[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #172

Cailin shrugs "We can check for Mages. Something we'll have to do anyway to see what we can and cannot do. Besides that..."

"Most things have opposites in magic, right? For every sort of magical detection, don't you have concealments? Sorry, just a layperson asking..."

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #173

"Doesn't mean we all know how." She looks at the sky for a couple of seconds, then sighs "A combat Mage would, but I'm not. I know the basics of Counterspelling, but not enough. And even if I did, I'd need to be with the people I'd be protecting, not here. So..."

"Sorry to have pressed. It's amazing, really, how much good your talents have done for us in so very many ways. Don't think we're...I'm...not appreciative. All we have to do is hold out until my Father and his men get here. It won't be long now."

Addie -- Day 11, Towards Dawn, Camp by the Caves

Addie adds in "I'm not great at the matrix stuff, to figure out much more about the sensors. While you plan let me go wake up some of the others with links, they might be able to figure out more, especially if we work together."

She starts jogging away, then stops and pulls back close enough to talk quietly "IF those matrix items are links, that could be another way to do diplomacy -- we reach out to them that way? I'll let you think about that while I marshal our matrix resources."

It doesn't take long to wake up Nora, Aria, and Scrap, then after a moment she finds Widget -- already awake and looking at the channels water has carved in the cave floor--and brings him in too. Addie quickly cautions them against being too obvious on the matrix, and explains that there are matrix objects approaching, and that the more they know about those objects the better, preferably without being too obvious themselves. "Look, it is only thanks to coaching from Widget and Pierre that I can use my link properly at all, I know about enough to say "there is a matrix object, not too far away. But hopefully some of the rest of you know more, and can get more information. And Widget, feel free to chime in with ideas since you seem to understand this stuff pretty well."

The technicalities of it all largely escape Addie, but she's gratified to find that the group cooperate with her request and after a few intense moments agree on what they are sensing.

"Now," adds Addie. "I don't even know if it is possible without more gear, but none of you could actually hack that, by any chance?"

Once Dana was done with an alternative and hopefully secret exit, she walked around in the cave clearly getting restless. "Why are they not attacking us already..." she shrugged "They clearly do not want to talk" She grabbed a bow from one of the Orc hunters and held it along with a quiver of arrows, "Nice pull, now show me how to use it." She said - and to her surprise, the man complied.

Seeing how cooperative he was to her she Demanded to know "Do I know you? Why are you nice to me?"

"Name is Blake and I made bows for most of the pack, you are welcome to use this one... if you are as strong as you claim to be I bet you can pull it. Why do you need it?"

Dana answered "Because if I stand with the warriors without any mundane weapon - they will all target me. Can't be of much use if I am dead. Besides how hard can it be?" She pulled the bow and launched an arrow, it indeed went roughly to the way she wanted. Blake said "Good enough if the target is not moving, but you take too long to fire."

Dana replied "Just give me a few days... and when you have time, pull that string a bit harder."
Blake nodded and Dana thanked him. His face was familiar. However, Dana could not place it, until it hit her - he was right there with Muhammad. Perhaps more than a follower. She would have remembered but then that pretty boy tried to stab her and everything happened so fast.

[Addie, camp by the caves, dawn of day 12]

The realization that this other group is also ‘just kids’ passes through the kids in the cave like a gust of wind bowing tall grass, people turn to talk to their neighbours, a general rustling is heard, as everyone starts wondering what this means, would they really attack, could a deal be struck?

Addie’s thoughts are not that much different than those of everyone else, but more focused on one area – intimidation. She quickly returns to near Maya and Cailin, glad to see that Klarissa and Raf are nearby too. She frowns at the absence of Dana, but then remembers that she was working on an emergency escape route from the caves.

“They are trying to intimidate us. Killing the hunters and leaving them to be found, all dressed up in their animal outfits, spread out like that to make it look like they are a bigger group than they really are. But they aren’t as great as all that, look that cache of old body armor we found had about as many sets in it as we found in our drop, so if this is the same group then they look like they’ve lost a lot of their members, and they don’t have armor. If there have been even more groups dropped then probably they’ve also been around the same size, so same about loss of members although maybe they could be hiding armor, but I think we’d see flashes of it.”

“We need to look strong too. We should show our numbers but make them look even bigger, I think, in case they don’t have a good count yet. Get people moving in and out of the caves, and make a lot of noise. Maybe even bang rocks or sticks or something, loud drumming is kind of fierce, right? Show we aren’t panicked, that we are all holding together. Then if they don’t make a move, maybe use magic to levitate or carry a few of us over the river. You know, ‘ho-hum we have so much magic and our mages are so strong that we’d rather do this than get our legs wet.’ All part of showing that we are strong and not scared of them. That should hopefully be enough that they would send people down from the ridge to talk -- and the far shore should still be well out of bow range from the ridge, if what I've heard and seen about bows this past week is any guide.”

She looks down at her fingers for a moment as she counts off “They are putting on a show, we should put on a show, bluff our numbers, bluff our magic …” She looks at her thumb for a moment then looks back up “Right, the last thing – neither side can afford a full on war, both sides would take too much damage, no matter the outcome. So if neither side can win by intimidation, then what? Two options, we negotiate something, or go really old school and put it down to a contest or ritual combat, or something like that. Which sounds really stupid, but it is actually pretty traditional, right? Like two boys try to bluff each other away, trash talk each other, but end up arm wrestling or seeing who can hit a target with a thrown rock or something, so that they don’t both end up hurt in a brawl.”

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #174

Cailin looks at the line of kids, scowling "So... They're the one who killed our hunters?"

For a moment, she stays silent (though she groans when Addie talks about showing off with Magic, easy for her to say, she's not the one who have to work at it...). Not looking at anyone in particular, she asks "Want me to grab one of them? On the edge, so that their mages won't notice before it's too late? Maybe I should do that for each of them, and drop them in the river..."

"What if you grabbed one and brought them to us? We can question, make demands, let them wade back across the river. Probably not a leader or they might go for violence to regain face. And I guess we should get the Legion of super mates assembled in case they try magic back at us¦ right?"

Maya looks about. "Could we not have some air spirits appear behind them and sweep several into the gorge from the cliff? They are showing off their strength and trying to intimidate us, but it seems to me that they might be a bit overconfident. If we even only get a few to fall in, we might unnerve them a bit. Dana, you have created a tunnel for us, but could you use your mojo to collapse part of the cliff beneath even a few of them, causing some to fall? We could coordinate our efforts so it takes them by surprise. Even if we only get a dozen or so, we will make them leery and reduce the odds against us. Can it be done?"

Dana said "It is possible... the earth usually do what I tell it to do, I can trapp them in it or literally move it from under their feet. "

[Camp by the Caves, as day 12 is dawning]

Addie chuckles, then explains "How about a one-two punch? Have Dana do her thing with the ground, and during that confusion Cailin snatches someone and floats them over here? That shows strength, but also shows that we aren't starting a war right away."

Maya looks grim. "We can do the snatch and try to get someone we can question, but these fraggers started a war already and killed friends. I am not of a mind to take it easy on them. Dana, I would like you to move enough earth to topple a couple of them into the gorge. Can we get any spirits to assist in pushing a few more over the cliff edge? Cailin, Lindsey, Dana? Anyone else. If we do it as a coordinated attack, we might catch a few off guard and kill some before they know what is happening and step back from the edge."

Dana said "Okay, got it push them over the cliff, piece of cake. Caiilin can you identify their awakened ? Some mages can just counterspell - either we geek the mages or we try to avoid them."

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #175

Caitlin shakes her head "They have two Awakened and a spirit. But I won't do anything if you just plan to kill them." She crosses her arms on her chest, quite resolute "I suggested to grab one to talk and learn more about them, not as a way to start a battle."

Addie spends a moment in amazement that she is in agreement with Cailin for a change, then starts nodding vigorously. "I agree with Cailin! How many more of our group do you want to see dead? Besides we don't know what tricks they might be hiding still. I’m not happy about our deaths, and when we get time I’m going to cry over each and every one of them and also make sure that everyone remembers them. But more deaths won’t bring them back.”

“And just think! Once we kill some of them, they’ll be out for revenge. Even if we shatter their group," she smacks one fist into her other palm suddenly to emphasize her words "we’d better be ready to enslave or kill the survivors. Else they might not have a better choice than to chase after us for revenge or to scavenge off of us. Same reason I've said that exile isn't a good way to deal with crimes in the group.”

“But if we show we can take revenge, but we don’t – yet – then maybe we can avoid more deaths. Including Niyaf most likely, because I’m suspecting that they might have her. Look, I don’t have the magic, the mages get to choose what to do with their powers, all I can do is say what I think. But we can be strong without being violent If it comes to it, sure we fight, but the cost of fighting would be really high.”

After a moment she muses “Who knows, maybe they might even have some people not happy with how they are doing things, and seeing us behave better could change things with them? Or lead to a split or something?”

Maya looks at her advisers and hardens her heart for a moment then nods. She is not going to be the dictator. "Very well. We can do it that way. I am not convinced that even grabbing one will not send the others into attack mode, but it might be worth a shot. Let's go ahead and do that. But I think that we should be prepared to take them on if this does not work."

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #176

Cailin shrugs "Then there's the second option: I go out to talk to them. By myself I'm not a threat to them, but with a spirit with me, I don't appear too weak either. And if they take me..." she shrugs "You won't have lost much in the way of fighting potential."

Dana said "Nonesense, Caillin, I am not sending you alone to the way of danger.
If anything, it is not unlikely that I can simply kill all of them. I mean I am not fond of killing people but they bleed just like lions and dogs and bears... If they behave like animals then I will butcher them like animals. Having a bunch of archers and spirits watching my back is also not a bad idea... Saved my life against the dogs."

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #177

Cailin cocks an eyebrow "Of course. But the goal is to go there to talk, not fight. In a fight, no one would think twice to know who is better between you and me. I was taught how to handle some difficult social situations though, were you?"

Dana shrugged "So far every single thing we encountered have tried to kill us, why would these people be any different. " She shakes her head "No I am not skilled in diplomacy but I carry a big stick so if I accompany you they are less likely to be violent. No offense Caillin but you do not look that intimidating for a crowd of 30 children with modern bows and god knows what other technology. "

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #178

Cailin snorts "I'm not supposed to be seen as a threat, it's kind of the point. Plus, they'll know I'm Awakened, especially since I plan to go there with my Spirit. Which means they won't see me as a threat, but won't be sure of it since they don't know what I can do. Maybe if I go there by myself, I can torch them all? They'll be careful and willing to talk. At least as long as I don't make a mistake anyway."

Dana said "These people have likely wiped out our hunting party. There is a difference between appearing non threatening and appearing hostile. Trust me, you do not want to go there alone.

Two awakened are better than one, and multiple spirits are better than one.
Let's throw in some archer cover and drums beat. The more fierce we appear they less likely violence is. We outnumber them and we have the body gloves and plenty of magic.
It is likely that we are the stronger group. The more force we show the less likely they are to choose violence.

If we appear weaker than we are we invite violence. Our people need you, losing you may tip the balance in their favor. Do not give them the opportunity for such easy gains.
"

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #179

Cailin shakes her head, appearing irritated now "You don't understand. A show of force could initiate the fight, which we don't want. On the contrary, they won't expect me going alone, which means they won't know how to react. If they don't know how to react, they won't know what makes me so sure of myself, and I'll have the initiative."

Dana embraced Caillin and said softly "I only object because I care about you. If you feel that this is the right way to defuse the situation then go. If I knew what to do, I would have done it already. It is better than seat here and discuss it.

Just be safe alright? I will pray for your safety."

Maya shakes her head. "So why should you go instead of me? Because of your spirit? Bah, you could have the spirit come with me instead of risking a valuable mage on this. If things go south, the spirit might be able to get me back to safety and it should be able to communicate with you, right? That way you can keep the rest of the people here informed about what is going on. And Cailin, never think that you are no value. You are an incredible asset to us, as is everyone. Don't forget that."

She looks around. "Any last arguments against me going? If I am the leader, I should be prepared to BE the leader and not send my people out in a situation like this. I will say that if things start to go badly, maybe the rest of you should get working on pushing as many of them over the cliff as possible. That way I will at least feel better about being dead."

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #180

Cailin shakes her head "On the contrary. If you are the leader, and you are, then you need to learn to delegate and not expose yourself."

Maya looks at Cailin. "Yes, normally you would be correct, but I cannot delegate someone to go out and expose themselves to the enemy. Sometimes the leader needs to step up and do, not delegate. No, there needs to be a better reason than that. Risking one of out mages is not a good idea, in my mind."

[Cailin - 11th day - Main Camp] #181

Cailin seems to explode "Mage this, mage that, I know you only see the Mage and no one cares about what else there is. Cailin heal this, Cailin levitate that, Cailin summon a spirit to scout, blablabla. It's exhausting. I... Just..." With a helpless wave of her arms, she stomps her foot and turns around to head...well, she doesn't know. As long as it's not just here.

Maya catches up to Cailin before she gets too far. "Hey, listen. I did not mean to insult you. As long as you ask, I will tell you what I see when I look at you. A strong vibrant person who happens to be skilled in something very few people are skilled in. You are pretty and smart and have lots of good qualities, one of which is giving advice. You might not want to have others think of you as a mage, but that is what you are. You do not have to use your abilities, but you should realize that you will always be seen as a mage in our eyes, which is something to be proud of. That you can heal and call spirits and move things is a great gift. I will not ask you to use that gift if you would rather not, but I also expect that you will act as one of my primary advisers and that means not turning away from a challenge. Give me advice and then be prepared to back up my decision when it is made. I am asking you to return to the group there and help me survive this encounter. Please?"

Dana said "Well, Maya is the leader so I think she can go, but no need to argue both of you.

Please Caillin, magic is both a blessing and a curse and you are lucky to have spent your formative years without suffering prejudices. The rest of us were not so lucky. Some people here like you regardless of magic. You make everything prettier - like a ray of light in a dark place. It is your charming and altruistic personality that always seek to help others even if you yourself is sick. You inspire people to behave better and we are lucky to have you. I am lucky to have you - we all are."

She then said to Maya "Please, you did not survive so long by being reckless. A moment ago you wanted a show of force - a leader does not leave the group without protection. Take a bodyguard, have some archers looking after you and spirits around you.

Paint your face with terrifying war colors, like some native americans used to do. Perhaps bring also the wolf cubs with you - they show the strength of your personality that also affects animals and bring them together. Do not appear like the leader that did not want the job, appear as the all powerful leader that these people do not want to mess with.

Not because you yourself are powerful but because you command, beasts and archers and spirits and mages. The more powerful you are perceived to be the less likely you are to actually use this power. "

She then thought "... and why on earth did they shape me as a pretty elf?"

"Hold on, just a few minutes ago you were saying make them come to us, now you are going to them -- why? I think your first instinct shouldn't be discarded without good reason."

"And when it does come time to talk, you shouldn't be the one doing the talking. It is classic sales, or good cop bad cop. You are the one standing back, looking grim, saying no. Get Cailin to talk, everyone seems to like her. Or I can talk, or Raf. But the boss isn't the front line negotiator, for all sorts of good reasons."

" And, another thought I just had, they could already have met or picked up Simon's group. So they might already know about us."

Maya looks around at those advising her and nods. "Lots of good advice. OK, a compromise. What if I go out with Cailin? Would that work? And let her start the talking."

Dana smiled warmly at Addie. The short blonde was always opinionated and Dana expected nothing less from her. Probably smarter than all of them with her real education and... well she looked gorgeous. Feeling that her thoughts wander to other currently unwanted realms, Dana said: "Let me know when you decide what to do... I need to practice my combat skills... "

Leaving, she distanced herself. Life were always about Dana, Dana and more Dana. She needed to improve combat skills. She needed more control over her magic - when Grok was eaten she needed to prove that she is more dangerous than the cats. Then came Addie and all Dana wanted was to kiss her, to cuddle her to talk to her... and that terrible world with nosy people, evil gossip wild animals and murderous kids with high tech bows. So many things that got in the way... everything was in the way... and she or Addie could die from any random reason.

Dana has slacked out a bit on her training, and she felt that her considerations, loyalty and perception of herself dramatically changed. She calmed her emotions, steadied her breathing and lunched an arrow toward a nearby rock. Then again and again... until she was down to her last 3 arrows. She'll keep these when it matters. She went to fetch the arrows and then fired the ones that remained intact again and again until the perky group of girls decided what to do. Perhaps when this crisis is over, she can find an excuse to sneak away with her lover.

Day 11, Standoff, Towards Dawn, Main Camp

While Dana does her best to whittle down your meagre supply of arrows the standoff on the ridge continues…that is until another small group appear from behind the front line…and in the growing light of dawn you can see that at least one of them is the missing Simon. He is gesturing down towards the camp but at this distance it’s difficult to make out more, except he doesn’t seem to be a prisoner, which could be a good thing or a bad one…

Maya finally realizes what Dana is doing and tells her to stop. "We only have so many arrows and you are breaking them. Please stop doing that." She looks at Cailin and nods. "Ready for this? Simon being there is not particularly good, but we still have the same choices as before."

She nods to the others and steps out into the open.

As she watches Maya and Cailin cross the river, Addie reminds herself one more time that Maya has made good decisions this far and that Cailin charms everyone she meets, and that they will do fine without her fussing at them – that in fact they’ll probably do better.

“Logic sucks!” although she’d tried to mutter that under her breath she sees Sim shoot her a look. Addie rolls her eyes and explains “Letting them go do this was the logical thing to do, but I hate leaving this sort of thing to other people.” Sim just shrugs in a ‘what can you do’ sort of way, to which Addie replies with a shrug and rueful grin of her own. She tries to match him silence for silence, but quickly breaks down and says “I was brought up to take responsibility, to get things done. Accepting that others are better at it than me is … not easy. I guess almost none of us are the best at anything, but accepting that the best thing I can do much of the time is stand back and let others take on the responsibilities is hard.”

After a moment she turns away, seeking solitude, but then turning back toward the cave. If Simon is with this other group there is no point in trying to disguise their numbers or strength, but it occurs to Addie that with all their attention on the far ridge, it would be pretty easy to sneak in from the other direction, so they should probably get some sentries set up. The orcs had covered the night watch, but she can arrange for a few of the human boys to cover this. Leslie should appreciate the responsibility, Maroush is pretty quiet but seems attentive, and Fig was a little prick but it was probably good to not have him cooped up with the girls for too long.

She can’t help but think “I still think it would have been easier on everyone in the long run to formally punish him, instead of him just being ostracized forever.” But after a moment she has to admit to herself “But I’m probably wrong about that too.”

Once she gets the three boys set up to keep watch, she clambers back up the tree she’d spent part of the night in, taking a moment to re-find the least uncomfortable perch that still gives a view. Then she does her best to simply be patient.

Dana took the bow and walked toward the ridge where Simon was.

Maya notices Dana following behind her and Cailin and stops. "Dana? What are you doing out here? The plan is to let me and Cailin do the initial approach. Please return to the cave and wait with the others. I know it can be hard, but we need to show strength without intimidating them into attacking us and you are just too fragging intimidating."

Dana said reluctantly "Fine, I thought that the fact that Simon is there changes things. I will be very sad if you two die. " She then said softly "So don't!"

Maya reaches out to touch Dana. "Thank you. Hey, do something for me, will you? If......well, if something happens, can you tell Raferty.............well, tell him that I. Well, I guess you can tell him that I am sorry for hurting him. Not sure what I did, but he has been a bit distant since I........well, I guess I said something to him that he thought was wrong. Just let him know, alright?"

Dana answered "Alright... but if you are going to make it, you'll have to tell me what happened. "

Maya nods. "Deal. Now go keep him and all the others as safe as you can."

Maya watches her friend leave then turns to Cailin. "Ready? Let's go see if we can resolve this." The two continue on their journey to face the unknown enemy.

With heavy heart Dana returned toward the cave, tossing some stones on the river and trying to make them bounce as much as she could. She did not want to lose these two woman, she trusted their ability with words - but not their fighting skills. Not when the other side has high tech weapons.

As Maya and Cailin reach the river bank a figure detaches itself and races down the slope towards them impossibly fast...and it is quite clear as it literally walks across the water that it isn't really there at all, despite appearing to be a woman in a wolf skin, the toothy maw obscuring most of her face,

Her words are English but with a faint accent that is difficult to place...

"That's far enough, we don't want you spreading your disease to our clan! Come closer and we'll end your miserable existence!"

Maya stops walking and holds out an arm to get Cailin to do likewise. She looks over at the girl with her and nods for her to open the discussion.

[Cailin - 11th day - River Bank] #182

Cailin tilts her head, showing a bit of surprise and concern "A disease? I'm not aware of any disease, can you tell us more about that?" she looks at the girl for a moment, then cocks an eyebrow "Would you be willing to tell us more about your clan?" she spreads her arms "As you can see, I came with no weapons, we just want to talk and learn more about each others. Would you be willing to sit with us and talk?"

Day 11, Standoff, Towards Dawn, Main Camp

The astral figure frowns "disease...the one that his crony was carrying..." pointing up to the ridge where Simon can just about be made out "he died yesterday, that drek head said you're all infected...radiation. We're not going to let you bring that filth any further!"

Maya snorts. She had agreed to let Cailin do most of the talking but this was something she felt that she could handle. "We cured the radiation problem." She motions with her head to where Simon is standing on the ridge. "They should have stayed with us. He left us because he was angry about not being elected leader. He is probably still angry. He struck me from the beginning as a particularly angry and cruel boy. We would welcome anyone of you to inspect us to see that I am telling you the truth."

Addie: Day 12, just after dawn, up in a tree at the camp by the caves

Peering down through the branches, Addie can see by Dana's body language that the other girl is frustrated. Clearly she's not happy about being confined to the area of their camp, rather than going to share her opinions with Simon and anyone else who intervenes. On the one hand Addie agrees that keeping Dana away from negotiations makes sense, on the other she hates to Dana looking so frustrated.

Adjusting herself a bit on the branch she's perched on, she suddenly has a line of children's rhyme run through her head "Dana and Addie up in a tree, kay-eye-ess-ess, eye-enn-gee!" She blushes at the thought of making out amongst the branches and pushed the thought away -- she's supposed to be up here keeping watch, not kissing her girlfriend! But then she thinks some more, and realizes that it might not hurt to have Dana up here, out of easy sight of the other side's magicians.

She manages to work loose a hunk of bark and flicks it in Dana's direction. It doesn't come too close, but Dana's vigilence and reactions fulfill Addie's expectations -- the elf notes the bark and backtracks the flight path up into the three. Addie let's herself slide around the branch a bit to make one hand more visible, and waves Addie up the tree. Pulling herself back up into position she realizes that she doesn't actually know how well Dana can climb a tree -- she's so used to Dana being good at everything that she never thought to find out how well the other girl can climb.