>>5363596>>5363556>You don't intend on parting with noble hostages, but talk of a reward intrigues you. Less about what a reward may actually be, and more that these humans (at least out of fear) seem willing to appease you?Maybe if they didn't approach you in fear you might have taken them seriously, some modicum of respect for their request. However as it stands, you surely are not parting with your noble hostages. To that end, part of you wants to charge right for them and attack.
The fact that they approached with words in the first place though is an interesting indicator. It shows that for one thing, violence isn't always the only option available to you despite what you'd assumed of the humans. For another thing, it shows that depending on how you act determines how the humans perceive and regard you. Because you bothered to sit down and talk with those humans on the beach last night, now the word about you around here is that you can be talked with.
Not just a mindless sea monster, something that can be appeased. And if they think you can be appeased, then what else are willing to tolerate about you?
<span class="mu-b">"Heh-hrmmm... communicate, I can."</span> you speak up in amusement, your first words startling the men. More out of confirmation of what they hoped, rather than your powerful voice itself. <span class="mu-b">"Offer me your reward and we shall see what happens."</span>
A nervous undercurrent among the men, you sense they might even have wished that you simply were a mindless sea monster, to make things simpler. Now, they have to deal with the complication of you being able to negotiate, and the slowly approaching mob from a distance behind which will surely prevent any productive discourse.
<span class="mu-s">"Ehm... maybe we should..."</span>
<span class="mu-s">"...would you... return with us to town then, kirsh?"</span>
<span class="mu-s">"-ghaibun! You think people will have this thing to their homes?"</span>
One of them insults the other and spits at the idea, and you can imagine why. The poor fool is trying his best though to find a quick solution to the worsening situation.
<span class="mu-s">"With us, to town. Then we can exchange in good faith? At least, we have not your reward here with us now..."</span>
You're not exactly sure what he, or the other humans have in mind. In fact you imagine foremost an ambush or some such, their attempts to get you into an advantageous position for them to fight. But then, you've never been invited to a human settlement before...
