Homestead Survival

<24 September 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+>
[Theo and Julia]
Theo and Julia woke, ate quickly, and made their way, with Ordus, to where they had met the Goblins last time. As they approached, a familiar face greeted them, speaking, and Ordus translated.

"Treg Sput greets the Sorrin Family. You have called a meeting." Treg Sput said, and then waited.

Theo nodded, "First of all, thank you for coming. We intend to hunt the Ents on the lower portion of the Mesa, and wanted to make sure that was acceptable with you as well."

Treg Sput looked somewhat put off by this, but nodded, "This, Treg Sput can not decide. When do you hunt?"

"We had hoped to set out today," Julia said.

Treg Sput nodded, turning back to the two goblins standing a ways back, "Gra! Vet'Ka Chok. Met'Ka Tur Dra."

Without hesitation, the two goblins picked up their Spears and headed off at a dead sprint. Treg Sput turned back to Theo and Julia, "You get what is needed. They bring Chief, meet at first. Treg Sput will guide you."

"Okay, thank you, Treg Sput," Theo said.

"No issue." Treg Sput said, pulling out a piece of meat and eating it as he waited.

Theo and Julia turned and walked back with Ordus. Theo was thinking, "Ordus, quickly ask anyone who wants to come to get ready, we are leaving in ten minutes. Kreldar is staying here."

Ordus left without another word. Fifteen minutes later, Theo, Julia, Ordus, Joshua, Fred, Sarah, Velna, Renno, and Skully were walking back to Treg Sput. Treg Sput, for his part, took in the group, his eyes darting from one to the next. He then surprised everyone, speaking and acting as Ordus translated.

First, he walked up to Velna and bowed deeply, "Honored elder, bless us with your wisdom, and may the sky fire always light your way."

Velna, a little taken aback, simply nodded, patting Treg Sput on his shoulder, and saying, "May it light yours as well."

Then Treg Sput took in Sarah, who was holding Skully, and then tousled her hair somewhat roughly. "Young one comes to see hunt, is good. Teaches strength."

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Fred looked as nervous as Joshua, but Sarah was beaming at the massive Goblin. Treg Sput nodded, "We go. Meet Chief, then, hopefully, hunt."

A couple of hours of hiking down from the top of the Overlook, and along the edge of the Grand Mesa of Summer. As they approached a larger group of Goblins and other creatures, Theo remembered the gift that they had been given by the Goblins. He quickly turned and spoke. "They might have slaves in chains and shackles. They gave us one as a gift, and we freed her. Do not react, please."

Then he started going through his list of stuff that was in his pouch or dimensional storage to see what kind of gift he might have for the Chief. "Any Ideas for a gift that the Chief might want?"

"I have no clue," Julia said.

They arrived, and Julia remembered a gift they had received recently. She reached into her pouch, took out the Ring of Universal Translation, and activated it.

>Local Message: Universal Translation Activated for 150 minutes

The Chief nodded with approval, "That makes things much easier. I am Gral Krax, Chief of the Tribe of Crax. My men tell me you wish to hunt the ents. Which ones?"

"We believe that we wish to hunt, the King of Summer, the Crown Prince of Summer, and the Barron of North Lake," Theo said.

A murmur went up through the crowd of people. Several slaves even looked up in surprise before quickly casting their eyes back down. Theo and Julia both noticed several Mothlings, as well as a handful of other creatures. There were no dwarves or humans, and Theo found himself wondering if that was true or if they had elected to leave those slaves behind for this meeting.

The Chief raised his hand, and silence fell over his group. "I am fine with this, but you will owe us a favor as this will inevitably expand your domain."

Theo and Julia shared a look. Then nodded, Julia speaking up, "So long as the favor is reasonable, we are amicable to this. Thank you."

"You are welcome." The Chief said. "Now then, we will depart."

Theo finally made up his mind about the gift. "Before you go, we would offer a gift, as you offered to us."

He reached into his pouch and pulled out one of the Purified Spirit Cores and handed it to the Chief. The Chief examined it, and Theo saw a small moment of surprise. Then the Goblin nodded. "I accept. Good luck on your hunt."

With that, the Goblins all turned and left. Heading to the opposite end of the Grand Mesa of Summer from where the Overlook was. Julia sighed and took off the ring, tossing it to Joshua. "That is for you. Sorry, I didn't get it to you sooner."

Joshua looked at the ring and nodded. Then Theo looked at Ordus, "What did he mean that this would expand our domain?"

Ordus shrugged, "I am not sure, my people were inducted long before this, so I am unaware of what the Chieftan knows. It could have something to do with the designation of the ents as nobility."

"That makes a certain amount of sense." Julia said, then looked at Theo, "So where do we start?"

"Well, let's go north and see if we can find 'North Lake' to say hi to the baron," Theo said.

Sarah, who was sitting on her dad's shoulders and hugging Skully to her chest, cheered as they set out to the northernmost edge of the Grand Mesa of Summer.