"Well perhaps we can entertain a conversation about the land, but you are the first talking wolves we've encountered and..." Almalik continues to backpedal from the huge wolf.
"I may mention you attacked us first and we brought our own provisions and have not hunted anything. Look, can we negotiate?! Speak peaceably towards mutual understanding?"
"Axe! Aaaaxe!"
"Axe didn't do any of that! Well, I did hit you, but you hit me back, we're even!"
"No! Stay in tent, keep quiet!" Nagbur yells at the workers who, in the heat of battle, everyone else seems to be ignoring.
The angry red eyed glare turns to Almalik.
"You cut the trees and build wooden caves... You have killed our mates and driven us from our hunting ground."
The wolf growls back, his attitude towards you not changing.
"Give us back what you took and we speak."
"We are simply building a road from one place to another, much as you might follow trails in the forest. If you have a problem with the killers of your kind, take it up with them. We haven't harmed anyone that hasn't attacked us first. Which puts you strongly int he category of "about to get beat". If you are looking for true killers in this region, I suggest that you attack the men living in the fort just over yon hill. They are bandits, men who make their living preying on others. They, I will happily allow you to slaughter. But, you will not be killing anyone in this party today without a fight!"
Axe once again turtles, taking a total defensive posture, unable to think of a solution to appease the wolf.
I sort of feel bad for these things; maybe not cleaving them all in half the only solution.
A bit of Fish's rage seeps into the telepathic link.
"NO. I think they're confusing us and the bandits."
He holds up his hands.
"There is another pack of humans we are at war with. We have built no wooden caves, and we have killed no wolves. Perhaps we have a common goal."
"We've not killed any wolves before!" Ama adds supportively. "I didn't even know wolves exist before you showed up!"
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The wolf glares at Idris then at Almalik again. His attitude seems to soften a bit towards him. He doesn't grasp the path part but does understand the bandit part.
"Give me proof. We not attack you for now... If you are lying we eat guts this day."
The white wolf, followed by the black ones, relax a bit. Eyeing the weapons he talks again.
"Put steel claws away and show proof."
"With the mention of you eating part of me in case you don't believe us, I think I'll just keep my sword out for now."
Ama nods her head in the direction of the road they're building. "This is our road. We make it so people can move from place to place faster, 'cause we're slow without."
Ama then nods her head in the direction of the bandit camp. "If you head over there you'll find the bandit camp. Bandits are evil people who attack other people for no good reason. You should probably go and take a look at the camp, and you'll see proof. Maybe we can attack them together? Then both of our groups can continue life without being attacked by the bandits."
"Axe?", Axe asks the wolf.
"This isn't steel; I can keep it out then?"
"You show us you kill wood cave dwellers. We trust we help."
The wolf glances at the weapons another time and says.
"You go first. We follow."
Where is bandit camp?, thinks Axe, shrugging to the party.
Almalik calls out to the workers.
"Just remain there for now, we're trying to convince these noble creatures that we mean them no harm."
Swallowing, Almalik begins to lead the wolves towards the location of the bandit camp.
"My name is Almalik Fezana. The wood cave dwellers have stolen from us and we have already fought once."
Nagbur frowns and hesitates. We all go, workers no be protected, he thinks at the others.
Fiiiiiish, no hurt big puppies! Save anger for those who deserve it; bandits that already hurted you a lot!
The words start to sink in and Fish looks around as the fighting stops, his own adversary backing down as well. The kobold huffs and stomps a few times but eventually flops down into a sitting postion breathing heavily. "Fish wait....and rest....catch up when ready."
"Axe!", the large man running to the kobold
"I carry little Fishy!"
Nagbur also moves over to Fish when the kobold nearly collapses. You go with others, he thinks at Axe. Nagbur stay with Fish, come when ready.
He pulls out a wand, then places a hand on his battered friend's shoulder. "Feel better, Fish!"
Ama starts heading toward the bandit camp. She'll point at it when it comes into view. "There it is."
"Guys, shall I try to draw some more out by shooting at them? If you stay nearby, we can easily intercept anyone who heads our way."
Ama also points at the corpses. "We killed those yesterday."
The wolves ignore the corpses and Ama's remark about them. The rain is still pouring down and vision is limited by half. The wolves follow you but are very wary of the weapons.
"Fish thanks Nagbur for healing. Go get bandits now?"
Nagbur nods. "Except Nagbur worry over workers if we all go." Nonetheless, he stands and prepares to head out with his friend.
Ama sheathes her nodachi and takes out her longbow.
She takes her time to sneak closer to the bandit camp, under the cover of the trees. When Ama's at 110 feet from the camp, she looks to see if she can spot the man she hit when she last went sniping. If Ama spots him, she tries to determine his health.
"While I'm not liking to leave these fellows undefended, it seems foolish to go against the strength of the bandits in piecemeal, especially with these wolves about."
Fish and the workers see everyone collecting their gear for the attack on the bandit camp. The workers grow a bit nervous to remain with only fish.
"I think we will come along with you. Don't want to stay behind here. Seems like not only bandits run loose in this forest."
One of the workers says as he glances at the wolves. They all grab a small pack and a hammer and join the group.
You head roughly to the pass you went through earlier and pass the half rotting bodies of the men you killed earlier. The wolves keep glancing at the weapons, ready to jump if it comes to fighting again.
You arrive at the bandit camp. The rain causes you to see only the rough outlines at first. The camp seems quite empty at the moment, but from previous experience you know that a lot of the bandits are inside the small buildings. Ama sneaks a bit closer and tries to discern the sentries but doesn't recognize the man she shot some days ago.
Nagbur looks at Idris thoughtfully. "Maybe wolves help us?"
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Almalik takes a moment to refresh his mage armour spell as he watches the bandit camp from afar.
"Our goal is to drive them from a region. Slaughtering them to a man will worsen our reputations. Give them an opportunity to flee. If we can find a leader, so much the better."
Ama nocks an arrow while Almalik talks. "Yes, we should kill them a... Huh, what...? Oh, yes, we should make them flee."
She pulls back the arrow and shoots it at the nearest bandit within view.
"Hmm... Maybe they didn't even see that one pass?" Ama wonders out loud as the arrow flies over the camp.
"Aaaaaxe.", the large man pointing to the camp before slamming a fist into an open hand, then looking at the white wolf that followed them. "Axe?"
"It would be best to take out the leader. Either he rules by fear and the rest will scatter with the leader's fall, or he rules by strength and by taking out the leader, we show our superior arms. Targetting, the alpha, right white puppy?"
"Axe is right. Cut of the head, and hopefully the rest will die. That is a good plan"
Nagbur nods. "Goblins useless without strong leader, fight each other to be chief. Maybe these longshankses be same?"
Fish does his best to watch for any kind of reaction from Ama's arrow.
Ama loosens an arrow at the closest bandit and misses him by a lot. The bandits hears the whizzing of the arrow and calls a horn to alarm the others. The arrow eventually hits the furthest (stone) building. The buildings empty out with a stream of bandits. From the wooden buildings come several scouts. From the larger stone building in the back of the camp comes a single very rough looking man.
"Who DARES challenge us?!"
Calls the man into the air.
Axe is about to shout back, but waits with the others for a sign to charge.
Almalik groans loudly and then shoots Ama the most vicious glare he can manage.
You BLITHERING idiot! What is wrong with you?
He quickly looks to the rest of the group and quietly mutters.
"Unless someone has a better idea, I suggest we lure a few out. I can then block the entrance with an illusion which will divide their numbers."
The vitalist shrugs. "Nagbur gots no better idea."
"What keep them from sticking Fish full of arrows," The kobold says as he points to the guard tower.
Ama shoots another arrow at the nearest visible bandit. This time, she takes a moment to actually aim.
The bandit blowing the horn drops it the moment he gets hit by an arrow in the chest. In a pained voice he speaks while he points in your general direction.
"There... Just got shot... Get them!"
The whole camp responds and slowly the bandits start pouring out of it. Looking around for the culprit they slowly advance.
Ama shoots an arrow at the nearest of the lot that's pours out of the camp.