Rokugan In the Shadows - Into the Shinomen

[Tjallen]

Waking abruptly from his sleep Red-Eye looks around, annoyed at his lack of armies being thrown in his face he mumbles about revenge at the unspecified 'people' in his dreams.
Starting his day with the preparation of supplies, magic and explosives Red-Eye follows this by gulping down food as he tracks down his new second-in-command, absently wondering if he will have to 'accidentally' remove him from command.
'Thew, you or your memories seep into my dreams, yes-yes?'

[~Corvus~]

The Thew does not respond right away, but after Red-Eye has conducted his morning rituals, The Thew thinks, "Perhaps...While the body of a living being sleeps, its mind may find its way to the World of Dreams, where desires have great power. I am a conduit to make powerful changes in the Material world; I dare not enter the World of Dreams.

[~Corvus~]

Red-Eye's minions have managed to find food for themselves for the day, and a few bring him an understandable amount--at least, if he had been a Nezumi and not Skaven--and ask him if he's ready to go. "Tattered ear is far lope-run, can reach in two-maybe-three day-nights. Tattered Ear respect strength-power. They stab-kill any show-sign for weakness. If we go, must help-watch each-us or we stab-die."

[Tjallen]

Accepting Thew's explanation and adding more questions before meeting with his minions: 'Are the dreams real, or are they simply dreams? Is important, saw ritual magic siphoning power of men, is important.'
As his minions bring him a meager portion of food, Red-Eye decides that scavenging while they move is apparently going to be a thing with these ineffectual hunters as minions.
"If they stab-hurt they will die-die. stay close-hidden when we enter their territory."

[~Corvus~]

The Thew does its mental equivalent of a sigh. The Dream World takes shape around the living, their memories, and their thoughts. But I know nothing of the Akashic art of Dreamwalking; I couldn't separate reality from thought. |

His minions, far from being ineffectual at hunting, keep pace with him and even manage to scrounge up enough food, in mushrooms that taste much better than expected, from trees along your way. They even find a leafy grass that tastes of pepper and mild greenery.

[Tjallen]

'Was from the blood war, used to fuel some esoteric magics. Does fiends dream?'

Deciding to help them out, and test his new ring at the same time, Red-Eye scavenges for food as they move along towards their destination.

Spoiler: Action!

Show

Survival for scavenging! (1d20+14)[20]

[~Corvus~]

With Red-Eye's help, and the power of his new ring, he manages to find enough food to satiate his own hunger and even some extra (raw) meat he could save for another day, exactly one and a half the amount he'd need in a day. The others are impressed at his find of the large buck deer, and give him furtive glances of envy as he manages to pack away the rest of the slaughtered beast's meat into his extradimensional bag.

--

The Blood War knows few boundaries on either the Tanar'ri or Baatezu's side. I have no idea if either type of fiends dream, but each side employs mortals, and humans, duerguar, and Drow are prone to their promises of power and wealth. To see any mortal harvested to further the Blood War wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[Tjallen]

His bad mood from having mocking dreams is banished at the glances of envy as he basks in his own unquestionable superiority as he packs the meat. Puffing out his chest in both triumph and challenge to any who would question his might.

'Is how war should be fought, no stupid-dumb rules, and no lack of human-things.'

[~Corvus~]

Even with the quick pace made today, and only another meal when you stop to rest for the evening, Red-Eye's minions report that you still have a reasonable distance to travel. The thick forest has not made overland travel easy, and even with your guides making your paths better-than-normal, the ever-changing forest has not had its lack of natural obstacles, shifting swamp pools, and so on. As you settle in for the evening, there's plenty of cheer. The other Nezumi celebrate Red-Eye's great hunting skills, and after a brief acknowledgement and a fire, you all settle in for the evening. Sleep does come eventually, and with it, more dreams.


Red-Eye is back amongst what he knows are succubi, and they are teaching the younger ones of their kind in a rather...graphic and experiential way. "Humans are among the most lustful of mortals," the "instructor" says, "as can be evidenced by how damn many of them there are. That the Human male feels the desires for sex so powerfully gives us a great means to control them to our will. Men are lustul, desirous, and thus easy to control by us and by mortal women. If a human woman is violated, then entire wars can break out. Men given reasons to fight by scorned women are terrible enemies. And we don't want that, we want...willing subject. Willing allies. So we entice the men..."
What follows is a drawn out tour-de-force of mating demonstration, with denials and even bits of torture or dominance, mating in its entirety (from the point of view of succubi, of course). Nothing is left to the imagination, and yet it's so matter-of-fact, its hardly anything but instructive.

Already, a fatigue seeps in, but the scene shifts.

He finds himself back among the leathery and pale-skinned humanoids. This time, they do not find themselves under attack by the octopus-humans, but instead by regular humans. After a long and pitched battle, of which he sees only bits and pieces, a temporary truce is called. They begin to talk, and it's clear the humans came to exact vengeance for what had been done to them; that the violations of their own selves is at stake. The lizard-creatures, who are led one called Gith, eventually give an attempt at apology, but also explain that their lives are ones close to extinction, and that it was deemed a necessity. Many of the humans listen, and although they are not happy, they give the lizard-creatures much to think about. Eventually, a sort of peace is brokered: Criminals and rule-breakers of the human societies can be sent to the Gith for "forced breeding."

The contract engenders resentment and contempt on both sides, but a sort of peace is reached. The feeling of unease and sense of danger never lifts, and the images swirl again.

He is among a gathering of many tribes of humans. Red-Eye recognizes the huts of this village, and the scorch-marks of the past battle he'd seen between them and the sacking they'd endured by Orcs and Hubgoblins They tell each other stories of the vicious creatures, of their acts, and it's upon hearing these accounts that many people become angry. It's less a violation of any one person, but the lack of regard for personal boundaries that are at stake. If the bodies--and connections--of the humans are violated, it seems, they become incensed. They rage and the news spreads. Red-Eye's mind expands, and he watches the world he sees grow as humans pass the words of the misdeeds of Orcs and Hobgoblins, and soon, the creatures find themselves besieged by legions of ravenous humans out for blood. The creatures eventually lose much more than they'd bargained for, and endure a great and terrible score of losses for their transgressions upon their human victims months or even years before. The flickering of images increases in rapidity until the rush transitions once again.

The final scenes have more ratlings, this time, with the citadel in open revolt. The long and bloody conflict ends when the groups fighting each other decide they've suffered enough, and would rather be allies than enemies; That they'd rather broker peace than war. They agree that the exploitations of each other is not great, but that power struggles are good; That helping each other grow strong is good, and that the tribe will work together--as only the strong can--and that all of the strong will rule the weak. There is much resentment, here, but a sense of enduring strength arises from their agreements.

[Tjallen]

As he wakes up, Red-Eye realizes that these dreams are nothing but fanciful thoughts; nobody could work together like that. Maybe if serving someone as great as himself. Annoyed with the loss of sleep due to random useless disturbances, he accepts it as the price for the knowledge of the spirit. Soon enough the need for sleep will be greatly reduced with the ring taking full effect. No more useless dreams to bother him.

Waking and starting his morning routine he disposes of his ticking bombs from the day before by launching them away from the path the group is traveling, before preparing new bombs and refocusing his magic.
'More dreams, useless images of mindless puppets. Know anything about tattered ear tribe or this place?'

Waving the others closer and explaining his plan for dealing with the Tattered Ears scouts they will undoubtedly meet on their way: "When get within mile of Tattered Ear, must-must surprise sentries, will go stealth, we catch without killing, use as proof of strength and peaceful intent, follow-listen to me, you pick targets, group up as much as possible, I-I handle any leaders, if meet non-Nezumi, go for kill-kill, if I go to hunt down target or lead away, Second-in-Command Bhossi regroups 10 minutes south of fight, no survivors." Expecting no questions Red-Eye immediately starts teaching them a variation of hand-signs used in the Krakit-clan.

Moving out, Red-Eye uses the time to get the others used to following his orders and using the hand signs. As they move to hunt food instead of actual prey he guides them, lending his expertise.

Spoiler: Actions!

Show

Infernal bombs explode after 24 hours so those gets shot to to side of where they are going, exploding if anything touches them or when the full 24 hours are up.

Pack stealth allows Red-Eye to let others use his ranks in hide/move silently, if someone has equal or better both they and he gets a +3 on top.

Hunting something for training: Move silently/hide (1d20+15)[20] and Survival (1d20+14)[23]

Then approaching the Tattered ear territory with the intention to catch a scouting party, tracking them (1d20+14)[24] and sneaking up on them (1d20+14)[30]

Hilarious Side-Note: I used a random Nezumi Name generator for Bhossi. It was too good to not use.

[~Corvus~]

The Shinomen is nearly as big as Rokugan itself, and the least-well-known of any place surrounding its border. That is all I know.

The minions listen attentively, and Bhossi--now titled--now heads the three-person team. They work closely, and after half the day has been done, you manage to barely sneak up on a sentry. There's a tense moment when another sentry nearly gets away, but a Lucky shot from Red-Eye wounds the sentry before they're found (later) to have died from the poison that was supposed to knock it out; he had landed in a puddle, and had died while it was fallen to its (nonlethal) damage and poisons. With one sentry captured and in tow, and the other downed, the minions look to Red-Eye for further instructions.

[Tjallen]

Whispering just loud enough to be heard Red-Eye orders Second-In-Command Bhossi to lead them towards the tattered ear tribe, prisoner in tow.
"Sneak-hide, prove strength by catching off-guard, catch any sentry we find, cull the bad-weak."

[~Corvus~]

It's much harder going with a person on their backs--they make a disguise with Red-Eye's help--but you manage to travel another hour while only needing to knock out four other sentries. With a good deal of others in tow, going is tough.

Spoiler: Survival check + rushed crafting

Show

survival (1d20+14)[27]
crafting (1d20-1)[7] (8+6, -15 rushed)

You all manage to find the supplies for a very crude sled, and it's wobbly and inefficient, but dragging it is relatively quiet, all things considered. By the time you make it to the citadel, dusk is falling.

The minions, a bit tired, look to Red-eye in both triumph and admiration at his skills and teamwork to get them so close to the Tattered Ear without being seen.

[Tjallen]

Basking in the adoration of his well-chosen minions, Red-Eye addresses them quietly: "We-I go-see the Tattered Ear soon-quick, guard captives, make sure you're better than them, we see if they will join or if they must be convinced."
With his instructions given he quickly helps camouflaging the sled and prisoners before leaving two sentries behind, letting them figure out the hierarki themselves. As long as they keep quiet.

Moving around to approach the citadel from a different angle so this path can't easily be followed back, Red-Eye and his minion sneaks as close to the citadel as he can before he deems being spotted to become likely before revealing himself as he walks the last stretch, forcing himself to walk straight and unhurried towards the door, application of divinely inspired talents helping him keep his posture.

Spoiler: Rolls!

Show

Hide check for the sled. (1d20+15)[34], if there are penalties for hiding a thing, they haven't been applied.

(1d20+15)[32] Hide check for approaching

Applying Glibness for the bluff bonus.

[~Corvus~]

Red-Eye remains hidden until he's fifteen feet from the guards. An owl makes a whooping sound, characteristic of an evening call, and the guards spot him. They call out, saying "You, tricky-rat! Why you come-sneak-hide here unseen? Why you try-hide your intent? We not like-treat well those that sneak-enter to Tattered Ear home. Speak-tell, or we shoot-kill!!" The one of the two guards who speaks raises a hand above him.

Red-eye hears the faint sound of stretching sinew and he can just make out over twenty arrows, nocked on bows from guards in nearly-hidden arrowslits, pointed at him.

[Tjallen]

Red-Eye looks at the guard with something akin to disdain: "I-I am here to talk to your elders, am great-mighty warlord Red-Eye, if I did not intend to get seen, you would not have seen me."
with a wave of his hand he gestures for the guard to go get someone actually important.

[~Corvus~]

The guards, taken off guard, call for the gate-captain. Word gets passed on, and after several minutes of the other guards appraising him and his trophies without words, the captain appears.

This Nezumi has a squat but muscular frame, and her ear bears scars on the right and left, as if bites have been taken out of them. She wears neat-looking leather armour that fits her form and is studded all over with wicked spikes, and it bears distinctive slashes on the shoulder. Finally, she bears no bow but instead has four javelins in a back-sheathe and carries a spear adorned with many heads of many creatures. She takes her own chance to ogle Red-eye before she speaks.

Her voice carries the practiced tone of a powerful warrior used to speaking well and clearly. "I am guard-captain Chokka-Kam, and member of the Chiefmistress' advisory council. Our guards spotted your attempt, and say you intended to sneak into our fortress. You are not of the Tattered Ear. What is your tribe, and what do you intend to do here? Speak plainly, no tricks, or we will kill you and find and kill any others with you."

[Tjallen]

At the appearance of Chokka-Kam, Red-Eyesnorts at the implication that the guards spotted his approach: "Your guards are blind and dumb, I-I let them spot my approach, I am Chieftain, Mage-warlord, Red-Eye, am here to unite tribes, Black Spot Tribe has witnessed my strength when I defeated the great Wani."
With the pleasantries out of the way he narrows his eyes and bares his teeth at the female, his face hidden by his cloak and his voice low and venomous: "And if you threaten me again, your citadel will go the same way as the Wani and your head will decorate my belt."

[~Corvus~]

Chokka scoffs at the mention of Black-Spot but listens until he's finished. "Black Spot stole our secret magics and left. We do not work with traitors.

...you killed the Land-Serpent? And without great effort? When Red-Eye affirms this, she looks again to his sash. "...Ah! I recognize its head, and well shrunken! Not everyone can shrink heads with such skill. I commend you! It took us several years to move it from a Naga temple and then remove its...inability to survive on land. It took several more to make it as hungry as it was, and we were only upset that it didn't kill more of the Black Spot than it did.

Impressive. Very impressive. It would be interesting to see what the chiefmistress has to say about your deeds. However, our needs for security are paramount. If we bring you to see her, we must blindfold you. Would you like to see her?

[Tjallen]

Interest peaked at this hostility to the Black Spot, Red-Eye declines the invitation, but offers an alternative and a peace-offering: "Would not be working with Black Spot, but with me. Cannot agree to be blindfolded, you have threatened me and call my allies your enemies, one must be vary of the enemies of ones friends, you have neutral ground prepared, or someone who can speak for her, yes-yes? I-I want to hear more of this betrayal, will deliver your captured sentries back as show of goodwill, security is lacking."

[~Corvus~]

Chokka laughs at the idea, but another of the guards disagrees with her. They bicker, and it soon appears that this guard was once an advisor to the Chiefmistress but had fallen in rank. She leaves, against orders, to deliver the message, and Chokka has you wait, sullen but unwilling to go after or punish the offender. Chokka sits, silent but watchful, for what seems like an hour. She finally tires of waiting, and asks another to find her former peer, but they soon return with a message:

"Headmistress K'challak kek-Nok thank you-many for wait-patience. She meet-talk to Mage-warlord Chieftan Red-Eyeat at treaty-tree, north-east of citadel. Chokka join-guide you and give-aid you for take-drag tributes." The squat ratling looks murderous, and she speaks a word of power. The messenger takes a step back as her spear-tip blackens, and she lunges to jab her spear into the messenger's gut. She continues forward, and tells her former peers to take her subordinates and go. No one helps the messenger, whose blood boils--literally--where she's jabbed him, and his screeches fade within several seconds of being hit. As he slumps over dead, she tersely tells Red-Eye "Gather your subordinates. I'm obliged to lead you there, but don't think I won't stab you, either, if you give me reason.

None of Chokka's eight subordinates look Red-eye in the eye, but they all follow where he leads.

[Tjallen]

Being prepared for any kind of treachery, Red-Eye scurries back and in the blink of the eye has his bow out and an arrow pointed at Chokka. As it turns out to just be a case of fatal disciplining a subordinate he relaxes back to merely twitchy.

As she threatens him once again he whispers a few words of power of his own and lets loose a glowing arrow that flies straight towards her head before curving off to disappear back in the forest.
His eyes flashing with anger Snich sneers as he informs the others of the point of his action: "I-I have sent a message, should be here momentarily."

Spoiler: Action!

Show

Seeking arrow with Message in it, shooting for the unconscious prisoner and giving the message: "Bring prisoners and yourself to citadel, negotiations with Tattered Ear, hurry-quick." to everyone close-by. (I assume I cannot specify my minions) Seeking to make sure it goes find it, non-lethal to not kill the poor ****.
Attack (1d20+15)[33] for (1d8+11)[18] + (3d6)[10] non-lethal damage.

[~Corvus~]

Red-Eye's minions bring not one but four scouts of the tattered-ear to the citadel. Chokka looks incredulous at the parade, but then growls, "This is what you bring us?!? Captives of our tribes?? Red-eye's minions laugh at her, and tell her that he's an excellent instructor, and better than some at the Tattered Ear. She grasps the meaning in her clenched paws and stalks away, only to roar "THIS WAY!!"

She stomps for a quarter mile into the forest then veers again as the hills turn into banks; the citadel is on your side, looming in plain view and you soon spot a massive tree that dwarfs all but the citadel itself. You make your way to this tree; by the time you've arrived there are thousands of archers, villagers, warriors of all kinds gathered on this great tree and others. The grounds beneath it have been scoured clean and have a cultivated look to them. Although they are called a treaty grounds, they look more like a fighting pit. Towering above you on a platform cut into this tree the Nezumi Chiefmistress K'challak kek-Nok can be seen. She wears bone armour dashes with many colors and necklaces, all of which have the ears of fallen Nezumi and other beasts, and even her face cannot be seen for the wild deer-skulls that make up a mask obscuring her face.
A warrior on the same level as hers cries, "Delegates of Green-Green White Tribe see this one below!"
Another warrior calls, "Delegates of Yellow Claw Tribe see this one below!"
"Allies of the Grasping Paw see this one below!"
"Delegates of Lost Moor see this one below!"
"Warmistress of the Broken Shield sees this one below!"

Her voice booms downwards: A Chieftan of Nezumi has been seen. Tell us, chieftan, your name, for all of us to hear!

This done, she continues, By rites of our Ancestors, we of the Shinomen Nezumi tribes greet each other with gifts!

A warrior upon another tree calls back, "What of the Black Spot Tribe?" There is a spot of laughter and of hissing.

Chiefmistress K'challak replies back in a level tone, "The Black Spot took Sacred Fire and Magical secrets. If they came to return what they stole and either slay or swear the ones that know those magics to us, we would welcome them back into our protections. "

Another warrior intones, "The many tribes gathered here have already given gifts. We ask for all to give to Chief Red-Eye so that he may give to us in turn. There is a bit of excited discussion, and each of the delegates talks to others of their clan. Nezumi mill about in a hushed and urgent way, clearly passing along items in a rushed way.

"We of Green-Green White tribe gift a Phoenix Staff of Fire-bombs. If this one is indeed a mage as he says, it will be of great use."
"We of Yellow Claw gift a hundred yew bows and ten thousand arrows. If this one is truly a chieftan as he says, not one bow will be neglected."
"We of the Grasping Paw gift fourteen fingers of jade. If this one is a great hunter, then surely he will find this gift invaluable."
"We of the Lost Moor pledge the allegiance of a Dreamwalker to his tribe. If he seeks to be a great chieftan, her wisdom will remain invaluable.
"We of the Broken Shield pledge a hundred sets of armour. If this one is truly a chieftan, not one clasp will remain undone."

"I, K'challak kek-Nok offer you a chance to prove your valor to us, and with it, we of the Shinomen tribes may accept gifts from you as well. We have heard tell of your slaying of The Wani ka Gomi. What further proof do you offer of your skill and ability?"

[Tjallen]

At the anger Red-Eye simply replies: "Your sentries were lacking, I-I told you, now you see how bad, training is important."

Being greeted by the representatives literally putting themselves higher than him from the beginning, Red-Eye is already on edge, though it might be seen as nervousness it is anger at this slight that pushes him, as he presents himself, the banner of the Black Spot visible over his left shoulder:
"I-I am Chieftain Mage-Warlord Red-Eye."

As the warrior asks a question on behalf of his allies, Red-Eye makes sure to remember the face of the man, black-furred like a true killer he notes with some satisfaction, before the laughter and ridiculous demands leaves him sullen and with little patience left.
As the chieftains attempts to ridicule his lack of minions with their offers of white elephants, Red-Eye Green-Green-White as true allies and the Lost Moor as smart, maybe-enemies. The rest he regards with less than openly hostile coldness before answering the inquiry as to the nature of his tribute.
"I-I am Chieftain, because my tribe was massacred, the survivors slain by a Rokugani, I-I am Warlord because that is what I-I will do. War. The humans have taken from me, and from you, and for that they must suffer. Their land and their lives is the gift I will offer. Taken in the dead of night, with none left to cry for help or retaliation. With the land won simply cause no humans are left to claim them. I-I want the Nezumi to rule what is rightfully ours, and I want the humans to suffer for the injustice they continue to wreak upon us. My warband is yet small, but we will grow and you will do well to remember what happened to the Wani: It's head now decorates my sash alongside the man who slew the last elders of my clan. I do not care about your alliances as long as you do not interfere. As some of you may wish to keep your affiliation discreet, I welcome you to approach me in private later."

[~Corvus~]

Chokka speaks loudly to the assemble, "Mage-warlord Red-Eye has taken captives of the the Tattered Ear! He keeps this secret hidden from you!

A general murmur passes through the crowd, and finally the Speaker for the Green-Green-White tribe offers, "And you, Chokka? Are you a captive of Chief Red-Eye?"

"No, I am not!! But has has taken many others. Show them!! She looks back at the minions Red-Eye has in tow behind them, and points.

Chiefmistress K'challak intones, The Tattered ear pride ourselves as great scouts and rogues. That you have bested them in battle, and not let them come to harm...that brings us great shame. What would you have done with them, Chieftan Mage-Warlord Red-Eye?

[Tjallen]

Having done nothing to keep the prisoners hidden after entering Red-Eye looks at Chokka like she is some sort of imbecile as she brings it up like a secret.
As he opens his mouth to belittle her intelligence the Speaker of the Green-Green-White speaks up, further cementing their status as a true ally.

As the discussion turns to what to do with the prisoners and K'challak asks for his opinion, he thinks for a moment before answering: "If was human-things, their blood would flow, since is Nezumi, punish, train better, plan for when sentries go missing, punish watch leader."

Using another moment in thought, purely for the dramatic effect, Red-Eye adds: "Could send with me, get tried in hostile territory."

[~Corvus~]

Chiefmistress K'challak nods. "This is agreeable to us. All of these captives are hereby banished from our tribe, and must prove themselves worthy of Chieftan Red-Eye upon pain of death!"

Chokka raises a fist to her chest and yells, "THIS USURPER IS TRYING TO STEAL OUR PEOPLE! WE SHOULD NOT LET HIM--"

Before she can finish her thought, the speaker for the Green-Green whit Clan interrupts, "Silence, Chokka! You are not a speaker or a chief!"

But--

The speaker of the Yellow Claw stands and cuts across her objection. "Chokka of the Tattered Ear, your interruptions dishonor this meeting. You dishonor a Nezumi Chieftan who seeks aid, and who seeks to bring us honor! I call a vote! Right to duel, here and now!

Vote for a duel between Chokka and Chieftan Red-eye has been called. Tattered Ear votes no.
"Yellow Claw votes yes!"
"Green-Green white votes yes!"
"Grasping Paw votes no. "
"Broken Shield votes no."
"Lost Moor votes yes!"

The delegates turn to Red-Eye. Chiefmistress K'challak offers, "Chieftan Red-Eye, you have the deciding vote. You and Chokka may duel to the death, or you may choose another path of recourse. Is your honor at stake? Shall you duel?

[Tjallen]

Not wanting to be on the wrong side of her spear, Red-Eye speaks out against the whole risking his life business: "Guard-captain Chokka is much distrustful, is wrong, but is not stupid, she knows little of me and is wary, much-useful thinking if directed, I-I think she has much-many to teach before tomorrow claims."

Nodding at Chiefmistress K'challak in acknowledgement, Red-Eye gives his decision: "Blood to be spilled should be human-things, wary Guard-captain valuable and well-picked, Red-Eye votes no, would like for Chokka to learn lesson, but cannot force horse to drink without magic."

[~Corvus~]

Chokka looks down and says very little. She pushes the spear into the dirt and nods to Red-Eye.

The speaker of the Yellow Claw calls, "It has been decided! Red-Eye acknowledges Chokka's worth and vouches for it!" Chiefmistress K'challak continues. Now, Chieftan Red-Eye, I believe we must tell you of why we came here. A large army passed through the Shinomen, and we convened to figure out how, and what we should do about it. As we've gathered here, a force of Humans and their Hobgoblin slaves, quite possibly a detachment from the army, have started to threaten the Forest. They chop down the Eastern edges of the Shinomen to fuel what they seem to intend as a new base-of-operation. Many of our scouts died getting us this little bit of information; their entrenched force is large and powerful.

Perhaps you, Chieftain Mage-Warlord Red-Eye can help us and offer us a gift: success we've not had. Would you find out more about these creatures? We, each of us, would pledge capable Nezumi to your cause. This would be an offer of our trust, and it may very well turn out that those who appreciate your leadership might join you to form a new tribe."

[Tjallen]

Thinking for a moment, Red-Eye readily agrees, hurting humans has proven to be quite profitable so far.
"Must be well-versed in stealth, will capture sentries, may sabotage their supplies and food, what can tell about defenses?"