Fantasy The Dark Forest [Fantasy/Isekai]

[TanteRegenbogen]

Plot:

After a fatal accident in your previous life, you are given a new chance at life in another world. Just you are highly likely not to be reborn as a human, but rather as a mob (such as a slime or animal) or a more primitive sapient being such as a goblin, troll, ogre or halfbeast (minotaur, ratperson, reptilian). At first, you struggle and have to learn the ways of your peers (others of your species), but eventually surviving is not an issue. You have however always wondered if there are humans, elves or any other advanced species in this world, because it cant just be the forest and the uncharted lands beyond it and their primitive tribal species, right? One day, you eventually come across the border of the forest where beyond it are fields, roads and a town in the distance. As you wander out of the forest, you are spotted by humans who gather their weapons and give chase. Fearing they would kill you, you retreat back into the forest. You then witness the humans encounter a slime and struggle fighting it, retreating after defeating it. Are humans in this world weak squishy creatures equivalent in strength to basic slimes? While you are unlikely to leave the forest or stride far into the human realm, the humans intrigue you. You have to be wary of them though, as you might not know what evil they do to their own.

You can play a human, elf, dwarf or orc character, but you will only be strong against creatures found in the human realm. The dark forest and the uncharted regions are extremely difficult areas for the advanced species to survive in. If you are lucky and diplomatic, you can maybe forge a non-aggression pact with a primitive tribe or even become their ally, but everything else wont be as lenient towards you.

System:

Those who are reborn, receive a status window that shows their skills, level and so on. The advanced races who arent reborn have devices to determine some things such as mana, affinities and level, but not as thorough as status windows. Levelable skills can improve use of languages, cooking certain cuisines, specific combat skills and so on. Creatures unable to talk can only learn to understand languages but not speak them.

Setting:

Mostly in a place called "The Dark Forest". It is a forest large enough to span a country. It is full of strong and high level creatures. The only sapient creatures there beastmen and tribes of goblins, trolls and ogres. Though they are all on a stone age level of development. Beyond the dark forest are the uncharted regions, which range from steppes to deserts to lands filled with volcanoes. Humans have only explored the coastline along the furthest reaches of the uncharted lands by travelling the long way and made a few settlements in relatively safe areas there.

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

Falin the Builder

A human expedition was on it's way through the forest seeking to map the forest to eventually find a land based trade route to the coastal colonies in behind the uncharted lands. They had already struggled defeating a slime near the forest entrance. The humans thought they had just encountered a random king slime and didn't seem to notice that the creatures in the dark forest were generally pretty ridiculously strong compared to them.

Falin observed the humans from a distance. She didn't intend to contact them or interfere unless necessary. But then the humans were spotted by a cyclops who popped out from behind a tree and immediately parried a sword and picked up a human knight, devouring them with just three chomps. Falin grabbed her club and immediately ran towards the cyclops. "I wanted to see if they were good or bad humans before getting a piece of meat myself or making contact!" She yelled at the cyclops in the ogrish dialect of the forests beast language before striking the cyclops in the head. The cyclops flew off it's feet. The cyclops then growled "Ogre bitch! Humans are food that taste good. You dont play or talk to food." Falin smirked and said: "So you are inviting me to eat you? Don't forget that ogres eat anything that is meat, except for other ogres. You might have ruined my chance to make contact with humans and I wont forgive you for it. Your sacrifice might even prevent a war on your kinship." Terrified, the cyclops crawled backwards, trying to get away from Falin, but Falin hit the cyclops across the head until he was dead.

Falin then cut a piece out of the cyclops and took a bite. "Cyclopes are kind of subpar meat. Dont know if the tribe will accept this. Or maybe we will have to cook it and add spices so that it tastes decent." Falin said completely forgetting that the humans were still there. She could hear whispering as if the humans were telling each other to slowly back away to not gain her attention. Falin turned around and said "Hey!" with a smile, to which some of the humans froze in shock while others fleed from the ogre woman who was drenched in cyclops blood in terror.

"Stay back beast!" A human knight who seemed to be the leader barked at her. Falin who was unfamiliar with human behaviors in this world and only knew some human language from observing and listening to humans from afar, tried to diffuse the situation and approached the knights to which one attacked. Falin however easily caught the blade and said in the human language: "I don't want a fight. I come to talk. I bring meat and fur. You bring books. I want learn good human language. I can teach beast language."

"Did the beast just speak our language?" One of the knights said. Falin then answered: "Yes. I speak. Falin is big thinker. Falin is builder. Falin is ogre leader." The humans seemed dumbfounded that not only did an ogre not want to fight, but that an ogre spoke rudimentary human language and said she was a leader of ogres. "What do you want from us?" The human leader said. Falin sighed in annoyance that she would have to repeat herself. She was beginning to think that generally the sapient beings in this world werent too smart to begin with, even the humans. "Next sunrise, I bring fresh meat and fur. You bring books. Me and you trade. Ogres love meat. Falin bring good meat. Now go. Forest dangerous. You weak. Leave forest, no die." Falin said before letting go of the sword she stopped.

Falin then turned away to return to her tribe. "Wait!" The human knight leader said. Falin turned around and roared: "Go now!" loud enough to threaten even larger creatures. The humans then hastily made their way out of the forest. "By the spirits, that was difficult." Falin said to herself. She grabbed the deal cyclops by the foot and then returned to her tribe. In a clearing in the forest was a village surrounded by a rudimentary stone wall made of megaliths. Inside the walls were a couple dozen houses built around a communal area. In the read of the village was the original cave the ogres lived in. A creek ran through the village. Outside the walls were also some homes and a warrior training area. The various facilities that were established under Falin's rule were dotted around the village with the public bath being in the middle near the commons area. There she was greeted by her kin who immediately got to salvaging what they could from the cyclops cadaver.

 

[ThatWhichShouldBe]

Alexander Basileos
The jungle is deep and dark. But for the Leonin, it is his natural home. He navigates by the way the wind blows, the direction of the sun, the patterns of growth. He had not always been part of the jungle. He remembers stone and steel, a life where man mastered nature. But this was not that world, and this was not that life. Here, the jungle was ruled, and it had one great law. Strength above all. Alexander steps from branch to branch, leaping amongst the primeval trees as he heads towards... something. He'd spoken with some of the beast tribes, learned the lay of the land. There was a true settlement forming in these jungles, apparently. Their leader's name and reputation, 'Falin the Builder', had spread even out here. If only due to stories of strange epic feats of construction occurring, like 'a cliff appearing around the village'.

Or in other words, a stone wall.

Alexander could thrive in the jungle. He could kill almost anything that moved, Minotaur, Cyclops, or great monster, with his trusty knife and some work. Whatever had brought him to this world had left him with gifts of strength and power that made him a killing machine. But he didn't want to be one. He wanted civilization. Good god, he wanted beds. And spices! And how he missed bread. No, As much as he could do well lurking in these woods, he wanted so much more.

So he traveled, long and far towards the source of those rumors as best as he could.

Basileos was right by the edge of the jungle now, heading along it through the treetops. The green was as it always was. The leaves rustle, the wind whistles, the blood- Wait. Blood? Alexander stops, swinging down onto a lower branch to get a better look at what lay on the ground, below the canopy where he was perching. And what he saw was a slaughter. Armored knights strewn about, some half-eaten. A few dead beasts. People who looked like... 'adventurers', as well, in various states of death. A wizard decapitated there, a paladin of some sort leaving her limbs all over the place. Probably a crazed ogre got that one, they loved dismemberment.

He walks among them with a frown. He'd known that the creatures of the jungle were strong, but... Well, this put things in perspective. Where these humans had fallen, he'd have survived without much trouble at all. It was a shame. He'd... wanted to meet the people of the lands beyond. But he knew they weren't exactly friendly to the Jungle's denizens. Alexander walks amongst them, his massive paws clearing small pits in the earth so that he could bury them. They deserved that much, at least. The paladin, the wizard, the rogue, the knights... He comes before a... cleric? judging from the staff, clad in what looked like dancing silks. Strange attire for the jungle but then again, it was probably religious. He gently picks up the red-haired woman's body before... Alexander freezes.

It was still warm.

He holds a hand in front of her mouth and feels... the warmth of breath. She was still alive.

Fuck.

 

[Megilagor]

Alduin Kyros

Alduin stumbled out of the cave that he calls home during an early morning to tend to his little garden of flowers and to fix the gravestones he made for the people he buried here.
As it was his habit by now, to drag or carry the corpses of the young people who died here to his abode and bury them in front of it while keeping some of their stuff for himself.

When Alduin cleaned the graves and tended to the flowers and spices he grew, he kept going back and forth from the innards of his cave and the outside.
Within the cave itself laid several pieces of furniture made out of wood or stone they might not have been ornate but they did what they should do, albeit the most useless part of it was his bed, it was a simple opening carved into the wall with a bit of a pit downwards which was filled with the furs of animals he hunted in the past. Why he made a bed, maybe to imitate his human life, but nowadays he did not need one for sleep was a foreign thing to him.

After doing his morning preparations he ventured out into the forest, as he does every day, to gather some materials for making food, and if he stumbles onto dead humans to gather them back at his home, Alduin might not be able to eat but making food is still one of his hobbies although not being able to taste or eat it is a hassle.
During his walk, he gathers some mushrooms, some nuts and perhaps some small animals before he stumbles on a scene.
A Leonin burying the bodies of some humans.

It was not a daily sight, knowing that most of the creatures would rather eat them rather than bury them, so he thought maybe he is abnormal like me.
After a bit of contemplation, he comes out of the shadows of the trees and towards the Leonin.
As he came closer he spoke twice, one time using the human language and the other time with the beast tribe language carrying roughly the same message.

"Why are you in this part of the forest? Why are you burying the dead? Why have you not buried the redhead girl?"

His words were simple questions he wanted some answers to, of course, he kept his distance from the Leonin so he could not see the state of the girl he was holding, and in case the Leonin turned hostile he did not want to be so close to him after all it would work in his favour if he could do the first strike.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Grimmjaw
Location: somewhere in the dark forest

Ah, another one.

Grimmjaw peeked into one of her trap hole and noticed a particular species had fell into it. A human. This was the third one this week. Did something happen somewhere nearby that caused this fluctuation of human into the forest? She didn't know, she didn't care. A tendril made of dark muscle stretched into the hole and yanked the corpse off from the wooden spikes that penetrated it. Grimmjaw wasn't much fan of eating human meat after those weird memories flooding her mind, but there's one part of human that she considers to be a delicacy: the brain. The mimic cracked the skull open and put the content inside a container made of hollowed coconut shell to save for later. Meanwhile dozens of glowing red eyes were watching her patiently until Grimmjaw gave them a signal in the form of a low guttural noise. As Grimmjaw left the corpse on the forest floor, numerous large crows descended on it and started feasting.

Looking back into the hole, Grimmjaw gathered several items that were scattered around. Probably the things that the human carried when they fell into the hole. A torn backpack, a knife, a frying pan, a bow and set of arrows. What a nice find! She had always wanted a frying pan, with this she could make fried egg. Putting the pan on her head like a hat, the mimic slithered on her tendrils. Maybe she should look for more humans, and trade something for a cooking pot. Then she would be able to make a brain soup. Heck, why stop at that. Maybe she should start a business with them and gather a lot of money!

Wait, money? What is that?!

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

Falin went to wash herself and relax a bit in the public bath house. It felt good to be free of the grime. The public bath house was among the biggest buildings in the village. There was a male bath, a female bath and a mixed bath area. The gendered areas were big enough for maybe a dozen ogres while the mixed area could hold around fifty ogres. The floors were made of smooth marble tile and there was a fresh water source to get water from. The water was warm and had a regular in- and outflow to keep the pools clean. Falin had the bath house cleaned regularly. After bathing, the bath house offered tea or brews as refreshments and there was a small stall that featured grilled meat on skewers.

[Falin had sort of figured out that this world had magic and that putting spices in food actually offered medical and magical benefits for the ogres. Certain herbs would invigorate the ogres, while others could boost their thinking. If Falin couldn't find out how to wield magic herself, she hoped that the humans would know and that if she learned to read the human language, she could also learn how to use magic from the human books. Falin was in fact well aware that she had a sort of mana system like blood flowing through veins, but with mana or whatever the magical power could be called.

With magic, she could accelerate the progress of development and advance the ogre civilization. Word of the village had spread throughout the ogre groups in the region. However ogres are stubborn creatures and only a few would join the village. But if Falin could drive the village to new heights and convince the other ogres to join, they would not only be able to build a city, but also a nation.]

Falin stepped out of the pool, dried herself off and put on a robe. She grabbed a tea and a skewer, sat down and enjoyed her refreshments. She pondered if the humans would actually come with books or if they would come with a bigger force instead. She was eager to get a book in her hands. Even though she had developed a script for the ogres, they could okay write in the ground, chisel into rocks or carve into wood. They hadn't made parchment or paper yet.

[Falin was pretty bummed out by the lack of any intellectual peers. Basically, among the ogres she seemed to be one of a kind. Sure there were some creative ogres, but they were far from being innovative or capable of doing research. Of those who had proven to be brighter than other ogres, Falin tried to teach them to think like her, but it is an uphill battle. They can learn knowledge, but have difficulty creating it.]

Once finishing her food, she went to put on her usual clothes and went out into the village. She approached the cave in the rear of the village and went into it. It was lit with crude glowing crystals that glowed in an reddish orange. In it's rear was Falin's lair. She had modified the walls to be like the stone walls of a building. Everywhere in the lair were trophies of her battles such as the horns of a direboar, the claws of a drake and the nose ring of a troll champion. There was a makeshift bed covered in furs and furniture Falin had built. She approached a weapons rack that featured stone prototypes of weapons she created, the most recent one being a stone long sword. While it was well balanced and more aesthetically pleasing that her club, it was nowhere near as strong enough for it's intended purpose hence it was stone and not a metal. It was about time to get some metallurgy going and send out some followers to search for ore.

She took a blackish stone from nearby and left the cave. Falin called together three male ogres and a female ogre. "You see this stone. I need you to find many of these. You should find them on some rock walls or in caves. But keep a close eye..." She said as she held up the piece of ore. "For it is not just any black stone. It has a blue shimmer in light. Be sure to be aware of that. If you find many, then remember the location so we can get far more. With this, we can make powerful tools and weapons. If other ogres see us with mighty tools, they will be eager to join us. Now go and seek the stones." The group nodded and headed out. Meanwhile, Falin considered what she could bring the humans that could be a decent trade for the books.

 

[EbonChevalier]

Mixalto Movano
Location: The lands of the Shazi Tribe( The inner parts of the Dark Forest)

---

In the middle terrace of these parts of the dark forest, there lies a village suspended on threads stronger than steel. Homes and simple trade shops were carved into massive trees. Stark white threads of spider silk help up public gathering spaces made of wood and leaves at the center of great webs. Arachnituars of many shapes sizes and colors scurried hither and thither. Mix as usual had his nose in a book. He'd gotten it from a human his tribe had captured a week ago. Some mage came to the forest to harvest ingredients for a spell. He may have been old and stringy but he tasted amazing in soup! He was so caught up in his reading and musing that he didn't notice a familiar presence. The familiar skitter of heavy legs echoes in his ears before a strong but gentle arm is laid across his shoulders.

"Hey, Mixy....." He groans and looks up at the face of a larger-than-average (which is already bigger than a male Arachnituar) Arachnituar female with a bright red carapace. Black-dyed slik armor covers her chest, and a heavy spear is strapped to her back. Her light yellow eyes flirtatiously flutter at him. "Araxzine......" He says with clear annoyance in his voice. "I'm busy studying I've got no time for courting!" Onlookers (there were always onlookers whenever any female tried courting the Shazi tribe's genius) chittered with laughter. Araxine glared but the laughter went on it wasn't the first time she'd been shot down by Mixy in public. "It's no offer of courtship this time Mixy. Just.... an invitation to dinner." She pats his stomach gently. "You've got your face in those human things sop much you forget to hunt. Keep missing meals like that and you'll be nothing but a shell."

Mixy's stomach groaned out in agreement and Araxine chuckled. While Mixy just rolled his eyes. "I've got food stored in my hut. Why would I need to join you?" Araxine gave him a cocky grin. "Because I am great company at dinner and we have something special on the web tonight." She leaned down and whispered in his ear. "LIVE HUMAN...." Mixy was so surprised he nearly dropped his book. 'To catch one human so soon after another....are more coming here?' He thought as he turned to Araxine smug face. "Let me get a few things and I'll be there in a bit." With that Mixy scurried home it was going to be quite the evening!

 

[ThatWhichShouldBe]

"Why are you in this part of the forest? Why are you burying the dead? Why have you not buried the redhead girl?"

Alexander Basileos
The Leonin turns to the suit of armor, almost mistaking it for a knight before he notices the hollowness behind its movements and in its gaze. It was but animated armor. He chuffs, baring his teeth in open challenge. Haunted armor tended to be irrational things, tied to ancient grudges or simply insane ghosts piloted metal shells. Easy enough to deal with, usually, but it was terribly annoying to have a fight with something he couldn't eat afterwards. Still, in this case, he'd give it its answers, and maybe the armor would just go away.

"Where I go is my business. The dead are buried in respect. And the girl is not dead."

The large Leonin begins to lumber off, one hand on his knife while the other cradles the girl. He eyes the haunted armor carefully, as the Leonin prepares to leap into the trees. Perhaps it would back off, perhaps it would hunger for human blood, but either way, Alexander would be ready. He had no intentions of letting this girl die to something that stupid.

 

[Megilagor]

"Where I go is my business. The dead are buried in respect. And the girl is not dead."

Alduin Kyros
Alduin listened carefully to the Leonin, his short response carried irritation and a sense of pride in it, something that most Leonin have plenty of inside of them at least from what he knew. When the Leonin began to move away and probably ready to jump as they always do Alduin threw a needle onto a tree in front of the Leonin and then he spoke, knowing that might have caused a bit of an argument which could lead to a fight and yet he did it anyway.

"You say she is not dead. And yet you want to jump around carrying her. Are you stupid? You don't know what damage she suffered. Besides, where would you take her? Last time I checked Leonin don't have settlements at least not proper ones. So I suggest following me. At least I have a soft bed you can put here a source of fresh water is also there. With no one other than us in the vicinity. Except for some others who want to trade."

It was clear to anyone who saw this that while Alduin was far better than a standard haunted armor in the physical aspect, albeit his speech was stunted allowing him to only speak in short sentences, possibly a limitation of his species or it could be caused by him not having to talk for a long time and forgetting how to do it.
Knowing he could not win with Leonin in a straight and fair combat he did not pursue the matter physically anymore so he respoke once again before turning on his heel regardless of Leonin's actions and Alduin simply walked away slowly, as if to lead it towards his home.

 

[EbonChevalier]

Mixalto Movano
Location: The lands of the Shazi Tribe( The inner parts of the Dark Forest)

---

Mixy quickly scuttled into his hut, eager to be properly dressed and meet his dinner. His hut was rather large (as was expected of the child of the tribe champion) and a mess on the inside. Empty gourds, bottles made of hardened silk, and notes litter his tables. Samples of plant and animal species from across his tribe's hunting territory hung from his wooden rafters. And an assortment of random gewgaws, knick-knacks, and junk lay here and there on the floor. It was a hot mess, and Mixy's mother would have a lot to say about how her son kept his home.

As he looked through a pile of clothing for something nice to wear he remembered her usual spiel. "Unacceptable! Simply unacceptable! What kind of man keeps his home in this state?! That pretty face won't let you keep a wife long if you can't keep an orderly household!" Mixy let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. Cleaning was a trifle he could handle at any time. The real problems were the threat of a possible human invasion! Having the cleanest hut won't matter if the village is destroyed. "Ah! There we go!" From a pile of clean and dirty clothes, he pulled out a form-fitting tunic that left his arms, upper back, and shoulders exposed. It was midnight black in color and looked smooth to the touch.

A bit risque for a dinner between two folk not courting buuuuuuuut.....

Despite being one of his more persistent suitors he did like Araxine. Strong, large, and bearing a bright carapace she was the ideal of femininity. She could also be bullheaded, annoying, and quick-tempered. But Mixy had to admit he'd found himself admiring her from time to time. He was still quite a ways from choosing a suitor, but Araxine was one of the few he'd be likely to pick. So why not give her a little eye candy? He'd also grabbed something special he'd been working on for the human

Dressed to kill, Mixy left his hut for Ara's turning a lot of heads on the way. Arriving and knocking at her door Araxine met him wearing a loose tunic of light oranges and yellows that complemented her well. She had a gobsmacked expression on her face before she tried to play cool. "Y-you're looking h-handsome tonight Mixy." She swept her long hair over her redder-than-usual face. "Please come it." Her hunt was somewhat cleaner than his but it was festooned with weapons and trophies from past hunts. In the middle of her dining web was a human in strange shining armor wrapped into a cocoon. They struggled fiercely. The prospect of fresh food along with new knowledge made Mixy's mouth water.

 

[ThatWhichShouldBe]

"You say she is not dead. And yet you want to jump around carrying her. Are you stupid? You don't know what damage she suffered. Besides, where would you take her? Last time I checked Leonin don't have settlements at least not proper ones. So I suggest following me. At least I have a soft bed you can put here a source of fresh water is also there. With no one other than us in the vicinity. Except for some others who want to trade."

Alexander Basileos
"There is a settlement near here, if you have not heard. It is better than going it alone."

The Leonin chuffs, as he crouches down to set off. Powerful muscles tense, as he carefully gauges his next moves. He could fend off the Haunted armor just fine, but with the woman here... It was best not to risk it. His words were rough and simple, not caring to tell the Haunted Armor much more than is absolutely necessary- if the Haunted Armor wished to follow, they'd have to engage in hot pursuit of the Leonin, as he moved through the jungle. And judging from his focus, he was planning on moving through the underbrush- a dangerous endeavor in the best of times, but one less likely to hurt the human than bounding from branch to branch.

"And she is not bleeding. If she has an internal injury, I will not be moving fast enough to make it worse."

Then Alexander sets off, moving at a brisk and steady pace. Not nearly as fast as he *could* go, but just fast enough that he wouldn't jostle the human too much.

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

Falin the Builder
Falin had something to do out in the forest and grabbed her club and her stone sword. She wanted to experiment and see if she could use magic, but doing it in the village could be dangerous, because who knows what could happen and who knows how powerful it would be. Falin had been aware of veins in her body that could be "mana veins" for a while now, however ogres weren't aware of magic, yet from her past life stories existed that talked about magic and obviously the humans of this world could use it. What else could the robed figures with staves be?

Falin travelled a bit out into the forest until she reached a clearing. It was a small pasture in the forest, virtually just a grassy field with a small pond. She set down her things and picked up a small tree that had fallen over. She hurled it into the air and sliced it in half with the stone sword. Falin then observered the sword for damage. As she thought, there were clear signs that the sword could only do that another one or two times before breaking. So she hoped that she could soon produce a sword of metal. Maybe the black stones were some kind of "unobtainium" of this world like obsidian or adamantium. She wasn't sure if it would be iron as iron ore would usually have a red-ish shimmer.

The large female ogre set down the sword and sat down to meditate. If she managed to concentrate on the movement of mana throughout her body, she could maybe produce something today. The mana flowed through her entire body: Her head, her arms, her chest, her legs. If she was going to do something, she would need to know what. Should she produce fire? No, she didn't want to burn the forest down. Water? She was unsure if she could only produce water from mana or needed a water source nearby. There was the pond. Though she should maybe try something even simpler. What if she just concentrated mana into her fists? Would she produce stronger punches? Or if she concentrated mana in her legs, could she run faster or jump higher? She guessed she could try it out.

Falin got up and concentrated her mana into her legs. She then leaped. Nope. That didn't work. Maybe she could energize her muscles with mana? She gave it a try. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, she tried to concentrate mana into her leg muscles. It was difficult, but eventually she managed to get some mana into her leg muscles and she felt as her muscles began to feel different. Falin suddenly felt lighter. It was as if she weighed nothing. Running may be worth a try. Trying to push herself off the ground and a launch forward, her foot just sank into the clay-rich ground as if it was sand. "Well that was unexpected." She muttered as she pulled her foot out of the ground. Her leg strength was definitely more, but she might need a lot more practice to be aware of her strength and how it would impact her surroundings. Falin picked up one of the logs from before and threw it in the air. Kicking it, the log disappeared into the sky. "I think I need to practice control or this could easily become dangerous not only for others but also for me. I don't know if I can call it magic, but it may still be useful." Falin said to herself.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Grimmjaw
Location: Moonlit River

The moonlit river was one of the main river coursing through the dark forest. It's name came from the fact that it has really clear water that glimmers beautifully whenever there's full moon on the sky. It flow down from way up on the freezing peak of Mount Paragon and ends up in the stinky Coast of Death, delivering whoever foolish enough to get carried away by the water right into the thousand maws of the ever-hungry deep sea piranhas.

It's also one of Grimmjaw's favorite spot in the forest. It allows her quick travel from one end of the forest to the other one, its fertile riverbank had provided her with countless curious plants and of course, the simple fact that it's a flowing water means there's plenty of opportunity for her to hunts her meal, whether fish or other beast looking for a quick gulp. After obtaining the brain and the pan she immediately went to the river and gathered some plants for cooking. When dealing with such squishy and neutral-tasting ingredients like a brain its better to add flavors from another sources like sauces or toppings. She did notice a plant that taste similar to chilli a few days ago, there's also wild onions, wild tomatoes and the sweet sap from the masking trees. For salt she probably can get away by taking a small chunk from the goat's mountain, or maybe the bigger settlement like the ogre's have some? That's also worth checking.

Plans forming inside her head. The mimic let out a horrifying giggle that sounded more like a chocking elephant before leaping into the river. A few seconds later a blue-scaled humanoid creature with various jagged fins all over its body emerged from the water. Its the body of a lizardman variant that lives near the coast, Grimmjaw loves to use their form in the water as they can easily swim against the current without wasting too much energy or sacrificing limbs. She can transform into various form yes, but changing her shape too frequent would drain her energy faster and might send her muscle into spasm so she would rather use a form that's versatile enough to do multiple tasks or very effective at solving a specific problem. Effortlessly the lizardman Grimmjaw swam through the river and start collecting herbs along the way.

 

[Megilagor]

Alduin Kyros
'At least I know he might be heading towards the ogre settlement. But I should make it certain as not to worry.'
Thought Alduin after hearing the Leonins words, he gave the Leonin a bit of a head start before jumping onto the trees and jumping from one to the other as stealthy as possible while following the Leonin.
Not having to breathe and being almost weightless except for the weight of stuff on him made him quite a stealthy person after all, so he kept on following the Leonin while perceiving any possible threat.
Albeit he did not care for the Leonin as Alduin knew they can handle rough play, the girl he is carrying is the first living human in a long while that he has seen, so he would prefer to stay alive even if for a bit longer.

Alduin did do some damage prevention as they moved towards the settlement mainly venomous snakes and spider trying to outstealth him and approach the pair, but they did meet a throwing needle and a large amount of killing intent which mostly did the job.
'The Leonin might have sensed that intent, but he probably knows it's not aimed at him or the girl I hope'
It was at this moment that he let his guard down a bit when he saw a log fall down from the sky right in front of him.
"If I did not slow down to pick up that needle I threw a bit ago I would have been under that log."
He said to himself, before speaking louder to the Leonin choosing to ignore the fact that up to this point, he himself was escorting them from the shadows.
"I will see what threw the log here, you get the girl to safety."

And as soon as he said those words he took off running in the rough direction from which the log came flying from, it was quite a long way away but being what he is Alduin didn't feel tired even when he arrived at what appeared as a small pasture within the forest, with a singular ogre standing in the middle of it.
'Ok, I hope it's a female ogre since they are at least a bit smarter than the rest.'

While not coming out of the tree line Alduin yelled to the ogre who is hopefully a woman while trying his best to not make it easy for her to ascertain his position within the trees.
"Who are you? Why toss the log at us? Are you from the settlement?"

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

Falin the Builder

Not long after Falin had kicked the log, she heard a rustle in the bushes. It reveal to be some figure in armor upset about almost getting hit by the log Falin had accidentally kicked too far. The figure questioned who Falin was and if she was from the settlement. While the figure did seem human in shape, something told Falin that the armored figure was not from the human lands, at least not currently.

"My pardon. I had uncontrollably kicked a log into the air while trying to make works of energy that I call mana or magic. I am Falin the Builder of the ogre tribe. And yes, I am from the settlement. If fact, my kin call me their chief. I hope you aren't here to fight, because I will obliterate those who refuse to use words in a situation where words could lead to a solution." Falin said to the armored figure. "May I ask what brings you to this part of the forest? Might you be seeking out our village? If you seek trade, we should be able to make a deal."

Falin had wondered that a sapient being else than an ogre would wander out here and openly confront an ogre. She awaited the figure's response.

 

[ThatWhichShouldBe]

Alexander Basileos
The Leonin emerges fully then, emerging out of the brush like a wraith. He looks upon the Ogre with a careful eye. They certainly looked more... put-together than the other Ogres he'd seen. Perhaps they were the reason this tribe had such a reputation. He gestures to the limp woman in his arms with a paw, clearing his throat for a moment before he finally speaks. The Leonin's voice is rumbling and deep, like rolling thunder, as he explains the woman's situation.

"Found her in the jungle, along with the rest of her fallen party. But she's still alive. Need a safe place for her to recover.

Though I was hoping to join your tribe. I am Alexander, of no tribe."

He wondered what Falin's response would be.

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

Falin the Builder

A Leonin carrying a human woman appeared from the brush. The Leonin explained that he had found the woman in the jungle with a fallen human party, but that she had survived and needed a place to recover. The Leonin had also pondered if he could join Falin's tribe as he had none. Said Leonin introduced himself as Alexander.

"My name is Falin the Builder. I am the leader of ogre tribe in these parts of the forest. You seek to join our tribe? The ogres may need to get used to a non-ogre joining. I shall allow you to join. It may seem unusual for me to accept a non-ogre to the tribe, but consider this: If you try to betray us or willfully wrong us, we will make sure that nowhere is safe for you. But also consider that within the tribe, you should be safe as any ogre that disturbs the peace within the tribe will have to deal with me and I wasn't entrusted as leader for nothing. Ogres traditionally had no leader, but I was chosen for my smarts and strength. I ate the last ogre that chose to attack me." Falin explained.

"Are you sure you want to join? Your only way out would be either leaving the forest for the rest of your life or dying." Falin gave him a choice with options that may seem harsh but it was important to ensure the safety of the tribe.

 

[ThatWhichShouldBe]

Alexander Basileos
"Harsh but fair terms."

The Leonin snorts. He thinks about it for a moment, before he speaks again, his eyes level and calm as he speaks. Falin's offer was tempting- But Alexander had not come this far by seizing upon the first interesting thing that appeared before him. No, if Falin wanted his allegiance, then she'd have to earn it. Rumors were all well and good, but they would not decide his future. He would have to see what this tribe was worth.

"I would like to take the time to observe your tribe first. See if it worth such stringent terms in the first place."

 

[Megilagor]

Alduin Kyros
Alduin responded in short bursts of speech towards Falin as his form was not used to speech, in fact, it was never supposed to speak so much.
"I'm here to ascertain the situation. Perhaps begin trading with you, but not joining now at least."
Alduin listened in on Falins and Alexander's exchange of words before adding his own few words into the conversation as he felt it was needed.
"Go on Kitty and join her, at least the girl will be safer. Then with either of us alone."
Knowing that Alexander and the girl will join that settlement albeit temporarily at first was still the best move one could make in this situation, after all, most of this forest's residents would devour or kill the girl.
Wanting to cover the most ground with the least amount of words and to ascertain Falin would understand where Alduin lived and that he was willing to trade he said those words.
"I live east of here, a big cave with lots of graves in front of it. Follow the roses to be safe, lots of traps around, will not pay for the idiocy of others."
That should carry the message across, now for the medium of trade or else she might not be interested.
"I carry spices, ores, stones, woodwork and whatever the dead carried with them. You will pay what you want but I determine the price of each thing. After all, I don't know if anything you carry I will need?"

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

Falin the Builder

Falin listed to the Leonin and responded: "You may stay as a guest. Maybe a couple days in the village will give you a clearer picture and make you able to determine whether you'd want to live as part of the tribe or not. It is not like there is any significant risk for my tribe and you should be aware that trying to do anything bad will put you into severe danger. Plus, while we can offer to nurse the human back to health, she will still mostly be your responsibility until we can release her back into the human realm."

Falin then turned to the figure in the treeline. "I will consider your offer. We ogres can offer furs, meat and possibly soon ores for the time being. Other animal parts should also be available. If you should approach our village, make yourself known from a distance to not startle my tribespeople."

 

[ThatWhichShouldBe]

Alexander Basileos

"Very well then. We have an arrangement."

He waits for the other figure in the treeline to respond to Falin, the large Leonin considering their current bargain 'good enough'. If they were truly looking for ores, perhaps they did have what he sought- And he was not one to abuse hospitality anyhow, so Falin's words didn't scare him much at all.

 

[Megilagor]

Alduin Kyros
Alduin pondered a short while about Falin's words before replying.
"I might need some manpower to process the ores I sometimes mine."
Alduin requested Falin's men's assistance after all what would be a better force to process the ore than an ogre with their physical strength it should be a jiffy as long as they are taught right.
But of course, such a request needed a payment, and since Alduin was a sole man and she had an entire village under her, albeit it was still ore he mined so an even split should suffice.
"So on that front of metal, we could split it evenly, as for food I do not need to eat, but I still try to preserve the remnant spark of humanity I have left. So I would rarely trade for it."
Now that Alduin thought about it, he should show himself in her village so that her people knew not to attack him on the rare occasion they would see him approaching the village or anywhere else in the forest in fact. So he inquired about joining them on their journey to the village.
"If you don't mind me joining you guys on this escapade to your village, so your people can know I'm no enemy of theirs whenever I come to visit."
Alduin did hear Falin's warning about making himself known before approaching her tribesmen, and yet he felt as if it was an insult towards what he is now, after all being silent and stealthy was part of his monster nature which was hard to control.
"And don't worry I don't sculk around unless needed to, It's bad already that I'm a husk of what I was, and I don't need people forgetting I exist."
Not wanting to appear as an unknown being to his soon-to-be business partner Alduin jumped off from the treelines towards Falin stopping in within the same distance that the Leonin stood. The armor which is his in fact physical body wasn't wholly intact as it needed repairs but those were what Alduin couldn't do himself.

 

[TanteRegenbogen]

(I am really sorry about the wait. Have been pretty preoccupied.)

"I am in agreement with your proposal. We could gain something from mutual assistance. I shall show you to our village. My people shall learn to tolerate the Leonin and become accustomed to the presence you." Falin said before she began to lead the two to the village. After a short trek, they made it to the ogre village.

The ogres in the village stared at the strangers with curiously. Then Falin introduced the strangers: "These are Alexander and well I didn't get the name of the other one. Alexander the Leonin will be staying in the village to gain our trust to maybe eventually call this his new home. The metal man there possibly lives nearby and would like to trade with us. The human woman with the Leonin is not to be eaten! She will be nursed back to health and maybe be our chance to speak with the humans more."

Falin showed the two the facilities of the village and then led them to set the human woman on a bed in Falin's cave. "If you need anything, just ask away." Falin said to the two.