>>5336731You note that all four show signs of scrapes and bruises—shinier, redder patches of their deep-purple skin—incurred in the recent match-ups. The other three are each conspicuously sharpening their stone-and-bone blades to a fine edge. They yet sit far from the Bogbarri.
“Playthings? No, no,” you correct him. “You are an ancient and cultured race, yes? The bugbears have only their physical strength and the fear of others’ physical strength to keep them together and in-line. You and your people have much more. Never will elves be playthings. Not in—”
“—in YOUR mountains?”
You pause, narrowing you eyes.
“Forgive me, Dragonborn…” Epharidan says, bowing his head again. “Or is it ‘Copper’, as the leader of those monsters calls you, ‘Copper, King of Bloodrise’?”
Ah, so your boast (admission? declaration?) came up in the bugbears’ boasting.
“Yes, well, that’s one more matter to discuss. Will you join me, and the Bogbarri leader, in discussing it?”
Despite his obvious misgivings and distrust, Epharidan consents to follow you to where the Bogbarri Boss is already impatient waiting, fidgeting and tapping his padded foot.
“Finally!” the Boss says, grinning and spreading his arms. “Elf is here to scknwoeldge loss and discuss how to serve, yeah?”
You and Epharidan both narrow your eyes. The Bugbear Boss has been more cooperative and helpful since you came to your ‘understanding’, but it’s still plain that even this wisest and most social of Bogbarri understands relationships as a matter of dominance and control. Not SO different from your race, but he lacks any nuance, tact, or subtlety… Let alone the politesse of the elves.
“We gather here to discuss MUTUAL respect and cooperation,” you reply, looking between them both.
