>>1681210
Naturally, let us hear it.

>>1681210
Yee, lets see what they got to offer.

Allow them to speak to a council

>>1681210
Let them speak to a council of the more prominent leaders of the village. We will see what it is they want.

>>1681210
I think all the heads of the clans and factions need to be there, but the chief is still our leader, and ought make the final decision.

>>1681244
I agree.

>>1681244
Enkir along with two guards shall attend, we will also have some of our Dogs with us...We will be wearing our leather gear and heavy painted leather shrouds.

File: Diplomat3.png (97 KB, 210x330)

97 KB PNG

They gather before you in front of the great longhouse at nightfall, the largest building of any kind in the village. The smoke that billows from the roof quickly fades into the air, with the sun overhead reminding those present of the fact that they haven't had dinner yet. That is, if their grumbling bellies hadn't already. As such, the gathered are restless, waiting. And that is when the female ghoul begins to speak. Her accent is understandable, but it is clearly foreign in its intonations and pronunciations.

"I am Aghrippa of Reptias, a land further down the coast from here. We noticed the boats tied up in your harbor that bear remarkably similar designs to our own - I do not know how they arrived here, nor do I wish to know. We come to speak of a matter of alliances between our peoples. My homeland faces a threat to the east of us, one that will threaten you too if we fall. This common peril are the gnolls - I am sure you too have encountered them."

She grimaces now, and looks around at the gathered faces before continuing.

"The group of barbarians we face bear similar numbers to that of Reptias, but they possess dangerous weapons. That damnable horde has gone around looting across the desert since we have known of them, and destroyed everything they've come across - and through that gathered the best resources of each they've laid waste to. Without your help, I fear that in time this land will become nothing more than their plaything. So please, stand with us here."

As she finishes, the man next to her finally speaks up in a gruff voice.

"We stand together and die as warriors, or die slowly to the seas of troubles that approach ghoulkind. Your choice."

Let the council hear them

>>1681301
"What are these weapons you speak of?"

>>1681301
Of course we stand with them. However we need to make it clear that they are in no way in charge of us and we are not just expendable troops. If the chance arises we should refine our weapons.

>>1681301
"Khazir looks forwards to eating more of the Walking Dingoes! Chieftan Torlak will surely agree!"

>>1681301
"These savages do indeed sound like a severe threat to our race. If what you say is true, then there seems to be little to decide. You have the support of the Cult of Rok and Roll. Better to please the Lord of Destruction with a good fight than atrophy away in the sand."

>>1681301
Enkir speaks up after pondering for some time and addressing the Gruff Ghoul.
"We'll stand together, better to face a foe shoulder to shoulder than alone, but never stand behind us or our kin".

>>1681301
"The gnolls are a threat to all ghouls and must be put in their place. The Ashlands stand with you. Now what are these weapons you speak of?

>>1681301
"I have no qualms with trying to rid the walking dingoes. Speaking of dingoes, I have extra food at my hut if you haven't been given lodging yet."

>>1681301
"It's seems to me that our very way of life is in danger, the Gnolls must be repelled and our homeland protected. Ghouls should help Ghouls in these uncertain times."

>>1681301
"I am Temun. And I see no need for all this talk.
Let us take up our arms and slay these gnolls before the next sunset!"

>>1681301
"What weapons do you possess. We need to be properly armed and I will not lead my men into a massacre"

>>1681329
>>1681350
"Arrows crafted of unknown materials, even to us - heavy weapons that only Ehwaz are known to wield - and even their spirit to fight to the death. All of these are their weapons against us."

>>1681334
"Yes, their blood is quite delicious, not that most commoners would know."

>>1681338
"Rok and Roll? I'll thank you but I have no idea what that is."

>>1681375
"We possess copper along with some lesser metals, if that is what you mean. These allow for more fierce attacks than wood or stone. Look to the ground for access to them."

>>1681355
Both the man and the woman take up your offer willingly.

Seeing the ready agreement of most clan leaders, the foreigners are clearly excited. The gruff one speaks.

"We will leave in the morning to report back home. We'll return... hm. It could be a few years depending on what the representatives allow for. But we will return with messengers to bring your forces to meet with ours. Be prepared."

>>1681301
It seems you have our aid Ghouls of Reptias, but tell me, do you intend to leave us armed as we are? We will not be your fodder.
"We keep what we kill"

>>1681415
"That's acceptable of course."

Session end - we'll continue tomorrow with the prelude to war and of course, the opening battles.

>>1681397

"If you expect us to be of any help, I suggest you give us some of these copper weapons you speak of. It would help us all greatly, yourselves included."

As the night falls, all retreat to their homes, the ghouls in the twilight like little snowdrops against the ever present black and brown of the Ashlands. Yet, when it is bright enough to see a man a few feet away, torches are lit, and men walk out.

They are the same village heads as before - they are you.

And you want to discuss whether or not you will accept this offer, and what to do with the Reptian visitors.

>>1686406
(dropped trip)

>>1686406
"There is no need for discussion. We prepare for war."

>>1686406
"The way I see things, it's lose-lose if we don't help. Either they live and remember our failure to aid them, or they die, and the horde comes for us right after.

Whether or not we help isn't a question. HOW we help is what we need to decide."

>>1686406
"The Reptians seem odd, they come to us asking for help, and yet they have much better technology than us! Clearly there is something to suspect. I feel we should focus on the threat we do know of for now, the gnolls in the north and west of us."

>>1686406
Its pretty clear that these ghouls are somewhar superior to us and that they are trying to use us as fodder for the Gnolls. Don't you realise they are talking about some eastern ghouls we never saw? If we send our men there our back is open to the western ghouls who sre much closer to us. I see no point in dying for those ghouls when we can ally with the tans and asborb them after finishing off the Gnolls. Not to mention they let a damn woman lead them.

>>1686406
My people will be ready for war....

>>1686406
"I agree with the priest. Helping is a fact. They would make an excellent ally and besides that it is easier to tackle this threat with more men and more advanced weapons. My men and I are willing to fight but not as savages. If we behave like animals they will treat us as such. The more prominent factions should send ambassadors to scope the area and forge a strong alliance, while they do that the remaining here should do their damdest to progress weapons as much as possible."

Let's put it a vote...

A. Help the Reptians
B. Don't help the Reptians

>>1686434
C. Say we will help but dont mean it
Or simply put B

>>1686434
>B. Don't help the Reptians

>>1686434
>A
"Not aiding them is suicide, either quickly or slowly. Even if we're to be spear fodder, it's the only way we can be sure that neither side will destroy us. Put aside your pride, and realize that we need to recognize them as the more advanced people."

"Let me spell this this out for you, they are superior to us. If we do not help them we lose opportunities to further our own progress not to mention, make enemies. They may just wipe us out and cannibalize us. Do recognize the severity of this situation?"

>>1686434
A

>>1686434
B
"They can fight their own war in the east our struggle is in the west."

>>1686434
A

>>1686434
A

>>1686434
B

>>1686434
A

>>1686434
>B. Don't help the Reptians
we may not be here in a year or two, if we are and you return we'll see what we can do

Keep in mind the chief has an extra say, so as of now the vote is 6-5.

At first it was just raised voices, but it eventually escalated. There's a lot of yelling and debate going on in the room, but when the chief speaks, it's final And he does speak. Calmly at first, but quick to silence any dissenters. Though the vote was quite close, in the end, it is agreed that the Ierans will not help the Reptians.

The visitors are sent back with a kind word, but they seem angered that we did not agree to an alliance. Tight lipped, they leave.

Some of our record keeping is a bit off, it is noted. It is actually the year 23 AO. The population size has been changed accordingly.

YEAR 23 AFTER THE ORDER
---
Agriculture: 6/10
Resources: 3/10
Morale: 6/10
---
Population: 503 ghouls.
Buildings: Driftwood/oak wood huts and longhuts, animal pens, shrine to Rok, various settlements
Culture: What we can stab
Technology: Wood, stone weapons and tools, rope, leather clothing
Government: Gerontocracy
Military: Various weapons, hunters
Navy: What is this?
Religion: Desangier religion, Rock and Roll religion
---
A. Agriculture
B. Culture and Religion
C. Military
D. Law
E. Construction
F. Technology Research
G. Exploration

>>1686508
>C. Military
Time to start up the engines of war.

>>1686508
>F
"If we are to have any hope of surviving, figuring out what this "copper" is and how to get it will be vital

>>1686513
>C. Military
>>1686508
Letsget down to business, to defeat, the Gnolls

>>1686508
>C. Military

>>1686508
C

D. Military - what do we wish to do?

A. Weapons
B. Equipment
C. Tactics
D. Organization

>>1686522
>A. Weapons
>D. Organization
We can do two rite?

>>1686522
A and C

>>1686528
supporting this

>>1686522
A
D

>>1686522
A-C

>>1686528
I concur

>>1686522
>A. Weapons
>D. Organization

>>1686522
>A. Weapons
>C. Tactics

A-D

5 d100s please.

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>1686549

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>1686549

We mass produce weapons and improve upon the base of our hunting units to make a proper military formation - the phalanx. From that base unit, we can make further improvements and adjustments later.

We've been trading more and more with the Reptians - they're suffering heavy losses in the war so far, with the first major battle routing them. On top of that, the Tans are being increasingly stolen from and killed on their way to trade, so we only get info from them every once in a while.

NEW TABS - Diplo + Finance

YEAR 24 AFTER THE ORDER
---
Agriculture: 6/10
Resources: 2/10
Morale: 7/10
---
Population: 518 ghouls.
Buildings: Driftwood/oak wood huts and longhuts, animal pens, shrine to Rok, various settlements
Culture: What we can stab
Technology: Wood, stone weapons and tools, rope, leather clothing
Government: Gerontocracy
Military: Various weapons, hunters
Navy: What is this?
Religion: Desangier religion, Rock and Roll religion
---
A. Agriculture
B. Culture and Religion
C. Military
D. Law
E. Construction
F. Technology Research
G. Exploration
H. Finance
I. Diplomacy and War

>>1686571
F

>>1686571
>F. Technology Research

>>1686571
>F. Technology Research
The Shiny Rocks must be understood

>>1686571
G
we need more materials

>>1686571
E. MAKE LUMBERYARDS

>>1686577
>>1686571
A. Agriculture
Change of plan expand our farms up the river and irrigate. We need food other than fishing and hunting

>>1686571
>F
Shiny rock research /NOW/

>>1686571
>I. Diplomacy and War

>>1686571
F. Tech

F - you wish to understand the shiny rocks?

A. Yes
B. No

>>1686583
>>1686577
Ree I miss read back to my first choice of F go aquire more shiny rocks too

>>1686571

F. Technology Research

>>1686591
A

>>1686591
>A
YESYESYESYESYES
LORD FOL-KA-NE-O WILLS IT

>>1686591
A

>>1686591
we do indeed

>>1686591
>A. Yes

>>1686591
A

Rolled 44 (1d100)

ebend roll :DDDD

Well, you've figured out that the shiny rock is the same copper the Petrians spoke of - but there are many kinds of shiny rock too! We have no way of getting the shiny rock at the moment other than clawing desperately, but that doesn't seem fun. I mean, licking blood off your fingers, sure, it's a good time, but the pain is sort of irritating. And by irritating I mean makes you want to claw your eyes out.

In other news, the Tans have sent multiple requests for help as the gnolls keep harassing them.

YEAR 25 AFTER THE ORDER
---
Agriculture: 6/10
Resources: 2/10
Morale: 7/10
Finances: N/A
---
Population: 536 ghouls
Buildings: Driftwood/oak wood huts and longhuts, animal pens, shrine to Rok, various settlements
Culture: What we can stab
Technology: Wood, stone weapons and tools, rope, leather clothing
Government: Gerontocracy
Military: Various weapons, hunters
Navy: What is this?
Religion: Desangier religion, Rock and Roll religion
---
A. Agriculture
B. Culture and Religion
C. Construction
D. Military
E. Law
F. Technology Research
G. Exploration and Colonization
H. Finance
I. Diplomacy and War
J. Other

>>1686640
I. The Tan small become part of the Ier if they want protection.

>>1686640
>I. Diplomacy and War
Kill de gnolls nau

>>1686640
>I. Diplomacy and War

>>1686640
>I. Diplomacy and War
Assimilate Tan and acquire their resources.

>>1686640
>I. Diplomacy and War
What everyone else said. Let's try and be nice about it, tho

>>1686640
I diplo
Help the Tans against the gnolls offer to bring them into the ier tribe for more protection so we can stand together against the western gnolls

>>1686640
I. Completely agree with the House of Ivory. However, if we do not acquire the tans resources we will starve and we need to remember that.

The Tan are willing to meet with us in Threetan and discuss terms for assimilation/integration. You'll meet with the chieftain and his family, then go for a walk on the pier during the evening.

After that he'll take you behind the dumps- just kidding, he'll discuss the terms with you at nightfall, in the gathering place at the center of the village.

Do you agree to this?

>>1686697
Yes

>>1686640

H. Finance

>>1686697
Of course

>>1686697
Y

Yes, but come armed just in case.

>>1686697
Yes

File: Bonfire.jpg (178 KB, 668x896)

178 KB JPG

After a nice meal, he sits in front of the meeting area. It is larger than any open area outside the ashlands you've seen, and it paints quite a picture. The sun is dark, and all the light you can see stems from the fire in front of you. It whips and turns, a creature in and of itself, illuminating your figures as you sit beside the chief. His shadow is hunched, looking almost like an old man. And that is when he begins to speak.

"While this has been fun, there will of course be a few requests."

Pointing to the fire, he speaks again.

"The blood is restless.

Before you came, my father was taken by them, two weeks or so ago. Those damnable jackanapes have nothing better to do but steal people away... goddamnit. We're helpless you know. Try as I might there is nothing we at our current strength can do... but you! You can help, can't you?"

Turning to you, his eyes are lit like the flame itself, mighty in its visage.

"If you will rescue my father and further go to war against the gnolls with us, I promise that our tribe will become subservient to yours. Take it all, you can have it.

But first, a blood oath."

He cuts his palm open and offers it to Tor.

"Before all that you find holy, before the blood, will you promise to me, Khop, of the Family Trot, that you will ally us and assist us til the moment when we need help no longer?"

He is motioning for Tor to take the rock he used to cut his palm open, and speak.

Quite a crowd is gathering.

>>1686757
Do it Tor! BLOOD FOR BLOOD!

>>1686757
Do it, Tor. Our Stony Lord demands it

>>1686757

Do it...

>>1686757
Torlak takes the rock.
"I swear by the Blood that the I Torlak and Tribe of Ier will aid Khop Trop and the Tans against the savage Gnolls."
Torlak cuts his palm and shakes Khops hand.

>>1686806
A hand is shaken, a deal made.

(Do you guys want to have the war now/begin the war now? I'll be busy until some point Saturday beginning tonight so I just want to get that out there.)

>>1686825
(Might be better to wait once youve got that out of the way)

Alright, so that's where we'll end for the day.

>>1686825
"About time, now we shall have blood at last."