2/2 Clamp 2017/10/17(Tue)20:04 No. 837515 ID: bfb318
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>"Can you read it alright?"
"It says we need a cartographer, right?"
>"Yeh."
"Then it's your finest work yet."
>"Thank."

Leaf runs me through the main gnoll clans.

Mountain Gnolls. They stay hidden, and probably move around a bunch. There's a lot of trade routes up there, so it's a good marauding spot. I hear they have that cartographer we need, and someone good with tactics.
Willow Whisperers. They'll hit anyone and anything in the entire forest. No other gnoll clan will occupy as much of a range as these guys do, so they're not even drawn in on the map. They're kind of legends, and some gnolls don't even think they exist. I'd say it was some bullshit myth too, cept that Leaf says he knows some guys in this one.
Plainskeepers. Only gnoll clan I know of in the plains past the forest. It's human territory, and they'll throw a lot of themselves at gnolls that get up that far. So either the plainskeepers are damn strong, damn sneaky, or already dead by the time Leaf made this report.
Chainlink's Clan. Hangs out near the edge of the forest. Chainlink's apparently the guy that wants to make the alliance between these four. Dunno why. Apparently they've got full on walls and forest traps and everything. Must be nice.

Or I can just not give a shit about them. Plenty of other clans around, and talented gnolls can't be that rare.

If Chainlink wants an alliance, why don't we go see what his terms are? An ally, even a temporary one, would make things a lot safer for us.

Also go find a gnoll who can be assed to survey the other gnolls.

>>837515
Honestly, the order you listed them in sounds like the perfect order to take them.
We need a cartographer to master tactics, better rangemen, and better, smarter meat. Then we need to destabilize the alliance before it finalizes.

We'll need better tactics to even manage getting better other things or we'll be trying to get lucky every time. Also the carts and tactics move a bunch so the time to strike is when Leaf's info is the most current.

How many camps have you named Storm Hold, now.

>Or I can just not give a shit about them. Plenty of other clans around, and talented gnolls can't be that rare.
There are gnolls everywhere, looks like. If you wait around some will probably fall out of the sky. There are sky gnolls, right?

First things first, you want to make your own place defensible. For that, you need carpenters, right? Well, that seaside clan probably has boats. I mean what's the point of living beside the sea if you don't have boats? Are you gonna dive for shellfish or something? That doesn't seem like a gnoll way of living, but hunting larger fish or engaging in a bit of piracy or water raiding does. So they'd know how to carve wood and make it stick together with other wood, right?

That unknown clan on that "island" between the two rivers is another contender in that department, but they look like they have more of a terrain advantage.

>>837519
He was specifically allying against us, as far as I recall.

>>837525
Oh, nevermind then.

Yeah let's hit the mountain gnolls next.

>>837535
Which mountain gnolls? The ones all the way at the top of the map or the ones directly above us at Mount Something?

Either way, I was kinda thinking we make an alliance with a closer clan or conquer them and pull them into our ranks. For example, Blacktorch is pretty close to us and then there's also an Unknown Clan that kinda the same distance. Maybe we could team up with one of them? Or take them over?

>>837537
that's kinda the same distance.

>>837537
Maybe you should ask Clamp that question instead of ME?

Can't let them ally against us. We need to take out at least one clan while it's still isolated, and if possible spy on another to find out who's negotiating and where. Sabotage the negotiations.

>>837542
I'm asking you instead of Clamp because you're the one that suggested it.

Besides, if I wanted to ask Clamp something, I'd ask him in the BTE thread.

Don't give a shit about any of the main clans though keep an eye on Chainlink, incase he ever somehow manages to do it we should probably have a plan. Even if the idea itself is far-fetched. Maybe send out scouts to check the Unknown Clan in-between the rivers.

>>837549
Gee maybe I meant the one Clamp specifically mentioned in the list then?

>>837515
Well, shit.
Ideally we'd like to nab that cartographer and maybe tactician from the mountain gnolls.
Doesn't help that they are some of the furthest gnolls from you and a nightmare to find besides, any actions on them will be a bloody undertaking.

Getting in contact with the Willow Whisperers might be a good first step. Consult Leaf about the viability of this idea but if you can approach and get in good with them it should be helpful for getting a better idea of what's going on in the area. Not having to worry about phantom ambushes would be nice too.

Also would the area south of the death pit be good for expansion? having the rivers as a natural barrier for the territory seems like a decent idea.

>>837515
An alliance risks assimilation of our tiny, incredibly shitty clan. Trade agreements would be better but we have absolutely nothing to trade.

...Did we steal a good blacksmith yet? We really need a metallurgist.

And how is work on the fortification going?

Ask leaf if there's any defensible terrain to the east or south of us. Fuck this place if we get raided, particularly if they've got competent archer-gnolls

1/2 Clamp 2017/10/18(Wed)18:38 No. 837781 ID: bfb318
File 150837711970.png - (172.13KB , 1000x800 , 87.png )

>There are gnolls everywhere
We are in the gnoll heartlands. Not many other races right around the local area, cause who'd want to live here?

>Did we steal a good blacksmith/metallurgist yet?
Yeah. Got him from Blacktorch.

>Also would the area south of the death pit be good for expansion?
Probably. The camp's already pretty roomy though. Too early to think about that.

"Which mountains are the mountain gnolls in?"
>"The mountains, boss."
"Yeah well, what the hell is 'mount... something'? Am I reading that right? Something?"
>"Just a single mountain. That's where the Mount Something gnolls are. Mountain gnolls are in the mountain range northwest."
"And what the hell are the Mount 'Something' gnolls?"
>"The gnolls around Mount Something. It's more of a hill."
"..."
>"The gnolls of Mount Something are a cautionary tale about giving yourself a name that's hard to pronounce or remember."
"Well I already forgot 'em. How much of a threat is this 4-way alliance to us anyway?"
>"Pretty bad if they really want to try and take us. Course, them wanting to stand up against us might be a big misunderstanding, but Wind wanted to expand, you took over Wind's spot, now they probably think you want to expand and go marauding the countryside."
"Yeah, well what if I'm happy to just sit here?"
>"Well, boss, since we raided Blacktorch the day after you became chief. I don't think you're going to convince many people of that."
"Yeah because... egh, forget it. Whatever, let's get rid of this alliance if they won't let us be. 'Cept, the only clan in there that stands still is fortified and crap. What about the mountain gnolls?"
>"We'd need to send scouts to get a pattern and try to figure out where they move. They've got home turf advantage, I don't think many of us have a lot of experience with mountains."
"How about getting in contact with the Willows?"
>"Send out a bait team to get attacked, and try to talk to them when they attack."
"That's dumb. How's Chainlink making an alliance with people like that?"
>"He probably did what I said."
"So this alliance is made up of clans that are a pain in the ass to deal with. Mountains, mythical, fortified, and those ones hanging out in human lands."
>"That's probably why Chainlink chose those gnoll clans. If he chose Mount Something, we could just kick their butts and scare off others from joining an alliance."

2/2 Clamp 2017/10/18(Wed)18:45 No. 837785 ID: bfb318
File 150837753427.png - (289.85KB , 1200x800 , 88.png )

I walk with Leaf to check out how fortifications are going. Damn slow, but there's at least some visual sign that they exist. Gates at the exit look like people fiddling around with sticks. The walls at the top of the cliff won't defend against a proper raid, but they will make it a lot tougher for scouts to take pot shots down at us without being seen.

"Send some scouts to check out the mountain pass. If we're going to hit any of those 4 first, it'll be them. But there's two big things I wanna know. Who the good gnolls we've got to capture are like the cartographer and tactician, and what Chainlink's thinking making an alliance. And that nearby unknown clan. Also, that seaside clan! I bet they make boats, which means they know how to make wood stick together! Shit, I'm already picking fights. I better not have to make alliances next."
>"I dunno, boss, you'd should probably ask Matron about that kinda stuff. I just, you know, wander around and tell you what I see. I'll pick out a few scouts and take care of it. Unless you want to individually manage everything."
"Hell no."
>"I'll take care of it, then I'm going to go keep an eye on Blacktorch for a bit. Uh...."
"What?"
>"Nevermind. It's just that a lot of our scouts are also good labor. Did you know that blacksmith we just got is actually a great scout?"
"Don't fuckin' send him out!"
>"I'm not!"
"Good. By the why, while you're out there, check out any camp spots that'll be easier to defend."
>"Why are we fortifying this place if we might move?"
"Look at that shitty fucking wall. All we'd abandon is a damn embarrassment."

Probably won't start getting reports about anything I care about till the end of tomorrow. Which means I've got time to kill.

I can think of a camp spot that's easier to defend. Chainlink's.

>time to kill
Hmm. Survey the gnolls a bit. See how everyone's doing. Maybe help with some heavy lifting.

Maybe you could actually trade and become friends with that seaside clan. Use the big alliance as a bogeyman, and your convenient position at their north side. You provide protection on that front, trade them some stuff like raw lumber, some food variety and some of the blacksmith's stuff, and they give you finished wood products and some of the fruits of their raiding or whatever, and mobility along the coast.

You should capitalize on this blacksmith you have. You basically have a mine, right? Wasn't that what the caves were for? Check that out. And make sure that bad blacksmith you had before is now learning from the good blacksmith. Get some kids in there as well. Try to spread skills around, that way the loss of one person won't hurt you so much and you'll be able to produce more goods faster.

>>837798
>friends with seaside clan
Yeah, maybe. ...heck, another plan could be to start attempting diplomacy with ALL the gnoll tribes that Chainlink isn't targeting.

Perhaps we should head north, kick Mount Something Clan's ass and then... fuck.

Okay screw it, let's fortify, get the blacksmith working on our garbage iron to make it into less garbage weapons, and send out Leaf to find us some tunnels or something that are actually worth fortifying. I am kinda suspecting that there are no good campsites in this region that aren't taken.

Why the hell are there so many damn gnolls in this region? Who are they even raiding? Someone has to be producing something of value! Are we sure there's not a really lame tribe of gnolls whose ass we can easily ki- Oh, that already happened. And we got Death Pit. Dammit.

If you have spare time, maybe you could even try pick up some blacksmithing skill yourself. It's be handy to you to at least hone your skill at telling a good weapon from a bad one, right? Maybe learn how to do small repairs and such yourself? You're a big guy, blacksmithing is a nice powerful, impressive profession. Plus it'll really bring up people's loyalty and respect for you if you're leading them to victory AND making shit they like. People respect blacksmiths.

>Which means I've got time to kill.
Talking to Matron about planning shit is probably smart. She knows the local clans and area a lot better than you do, and she's one of the smarter gnolls here.

>>837808
>she's one of the smarter gnolls here.
That or she's without a doubt the smartest gnoll here. Which wouldn't be all that surprising to be honest.

Hmm... Mount something is a very defensible position... and a perfect staging point to assault chainlink... but we'd need carpenters and masons to fortify it.

Any way. Go speak with Matron. Get info on the seasides. See how things are comin along, how she's doin. And maybe bust a nut.

Talk to Matron, get as much info as possible on the nearby clans.

Waster hasn't gotten full of herself yet, has she?

>>837785
You could always see how good the blacksmith truly is by telling him to make the best version of your sword he can and then tell him what you think he could improve on once its finished (this both gets you a very good quality sword to use and tells you how good of weaponry he can make).

Clamp 2017/10/19(Thu)20:21 No. 838169 ID: bfb318
File 150846969509.png - (304.79KB , 1000x800 , 89.png )

"You know what place does sound defensible? Chainlink's place." I tell Leaf.
>"Heh. Yeah. Can never tell if you're serious."
"Wasn't at first, but the idea is growing on me fast. Shit, maybe I'm onto something. Something like... Mount Something. I bet that's a good defending point."

>Someone has to be producing something of value!
Humans. Dwarves. Maybe elves or somethin', I dunno. They make good shit. Then gnolls on the outskirts will raid 'em for that stuff. Then gnolls on the inland will raid those outskirt gnolls for that stuff. It all trickles down. We're in 'gnolls raiding gnolls' territory.

It ain't like gnolls can't make good shit. But just who are those gnolls that make good shit? Their name is Blacktorch and they get their asses kicked and raided. Shit, that means I'm next if I keep this up. But I've gotta keep it up or I'll get raided for being too weak. Now there's the circle of gnoll life.

>Waster hasn't gotten full of herself yet, has she?
Haven't seen her today.

>Test the blacksmith's skill by making a good sword for yourself
I am. It's going to take a couple of weeks, he said. The sword I'm given here was just to so I had somethin.

Leaf and I split up. Think I'll visit the blacksmith to learn a few things from 'im today, but first I go visit Matron.

She's out in the clearing where kids get all over the place. She still shoos some kids away. Fuck's sake, that one's holding the sword all wrong. The other's wielding one like a stick. Matron gives me a silent, judgemental eye that I'm starting to know too damn well.

"I ain't psychic, woman, tell me what you want!"
>"To know what brought you back to the tent before dinner."
"To learn when the hell being Chief meant dealing with politics and enemy alliances more than realigning snouts!"

She laughs. Dunno what's so funny, but it's better than judgement. I still get the eye of judgement from Shabin. Probably just her face now.

>"So just kick everyone's butts, geez, why're you worried what others think?" Shabin gives the best advice I've heard all all day.
>"Shabin, remember when you hit Lancer?"
>"His buddies ganged up on me!"
>"And it didn't go well for you, so learn your lesson. Clamp, you've inherited a clan that doesn't suit you well, but we need you to remain Chief since the only person this clan did suit was Wind himself. He made us look unassuming and not worth attacking as a target, not just because of our numbers, but because there wasn't much point. You, on the other hand, are making it look like we're worth raiding."
"How?"
>"By making this camp look important enough to build a wall around it. It suits you, more, but because you lack Wind's subtlety, you have to go to the extremes that you can manage. Make us look like we're not worth attacking as a target because we're too overwhelmingly difficult and strong to attack, despite whatever valuables we have. So I recommend you focus on making our gnolls strong in a fight. Make our walls look like a castle. Respond to attacks disproportionately. If you like the sound of that, I can give you some ideas. If you just want to laze about and have people leave you alone, then not even the gods themselves could help."

>>838169
That does sound good. Defending this place like a castle, I mean.

>>838169
Okay! Time for actual work.

Clamp! Train those kids to use weapons. Train more of everyone to fight too, you're the best fighting.

Set any scouts not out scouting to working on traplore with whoever knows traplore.

Now, you need a stake-field to stop charges. Force them to move slowly through the field getting bombarded by rocks, spears and arrows.

Maybe dig some trenches.

>>838169
Get the blacksmith to make a wrist band and get the gem cutter to imbed a crystal in it, give it to the matriarch and give her the title your left hand, Making her an official member of your council. You could set up this title so that when someone is given it they are no longer a person who is able to join in on future battles but takes your place as leader while you are out on your raids, they would also be one of your personal advisors who are able to speak their mind to you on any of your future judgments giving you insight you would otherwise overlook.

>>838175
Actually you still have that emerald don't you, so just get that embedded.

I want to say train the kids but honestly it sounds like you need to train the adults first. Just show them how to hold a weapon right and go, you can think of proper lessons later.

Thinking about dwarves reminds me, you need to check what's in the caves. Maybe stuff that can be mined? That'd go well with your blacksmith. At the very least maybe you guys can start hacking some rocks out so you can stack some shitty rock pile walls in front of your shitty wood pile walls. Anyway get a bunch of people to watch the blacksmith work, they can learn and as a bonus they'll be on guard if anyone else tries to steal him off you.

>>838169
>If you just want to laze about and have people leave you alone, then not even the gods themselves could help.
"Woman, after being stuck in bed for so long, I'm done with lazing about! If I laze about anymore then that, I really will get fat!"

>>838170
Agreed.

>>838177
>train the adults first. Just show them how to hold a weapon right and go, you can think of proper lessons later.
Agreed.

Alright then, time to learn these idiots how to fight.

Maybe you could make walls around your walls. And maybe walls around those. Make the place a tough nut to crack. If nothing else, the construction team would learn how to build a fucking wall the hard way, and it would be strength training for any gnolls that are looking sticklike. Combat training is a good idea as well, but those aforementioned sticks need to be able to not snap from a hit.

Suggestion 2017/10/20(Fri)04:48 No. 838247 ID: 830fb7
File 150850010076.jpg - (58.73KB , 159x183 , reinforced palacade.jpg )

An effective way to make crude walls is to cut trees down and to length and imbed them in the ground next to each other to make a palisade. To improve this you can do 2 walls with a small gap between them that you fill with rocks and dirt so that it is hard to destroy. Packing dirt between rocks you stabilize the construction by removing the gaps and adding support. Then you can attach support logs to the outer wood layers as a brace and attach a brace to these logs to add support against being pushed over (if you attach the outer wood layers together you make it a lot more solid in its construction). Using this style of fortification you can handle most things that could possibly do damage to the fort while still keeping it within the ability's of your current crafting force. (demonstration image attached)

>>838169
Choose a scrap over a nap any day.
Bad news is that this sorry lot need to improve their ability to kick other people's asses quite a bit before they can even handle proportionate retribution.

Your champion system is a decent incentive. It'll help keep them motivated to not be idiots in the field, but you need more than that.
Do you have anyone from your old crew that could handle training? If there's nobody like that, you can just run practice matches until they learn intuitively.

Hey, i don't know shit about gnolls, how much time it takes for a child to enter adulthood? If it ticks that much that bouth the worriors and the children fight so bad, can't you just train them personally? i mean, is not like you are that busy, right? Besides, it can help to grow more "companionship" between you and your clan, and between them as well.

1/2 Clamp 2017/10/21(Sat)16:22 No. 838518 ID: bfb318
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"I lazed about enough! I like your defense idea, but we need better damn fighters."
>"You had a good idea with making a clan champion.You can expand on that by making sparring tournaments."
".... what's this about a champion?"
>"... how old are you?."
".... shush, woman! I remember now. Champion. That thing. Who won that, anyway?"
>"Hilt."
"Hilt?!"
>".... yes, Hilt. You know what, I'll deal with the weekly champion selection when we aren't raiding. I'll make tournaments that include teamwork, since you know full well that raids aren't just a collection of one on one fights."
"Yeah. I'll start with training adults first along with a couple people in my old clan, since these idiot kids could probably beat 'em up!"

That gets the attention of some child.

>"You think so, right?!"
"No, dumbass! You're holding that sword wrong!"
>"Okay." says Matron. "Next, the wall. We're spending a lot of time hiding our position by cutting down trees far away and having to carry the lumber back. Let's just cut trees around here. If anything, the practice of cutting elsewhere is so common that just as many clans will think that the signs of chopped trees means there's not a camp nearby. I'll look at the wall. I've seen Wind study some constructions, I think I at least know what defenses should look like."
"How about these kids get useful and explore the caves?"
>"You know... the kids aren't so afraid of the caverns. Yes, I think I'll have them pull out rubble in order to help construct the wall."
"Wait, a stone wall?"
>"No, it's... nevermind, you'll see it when it's going up. I'll have the kids dig some trenches, too, and step up a stake field."
"We getting attacked by vampires?"
>"Shut up and beat up some weaklings, Clamp."

>How long does it take for a gnoll kid to grow up?
5 to 8 years. Got rites of passages to mark adulthood more than when they stop growing. I expect I'll have to deal with that at some point now.

>Embed the emerald into a bracelet, give it to Matron making her an official member of your councel
Where'd this posh ass idea come from? We got better things than to make arts and crafts. I don't even have a council.

Eh, then again, it'd look good on her, and make her look important while she takes over as much crap as she is. Why the hell not, some student blacksmith can probably make a bracelet without fucking up, so that the real blacksmith can keep making weapons.

2/2 Clamp 2017/10/21(Sat)16:22 No. 838519 ID: bfb318
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I walk around the camp looking for gnolls not doing shit. When I find them, I sign them up for a brief lesson in which I tell them to defend themselves and teach them how fast I can beat their asses. Doesn't take long before idle gnolls are hard to find, so I give fighting lessons in which I teach them how damn sucky their attacks are without beating them up.

Later in the evening, I get the blacksmith to gather around a bunch of people to teach them the basics of the craft. Teaching them be a regular thing until more of us could at least make something weaponlike. The more promising gnolls will get drafted in as the blacksmith's apprentices. Gotta admit, he's throwing out a lot of information with just words. I only absorb stuff when he stares at me and says certain things like...

>"And here is were we'd test the right temperature, which would matter more if I didn't have to work out in the open."

At the end of the day, Leaf comes by at the end of the day with a couple early reports.

Blacktorch is looking to retaliate. They can't attack directly, so they plan to kidnap some gnolls we have out on patrol. It'll be a nuisance, but either we can do something right away, or we can wait for them to pull something off, then retaliate back to teach 'em to just let us be.

The unknown camp still doesn't have a name, but there's probably about 14 gnolls in it, holed up on top of a modest cliffside. Doesn't look like they're significant, but also means they might be good raiding practice.

Only thing else I have left to do tonight is dinner.

>>838519
I think your blacksmith is trying to tell you something.

>>838519
Okay, first we need to set up a Retaliation for when our Gnolls are kidnapped. Basically just send some Gnolls on a patrol as bait then ambush the ambush.

As to the small camp, hell, maybe they're refugees or imperiled or something like our clan was before we conquered this clan. Let's try getting them to integrate. Otherwise we can form a non-aggression pact with them while we stomp the absolute crap out of Blacktorch's forces.

If you really want Raiding Practice, wait till we kidnap the force Blacktorch is planning to use to kidnap our patrols, then raid their camp while their forces are depleted.

>>838518
>"... how old are you?"
Memory problems, Clamp? You must be getting old if you forget things that quickly! XD

>>838519
>"And here is were we'd test the right temperature, which would matter more if I didn't have to work out in the open."
I'm pretty sure he's telling you to give him a blacksmithing hut to work in because it helps him make things better or helps him make things faster or both.

>Dinner
Time to eat!

>>838519
You should probably try to get a basic blacksmith's hut for him.

Any losses we incur from Blacktorch will be reclaimed by retaliation, it's not a big deal.
If there's only 14 gnolls in that clan just go over there and gather them all up with a raiding party. There's room here for them, after all, and you can take everything from their camp that can be carried.

>which would matter more if I didn't have to work out in the open
So you need to either clear out a cave or build a building for the blacksmith to work in.

You sure that blacksmith is a he? Looks more like a flat gal to me. Then again, I see how Matron could have skewed your expectations.

>Blacktorch is looking to retaliate
Set some kind of trap, so when they come after some of your guys, you can come down with that disproportionate retaliation Matron mentioned.

>be good raiding practice
Sure, good thing to do when we have time for it.

>Only thing else I have left to do tonight is dinner.
Right, let's find a big hunk of meat or something. Someone remembered to kill something today, right?

>>838520
DEFINITELY trying to tell you something, and you shuld probably do SOMETHING about it, more sooner than later.

Make a mental note to make a proper smithy a priority after the wall is finished.

Do something about black torch right away.

Bait the Blacktorch guys.

Also, yeah the blacksmith probably needs a hut (can't be a cave because needs a chimney) but first confirm with him that it's really what he needs here, because mistakes cost time and resources.

>>838519
>>838527
>>838523
>>838547
Didn't the blacksmith have a place set up in the cave before he died, then the new blacksmith moved it out here ( https://tgchan.org/kusaba/questarch/res/761819.html#766125 ), so can't we just move it back.

>>838664
It's like >>838654 said, it can't be a cave because needs a chimney.

Also, they moved outta the caves because the crappy blacksmith said it was scary in there. We never even asked the new one if he wanted to go back in there.

>>838519
Couldn't we just kill the blacktorch chief and absorb the clan, like we did with Wind's? Or is that size unmanageable? I forget if they're too well fortified. It sounds like if they don't want a direct attack, they're small and weak enough to be absorbed.

I'd rather nip them in the bud as soon as possible then deal with constant retaliation attacks. Plus if word gets around, when we screw with another clan in the future, they might retaliate less often. Now we'd have to wait for the first or second retaliation attack. The first group being bait, weakest of the lot, then when they come for the second, they'll be our spies in Blacktorch. Then fucking BAM! ABSORBED!

>>838675
Well if it was previously a smithy then the previous blacksmith probably would have set up proper ventilation for his work and for the scary factor your all gnolls man up and face those fears like true hardened badasses.

>>838825
Actually, if that's true, then do you think the adults are scared because there's a scary whooshing sound that the wind makes when it blows through whatever ventilation the previous smithy had set up?

>>838682
>Couldn't we just kill the blacktorch chief and absorb the clan, like we did with Wind's?

We asked that last time we dealt with them, they were described as being "real brotherly" and unlikely to accept that tradition.

Explain to the blacksmith that getting him on your team was literally the entire reason for that raid. Good swords are important. So, if there's any way the camp's resources can be used to make that work easier... different sort of wood for fuel? Some other place to raid for better quality bar stock? Pulling workers off constructing fortifications to set up an enclosed workspace? Whatever he needs for the job, within reason, you'll make it happen.

Clamp 2017/10/24(Tue)10:16 No. 839160 ID: bfb318
File 150886537018.png - (247.50KB , 800x800 , 92.png )

>The blacksmith is trying to tell you something
Real subtle how he turns to me and makes eye contact as he says stuff. Not sure if I'm gonna pick up his need for a hut. Probably a he. Might just be the flattest damn girl ever. Whatever.

I tell him he can pull people off of mundane camp duties to build him a hut or whatever. Already raided his clan just to get him, so he can pull resources if it lets him do his job right.

As for Blacktorch itself, I tell Leaf to try to set up some bait and a trap when they try to nab any of us.

>Couldn't we just kill the blacktorch chief and absorb the clan?
Blacktorch doesn't go for the tradition of having the clan follow whoever bested their chief. Even if they did, the problem with big gnoll clans are the formation of subgroups. Cliques. Lesser internal clans, so on. 50 gnolls is already enough for that. Individual gnoll loyalty is easy to keep. Group loyalty is where things get to be a bitch.

If I absorb a whole clan at once, they'd all be one big subgroup. Matron said somethin' about that. Told me that Wind kept that from happening by constantly splitting cliques up across the clan, to use the numbers to the advantage. That stuff takes a lot of paying attention to the clan, so she's taking care of that too.

So I could absorb Blacktorch, probably.

I go off to dinner while I think about it. Once I get my food, I fuck off to my spot to be alone for 5 minutes.

The plan's already falling apart because Hilt is wagging his tail all over my favorite spot.

>>839160
so move him.

>>839160
Sounds like maybe you want to build up the loyalty of the gnolls you have before you try to absorb Blacktooth and add a whole new mess of social problems to sort out.

>The plan's already falling apart because Hilt is wagging his tail all over my favorite spot.
Just sit down on top of him like he's not even there.

Just go find your second favourite spot then?

Look at that cute face, who'd want to disturb that?

>>839160
Wait isn't that your champion fellow?
Oh well no need to be a grouch about it, tell him good work but the perks don't include sitting in the chief's favourite spot, so shift.

The champ doesn't get to sit in the chief's seat. Tell him to move his butt. But also talk to him about his deeds. Where'd he pick up his skills?

Sit with him and get to know him. You're bigger enough that your head will still be above him and he'll look appropriately lower than you.

Pick him up and place him in a more appropriate spot.

Pick him up so you don't have to crane your neck to talk to him, then explain what's bugging you. After you've made yourself understood with him, pinch those adorable cheeks.

>>839160
Okay Clamp, let's be fair. He's probably just an idiot, and he's got his eyes shut like a dumbass while he's enjoying some kinda soup.

Bowls are expensive in resources. Get him to put it down before you give him a lovetap and reclaim your rock.

Unless you're feeling like getting Hilt to like you more. Then just tell him to squeeze over and make room, and ask him how his wounds are doing.

Sit beside him! There's enough room for you, encourage your champ clamp!

Clamp 2017/10/25(Wed)15:26 No. 839682 ID: bfb318
File 150897040144.png - (204.58KB , 800x800 , 93.png )

I pick him up and move him to the side, and sit down at my own spot.

>"Hey, Chief!" he says. All... happy like. Is he ignoring me moving him?

>"How're you doing?"
"....... Fine."
>"Neat! Sorry if I was in your spot, but Matron told me I could sit in the best spot since I'm the clan champion right now. And since you sit here, that made this the best spot!"
"How the hell did you get to be champ again?"
>"By helping people!"
"How the hell does that... right, votes. Fuckin' gamed the system."
>"I just did what I normally do. Oh! Did you hear? That sea clan down south trades with orcs and lizardmen."
"And how the hell do you know that?!"
>"A wanderer showed up to camp earlier. He was kinda spooked since this place is under new management, but I said he could keep coming."
"Wanderer?"
>"Yeah! You know, the gnolls that don't have a clan and just wander around on their own? They're often really knowledgeable since they have to keep track of what places are safe to be in. That's okay, right? You don't mind if lone gnolls pass through?"

>>839682
Sounds like a valuable source of intelligence for Leaf.

...Also this tiny gnoll is kind of adorable and annoying at the same time. I am sure he's called Hilt because of his intimate habits. He's vaguely insubordinate, but he actually is helpful unlike Waster.

....Miiiiight wanna figure out where to steal a chair that's marginally inferior to your rock and dub it the "Champion Spot". This rock is yours.

>>839682
As long as they're actually clanless, and they can't spend the night without someone watching them.

>>839682
Holy crap that is an insanely useful source of information and we can use them as spies. ...on the other hand they could also be used as spies against US. Bit of a double edged sword.

I say use them for now, but at some point you're going to want to structure the camp so that some parts are off limits to lone gnolls. Wouldn't want any sensitive information getting out.

Hilt is the new "whatever title" of commerce.
Make sure those wanderers behave themselves and are trading something of value beside news.

>>839692
News is valuable!

>>839701
They are, but we can't exchange food and shelter for rumours from random people. Those are not our spies, if one of them bring some important new they gain a payment, other than that the news should be a bonus we pretend is less valuable than it actually to avoid raising their prices.

Hmm.
News is valuable.
Specially since there's not a whole lot here to spy on yet.
Still, their commins and goins should kept track of.

Sea clan sounds...
Friendly.
Thier relationships could be valuable. Too bad we can't just conquer them to gain those.
They sound like excelent candidates for trade partners or Allies.
We will need a diplomat though.

Hmm.
You know this Hilt guy's pretty personable.
He could make a good diplomat if he got training from You (Combat and Clan Direction), Leaf (Spy), and Matron(Etiquette and Minutia).
Such a regimen would be varied and brutally tough, but you'd have a dedicated and reliable voice for the Clan that was unburdened by endless administrative duties, that could be sent off to deal with other clans and people at a moment's notice.

It would strengthen Storm Hold's Legitimacy.

>>839706
This isn't a bad group of ideas actually, especially the alliance part, we can't go around fighting everyone, and Hilt might pull that off, with the proper training. We'll have to make our selfs get known some time, and when that happens, we will need all the resourses avaliable, and this sea clan might have just that. The thing is, what can we give them in return?

>>839682
tell him he is too cute he needs to act tougher or the other clans might think we are weak "Show me your war face." (and then watch him fail and act even cuter while trying to be tough)

>>839713
YOU GOT A WAR FACE? AAAAHHHHHH!
THAT'S THE WAR FACE, NOW LET ME SEE YOUR WAR FACE!

>You don't mind if lone gnolls pass through?
He's probably a spy, but so long as he's spying on everybody, I guess the news helps us more than it hurts.

Is this wanderer still here? Let's meet 'em, say hello, be hospitable. If there are a bunch of unaligned potential spies out there, might be wise to at least have them not actively hate us. Hey, if this one came from the coast, maybe he knows something about carpentry, or have some other skill we've been hurting for the lack of!

So long as they're not spies who are just pretending to be wanderers.

>>839706
Oh yeah... He would need to know how to Read, Write and Do Arithmetic as well.

Suggestion 2017/10/27(Fri)02:20 No. 840095 ID: 830fb7
File 150909602533.jpg - (63.21KB , 293x293 , face.jpg )

>>839682
That face. I love it.

Clamp 2017/10/28(Sat)20:43 No. 840514 ID: bfb318
File 150924860030.png - (188.30KB , 800x800 , 94.png )

"What, is he here?"
>"Oh, no, he just stopped by for a bit then left after we shared information."
"What'd you assholes tell him?!"
>"That it's true you're the new Chief! And that we raided Blacktorch."
"Whatever, as long as people keep an eye on 'em, and we don't open up the whole damn camp. Could be spies or somethin'."
>"You really think people would do that? Just take their own clan's gnolls, and send them out as wanderers instead of scouts?"
"You... yes?"
>"I don't think that would happen much!"
"That's because you're a naive sack of bones!"

>The clan needs a diplomat
>Hilt is personable
Hrm. Everything thing about this guy. His open expression. His damn cheeks. Everything about him is so... punchable. Just looking at his stupid face makes me feel like launching a sudden raid.

Apparently people like him enough to vote for him though, so maybe that's just me. Maybe it's the angle I'm looking at him at.

"You got a war face?"
>"Excuse me?"
"Put on your snarl when you go raiding."
>"Oh. I don't see a need to snarl, because there's no hard feelings between the other gnoll and me. Unless there are hard feelings, then I'll frown, but otherwise I just go attacking like this and let my sword do the talking."

He goes into combat lookin' like.... that? That's creepy as hell. Damn, does that mean it's good? No, I'd punch this guy first. It can't be effective.

"Work on it, idiot. Can you take off that smile?"
>"I can't, because I'm happy to be clan champion!"
"Fuckin'.... if people like you so much, then I'm going to train you to be our diplomat. Negotiator. Whatever."
>"Is that a punishment? Because that sounds great!"
"Well then get fuckin' started! Train for it! Ask Matron for what's that word... politeness I guess."
>"Etiquette?"
"Yeah that sounds like a word that fits here. Go to Leaf to practice how to spy."
>"Sure thing, Chief!"

That's all I can think of for today. Probably not much tomorrow, either, unless the report coming back from the sea is some kind of revelation.

End of day: Please suggest any remaining actions to take, if any. Otherwise, time will move on to the next day.

>Please suggest any remaining actions to take, if any.
Say something rude to Waster if you cross paths with her.

>>840514
fuck matron. see if waster needs another grounding.

HOW CAN A GNOLL BE SO DAMN CUTE?! LOOK AT HIM! IT'S GIVING ME DIABETES!

>>840514
Poke your nose into the caves a bit.

>>840514
Take inventory of Gnolls and their roles
Status updates on injuries, illnesses, pregnancies, etc.
Get your Hilt sucked by Hilt.
Train Shabin.

I bet you would love that cute face if it belonged to a girl.

Since you want everyone to dedicate to training, you should lead by example. Use the last hours of light to exercise and practice sword fight.

>>840534
I don't really care if it's not a girl ;) but it would be nice, yes.

>>840538
That was clearly directed at Clamp.

>>840540
Well, nowhere it says that I can not comment too. Let's not go to insult Waster, but let's see what she's up to instead, that's going to bother her in any way.

>>840521
Nah, fuck Waster then go see if Matron gives us a grounding.

Hmm... If he's gonna be out galavanting around... he's gonna need a wingman... a bodyguard.

You'll put some fight in him sure but sending him out alone would be suicide...

It should be someone who has known Hilt for a long time. Someone who respects him...

You and Leaf could train him. Make him strong and alert and tough as nails. And Quiet.

Since your the chief and you now little about the whole leading a tribe thing maybe we should ask matron to teach us. It'll show her that we aren't just going to charge head long into our failure we will try to avoid it, it will also instil trust and faith in you from her, so much so that she wont feel like your a complete waste of a chief anymore. So far she's thinking she could have done anything you've done so far and more with the camp, in which she would be right.

1/4 Clamp 2017/11/07(Tue)11:14 No. 843210 ID: bfb318
File 151008206556.png - (147.34KB , 1000x800 , 95.png )

>Go exploring the caverns
May as well.

Cept that the two entrances to the deeper caverns below surface level are covered up. I figure there's either a gap somewhere, or someone's gonna make a gap, so the kids can go exploring.

Yeah, the cover here is too good. Nailed down with big spikes into the rock, solid wood... wait a second, it's good? This cover is actually damn good!

"Who the hell built this?"
>"It was here befo - "
"Shit! Fuckin' hell, Leaf, I was talking to myself! You stalking me?"
>"Yeh. This cover was built before Wind moved in."
"I don't give a shit anymore, the hell are you doing in here with me?"
>"I sleep here. It's a good hiding spot, and the rest of the clan sleeps on the caves opposite of camp."
"Not for long, I'm sending kids in to explore the caves!"
>"Aw... I'll just find another spot, then."

>See if Waster needs another grounding

"Go find Waster while you're at it, I want to make sure she's busy!"
>"She is. She's one of the scouts I sent to spy on one of the clans."
"... an important one?"
>"No."
"Well that's a damn relief. Go find Hilt and tell him how to spy. He's going to be our negotiator."
>"Oh. Okay."

>Get your hilt sucked by hilt
I don't swing that way.

>You'd love that face if it was on a girl
Well it ain't on a girl, now is it?

2/4 Clamp 2017/11/07(Tue)11:14 No. 843211 ID: bfb318
File 151008207737.png - (139.16KB , 800x800 , 96.png )

I'll spend a little time sparring with some unfortunate gnolls that make eye contact with me. Doesn't take long for the sun to set, though.

>Take inventory of every single Gnoll and all of their roles
>Go throughout the whole camp and get status updates on all injuries, illnesses, pregnancies, and more
>Spend the time personally training a grey fuzzball that'll grow up to be the size of your fist
>Fuck matron
Only got time for one of these.

Hmmm....

3/4 Clamp 2017/11/07(Tue)11:14 No. 843212 ID: bfb318
File 151008209764.png - (80.05KB , 800x800 , 97.png )

If there's one good thing about being the chief, it means I can fuck whoever I want without people getting bitchy. So that's what I'm gonna do.

>Get some faith and trust from Matron so that she won't feel like you're a complete waste of a chief anymore
She better not fuckin' think that! I'd love to see how well she'd do on a raid!

4/4 Clamp 2017/11/07(Tue)11:15 No. 843213 ID: bfb318
File 151008210695.png - (458.10KB , 800x800 , 98.png )

Next day, some girl grabs my attention.

>"Chief."
"Who're you again?"
>"Stemwalker. I'm back from scouting the sea clan. They're nomadic, but were in the area for awhile to fix up their pair of ships. You might be interested to know that they're old fashioned, too. If you beat their chief, the rest will follow you, but you'd have to do it soon. Their ships were looking in pretty good shape."

>>843213
Probably not worth the hassle for now. and what kinda gnoll needs ships to traverse the plains anyway.

>>843213
Well that could be an interesting pickup but what would we do with them afterwards? Would they stay loyal even if they're out on the sea doing sea stuff? Obviously it would be a waste to make them stay inland from here on.

If we can use them for fishing and sea travel, that'll be worth a fight.

Ask her if she think this clan would like to abandon everything to play pirate. As fun as that sound we are in much more familiar ground here, so I would prefer to stay and let the pirates do their thing.

hmm.
Hilt's not ready to go himself yet.

But conquering them will only get you. carpenters. You could use carpenters...
But Carpenters are also a dime a dozen.

It's their relationships that are valuable unless you wanna go be pirates.

Hmm.
Unless You are absolutely certain you could kidnap a couple knolls totally covertly...

I'd say just establish contact for now. Let them know you're here, let them know you are interested in working together in the future, and find out when they'll next return. Find out as much about the outside world as possible, too.

Go yourself, bring Hilt with you, He'll need the experience, and Waster too. Calling her a bodyguard is hilarious but... something tells me it'd be good for her.

>>843213
Hmmmmm... Not sure we WANT Nomad Gnolls. They might not tolerate settling down well. Also, we're currently landlocked and would probably need to become pirates to use their ships aaaaand that doesn't sound practical.

>>843210
If there really is something scary down there, we might need to arm the kids or send a few adults down there with the kids to make sure nothing kills them.

Nomads usually follow circuits rather than just going wherever. They follow the herds - or, in this case, shoals, or trade routes if they're pirates - as they move around throughout the year, and come back to where they were later. They also usually have places where they keep some stored goods, where they can pause to do stuff that takes a while, and where injured warriors/hunters, late-pregnancy women and small children can stay in safety for a long period.

So, why not make this one of those places? Beat their chief, just to show who's boss, then offer to hold and defend this spot for them so they have a safe place to return to, in exchange for some of their expertise, and the opportunity for further trading with you.

Maybe offer them that stuff first and then only fight their chief if they don't play along with what you want, but you'd probably get a better deal fighting him first. Depends on how big a risk you think taking him is. They might require you to fight him on a boat or something.

>>843240
>offer to hold and defend this spot for them
You mean we've gotta pack up the camp we've got here and move down to the coast? Because that's the only way I see us defending that place.

And sending other gnolls to live there and protect that means less fighters here. Plus, if they leave then they might get lazy without Clamp there to make sure they're doing something useful. Or they could think of trying to start their own clan and separate from Clamp.

Depends on how badly we need skilled, specialized carpenters. They'd probably be worth it if we build a palisade or other fortifications. Let's try it.

>>843213
How big's the clan? If its too big, we might not be able to manage it.
Frankly, its only worth it anyway if they have skills. Boat making's useless unless we need an escape and plan to become nomadic ourselves. I mean, I guess scouting by boat might prove fruitful, and it could be cool if we could build some sort of... defensive rig out in the ocean, what's the word? Offshore Enterprise Den? A base that's forward where we can operate out of, you know? Some sort of... haven that's like, out there. Perhaps it's Maternal in a way?

Can't place the word.

>>843212
Sounds like you got it on with multiple people last night. Good. I don't how big litters are, so really, that's being productive and time efficient. Don't father too much though.

I think that you sould go and at least establish some contact with them, try to make a comercial deal, if they come and go, they must get som interesting goods form "trading". But, if they are hostile, beat their boss and take the carpenters and any other good gnoll they have at your discretion. That way you won't have to take all the clan.

>>843273
>How big's the clan? If its too big, we might not be able to manage it.
In which case you could let them stay mostly independent and just pay some sort of tribute to you. Maybe dump some of Storm Hold's misfits on them and grab some of their more useful individuals, spin it as some sort of alliance-reinforcing intermarriage deal.
>Frankly, its only worth it anyway if they have skills. Boat making's useless unless we need
We need fortifications, which means we need carpenters. If they can make boats, that probably means they've got plenty of gnolls who can do basic carpentry.

>She better not fuckin' think that! I'd love to see how well she'd do on a raid!
Enemy stops, stares slack-jawed at her tits, she hits them with a weapon. Rinse and repeat.

Clamp 2017/11/08(Wed)19:13 No. 843630 ID: bfb318
File 151019718913.png - (161.75KB , 800x800 , 99.png )

I'd be real interested in this fact, 'cept I don't know what use I'd have for pirate gnolls. Chances are if they know how to build a boat, though, they know how to build some basic structures too.

"Yeah sure, and how would this clan feel if we picked everything up and played pirates?"
>"Us? We're loyal. It does not matter how we feel, we would do it."
"I'm joking, you.... the hell is with my good scouts and being awkward?"
>"Maybe it's being awkward that led us to being good scouts."
"Whatever. They probably have some good carpenters. And what kinda sea goers wouldn't have a good navigator or maps? Might even have a cartographer we don't know about. Any chance we could nab a couple of the gnolls covertly?"
>"I guess, yeah, at least they discover us with their gnolls."
"I could beat up their chief, but what the hell am I gonna do with a bunch of nomad gnolls that are used to being on the sea?"
>"Chief, can I be honest?"
"Fuckin' let me have it."
>"The sea sucks. No one likes being on a boat. Either these guys couldn't handle the competition on land, or they're so tough that they can handle the suck. Either way, I don't know many gnoll clans that don't mind a change of lifestyle as long as they can get by, so I wouldn't worry about that any."

If I take over the whole clan, we'll be getting a ton of gnolls. It'll make it tougher to manage, but if I can keep everyone busy, they may not have a whole lot of time to mutiny - er, revolt. Fuckin'... sea pirates getting in my head. So if I get a lot of gnolls, I can - no, I have to keep everyone happy by doing a lot of raiding and crap. Course, gnolls will die, but I can replace 'em with newer, better gnolls, ones that aren't incompetent oafs. Kinda obligated to that, though. So bashing the chief will be offering myself up for even more work pretty fast, but in the best case, all that work'll pay off fast.

>Maybe dump some of Storm Hold's misfits on them in return for carpenters
If I throw some misfits away, then the rest of the slackers are gonna think they're next. Gnolls do a lot of dumb shit when they think they're disposable. Then again, if it's a temporary thing... hmm.

Okay, I think that's enough information, so I got some options.

A) Go over there myself, take command, and start raiding other places with the boost in numbers and reap the benefits of wealth, experience and internal stability for doing it.
B) Go over there myself, kick the shit out of their boss, and just demand tribute, or a few gnolls, or whatever. Maybe that's some kind of mortal insult to act like I'm gonna be their chief, and then just take their shit and abandon them. Maybe just act like it's a raid, but is just me vs. their chief. Not really in the standard gnoll thing, but damn if this wouldn't be the best option if it worked.
C) Go over there myself and try to set up an alliance or trade or something?
D) Have Leaf or someone go over and try to kidnap a couple good gnolls.
E) Raid 'em like normal.
F) Ignore 'em after all.
G) ... just ask Matron what to do, I guess.

>>843630
Go over there, kick the shit out of their boss, and then decide what to do with your new gnolls after.

>>843630
A, then raid Blacktorch. You'll lose excess gnolls, teach Blacktorch to fuck off, and gain resources to handle the extras you still have. It's a win/win/win!

>>843633
eh it works

Just go over there and yell about how you are looking for gnolls that ain't shit to bolster your numbers. Let them decide if that means an alliance or aggressive recruitment.

You can ask Matron what she thinks without having to do what she says, man. Hell, it's probably a good idea for your position and for her sense of what her place is if you took her advice, considered it, and then decided something else, so long as it was for decent enough reasons. She's smart and valuable and good to have at your side and you should definitely let her know what you're planning in case she thinks of something you don't (and managing a whole bunch of new gnolls will definitely be in her area) but can't let her or anyone else go thinking she's some puppetmaster behind you or something.

Anyway yeah the sea probably does suck, especially for gnolls. All that tar and ropes and salt air and the smell of fish and getting dunked in seawater and stuff isn't good with fur, and those feet of yours aren't so good for climbing around and keeping a grip on sails and stuff. Go do them a favour and save them from themselves with a plan like >>843633 , option A followed by preemptively making sure Blacktorch won't be a problem. Ask the blacksmith if there's anyone he wants brought back keep him company. Keep a couple of boats for the rivers, it'll help you keep control of that whole southeastern part of the map, there. Set up some hunting lodges and that sort of thing, that'll be good.

A.

>>843630
Don't go asking Matron what to do. If you keep going to her too often then she'll think you're incapable of making any decisions without her!

>>843633
This sounds good.

Although, we're only raiding Blacktorch, right?

Hopefully, we don't accidentally end up in charge of Blacktorch! Clamp is gonna have one hell of a headache trying to keep a clan of that size (ours, Seaside clan, and Blacktorch) under his control!

And if that does happen, we'd have to question exactly how the fuck Clamp keeps accidentally ending up in charge of a bunch of gnolls!

I am betuin A) and G). I mean, A) would be the best option, but i really want to kown what Matron thinks about that particular option. But then, it really sucks to be the chief and go arond and ask shit to others. At least when you are a gnoll.

Option B, but bring Hilt along. If the biggest risk is an accidental insult, relentless cheerful diplomacy is exactly the skillset you'll need. Maybe Leaf too, for the spy mentor thing.

>>843630
I like B.

Getting a bunch of new gnolls seems like a fine idea, especially if there's a notable amount of carpenters among them. If there's a bunch of them that are total pains in the ass you can send them off wherever the heck doing some dangerous thing so either you never see them again or they do something worth while.

A seems to be your thing. Stick with what you're good at.

You don't have to ask Matron what to do, but whatever you decide on you should at least tell her that you're planning on doing it. If she doesn't slap you for being a dumb shit, it can't be that bad a plan.

With C we could trade gnolls for year.
A carpenter for Hilt.

We get talent, and our future negotiator gets valuable experience meeting distant peoples. Also, possible opportunity for a Hiltquest

In return, Seaclan gets an automatic Non-Aggression pack when they return (As it would be foolish to attack the clan who built our defenses) and we could throw in an intel report on the locals in a year as well, which would give them an edge in trade in the area.

If that Idea doesn't catch on though, I'll back B.

Clamp 2017/12/11(Mon)18:53 No. 851134 ID: bfb318
File 151304718043.png - (187.74KB , 800x800 , 100.png )

"Thanks, Stem."
>"Just my job, Chief."

I go over to Matron.

>"More questions, Clamp?"
"Ain't got a single question! Came over to tell you what I'm doing."
>"That wasn't a challenge to your independence, I welcome questions, but nevermind that. What are you doing?"
"Sea clan's the traditional type. I'm gonna walk over there, beat up their strongest guy, and take over the clan. Simple as that."
>"How many are they?"
"'bout 20."
>"Yes, we can manage that. Will you bring anyone?"
"Only takes one Clamp to beat up their chief."
>"Yeah, but it also takes one Clamp to get lost. There aren't many landmarks down there. Just trees. Even if you think you'll be fine, it won't hurt to bring someone along."
>"Yeah, like me!" says Shabin.

>>851134
take Shabin and the cute guy.

>>851134
Shabin can't even see more than one tree at a time, why would you bring her?

Have Stemwalker guide you. And, what the hell, bring Shabin and Hilt too.

You need an entourage, man. Could be opportunistic fuckers from other clans sneaking around. Besides, you want these sea gnolls to be at least somewhat happy to join up with you, they'll be more on board with it if they know they're joining up with more than just one big guy.

>>851134
Take Shabin and Waster.

It will be funny if you die and she goes down in history as the clan's biggest loser for letting you get killed. Also she's relatively strong.

You've been making a few enemies lately, walking around alone is probably a bad idea. Take a few tough looking gnolls with you to deter attacks.

I think Shabin and Waster, if she is available, should be enough, but it is true that Clamp is making some noise, so maybe Stem could watch your back. Oh and Hilt too, that motherfucker is creepy as fuck, smiling all the time, it's going to scare them for sure, and he needs the expirience. You know, since this is a "diplomatic" affair.

>>851134
>Who to take?
Obviously, someone that knows how to get there and back without getting lost!

>Shabin volunteers herself.
Ha ha ha, that's cute! But seriously, no, you're too tiny to come with Clamp.

>>851146
>Take a few tough looking gnolls with you to deter attacks.
We don't need guys that look tough, we need guys that actually are tough!

>Suggestions of bringing Grasswind Waster.
I think that if we end up not fighting anyone, she'd just end up getting pissed off at Clamp for bringing her with him and she doesn't get to cave in someone's face.

>>851134
Sure, Shabin can come if she really wants.

You'll need a second gnoll so you have a different shoulder to put her on in a fight.

>>851134
Bring one or two gnolls that keep their eyes peeled, just in case your travels take you past some idiots looking to ambush folk. Shabin can come too if she wants (and is tiny enough not to count towards the party size) so long as she knows to get out of the way if anything dangerous goes down.

1/2 Clamp 2017/12/12(Tue)11:13 No. 851269 ID: bfb318
File 151310599092.png - (216.83KB , 1000x800 , 101.png )

"Yeah why not, you can come with. Need another gnoll so you can occupy someone's shoulder while I fight. Hrm... hell, this is kinda classic negotiating, I'll bring Hilt along, even though his face pisses me off."
>"Really? He has one of the most gentle face - oh, that's the problem isn't it."
"You fuck'n know it. Hell may as well bring every gnoll that gets under my skin. Where's Waster at?"
>"She was on a scouting job, she'll be back later today."
"Fuck it, I ain't waiting. May as well bring a tough gnoll in case someone ambushes me. I'm taking Talon."

Talon's one of my old clanmates. Both is tough, and looks tough. Easy to find, too, nearly as big as I am. Would be as tall, if he wasn't a huncher. He's hardly better at finding his way through wilderness than I am, so Hilt's going to be our main scout.

2/2 Clamp 2017/12/12(Tue)11:13 No. 851270 ID: bfb318
File 151310600695.png - (425.86KB , 1000x800 , 102.png )

We set off.

>"So!" Hilt says. "Wanna get close by the sea clan, then set up an early camp to get some rest? Doesn't take all day to get there, but you can't just fight their Chief after walking for most of the day."
>"He can." says Talon.
>"He still shouldn't!"

>>851270
Ask why the hell Hilt would be tired after walking most of a day. Sure, it's a slog, but he's a GNOLL. Humans and Gnolls fucking LOVE walking long-ass distances and then fighting.

So Talon's a hunchman of yours, eh. It depends on how much time you'd waste resting early, really. Also whether or not anyone knows how big and tough the sea clan's chief is. Make the judgment when you've arrived at the sea clan, there's no guarantee some shit won't happen along the way that'll actually deserve a rest.

>>851270
That sounds like something a Waster would do wasting perfectly good time that could be spent fucking matron or teaching your new clan who the boss is.

You'll stop to eat something along the way and rest up then. The sea clan probably has their own scouts and you don't want them thinking you're a softy who needs to rest before he duels someone. Their chief is probably working too, since they're apparently working on their ships, so it'll still be fair or even advantageous to you.

>>851269
>Yeah why not, you can come with. Need another gnoll so you can occupy someone's shoulder while I fight.
>I'll bring Hilt along
There's your answer. Put Shabin on Hilt's shoulder when the fighting starts.

>>851270
>Rest when we get there or not?
If for some strange reason your legs feel like they're going to fall off if you keep walking, you'll take a break. And for that to happen, you'll need be walking for way longer than what you're doing now. So, no, you're not gonna rest when you get there.

>>851270
Setting up camp right outside a bunch of other gnoll's camp is a good way to get ambushed in the middle of the night. I want to fight their chief, not every single one of em.

Hell yeah, Talon. Gnollbro adventures.

Nah don't camp. Just rest for a bit before you get there. Get our head in the game. Grab a nibble. Stretch. Then it's go-time.

Set up camp like hilt suggested then let shabin run off to scout them out since she’s probably the least likely to be noticed.

>>851271
Hahaha, that is true. I mean, we don't love it, but we do it. Anyway, we'll rest when when Clamp feet get tired of kicking ass.

Beside indulging her, is there any reason for bringing Shabin along? Her life can be at risk and the tiny kobold will make you look less intimidating.

>>851357
It could also make him look more intimidating. Clamp is so confident he'll win, he brought a kid to show how much he doesn't care about the other guy.

Don't set up camp outside, fight their chief.

>>851270
You don't need a camp to catch your breath. Take a short break and then make the challenge.

>>851367
I think other gnolls would likely see as the equivalent of a big guy with a poodle.

Pace yourselves with short breaks over the course of the day, but don't set up any actual campsite. If the "champion" needs more of a rest after we get there, he can try diplomatizing the pirates into sharing wherever it is they sleep.
>>851421
When a man walks down the street wearing a hat like that, you know he's not afraid of anything.

Mostly I think the little breather break is for Hilt's benefit.

Clamp's gonna be fine. Talon's gonna be fine. Hilt we don't know too well yet.

A short break is probably fine, but maybe not setting up a camp break.

Clamp 2017/12/13(Wed)14:21 No. 851545 ID: bfb318
File 151320368598.png - (121.55KB , 800x800 , 103.png )

"Well I'm gonna. Don't tell me you can't walk all day."
>"Oh, I could walk for days." Hilt says. "But even if I didn't feel tired at all after a few hours of a walk, doesn't mean I'm in tip top shape!"
>"Yeah, it does." says Talon. "If you're tired, you feel tired."
>"I guess it doesn't matter too much, if Clamp wants to fight right away! I just think it might also be awkward for the other gnolls to suddenly get taken over then marched off into the night to camp."
"What's weird about that?"
>"Well, it'd be past their bedtime..."
>"We're taking over gnolls, not pups." Talon adds.
>"Nevermind me, I'm just thinking to myself now! It's already been decided that we'll do it all today."

We walk for a few hours. Shabin keeps clamping down on my fur whenever I try to move her to Hilt, and there's no reason to keep her off me for now. She speaks up in that tiny, squeaky voice that she's trying to make gruff.

>"So why're we going this way?"
>"What do you mean?" Hilt asks.
>"We're going west. We should be going south."
>"Naw, we're going south, and a little east." says Hilt. "You two agree, right?"
>"Yeah, that's right." Talon sure.
"I don't fuckin' know! I brought you along for that."
>"Well you're all wrong except for Clamp, he's just dumb." Shabin says. "We're going west."

Ask the lot of them why they think they're going the directions they guessed. Also check out how you're oriented with respect to the sun/the time of day.

Yeah, ask everyone what their reasons are for their answers. That includes Shabin.

Look to the sun for confirmation of direction.

Holy shit It's before noon and the sun is up. If you are going away from the sun its west, toward the sun is east.

If the sun is to the left of you its north.
To the right of you it's south.

Opposite if it's afternoon
Not hard people.

Well, let's look at the sky, then. And ask Shabin how she knows. What is it that's saying west to her?

Anyway, you can remember the map. The rivers were all going southeastlyish. So, even though there's obviously hills and stuff, you should overall be walking kinda downhill, right? If you were going west you'd be going mostly uphill. If all else fails you can walk until you run into a river and that'll give you a better idea what's up.

You'd better try remember the way back, too, because you are going to look really unimpressive if you win this clan and then get lost bringing any of them back.

>>851545
You mean you didn't bring someone that already knows how to get there?! No wonder you're going the wrong way!

Someone climb a tree and take a look around!

Shabin is not a fool, she must have noticed something. Ask her how can she tell. This is weird. Or a am being paranoid.

Ask her how she knows.

>>851545
just find a Gnoll and beat it up till it tells you where you are.

Shabin knows something, ask her.

>>851545
You brought Shabin along for directions. Listen to her directions.

"Shit pipsqueak, speak up sooner when you see someone being dumb."

>>851545
Ask her how she knows, and if she has a point, ask Hilt why he's so goddamned bad at directions.

Ask Hilt how he would feel if he was renamed happy, because he always looks so happy all the time and it annoys you.

Shabin is now your ultimate compass, listen to her.

Clamp 2017/12/14(Thu)13:15 No. 851791 ID: bfb318
File 151328612318.png - (267.29KB , 1000x800 , 104.png )

"How the hell do you know that, shorty?"
>"Because we've been veering right right ever since we started walking!"
>"No way." says Hilt. "I'm really good at walking straight."

Talon scoffs.

>"You can't be sure in a forest like this! I know because, look, the moss grows on the north side of the tree, right? So north is that way."
>"That's not always true!" Hilt says. "Moss just grows in damp conditions. It grows all over the place in a shady area like this!"
"Speaking of shade, where the hell's the sun? Can't we just look at that?"
>"Eh, sun's pretty high up now, boss." Talon says. We have been walking for awhile. "Hard to say."
"Look, there's a river that's west of here, right? So we should be going downhill towards the ocean, otherwise we'd be going uphill if we were going west, right?"
>"Wrong." says Talon. "The water runs down, so we'd be going downhill more or less whether we were going to the river, or going down to the ocean!"
>"Doesn't matter anyway." Hilt explains. "There's so much up and down in the jungle, it's impossible to tell what the overall direction is."
>"What?" Shabin shakes a paw at hilt. "You were the one talking about how you can 'just walk in a straight line', but you can't tell if we're going uphill or downhill?!"
"We're fuckin' lost, aren't we."
>"No!" Hilt shakes his head. "Look, we have a few options! First off, even if we're going west, we'll hit that river, right? So then we can just follow the river down to the ocean. Or, we can find a clearing to look at the sun, then wait a bit and look at what direction it's going in! Shabin could also climb a tree high enough to see the sun probably. Lastly, I saw some recent signs that some gnolls walked through here recently. We could trail them! Then ask them for directions."

>>851791
Don't listen to him, he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about obviously. Just let shabin be the guide.

>>851791
Sounds like we're going to be late. In that case, it might make sense to set camp before we get there after all.

Anyway, send Shabin up a tree to see what direction the sun is in. Oh, maybe she can see a landmark too? There's a mountain nearby!

...actually if Shabin was right about the group veering right, would we even reach the river if we kept walking "straight"?

Just throw Shabin up really high so she can see the lay of the land, and catch her when she falls down again.

Shabin noticed the problem so she gets to be the new guide.

Let her decide on a plan.

>>851791
Kick Hilt's ass. He's supposed to be a scout. He's demoted to Shabin's assistant.

Shabin is now promoted from hat to hat-that-is-a-scout. She will give directions.

>>851791
Fast solution: toss Shabin above the treeline to get a look around.
Mountains and a sea are big landmarks so it shouldn't be hard to get the gist of where you are/going.
Just be sure to catch her, need her to relay the info after all.

Hilt is now Assistant Hat. Shabin is now Scout Hat. Privately suspect Hilt of sabotage.

Solutions first. Shabin-in-the-tree-plan is useful and can complement other options. If you follow a river, you always find were the sea is, so lets do that.
Now for punishment, Hilt is going to be call "Lesser than Shabin" for 2 days for making us lose in the forest.
And we should promote Shabin for beeing smart and noticed us lost. Somthing like "Shabin the smart", is not so serius, but is not to dumb.

>Lastly, I saw some recent signs that some gnolls walked through here recently.

And he tells us that now?
He doesn't mention it when he fucking sees it?

Hilt's fucking with you. He's no moron. He's playing the lovable idiot on purpose.

First he get's close to you, gets you to trust him with his harmless demeanor, then he leads you astray, and now he's suggesting you walk into an ambush.

I don't know what the fuck his problem is but you need to get to the bottom of it. Now.

>>851811
Seconding demoting Hilt to Assistant Hat

>>851791
Throw someone straight up in the air and when they come back down, ask them if they saw the river or something to tell us which way to travel.

Hold up. Remember Leaf's map of the area you read earlier. While there is a river to the west, there's also a river to the south of your clan's camp you'd have to cross to get to the Seaside Clan's site. In fact, the whole area to the south of your clan's site is bounded by rivers, so you could end up crossing a river and still be lost if it was the wrong one. Now, how did Hilt forget that, hm?

Send Shabin up a tree not just to get a read on the sun's position, but to spy the tallest tree nearby. Then send her up that tree next to look around for landmarks. The sea is close enough it should be apparent from where the jungle ends, and Mount Something might stick up enough to see from here, but the big mountains to the northwest will definitely stand out. She can look around for all those, as well as anything else that stands out like smoke rising from what might be campfires or chimneys.

>We could trail them! Then ask them for directions.
Asking for help might not be the best idea if we're going to kick their Chief's ass.

>Shabin could also climb a tree high enough to see the sun probably
All right, Shorty, up. Let's see if you can fix the problem you discovered.

>Kick Hilt's ass.
We can't beat him up, we need him to be pretty for diplomacy! Granted that mostly means not punching his face, but we can't spoil his ass for the gnolls who will be looking there.

Let's not be paranoid. The gnoll group may have been here a long enough time ago that Hilt thought it wasn't worth mentioning.
Also gnolls really aren't the sort of people to do that kind of sneaky shit.

>>851798
>>851811
Okay, both of these are great.

Promote Shabin for being better than Hilt.

>>851912
>Promote Shabin
How would that work?

The only thing I can think of would be if Clamp says, "I'm promoting you from 'pipsqueak' to 'half-pint'." and from now on, he calls Shabin a half-pint instead of calling her a pipsqueak.

1/3 Clamp 2017/12/15(Fri)15:12 No. 852034 ID: bfb318
File 151337952069.png - (157.75KB , 800x800 , 105.png )

"You're a damn idiot, Hilt. Shabin here's promoted to Hat-That-Is-A-Scout. She at least noticed we're lost."
>"Yeah!" says Shabin.
>"No!" says Hilt. "I mean you can promote her to that if you want?"
"And you're Hat-Assistant, Hilt."
>"Okay sure, but I don't think we're lost! I think we're going the right way, and we wouldn't have thought we were lost until she said something."
"Far as I'm concerned, any more time you waste is gonna be time spent kicking your ass! Shabin, I'm throwing you up to take a look to get a lay of the land."
>"If you kill me I am going to haunt you so damn hard!"
"I don't believe in ghosts."
>"Remember." says Talon. "To get a look at where the sun's at, since we can't see it well from here."

I throw her up. She grabs a hold of a branch and starts to climb up the rest of it.

2/3 Clamp 2017/12/15(Fri)15:12 No. 852035 ID: bfb318
File 151337953173.png - (298.64KB , 1000x800 , 106.png )

"Hilt, you didn't think those gnoll tracks were worth mentionin'?"
>"Mm... nope. I mean, gnolls move around all the time, right? They're just an unknown group that walked by some time ago in another direction! They shouldn't have anything to do with us."
"Ugh... Shabin, you see anything?"
>"Yeah, it... ah... auuugh!"
"The hell's wrong?!"
>"It's bright!"
>"Don't stare directly at the sun!" Hilt cries out.
>"You idiots sent me up here to look at the sun! Do I look at it or not?!"
>"Just in short bursts, ya baby!" says Talon. "Get an idea of where it is in the sky! Or just look around and see if you can see the ocean."
>"Nothing but trees! Wait there's a taller tree, I'll use that one."

We wait for her to climb up.

>"The sea is that way!"
"We can't see you point, scouting hat!"
>"Augh just catch me I'm coming down!"

3/3 Clamp 2017/12/15(Fri)15:12 No. 852036 ID: bfb318
File 151337954717.png - (149.75KB , 800x800 , 107.png )

>"Sea's that way." Shabin gestures away with her weird face.
"If you thought we were going west before, then now you're pointing east."
>"Yeah so everyone was wrong."
>"Wait, she's just pointing the direction we were already going in." says Talon.
>"No I'm not." says Shabin.
>"I - " Hilt starts and stops at the same time. "Okay now I'm turned around. "Shabin, did you actually see the ocean?"
>"Probably."

>>852036
fuck it just assume Shabin is right and start moving.

>>852036
Well we'll just have to keep trying. Alternatively, is there any particular direction the winds have been blowing? If we're close enough to the sea, then during day when the ocean's cooler than land the wind blows from the sea to land, and during night the wind blows from land to sea. If you've noticed a consistent wind following that pattern in your daily life, it should point to the sea.

>>852036
'I'll go with the recent intel that we're all dumb, it sounds about right.'

>>852037
Might as well at this point.


Hopefully the sea gnolls will have a damn compass. But I'm not that optimistic.

>"Sea's that way." Shabin gestures away with her weird face.
Fine we'll go that way.

We'll have to send her up again later to make sure we're going the right direction still.

If we spend all day lost looking for the sea gnolls, maybe you'll actually need a break by the time you find them!

>>852036
Hilt, find our own tracks so we can find the direction we were originally going in. Shabin, keep pointing in the direction you think you saw the sea in, and compare that to the direction the sun was in. See if that gives us a good heading.

...also shouldn't we be able to tell what direction the sun is in from the gaps in the canopy? Just find some spot where the sun is shining through and put your hand in front of it. See where the sunbeam points.

I'm betting it will confirm Shabin's information.

Climb the tree your own damn self, to find out once and for all. Whoever turns out to be wrong you will personally, literally, kick their asses all the way to the sea.

Throw her again? You know, to confirm.

>>852036
Suddenly realize that you should've brought one of the scouts that actually know where the sea gnolls are.

>>837515
Think back To the map.

You assholes should be SURROUNDED BY RIVER.
IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT WAY YOU GO!
When you hit the river, follow it.
If you hit a skinny fork, turn around, if fou hit a wide fork, cross and KEEP GOING THAT DIRECTION.

If you don't hit any rivers for a while then you LEF CAMP GOING THE WRONG FUCKING DIRECTION LIKE MORONS.

Throw Sabin back into the tree. Tell her to try and find the REALLY big mountain that's in the center of this fucking place, or failing that the mountain ridges. We can approximate our location using those giant landmarks better than than the midday sun right now anyway.

>>852036
Let's just assume the kobold is right since Hilt has proven he's lost.

>>852052
Don't blame me, I wanted to bring Stemwalker

>>852092
That would have been hilarious in this scenario.

Just keep tossing Shabin, it's fine.

Keep Scout Hat mobile to confirm where the ocean is.

I think Leaf is the only competent gnoll we have. If we need to go find something in the near future let's try to get him to be the scout.

>>852460
I think he might be even more competent than Clamp. The only thing i see Clamp doing good is beating the shit out of people and ordering people, under the threat of beating the shit out of them.

>>852058
>You assholes should be SURROUNDED BY RIVER.
>IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT WAY YOU GO!
Unless they go north, I guess, then they'll know they went the wrong way when they hit mountains eventually.

>>852046
Reasonable plan.

Check out those unknown gnoll tracks and compare them to your group. It's quite possible y'all have walked back around onto your own trail. ...Which at this point might be a blessing, since you could follow it back to camp and get someone who actually knows how to get where you want to go, like Leaf.

>>852480
Well, yes, but what I think that suggester meant is that, assuming Clamp and company succeeded in leaving the camp southwards, is that the area they entered is completely bounded by rivers. At least, according to Leaf's map from >>/quest/837515. So if they come up with no better way to get their bearings, like entering a clearing where they could see which way Shabin is pointing when she's up in a tree, they can just pick a direction and walk until they reach a river. Once they reach a river, they'll keep it on their left or right side and follow it 'till they reach a fork in the river.

Clamp 2017/12/28(Thu)15:38 No. 854335 ID: bfb318
File 151450428964.png - (294.34KB , 800x800 , 108.png )

"You think we can find our own tracks, Hilt, or are we just permanently lost?"
>"I don't think we were lost! I don't think there was a problem!"
"Whatever, I'm gonna bet on Shabin."
>"That... that's actually fine!" says Hilt. "Because all rivers should go down to the ocean, right? And we're bound to hit a river, so we can just follow that river to the ocean."
"Fine. If we get to a real river we can probably see which way the sun is, too, or at least which way the shadows are moving. The forest is too damn thick here."

We move along. The clearing Shabin saw was just a gap in the trees from a river. We reach it at a spot where it's damn violent.

"Oh look, the sun."
>"Yeah, this part of the river runs pretty straight east-west!" says Hilt.
>"And it's damn violent right here." Talon adds. "Let's find a better crossing spot."
"Yeah, don't want you shorties to get swept into some rocks."

I lead us down where the river widens up and gets more shallow. I hold up my palm to the others behind me. There's a handful of gnolls in the river. Some are fucking about, but they look like they're looking for something. I don't recognize 'em, but I don't think they've seen us either.

"Those guys the same ones that made the tracks from before?"
>"I don't think so!" says Hilt. "They didn't seem like they were going in this direction, so I think these are new."

Overall, if the map is accurate, from here we ought to go west until we see the fork in the river, then go straight south to find the sea clan, looks like.

For now, let's just hide for a bit and listen in for any reason to take interest in them. If they don't say anything worth noticing then just avoid them.

Hide in the forest for now. Watch and see what they are looking for. With any luck its something good and you can beat them up and steal it after they find it.

>>854335
Okay, so these guys are probably going to raid us or make a deal with another clan to raid us. Let's try and figure out who they are, then beat them up and steal their stuff if we don't like who they are.

Clamp, among your many great attributes, stealth is not one. It'd be a good idea to try listen in on these guys but not for you or your other two gnoll pals. Send Shabin, she can hide in the bushes really easily.

>>854335
Is it just me or do they pretty much all have the same weapon and outfit?
Kinda weird if so.

Regardless, getting involved with that lot is hassle you don't need.
Maybe give them a look over, see if there are any identifying marks on them to ask about later, but otherwise don't interact.

>>854347
The bushes are right in front of Clamp and don't go any further. She's not getting any closer than we already are.

They all have swords, can you tell if they are good? I go with the "not let them see you" plan just yet. Were are they heading? If they are going to our territory, we can't just let them be. even if their swords aren't good, it's going to hurt when they hit us, if they hit us.

>>854335
Let's not mess with them. Unless you really want to fight a whole bunch of gnolls outnumbered before you even find the ones you were looking for.

>>854394
Nah, if we attempt stealth and screw it up, that looks hostile. Step out of cover, say hello, tell Hilt to go over and ask whether these are the pirates we're looking for. If they are, challenge 'em. If they aren't, negotiate passage across the ford with minimal hostilities (and maybe also ask for directions).

Is there any way to tell what clan they're from?

1/2 Clamp 2017/12/31(Sun)14:49 No. 855054 ID: bfb318
File 151476054416.png - (212.22KB , 800x800 , 109.png )

"Shabin, get up there and see if you can't see what they're looking for."
>"What, am I your spy just because I'm small?"
"Yeah? You think the rest of us can crawl through the bushes?"
>"Ugh yeah okay fine."

>Are they all wearing the same things?
Yeah, and it's not that weird. Lotta clans will have a lot of the same shit for unity. Course, can't keep loyalty by just sharing the same pants as someone else. If nothing else, keeps it easy to tell the difference between friend and foe.

Talon, Hilt and I back up and wait.

>"Really? Not gonna just kick their asses?" asks Talon.
"Like we don't have enough enemies."

2/2 Clamp 2017/12/31(Sun)14:49 No. 855055 ID: bfb318
File 151476058780.png - (177.18KB , 800x800 , 110.png )

Shabin comes crawling though the bushes.

>"Yeah, those idiots are trying to ambush a shipment of gold. Apparently there's a fortune's worth traveling through here!"

Any info about who's shipment it is?

I sort of like the idea of letting them hijack it and then stealing it from them when they are tired after the fighting.

Assuming there is a shipment of gold and we don't have to wait all day in the bushes.

>>855055
It's also heavier than the lot of you can carry and not immediately useful. Move on.

>>855058
You know what's better than gold? Influence. Wait a little bit to see if the shipment arrives and then backstab the ambushing party so whoever owns the gold shipment knows that your clan is a cut above the rest.

>>855055
Well, that does sound fun, but if even if we somehow get it, not like we can spend it considering our base's distance from the border of human territories, and we don't have the means to defend such a horde in our base anyway. The cost of getting it and keeping it will probably be worth more than what we can possibly gain.


However, it's tactically viable keeping that wealth out of potential opposition's hands, so lets FUCK with their plan.

>>855055
Well, you could ambush the ambushers, but then the few of you have to haul a big heavy pile of gold with less dudes than those guys are planning, and you'd have to fend of pursuit, then you'd have to fortify base from retaliation. And miss out on the shipbuilders you were gonna have to build stuff for you.

Yeah gold basically doesn't solve any of your problems, too bad.

Maybe you should watch what happens just to get a feel for these gnolls? We'll probably have to deal with them later.

>>855059
Rescuing the gold by fucking up the ambush might net you allies or resources, yeah. You'll have to wait and see how hopelessly outnumbered the defenders are before you try though.

We can't take the gold with us now, but if we know who has the gold, and who wants the gold, we can either sell this information, or use it to steal some gold ourselves later, we have spies to do both things. For the moment let see how this situation ends it self, then we can act depending how it desenlases.

>>855058

We don't need to take all the gold. I say wait for the ambush, plough into their backsides while they're busy with whoever they're ambushing, then take whatever's convenient for you to carry as "payment" for your generous assistance.

>>855055
Eeeh, you've got a thing thing you were going to do.
Screw these guys and the guys they plan to ambush and screw their gold.

>Apparently there's a fortune's worth traveling through here!
We are going to kick their asses, just wait for them to take the gold first.

Approach openly, greet them, announce that you heard about their plan (but make it sound like spies uncovered the scheming long in advance) and ask if they'd like any help in exchange for a small portion of the spoils. If not, you're just passing through, not looking for a fight.

>>855103
I'll agree with that, but only if gold is useful to us at all. Otherwise we should try to get some other useful object as payment.

1/2 Clamp 2018/01/02(Tue)13:46 No. 855576 ID: bfb318
File 151492961013.png - (176.43KB , 800x800 , 111.png )

"Only way gold's any good to us is if we start trading with anyone that gives a shit about gold."
>"Not that hard, boss." says Talon. "Hell, a lot of gnoll clans like to keep gold around just for the occasional exotic trade."
"You know what we can, and will do? Wait for these assholes to ambush the caravan, then we ambush the assholes."
>"Um..." Hilt starts up. "What about the fact that there's at least 6 of them, and 3 of us?"

Shabin gives him a glare.

"Whatever, we might not be the clan's sneakiest, but I'll be fucked if we can't do a simple ambush. If we attack right, they won't be in the position to act like it's a six on three."

Shabin smacks me. I think. I might've just brushed up against a bush.

>"Let's fuckin' do it then!" says Talon, who can't stand a day without a good fight. The fucker's probably hoping my fight with the sea clan won't go cleanly just so he can swing his sword around.
"Alright, we're doing it. I dunno if we even want the gold, but that gnoll clan's probably not friendly, and fuckin' with them is worth it. And either we get some gold out of it, or we get a good word in with humans or dwarves."
>"The hell do we care about dwarves or humans?"
"The hell we care about is that our biggest enemy has territory either in or around the dwarves and humans, and if we can fuck around those areas without the shorty races getting uppity at us, that makes our lives easier when it comes to dealing with Chainlink."

2/2 Clamp 2018/01/02(Tue)13:47 No. 855577 ID: bfb318
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Shabin looks ahead for us to figure out how this should go. Apparently she's gotten good in the last few days at getting all sneaky. Plus, the other gnolls probably just think she's some bug wandering around the bushes anyway; not too common for a gnoll clan to keep kobolds around here.

She comes back and leads us to a nice patch of grass we can lay low in. It takes a couple hours of waiting before we hear the caravan rolling. Humans, probably. Little over a dozen, and a few horses. Knowing humans, some of 'em probably aren't even fighters. Haven't ran into any of the other gnolls, but we're staying pretty far back to avoid it.

"Chief?" Hilt whispers. "Are we going to attack those gnolls right when they attack the caravan, or later? The caravan might confuse us if we attack right away."

Nah, let's wait about half a minute or a full one so that if there's any archers they'll have already fired once before we get into it. Less chance we end up getting shot.

>>855577
Wait for the other gnolls to grab the loot, then attack!

>>855590
Pretty much this.

These other gnolls decide to all wear the same thing, let's take advantage of it. Wait a moment before you attack, so that the other gnolls get entangled in the fight, then you jump out. Make it clear you're attacking the other gnolls.

>>855577
Wait for the humans to start losing, then jump out of the bushes and kick the shit out of the gnolls.

We can extort the humans for Technical Experts like blacksmiths and stuff if they think they're in debt to us, AND we get to beat the shit out of gnolls.

>>855576
Clamp you left out the obvious argument that the three of your probably can't carry six guys worth of gold anyways. Even a dumb gnoll would get that.

>>855577
Probably should wait a little bit so the racist humans can tell you're a different group of gnolls and not one group of gnolls infighting at the same time we're attacking them.

Then you can chump these gnolls in the back while they're busy with the humans.

...if the humans all go down before you can spring an ambush it's probably not picking a fight with the other gnolls while you're outnumbered.

>>855612
we *have* a blacksmith. A really good one that doesn't have proper lodging.

>>855612
We don't need no stinking human blacksmiths!

>>855594
This.

Only attack after the gnolls take the loot. It's not worth betting in the good will of these humans.

Clamp 2018/01/05(Fri)19:08 No. 856494 ID: bfb318
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"Then we wait until the fight's done, or close enough that the humans won't have a moment to attack us. If the gnolls manage to grab the loot fast and run, we chase 'em. I'll give the signal."

It's too quiet to get close, but it ain't quiet when they attack. Once the noise starts, I bring us right up next to the fight. The other clan hit hard enough to shatter the human's formation and is scattering them all over around, so the fight should end fast. The humans are putting up a fight, so either they're good guards, or they know they can't outrun gnolls. If they're lucky, this clan is the kind that'll just beat the shit out of opponents.

A couple fighters get close, and I see these humans ain't lucky. This clan's all about the murder.

This might be a good time to jump in and attack.

If the humans are about to be overwhelmed the gnolls will be very distracted finishing them off. Bloodlust and all.

Once all the humans are all down there attackers will have nothing left to distract them and will be on the watch for people out to steal there loot.

So might be best to hit them now in the confusion were they will be stuck between you and the humans.

>>856494
Attack the Gnolls!

Two can play that game.

The being about murder, I mean.

Wait for the casualties to mount before you murder the crap out of those guys.

Follow the plan. Even now you can't predict how the humans will react, it would be bad to get in the fight only to be surround by enemies from both sides.

>>856494
Well, time to get in on the action. The longer you wait, the more humans will be dead, and the more gnolls will be free to fight back.

Stab the gnolls in the back!

Time to strike down the enemy gnolls!

STRIKE DOWN THE GNOLLS

I think it would be wise to attack now. Make sure that the humans understand that you are on their side.

1/3 Clamp 2018/01/06(Sat)12:49 No. 856603 ID: bfb318
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I get us out there to get our own murder spree going. We hit as many gnolls as we can in one go before either the humans or gnolls can react.

"Fuckin' piss stain!" I yell at a newly murdered gnoll.

2/3 Clamp 2018/01/06(Sat)12:50 No. 856604 ID: bfb318
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Talon rushes another.

>"Fuck the dirt!"

3/3 Clamp 2018/01/06(Sat)12:51 No. 856605 ID: bfb318
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Not a peep from Hilt. At least he killed a third.

The humans managed to kill one, and they're pulling back to the caravan to get their defenses back up. Two gnolls remain, and they're starting to flee like sensible cowards.

KILL THE HUMANS!

>>856607
Come on, we don't even know how many humans there are, and more importantly, we haven't even looted the gnolls we killed.

>>856605
That fucking face.

Anyway, I say wipe out the rest of the gnolls so you don't have any witnesses causing trouble for you. Then ask for a reward from the humans. Which might just be looting rights, if they're very stingy, but hey, free loot.

Congratulation! Now you got to fight the humans to get the gold. Good job.

Don't let them flee, catch them. If they are from a clan near here you should know about it. Interrogation time.

Looks like you jumped the gun. Well this is awkward.

Might as well finish them off.

>>856605
Rundown the fleeing gnolls and then attempt to deescalate with the humans, send in Hilt to talk to them since he's the most sociable. If you play it off right he can advertise your clans services for protection from other gnolls (because gnolls are the best at fighting other gnolls) the next time they travel through and not make it sound like extortion.

This way you might establish future dealings with human traders and if they are heading towards the sea, also hitch a ride with them.

>The humans managed to kill one, and they're pulling back to the caravan to get their defenses back up
Hey there, hairless shorties. Run into a bit of trouble, did you?

>>856605
Clamp, that was the last thing that gnoll ever got to see. Think of the potential for psychological warfare Hilt has.