Grim Guard Tribe. Chieftain's Tent.
Unlike other triangular shaped tents. The leader of the Lizardmen's dwelling was shaped in a strange octagon. Instead of animal skin acting as walls, brown, tanned leather served to stretch themselves into long walls between wooden poles.
Leather actually goes for a decent price. About a few dozen coppers or so... Possibly even more depending on quality.
Chief's really rich huh... And wasteful?
I asked that to myself after seeing three layers of that thick brown layer. Even if someone shot a iron tipped arrow at these "walls", chances are it might get stuck.
I entered the tent. Lips quivering, sweat slowly drenching the back of my robes as I was having a bad case of butterflies in your stomach.
I can't help it! I'm nervous!
I never really spoke much to other people except for my friends or neighbors. Especially to someone who could really kill me!
Inside the tent was a lot of entrances into other rooms. Strange yellow bugs replaced torches as they let out bright lights akin to flourescent lamps.
Sitting on a throne made out of bones... Chief... The leader of the Lizardmen struck an imposing yet carefree aura. Reclining back on the bone throne, the tall lizardman glared at me.
It was obvious that he wasn't pleased to see a human entering their camp.
I gulped a mouthful of saliva.
I'm just a lvl 1 goddamnit! Yet here I am. Before the leader of the Lizardmen. Undoubtedly a boss who could easily kill me ten times in a few moves.
Where's my old grandpa? Where's my divine treasure? I have nothing!
Oh how I wish I had the appraisal skill. Atleast I would feel a bit more secure once I see his stats and skills.
Not so fun fact. I don't have the grace of appraisal sama! Learning appraisal in this world does not happen by just learning the values of a few items. It takes years of practicing how to appraise to learn it!
Or you could buy a skillbook. Something that costs an astronomical sum of a few hundred gold coins.
"Speak... Why does a smoothskin. A child at that, dare wander into our territory? Chief yawned. He eased up further on his seat, eyes seemingly a little bit less vigilant after glaring at me for a full minute.
"Initially... I followed my friend into the forest. He ditched me and when I caught up to him, he was protecting a yellow lizardman..." I started to recount the tale of how Ray gave me such a huge headache. From start to finish, I made sure to emphasize how I was just a person who wants to take a neutral stand in all of this conflict.
Chief stared at me in complete eerie silence. He seemed to be in a daze but if you look close enough to those eyes. They were exceedingly sharp and bright.
"A third party wanting to mess with our tribes? You speak as if you are a hundred percent sure. Where is the testament to your conclusions? Do you have a witness or any sort of evidence!" Chief growled. Clenching his fists visibly as he stared at me again.
This isn't good. From the way those gritted long row of teeth are showing. And tightly clenched fists resting on the throne's armrests. I succeeded alright. I angered the chief.
Dominic you stupid little shite! You were too spontaneous with your actions.
Now I know what it meant by haste makes waste.
"Sir I have no proof... I'm sorry for wasting your time with my conclusions." A sigh left my mouth as I lowered down my head. I feel tired...
My mind is spinning. Everything just felt so surreal. Getting run over. Waking up as a person able to use healing magic. Getting into trouble with the lizardmen.
Log out.
Log off.
Link shut down!
Believe me I have tried all the mental commands to try and wake up from this virtual fantasy.
Everything's just too fast for me... I can't think straight.
"Forget it... You are a smoothskin yet you are also a child. Hurry along now. Get out of my camp." Chief snorted. Visibly cooling down as he relaxed on his uncomfortable looking throne of bones. Yet his eyes radiated a strange chill.
Something tells me my reputation points with the chief went down. Well... I failed to make a good impression afterall.
"Thank you sir but about my promise. I swore on my surname to offer my healing services to your camp for free!" This confused me... When I say I would do something I will definitely do it. But the leader of the lizardmen is booting me out! He's shooing me away!
How am I supposed to keep my word then?
Chief looked down and covered his eyes with a hand. Gritting his teeth once more.
"Then I shall tolerate your intrusion to my camp. You are free to come along as you please in this camp. If you do something as make a string of troubles for my kin then you have my word. I shall personally behead you. And oh. Mention something about what you learn in this camp to the humans or to the yellow scales and I will lead my troops to raid your puny village." The large Lizardman barked. Lowered his head with a sigh before gesturing me to go away with his right hand.
"Thank you sir!" Finally I can do my promise. After everything is over I'm gonna go home and rest before contemplating my life choices.
-----
Chief gazed at the human who had entered his camp. The nuisance child was finally leaving which greatly relieved him.
"You were too harsh. The human was just a small little sapling." An aged voice drifted over to the leader's ears. The tone was kind and caring while carrying with it a form of scolding.
"A human is still a human... Ruda'ar, I know you watched what was happening between the yellow one and Celo's little company. Why haven't you interfered?" The chief turned his head to the side. Not making an attempt at standing from his throne.
From one of the doors inside the chieftain's tent came a little lizardman. Dressed in a black robe lined with colorful green feathers circling the chest. The lizardman stood four feet tall, hunched over while supporting themselves with a long twisted staff. A staff sporting six pairs of shrunken human heads.
Portruding from the lizardman's hood was his green snout. The scales lining the snout or the lizard's body was a color of deep green. They looked aged and dark. He walked into the chieftain's room without any apprehension.
"Interfere? You should've seen how the little thing handled the situation as a meditator between parties. His friend was exceptional too, able to keep Celo's little group busy for a few pitiful moments. And he was just a seven year old child." Ruda'ar paused. Chuckling a bit.
His chuckle devolved into a hoarse laugh. "Other races are unique and stupid. Humans are the most foolish of them all. But it was interesting! Instead of charging in blindly or running away to call for help like any other human would. This one tried to understand what had initially happened. Settling the conflict before it escalated further."
"Again I say! Silence Ruda'ar. Here you are. Praising the greedy bastards once more." Chief threw his arms into the air. Rolling his eyes at the shaman's words.
"No you Silence yourself you little dimwit!" Interrupted, Ruda'ar stomped twice on the ground. Jumped up at the large lizardman sitting on the throne and brought down his staff.
Bonk!
"Ngh!" Chief groaned. Falling silent as he rubbed his noggin.
The little robed lizardman sighed. He grasped at their leader's arm and softly muttered. "Look... Humans may have hurt you in the past but that is not enough reason to hate all of them."
The tent became deathly silent again. Chief frowned. He couldn't find the words to refute his elder. The shaman as those words held true.
Frowning. He snickered towards Ruda'ar.
"Then why are we so mad at the yellow ones then? You yourself had stated that judging a whole group based on the actions of one was by no means ideal. Aren't you a hypocrite then Ruda'ar?"
"Fuck off! The yellow scales suck! They
should just suck our cocks and be our bitches already! The hateful bastards! Their ancestors are bloody cowards! Those mother fucking tools! If they did their job then our kin wouldn't be here!" Ruda'ar started hurling profanites. Tightening his grip on the shrunken head staff as if he wanted to snap the thing into two.
Chief looked on amused at the situation. Ruda'ar stopped. Glared at the large lizardman and snorted.
He just remembered he got insulted earlier.
"You called me a hypocrite? Well I shall call you as Simp! You fucking simp! Serves you right the humans nearly roasted your Ass! Do you really think a human girl would find a lizardman attractive?"
Embarrassed, Chief slammed his fist on the table. Effectively cracking it in half.
"Fuck off!"
"No you fuck off! SIMP!" Ruda'ar hollered.
"Fight me then!"
"Little shit I will make you beg for mercy!"
Luckily. Dominic had already gotten a fair bit of distance away from the Chief's tent. Otherwise his slight fear and respect towards the Lizardmen would've vanished on the spot.