A look of understanding appears on the spear-wielder's face. He switches his stance and holds the spear at his side in a completely neutral manner. The others likewise relax, but move closer as if to hear the conversation better.
"A mine," the centaur says thoughtfully. "I see. So that's what's been causing all the fuss. My name is Radom. Well met."
The other centaurs likewise introduce themselves: Bonmod, Chodi, Orval, and Tomis. They explain there is another, named Ninos, but he's been assigned sentry duty. Apparently he's not very good at it.
"No, we've never made contact with you," Radom says at length. "You're outsiders here, and I can't say that we or our people will be pleased to hear of a mine being opened in our territory. However, that doesn't mean we need to jump to hostilities so quickly."
As Radom says this, another centaur appears along the edge of the clearing. This must be Ninos. His horse-quarters are white, but his human hair is blue. As he nears, you can see he sports many piercings.
He trots up to Radom, a contrite expression adorning his broad face.
"I've discovered tracks," he says, "but it appears they've already made contact."
"In deed," Radom nods, frowning sharply. "This is Manager. He is a General from the outsiders. They have opened a mine on the mountainside. Take them to Yarog. I needn't remind you that they are under protection until Yarog has spoken to them."
Ninos nods before gesturing to you to follow him through the clearing.

"Well met, Radom. Let me first clear up one point, as meetings are a difficult time and it is easy to be misunderstood. We did not open this mine, nor did we ask to live there and work it. We were sent here under somewhat misleading pretenses, and we were forced to make do with what we could find, or to die.

"I want you to know I respect natural surroundings and, that if it were up to me, I would be in a forest glade singing songs rather than in an office surrounded by pencil-scratching and piles of metal.

"That said, take me to your leader."

"None of us choose our clan," Radom replies before you are lead away, "but we always choose the paths we take. Good luck."

Ninos leads you through the clearing and woods on the other side. The centaur hunters have setup a small camp here, and you can see that they have been hunting eagles. Several of the great birds are in cages around their camp, their wings and beaks bound. The carcass of a huge boar is strung up from the branch of a nearby tree, field dressed and bleeding out.

Ninos isn't too talkative towards you or Sketch, but does try to chat up Allessia. He doesn't answer any of her questions, instead he tries to get her to tell him about her. Her answers usually relate to Iomedae and her work within the church, to which Ninos acts as if he's never heard of the goddess. After a few questions, it becomes clear the centaur thinks the Lady of Valor is a warlord, rather than a divine being.

The trek isn't too demanding, and only lasts a few hours before you are brought into the centaurs' settlement. From the look of it, it isn't permanent--at least, it lacks permanent structures and dwellings. Large animal hide canopies have been setup between the trees providing protection from rain.
Liam notes that there are no walls to mark boundaries, property, or provide any sort of privacy.
The centaurs stop what they're doing to watch as Ninos leads you through their settlement. Despite their interest, they do not follow and return to whatever it is they were working on before you pass.

Yarog was probably once a huge specimen of his kind. The skin of his torso appears to have once been pulled tight over his powerful muscles, but now appear slack with his advanced age. He sports a short "salt and pepper" beard, and his bear chest is heavily tattooed. He also wears a necklace of teeth.
Ninos introduces you and briefly explains the situation before being dismissed.
"General," Yarog addresses you, "what brings you into our lands today? Further, why have your people come to rape our mountain? Is your desire lead by greed, or is there a genuine need for what it is you seek? Speak now, and speak true."

"As I told your companions from the hunting party, I did not choose to stay here nor did I choose to operate the mine. I was sent here to carry a message to someone and to get his reply, nothing more. But when I arrived I found out my companions and I were trapped, and that the man we sought had gone mad."

"I operate the mine because its metal brings food and safety to people back in my homeland. I do not seek domination over my fellow beings, but I do seek to aid them if I can, even at the expense of nature."

"I've spoken plainly with you, now tell me truly: have you judged me and my companions before hearing our tale, or will you weigh our words honestly and impartially?"

"Impartiality is impossible," Yarog replies after listening to your words. The older centaur is flanked on either side by servants, or maybe a harem of female consorts. They stand beside him or lay around his pavilion, their naked bodies adorned with tattoos, flowers, piercings, dyes, and other body art.
"I have judged you," he continues after a brief pause. "You are not friends to this mountain, for you bring industry and ruin to our lands. By your own words, the wants of your 'fellow beings' outweigh your reverence of Nature." As he says this, you can detect sadness in his tone. "However, this does not mean we are to be enemies. This mountain is not ours to defend; nor can we ordain ourselves as its moral defenders.
"That said, we cannot welcome you to walk among us freely. I invite you to stay with us for a short while, so that we may learn more about you and your designs for the land."
With that, Yarog looks to Liam for some response.

Liam is somewhat at a loss for words. "Well, OK. I mean, you are the ones who invited us here. We didn't ask you for shelter or aid. We'd be happy to be on our way in a short time."

Yarog frowns in response to your words. "You misunderstand. My invitation has only just been given. And we offer you neither shelter nor aid, but an opportunity to reveal your hearts to us, as well as your ability to do our lands lasting harm. You may have walked into our settlement on your own accord, but your choices were more limited than you think."
He makes a gesture and two centaurs move in between you and Yarog, indicating your meeting with him has been concluded. As you, Sketch, and Allessia move away from the pavilion, you spy Ninos being led toward it, as if for a council with Yarog.

"Ay, Boss," Sketch whispers to you as you are being led away from Yarog's pavilion. "I don't think I trust these blokes. I'm pickin' up some bad vibes... I think it might be past time to dip."
Allessia, on the other hand, appears more or less enchanted. Her eyes scan the goings-on around you, a look of wonder on her face. Following her gaze, you see centaurs engaged in various tasks of mundane life.
A trio of centaurs approach her, each bear chested and obviously physically fit. They gift her flowers, pinning them in her blonde hair, and one takes her hand as if to lead her away from you and Sketch.

"I agree, Sketch. The sooner we get out of here, the better. And don't worry to much about Ms. Goo-goo Eyes, either. We'll save her, if it's not too much trouble." Liam looks for a good chance to slip away.

Sketch nods as he too looks for an opportunity to get away--or at the very least, cause as much confusion as possible...

"Pardon me," a female centaur with light, chestnut-colored hair says as she approaches you. Like her brethren, she is nude to the waist and her upper body is adorned with numerous tattoos that ascent her natural curves. She has dark paint or perhaps charcoal or soot smeared around her eyes, highlighting her deep blue irises. Violet wild flowers, clay beads, and falcon feathers decorate her cascading hair like a headdress. In her hands, she holds a leather cord necklace of what appears to be bear claws and teeth.
"You are a newcomer," she says with a smile. "Please accept this gift, and walk with me a while."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:45, Thu 19 Mar 2020.

"Thank you for your hospitality." He slips the necklace over himself. "Please understand that, although it may seem strange to you, my friend here and I are members of a religious order that prescribes strict celibacy. For that reason, neither one of us may walk unaccompanied with a female, even one of another species. I hope you don't mind if he and I both walk with you."

Liam gives sketch the facial expression for 'Prepare to do your rogue things.'

Good instincts! Take +1 forward your next non-damage roll.

The centaur, whose name turns out to be Elnaya, frowns at your words, but appears more anxious than offended. She clutches her hand  into a tight fist at her chest when Liam places the necklace over his shoulders, as if he is making some terrible mistake.
"I had hoped for the both of you," she replies, her voice troubled. "However it appears your religious beliefs require our meeting to remain... chaste.
"Ah, but the afternoon is warm," She continues awkwardly. "Let us walk together and... talk."

A short while later, the three of you are slowly walking a trail, not too far from the centaur settlement. So close you are that you hear noise from the clan occasionally waft through the trees. There is a tense awkwardness between Elnaya and you in the beginning, but after you get her talking it melts away.
In the time you spend speaking with her, you learn a few things about the centaur clan. First and foremost is that their clan is dying out. Elnaya tells you of how her people shunned the other, more industrial races centuries ago, siding with the fey. However, in time, their allies have grown thin migrating to other lands, assimilating with the cities and towns that spring up like strangling weeds, or die off. A rift has even grown between them and the elves, as they seem to have grown more tolerant of the others' blatant disregard to Nature.
"Every year," she says, "fewer of our children survive, victims of our people's shrinking stock."
You also learn that they are fierce defenders of the natural world, keen to live their lives as close to the earth as possible. They shun all religion, especially that of the merfolk. It is they that they blame for the "Rumbles," even more so than the humans.

At some point during your conversation, Sketch gestures to you, grabbing your attention.
"Oi," he whispers, "I think we can, together, overpower her and escape. Or maybe use her as leverage to get Allessia."

What does Liam do?

Hearing Elnaya's story, Liam feels a pang of guilt. He shakes his head at Sketch.

"Tell me more about the Merfolk. Are there large numbers of them around here? Perhaps we could aid you in your struggle against them. Do your people use iron weapons?"

"Some," Elnaya replies to Liam's question about iron weapons. "Although we don't make our own. We trade for any items we can't gather or make ourselves."
Regarding the merfolk, your centaur hostess explains that her clan isn't specifically locked into a war or any open conflict with them; however there isn't any love lost between the two races.
"They're blinded by their beliefs, their 'religion,'" Elnaya says. "They are willfully ignorant of the natural world. They tell themselves stories of mythical forces that shape our world to some benign beings' intelligent designs.
"There is a small colony a short distance from here, further up the coast. But I suspect there are a great many number of cities beneath the waves to the north."
A horn sounds nearby. Elnaya turns her gaze in the direction of the horn.
"The gathering is starting," she says, returning her attention to you and Sketch. "We have a little time before we will be missed, but we should head back soon."

Liam will head back without causing a scene. He tries to make Sketch understand that Liam's changed his mind for now.

He does ask one last question before they head out.

"Out of academic curiosity, if I'm not being too forward, how does a human enjoy the pleasurable company of a centaur? Or vice versa? Aren't I missing an entire set of legs?"

Elnaya doesn't appear offended, but rather puzzled at Liam's question. She repeats the word causing her bewilderment, "Pleasurable..." She clearly understands the term, but it becomes obvious to you that hadn't considered it before.
"It isn't as pleasurable as running through an open field, or shooting a perfect bullseye," she says thoughtfully. "But I can assure you a union will produce offspring. As a stallion of your race, I've no doubt you'll find copulation enjoyable."

You return with Sketch and Elnaya. The centaurs have gathered close to the center of their encampment. Several bonfires have been lit, and the air is filled with voices, food scents, and music from various sources.
At your first arrival, things might have appeared more structured as you initially took it all in. But now the more chaotic elements of their lifestyle hits you. Absolutely nothing in their communal culture is private, not even property. Whatever is laid down by one can be picked up and used by another: food, tools, weapons--even each other.
Walking through their camp, armed with this new insight into the centaur culture might be somewhat dizzying. Sketch, a thief by trade, scoffs at the behavior.

At length, you find yourself close to the center as Yarog raises his tattooed arms, bringing quiet to the herd. He welcomes you as guests before addressing those gathered, at which point Allessia rushes from somewhere within the gathering and grabs onto your arm. Her eyes are wide with disbelief, but you quickly sense relief wash over her as she squeezes your hand.
"You'll never believe what they wanted me to do," she whispers to you. You notice the flower in her hair is gone. "These creatures are barbaric! We should leave. Now."
Yarog continues speaking to the herd, saying something about the clan's enduring ways and the promise ruin by the hands of those who don't adhere to Nature.

What does Liam do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:41, Thu 26 Mar 2020.

"Stay close to Sketch."

He almost tells her, "Stay close to me," but what good is he going to do in a fight?

He whispers his simple plan. "We'll try to leave unobtrusively. If we can't, that's on them."

Liam waits for a brief break in Yarog's diatribe, then begins leading his group quietly toward Elnaya. He tries to walk with Elnaya to the edge of the gathering. He'll lead or follow or some combination, as long as he can use her as cover, an excuse to leave the center of attention. Once there's an opening, she can stay behind. He only needs her for that first break-away.

Liam easily moves about the gathering, and he quickly realizes that no one is paying them much attention. Sure, many look at them as they pass, but none appear to care what the outsiders do while their leader is speaking.
In fact, Yarog himself doesn't seem to mind either. He only stops addressing the herd to call Ninos to join him.
As you reach Elnaya, Yarog is preaching about the danger and inherent evil of inattentiveness in the midst of the clan's numerous enemies. How the lack of duty and discipline is a greater threat to the herd's way of life than any arrow or spear.
When you lock eyes with Elnaya, you know she knows what you plan to do. She simply nods before moving to shield your departure from the others, a subdued expression upon her face.
"...the charges against our son, Ninos, have been heard," Yarog is saying as you usher your companions past Elnaya. "He has been found guilty of negligence for the last time. And I, Yarog, thus sentence him to Dereliction." A murmur washes over the crowd, and a few whistle.
Elnaya drops her hand to Liam's shoulder, stopping him.
"They're going to hurt him," she says, a look of terror and worry in her eyes.

At the front of the gathering, Ninos takes a step back, raising his hands in supplication. Those closest to the front begin jeering. Males toss flowers at him, while several females laugh. The hunters from the eagle camp appear, and you recognize Radom. They make a show of their spears, but do not hold them on Ninos. Their presence is threat enough.

Does Liam stick around to watch, or does he use this distraction to make a clean escape?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:13, Fri 27 Mar 2020.

"I truly am sorry," Liam says, wondering if that's true or if he's just falling for her charms. He shakes his head. "This isn't my fight. If you are ever near the mine, you and Ninos are welcome there."

He uses the distraction to melt away from the Centaurs. However, he tries hard to remember the different centaurs, and how each behaved: Ninos, the persecuted sentry; Elnaya, kind to strangers and sympathetic to her own; and Yarog, the violent.

When his party has put about 200 yards between itself and the gathering, Liam calls a whispered huddle. "Sketch, what do you recommend?"

"We'll never make it back to the outpost," Sketch replies between breaths. He has to take two steps for every one of theirs. "They're part horse, godsdamnit! They'll outrun us every time. The mare said there was a merfolk settlement nearby... maybe we try to find that?"

Edit: Grammar
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Fri 27 Mar 2020.

"Iomedae will protect us," Allessia adds, "no matter if we run or fight. She is with us." Her hand drops to the mace hanging from her belt and taps it. It obviously brings the young woman comfort knowing that it is there.

Edit: text coloring
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Fri 27 Mar 2020.

"In my experience, the gods help those who help themselves."

In response to Sketch's question, he says, "If we can't get along with people who are half-horse, how are we going to get along with those who are half-fish? I don't want any part of this crazy feud. That said, the enemy of my enemy is sometimes my friend. Let's see if we can skirt past the merfolk settlement. Maybe if we get to the other side, the centaurs won't want to roam that far."

Recalling Elnaya's words about "waves to the north," and the merfolk colony being "further up the coast," Liam leads the others due north. Your flight isn't difficult, and you successfully dodge any pursuers. Before too long you find yourself on a sandy beach.

The sun set some time ago, leaving the companions only the stars above for light. Luckily it is a clear night, and scanning the area you easily see light pollution emulating from low cliffs to the west.
It very well could be the merfolk colony--but it just as well could be any sort of... well, anything. With the centaurs behind you, the safety of the outpost days to the east, and this welcoming light a few miles to the west, your choices seem all but made up without you.
"We could camp here, on the beach," Allessia suggests, sensing indecision. "It's a little windy, but it's pleasant enough," she adds as the wind whips her golden hair about her face. She has a point; the dull roar of the surf would make resting here pleasant indeed.

What does Liam do?

"Let's find out what those lights are," says Liam.

He leads the party closer, choosing Sketch to take point this time.

Thus ends this session. Please join me over at the GM's Table +1 for a brief after-session discussion before we jump into the next session: The Colony.