Shock And Awe. (It's Super Effective!)

[[Ok Cindra, we go with your 'Shock and Awe' plan,]] I instruct mentaly, then turn to Mayfair. "There is a Goblin Encampment on the covered bridge up ahead. Do you, I mean, dost thee, want to hang back, or stick close to me?" I ask.

Mayfair considers for a few seconds then takes my arm. "I trust thee Maista Robin," She says with conviction, and we set off to meet the goblins.

As we get close a lookout on top of the bridge yells an alarm and we all break into a run: Cindra takes to the air while Mayfair and I rush to block the other main exit. The goblins meanwhile ready weapons and form ranks, green and red in the front with Melee weapons and Shields: blue behind them with tridents for spears, and most of the others in the back with Ranged weapons. They are prepared to confront me, but when Cindra lands at the other end and roars, they almost panic. Only their leader, the towering Hobgoblin Chieftess, keeps order in the ranks, bellowing orders and smacking a few people with the flat of her ax.

"Hello guttersnipes!" Cindra begins. "I'm going to make this simple so your underdeveloped brains can grasp it: you can either agree to serve Maista Simmons over there, or we can kill you!" She states loudly.

While Cindra's has the goblins distracted I've gotten my defence spells up, and readied myself to syphon energy from the clogged ley-lines that formed this 'tribe' in the first place...

I needn't have bothered. The tribe's Hobgoblin leaders shout an order and the tribe lays down arms.

"We accept thy proposal Dragoness," the chieftess states, "tell Us Our new Maista's full name and we shall all swear our fealty unto Kae."

"Kae is known as 'Maista Robin Komadori Simmons'," Cindra says to her.

The Chieftess barks another order in Goblin, and all the goblins kneel, then begin to repeat after their direct liege. "I, Bogmaggusha the Venomous, do solemnly pledge my hand, my head, and my heart to the House of Simmons. I swear to honor and obey Maista Robin Komadori Simmons directions and orders to the best of my ability and stand with Kae in the face of all danger, hardship, and disaster. This I swear by the Covenant of Gaia, Mother of all life. Hail unto you to Maista Robin Komadori Simmons, may your house endure forever!" They all recite, and I feel the binding take hold, but, I don't feel the mental connection like with Cindra...

[[What didst thee expect? These are not blood bonded, nor are they strong enough to form a mental connection to thee if they were,]] Cindra sneers.

[['Enough of your bile Creature.']] I mentaly quote Harry Potter at her.

[[What an interesting story, though the magic in it is unadulterated fantasy...]] Cindra replies, both annoyed I'm comparing her to a house Elf and amused by the H.P. franchise.

[[I'm having a mental conversation with a Dragon and she's calling Harry Potter fantasy...]] I think, and wonder for a second how I can be so calm about everything that's happened today...

[[Adapt or die: the oldest law of all living things,]] She replies with a shrug.

Letting that rest I turn to the goblins and give my response.

"I Accept the fealty of thee and thine Bogmaggusha the Venomous. Have thy people collect their belongings and prepare for a journey. We are to travel on to a village which nearby stands and make our obedience to the Republic. I am new come to this land and newer still to being a Monster Tamer so I wish to you, er, Thee to make known to me the capability of thy subjects who are so newly sworn to me and my house as we travel," I say at length.

"AH-GRIP!" Bogmaggusha barks, and the goblins begin packing up thier gear for marching...