After Bruyza accepted Michael's offer to basically... parley, he excused himself for a few moments as he returned to the group under the pretense of asking more from Runhar since his daemanic contract did not cover dealing with all of them. As he made his way back to his group with grace and ease, his expression would show anything, but that to his own friends.

"Uhm... alright. I got us this far, but... heh... that's all I got. Also, may I stress that fighting all of these people is not an option by a long shot. I don't have any Woh juice on me and I really, really do not want to break apart like a twig again. I still have nightmares with that undead thing ripping me apart... I'd much rather not add another trauma to my already extensive list." Michael said really anxious, letting out a few loud nervous chuckles.

"Well... this is fuckin' great, innit? Troxshite... I even forgot we's closely neighborin' with da Rock Backs." Azhul said with an annoyed sigh as she looked over to Runhar for an answer.

The captain, understanding his position, tried to think on the matter at hand as he let out an annoyed huff. "Like Michael said, fightin' 'em ain't an option. Dunno if we could offer 'em anythin' in exchange. Compared ta us, Rock Backs are actually sizeable in numbers... they live in da mountains, they got smiths, masons, pottery artisans... an' showin' we got somethin' they want might make us a target."

Runhar tried thinking as he tapped his foot on the ground, his stomping easing up with one last tap as an idea surfaced in his head. "A duel between leaders is used to settle disputes between parties of equal power... this is done to spare unnecessary blood shed, but both parties need to agree to it... we are decently honor bound folk, but... I don't think we are in a position to demand a duel."

Michael listened to Runhar and his own eureka hit him, with that mischievous smile plastering his face for real this time.

"Oh, by the Brood Mother, I really hate that face ya keep makin'. I understand its fer da role an' all, but could ya not?" Azhul said as she looked away.

"Oh, this ain't for any theatrics. This is because Runhar here is a genius." Michael said rubbing his hands together, akin to a true villain.

"I am? I mean... I am a good fighter and tactician, but... even I find meself a bit lost right now." Runhar admitted as he scratched the back of his head.

"Yes! It's simple. We'll just simply have Bruyza challenge you to a duel." The human said whispered as he let out a cackle.

The group looked at him as if the poor guy was mentally deficient, genuine pity and care.

"M-michael. If the stress of the situation got to ya, it might be best to sit down and take a breath. I have some calming herbs on me." Oinna said while going through some of her pouches.

"Might be best for you, really. If ya were to faint now from panic, it'd would look bad." Vodra said while letting out a small concerned cackled whine.

"Oh, shush. Stop looking at me like I lost it. It is simple. We'll just use some social engineering." Michael said with confidence, as if those two words would explain the whole thing. Still, the young hooman, forgot with whom he is speaking.

"Social whats-it?" Nushii asked with a tilt of the head, her gaze making it seem like those words were chants for a migraine spell.

"Sigh... manipulation. I will talk with this Bruyza and figure out a way to... make'em want to challenge Runhar. Dunno how, yet, but every person can be convinced to say or do something under the right pretense. Technically what I did with the Hay-yen from before. Convinced them I am so damned scary that they surrendered, still... this is going to require some... verbal finesse." Michael explained tired of always having to present a new concept to them.

"So you will lie so hard through yer teeth and somehow their leader iz gonna want tha challenge Runhar. Alrigh'... suppose it works. Question still stands if Runhar can defeat 'em in a duel." Azhul added as she glanced over to their guard captain.

Runhar turned his head to look at the looming behemoth that is Bruyza, his eyes locking in for a moment on the helmeted giant. "Hm. Aye, reckon I can at least give it me best shot."

"Honestly? From all of us getting slaughtered to maybe winning a one on one duel... I'm kinda starting to like our chances better. Anyways, time to put things in motion." Michael said as he then turned to Nushii and Vodra. "Do you two mind playing the slave parts again, please? I really gotta come off as an annoying powerful daemon."

Vodra and Nushii looked at one another and they let out some small cackles. "Aren't we your loyal 'snuggle pups', master?" The two answered in unison. The reply got Michael to wince with cringe and everyone else to attempt to hold in a decent amount of laughs, as to not make their enemy suspicious.

"Doamne... Îmi urăsc viața uneori. Alright. I'm going to need you two to put on an alive furniture servants act. Carry me there, then basically get me seated on ya as if I'm lounging on furs." The human said as he then took a deep breath of air and calmed himself. ("God... I hate my life sometimes.")

"Oh! What if you had them feed you food and drink as well? Then it'd be really convincing. If ye were truly like that, I know I'd hate your guts and be convinced you are a disgusting daeman." Oinna added in a most sweet tone, clearly trying to be helpful.

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"Hm, oh! We could even chew it for him and feed him the food like how avien folk do!" Nushii added in the same bubbly tone as Oinna.

"Ew! Haha... I'd be even more sold on it then." Oinna said as her any Nushii chuckled at the idea.

"Too much." Vodra said as she elbowed Nushii in the ribs which got a small yelped whine from her.

Azhul also looked at Oinna with an gaze that showed surprise. "You are... not as innocent as ye look, huh?" To this comment Oinna let a surprised snort followed by some embarrassed short snorts.

Now, with everything discussed on what to do and what to not do, Michael mounted up on Nushii's back. The Hay-yen walked on all fours as her big hunched back straightened. The longer arms were perfect in their movements to allow her a smooth quadrupedal locomotion. Despite her bubbly nature, she moved with a stealthy step and a soft shift to her motions. This would be only expected of a Hay-yen, a most capable stealthy ambusher.

"Bruyza! Hey~, I just finished talkin' with the big hog and it looks like I'm sticking around to converse. Now. You said you wanted to see how my itty bitty head ticks. Well, I'd like to think I'm open minded, without getting my skull split. Why don't we take a seat and you tell me, pretty please, why you want to transform my pups and their ex-allies into rugs, hm?" Michael would say drawing out his words and speaking much slower.

Bruyza looked down at Michael, but the helmeted face left for a lack of expression. It is to gauge something you can't really see. Still, the iron tuskir made its way back towards a campfire set in the middle of its group. A simple head motion is all that indicated an approval to follow.

The metal tuskir soldier sat itself down upon what looked like a metal throne, that had clearn signs it could be assembled as needed. It was large, rough as the mountains themselves and covered in latches that held it together, which would creak with whines of strain under the giant's weight. "If you are contracted by them you must already know our past."

As Michael followed, once Bruyza was seated, he snapped his fingers twice. He listened to the metallic voice speak while Vodra pick him off of Nushii. He had to be held up like that a moment too long as Vodra tried to figure out how to be a chair for him. 'This is stupid. We'll die and I'll die while pretending to be furniture.' is what went through her mind as she sat herself on the grass with her legs crossed. She'd plop Michael onto her lap and then gently pull him back so he'd lean againdt her long body, her naturally arched back giving her a good form for an impromptu chair. Nushii for a change would have the easier job as she'd just curl up at Michael's feet and act as a foot rest.

"Yeah, yeah. Hay-yen and Tuskir fought. Bloodshed. Lives lost. Large group split. That's where I'm at with information. Honestly? Mortal beings problems are just... kind of sad and... boring? So, no need to go into unnecessary details." Michael would say with a clear disinterest in his voice, as he pressed his head back against Vodra's chest, while crossing his legs on Nushii. "Hmm... gotta say I forgot how nice your cushions are, slave dog. If the big mean iron hog doesn't kill ya, remind me to put some hell pups in ya. That ought to make you an even better pillow for my head." Michael said while looking up at Vodra and petting the side of her neck.

The camp of Tuskir he was now in the middle of looked at him with glares that could not be described. Mutters would now hang in the air akin to a distant fog.

"You are absolutely disgusting and a vile lecherous parasite." Bruyza said as it slammed its hammer down by its side.

"Ah yes~, my best features." Michael replied with a quick witted response, that oozed with sleaze.

The rest of Michael's group wasn't permitted to enter the center of Bruyza's camp, but with very little distance between them and their human friend speaking loud and clear, they had gotten to witness all of that.

"By the Brood Mother... the sheer will to not wish to die immediately on the spot while saying those things like you mean them... I am impressed, disgusted, but... truly impressed." Runhar whispered with a conflicted tone. He was impressed by the sheer commitment to this ruse. He simply stared on as he covered his maw with one hand as if to hold himself back from saying something too loudly.

Oinna held her ears shut and if she could blush, she'd be read as a tomato. "L-let me know w-when he's done talking a-about lewd things. My heart couldn't handle it." She whispered with a few high pitches to her voice.

"I couldn't believe it when we talked about what he did before... I really wished to not believe it... what is worse is that I don' kno' how to fuckin' describe how I feel about this..." Azhul said while rubbing her face with both palms, covering it.

There was a long pause before Bruyza spoke as if it took a moment to process the way Michael behaved. "Well Daeman, it seems you are not stupid. Yes. That is correct. The Great Split happened because our higher council couldn't decide what to put as a priority. The warring conflict between us and Hay-yen had been done. Some wished to focus on rebuilding. Others wanted to leave and establish themselves somewhere else. Some wished to remain and hunt the Hay-yen who remained to extinction. We, The Rock Backs, were those that wished to move on. Still... wounds linger even for the future generations to feel. These Hay-yen are too close for my liking to the mountains. So, they must die." The metallic voice answered plainly, monotonous almost, in a way it almost sounded like Urla's way of speaking now.

"Tsk... I see where you are coming from..." Michael said while scratching Vodra's chin. "That really must have sucked, huh? But... hells be damned. I was planning a whole thing with them, you know? I showed them how to catch fish easier than spearing it. I was gonna show them how to grow fish in captivity, you know? Make a farm, hell... I was going to tell them about how to pickle it so they can eat it even when they can't catch it or there's not much to get. Damn fucking shame. All to waste..." Michael said going on and on about the damned fishing plans he had, still this is not without reason. He thought as they spoke that the mountains have plenty of things to mine and turn for trade in money, but not much to eat. Always buying food also sounds like a pain on someone's budget, especially if it is a large number of people.

"That is what those stick with wires and hooks were? Tools for fishing? You came up with them?" Bruyza asked with a clear curiosity coming from its helmet.

"Yuuuup. I did a bunch of things for the Tuskir tribe, too. Showed them how to make better metal. Better defenses. New things to sell for trade. I know a bunch of stuff. Hell, I know how to grow food in the dark. Ain't that a funny thing?" Michael said with a smirk and shrug of the shoulders.

Bruyza stood silent for a decent while, but just like before a final conclusion came up to rise above wall. "Then, we might be able to, how did you say? Cut a deal."

Those words were sweeter than honey right now for Michael, because it meant progress. He had found the nick in that armor that he could widen and exploit.

"I guess we do then, huh?" He replied back with a wide smile and half open eyes.