The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Balassar, it's been a while since you drank heavily, and Moss seems to be faring well in the beginning.  But you have a lot of experience in this area, and as the evening goes on she finds it harder and harder to keep up.  She doesn't hesitate though, not for a second, not even when it's clear she has little chance - though perhaps it's not clear to her.  In the end, you're left alone, long after closing time, with the bartender looking on sympathetically and the pair of you, one unconscious and one barely conscious.  Don't worry, I've a room where she can sleep it off, he says.  And another staff member offers you much needed assistance to reach your own room.

You all wake in the morning, having completed a long rest.  However, Balassar, you are extremely hungover and struggle to get out of bed.  Moss has risen before you and made her way back to her own barracks, leaving a message for Balassar:  "I'll beat you next time, old man."  And the bill - Balassar, please deduct nine silver for the night's drinks.

It's a new day.  Fray is expecting you today for a meeting, but you have time to carry out one task in the town (shopping, or visiting someone) if you wish.  Alternatively, we can move straight to the meeting.

Balassar just looks at the two grabbing his head for a second “Forgot what it was like being around military folk again. You guys lead, I’ll just follow.”

Silent slaps Balassar on the back with a grin. Ain't nothin' like more booze to heal a hangover. 

Later, before heading out to meet Fray, Silent wants to bring up a concern he'd been mulling over the night before. He'll only bring this stuff up if he's confident they're completely alone. 

I know Fray mentioned she's got some other work for us. But... I can't shake the feeling we mighta left some stones unturned back in that village. 

The thing causing those kids to awaken those Kryn memories - it had to be a physical object, like a magicky beacon. There has to be one in the area, I'm sure of it. Been thinking on it and I can't figure out another way, unless there's Kryn hiding in the village somewhere. 

Last thing I wanna do is draw any more attention to those kids. But it's something we oughta keep in mind. If the beacon there was planted by Kryn, it might mean they're tryin' to soften up the village for a quick takeover. And if it got stolen and some Empire spies hid it there, you bet your arse the Kryn'll be tryin' to get it back. Either way, that village probably aint out of the woods just yet. 

Alton looks a bit questionably at Silent, "I don't think that is how it works with hangovers."

When Silent brings up his concern, Alton replies, "I don't think we are really bound by anything now to keep doing jobs for Fray and the big guy back in Felderwin. The work has been pretty steady so far with them that it just has been easier to pick up the next bit of work. If you really think about it, we were more coerced into taking the job that brought us out here in the first place. So, I don't see any reason why we can't go back on our own to turn over those rocks. Do you think it would be worth going back?"

Balassar just grunts at Silents suggestion.

As they find a quiet place for Silent to bring up his concern Balassar just thinks for a second "That's not good, we should at least let Fray know to investigate the area or be on look out then for potential threats around there. We could use our encounters with those goblins as the reason for the suspicion. We don't have to talk about the kids, but if the Kryn are softening that village as a target and we don't speak up...that blood is on our hands."

Silent nods at Balassar's suggestion about using the goblins as an excuse. What worries me most is the possibility that it wasn't the Kryn who planted it. If they're tryin' to use reincarnated folk to take over the village, it'd be a pretty bloodless coup - Empire folk becoming Xhorhasian and switching sides willingly. But if I was a betting man, I'd put my gold on some Empire lackey stealin' the thing and hidin' it there. Or hell, maybe some rogue loose cannon tryin' to take advantage of the chaos. And if there's some skulduggery happenin' with any Empire higher-ups... well, what if they find out that we found out and try to bump us off? 

I think Fray is a solid soldier and I'm willin' to tell her about the possible threats if you all are. But I reckon if there is somethin' down there... it'd be better if it falls into our hands than anyone else's. Still... and here Silent's brow furrows, if we go back to that village now we'll be drawin' real attention to it. And the kids... if any soldiers stationed there start hearin' rumours... ah, damn it all! No easy solution. 

You pass the morning discussing your various options, and what you might want to tell Fray.

And then, at the agreed time (or thereabouts), you make your way to the headquarters of the Crownsguard in Bladegarden, where you are shown into a large courtyard filled with supplies and with Crownsguard from the city and elsewhere inspecting goods, carrying out drills, and getting on with the business of life and war.

Fray meets you, and leads you to a few wooden benches set aside in the corner of the courtyard.  Sorry, there's not much space these days, she says.  Rooms are filled with supplies, or refugees, or people who are more important than you or me.  I have a desk to work at, but no office - and I'll not be here much longer anyway.  She scowls as a gnome in uniform walks close to you, carrying a basket of dried fruit, but they hurry past leaving you alone again.  They're sending me to Zadash.  New assignment.  My replacement's already heading towards Felderwin - hopefully you'll meet her there.

So, like I said, there's a job I'm wanting to sort out before I go.  The message I've got from the higher-ups is this - we need to clamp down on anything unknown, any signs that the enemy might be planning a surprise. That means investigating things like the disappearances, which you've already sewn up, or so it seems. It also means finding out who's sending giants with red eyes out onto the roads. Remember that time we got attacked? There've been two more attacks on the same route. The other groups survived, but they didn't fare as well as we did, with you defending us.

We don't know how many more giants there are, and we don't know who's behind it. So, the job is to follow the tracks back to the source, and deal with it now so it can't bite us in the arse a month down the line. Or, if it's too much to handle, gather intel and get it to Bladegarden.

It's dangerous work, and it will pay well.  A hundred gold for each red-eyed giant you kill, and another two hundred and fifty each if you find and deal with the source of the problem. 

She pauses, and lets the information sink in.  She also waits in case you have questions.

These other red-eyed giants… d’you know if they look the same as the one that fought us? He casts a glance at Balassar before saying, We’ve met some different, uh, types o’ giant. If these red-eyes all the look the same, maybe they’re from one tribe and got a ringleader sendin’ ‘em out into human territory

Hill giants, the same as we saw.  That's what's in the descriptions.   Might be the same tribe, though I don't think anyone outside giantkin would recognise it.

Silent looks to Alton and Balassar. What d’you think lads? We take this job? Or is there anything else we wanna deal with first? 

Balassar just thinks for a moment and then nods "Sounds good to me."

Alton nods too, "I'm good with it. I do need to resupply on a few things before we go."

Fray smiles, clearly relieved that someone is taking on this job.  Thank you.  I suppose you don't hear that enough, but thank you.  You're doing a lot to help the people of the Empire, and that means everything to me.

So, all I can suggest is heading back to where we fought the giants, and then tracking them east to wherever it is they came from.  I don't think they would be able to hide their tracks - unless by someone else's magic, I suppose.  In any case, the job is to find out whatever's going on, and if it's a threat and within your capabilities, deal with it.  If it's a serious danger and too much for the three of you, then come back to Bladegarden and talk to Captain Derinik.  He knows all about it, and you'll find him in this building.  Otherwise, head back to Felderwin.  I'll give you a letter for the Lawmaster and Starosta explaining everything.

Fray writes, seals and hands you said letter, addressed to the Lawmaster of Felderwin.  What errands do you want to complete in Bladegarden before heading off?  Also, what are you doing about your horses - I think you still have two, is that right?

Alton is going to go pickup some more road rations, and we do only have two horses after one of the peryton fights. 

As he's leaving the courtyard of the Crownsguard garrison, Silent stops and turns back to Fray. Slipped my mind before, but with all this talk of giants on the road... we ran into some goblins on the road to Trean. Oddly angry, out for blood. Frankly, lucky we found the kids before those blighters got 'em. While we're on the giant hunt, might be good to keep an eye on Trean. If there's any plots afoot with all these beastfolk... well, that village might be related. 

After leaving, Silent will accompany Alton to purchase rations but doesn't have any other errands in mind and is ready to roll at first light.  

Fray nods, but looks uncertain.  I'll pass that along but it's not up to me and we're stretched.  Really stretched.  But it's good that you thought of them.  You're good folk, my friends.  I hope I can call you that.  Take care, and don't get killed by raving giants.  I'll make it home to Felderwin one day, and I hope to see you there, or at least get news that you're doing well.  And Alton, go home and see your ma.  

She shakes each of you by the hand, and walks back into the Crownsguard building.

Alton, you are able to buy rations, as per standard prices - 5 silver pieces per day, so 5 gold for ten days' journey.  Is anyone else buying rations?

So, you're heading back down south, along the roads you've travelled before.  It's just past noon, and with your shopping errands I would say you spend the rest of the day finishing up in Bladegarden and spend one more night at the Burnt Scabbard (1 silver each for a room, 6 copper for a meal), then set out the next day.

It should take around two days to reach the place where you fought the giants.  We'll do one encounter check per day, so can I please have two Perception checks each from you.  

What's going on with the horses?  Are you buying a replacement for the one that's lost?  Also, can you remind me of their names?

What's going on with the wolf?  You would find it slinking around outside town, hiding from people - if you choose to look.

(OOC: I genuinely forgot we had horses, will have to defer to the other guys on that front. Silent has spent so much time walking across Wildemount that I think he’d be stubborn enough to avoid spending money on a new one.) 

Oi Balassar, your dog’s still hangin’ around. Still needs a name, too… 

Perception 12   

Perception 5   

(OOC: I know Alton named his horse Trigger, and I believe Balassar named his horse Nyx.)

"We should try to get her more used to people too." During their rests, Alton will help Balassar or Silent out with the wolf.

Perception: 23 
Perception: 14 

Balassar just nods as he thinks of a name "How about Ghost since it seems to disappear well."

OOC:

perception check: 7

perception check: 11

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