That was a mastery of Seizing The Opportunity. Fucking brilliant. Right down to challenging me at first breath and placing me on the defensive.
Once the avalanche started, I saw you duck out the way but remain close enough to watch.
So did you see where I changed up languages? Did you understand why? That was a helluva Ood moment there. What I heard was not what they said, but they could understand me clearly. If I had assumed that what I heard was right, the outcome would have been bloody. But with three key but odd questions that they graciously answered, we all realized I was hearing the opposite of what they said, in tone, tense, and agreement.
So when I heard them say, “You are a blight on the world and a stain to be purged at all costs!”, I now understood they were really saying, “You have been a great help to those we know and your name is honored daily.”. But no matter which languages we tried, the same inverse translation happened.
It didn’t help that someone fed them false information before confronting me. They were told that I was planning to take over their clans. Which they found incredulous, considering the reputation I have in their lands. They decided to ask me directly rather than rely on more gossip and hearsay.
So, wonderful setup! Bravo! The only thing I haven’t figured out is how that translation mixup occurred, and how it persisted for the entire encounter. Once we figured out out, we were able to hold conversations around it. Enough that a compact of mutual peace was agreed to.
I saw you scowling, half hidden by the forest line. This was not how things were supposed to end. Sorry. Deal with it.
I have to go report this to a particular third party. Well, I really don’t have to. But if Tumblrites are going to be starting shit in his realms using my words as the map, he needs to know.
I don’t know who you are. Yet. You cloaked yourself well and I had to focus my attention on the others at once. But you’ve left a trail, and betrayed confidences to throw this attempt at me. These are the wrong realms to play the Backstabber. I’ve watched blood feuds come to a halt so a Hunt could convene and track down a betrayer.
My part is done.