Terris POV
Trudging through the sand as our wagon is dragged by the beast. Wheels locked up into wide boards acting like skis to function more like a sleigh, causes the soft grinding shift of the sand as that heavy thing is pulled by that loan sod. The clanking of chains as the beast shifts to move that weight, yet absent from the small, mottled brown and green lizard like creature as it scratches at a heavy metal band around it's neck, causing runes to glow brightly for a moment before it shudders and stops.
'Gotta thank the boss for sending me out like this. Easy way to fix the problem caused by that stupid green horn, one way or the other. Heh, wonder if he knows about my bad habits then. Probably does, an' that's why we get along so good.'
Stopping as the beast lets out a soft, almost mad sounding cackle, from it's frothy jowls, we'd take a moment to survey things. The greenhorn being first to break the silence.
"Hey, Terris, you see that motion over there?" (Greenhorn)
"Yeah, I see it freshmeat, what about it?" (Terris)
"Don't it look kinda like those scouty types, an' why'd'ya call me 'freshmeat'?" (Greenhorn)
Giving him a wicked grin for a moment, to really set him on edge, I'd then look toward that movement again, raising a slightly shaky hand to shield my eyes. Sure enough, it does look like those little lizardshits we're out here to nab. Lucky fuck this Greenhorn is.
"Cause, that's what you'll be if ya fuck this up again." (Terris)
Kicking the lizard toward that movement we'd start trudging that way further, keeping an eye on the still hazy, shapes of what looks like our quarry.
Vahlu POV
Strangers in the desert. I don't recognize them, or what they are, for the most part. There's a member of the Mudscales with them, which means they shouldn't be bad. That thought's quickly changed when the larger of the tall ones kicks the Mudscale sending it sprawling a moment before it gets up and hurriedly moves to stay in front of the small group, but not so far as to run away.
"Curator, do you know what those things are?" (Vekla)
"Hmm...what was that, let me take a looksie. Yeah...looks like a...green and brown one of your people with some sort of collar on, two humans and....I'd call it a spiky hyena with scabies? Ooooh and a nice big sleigh. That's handy dandy. Why?" (Curator)
"Because, they kicked the Mudscale with them and while it got a decent bit away from them, it didn't run away. Mudscales are gentle folk. They live in oases, and will run or swim away from danger instead of fight. Not stay close to it. They're another clan, we even occasionally have swapped members of our tribes well in the past as a token of kinship." (Vahlu)
"Ah...yeah, that's not very nice. Stay alert then, see what's up with the humans, see if you can't rescue the Mudscale. Poppits should tunnel forward, I'll guide them on some...negotiation tactics that should work, should things go somewhat south." (Curator)
Nodding and relaying everything communicated between myself and Curator through the link we share since being given my role, my hun....foragers rather, would spread you some, fanning out to make it harder for us to be pressed together as we approach these...humans. As we do so, we all feel the Poppits with each of us drop down before rapidly disappearing under the sand.
Terris POV
Lucky, lucky, lucky. This greenhorn really does have the devils luck. Bad stuff happens to push him to the brink of ruin before he has a windfall like no other. It really is those little lizard shits, and they're comin' to us. They did spread out a bit, so it's clear they see us, but that's no matter, we got our lil mouth piece here to talk to 'em for us.
"Look alive you scaly fuck. If ya know what's good for ya, you'll tell them we're yer chums, an' that we've a nice safe place fer all of 'em t' have a gran' ol' time at." (Terris)
Giving a final, I hope menacing growl, to the barely more than a beast, we brought to talk with the yokels, I'd turn to the Greenhorn.
"Yanno rook, you really are one luck fuck, ain'tcha. Shit seems to go bad for ya, then all of a sudden, at th' 'leventh hour, ya really do pull one outcher ass. We should start callin' you Rabbit's Foot, hahaha" (Terris)
"Uh...thanks, I guess. Not sure if that's a compliment, or an insult." (Greenhorn)
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"It's a warnin'. If that luck runs out, well, where d' ya think the get the rabbit's feet fer them charms?" (Terris)
Watching the newbie gulp in realization of the veiled threat I'd nod before turning my attention back to our little negotiator and doing a double take. Those things we were out here to nab closed that distance fast on those small wooden boards. More importantly though, they're being led by a kobold, which means they're not just nearly braindead idiots.
"Be ready t' run like yer life depends on it greeny. The one leadin' em is a kobold, not just one of these almost feral still primitives. Kobolds are clever, quick, an' dangerous, and while that pointy bone he's usin' as a spear ain't as scary as th' weapons we go, it'll still skewer ya all th' same." (Terris)
Curator POV
Watching Vahlu and one of the huntskinks draw up to the group, I can't help but mentally smile as I can feel Poppits in position under the two men. One of them looks slightly gaunt, other that a fat belly, his hands and legs slightly shake as he stands there, the other looks hale, and hearty, if a bit scared and like a fish out of water. Hearing them speak, I can only make out a few bits of it, the rest being almost nonsensical to me. Almost like listening to the adults in those old Charlie Brown cartoons way back when. I do hear 'kobold' and 'dangerous' though, which lets me know this two do at least recognize what Vahlu is now.
"Hello friend, what brings you so far from where your clan normally resides?" (Vahlu)
"Supposed to tell you, they are friends, and they have a nice safe place to have a 'grand old time' at. They didn't tell me not to tell you this is lie. Thing on neck though can hurt me if they tell it too, or I don't do what they say. Doesn't hurt if they didn't say not to say something though." (Mudscale)
Ah, it's so lovely when people compel others but don't ensure to keep them from finding a loophole. Speaking of holes, my oh my Poppit, do you see those trouser holes, oh so close to the sand? You do, whoo's a good horror noodle! Yes you are! How about we teach these two a thing or, a pair of things, about coercive negotiation tactics shall we?
Poppit POV
Curator has a fun thing for us to do! They say it's a game called 'squirrel revival. We don't know what a 'squirrel' is, but we hope it's tasty! We do know what to do for this game though, as four of us lunge up out of the sand, one up each of those 'trouser' legs as Curator called them. Up and up, and quickly too, as these strange human birdies start to dance and shout only to stop dead still as four sets of mandibles gently grip onto some weird dangly bits. Curator said not to grip tooooo hard, and to grab the eyeball shaped lumps in the dangliest part, then they and Vahlu would handle most the rest, we only need to listen to if we should or shouldn't squeeze more. The squealing sound as we grip and shift every now and then are funny to listen too though!
Vahlu POV
Watching as these huemahns start to jump and move to bat at their pants only to stop and whimper cause me a mean grin at the pair. While I can...feel for them as a fellow, based on where the Poppits went up their pants legs, that's about all the sympathy I have for them. Turning to the Mudscale I'd speak.
"You are going to be okay, and safe. Curator said to rescue you, and Poppit is helping with that also. As you can see by the state of those...huemahns, this isn't an idle well wishing. Curator doesn't understand much of what they say, but you seem too, so you will need to act as the go between for now. Are you...okay doing that?" (Vahlu)
Turning to me with eyes wide as saucers the Mudscale would nod rapidly, even as it closes it's legs slightly. Seems this one is a male too, a shame as they've quite the fetching facial ridges.
"First things first, tell them to take the hurty thing off you. And that if they don't, they'll regret not doing so. Then tell them Curator, the...ruler I guess...of the closest domain demands they say why they are here." (Vahlu)
"I...I will do this. They do have all of my tribe in cages at their camp though. I think they are here for us. Why they brought me to talk, try and get you easy too. They don't realize how good our hearing is though. Say lots of important things about church and mohnehy for taking us from our homes" (Mudscale)
"Well then, seems I may need to teach them a thing or two about picking on people, and why that's a bad idea, but first, let's get that collar off you" (Curator)
Terris POV
Feeling...something crawling up my pant legs, I try and jump away from whatever it is, moving to swat at my inner thigh, only to stop half way as...something starts to grip at each of my balls. Tight enough to not feel nice, but not so much to be really painful, I can only groan as I hear the greenhorn whimpering in pain.
Turning my head to watch the kobold talk to that scaly turd a moment I see it turn to talk to us, and as it opens it's mouth I more...FEEL the words press into my skull than hear them.
Well then, seems I may need to teach them a thing or two about picking on people, and why that's a bad idea, but first, let's get that collar off you
'FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCKITY FUCK FUCK! NO ONE SAID THERE WAS A DUNGEON OUT HERE!'
"Ruler of close place, says you make ouchy thing come off, or you regret. Then want know why here proper." (Mudscale)
As the...thing...says the word regret, I can only fight down a wave of nausea as whatever's clamping my boys tightens down for a short while before relaxing. Panting as my vision swims from the ache I can only nod before speaking the command word to remove the slave collar.
"Loquacious." (Terris)
As I say that, there's a loud pop and then a snap as the collar pops open and falls off the small thing, causing it to cackle slightly and rub at it's slightly raw neck before hopping up and down in glee for a moment. A small cough from the kobold though brings it back down and to task.
"Why you here, exacly?" (Mudscale)
"Church is paying for primitive beast folk that don't have fully awakened mana hearts. Most of you lot are like that. It's good, easy, money. What the church does, we don't care, we just want gold, with as little risk as we can get." (Greenhorn)
Looking at the rookie with a glare, that makes him shrink back before halting and groaning out in pain, I'd turn to the Kobold, only to spit at it's feet.
"Fuckin' coward lizard. Coulda fought us like real men instead of grabbin' us by th' balls like this." (Terris)
Ah, and I know who will be the Message to your ilk. What few I let leave that is. After all, dead men tell no tales to keep scum like you out. Seems the other one gets to play the messenger though, and, if he plays his cards right, will be one that gets to leave, and alive at that!
Curator POV
Slavers. No other way to put it, but slavers. Rounding folks up, to sell them like property. These aren't just like, animals that don't have any sort of civilization to them. But honest to goodness people. I can almost feel the hatred flowing off me, as the last moments of my prior life spring to mind. I don't even notice as my mana is spent to pick up the language of this...scum...as they converse with the Mudscale.
"Fuckin' coward lizard. Coulda fought us like real mean instead of grabbin' us by th' balls like this." (Terris)
That's it. No more nice dungeon. These scumsucking slaver assbags wanna be nasty to MY people. They want to try and enslave, not only their friends and kin, but them also? Nah. Fuck. That. I will teach them a lesson. A dark, nasty, horrid lesson.
"Ah, and I know who will be the message to your ilk. What few I let leave that is. After all, dead men tell no tales to keep scum like you out. Seems the other one gets to play the messenger though, and, if he plays his cards right, will be one that gets to leave, and alive at that!"
Think a moment about how I wish to do this, I don't notice the expressions that cross Vahlu's face. First the slight fear at my rage. Then understanding as he understands this is a righteous fury. Next shock, quickly replaced by absolute horror as my dark ideas of how to, properly, send this message bubble upto the forefront of my mind.
While I might not notice, the mudscale and the humans do, causing one to speak, even if not too me.
"Well...seems my devil's luck still holds, really sucks to be you I bet." (Greenhorn)