[Language unknown: "Al li korle fourolio lin sanromset. Ee ent p meleenth ck one Elweripa cence i ul ei, allwhishe. Ardsomtra intundpreeveset, vor manma iturmimehi."] Bhalla says. She's visibly tired, but there's some sense of respite in speaking a familiar language. [Language unknown: "Wer Ivinasen ons wi tinncerom. Rimoat noticawhi unwer iena i wasourhas redma enttr."]

((Pushing this along with a little railroading))

The next night everyone was sound asleep when somebody gently knocked at the door of the women's house. Bhalla had been waiting for a signal, but Yelena and Lena, both trained light sleepers (although for different reasons), jolted from their beds, the Soviet sniper reaching for her rifle out of instinct.

Bhalla opened the door and outside stood Mattaki. [Language unknown: "K K rat tibema?"] he asked in a hushed tone.

Out of the dark came another voice. [Language unknown: "Traaveure t omnd,] Irhandi."
Into the light stepped another being of similar appearance to Bhalla, carrying a short spear and a sling at her belt. She wore a coat that looked as if it had been made from a dark wood, small rectangular pieces sewn together, that covered her body, leaving the arms and legs free.

In Yelena's eyes, it looked mostly useless as body armor. If this was truly wood, it wouldn't stop a bullet and not even a bayonet.

[Language unknown: "Eshat ort lasiwa? Thafo tatare housomiou ave ort ounsa?"]

Bhalla nodded and introduced the Gnim as Jangie, a local Gnim who used to live in this village of Tessif here before the Nah-Tsees came.
Jangie would take them to the leader of the local Gnim population, to meet with Great Aunti Mungoola. Only the four of you, and without weapons.

Yelena was quick to wake at the slightest provocation, and was mentally ready as the translation came through.

The Soviet sniper agreed to the offer with a nod, happy to be making some progress. At least she hoped it was progress.

Lena expected nothing different, and wouldn't be able to do much with a weapon against that many enemies anyway.

"[Language unknown: Areic, wit e ou nowil.]"

The four of you, led by Jangie, left the village behind them, even evading the posted guards. Yelena felt a pang of hesitation. She was leaving without order nor leave. She was, technically, under the British Captain's command for now, but Zholdin could still have her shot for desertion. The political commissars of the Great Soviet Union were not known for fudging the rules.
Konnikov would intervene. If he was here.

That made her think about the rest of the company. Just a few days ago, they had been a company. Understrength, but still three platoons, a fighting force. Now, their numbers had dwindled down to maybe a single platoon, and that not at full strength. And they kept stretching their forces ever thinner, splitting off a recon troop, and now she was leaving the recon troop behind.

Jangie led her steadily through the night. The sky was clear tonight, revealing stars and constellation neither Yelena nor Lena recognized. No moon was showing - or was there? There were two stars that were both a lot larger and dimmer than the others around them. Maybe this world had two moons? They seemed smaller than Earth's moon.

They walked for about half an hour, going ever deeper into the woods, following a narrow brook running down the hills until they reached a little pond that fed the brook. Behind and around the pond, the hills dropped off in a sheer cliff, maybe three or four men high, creating a bowl that was open on the side the Allies came from.

A fire burned in the center of the bowl, next to the brook and a few more fires were lit around a rough perimeter, providing enough light  to navigate the terrain with ease. On the far end, an old tree must have toppled over years ago. On that tree, and apparently quite comfortably, sat another Gnim, a blanket across her legs.

Jangie stopped, leaned on her spear and bowed her head before speaking. [Language unknown: "Korredare Inelinsom Alplcapa. Hoeeho atsi whi eihiil wanc linatepro et lo m]Not-Deutsche.[Language unknown: Hipro k Nithio as Whioulort. Ameer e,]"she indicated the Axtzal, [Language unknown: "ck Adieno ek pr Butticyinlatons, me stisomant me stith il taeiou hiunie ol ing Derure'tioany lato ha potiio acss Stiandhatderset."]

The Gnim on the tree nodded and raised a hand, beckoning you closer.
[Language unknown: "Rihepr t day El pl Verectlar, larichnce Estlatlin. U the ssalun e m, ncurac. Iessma undomehat t shena terar ichhatons seomll o she ilus a, eimo encon ol ckutas. Un n tinonsrutlat hi osthi al ro ionopl, walin llmima tho nti ar ckfianur in i ce th wheonssti diun."]

Mattaki cleared his throat and quietly said: [Language unknown: "Eissro en evestader ent find estnotcon strrednot, Dincomred, riund niare ai in ame moen on mausheasetnt ni thokorson?"]

Bhalla bowed to her elder. [Language unknown: "U tinat wa e ntirutstiore, Orebleort. U tasom en intinehaseve evul eraca lin he teroeress, iece whwhul traonewil'amerea und ac ee plver wer maecev yinthuort ate evofma."]

When Mattaki speaks, Bhalla raises one of her long fingers. So many of these powers are new to her, powers that supplement the herblore and bodylore she learned as a child. It takes several moments of low, wordless chanting, but her finger begins to glow and she touches first Lena then Yelena on the brow, ears, and lips.

"This should be easier."

OOC: Just barely gets it to go off with the additional recipient! Lena and Yelena can both speak Gnimian now.

"I... wow.  Yes.  Am I?  That's incredible."  Lena wanted to ask how, but stopped herself.  She figured being impressed was okay, but asking irrelevant questions probably was not.

With Bhalla's magic, the words of the older Gnim are translated into your native language. Lena is for a moment surprised to hear her speak English, half-expecting it should have been German.

"The Deutsche have been here for at least two years, maybe longer. But that's when they first came to Tessif. They came down from the mountains, and used the tongue of the Axtzal. Badly, but understandable. The Axtzal of Tessif traded with them, as did we. A few of them even settled in Tessif and helped build new houses in their own strange manner. They were very respectful of our ways and helped defend Tessif against wild beasts and bandits."

Auntie Mungoola paused, her expression shifting as she recounted more painful memories.
"They kept coming, stopped in Tessif and moved on. Tessif is far away from the reach protection of Assurbi . More people settled in Tessif. Some of the Axtzal were concerned, called to have them expelled. There was violence and they made the Deutsche leave.
They came back a few days later and killed every Axtzal they could find. I have lived many years, young Bhalla, but I have never seen so much destruction by so few in such a short time.
After that, a lot of Deutsche came, and not just warriors. Children, too, and animals. An almost endless stream of them, sometimes a torrent, sometimes just a trickle. We do not get many news of the Empire here, but some things came through. The Deutsche have fought and won a few battles against the Fakhadians. They have taken Telzutub and Rawan. They have moved very quickly, spreading in all directions."

She paused again, gathering her thoughts.
"A few weeks ago, a band of Axtzal warriors came and attacked Tessif. They killed many Deutsche. Many Axtzal were killed too. They burned many houses before they were driven off. The rest of the Deutsche packed up and left. Not before accusing us of helping the Axtzal, that we were spies and traitors. They killed a few of us, the rest scattered. It is thanks to Jangie that most of our children have found their way back to us."

She bowed her head slightly at the Gnim huntress, who bowed in response.
Mungoola looked back at the Allies.
"That is the news I have, Bhalla od Sarwan. The rest is rumor and speculation. The Deutsche might have reached Assurbi by now, or have stopped to defend what they conquered. It is said they have allied themselves with a new Master of War who is said to have united the Gervolians again in the South. They may have taken Shukul, too. We are too far away to know for sure. But I know that once they are satisfied with their conquest, they will come back to kill those who remain of Tessif.
These Deutsche... they are thorough in everything they do."

Lena listened grimly.  This was bad, in a lot of ways.  But it might also represent hope.  If there were that many Germans, it might be possible to infiltrate them, but they'd have to know a lot more before anything like that could be attempted.

"This sounds like the Reich I know."  She said bitterly.  Thorough destruction, complete domination.

Bhalla turns her attention from the matriarch to Lena. "Are there more of your not-Deutsche tribes coming to fight the Nah-tsees?" The gnim isn't sure which answer she wants to hear. The strange folk have brought so much destruction already.

Lena debated, and then just opted for the best weapon in a spy's arsenal, the truth.

"Not to my knowledge.  Honestly, we didn't even intend to come here.  We only made it because we were chasing Nazis who were trying to escape.  But we thought they were trying to escape with some kind of weapon, or information.  We had no idea they had found a way to come to this place, or that it existed.  I suppose someone could come after us, but I don't know how they'd do it."

"The Nah-tsees brought...children. Will these others fight and kill, too?" Bhalla asks. "If there are so many... and can more still arrive?" There would be no more of these enemies of their enemies, but would there be more enemies?

"They are masters of propaganda."  Lena admitted.  "I've been spying on them for years now, long before my-"  She was going to say "country", but instead went with "-people entered the war against them.  So yes their children will probably believe the same things they do."

It was of course far more complicated than that, Lena knew better than anyone, but it was a hard truth American boots hadn't hit the ground until much had already been lost.  She had some complex feelings about her own government, but for now she hated Hitler's regime far more than her own corrupt government.

"As for can more arrive.  I cannot say for certain.  But I'm going to operate on the assumption they cannot, based on two facts.  First it seems they went through a great deal of trouble to get here.  This place is not known to most of the Nazis.  Only certain ones were given the secret.  That, I can attest to.  Second, on our side of the... portal, or passage between worlds, or whatever it is, they are being routed, definitively.  We came here from their capital.  Their forces are being crushed.  So I would be shocked if any more come through.  The soldiers may disagree with me, but that's my opinion.

"Also, if the ones already here have any way of knowing their counterparts have been defeated, which seems likely to me because these are privileged members of their ranks to begin with, they'll know they can't go back.  That does mean they'll dig in, but it also means they have the same problem we do, they won't be getting any more fuel or ammunition for our weapons.  Theft of their materiel could be extremely effective if done correctly."

Sabotage was also an option, but Lena sat on that idea.  Far better to steal it and use it against them, if possible.

Mungoola nodded along as Lena and Bhalla talked.

"You are far away not only from your home land, but from many places of Axtzal might. We are just a small band of Gnim. We can take you to the Kuani River. It will take you to the Nah-tsees' strongholds, but if you make it to the Tears of Nur , you might find some Axtzal warriors. If the Fortress of Rhavas has not fallen yet, it would be a good place to start there."

"I'm game to go there, but, well some estimate of how far away that is in terms of time would be useful?"  Lena tried to ask respectfully.

Mungoola looked at Jangie, who lowered her head in thought.
"Eight days, maybe 9, if you travel without interruption. Seven, if you can find a good boat."

Lena turned her head to Yelena.  "I'm willing to go and doubt they'll miss me."

But I don't think they'd accept any deal I made because I'm not one of them, I'm a burden they put up with. Was unspoken.

"Rhavas has strong walls and is surrounded by thick forests. It will not be easily taken, not even by the Germans." The Axtzal had been quiet so far, but now spoke up.
"There should be a sizeable garrison there, too, and maybe even Eyes and Ears of the Imperial Council."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:04, Wed 25 Jan 2023.

"I am willing to do this thing," Bhalla says, "but I wonder about your other not-Deutsche. There is the fort Mattaki and I were held at. There are soldiers there, many, but they have their tools. If your allies--" a bit of hesitation with that words, as Bhalla has not entirely sorted out the tribes of these not-Deutsche "--can take it, they might hold it? Until aid can be gathered?"

"Well, it's a plan."  Lena admitted.  That was more than they'd had since they stumbled in there.  "I'm afraid they won't respect any commitment I made, but I don't see them rejecting the idea out of hand either."

When the magic settled into Yelena allowing for understanding of the others, she settled into listening to the conversation after thanking Bhalla for the help. The Soviet sniper wasn't particularly surprised by the insidious and violent methods by which the Nazis gained a foothold in these lands. It also gave her more perspective on why the natives were going to have a difficult time trusting the Allies.

Lena did well with the questions she was asked, so Yelena didn't provide any additional thoughts, though when Lena addressed the Soviet directly about going to the Fortress of Rhavas, Yelena agreed. "Yes, I think that would be a good next step. We will need help if we are to properly deal with the Nazis."

As for the taking of another fort, the Soviet tipped her head side-to-side. "I'm not sure about taking the fort where you were held, at least not in the near term and not without a lot of scouting and planning. Our resources are very limited and will not be replenished, so we will need to be very careful about when and how we make any moves against the Nazis, particularly their fortified positions."

"When do we leave?" the Axtzal asked, stopped and then asked Yelena: "Do you need to give word to the rest of your company?"

Jangie replied: "I can take you tomorrow morning. It will only be a day or so of walking, then we have to wait for a boat. If it's just the four of you, finding a transport will be easy enough. More... will be harder."
She paused. "We can get word to your friends, if needed."

"That might be better, because it's really not up to me to say what they would think about taking a fort.  Again I don't think they'd just reject the idea out of hand but they would have a lot of questions."

I'm being sent on this trip because I am disposable.  It wasn't a nice thought but it was an honest one.  But it was an extreme situation, she didn't bear anyone a grudge for it.  She just didn't like the circumstances.

Yelena listened to Lena and Jangie, then nodded. "I think the sooner the better, so long as we can inform others."