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Bruh that's fake news

[Strik3r]

I've never seen Flax this ecstatic before, and i don't like it. He seems to view the little weasel girl - and perhaps everyone - as just another piece on the board. I feel like i'm starting to get a clearer picture of what Flax and his "people" are like, considering some of the things our new friend alluded to.

Anyway, lets say i agree with both of you on getting her a name. or at least inquiring her on how it came to be that she doesn't have a name to call herself by?

Also, did we ever give back her talisman? it seems like it's important to her. I know the captain or whomever gave it to us, but i don't know if we gave it back to her? If not, we should. With a promise, that she'll let us examine it later, as it is probably magical.

[King Zultan]

Forgot about the amulet we should probably give it back, maybe even ask if she knows what it does.

[Quaksna]

. . .

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

If you're to make use of the time somehow, there's not much better than to help the wanderer integrate in within your little assemblage, probably. Therefore you leave Flax alone, and join the others in their talk, first without your input.

"And then!" you hear Sas. "Then it came, thundering, bellowing upon us! Two men in height, many more in weight, my arrows it could've picked its teeth with. Even our warrior could not have done anything, armed with nothing but a piece of cutlery! Oh, and it breathed fire."

The vagrant watches him engaged, definitely finds the talk fascinating, but perhaps in a different manner than intended. Still, it's good to see her in better spirits.

"How'd you get out of that one?" she chuckles, and Sas is more than ready to respond.

"By summoning a beast of our own! It rolled crashing from the hill..."



"Should've started with something milder." you tell the hunter. "Perhaps just a few days back, the whole ordeal with the city guard."

"No, no!" Sas shakes his head. "I'm presenting the journey just as it went, a long way there!"

"What kind of trouble with the city guard can such mere travelers possibly have?" the vagrant asks.



"As far as I understand it..." you try to formulate the answer. "Flax's company had either planted a spy in Usodestis or their agent there was wrongly accused of doing so, either way, it ended up with him dead and we were the next in row."

"You actually fought them? Is that why the hulk's maimed?"

"Yes..." Sas utters. "The situation got out of hand quick. It was a close shave, our escape. And took toll of many a soldier..."

"I've got my fair share of unpleasant stays with the watch, but I wouldn't raise a finger once cornered... I've seen the fate of those who did too many times."



Despite you might had made the story just as unbelievable as the dance with the titan, she seems to want to linger on this one longer.

"I've also seen a great many businesses going south and turning to carnage. But do tell me then, are you actually criminals?"

"I guess we are now!" Sas shrugs. "In our first kingdom, we are. But that is behind us."

"The question is why exactly." you whisper, gazing forth at your leader, strolling a couple leaps ahead. "Flax says it was unjust, but we don't know much about his people as of yet."

"So where are we off to, anyway?" the vagrant asks. 

"Todoti." replies Sas. "There we're supposed to resupply and exit Niwirthola afterwards. It shouldn't take long."



"The river town?"

"That'd be the one."

"You've been there?" you inquire, as she was so quick to respond.

"Only for a bit..." she says. "Had the honor of meeting the local underground. Organized quite well, but powerless in the end, staying throughly undercover until an opportunity to perform the most meaningless of crimes, a pitiful endeavor..."



You and Sas look at each other while she speaks, thinking the exact same, this individual might prove useful sooner than expected! And good for all of you.

"It's funny..." she continues. "It's almost but a tradition now, as if some family pride drives them to do it, quite amusing. But I'd prefer to avoid those too. Really, it was for their presence I had to leave, a stoat-kin around such a place gets some unwanted attention..."

"You obviously have picked up a lot, despite the short stay, if that's what you claim..." you say. "If you can map surroundings this well, you could rise Flax's eyes a bit. I can only imagine, with your history..."

You'd say something about how nice it would be, to get her on equal footing fast so you all can be friends, but decide against it. After all, you can clearly see, she clings more towards Sas, between her and yourself she seems to put distance. Difficult to approach this may be, fortunately, you've thought of something to help.



"Any idea of what this might be for?" you ask, as you take out the copper talisman.

Her focus noticeably shifts, when the object is presented. And while she does not reply right away, it is clear she won't defy you now.

"For the glamor, obviously..." she says, staring at it as if under a spell, before looking you straight in the eye. "But I've always believed it was magical. Did you..."



Now you too similarly falter with your words, but not for long, as you hand it to her.

"I will properly examine it yet, but you keep it."

With the talisman present, it's almost like time has frozen. The vagrant hesitates before every action, but at last, snatches the item, passing an ambiguous glance.



"Thank you, Blackhoof." she whispers, and snaps it around her neck.



Glad you are, that's over with, yet more you have on mind. You waver whether its the right time to consult her name, but not for long, judging, you've come to achieve something here, no reason to delay these matters. You might be overthinking these concerns anyway...

"Say, how is it you don't have a name?" you ask, pulling her out of thought.

"Oh... Master never gave me one. I was but a maid... I wanted him to, I really did, and he promised, even! Whether he truly would, I didn't get to see."

This explanation you didn't expect for sure. But that doesn't confound you this time, as you've already set out your goal.



"Say, what if we gave you one." you propose. "You'll need a name, now that you're with us, it's the least we can do."

You can't much tell what she thinks of the offer from her face, then again, you'd presume she'd be more excited just from the heirloom beforehand. It certainly can't be anything negative, as evidenced by her response.

"I would take it."

"Well, then we'll choose you one."

And thusly, that chat is concluded, with you being busy pondering. Right it does serve, too, as the vagrant recovers from the strange fascinated state. In silence, you carry on for a while, Flax still a bit ahead.



"I was thinking..." Sas speaks. "Perhaps Runi, as your eyes are like tree sap, or Jori, for you have no stay... If you don't view that aspect... Well..."

"It was my choice." she replies. "I wouldn't mind."

"There are more common ones, of course, Thran, Bewa, Kadi... So many, give me a hand, Black! Mayhap a different tongue, what about the speech of your kin?"



"You wouldn't be able to pronounce half of it, rather unfortunate feature for a name." you laugh.

"Shall we vote then? Or, ask Flax..."

"Let's not bring Flax into it, he won't mind. The least he should do, honor your new name, even if he had no say."



You lift your eyes forth, and see, your guide has slowed down considerably, and quite suddenly, too. A visible change in how he moved up until this point, and you don't like it.

"Come to think of it, I'll better check on him, wait for a bit." you say, and set off to do just that. You do not know if he's still contemplating, so you test to find out.



"Hey Flax, the gal's been in Todoti! She can help us navigate parts of it."

"Has she indeed?" the man turns around to face you, and seems pleased. "Good, the more familiar companions we have the better. At least some good news I've come to hear..."



"Look, how the winter bids its farewell!" he says, gazing up the other direction again, and you can see exactly what he describes. A wall of clouds, dense, cramped and dark is approaching. And the wicked wind clears its path.

"A blizzard, you think?" you ask. From the days with Uzin's men up until now, it was snowing every once in a while, but no hail did you encounter, this sight does threaten with much worse.

"Possibly, the severity we can't tell. But those will do their work for sure. Meaning our chances of hunting or maybe even camping are minimal."

"What do you suggest, then?"



"We have a few options. If it's possible to progress, we can travel through the duration of the storm, and rest later. If we'll have to wait, there's a couple hills slightly off the path, or a bunch of trees and bushes straight ahead, a whole forest I doubt."

It seems it dwelled on his ever since he first saw the skies. And from the tone of his speech, it doesn't seem he's just reporting on the weather, informing you of something, like with the speech concerning the vagrant.

"Haven't decided yet?"

"Best to talk it over with you. After all, if any of us can work his magic under these conditions it is you, I'd presume. Without you in the picture, I'd probably try to force our way through. But now we can take some precautions, and if we lay out a plan now, we may endure better. Should you have something in mind, of course. Else I'll take you places." 



What do you want to do?

[King Zultan]

That first image is a thing of beauty.


As for our situation I say we don't try to push through a blizzard as that seems like a bad idea, so instead we get to those trees and see what kind of shelter we can build there.

[Strik3r]

Lmao yeah the first picture is great

Anyway, that little stoat girl has woven quite a tale about herself. And i don't buy it. It's way too woeful to be true. Or if it was, i doubt she'd be willing to tell basically her whole life's story to the first gang of vagabonds who took her in. Even if we did rescue her from those soldier dudes back there. I'd say its all a made-up (but probably practiced) story intended to elicit pity and worm her way into whatever group she wants. She's basically been doing nothing but trying to do such since the first moment we saw her. Though that still leaves the question: Who is she? Maybe she is just a thief. Maybe the soldiers were right, and she's a spy. Or maybe she's something much worse, and gonna kill us in our sleep. Either way, she's some king of rogue, and we should be doubly vigilant in regards to her.

I was going to suggest pushing through the blizzard, but i doubt we'd have the power to part a whole blizzard cloud, or any significant weather manipulation. So +1 to setting up a camp somewhere in there trees. They should provide some amount cover from the storm by themselves.

[Salmeuk]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

hahaha this is like something from the mind of Terry Gilliam!!

[Superdorf]

hehe <3

Camp is good. Do we know any magic to obtain edibles, make a fire burn brighter/longer, that sort of thing?
If we're desperate, we can always harvest the inner layer of a pine or birch tree for food. Shred it, roast it, munch munch munch... not an ideal foodstuff, but it'll do.

[King Zultan]

+1 To that I hadn't thought about eating the inner bark of trees to alleviate our food problem.

[Quaksna]

This one doesn't have much room for actions once again, still, you can throw something in to pass the time.


. . .

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"If we were indeed to push against the storm, I am afraid my craft would be of little use." you tell your guide. "Distant are the powers that hold the skies... As I see it, we best seek refuge within the trees. There we might hope to take some shelter."

"So be it." Flax answers. "That way we'll cross the most distance, even if we'll have to interrupt our progress."



He then takes a few steps towards the rest of your group, and notifies them of this course of action.

"Speed up, you two!" he cries. "A tempest is approaching, and carries worse with it. We'll need to secure a good spot to endure it."



Either of them can't argue with the weather, and thus, you rush to the growth ahead. Unfortunately, you don't make it in time.



While no hail hits you in the face, the wind does sweep strong, tossing snow arround like locks of hair, and such fog and shadow arise beneath the clouds,  you can hardly see but a few leaps away. Relentlessly you had continued along the way, but not for long, as your leader acknowledged you cannot carry on under these conditions. And you all happily agreed.



"That one!" Flax points at a tree nearby, obfuscated in midst of the grey cloud. "Is that one good?"

You only as much as nod, not even glimpsing upon it that well. But you want to act quick, as the storm readily breaks any hints of optimism you may once have had regarding it. A sense of hope remains, but reduced to but a single goal, to brace in place, and not succumb to the winter's wrath.



Even though the clouds came faster than you have accounted for, you still didn't come unprepared. You've contemplated the idea of creating a shelter out of mere snow, and despite not getting to test the spell, you treasure that alone. Even if it's just a small bulwark to block the forceful gale from one side, it'll surely help out tremendously.



"Shield me!" you call upon your companions, so you can work somewhat better, and they readily surround you, to provide you with the slightest ease. Flax indomitable as ever, Sas sore but persistent, the vagrant he keeps close to himself, whom you cannot clearly see, only hear sobs drowned in the whistling wind. And another figure, grim looking, its eyes filled with contempt, you were told to ignore.



"Hold, Jori." the hunter says, curbing the little one tight, but barely you can hear him, anyone that isn't shouting the storm silences. "We have to hold still..."

No delays you wish to force upon your fellows, and begin the spell right away. It goes tougher than you hoped, and worse yet, an incessant pest is to spoil your focus.



"Is that it?" Crackantler's voice echoes around. "Another friend you've found, whilst me have forgotten? You do prefer company of puny pale shrews after all?"

You know better than to answer back. There is no reasoning with the monster, and you have work to do.

"You are sick, Blackhoof. No better than them.Yet, when it comes to me... All your boldness, all your daring, vanished in an instant."



The snow hardens and rises up, on your command, rather slowly, but enough to cheer your companions. All but the one unwarranted.

"Sure, go on. Revel in your luxury, surrounded by the worst filth you've come across in your lifetime. Or are there worse? Have you seen criminals viler than these? Is this how you choose friends now?"

This is not him, you have to remind yourself. How much do you crave to be free of the burden, at this very moment especially, when it's distracting you from the task. A hump of snow you've made so far, that one could trip over, you cannot stop now.



"And still, you carry on. Why, how long do you want to play this game? You don't trust any of them. But me you can trust. Sacrifice them to me, and I shall free you of this misery. Together, we might bring the better days back..."



Over your knees you lift the wall, before collapsing feeble. A good width it has, height up the neck of a sitting man, but looks far from the promised vision. Not to mention, the wind changes can't make its mind on which side to blow from.

"I'm sorry..." you utter in a voice faded, trying to speak up so the rest can hear. "I can't do more anytime soon..."

"Pathetic."

"No matter, Black, come!" Flax helps you get up. "We'll do with that!"



"Someone sit in the gap..." you point at the spot between the tree and your mold. "The rest in a circle, face inward... We'll have to cuddle together, I'm sorry..."

"No use complaining, you've heard him!" clamors Flax, showing the other two in place with his single healthy arm.



In a blink, you're all sitting as you've laid out. And you wait, eyes closed, teeth gnashing. Exhausted, you do fall asleep every once in a while, but never stay unconscious long.



At some point, you do lose the track of time. And it doesn't take long to recognize, you are dreaming. Better to experience that than the cold torture, you find. Only glimpses of sensible visions before the well-known routine, you can recall a man wrestling someone much smaller.



Then, you enter a room, or rather the room, the one you can't tell how many times you've observed now. Curiously, it isn't that dark this time, as the door is left open, leaving a bit of the hallway visible, but even there, the light is weak, and far. Seldom you can hear steps, and with them, members of the Melabil host passing, carrying lamps to better see. They do not stop at the cell, just a few glints inside, before promptly proceeding. While not exactly very informative, it is pleasing to witness a display somewhat more interesting, than a pitch black chamber.



The rest is darkness. And within it, a voice, you have not heard for quite some time.

"Your time is about up. I've warned you. If you're not willing to give..."



"I'll take him mys..."



You snap out, and it is night time. The wind you can still feel flowing around, but the storm is over, it snows no more. You are exactly where you've last touched the ground - at the one tree,  surrounded by your companions, all also sitting at their spots, save Flax, who's been moving, apparently, and now turns his head towards you.

"Ah, Black, all well now." he whispers, and how delightful it is to be able to hear such utterances again. "We've made it."

"Fast it came, fast it went." mutters Sas, also awake, but who could've told in the dark. "Good thing with these, still, what would I've given for our dense woods..."

"Circumstances can't always play along... Trials do come. But, we endured in the end. Now we can get some rest."



"I'll make us a fire at least..." Sas declares and slowly stands up, the stoat lass curled at his lap slowly sliding off. She doesn't move, but is breathing, and the man's careful motion does not interrupt this state. "I think I'll go seek something to eat at dawn." he adds, as he departs onto his search.

"Good, I can attempt to enchant, should we get short on brand." you speak. "If there's nothing to eat, I can roast you some pine, too..."

Flax doesn't say anything, just beholds the horizon under the stars, your endless pursuit. And you, although recovered from the last trickery, you are still quite tired.

[Strik3r]

But well, to offset that there's a lot to unpack in this one. Lets get started then.
First of all, Sas has really taken to our newest, smallest companion (whom i'm still very much suspicious of). It seems he even decided on a name for the little lass... Without our input. And i'm not too fond of the one he picked for her. Among those Sas put out, i'd prefer Kadi... But whatever, we can hammer that issue out later, in proper. What's more interesting is his apparent fatherly affection toward her. I guess we'll figure out eventually what that's about. Though i'm not sure how much older Sas is than the vagrant girl. I'm under the impression that Sas is fairly young himself, and since it's a little difficult to tell in case of the stoat-kin, it might turn out that she's older than he is... Now wouldn't that be a bit of an embarrassing situation, huh?

Crackantler as well has made himself apparent. I'm starting to pick up a bit of a pattern from him. Every time we face some form of hardship, he is there. To mock us and to tempt us. And, it's getting harder to resist, isn't it? Had we been given a choice in this instance, there would've been a pretty good chance we would have been divided on whether or not to accept his aid. I fear that sooner or later, we'll come across a situation, where we'll have no choice but to accept Crackantler's help, and all that entails. Not to mention, his points aren't entirely without merit...

Then there's that dream again, with the room or the cell or whatever it is. I'm still uncertain why we keep seeing this place in our dreams. Makes me feel like we're missing something. Is someone sending these visions to us? The first time we saw the place, we got some very valuable - and accurate! - intel that allowed us to avert certain disaster. Since then, there's not much, but we still keep seeing it...
And of course then there's our possibly greatest fear, The Wraithcaller. I'm surprised by how persistent he is in trying to liberate Crackantler from us. I'm not certain there's anything special about Crackantler that would make The Wraithcaller - presumably at the behest of his master, Veno - so interested in him. Aside maybe from the fact that Wraith Crackantler is a wraith created by a non-corrupt shaman/spirit?

"I'll make us a fire at least..." Sas declares and slowly stands up, the stoat lass curled at his lap slowly sliding off. She doesn't move, but is breathing, and the man's careful motion does not interrupt this state. "I think I'll go seek something to eat at dawn." he adds, as he departs onto his search.

I feel like something as adorable as the stoat girl sleeping curled up on Sas' lap deserves a picture of it's own. Maybe a quick look through Flax's eyes? Since we know he has some form of enhanced night-vision and would have surely been able to see this absolutely adorable picture in much higher clarity than us. Though, he almost certainly doesn't care about stuff like that.

Anyway, we should tell Sas to go on his search for food. Possibly together with either Flax, or the stoat girl. Either could act as a decent spotter for him. We'll take care of the fire.
It's always better to work in parallel if possible. And we should have no trouble with the fire.

[King Zultan]

Anyway, we should tell Sas to go on his search for food. Possibly together with either Flax, or the stoat girl. Either could act as a decent spotter for him. We'll take care of the fire.
It's always better to work in parallel if possible. And we should have no trouble with the fire.

+1 I can't really think of anything at the moment so I say we go with this.

[Quaksna]

I feel like something as adorable as the stoat girl sleeping curled up on Sas' lap deserves a picture of it's own

Whoa whoa whoa what is this unannounced overtime >:_ I mean oke if you please

Spoiler:  Caving to Strik3r's ruthless demands (click to show/hide)

I hereby charge 5 500 crowns for this, you can pay in pencils, bus tickets or Steam gifts. Eternal servitude'd be also an option, or you know, just don't think about it

Now the actual thing.

. . .

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

While Sas is busy collecting wood, you think of how best to proceed with the hunt, and that is, to spread the manpower evenly. As Flax is awake and listening, you tell him.

"Someone could go help Sas with the chase. You, or the girl, I thought... I'll have a fire ready."

The man looks like he didn't hear, unmoved gazing far into the night. He does respond, albeit not right away.

"Sure. Then I'll go, and you keep an eye on her. But it's still a way to go till the dawn, let us have some rest. I'll be refueling throughout the night, then pass it to you."

As per usual, the warrior is determined to stick by those words, so you let him have it. When Sas returns and lights the brand, you put on it an enchatnment at least, before you go to sleep.



They make sure to wake you up before they depart, while the stoat is still sleeping, but once they do, it doesn't take long until she gets up too.

As the gal doesn't seem to be one for talking, perhaps because she is alone with you in particular, you get the unpleasant feeling, you just stick to business, telling her you have to prepare for a roast. Together, you gather a new faggot to burn, after that it's all upon your shoulders.



You play around with the fire, trying to sustain it burning in the air alone. Fascinating power it is, and just as any mortal can tame it to great use, you can as well with your spells, only to results much more promising.



The stoat watches the show silently, and doesn't seem to take great interest in it, rather she looks to be put off by the display. A shame it is really, as you have memories of dazzling many a soul with similar feats, and approaching them this way. You'd talk to her over the name again, but now it doesn't seem like the right time. Not to mention, the other two are wobbling back from a distance.



"Splendid, splendid!" Flax calls, and waves at you, something flailing by his hand. "I could've seen the smoke a few yards away, did you burn the place down?"

"I'll try to make a smokeless one next time!" you laugh. "I did some digging, I can feed it with sheer will now! Somewhat..."



"Well then!" your leader goes on, and presents you with today's course. "We've laid out the journey with Sas, and came to the following: According to my estimates, we should reach the outer villages tomorrow. Therefore, after this meal, I'd be beneficial to march up until the sunset, and again on the following day, so that we may feast sooner."

"Sounds reasonable enough..."



"I don't think we can properly resupply until the town, but it's not even a half-day from there... I'd like everyone to get a bag, and perhaps more, I hope our coin is enough. Just for case, I'd save the pelts we've collected for sale, maybe some other bits and pieces..."

"But what am I to burn then?" asks Sas, skinning the game in question. Apparently, this part they have not talked over...

"I'm afraid ol' Gugir will get the least of it... Seize the share and keep it, I won't mind. But do measure it now, I shan't repeat myself at the barter."



Though you have one more to feed, two hares do yield more ration than your last meal, and are greatly appreciated for it.



With death successfully delayed once again, you are to execute Flax's plan, and set off forthwith.



It seems all the important was cleared out concerning the newcomer, as the journey is much quieter this time around, even if you weren't to drive forth relentlessly, you think little it would change. She doesn't speak much, if ever, and only with Sas she exchanges some words, a manner you found noteworthy. But, from this observation, you cannot say whether it is for his merit, perhaps another time of need would enlighten you. Now, he isn't interacting either, though warm and accomodating when approached, but that you've come to expect.



Seldom you have your companions on mind, however, and no wonder - your brother's shade has come to haunt you once more. Now he is silent, only watching what comes to pass, but his recent shrieks are still fresh in your memory. Knows when to strike, the fiend, and perhaps such realizations might help to resist him, yet each moment pondering the horror pains you tremendously. An endless strife of heart and reason, numbness and zeal. Powers that are help you...



It is some time since noon, and you have crossed the snowy fields, with many a moor as the one granting you rest last night, the more as you venture on. Now, those change into a mighty forest, such you have not seen for some time, it reminds you of home. So it does Sas, apaprently, the environment could not be more familiar to him, only somewhat harder your steps are, as you're approaching the edge of the valley, to which the mountains testify.



"Where was this the days now gone?" the hunter mouths, in jest, but how truthful the remark is still. You've all missed the woods.

"Many a thing could have been, here we are." says Flax. "Wait until the snow melts, the place's green as a maiden's eye."



Something interrupts this light mood, as the warrior pauses in both word and gait, walking slower and slower until standing still. He flips his head over the shoulder, and before you can question the man, with a frown and a finger on his mouth he urges you to halt as well.

Listening carefully, you understand why he's stopped, you can hear movement, rustling of snow and twigs from behind. The other two seem to have picked on it as well. It ceases when all of you stare its way.

"Beasts?" the hunter whispers.



"Beasts don't follow men like that." Flax speaks, now without any concern to be quiet. It doesn't take long until he outright shouts. "You there! Show yourselves!"

There is no response coming back, but now you can shadows scurry, and as Flax did point out, there seems to be multiple.



"Stop creeping, and answer me!" he cries, and when still no ones speaks back, he says this to you. "We have to approach them, come!"

Perhaps its more the startle than unwillingness, but he doesn't get the whole party to move immediately, so he elaborates further.

"I don't like the manner in which they crawl. I say, better take care of this now, than be unpleasantly surprised later."

You do change direction then, walking carefully up to the unknown. And as you do, that's when they get moving, as a bolt of lightning lunging forward.



A couple figures surface behind the trees, and gallop like one towards you. Your leader thus halts your advance, and you read the situation. 

There's five of them, and to your utter surprise you soon discover, they are all deer men, save one larger cousin from the elk tribes. This perplexes you quite a bit, and while none of you might've expected such a thing, no one is as shocked. The beastmen carry a javelin each, some a few more, and their coats are smeared with paint, akin to Crackantler's memento of his vision quest.



Even without the elk man among them, a strange assortment it is, of various clans, as evidenced by their differing appearances - you have no idea what is their business in these parts. So astonished of the sight you are, Flax digs you sharply to get you off thought, his healthy hand already on the hilt, as the incoming with spare skewers to throw raise their arms.



Sas got the message too, ready to draw.



What do you want to do?

[Strik3r]

Caving to Strik3r's ruthless demands

Justice is had at last! I am now satisfied and content.
And such a good pic it is too. It's as adorable as i imagined. I hope you're proud of this one, Q, cuz you should be!
The stoat girl clearly still has secrets, yet to be revealed.

Also, if were to be facetious, i'd assert that our latest assailants are after Flax specifically, as he seems to have a habit of pissing off deer men. Though i'm guessing that's not the case.
Though normally i'd always resort to diplomacy first, but it seems like they're already dead set on violence. If it weren't for the weird assortment of different deer-kin from different tribes, i'd make the safe assumption that they're part of the same tribe, we're on their land, and they don't like that. But as it stands i can't imagine what their goal is here. Though maybe we can still try, if they don't respond to kind words, maybe they'll respond to strength. Perhaps our position as a shaman will earn respect among them as it did among our own tribe.

Lets attempt to intimidate them. Proclaim "I am one who commands the spirits! You will heed or you will fall!", preferably in a tongue common to the deer men tribes, whilst inviting a spirit to inhabit and empower us.
Two for one. We get to make an intimidation attempt, whilst preparing ourselves for battle. We're outmatched five to three. I don't know how much help the little stoat lass will be, but she might surprise us yet. But i'd say Flax counts for two, and we likewise, if we'd have a spirit providing us with aid. Still, i can tell. If this one comes to blows, we won't make it through it cleanly.

[King Zultan]

Dang deermen they're supposed to be friendly, and we just had to run into a bunch of hostile ones.

Lets attempt to intimidate them. Proclaim "I am one who commands the spirits! You will heed or you will fall!", preferably in a tongue common to the deer men tribes, whilst inviting a spirit to inhabit and empower us.

+1 We should also get our axe ready.

[King Zultan]

Well damn I'm not sure how to feel but Strik3r just got banned, and I'm not really sure why.