Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Oh..." Great so he was going to smelling squirrel for awhile then? That was just perfect. But Randall was mostly surprised at how quickly they came back to the camp, not that he missed it but it was nice to actually be around something that resembled his own kind, even though it was just there to house people to kill other people. "Alright, and thanks for that tidbit of information." Like he wanted to loose his fingers to a giant wolf. So Randall wandered quietly off to the side and sat down once he got his bowl of stew, which was better than eating something raw. As he ate quietly he kept an eye on the wolf, sometimes for its sake, but mostly for his own.

"It wasn't for the elves alone. it was for our men. as much as I would prefer the sword be laid aside, I cannot in good faith let my men be frightened into submission at the magics elfkin can wield."

gesturing for her to eat if she felt the desire to, and pouring her a glass of wine, and one for himself.

"My superiors believe that this woodland place is a prime route in the elvish supply lines. Judging from what I saw today, that hardly seems the case alone. while the forests are sacred to your kin, I've never seen them use those type of constructs to defend a forest,"

A soft sigh.

"give me a reason. some reason, to consider this place something that is not strategically viable. these young nobles and glory hounds want to press into elvish lands...I'd prefer the centuries long relative stalemate. At least then there may be some more willing to engage in peaceful talks. but pushing into your lands, and the subsequent retaliation, isn't going to make that happen."

Taking a drink from his glass.

Randall was happy with the stew, they actually gave him a good portion, so he ate it with glee and did not complain one bit. Though he looked to the wolf when she cracked open the bone and smiled a bit, it wouldn't be hard for her to do that with any type of bone, that's for sure. Though he noticed how the others were looking at them and he frowned. "Oh get back to what you were doing you idiots! Unless you want your commander to make you do laps or something." Fools, all of them. But when Rycek began to gnaw at her bindings Randall snapped his fingers to get her attention. "No, don't." And that was all he said before he went back to eating.

"Knowing means nothing and once long ago, everyone swore by it, no matter who they were. Elf, human, everyone." Giving a once over of his sword however, she did have an appreciation for weapons. "I live alone." But he was pressing. "In that forest, there are homes. The elves you fought in battle are not from here. They were requested when word of your force came. They come from a greater city farther beyond. Attack the forest again and you invoke the villages' peril and the kingdom's ire more." Amber eyes watched him for a momen though, "You can play noble warrior all you want. In the end, no one will listen. Civilians are bumps in a road, sacred caves and items will be seen as ransom. Creatures such as my mount will be sought after for sheer pride of breaking and pelt."

The snap made her ears twitch and she looked back to him, licking her nose as she tilted her head at him. Who did he think he was, trying to tell her no? A single swish of her tail before she leaned her head forward and shoved him to the ground with her nose, returning to her bone.

Running his hand through his hair lightly.

"I serve my home, protect my family. that's why I am here. I am not here to make some elvish mother cry, or make elvish children scream in terror."

leaning back.

"but unfortuntely, I don't have all the power to make those decisions, to make those commands. and those that do, are a bunch of snot nosed inexperienced nobles who take credit for 'great victories' they didn't even so much as lift a banner in support of."

taking a nother drink, adn picking some at the food, little bites here and there.

"Most of the older nobility have lost their power. either it's been taken by time, or the younger nobility force their opinions to the back in political mockery nad maneuvers. so here we sit."

drumming his fingers a moment.

"Can't you help me? we're pebbles yes, in the thick of things. just small stones. but loosen enough small stones on a hillside, and what you get in an avalanche."

"I have obligations to my family and my people."

But he listened, nodding his head lightly.

"you see, there is just the thing I needed. the forest will be cleared soon, and it houses sacred land...pushing on sacred land is not something even those upstarts want to do, because they fear what elves hold sacred. pushing further to the mountains will bring your dark skinned, and far more brutal cousins, whom they also hold in fear."

resting his hands one over the other and his elbows on the table.

"that gives them plenty of reason to leave this area alone. thus if you wished you can have your home here, and not be forced to flee it if you so chose."

He hated being so formaly and militarily so with her, but it was a needed evil in this case. he didn't try to stop her as she left, and waited a few moment after, before coming out of the tent.

"Break camp, we're leaving. everyone's going home."

"Sir.."

"Go home. I'll deal with the nobles. we're treading between two dangerous things that we haven't the force or the need to mess with. The borders between elvish and human lands are large enough that this spot can be left alone."

"Then all those men that died today died for nothing?"

He gave a small sigh and shook his head lightly, before getting himself a stool to stand on.

"Alright...listen to me before we have dissent and would be heroes. Right now, as it stands, we're breaking camp, and you are dispersing to go home. I'm disbanding this portion of the army under my command. You will probably be called right back into service, just not under me."

watching them a moment.

"I have just been informed that the forest we invaded holds sacred caves. and you saw how fiercely they defended them. if we provoke further, who knows what they may do to protect what is sacred to them. Behind us, in the foothills, those mountains looming here are filled with the Drow. We are in no position to be facing either portion of the elven nations, and even less without any magical support. Those that died, died fighting to protect our way of life. But this is a fight we can't win here. So I am letting the rest of you go home to your families. to your children. and with any luck you'll never be forced to shed blood or watch a friend die in combat. I'll explain to the nobility what happened, and why I have decided how I have, and let them chose the next course of action."

stepping down of the stool, glancing at the one that objected.

"that satisfactory to you? now go home."

Hopping up on his horse, not particularly caring about the tent in the least.

"With any luck, we won't see eachother again like this."

Before spurring his horse to start the long trek back to the human capital.