"It may also be useful, in our travels, to learn if such turtles really have that power or if this is just an elaborate con," Teniel adds quietly, hoping the turtle doesn't overhear.
The turtle doesn't appear to have heard, and as it seems so far hasn't been able to understand any of the spoken languages of your people.
Simon cuts in after Xanya.
"I'm sure I speak for everyone, when I say that we'll gladly help you regardless of what you have. We wish to help you only out of recompense for those that fell in our misunderstanding. We will not require any more than your continued assistance as we also help you."
Simon speaks genuinely and from the heart.
Golden Ram nods at Simon. "We would welcome any aid to keep our people from being forced to seek out even more wild and remote lands."
Quassine is still silent facing Akluzzar and his tentacles are rhythmically waving as he looks at Akluzzar.
Quassine expecting better answers where to begin and about being human replies with an unimpressed, "Oh"
Shaeyl, in his somewhat broken goatling?, adds many races. humans foremost, see a land without roads, or buildings, and assume that said land is open and free for the taking. Such species do not understand that a people, such as yourselves, can live in harmony with the land.
Shaeyl considers for a moment, since this valley has many natural borders, it may be time to consider another means of showing that the valley is for your tribes, and not for the land-greedy. Shaeyl points towards where the lake drains towards the lowlands. Building a 'trading outpost' to block access to the valley may help. Require that other species, or those without authorization, may only trade and deal at the outpost. Do not allow any to travel into the valley. If all they see is a walled gateway, it may be enough to keep them from taking more.
Tavros frowns briefly at Simon's statement before forcefully directing his mind to think of all the happy dancing he had gotten to do. A serene expression once again returns to his face. This soon turns into a happy grin as he thinks about showing Goodwin the new dances he has learned.
"I sense there must be greatness in you to be unlocked. Perhaps together we can research it. Such research is time consuming and may be even costly, but we can work towards a discovery."
"a trading outpost would be a good idea, it not only shows your claim on your territory, but also helps diplomatic relations and allows you to trade for things that you need and that are hard to get in this valley"
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"I'm sure I speak for everyone, when I say that we'll gladly help you regardless of what you have. We wish to help you only out of recompense for those that fell in our misunderstanding. We will not require any more than your continued assistance as we also help you."
Sly is roused from his musings by the audacious statement. Making sure to rise to his full height, in a clear voice, he says, "You do not speak for everyone. No debt is owed for the lives that were taken. We were neither the aggressors, nor those who misunderstood the circumstances."
Xanya nods to Sly's comment. "Sly is right, we owe them no debt. Though it's still a sad thing that happened. If they had tried to communicate with us instead of ambushing us it might have been avoided. However, helping them would be good and nice, but I believe finding Goodwin has priority."
"We chose to split up and trample over as much unknown forest as possible, with most assuming we had a right to be here, while if we had stayed together we would never have been ambushed," Teniel replies to the lizardman. "We were the more powerful warriors, with none of us killed. Some fought harder than necessary, while others among us shed no blood in this morning's battle. We owe the dead and wounded grace and kindness in defeat, not bitterness."
"Why do you say that Dalang? The huge group with Jovar and the others was also attacked. Splitting up did not cause them to attack. Simply being here did. Still you are right in that we owe them no bitterness, only sorrow." Xanya has still trouble with the concept of empathy.
Shaeyl, in his somewhat broken goatling?, adds many races. humans foremost, see a land without roads, or buildings, and assume that said land is open and free for the taking. Such species do not understand that a people, such as yourselves, can live in harmony with the land.
Your broken goatling is still quite rough, and conveying many of the topics you try to discuss is difficult as you have not learned the words for them yet, but you manage through similar concepts. You basically describe the idea of some fortress at the mountain gap. Some of the goatlings seem to mull it over, although have trouble envisioning themselves as builders and traders. You know that as their lands dwindle to almost nothing. Even now it is a narrow band several miles across although much longer, but that cannot support that many goatlings who wish to maintain a semi-nomadic lifestyle. The fact that they now raise oats for eating shows that they have been forced to adopt a somewhat agricultural tradition and that will decree they need to maintain a somewhat permanent location. You feel as though you have met these people during a transitional time, and one in which they are fiercely defensive about their lands.
Lotham listens to his companions argue. "We are responsible for the deaths we caused with our own hands. We acted in self-defense, yes, but we always have a choice. We owe the goatlings no debt, no weregyld as some would call it. But we do owe them what kindness and friendship we have to offer. Goodwin raised us to be better than our kind naturally are. These goatlings were acting on instinct, much like we would have in the same scenario if not for Goodwin's teaching. Our debt to Goodwin in turn demands we do what we can for these brave warriors."
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"I don't think anyone on either side owes the other anything right now. We wandered into an unfortunate situation and were attacked unintentionally, but everyone is alright. The goatlings attacked strange creatures in their lands and paid with their lives, and have since realized their mistake."
"We shouldn't be trying to guilt them into giving even more than they have already lost."
"If they have any spare supplies to give us freely, it would be greatly appreciated, but otherwise we might need to find a way to pay for it with labor because that is all we have. If you are one of the lucky groups that doesn't need clothes or supplies, you don't have to work, because you don't need to trade for anything. But some of us need some clothing, tools or weapons."
Some of the goatlings who can understand your speech such as Bowki, Bavari and Golden Ram look on with a mix of concern, shock, discomfort, and other awkward emotions as multiple people openly discuss the fight, financial recompense, supplies and other issues. As inebriated Bowki tries to translate the words back into goatling for the benefit of his fellows, voices start to raise and everyone starts talking at once, some are not particularly happy. The situation seems to be escalating out of control. Golden Ram turns to his Elder Council and has a few words. He then grabs one of the smaller horns and blows it sharply to bring everyone's attention to him.
"Let us not quibble about who owes who a debt or the meaning of today's events. We can talk on the morrow. Tonight we celebrated the Ceremony of the Lake as generations before us have. A great spirit of the water has blessed us with it presence and offered to aid us. It is clear the new visitors here also need aid, and are arranging with the spirit as well. Let us close out this evening and sleep on tonight's successes. Thank you Great Akluzzar for blessing us with your presence. As discussed we will be in communion and seek your aid."
He makes a motion to the drummers and they hammer heavily on the mightly kettle drums once again apparently signaling and end to the ceremony. Akluzzar seems to look around briefly and then slips back into the water.
Maks is shaken from her conversation by the hornblowing. "Wait. What's going on? Debts? Why are we talking about debts..?" Maks frowns.
"But how? Why? Who would bring up debts in the middle of a party, after all of our losses have been laid to rest..?" Maks responded. Her Draconic was spotty and could use with more lisp, and a lot less lilt.
Simon doesn't seem too put off with the lack of kindness towards their hosts from some of the others. He nods to those that agree they should help them out of compassion alone at the very least, if not for the sanctity of lives ended. Whether he's actually angry or upset or not is up in the air, but he knows when to stop talking, especially when Golden Ram cuts in.
"Thank you for everything you've provided tonight. I hope we will have good Diplomacy tomorrow."
If there's no response requiring further talk he'll nod a short bow and head off to their tent.
BEFORE AKLUZZAR's EXIT
Keeping an ear on the other conversations going on in camp, Quassine continues ...
"Great Akluzzar, I am pleased that you are willing to help but since I am not from here or from this time, I was hoping for a little more assistance? Perhaps, you can answer this? Shall I or we seek the start of my or our path in the human and dwarven societies South of here? And are they directly south from here so if we head south, we would run into their societies. One last question, is Nethys, the deity of Magic still alive?"
Maks shakes her head slowly before responding in draconic.
<"Some people have no manners. Thank you."> She says, quietly.
With all of the good spirits and good will dragged out of the night by a bunch of busybodies who can't hold off on business til the next morning, Maks sets to work cleaning herself off for the night.
"What little I understand of the region, I do know that downriver lie the lands of other mortal races, humans, dwarves, and their kin. I have never been there and would surely not be welcome as you can imagine. I cannot predict where your path should take you, but logic dictates you will need basic supplies and information. I know many things, and with great effort and cost, I can work divinations, but you will need to outfit yourselves with equipment. That will be available in society. Whether society will let you walk in and buy a loaf of bread or a longsword is a question I cannot answer. I suspect no. I can tell you that Nethys is still worshipped in many lands, and priests of Nethys still practice and receive their deity's blessings. I wish you luck in your quests."
After the Golden Ram Thanks the Water Spirit
Quassine bows low ...
"Yes, Great Akluzzar, thank you for your communion, quests, and may you continue a long and prosperous life full of wisdom and good food."
He then turns to bow low to the Golden Ram and then sticks around to help clean up if necessary.
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"I don't think anyone on either side owes the other anything right now. We wandered into an unfortunate situation and were attacked unintentionally, but everyone is alright. The goatlings attacked strange creatures in their lands and paid with their lives, and have since realized their mistake."
"We shouldn't be trying to guilt them into giving even more than they have already lost."
"If they have any spare supplies to give us freely, it would be greatly appreciated, but otherwise we might need to find a way to pay for it with labor because that is all we have. If you are one of the lucky groups that doesn't need clothes or supplies, you don't have to work, because you don't need to trade for anything. But some of us need some clothing, tools or weapons."
Sly nods in agreement with Aury'tss' remarks. He also does not press the issue when things start to get heated. He looks to Aury, giving her the 'It's not their fault; they aren't dragons' look and shrug.
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If people are cleaning up, Simon will also assist with that.
People can return to their regular tables for pretty much all of the posting unless they wish to stay up late and purposefully plan things down the road a bit or interact with other groups.
Everyone split apart and now came back, and as best as you can tell Jovar is somewhere with Tolhemia so the mail is going to be slow to come. Good opportunity to assess other aspects and plan if you feel like it.
After Golden Ram's words Kiki keaps her arguments for herself and starts dancing with the music.
The night comes as the ceremony dies down. Goatlings move in the late night to clean up the camp. Those of you who have been working on goatling understand some of the basics. They are excited about the water spirit. Some goatlings stand watch and patrol the camp as the night passes. The fires burn lower, but some are kept going. Perimeter watch torches are also kept alive. Among your groups, most of you settle into the tents they loaned you for the evening. It is your choice to post a watch.
The night goes uneventfully, some of you have trouble sleeping given the turbulent day. For some the trauma of combat and death is hard to push from the mind. For many if may have been the first time they have to draw blood or fight for their lives. The hardship of the wilderness has tired the body even if the mind is racing. Wild dreams or even nightmares awaken many of you. You feel somewhat safer in the huge camp and more secure in the 'comfort' of the goatling hide structures (think teepee).
Other than that, the night passes uneventfully and the morning of your third day arrives. The sun greets you and begins to warm the chilly alpine air. Once again you are thankful for the shelters that protect you from what could have been a dangerous night exposed to chilly temperatures. The goatling camp stirs as they waken and begin to prepare meals and take down some of the campsite. It seems clear that they do not intend to stay here long. The large tent of Golden Ram is still up and before long there is activity there. It seems that they are preparing the tent for a meeting, hopefully it is the one that many of you have been hoping to attend. After a morning meal, several goatlings go to the various tents and inform the participants that they are welcome to come and seek counsel with Golden Ram. He doesn't want a large contingent of people in there as it is difficult to focus on individual needs, so he will keep it small. Also the tent is not that big.
Several of Goodwin's children are beginning to gather outside the tent. The goatlings smile and wave as you begin to assemble. Golden Ram's advisors seem to indicate that once a whole group is ready he will see the group unless it is far too large.
Lotham makes his way to the area near the tent, but does not attempt to enter or get too close until he sees more of Goodwin's children preparing to enter, in which case he will join them.
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Nathan wanders in right behind Lotham and waits to be invited into the big tent.
Aury'tss finds her way to the goatling camp and stands with the others, barely coming up to the knees of the ogre and minotaur.
"Good morning." She calls up to them, squinting at the bright sun.
"Good morning to you, little sister. How was your night of rest?"
One of the goatling guards from Golden Ram's tent ushers in any waiting
people.
Upon entering the large tent, it is furnished quiet basically. Some furniture is present, but for the most part everyone is sitting on the ground on hides or furs. The tent is dimly lit, a small brazier providing some light. Golden Ram is present along with three of his Elder Council. Guards are outside the tent, but none are within.
Golden Ram greets those entering in the Common tongue from your time. Again he must have access to magic, perhaps the Tongues spell. He introduces his Elders. "Good Morning, this is Laa-Haa, Manua, and Nalak." The other goatlings seem older and in their eyes and their fur and their horns you can see their age.
"Let us discuss all that needs to be discussed. You may have many questions, and it appears there may be possibilities for mutual cooperation, although I am able to gather your people are fractured in their opinions and priorities. This does not trouble us, we will gladly accept help from any who would offer, and would also offer to lend aid in such small ways as we can do those who would support our cause. Please let us begin."
Aury had opened her mouth to respond to Lotham just as the goatlings exit the tent and usher them in.
"Greetings Golden Ram, and Elders Laa-Haa, Manua and Nalak. As you've seen, our people are indeed worried and want to find any way to start on their way to rescuing our leader. Thank you for meeting with us, hopefully we can find some solution that helps both parties."
"My name is Aury'tss."
Lotham bows respectfully to Golden Ram. "It is a good morning indeed, for we are all awake and well. My name is Lotham."
Simon is present and copies any niceties he would have seen goatlings perform the previous night, provided they were appropriate for the situation and weren't only for the ceremony.
Quassine enters the Golden Ram Tent, and respectively bows to the Golden Ram, and replies in Goatling and then in Common, "Good Morning Golden Ram and Elders, I am known as Quassine." Quassine respectively bows again to the Golden Ram, then the Elders.
After most of the people joining the meeting had introduced themselves, Aury continues,
"As you had heard last night, our people are somewhat split in their reactions to the misunderstanding yesterday, and the... debate was I believe mostly due to all of our desires to find our leader as soon as possible."
"We've come here without any food, tools, or even clothing for many of us, and I think that everyone was trying to think of any possible solution to that. I think the best course of would be to simply ask you if there is anything we can do quickly to help your people in exchange for tools, clothing, and your hospitality while we work through this turbulent time in our group's history.
Some of our people are accomplished hunters or builders, but of course we need to return to our quest as soon as possible and I am sure you do not want to entertain unexpected guests for too long. What can we do to help each other?"
"Yes, that is what I would know first: what can we do for you?"
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Xanya comes in riding Cryxial, even astride him she stands shorter than the minotaurs and ogres. She has a wicked smile and her eyes are blazing as usual with her red hair wild. She murmurs a quick incantation before she starts speaking. She strokes the spiderling riding on her shoulder as she talks. Xanya is not one for dallying and she jumps into it after introducing herself. "I am Xanya Zellor, some may call me crazy, but as we all know, there is a very thin line between genius and insanity. Maybe a bit of both are needed at times. We already heard what you need from us. You need to find a way to deal with your neighbours. Like Goodwin has taught us, we should help you because that is the good thing to do. IF you can help us with finding Goodwin or supplies or gear towards that end, that is also good, but even if you can't, it shouldn't stop us from helping you."
Xanya nods as if agreeing with herself. "We already discussed a bit this morning and came up with several points which might be helpful for you. The humans and dwarves don't respect your borders even though you already have a treaty. This might be because it's not clear to them where those borders are. If you made this clear, it would be harder for them to encroach on your territory in good faith. You could build forts, roads, walls, markers or even villages at the edges to mark where your area is. Of course this means some of you might have to stay stationary there, but this could be a rotating duty of great honor, sorta like the ritual up here but much longer in duration. Then you could still do whatever you wanted within your borders, live free as nomads or settle down. Making embassies in the cities of the other races was also suggested as a way to further enhance diplomatic relations. A point was raised that all this could provoke hostility from you neightbours, but I think that you know them better than us. Hope some of these things are helpful or useful. Have you considered any of them before?"
The goatlings are in good spirits after the Ceremony of the Lake the night before. Golden Ram seems eager to meet the rest of the people who had split from Tolhemia's group, possibly, you imagine to determine the spirit and mettle of such folk who would strike out on their own.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all, Lotham, Nathan, Simon, Aury'tss, and hello Quassine. I believe more may be coming but I will answer your questions so far. "
Nodding at Aury'tss,
"We understand your plight, and wish to help. I would not wish to have our relationships tarnished by yesterday's misunderstandings. We wish to help, but as you can imagine our resources are few. With us we have little for this journey, but at our village we have much we can share. We do have food, tools, gear for survival, and ability to make leather, cloth and wood items as well as some bronze, though our people disdain mining and we try to take trees sparingly"
Then turning to Lotham. "Yes, we are honored that you would help us, and in truth we have received some pledges from Tolhemia for aid already. Though we do not ask that you would fight a battle for us. It is unlikely the dwarves will ever attack us, for they are honor bound to uphold the treaty. It is the miners and loggers who stray into our lands, taking choices trees, or seeking veins of minerals. The Thain of the dwarves turns a bit of a blind eye, and in truth I am sure cannot send scouts and guards to police the loggers and miners or to be troubled if there we are somewhat inconvenienced."
"I would..."
With a rustling of the tent and a somewhat clumsy entrance, the Elder Council seems taken aback that Xanya would ride her spirit beast into the tent where the diplomatic talks were held. They seem even more taken aback that without so much as any introductory formalities she launches into a lengthy speech. When finished, Golden Ram clears his throat and replies. "Welcome Xanya. We are glad you could join us, your entrance was....interesting. Since space in the tent is very cramped, please feel free to allow your spirit beast to remain without the tent, unless it is critical to our discussions."
"As we were discussing just briefly, we were determining the needs of our two peoples. Your ideas mean well, although it is a challenge to make a visible border through the wilderness. The loggers and miners will ignore them, as they know we would violate peace if we attacked them, and truly we would not, and will feign ignorance if we bring the attention to their leader. Building forts, walls and roads are not our way, and require clearing forests and and large amounts of stone and rock. We are not builders or masons as are the dwarves or humans. You raise the option of diplomacy with other nations or other cities, but who among them care about us, out here squabbling over a few miles of forest and rugged hills. Few will take up our cause, and those who must endure life in the cities away from their families will grow weary, broken of spirit. "
Golden Ram sighs and contemplates, to the group he remarks, "I believe we will carry on as we have before. The coming of your people is a chance to change things, and I believe your presence and those who attempt to engage with the dwarves will introduce a dynamic to this area that remains unseen at this time. Upon my return I will work with our shamans to plan for the future. Also, we will be on contact with Akluzzar the great water spirit. Perhaps its presence will change things for us. There is much to consider, but I did not want to leave before meeting all of you and know who was in our lands, and where you would be going, and what you would be doing."
He pauses for responses.