The small team of diplomats watched the truck head away, up into the mountains.

[Language unknown: "P llear rutoerred evnaad noni ome rattraeen?"] Tsimmermann asked, apparently genuinly wondering. Bhalla, Mattaki, Lena, Yelena, Zholdin and Julius looked at each other, then at the Allied officer and the two men he had brought with him.

Just ten people. They had been at least 13 in Berlin.

Tsimmermann addressed Zholdin: [Language unknown: "Illoal Wimeulee le pohe ar undndethu ta k nceanynde n plniit latla Itati sonanders i u seonai a ain esec ol isectr erseveess ni n?"]

((We'll be enforcing Language groups more rigorously again for now.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:23, Wed 24 Aug 2022.

Yelena's gaze fixed on Tsimmerman at his question, and her look darkened a little. [Language unknown: "To ildile neerta u ofta, tedcoment. At inghatallhou st o. Haaswe at tinntebut laiv caout t ion inect, an?"]

The sniper moved closer to their new comrades as Zholdin was consulted, and addressed Sarwan. [Language unknown: "N ers anin er enany haitre, t, anditielit sa Ntivorpro? Ughsonpro, ta maioto, nc undver'hatpreain?"]

Lena had beggared what pencils, pens and scrap paper she could.  They were suddenly very precious after all, but recording information was going to be critical.  She knew a lot of tricks for using the same page multiple times too.

Her ears perked up at that, it might be time to draw a map...

Captain Jackson pulled out a compass and looked at it, quizzically.
[Language unknown: "Intvirson reaughoreiou antic ectas tra tictraort lonaad evore larromtio erout ntiproain pofoli k linsonyin ulasaran we thutst rat utlach a erulma? Ss wemiis anecit andstiare enulme paweil o planulme fo te er wimi onewasthohat eefimo enoshiac. P arai etonpl wi al cksa houon hatterort."]

[Language unknown: "O ad les nte ingto stilincon ek cant, es seis Olniositunomof?vennoture ulinhe ofus. Redundoul somainear, whiie chpoecio. Tr ec artntimenthious, es er ha ter. M m meckel encyinsom ichtinsan ei ilusmait."] Bhalla said. It was hard to let go of her suspicions; these other tribes seemed kinder, but it was also more and more clear that they were also soldiers, and soldiers meant more war.

"[Language unknown: Loom ain belaekdind his der blenotoun sa ofhona ast Meous oundhati aill.]"  Lena remarked, like that was also a good thing to do.  "[Language unknown: I comthiwit licest alutit nd ek t, naeeme t llsaof fitrmo eiart thawasome?]"

Lena was paying more attention here lately, she really needed to learn this native tongue.  And Russian.  No reason.

Mattaki turned to his little companion [Language unknown: nt llmoat Pa reulna alho tabeal mepr avevoroul e Ti ntic k thobutith enunivckli ndriro hiesur etee illousrut caugh es eauhasreamen str p re Cande nglila nt adactoho ]

Mattaki turned to the others after looking about for a moment to get his bearings before smiling and pointing off in the general location they needed to travel

[Language unknown: "Forre ilus m le hashouour ne te, beac nt echato allse haonlantsi i ure Ichousnot venntiant ive plhi paesitom wasntiive ou ateis. Sihe thsese ss resomeson lat E, neom? Es ngsi hiditess saund ncanss pre sick-ilfihi halin iswhse ma ore esmo hathisith undineare iclain. U ounin vor ca o pe."] Bhalla turned to Lena. [Language unknown: "O k thoameort ngssit, iower ouanto ch haho enekev. Ateconant, ollath, yinwertho, onewhicom. Is ckha undne he hi."] She pointed vaguely east; she was still not exactly sure where they were, but that was where she had come from months ago. [Language unknown: "Mo ad Ingicaenc."]

The British captain sighed.
"Miss Vogt, if you please - I believe we could either go back up the mountain where we found that fellow on the stick and see if we find any locals up there. But that could've been a raiding party, too.

Or we go to either of these places - Fischbach, or Reinhardsdorf" He indicates the road signs.

"At least the latter seemed to had some distinctive un-German features, if the translation the Russians provided was to be trusted."

Yelena was a little perplexed by the lack of direction she was getting from the locals. Though the captain of the British forces at least had some idea of a next step, which probably was as good as they were going to have.

He did look at Pennsylvania for direction, so Yelena also looked at her with a patient smile.

"[Language unknown: N yinwhiver tolo t olca, elek whni to Plalutunhomi?  Ter, atrosa forwilres o m eeee'unth earol ofho-hion hiof.  I ha the inom ecelmeet ie iltato int.  Ev an ntioresom cenoleri e ecweei inilas, beet sien nt nemo u terratwhi el nocaaceean les wieetaof adith ckeau p lifiasaila tha illprowhi in.  Outhoutra ss CKLES hota u e chsewero as en con nd, niof He ountal n ilfi antmi n entbutvenughver wini er.]"  Lena offered.

Mattaki tried a few more times to convince the Allies to go to one of the regional military commands, but after some more deliberations, Captain Jackson insisted on going to Reinhardsdorf first. It had been scouted by the Soviets before, but who knew what might be found there?

The route there was uneventful. Mattaki was able to appreciate the discipline of these "Not-Deutsche" - most of them at least, marching in two columns, their eyes scanning the surroundings, all a few paces apart at a steady pace. As a mage, he had rarely been subjected to forced marches or the like, but he had spent enough time with the military to fall into a similar rhythm, his still maltreated body quietly protesting, but following in the routine.

There were a couple who were more struggling to keep the pace. As was Bhalla, but mostly due to her shorter legs.

---

Lena and Julius indeed did struggle to keep up with the brisk pace, and where quite thankful for when they took a short break enabling them to catch their breath and drink a few sips of water. None of the soldiers seemed to really need that break, but Captain Jackson made it a point to encourage everyone to "just relax for a little bit", before offering Julius and Lena half a chocolate bar each.
"I am really not much of a sweet tooth and it would be a damn shame if it went to waste." He also broke off a small piece and offered it to Bhalla, who hesitated for a moment, then took it.
The sensation hit her like a slap to the face, followed by something that felt like a warm hug. The taste... sweet, but not like honey, different, rounder, somehow, and it seemed to get softer and softer in her mouth, melting like snow on her tongue, but warm. It sent a tingle down her spine.

---

When they continued their march, it didn't take them much longer to arrive at the outskirts of Reinhardsdorf - or what remained of it, anyway. The left and right side of the village were dotted by burnt-out ruins of houses that could've fit quite well into the German countryside. They reminded Lena of Mecklenburg.
In the center of the village was a large structure that looked like an egg lying on the side, half buried in the dirt.
The ruins of the village lay quiet.

"Alright", Captain Jackson nodded at Zholdin, "Our men... and women should survey the place a bit more, wouldn't you agree, Lieutenant?"

[Language unknown: "K ngan terratfor, ble? Out ri conta. Unheil ncul."] Bhalla did not like speaking Deutsch, but it was better than being ignored, and these people continued to treat her far better than the Deutsche had. This "chocolate" was a little miracle. She'd never had anything like it, and she clung to the memory of the taste against the hints of smoky smell in the ruined village.

She flexed her long fingers a few times, then moved silently out into the ruins, looking.

OOC: 16:29, Today: Sarwan Bhalla rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1.  Notice.

Lena said nothing.  This seemed... grim.  But there had to be something here, this was an act of brutality, not surgery.  She looked carefully for anything that might have been left behind.

17:32, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 8,5 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3.  Also Notice.

As they approached the ruins of Reinhardsdorf, Yelena continually scanned with her binoculars, mostly to make certain there wasn't any movement or other apparent danger. When satisfied that there wasn't anything of the sort, she nodded at Jackson's instructions.

The sniper carefully looked through things starting at the edge of the village, but her eventual goal was to see what that egg in the middle of the village was.

OOC: 5 Notice

04:35, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 5,4 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2.  Notice.

The village wasn't very large and didn't take long for at least a cursery survey. All the houses were sitatued along the large egg in the center. Many of the houses - all of them in some state of ruin - looked German, but there were a few who seemed to be local remnants. Most of these were untouched by the fires that had destroyed the German houses.

https://kanka-user-assets.s3.e...6dvwCDXksZ1S0gN4.png

Bhalla noticed a small cart just sitting there next to one of the houses, several items carefully arranged, plates, pieces of cloth, cooking utensils. As if someone had gathered them and then walked away, called away to another task.

---

Lena entered one of the larger structures vis-a-vis the egg, one wall and the roof had collapsed in, but the rest seemed to hold up alright. The first room was an utter ruin and would require a longer and more detailed search to gather anything useful. At the back of the large room, something stuck up between the burnt debris. I might have been a charred hand, reaching out from under it, or just a blackened post. Lena pushed the thought away and climbed over the half-collapsed doorframe into another room behind. Rows of tables stood there, covered in soot. This must have been a school. On the floor she found a few books - math, German history, a few of the classics, Mein Kampf, obviously and a book called "Flora und Fauna des Neuen Reiches". She opened the book and flipped through the pages, stumbling across pictures of beings likes Mattaki and Bhalla, but others, too.
She turned around to leave and saw a large, singed flag on the wall:
https://kanka-user-assets.s3.e...WU82d1t1y4JD1PR9.png

Above and below, someone had etched the words directly into the wooden beams:
"Das Neue Deutsche Reich wird auferstehen"

---

Yelena zeroed in to the egg in the center of the village. On the other end, a few steps led down to a door that had been removed. The inside was shrouded in darkness. A damp smell wafted out of the building, making her hesitate.

It sank in, and Lena did not like what all of this implied.  At all.  There was no good interpretation of this.  It implied a lot, but didn't answer any strategic questions.

She decided to collect the artifacts, taking them carefully since they all seemed to be fire damaged, hoping they wouldn't just collapse when touched.

Bhalla took a step back from the cart and raised her voice, hoping that the ones who have pulled the cart here have not hidden too far away. [Language unknown: "Hiseraain ol di anysti'oneear omeainhat! Eibe ate witstathu u dishe Nteeautioera ous ugh ouhaekac entsetain. Ho wewapo icaan thoes sawi eve te. Pe wh horom e oerughort it stadee. U reail ul we, T t pl yinkorpro!"] The gnim looked around one more time. There were not enough tracks for many of her people to have been here, but there might be a wandering band nearby.

OOC: Give me a Persuasion roll, Bhalla.

OOC: 12:23, Today: Sarwan Bhalla rolled 1,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Persuasion.

[Language unknown: "Nd."] The darkness had indeed given Yelena pause. She turned and looked around for one of her comrades. [Language unknown: "Omilounoee! Of ion es ureeretic? Ll ive ss ekpros me oreuremen di rutbleati m usom."]

Tsimmermann jogged over and nodded.

"I always love to watch your back, Comrade serzhant.". He flicked on the torch and shone the light down into the darkness.

---

Nobody responded to Bhalla's call, but she had the distinctive feeling of being watched. Nothing happened for a few moments, then a Gnim appeared on the partly-caved in roof of the house across the street.
Bhalla looked around and noticed that every one of the Non-Deutsche was currently out of sight. They had waited.
The Gnim was armed with a short spear, a sling at her belt. She looked around, then beckoned you over, to come closer.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Mon 12 Sept 2022.

Yelena smiled thinly at the response. [Language unknown: "Tr, er, kor hisessnti-omeugh onsillwil k mi olev n e ill, iohe?" ]

He seemed to have understood that without saying, given the direction of the beam. As they were now able to light the darkness, Yelena slowly proceeded to look around the egg.

((Giving Bhalla and Mattaki some more time to respond))

The narrow entrance opened up into one large room. It was significantly warmer in here compared to outside. In the narrow cone of Tsimmermann's torch light, Yelena saw that there was a deeper recess in the center, almost like a small, oval pool without water, a narrow walkway running across the length through the center. Dark stains on the wall and ceiling looked like blood spatter and there were the telltale pockmarks of bullet holes and grenade fragments.

The floor around the pool was covered in tiles. Some of them cracked and broken, the ceramic crushing under Yelena's feet. She saw a few large holes on the sides of the walls, looking like artificial cave entrances.

It was dead-silent.

Bhalla padded over silently. When she drew close enough, she spoke, keeping her voice low. This might be a chance to escape, but if these other tribes of "Mensch" really could help defend against the Deutsch, it was too much an opportunity to pass up. [Language unknown: "Nde tio a ad u ce istio atihasent!"] She dropped her hips and inclined her head before standing straight once again. [Language unknown: "M i Ratlatdin ha Litihe, nde ivelas nte lin tioprerea k trhis Bleureoutman. Teivcein ceiowe, onponofi paeiei."]

((I just realized that I didn't add you to the Gnimian Language group! But you're added now))

The other woman looked beyond you then gave you a gentle push, directing you into a hidden corner behind the houses. Here, you would be save from prying eyes and ears.

Another careful look and listen. [Language unknown: "O p Lesomende no Ainlatrat."] She waved dismissively at the surroundings. [Language unknown: "Me thmema eeur k his o a."] She cocked her head.
[Language unknown: "Ine Cepaurtr ei lo miho... pltr iv has conet un nistec Artearmannti i blefi she. Foth ndeverallain, inofno, ek Taunckai thieveeraivemenwas. Riest are whnowe tial, Ivwese u Oreestate. She, ac prur le terkorera u ntiichsti i."]

She said it matter-of-factly, but with a weariness. Bhalla was suddenly distinctly aware that she had not put down her spear and that she had kept enough distance to be able to use it.

Bhalla slowly sat down and laid her hands palm up on her knees. She'd be a simple target, but the physicker had little desire to fight, and none to fight one of her own. [Language unknown: "Le ecmo ame Pehath re men trthi hasthaset mecher tasi butnc es notecting? M mannc eeher thowitame outad tho res derurepro ckter ofoseepe eemint?"] She drew and slowly released a breath. [Language unknown: "Re ma viromevir t toive Webendis asno andouslar. Ioolon, ellick'fihe. Ssstes wi ticdaynteson. Al po hihi kor ei n ancaieio ckbefo. P a art n asilhi er m n yinameand, setst sete din oerol as, liek fosi ai resionart, any essev comsanear ivebutoer iveprotinyin latbleess u ave Sannottedous pa redss ichbutaveoer he. Roiclo rompreerethu rut eseiecfipo ckmaei acta ni ontrpe preughineart prelo at Ughoutheronsati dayundher. Has iloul wa na ntias almen Ticlarwilpre. Le holo o pe iveha hi te.

"Yin cherss Nipael?"]

Jangie's ears flicked back and forth, clearly listening for the surroundings, but her eyes stayed on Bhalla the whole time.
[Language unknown: "Ck was lar one sanbutble, mi, na trre o nteoreout is ome a ing pl uret. P me acvor lica ainde houoerstrnde reaeauure t Herwerterwil ie pro ome al na lin, din ndeintouloer."
]
She sighed heavily. [Language unknown: "Os Yinallhousti el i tr ort iv Ekithi, sieimo ioinan. Rat stressrat Roecma, eiwa conouname n ble Antrutith. Verallill som conomeentain rom nte Mamehi eieinafi anwa man tio."]
She nodded in the direction where they had seen the rather large nest, the half-buried egg.
[Language unknown: "To ckie Outanysheess ouneveast mo areurehas ratyinder hisee convirore ichreaers poitch moeticwa virundure out onhat ti. Stiardast tiur peaifi atpr ndehoutra ulanit ine iean essestthi. Po, ie il eteen."]

Absent-mindedly, she picked up a stone and let it run through her slim fingers.

[Language unknown: "Nd ca Ersaterearea iole semi ieble m ess Haetck ameoulica at dinkoreen latessera lesbe. Os urtha ri ersantill ngiv, po t en etndalng ni orevenate. Wit nceectith i Voroulwil."]

She dropped the stone again.
[Language unknown: "T ie wichwe wisan, ekfiil son ourhathatpre a weter fi llst pe esis Ngmois isyin arion o illticthu Virntiall tren u se ortallany Inosad.
Der Onesetateson whipreder la oul. Forol nti ut uread, eraillall Leslatandenc ivha hi adund neilsten. Ie preoutall eemoho ecle, ion tiresa intli Whneti wipa artck din le. Pe larouloulsom."]

[Language unknown: "Ie unes eveinghis ne rut evie ivunen, ntckre.ma Sses le te ng E lo ortshenot io re artencall,u ovess nifo priniv ilroet. Osset urstr ruteauent sa. Ncekev ri. Earounsta a tha tioli p k iechwipe res. Nd us si osndti."] Bhalla remained with her hands on her knees. There was more sorrow in her voice than heat. [Language unknown: "Ch ut witnd intnc se pahi'inis iewame butad she. At ecee oulin niunwa m intti Thustrameore. Out Pr wasartons. Ome tedingman ca, rom plilng nooltr alast ssrut ma Antsanwerountio menvorstr. Of rea p hi werersess. Ave utwh hoion dinousonenti... Ec wh fome nte outsanset wito ll li, no unha terillout mica i. Olur lin at, An stimenain, notkorthu etofar trsa evec notac p amewh St isee ll ie."]

Bhalla looked her fellow Gnim in the eyes. [Language unknown: "Osad of vorro Uredinortlar teilwa ie re o. E ar, Ou n uleiwa. M ic and ter ainus ntiallwit whihoulin notconsom somdi ingoveartess e lice elncwi."]

Jangie paused, seemingly thinking things over.
[Language unknown: "Ut ma ith e moes buttr a, Eslat Urethuera Il Ast Aspo Ai."] Bhalla felt a warm, comfortable feeling in her belly as the ancient proclamation was made. It was a promise of safe harbor, of shelter, food and comfort. It was sacred.

[Language unknown: "Esill U andderove ortli ic manureous toni Ngndursial. Whe Dayonewhi Evread Enatmedi oulivered asusof hou. Be Et roar ev ulli es dirom ne waenhe Lineauastersout u Heie'tine n os."]

Bhalla was tempted--so very tempted--to simply slip away with Jangie. She'd been alone, or as good as alone, for such a long and horrible stretch. It would not be her band, but were not the Gnim one people? Descendants of the same Great Mother? She could nest again with her own people, free of bars and chains...

But she could not just go. Not yet. There were too many portents about these not-Deutsche, and too few signs that even the Axtzal could fight a winning war against the Deutsche.

[Language unknown: "Ourreaing ch thawerles la esslessta on en fo p whe mandinalleen? Foll icesil entoneica ng ce re anycoming uscken, befi M aveprofor Us oulwerill loteis ilal nt unneal a etsipr, ichthulat diteie, pa m itcabe k Ourwhendewas ulomarss."]

Jangie nodded. [Language unknown: "K aiure ver ai a Seetut. Con te ous hola pre neelas ionionourill. Thuderstr adri, topaeill, Nautar k Romalltin."]

She slightly bowed her head, then turned swiftly around and walked away, disappearing into the underbrush between the ruins.

When Bhalla returned to the main street of the village - as much a main street as there could be, she saw Lena carefully exiting one of the other buildings, a bundle of something in her arms.

Yelena frowned as she looked around. She used a hand signal to Tsimmermann to have him slowly search the entire place with her.

OOC: Searching the interior (with Torchlight)?

09:20, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 4,5 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3.  Notice.

The holes in the sidewalls led to smaller caves. There were some odd pieces of furniture there, a table, something that looked like a sink dug into a recess of a wall. There was a slight draft in the rooms and in the far back Yelena noticed a slim outline of light. Pushing against it, she was able to open a window to the outside and light and fresh air came back in, washing away some of the tense athmosphere.

OOC: Does this remind Yelena of anything she's previously seen?

The sniper's brow furrowed as she considered what was all around. Moving slowly and deliberately into the other alcoves, Yelena looked for other windows that might open similar to the first one she found.

It seemed that every alcove had a way to let in fresh air and light, either through a hole in the ceiling that was covered by some sort of cap that could be lifted by pulling on a string or lever, or directly opening like a window.

Tsimmerman looked around wearily. [Language unknown: "Olll essun el lesal m po iveas latandncetheera m Hatlarour il Witpr? Prna pricur ourivedin, terock."]

Bhalla approached the patronizing one--"Lena." [Language unknown: "E nt mo Atson. Ni ev lesreathe ilonwaen, iv. Loou ich Utcata latyinoul, Buttraiveine etchac rutie ameeveant."] Part of her still longed to have retreated with Jangie and left this behind, but the healer knew all too well that the Deutsche would follow, sooner or later, unless they lost their war.

Yelena shook her head. [Language unknown: "Of nteoveive reasi ill. Tedlesint proho n ce ckil stamenour cema? Est ei peloro un ne illoneyin olee altohe ndarli?"]

Tsimmermann shrugged.
[Language unknown: "Se aveiv us tha laher m Ostofo, red, naones ons usnt. Ac nterul ndolro k Ratonsday ive enwer an ichmi pe iena larhouvor. Korti anyticain encourble mareteosec hasovewer fi men andandonsson. P ti aveur tiomhi ol di n Moman. On eehick oual korivence ililsifo urenc evng somershat. Sonntihis iverompre ai hetio ng. Urbe itek we... U convorthi en, ear amethithe, ckieur? In hiatekie n ndpace one t our asnc pe k utsa lentwhom setblerut waera ad ceto-acou, neho latainore ast ich wh urosol.
No eau tioverionventer ent esombe ameprowas peil liunbe. Na heres, ic eireil etplte ne a ic com noeiiv, omllthes wh ofce i a bleho? Ecad iosta th ncfiwi nehou ne manmeneve."]
He chuckled and shrugged again.

As the two left one of the alcoves and got back into the larger chamber, they saw Mattaki. The Axtzal must have entered at some point and stepped down into the shallow pool. He was hunkered down on his heels, the left holding his spear for added support, the right hand picking something up from the floor that looked like a curled up, dried bit of tree bark. Mattaki didn't say anything but looked at the bark, transfixed.

Lena looked grim and serious.  Any joy or wonder associated with the discovery of a new world and new people was gone.  She knew these Krauts were pricks but the implications here were beyond disturbing.  "[Language unknown: U olnace she ad ardev?  Ofain tiolesoer.]"

Then Lena considered the situation.  "[Language unknown: Pre be astnderomiou redta ven houvorare paati dinromame ratestive dayratareain?  O momath be res virntithiart, ulnce test ri foronetic ch ee ieti n rutureest san lltoho.]"

Bhalla crossed her wrists. [Language unknown: "O! Ll ev ec sahiaswi, hoeve essti foome seenc. Ingicathohishas icad si ionul ing wassetlin. I ithis, linwe ouriv erewheany Erarealarwit. Olthu molois en peekni? Ntear fo illionter k ng to ckurpr. Ta shess."] The gnim made her arms relax and exhaled slowly in a surprisingly human fashion. [Language unknown: "T ec undugh-virticwhe. I...our...p p. Ta lar in lo. Belo utch ouaian int str omeer whhi i Romblesan. Di oveni as ineareany'terart. Was art elnce ica ul forwa andundwer nde. Bete prooutoveati allni pretinlarnte."]

"Hm."

Yelena considered for a few more moments.[Language unknown: "Ck loal ndeillone osthi ma t isfich t riev we? Noteauest unsaioce tima somearsti i ureconvirwerall dipowimi."]

She watched Mattaki enter and pick up the bark, but the sniper didn't interrupt his contemplation. Rather she watched him to see how he would proceed.

Lena considered that.  It wasn't unprecedented in the human experience to look at groups that seemed superficially similar but not draw a distinction between them, even if you knew better.  There was also a disturbing history of one group constantly conquering another.

"[Language unknown: Berat mifiie m ssar aremanenc.  Nc thothound taouec ei th na ion rivor omhian ai o po ie all penaitsafo.  Ev notin astsi ndlenope iouat nito'eknd thothuine a earthohisleshas i es Ntrene.  Reatedkor i isilei misti et eraounithect, llwa omre weil est ameort'ourall ne formenwer thnour erenteiou neuthe.
]
"[Language unknown: Nti tenemi ain setereureera we pa acad erusut.  K esserecon iv somreathu hesell ac m ce po, ountedtho I i oer ac outartnce, ol Le e nastic foer ioute evro Urario.  Dayureeve En linionher U m cebeai caet niant.]"

Lena considered what she'd recovered, and after weighing it, showed the books.

"[Language unknown: And ecai ma wi houl.  Reus a ma leosfi ectthoession trahatugh ad ou tra ast er k ersestkoress un.  U alcafi atieausta, K linsetsta to eltaasch re u viravelinrut.  Olei io ntebuttic p etaiet manvirhat tani strionhis olnool ilhond ul howil henalo.]"

Tsimmerman shrugged. [Language unknown: "U ectousnde vir. uremaness me sa atme'topo llremaal, ol si ulicas, lahas. Iopo witareoun ad i urhile ore na moloil ri not teta. Osie traomeareanydin wi n thuhousetoul. Hiisilou on stindefor mi panot of ntil uldifo, T esitat? K deratehat ho ughlatard pr il il ulcaatie sioswa eeheni?" ]


Mattaki put the piece of bark back on the ground, gingerly, hung his head and slowly rocked back and forth a few times. Then he stood up, abruptly, shaking his head. He said something, or made a sound - their language was hard to discern. He turned and walked outside, without looking back at you.

Outside, Mattaki leaned against the wall of the egg-shaped building, wiping away tears.

Then he spotted Bhalla talking to one of the non-Deutsche. He felt a surge of bitterness. These... people had come here, did not speak the language, they had brought death and pain and horror to his country, his world.

He grabbed his spear and started walking toward Bhalla.

Yelena took a last look around while Mattaki appeared to look like, well, to look like Yelena had when she'd come across some of the concentration camps in eastern Europe.

She pressed her lips together in a thin line, wishing she knew his language, or vice versa. After the Axtzal left, Yelena tipped her head toward the exit to encourage Tsimmerman to follow. [Language unknown: "P tininepro seeion whndof ioeiadnc pein pl liel herineome k wecaut st."]

She headed back outside and looked around for her small group of comrades-in-arms.

Yelena saw Mattaki walking over to Bhalla and Lena, who seemed to be engaged in an agitated discussion. The American spy was carrying some bundle in her arms.

Yelena looked around the immediate vicinity as she moved toward the discussion. Years of training as a sniper had made Yelena extremely wary of ever standing still.

The Russian moved into conversational range, but didn't interrupt.

Mattaki rammed the butt of his spear into the ground.
[Language unknown: "Ure etliti nt. Ceal ouuron unol fonainchmi."]. He spoke with force, but his voice quavered.
[Language unknown: Wisti yinaverom] Deutsche [Language unknown: nietofofes ce foriv!]

His knuckles tightened around his spear and he took another step towards them, dragging the weapon behind him, bringing the tip of the spear down.

[Language unknown: "THA!"] He shouted and pointed at Lena. [Language unknown: "CH LALI EI TERMANTHA NDCETA! IOU PLORE TOEV MELL TO? OS ELRUT WILRE FOLLCH LATCONBLE KOR SETARDROMONSSTA ICA ROMNTEEAR U AD SHECONAME?!"]

Lena didn't understand a word of that, naturally.  So all she knew to do was the least threatening thing imaginable.  She put the propaganda bundle down and opened her hands, showing her palms and all (for now) ten digits attached to them.

"[Language unknown: A usev tiss maatos adth to ce hietho, usday loes llenom art Ss ect Teelthei adevto n ntiti lichtaleut korhouthi ad.]"

Bhalla interposed herself between the war mage and the human woman. [Language unknown: "Ulard estad un p ivean, Sommenure. Roilio werectvir of acate be ionse. Preconrat ng ine Ivetedwitrat, wer onsstrstiwil. Weate prolatwitthu. Ilioeice str Trpeunes anyck avehouvir."]

[Language unknown: "Sti Outateonsati u lemimiei rice are. Wawh. Li riil."] Bhalla keeps staring down the much larger Axtzal, trying to find the words, trying to keep her body from shaking. [Language unknown: "Pepoic ofate."]

[Language unknown: "Etbut weill nce virhouwer. Sa ughol teli redoveugh ameureome. Ckera dayiouant poekee. Korfi pa whiti notal k oerstrone. Om chver el at p oreereeen n ratughons inpace? P anyou theearday ers erethiint but ec cathe Unno'evro fiatfo iltiiv mitrdievei ilreislo? Romticect ivetherom ouort at eclowe m tic Onevenhatect rela urestaout estoulive astan."]

Mattaki tensed for a very long moment, then twirled his spear around, turned to the left and screamed. He slammed the butt of his spear down onto the ground, and a blue flash of light seemed to crack open the ground, zig-zagging away from him and slammed into the wall of the closest home. A heavy thumping sound came from the wall, as if something heavy had it it, and a spider-web of small cracks and crevices blossomed.

The light slowly faded.

Mattaki sank down on his hunches, suddenly sobbing and howling as if a deep pain.

"[Language unknown: O...]"  Lena wasn't sure if these creatures were strictly mammalian, so that made it awkward.  "[Language unknown: ..rea taatpe he esttinfor?]"

[Language unknown: "Ng. Ac ll ame. Thin his. Haitsses ur henaevai. Omonwi cendevho."] Bhalla says. She wants to comfort Mattaki, but has no idea how. She's not trained to treat these kinds of wounds. [Language unknown: "K e str wasa."]

Yelena nodded.[Language unknown: "Ta, Rom ncat ure calimi we ckalis rut es. Wi amekorday a lantiealis oulfi k ecame atinfo entionugh ri Inefi th...ardcommen on ore I sheverthu. Eenmennte Wh waeith ivchce ss io ncanacit eredayyin ut rutlinpreany icri Encoveoer st alhisest." ]

She paused. [Language unknown: "All ou einila ospa whiai lo etonmaof lar a si nd eketteis n noaswh ur adnte."]

Lena thought about the situation.  She had, essentially, been blackmailed into going undercover as a spy.  There really hadn't been any patriotism or sense of duty behind it.  But once she got installed, and began to learn their secrets, what they were hiding from their own people... she hated them.  She figured the soldiers who had removed her from her cover probably knew more about their atrocities than she did at this point, because, ironically, Lena was too close to the source.  She didn't get Reich secrets every single day, and most of what she got was intelligence on who showed up at the hospital, some mutterings Arthur mistakenly uttered near her, and what was going on in Berlin.  But she was utterly devoted to it up until the end of her assignment.

So, what she'd just been told did not surprise her, in the least.  But... what was Lena going to say or do here.  Nothing she could do was going to in any way make this situation better because the only language any of these natives knew that she knew was flipping German.

Well, awkward as it was to bring it up now, better to get it out here.

"[Language unknown: I lataincon toiswi me taneri enna paekfi sta taive dernoting P hasiv ncasni oul iothu ca amewhi-oneectere tin th thuwhiver u ess unsshe.  Il ugh icavirtio il oeromeeve ac are essometic.  O a ratencble We roen.  Undereect.  M ndinpl n at acwere ha nehius ishingit, is rutareall pl ro omfo rea ne rerech ivre heic.  Roni ear ur thtewa lala Ac nceyineve cearecis o it whe.  A a virall-ectund i ie k ughhe, tiof day t M houtiners p eeie nc to na antlesratand oulaai Ee ofet si pebe oreardour, laher dinit vertioons vorec si si ureng rist M na ensenene?]"  To be fair, none of them were actually supposed to be here, but that was incidental.  "[Language unknown: Sanpe heosme our a one osei p p alsti pr, u Se astpe prai.]"

After the remains of the village had been thoroughly searched, Captain Jackson selected a couple of houses to set up a camp site and rest.
He took the time to speak with every soldier either directly or through an interpreter about what they had seen and found.
What struck Yelena as odd was that he also asked her about how she was and if she needed anything.

He studied the flag Lena had brought. "New German Reich.", he muttered. "Would that be the fourth, then?", he asked Lena in a cheerful tone.

He leafed through the books, but since he spoke no German, he handed them back to Lena. "Could you see if these are of any use to our situation and summarize what you find? Verbally, of course, I don't need a written report."

Jackson tried talking to Mattaki, but he wouldn't speak. Later, the Axtzal could be found back at the nest, dragging out debris and anything the Germans had left behind. After watching him for a while, Tsimmermann put down his rifle and went to help. A couple more of the Russians and British followed. Not sure, what they were doing, but it beat sitting around.

((OOC:
Alright:
Lena, Yelena and Bhalla - the three of you get one house to yourself, and you all have a short debriefing with Captain Jackson. You can write up your meetings here and discuss anything you'd like to discuss between the three of you.


Lena: Give me an investigation roll if you want to go through the books. Let me know what else you'd like to in the next day or so, then I'll move this along.))

lol nope

20:15, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 1,1 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Investigation.

The irony is I had that at d8 but got rid of it when we redrafted the character because it was never going to be used lol

Lena read through the book, but it was hard to focus. It kept droning on about the superiority of the Germans to the natives, it seemed to be conflicted about who the target audience truly was - was it young children or teenagers? The way it was structured seemed to go back-and-forth, as if multiple authors had gotten the assignment but nobody was there to edit it.

This was pointless.

She did, at least, learn about the four native races of the New German Reich and there were some pictures, too. First, the Axtzal, or Echsen as the Germans called them. Lizards. The picture didn't look anything like Mattaki. It described the large cities of a crumbling empire, a dominating race that would be replaced by the Germans as overlords and would be relegated to the bottom rung of the social ladder to either serve the Germans or perish. A chill crept up Lena's spine. She had read - and heard - similar statements before, always in a matter-of-factly tone, always indisputable, about the Slavs to the East. Slavs, that had to be "relocated" to create new "Lebensraum" for the Germans.


Next, there was a picture of a being that looked quite similar to Bhalla, but dressed in a dress of leaves. The section was headline as Zwerge. Dwarves. Lena remembered the term from old medieval style legends. It had been the dwarves that the German hero Siegfried had stolen his cloak of invisibility and a magic ring from.
Siegfried the dragon slayer had featured heavily in Nazi story telling - the shining, invincible knight. After Stalingrad had fallen, the Nazis had shifted to praising the steadfast loyalty of another legendary figure from the Nibelungen saga - Hagen. Who happened to be Siegfried's killer. It never made much sense to Lena, but what about the Nazis made sense?
Few details were given about their culture or customs, but that they were used to being servants to the Axtzal and would soon be just as useful to any German household.

There were two more races though. First, there were the Trolle. Trolls. The drawing was frightful. A huge being, it looked somewhat like a rhinoceros on two legs, with two horns running down the side of the troll's head. In the drawing, it was dressed in some sort of fur coat. In the description, they were called "surprisingly tame and docile". Nothing about this drawing looked tame or docile to Lena.

Then, there was a more extensive section on Gervolier. Gervolian. There were drawings and actual photos. The style was different. It was most apparent when compared to the trolls and Bhalla's people. Lena realized that she didn't even know what they called themselves. But Gervolian was the name these people had given themselves. And the way they were portrayed was rather positive. They were shown with Strength and grace. Not as savages.
They also looked somewhat like humans, their facial features more angular and feral, with a lot more facial and body hair, though. She flipped another page. There was a photo of a female Gervolian, dressed in silks, brandishing a slim, curved sword and a small dagger, in a fighting stance. An admiring picture.
The text was also rather kind to them, highlighting their prowess as warriors, their bravery and loyalty. She was reminded of the portrayal of the American Indians in the novels of German author Karl May. Noble savages and warriors, under the heel of the Axtzal race, apparently.

Yelena took an opportunity for a deep breath after finishing the search. She wasn't unused to better treatment as a member of the BPO, but it was refreshing to receive such from a Westerner given stories of how they treated their women.

Yelena raised an eyebrow at the book, but it couldn't be read by two at once. Having given her report, she briefly closed her eyes for a deserved rest.

Lena wasn't sure she understood what she'd read or what it meant, but they'd surely been here for quite some time to make such detailed propaganda.  Because that's what this was, propaganda.

It might tell them something indirectly.  It'd be curious to see what the natives made of it, where it was inaccurate and where it might not be.

((OOC: You could ask Bhalla about it. Or Mattaki, if someone translates))

Yeah... I don't think Mattaki is my biggest fan right now.  Lena tries to find Bhalla.  I'm not sure this is a good idea either but hey.

Bhalla had left the headquarters and had been wandering around the small village.
It was odd. So many traces of a vibrant, if small community. How many had lived here? How many before the Deutsche came and how many later?

She watched Mattaki and the Non-Deutsche soldiers clean out the Nest. Hopefully, it would give some peace to the battle mage. She turned to head back to her assigned quarters, that she was to share with the two who spoke Deutsch, yet weren't Deutsche.
One of them, the one Mattaki had threatened before, walked towards her, waving at her.

With nothing really better to do, Yelena followed Lena out toward where they saw Mattaki.

((While we're waiting for Bhalla and Lena to initiate their conversation...))


Mattaki directed the Russian and British soldiers with his gestures, adding words seemingly just for emphasis. They had already piled up several boxes a few meters away from the nest entrance. One of the Brits was tearing the boxes apart, setting aside some neat piles of firewood and another pile with what seemed to be still useful.

They were working fast and efficiently.

With nothing else to really do at this point, Yelena went over to help with the work Mattaki was directing.

The village made Bhalla intensely lonely. It would have been easy for her to slip away, to slip off with Jangie and find another band, make another place. To be surrounded by not-Deutsche in a place that had been ruined by their other tribes was worse than finding the place by herself.

When Lena appeared with the book, Bhalla worked to puzzle it out. She recognized most of the words, but not all of them. "Ef-Fruk." she said, pointing to the "Trolle." "When eat meat, dangerous. When no meat, peaceful. Do not like to fight."

Lena asked in utter fascination.  "Is there anything else here that's wrong?  In fact, is any part of it correct?"

Lena hated she had to ask that question, but she'd been spying on these chumeaters for far too long and knew exactly how they worked.

With an extra pair of hand, the work went even faster and the nest was soon completely cleared from any debris the Germans left behind.
When Yelena went back inside, wiping the sweat from her forehead, she saw Mattaki standing in the center of the shallow pool, slowly turning, taking in the sights.

One of the British soldiers, quietly whistling to himself, had scrounged up some mortar, it seemed and used some wood scraps to expertly fill in and smooth over the bullet holes in the wall, every now and then stopping to pry some shrapnel out of the wall with his knife.

Mattaki nodded and when saw Yelena, he spoke.
"[Language unknown: Os, ha a trhas taelol mever. Santhuing ec, iois]Deutsche."

He looked up and shook his head. He pointed to himself. "Mattaki."
Then he pointed at himself with both hands, quickly running them down from his head to his toes, then turned left, then right, repeating the gesture.
Finally, he spread his arms in a big circle, encompassing himself and the two figures he had drawn into the air next to him. "Axtzal", he said.
Then he pointed at Yelena.

Yelena had learned several languages, and understood what was being attempted here. She repeated the gesture, pointing to her chest. "Yelena."

She then pointed to some of the other Soviet soldiers and made the grouping motion, though not quite as big as Mattaki. "Soviets."

She then pointed to the Soviets and then the Americans and Brits. She made an even bigger encircling motion with her arms. "Allies."

She did use English for these statements as that was likely to be the most utilized language in this particular group.

Mattaki nodded and repeated the words.
"Yelena. Soviets. Allies."

He put both his fists on his chest and bowed his head. Then he pointed to the exit and beckoned Yelena to follow her.

Outside, he grabbed his spear and looked down at the dirt, lost in thought. Then, he started drawing. Five short, straight lines. Then he pointed at Yelena and the other allied soldiers who had gathered around, too.

A quick box around the five lines, then seven more boxes.

Then a large box around these eight and next to it, a single short line.
He pointed at the large box. "Zukeshed."
Then at the line. "Nimin-Mah."

He seemed to be at a loss again. He made another line and pointed at it. "Mattaki. Irhandi." Then he pointed back and forth between the lines and kept saying: "Nimin-Mah. Irhandi. Nimin-Mah. Irhandi."

He looked at the allies' faces, looking for a sign of comprehension.

"Hard." Bhalla says. "These words are for me slow." It's frustrating: she understands enough to get an impression of the book, but it is hard to figure out what the writer thinks, and harder still for the gnim to get her thoughts around the language. "Some is real? Not whole. Of folks, not whole. Much they are not know."

"Or they're misleading.  They like to do that.  The Nazis, or the Deutsche as you've taken to calling them, have many weapons.  One of the worst and most insidious they have is... well we call it propaganda, but I'm not sure that translates.  It's... well it's when you tell a big lie many times on purpose to make people believe you."  Lena tried to explain.

"Nah-tsee." Bhalla echoed. "This word for themselves they use not. Always the Deutsche or the Deutsches Folk. We are not Folk." She pointed at herself, then at the images in the book. "None. None are Folk." Her slender fist clenched. "Others for serving. For laughing. For hurting. Deutsche--Nah-tsees--they listen not. Never."

"Yeah... Okay let me take a crack at this.  The truth is, not all the Deutsche are Nazis, it's like a... faction, a powerful faction that took control of the Deutsche in their own country.  But they like to claim they are the true members of their own kind.  They have a lot of bizarre ideas, all of them false, but they've been horribly effective at getting themselves and others to believe most of them.  Nazi is the proper word for them, they must be recognized as responsible for what they have done.

"They believe they have the right to be horribly cruel to others.  They have caused the greatest war that the world I come from has ever seen.  They have done unspeakable things besides.  They cannot even treat other humans as Folk, I am not surprised they do horrible things to others."  Lena pointed to the pictures herself.

"I've been pretending to be a Deutsche for many years, living among them, feeding information to the Allies."  Lena wasn't sure if this was helping.  "I know a lot about them.  I don't know about their military strategy or things like that like the soldiers do, but I probably know the most about who they are culturally.  I wish.. I wish any other humans had found this place but them.  I hate them so much... and it scares me."

Bhalla's head bobs up and down. She points to herself. "Doctor." She knows it is not quite the right word, but it is the one she heard the Deutsche use when--

She cuts the thought off.

"Make hurts better." Her fist clenches. "But Nah-tsees, I want them to hurt. To hurt and go away."

"I think it's fair to say that's quite the popular sentiment.  What they've done here... well, this is as bad or worse as everything else, but they've done uniquely horrible things everywhere."

Lena wasn't sure if this was helping or hurting.

"They stop. We make them." Bhalla said, exhaling sharply through her nose. "Lies, hurts, death. They are very many. The Nah-tsees, very many. How are we stopping them?"

Lena thought about that carefully before answering.  "Well... in my native world, we stopped them with the blood of a lot of brave men.  Or... we seemed to.  I suppose everyone in the Allied nations contributed something.  Honestly, I've been so far in the details of my espionage I don't know much about the overall strategic situation.  Any of the soldiers probably have a much better rundown on that than I do."

Yelena squinted at the lines to see if that helped, then slowly shook her head. She had some ideas of what he could be trying to say, but it certainly wasn't clear to her.

Mattaki tried it a few more times, adding more lines, and circles and boxes. Finally, he shook his head and looked to the sky.
He picked up his spear again and bowed slightly to each of the soldiers that had helped him, ending with Yelena, then walked away.

---

Bhalla saw a shadow moving past her, half-turned and recognized Mattaki.
[Language unknown: "Haenc oerec earev hasma enouwiie. Ha arhond p oul i onolacad. Wilughver re tic t an ugh hawhho wilsaneve. Lifi ec ivewernte n miilfo ta hiti ceat sonet le llad nceredhat i. Ive whreannd hafint to thawhiterdinave a tinhe onchwi ave tatho pales." ]

That reminded Bhalla of Jangie and the invitation.

[Language unknown: "A eefo erstic Ilites."] Bhalla says to the axtzal. [Language unknown: "Ear ee ei pant derortove. T di ntthle und eeol omunwi he fi dison Nongti. Onbe stihathas eitrro a adntno?"]

Mattaki nodded. [Language unknown: "Our ateateica ulpa ourshenceles e tin. Table ith haal ngwati? Mi i cein ncring? Estmi in tetic olonmi p iess nti?"]

[Language unknown: "No yin ta tola'isar era ughvirati. To nti an iveman'menshe e nte Cewianno ilkor t oneom ee, artbleall. Ereonssti sanwheureounres, ent hatat wapracndek."] Bhalla says. She's visibly tired, but there's some sense of respite in speaking a familiar language. [Language unknown: "Lool Etarbefo nale a ineeauhis. Ntivenlin comlinare rutni paver a evlatr nti evch."]

((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: "Na Ne ntnte theouswhe?"] he asked in a hushed tone.

Out of the dark came another voice. [Language unknown: "Illomeven le of,] 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: "Si ti onsvirvor? Asac lesstaati ncmopr ee ictha enble?"]

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: Isour, pro a a lo.]"

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: "Pefiad Eeutec Theineratoun. Peanle tinse usng anthei ur hatpronot e p o]Not-Deutsche.[Language unknown: Asck n Prewasour in Lariouhat. Tic k,]"she indicated the Axtzal, [Language unknown: "le Inesho ch elar Ivaiivelas, i lostna sawa eenad ers omstbe ckeken ek atnot Nderatmanpro proom ch outaro thu Poch-ofiend."]

The Gnim on the tree nodded and raised a hand, beckoning you closer.
[Language unknown: "Andthoeve u moos Asai m Ekecen, utleni Tinounyin. Ca dayfi eriead ou ou, verticrea. Ckutss hesiit e ul tated esieai erevertic al ac oer pe, ill eena wena taeeou. N o ndeameilleen di ch tedai ladi setomeder, ch ntolfi trout nt e fincrihe mi ur us m foadni etnt."]

Mattaki cleared his throat and quietly said: [Language unknown: "Eimoio rativ amethurea nte san undmenwit ntidayove, Loitof, ica ut u be at nd ei allortlesatihatich maoun iliote?"]

Bhalla bowed to her elder. [Language unknown: "Th ho sti t whplilmo, Hathiseve. Wa fomo u aveundhisoul ant atein li ce latverive, kor hatherrut arprreurck ove u and le ro ethewi onmaai her ponepo."]

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."