but they should be fine. Ain’t no guarantees, of course. But it ain’t necessarily the death march you’re talkin’ about. 

Granted, I dunno much about the Empire’s interrogation techniques. Seems to me like they’ll all be at risk of being interrogated if they go back to living at home. And, if these are good interrogators, I reckon they’d figure out what’s going on faster than I did. Then their skins are all on the line instead of just their parents. But, he shrugs, it’s a fair point. And not my decision to make. There’s no safe solutions here. 

Balassar keeps his focus on Silent “Real reason to you but what are you going to tell the Empire if they stop you on the border. Let alone if it gets out that three children who were spying for the Kryn may try to cross the border with the assistance of a half-orc, halting, and Dragonborn. We need a real reason for the Empire that’s not going to wind any of us in jail. Plus these kids aren’t Kryn, they’re Empire so then you have the issue of trying to convince the Kryn to keep them alive long enough to test out this theory. If you barely know anything about it, then I doubt the average foot soldier will know anything about it.”

Silent chuckles without much humour. Don't measure the knowledge of the rest of the Kryn by me.  I ain't never been the sharpest tool in the shed. This kind of thing... common knowledge amongst the drow. Any captain should know what they're lookin' at, and I don't think there's gonna be any real issues of convincing the real bigwigs once the kids start speakin' Elvish and talkin' about what they know. More importantly... someone must've placed one o' those orb things in their village or close to it. The Kryn know that thing is there, or they'll know it's gone missing. Either way, the story will add up for 'em. Whatever other faults they got, they ain't homicidal maniacs. 

As for the Empire, here Silent scratches his beard pensively, fair point. In fact, I don't reckon we'll ever find a reason good enough for the Empire to let us carry some kids through the border. Meaning that, if we do make this journey, I ain't leadin' us through the border at Ashguard. We'd go south or north, through the mountains or the marshlands. Empire's got eyes everywhere, sure, but I don't reckon they've got hands to spare patrolling the rougher wilderness. He exhales deeply. And then we're back to the issue of being fugitives, wanted men. But like I said. You didn't sign on for this responsibility. Hell, if you go back to Bladegarden and tell 'em I kidnapped the kids and was a Kryn traitor the whole time, I reckon you and Alton should be safe. 

The kids have finished their conversation and come over towards you, but you notice that they are hanging back a short distance, apparently listening to you and not willing to interrupt your discussion.

Balassar just raises his hand lightly to pause the conversation and then looks to the kids “So what would ya lot like to do?”

Take us home, Seomon says in a harsh voice.  He blinks, suddenly realising that came out as an order.  Please, he adds, flushing a little.  Take us home, to Trean.  We can't stay there forever, but... right now, with the war...