>>5288204“Or they could be useful allies against our mutual enemies, as they suggest,” you muse aloud, playing the role of mammal’s advocate as much to goad the Novice as to test the idea. “The Elf-Specialist says that the dark elf expressed disgust and loathing for the Gods of Light, when elven gods of that group were mentioned. Maybe these godless apostates could be… Converts to the True Faith, and our cause?”
“Foolish,” she hisses quietly. “They are chaff. Trash, even by their race’s standard. And remember Glowie, and what we learned of her race?
Glowie perks up at the sound of her name. She has been happily humming, seemingly delighted at this turn of events—the meeting with the elf on friendly terms. You’re not sure you understand why, and she can’t yet properly express such concepts. Instead, she simply cuddles into you. You gently push her away, patting her head to assuage the frown that results.
The Novice watches this interaction with disgust and amusement in equal parts, before continuing:
“If you bring them into the fold… Who is to say that you will not accelerate our own race’s decline into irrelevance? What if another god finds these… What are they called?”
“’Drow’ is their word, I believe,” you say, butchering the pronunciation.
“What if a dark god takes a liking to the Drow, and makes a pet project of them… And ceases to bestow their favour upon us? I’m not saying we must exterminate them, but if they are to be allies, it is to be as slaves, or pawns, or mercenaries. It is the Reptilian way: to hold such warm-blooded ones at a distance.”
You consider the Novice’s words, and all you have learned. You carefully weigh your options.
How will you approach the Drow?
>Introduce the Drow scout into the worship of the Dark Gods, and make true allies of him and his people if you can>Make a pragmatic petition to the Drow, to be looser allies of convenience—neither foes, nor friendly, but possible allies when opportunity presents itself>Ask this scout to lead you back to his people’s elites… Then issue an ultimatum to subjugate them, and decapitate their leadership if that fails>Take the scout prisoner, and move on—the kobolds of Bloodrise are your concern, not these mammals>Give him a gift, send him on his way, and think no more of the Drow>Write-in 