"Of course." Maks nods to the pair. "It doesn't last forever, but with repeated castings, we can work out more permanent communication." she gives a doggy grin, before resting a pair of fingers atop her head, and closes her eyes in concentration. The next word is spoken in Celestial: "Unity." and then she calmly places her hand atop the crown of the shaman's head, opening his consciousness to their words.
Bavari nods and addresses the group.
"I am Bavari, I have been talking to your ogre friend Nathan. We were surprised to see you in our valley, as we heard you and spotted your fires last evening. We watched you from afar and mistook your for spirits sent by our ancestors. This misunderstanding has lead to much death and suffering, but those who died in battle will be remembered. We value battle prowess and from this we will learn. Our people have been pushed to the edge of the wilds. While we have a truce with the other races, over time, they push their borders farther and farther as they take more from the earth. We are able to fight them from time to time and make them understand we are not to be trifled with, but in the end, their armies outnumber us, and they can bring powerful magic and weaponry that our people do not possess.
Will you help us? The dwarves and humans that live beyond our lands are not evil, but they are greedy and their lust for the earth's riches has removed several forests with their need to fuel their fires. They have diverted streams and rivers, and even the mighty Snowmelt River that starts here, has been dammed up at their fort.
Your appearance can not be by chance, as the spirits and ancestors watch out for us. We were wrong in thinking you were a test for us. In fact you were sent to aid us! Lend us your prowess in battle and help secure our people's traditions. Our leader Golden Ram would most certainly welcome you to his hall and urge the same, though I do not speak for his Wisdom."
Bavari eagerly but expectantly waits for a reply. The group senses that he feels he is part of a momentous occasion.
It would be so easy to simply accept his assumptions. That they were magical heroes, sent to show them the way, to win the war... to guide them by letting them believe the simple falsehood.
Maks was silent for a moment, then looked to Lucina and the others, as Lotham spoke and broke her thought processes.
"It... isn't that simple. We are not all of like mind, and some of us may seek to aid you in war. But we aren't an army... And I'm not a soldier. I'm more of a diplomat... And while I can work to aid your people in that way... I just..." She trails off and shrugs.
"My family will have as many points of view as it has people. Our father did his best to raise us properly, but some lessons are harder. The group that I travel with is less... apt... at solving problems via violence than some. We are not the least violent, I'm sure... but if you're looking for combatants..." She shakes her head. "If you're looking for allies to learn about you and your way of life, such that we may improve your standing with the others... this is firmly within my personal scope." she acknowledges. "Hopefully we can make arrangements to fulfill your needs to the best of our own abilities.
When Maks finishes, Nathan takes up the conversation, "Greetings again Bavari. It is good to speak to you and be understood fully.
Maks speaks truth. While we are one family we have many different voices and abilities. Our Father collected us together as a family over 10,000 years ago and he has been taken from us. The demi-plane he created has been destroyed and we have arrived here on the hill top. The unfortunate rest you know.
As you said earlier, ogres are the worst and I agree with you in that. Goodwin, our Father, has taught me better ways. I strive to be as un-ogrelike as possible. I would be glad to act as a diplomat and speaker for your people, but we are not here to start a war. We want to find our Father and free him from whoever has him."
Day 2: Tables 1 & 6 - Goatling Base Camp
Bavari looks from Makoto and to Nathan listening to them speak. He considers the situation and seems to furrow his brow a bit, but also seems serene. "For however the spirits have guided you here, there is a purpose hidden. Nathan, truly 10,00 years? Why so long and then suddenly now. Clearly this is a sign more than any that you are here to help us. He nods again, convinced not only now by his own thinking, and definitely the convincing arguments of both Makoto and Nathan. He turns to Greebins and replies. [b]"I must admit that while I am a battle shaman, and it is my duty to guide our warriors in that endeavor, I do not wish for the genocide of any other race. I am but one shaman among many who came here to guide some of our younger warriors on their yearly spiritual journey and participate in the Ceremony of the Lake. I am not the wisest, nor am even among the Elder Council. I do wish you could help us though, but I understand you may have your own destinies. When the others arrive here, we will all make a consensus. We will complete the Ceremony of the Lake before returning to our village. There will be more who arrive to participate soon."
"The strong take from the weak, that is the way of the world. A sufficient military force is required to maintain such treaties, a deterrent that makes taking their land and resources no longer worth the cost. Perhaps we could offer training in addition to being their voice in exchange for food, water and basic supplies." Eleanor says thinking aloud.
Teniel tries to reply in metaphors the goatlings would understand. "We were brought here by spirits, but different ones than yours. Ten thousand years ago, the great spirit Goodwin—a spirit from lands far from these—brought us to his own personal spirit world to train us in the ways of patience, magic, and strength. But he was kidnapped by spirits of darkness, and our home was burning, so we fled through the spirit worlds, to where we could escape."
"Perhaps it was easier to come through to Spirit Lake, where the spirits of your ancestors travel—perhaps the doorway was already open, and that is why we arrived here. But we were NOT sent by the spirits of your ancestors, and, as you have learned, we are flesh-and-blood, with our own weaknesses of body and mind."
Teniel considers the proposition of the goatlings' situation. "The problem is that you can't ask heroes to stop an entire nation. A corrupt ruler, sure; but our histories tell that such conflicts can last many generations, and after the heroes have all passed on the situation goes wrong again. So there are a couple of solutions we could help you with, but simply slaughtering humans is off the table."
"First, we could teach you more of the humans' technology, as our great spirit was well versed in such arts—or even steal some from the humans themselves. You could learn to live in forest cities, forge weapons out of steel, build wooden forts to mark the boundaries of your forest. If nothing else, it would teach the humans to respect and fear you more, for your intelligence as well as warrior culture. The humans and dwarves may still ask for access to your lumber and ore, but you could harvest it yourself from deep in the forest, replanting trees as you went, trading ore to the dwarves in exchange for an alliance against the humans and wood to the humans in exchange for an alliance against the dwarves."
"Second, even if we made peace treaties with the human rulers, those treaties would only last as long as the rulers live. We could instead seek out exiles, wanderers, people in touch with nature, and those with nature magic and settle them at the borders of your forest, creating cities and border states that will respect your forest and your ways and whose purpose, as a physical barrier to human expansion, will be to keep you out of conflict; if the people we settle have many humans in their villages, perhaps this will dissuade the humans from fighting past them to get to their forest."
"Third, we could seek permanent allies. In our ancient home, far away, many races made their home in forests—the elves, the vanarans, and my people as well, the shadow children. We could travel to other forests across the world, and see if we can find a kingdom of powerful elves, on the other side of human lands, who would wish to see your forest protected and ally with you against human encroachment, perhaps even sending warriors of their own to patrol your borders."
He listens as Dalang proposes various solutions to the problem. He says to Nathan, in the tongue of Giants, "We should hear out their leaders, as well as the leaders of the humans and dwarves, before we take any interfering action."
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The goatlings nod at Teniel's oratory presentation. "We understand. These discussions are complicated and lengthy, and certainly not for us to decide now, but it is good to know some of you may be interested. What does your large overall group plan to do?"
In the end, it didn't really matter. The goatlings thought they were sent here to help them. They were wrong. And while they might yet help, that false initial assumption negated any of the conclusions drawn from it. They would probably end up trading some kind of help for knowledge or tools though.
Tavros had every confidence his siblings would work something out. They were good at people-talk and negotiating and other stuff he found rather dull.
"The problems of the state are maybe a bit too big for us to discuss here. Maybe it would be better to deal with more immediate concerns, such as laying the dead to rest."
Maks moves her attention to Greebins. "Perhaps you're right. Asking that we lend them our combat prowess may simply be a cultural thing that doesn't translate well." she nods, before turning her attention to each other person in turn, as they speak. "Mlinzi has a point, we should go ahead and give this shaman his rest, I'm certain there will be many more, later... we should at the very least make preparations." she said, tails tucked slightly, ears down. "And we really need to get a message to everyone else not to build here; I think that's what the majority of us will be starting to do... and that would be very bad."
She slips away to begin gathering wood with Miyu from the direction they had come; they'd need a lot of it for the Pyres. She'd only get wood that had already been downed.
You suspect they would not have the funeral pyres here at the camp, so gathering wood here might not be the best idea.
Nathan nods to Maks, "Yes, let use let them prepare for the funerals."
"Clearly, no decision can be reached before we met with the tribes' leaders. Bavari, let us know when it is time. For now, we will wait for your others to return."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Bavari turns to Lotham. "The Ceremony is where the warriors who have come on the yearly journey gather at the lake. Mostly it is younger or new warriors, but often it is older ones as well looking for a spiritual sign. We gather around the lake and recite the old tales, remember the heroes of the past, and perform the ritualistic songs and dances to appease the spirits. On rare occasions the Spirit of the Lake will appear and bless us. You are all welcome to join."
Her ears twitched as she listened to the braying around her, trying to put a finger on what different people and things were saying.
As Makoto paints, several of the goatlings wander by from time to time our of curiosity. After the brief chat with Bavaari, he steps away and discusses with the other goatlings various tasks it seems. Some goatlings leave, and in short order others return from scouting missions.
After a bit Bavari approaches the group.
"Our warriors have begun to regroup, messengers have been sent to relay the news, and we will be traveling to the lake soon. There were of course several war parties sent out and they are diverted from here to recover the bodies of the fallen and to go to the lake to set up camp. What plans have you all?"
You can see goatlings starting to pack up things and some of them move out. Others remain with Bavari.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"We could write something for them maybe but I don't think we should split up anymore than we already have."
"Will the chieftain be at the ceremony? If so, that is where we should head."
Bavari looks at Teniel, "We have dispatched messengers, letting him know of your arrival. Normally Golden Ram does not attend the Ceremony of the Lake, but perhaps this year is different. Your presence changes things and is a sign that the Elders are best left to interpret at this point."
"So if we respectfully asked to meet at the lake, that would solve the situation mentioned?" Teniel asks.
"Very well, meet us there later if you wish. We will leave here very soon, there is much to prepare and the day grows late. Do any of you have any other questions I can answer?"
Maks, from her position, continues to work, but shakes her head.
Teniel spends the rest of the time observing the goatlings, trying to learn more of their language.
The few goatlings remaining break camp and begins to head east for the lake. The various groups can decide to travel with them or go at their own pace, or do whatever, but they are moving on with purpose. The two groups can continue to interact if they stay, but the goatlings have moved on, and if you want to interact with them as they move, you would clearly have to go with them.
Eleanor follows along with her group. "Might as well see what this is all about."
Lucina looked to her group to see if they were staying or going, whichever she would follow not wanting to split more.
Maks, being the last ready to get up and go of the group, rises. Her tails are each dappled with bits of paint she didn't bother to prestidigitation away as she used them to paint as makeshift brushes.
"Alright... I suppose it's time to go." she acknowledges as she rises, picking up the stone, and carrying, holding it clear of limbs and such as they go, allowing it to dry.
[spoiler=Tables 1 & 6 - Day 2 - Mid Afternoon]
The goatlings head out, and the groups start to pack up what little they have and either follow the goatlings, or travel with them, or individually. The trip to the lake is uneventful and no one is in any particular hurry, some foraging and hunting can occur. It takes roughly an hour, during which goatlings come and go from the various groups either appraising you of their progress, or checking in from scouting missions or the like. Both of your groups arrive at the lake. You are free to determine if you want your own individual camps, camp with the goatlings, camp with other groups. You have some time before the cold night arrives. You have more time than the night before, and definitely a different vibe is in the air, as you know the goatlings and you know the area somewhat better.
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Goatling Camp
After conversing with some goatlings in broken goatling, who seem to somewhat understand him, Quassine keeps a look out for his closest brother Prar.
Quassine has managed to have all the groups lent some of the spare tents from the fallen goatlings. There is no need to construct crude everygreen lean-tos. They show you how to set them up and help a little bit.
Quassine thanks the goatlings for the spare materials to make tents instead of having to make lean-tos.