I watch as Enna carries Renna away. The little godling seems to be in a relaxed and sleepy mood today, good news for the humans. If the adventurers caught her when she was in her empress mode, things could have gotten a lot messier.

With a shake of my head, I make my way back towards Arthur. It seems like the discussion is just about over and everyone is looking very serious, tightening armor straps and double checking weapons.

"Captain!" Calls Arthur, "We're getting ready to move out. The less time we give these invaders, the better. Are you coming with my group?"

I lay a casual hand on my sword pommel, "Yes, I'm with you." My eyes dart towards the fluffball, "Did Hollis inform you of the change in plans? We are going to be taking as many alive as we can."

Arthur's expression quickly darkens, "Aye, the vess did say that."

"And?" I prod.

"It's horseshite is what it is." Arthur growls, "Those knife ears killed a few of our lower leveled with that poison of theirs, young people, practically kids. And you want to show them mercy?"

I really did mean what I had said earlier; I almost wish that Renna had just bullied her way through these guys. Adventurers are proud, stubborn people, and if some of their own have been hurt, they will stop at nothing to get revenge. Convincing them to take the elves alive is going to be challenging. Hollis is sweet and tried their best, but these guys aren't going to listen to a vess.

My eyes glide over the gathered fighters. Arthur is easily the highest leveled, but he hasn't hit his third class evolution. That is to say, I am much stronger than him, and there is one language that is often the most convincing for types like him: violence.

Debbs might be able to convince him, she is much better at speaking than I am, but she isn't here, and I don't want her to be here. I want her as far away from any potential violence as possible. And violence is starting to look more and more like the only solution. Still, I'll try for a peaceful outcome first.

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"I understand." I nod at the man, "It's dangerous to try to capture them, and your people aren't high enough level to do it safely. I won't ask you to participate, my vess are more than capable."

Arthur's jaw ticks and I can tell I just pissed him off by calling him weak, but it's the only thing I could come up with. If I had soldiers under me who weren't up to the task, I wouldn't send them off to their deaths. It's an easy out for him, a bit of a humiliating one, but an out, nonetheless. Arthur seems like a smart man, I'm sure he understands what I'm really saying; Either you obey me or you leave.

The sound of a blade sliding free of its sheath draws my eyes, Eppe is inspecting her sword. With a flick, she sheaths it again and stalks over to stand by Arthur, clearly choosing her side. She cocks a hip and glares at me, "I thought we were doing this for the good of Karnaka?"

I nod to her, making sure to keep my voice level, "You and the rest of your group are Karnaka. I don't want to risk your lives unnecessarily. And capturing the elves alive is a tactical decision, I'm sure you understand why."

Great, now I pissed off Eppe. The woman's eyebrow twitches and she shares a rather heated look with Arthur. I resist the urge to facepalm, it seems that angering others is the extent of my diplomatic ability. Debbs is going to be pissed with me too, if Renna wants her to smooth over relations with the adventurers. It's going to be a long, long day.

Taking a deep breath in, I steel myself. Debbs will forgive me after a couple drinks, that's all that matters. My gaze locks onto the two difficult adventurers, "Are we going to have a problem?"

Eppe looks towards the mithril clad man, "Arthur?"

Arthur taps his foot a few times, clearly going over things in his head. He glances up in the sky and sighs, "Alright." He agrees, "I'm a man who knows when to stand down and now is a time when I clearly need to."

I blink. That actually worked? I actually convinced him?

In a few moments, Arthur has gathered up all his people and marches with them back towards his guild. There's no way they are just going to give in, just like that?

It's when I turn around to watch them go that I notice quite a few vess have gathered behind me. There are a couple squads of knights, tall and imposing, holding many more blades than any human could. Drakes are roosting on rooftops, and the shadow of a giant blimp is slowly approaching. I glance at the little fuffball vess.

Hollis grins and shrugs, "What? I was just gathering our forces for our joint assault with the humans!"

Their hair gets a very thorough ruffling.

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