CHAPTER XXXIV
in which Haas knocks out a Tusker ...
Stormbringer
The Silver Foxes finish up their conversation with Veckra learning some miscellaneous history and dragon lore from the dragon himself. They learn that Azzura brought humans to the world. That the green dragon is known as Jurlim. That the rift brings nuance to the world. And that Shul is possibly a necessary evil needed for maintaining some divine plan. After their discussion, Veckra mobilizes its troops who head to Brenthia by air. The Silver Foxes hitch a faster ride to the battlefield with the Strombringer who is the sentinal of Veckra. They take his giant snow condor to Brenthia, coordinating their actions with Cadence on the way. When they arrive, they fact check the Centaurs claims that they are moving north to flee some ambiguous threat from the south but find no raiders or bandits or aggressive Theruk forces. They then assist in clearing out the remaining Brenthian holdouts who refuse to take shelter behind the Brenthian gates. In the last town they clear out, they find the Centaurs attacking Brenthian holdouts in the ruined village and provide combat support while Haas intimidates the lot into leaving. Glad, Eierryn, and the Stormbringers elemental and kinetic combination attacks are able to rebuff the Centaurs and give them pause, which allows the group to try negotiations. However, Mouse fails to mentally manipulate the Centaur leader and Elias can't reason with them, even when they're offered the safe passage into Brenthia they seek so long as they relinquish their weapons. Having failed at negotiating, both parties return to their respective camps.
Interrogation
Back inside Brenthia, the Brenthians and Felspar support have finally quelled the wave of Tuskers that had invaded the city. The Felspar command have split opinions about whether this was the main assault or a reconnaissance of the country's structural and strategic weaknesses. Regardless, the entire ordeal has been worrying, considering that LeShrac and his army is just to the south. The Silver Foxes meet up with Sovelus and Cadence where they aren't able to get much useful information from the Brenthians about the Tuskers. They were woefully ill prepared and don't seem to know much about the culture or makeup of the other species they share the land with. The gang decides to go to the source itself, being led by Brenthians to one of the captured Tuskers, Grunt. There, Haas persuades Grunt to lead her and the rest of her party to his clan's chief to hopefully parlay with him, but only if she can defeat Grunt in a one on one duel. She agrees and is able to take down Grunt with her knockout juice. He admits defeat upon waking and agrees to honor her request. The entire situation is so unorthodox that none of the Brenthians object to her taking away Grunt, especially given the ambiguous authority implied by her relationship with Felspar military command.