Your new friends hesitate at first, but you encourage them and they join your larger group of links. You see seven other cliques, the largest of which seems to be made up of thirty links. In theirs, you notice an organization that the others just don't have. They have many men in their group, mostly in their prime or younger. The few elderly or females that they do have stay towards the middle, with a ring of young fighters around them glaring at any who pass by, especially a group of twenty together across the camp from them.

A few others are smaller groups, but none so small as the one you've already incorporated, ranging from 10 to twenty each.

Totals:
Your Group
14+you+5 from other group

Big Group-30

Other Groups
One-20

Two-15

Three-8

Four-7

What order would you like to approach the others in?

Going with 4,3,2, and then big group. During the talk with big group I'll ask why there seems to be bad blood with them and group one. Solidarity is important here. We all need to stick together.

I am prioritizing getting big group over group one as it seems they are the most organized and my best hope of finding someone who knows what's going on.

Glantri

Winning over the smaller groups is difficult, even more so because of
the communication gap you're still experiencing with them. You manage
to travel around to the groups, though. With one, you manage to win
seven members over to your group while you believe the other two don't
wish for any violence. They're lost, confused, don't understand what's
going on, but aren't comfortable trusting you yet.

When you approach the big group, their members just glare at you like
the rest, and a couple approach you while baring their teeth when you
approach. The remaining in that group watch you suspiciously.

I'm glad some of the members of the smaller group have started to trust me, and realize it will take time for some of the others. I don't press the issue but encourage them to come to me if they need anything. I'll do what I can.

I'll stand my ground when the  two links baring their teeth come towards me, maintaining a friendly yet unyielding stance. I'll try to convey that infighting is against all of our best interests and we need to focus on solidaridity.  I would appreciate if they could tell me what all has happened here and explain that all I know so far is our captors want various metals that I believe are in the mountain.

You arent sure if they don't understand you or choose not to listen, but they continue to bare their teeth until one of the two chooses abruptly to move forward and roughly shoves you.

While they looked mean to start, they seem angry now and like either could likely jump at you at any moment. They have violence in their eyes.

I back off when they shove, and communicate when they want to try and figure out what's going on, come talk to me. When I back away I keep myself alert to defend myself if need be.

I then go over to the group of twenty and splice my solidarity speach and ask if any of them could let me know what's happened here and how long they've been there and what the daily routine is.

As you back away from them slowly, you think that one's going to leap at you at the last moment, but they both turn back and take their places amongst the others in the protective circle around their small tribe.

When you approach the tribe of twenty, you're met with similar hostility, but there doesn't seem to be the same violent nature behind their teeth, snarls, and glares when you approach and start communicating with them. They don't talk back, but stand their ground stoic until an older woman approaches, and communicates back to you. They're lost here as well, came less than a full day ago, at the same time as the large tribe over there. At that point, their numbers were greater. Then, these monsters put sharp stone teeth into their hands and pushed them toward a mountain.

They were confused. They didn't understand what the monsters wanted or what to do. One of the men bumped another and a fight broke out between the two tribes. Blood was spilled with the stone teeth, and the monsters rounded the rest up and brought them back. Blood was spilled, but more of this tribe's than the one you unsuccessfully approached.

I'll explain that I believe I know what they want us to do, although I would have to see the stone teeth to guess further on that, but they want us to look for certain stones in the mountain. And at that I'll show her the tablet and the different ores and metals. I'm not sure why they don't go in themselves other than a theory that they can't breathe our air or there is an environmental danger to them. Either way, it serves everyone's best interest for us to stick together instead of fighting.

And after that conversation is over I imagine I'm getting fairly tired and want to get some rest, we'll see what the next day brings.

The woman nods at most of the signs that you make, and you think she understands the majority of what you said. It is starting to get late and you begin to get drowsy. You head over to your own group of links and huddle with them to sleep for the night.

It is extremely uncomfortable and you dream you're.a wolf rummaging for scraps when you smell a pack of dogs nearby. When you go to them, they shun you and leave you alone in the woods. You wake to a soft hum, and see a hovering transport with crates on board. The people on it unload the crates and open them outside the enclosed area. One points at you and gestures for you to come over to him.

I get up and head over quickly, not running but moving at a good pace. I neither want to convey weakness nor stubbornness. I'll bring the tablet with me.

When I get over I'll ask in English what he wants of me. Ill also be paying close attention if he says anything so that I can start trying to learn their language.

I'll also try to ask if they can unlock a learning program on the tablet so I can learn their language, to better communicate.

When you come readily, the one who called you pulls out a piece of cooked meat, and hands it to you. That one also nods its head when handing it to you. They don't make any response to your statements or inquiries you make in English.

The same one takes the tablet from you and opens the images from before, then shows you several of the images with ore, and then reveals a completely steel pick from one of the plastic crates. He then slowly mimes lifting and lowering the pick in a striking pattern, then pointing at the ore image on the tablet. Then, he shows you the crates and mimes putting rocks into one.

He gestures at the mountain as well, behind you. He taps the perimeter and gestures for you to approach him, while he holds the pick.

I eat a bit of the cooked meat while listening to his instructions, nodding the whole time as I obviously know how to use a pick. It's slightly frustrating that they can't tell I'm way smarter, but I need to stay in their good side for the sake of the tribe.

When he gestures to approach, I do. I make note of how he tapped the perimeter though as it may be a sequence or a numpad or a key, and knowing that may serve me well later.

You see he taps the pole with a metal pole, and you see some resistance as the two touch. It seems to demagnetize the poles to let you pass.

The man gives you a pick while others roughly grab a few of the links, who come reluctantly as well over to you two, and they lead you all on a quick path toward the mountain, where you see that it opens at the base into a crude opening of a mine.

The man who gave you the pick gestures to the tablet again, then at the pick in your hand. After that, he shows you what is in another container-a box full of sizzling, delicious, roasted beef, just like the one you already ate. There's enough for the whole camp, but they only grabbed five links from your original group to come with you this time.

When the links get over to us I'll communicate quickly that we need to go into the mountain and I'll show them how to use these (gesturing to the picks) and when we get back I believe these people will be giving us all food.

I nod at the man giving me instructions, and beckon the links to follow me, pick over one shoulder and tablet in the other hand. When we're inside I'll show everyone the pictures on the tablet and how to use the picks against the wall to harvest the ore. And also explain that I'm sorry I don't have a better option yet, but we'll have to do this for now.

And I'm going to start looking for veins of the he ore and directing the links, having us all take turns between the heavy work of using the pick and the compatibly lighter work of picking up and moving the ore into the mine cart. I'll make sure we all rotate adequately with one person of the 6 of us taking a break in each cycle, to catch our breath and be on the he lookout for dangers, while 3 swing picks and 2 carrying ore.

Do our captors keep an eye on us after we enter the cave or wait by the mouth?

When I come back, I'm going to try and communicate with the captors again, once again trying to ask to be taught their language. Both through pantomime and English (the English at this point is just to keep myself sane and also prove that I know verbal non grunt language.

They stay at the mouth, and wait while you and the remaining links venture into the dark cave with nothing more than the daylight leaking in from the entrance and the artificial illumination of your alien tablet.

It takes actually finding a vein of iron ore, which you come across rather quickly in this natural cave formation, for the rest of the links to understand what you want them to do with their picks. You get a system going, taking the first watch yourself and using it to be sure that the links are striking the ore properly instead of the rock wall, and soon enough you start seeing results.

The rester takes time to look through the tablet pictures you show them and scout for ore while watching out for danger. On one of the trips back from delivering ore to the men at the mouth, a link comes back with a little bit of cooked beef and a gallon container of water for everyone to share.

Your captors are a total of two armed men, who you see are still waiting for you when you deliver an armful of iron ore one time. When you try to talk to them, one looks straight at you, nodding a little bit until the other smacks him on the back of his helmet. You don't hear any words, but the one who took an interest moves back to check out the ore that's been brought and leaves you to his stoic partner.

I'll make special note of the alien who nodded along a bit. In future days I'll try to communicate to him without the stoic one around. Not that I won't try with everyone, I'm trying to establish communication any time given the opportunity, but I'm focusing on any who give me positive reactions.

When the food and the meat gets back we'll all take a quick break to eat, to make sure we all get an equal share, and drink a bit, but I'm going to suggest we mainly take small drinks during the break period, to stay hydrated and not drink too fast.

Continue with the rotations until the men (edit: men referring to the aliens) seem done (most likely by telling me to gather the rest I imagine). Have I seen any dangers down here to explain why the aliens would go through the trouble of capturing us instead of doing it themselves or with their machines?

Edit for clarity
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Mon 14 July 2014.

You observe the one who took a bit of an interest, and see that he has a yellow band around his left boot that you haven't noticed on any of the others.

You have not seen any dangers inside the mines aside from regular worries that come with it-fear of striking a pocket of gas in the mine, cave ins, exhaustion.

They stay outside, letting you load ore onto their transport all day. You've made significant work in the side of the mine wall by the end of the day, and have almost filled the transport so full that you and your gang could barely fit on it.

They don't expressly tell you and the rest to climb on, but when the sun starts setting, it just feels right and you and the rest climb aboard. Stoic and Yellow Ankle Band take their seats in the driver and shotgun seats, while the rest of you climb in the back.

They drive you all back to camp, easily only a short walk from the mine entrance. They unload you all, and Yellow Band alien grabs the crate of meat and water, which he puts just inside the perimeter before touching one of the poles again to reactivate it. This alien stares at you briefly before turning back, and Stoic alien seems distracted by something.

There are still a couple aliens in the tower at the center of the camp as well.

When I have yellow band's attention, with Stoic being distracted, I'll once again quickly try to pantomime (being quiet this time, so not in english) that if he could get me something so I could learn their language and everything we could be so much more valuable to them. I know the link's language, if I know his I could coordinate larger teams that 5 and also it would allow me to understand exactly what's going on, and explain to these links so they're less scared.

The tower is the center, is it like a watch tower with guards watching us or does it look like there are people waiting to talk to me?

Also are the number of links in the camp the same? No removals or new people?

After talking to yellow band, I'll communicate to everyone they should come over and eat and drink. I'm hoping this starts buying me more trust from the members of the camp.

You try pantomiming to him that you're interested in learning their language, to which he shrugs his shoulders and nods his head. He grabs at your tablet, having to open the perimeter again with his metallic pole before stepping inside to mess with it.

You watch him open up a password-protected screen, which he unlocks and you see a download bar appear after he does so. It has a picture of some sort of alien fruit on it, and a brightly-colored letter you recognize from the keyboard in the background. He then moves it to the desktop where you have already navigated to before and opens it up for you. Then, he hands it back and walks out of the perimeter, setting it again.

He joins his Stoic friend and they head out together with the haul of iron.

It's a watchtower in the center with three of the aliens on it, less than vigilantly watching the links around the camp. Under the watchtower is a large, covered pavilion which is the only shelter in the established perimeter.

You see no new guests.

Everyone responds positively when you offer for them to come over and get some food. Before you get to the largest (least friendly) group, you head over to talk to the second to largest group to ask them to come over and eat. Then, you hear a scream, and look back to the location where you put the crate of food and water.

Some fifteen fighters you recognize from the largest group are pushing around the men and women who were nearest the crate, and they grab the crate to carry it. One of your camp's men stands in the way, and tackles one of the gang, but is quickly put down by the rest, who begin kicking him on the ground before he can rise.

I thank him after he unlocks more of the tablet, and remind myself to look towards it later.

When I hear the scream I rush over and yell as loud as I can to get everyones attention and to stop. I'm visibly angry at this point.

If they stop, I will start aggressively pantomiming that we will all share, it is not a request, it is a fact that they will follow. If they continue down the path they are on the food will stop, the water will stop, the support will stop, and slowly they will die an agonizing death due to their unwillingness to work together. Or they could share, and we all will have enough to eat and drink.

If they don't stop, or continue after my speech I'll motion to any able bodied warriors that are not allied with them to join with me as I rush into battle. I'm looking to incapacitate, but willing to break limbs to do so. Getting into the stance Big Link taught me and trying to get the jump on one before they have time to react, using the Choke attack.

You shout and rally six or seven men, and three catch up to help you, running by your side from the second to largest group you were just talking to.

The ten of you charge the others, while you shout and pantomime to no effect with the violent links. You can see the link in the middle of them, bloody and bruised already and just curling up to avoid what damage he can.

You're the first to reach them, and grab one from behind while he's about to stomp on the victim's head. Your arm comes around him and you seize him in a simple hold, slowly squeezing to make him pass out as he grabs your arms roughly in surprise. The two of you fall onto the ground, and you get glimpses of the fight starting around you, links falling onto each other and knocking one another down for better position.

But the one you're fighting starts resisting with renewed strength as he steals a breath of air, and you can feel him start to pull himself free from your choke hold.

I'm going to focus on keeping the choke hold for a little more and shout out to my allies to assist me, and if one of the links that I trained with the spears is in the area, specify to punch this link in the face. I'm hoping this will cause enough pain to distract him and let me re-establish the choke hold and knock him out. If not as I feel him about to get away I'm going to release the choke hold and move for his arm and attempt to break his arm by smashing his elbow. (that doesn't fit into any of the moves I know, so not sure how we would handle that)

I'm being more vicious than I normally would be as we're outnumbered and I feel responsible to come to the aid of the men who came to my side in this.

You feel your heart pounding, but only barely in the heat of the fight. Sometimes you feel others' limbs bumping up against you and you see your allies and enemies both in pain in the midst of violence.

You redouble your efforts to keep your hold on the link in your grips, but as you try to reposition for a better hold, he slips loose. You grab for his arm, but he snatches it back quickly enough before you can and with a hand on your back, he slams you onto the ground. You feel air get pushed from your lungs.

While you're disoriented, you feel someone straddle on your back and put a firm arm around your neck, choking you now.

As soon as I realize I'm now the one being choked my left hand immediately goes to grab the arm and try to keep air coming in while I try to repeatedly punch my attacker in the face. (Not the most effective angle to punch from, but getting punched in here face should hurt enough all the same.)

If I manage to escape I'll get to my feet as quickly as possible and spin around and kick the link that was attacking me as he's getting up.

If I don't manage to escape, continue trying until I either escape or pass out.

You try to slip your arm between his and your throat, but fail. Still, you press him and feel his muscles strain as you push with all your strength to free yourself from his choke. It feels like you're in the same iron pinning that Big Link used to do back by the river, but you press on harder, with all you have.

Slowly, you feel like he's almost about to give when the darkness starts creeping in the corners of your eyes, and then your lungs start to burn. Finally, it's like you're telling some distant self to push helplessly against the arm secured firmly around your throat until you feel nothing at all, and lose your sight and then your consciousness to the darkness.

OOC: I need to know if you believe that you have any claim to ownership over that alien tablet.

----

We'll be moving to a new chapter in Glantri's adventure, titled "Grounding Glantri" when Oak has an opportunity to put it up.