After the initial greeting and meeting the Chieftan, the ladder raised a hand and all the others in the room went about their business. Chieftan Rom then stood and stretched before regarding the native who had brought Del here.
"Welcome to our humble temple." The Chieftan said to Del. Quickly glancing around, Del only bowed again, unsure if what else to do. The Chieftan quickly turned to the other native to ask a question.
"How long have the others been down there?" The Chieftan asked.
"The better part of a day Chieftan." The native responded.
"Any signs of rescue?" He asked to which the native only shook his head.
"I don't think they'll be rescued." Del interjected. The Chieftan turned to loook at him now.
"Why is that?" He asked.
"The Drenzien's don't value their own as much as they value money, it's simply bevtoo expensive for a few survivors of the attack." Del said with a shrug. He knew this was likely true as he hadn't met one Drenzien that showed any hint of emotion in his entire time in the Adresta system. Then a memory flashed before him.
"There's someone, you see, a female." Raed's voice echoed in his mind.
There was that one he thought to himself, slightly puzzled by the anomaly. Though he was quickly brought out of his memory by the Chieftan.
"Good then, our people have suffered enough loss." The Chieftan stated.
"What if the other survivors then?" The native asked after a moments pause.
The Chieftan scratched his chin for a brief second before waving his hand. Dismissing the issue. The native bowed in response to the unspoken command.
They're just going to dispose of them?
Del thought, only for a brief moment, that these people might be savages. Then, after a moments consideration, it made sense. These people were being attacked on an almost constant basis by the Drenziens over the course of their campaign to conquer this world. The only reason for doing so being to exploit its resources, subjugate it's people and gold the planet into the ever growing Drenzien empire. It must have seemed like a small trade, these four lives for so many of theirs. Still, a question now presented itself before Del.
Should he want to remain loyal to the Drenziens, which did seem his only chance of getting back to his home, he should try to rescue these Drenziens. Furthermore he wasn't entirely comfortable with letting them die.
"I think actually…" Del began which drew the immediate of the attention Chieftan and the native who had been turning to leave.
"That they could be useful in other ways." Del finished quickly.
The Chieftan raised one eyebrow. He then scratched his big green chin and thought for a moment. He closed his eyes and was silent, in deep thought. Then begrudgingly, he nodded.
"Such as?" He asked though it was more sn inquiry.
"Work." Del said simply with a shrug.
"It's why they brought me here."
"No. It is not the way of the Ta've." The native behind Del blurted out.
"The Ta've? Del asked.
"It is the name of our people." The native responded with venom, appearing offended.
"Oh! Right, right." Del said swuinting his eyes shut rembering the name being mentioned only briefly in the file that was on the holo he had read.
"It is not our way, but, it is undeniably ironic given it is their way." The Chieftan stated still scratching his chin.
"But Chieftan…" the native began but the Chieftan held up a hand.
"We will give them some form of pay. The rule of our kind is against slavery not work." The Chieftan stated. The other Ta've as Del now knew they were called, had no choice but no sigh and nod. Taking the chieftains order he was off to arrange the prisoners work. The Chieftan kept Del behind though and asked he walk with him as he strolled through the large temple.
"I am glad you are here outsider, believe it or not." The Chieftan began in his deep somber tone.
"Oh?" Del asked now intrigued with the chieftains attention rather than fearful.
"Yes, I have… a request." The Chieftan muttered, clearly uncomfortable with the bluntness if it.
"What's that then?" Del asked quickly, trying to smooth things over for the chieftan and make him more comfortable with asking a request of an outsider.
"I would like you to travel to the Ad'dache tribe. We would ask for their aid in diplomacy, we seek to negotiate with these Drenziens. East of here, the Ad'dache tribe lives in harmony with creatures of the sea. They reside in a large fortress much like this one on the great Moltic sea."
The large body of water!
"Alright, and what should I say to them?" Del asked, intrigued with the mission. Admittidly eager to visit the sea.
"But I must admit, a negotiation with the Drenziens is unlikely."
"I know this." The Chieftan replied with a faint smile.
"But we must try every solution we can to avoid further bloodshed, no?"
Del nodded along with the chieftains words. Though they rang rather hollow for him coming from someone who was going to order the other prisoners be executed only moments ago.
They were outside the temple now, the Chieftan brought them through a back door where Del got a better look at the large creature behind the city. It seemed to notice Del and looked his way before then turning back down to drink the water.
"They are called mastadons, they are majestic, no?" The Chieftan said with a smile, staring at the creature along with Del.
"Very. Del said struck with awe from the sheer size of the creature.
The surrounding tropical beauty was so much it was almost too much for Del to take in. The various shades of green, the colorful plants, the small lake, the wildlife, it was all so harmony's. Del couldn't help but be taken aback by it.
"Will someone be there to guide to me on this journey? I would hope." Del inquired.
"Yes, the one who brought you here, Nimlis, he will be you're guide. But be warned, the Areilian wilderness can be brutal. For this reason, you'll be taking the other prisoners with you as well.
"Do you think that's wise?" Del asked, somewhat shocked by the chieftains decision.
"It will be a good exercise in the coming diplomacy." The Chieftan shrugged.
"Besides, it is you who suggested they be put to work yes?" He added with a grin.
"I suppose so." Del replied. They were now walking back around to the front door of the temple.
"I will send word to Nimlis." The Chieftan said waving one of the other Ta've over. He
whispered in the natives ear and he was off, surely to be the messenger to Nimlis.
"As for yourself, you should browse the market below the temple and prepare for the coming journey. Here." He said handing over a small pouch along with a small embroidered emblem.
"I will have Nimlis waiting with the others just outside here when you return." The Chieftan gestured to the bottom of the long staircase before continuing back inside the temple. They had now rounded the large building in a full circle.
"Oh, thank you." Del replied with raised eyebrows, grateful for the gifts. Seeing even these natives had a similar form of metal currency as some type of coins rattled in the pouch.
"That will be more than enough, show them that." The Chieftan said nodfing to the emblem.
"It will lower all the prices for you." He grinned.
"Thank you." Del said again with a bow, and with that the Chieftan promptly dismissed him to go about his journey.
Del saw himself out of the temple and descended the long wooden flight of stairs. He had a slight anxiety for the coming journey, but was also excited. He pressed forward toward the market to prepare for the coming journey east.