Confront the wugs

With a rush of courage you stand up in the grass by the side of the road and stride boldy out onto the old trade route. You shout a challenge to the wugs. The creatures come rushing out from both sides of the road. There are nine of them in all, armed with small spears that they thrust at you menacingly as they form a circle. They loudly croak challenges and shake necklaces made from human bones. You definitely have their attention!

"I am an emissary from Elohin!" you declare, hoping your fear doesn't lend a quiver to your voice. "Who speaks with authority for this tribe?"

A wug, slightly larger and meaner than the others hops into the circle with you. He has the top half of a human skull tied with a cord around his neck.

"I am battlecaller Rippo, master of these hunters," he says. "Speak before we feast upon your entrails."

Pleasant fellow.

"The grand army of Elohin will soon traverse this route to meet our enemies in battle. I seek passage for a thousand men-at-arms." You lean towards the wug and bare your teeth. "Or do you not have the authority to negotiate for your tribe?"

The battlecaller croaks something and the other wugs make a loud croaking sound that you take to be laughter.

"Bloodmaster Koorips will be glad to discuss this," croaks the battlecaller. "He enjoys creatures from the beyond lands."

Rippo croaks to his kin and you feel a spear prod the small of your back.

"Hand over your weapons," he demands. "Then we go."

Your only options now are to surrender your weapon and trust them with your safety or to face the long odds and battle all nine wugs in close quarters.