Chapter 4: First Contact
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Captain Lydia Stormwind had seen many strange things in her years serving Whiterun. Dragons, undead, talking dogs, and once a very confused mammoth that had somehow learned to pick locks. But nothing—absolutely nothing—had prepared her for this.
She stared down at the three mudcrabs standing in formation before her, flanked by what appeared to be an entire army of their kind arranged in perfect military ranks. The largest of the three, with a shell that seemed to have metallic properties, was looking directly at her with an intelligence that made her distinctly uncomfortable.
"Captain," Elena Blackwood said softly from beside her, "that's him. The one who freed me. I swear to you, he understood every word I said."
Behind them, Farengar Secret-Fire adjusted his robes and stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with academic curiosity. "Fascinating," he murmured, studying the organized mudcrabs. "Absolutely fascinating. I've never seen anything like this level of coordination in creatures of such... limited... intelligence."
[Multiple humans detected. Analyzing...]
Captain Lydia Stormwind66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSu1NHavLS
Level: 2566Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnwmiJUnBb
Class: Warrior66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSGv8uMWs6
Status: Confused, Cautious, Professionally Skeptical66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DIuBJVc6r
Notable: Experienced commander, values order and logic
Farengar Secret-Fire66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJsdd8FrJy
Level: 2266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueMHDtdvuX
Class: Mage (Specialization: Research, Enchantment)66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGysRBn0ob
Status: Academically Excited, Intellectually Curious66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvIxaIwsCS
Notable: Skilled in mental magic, telepathic abilities
Elena Blackwood66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVJgJpEmlU
Level: 866Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD00Sj54S6Y
Class: Merchant66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn5Uyq5Cth
Status: Nervous, Grateful, Determined66Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiru1j6PEeo
Notable: Daughter of wealthy merchant, natural diplomat
Libra, that mage—can he do what I think he can do?
[Indeed. Farengar possesses telepathic capabilities. This could solve our communication barrier.]
Marcus stepped forward slightly, looking directly at Farengar. The mage's eyes widened as he seemed to sense something.
"By the Eight and One," Farengar breathed, "I'm detecting... thought patterns. Organized, complex thought patterns. From a mudcrab."
Captain Stormwind's hand moved instinctively to her sword hilt. "Explain, mage."
"The creature is... thinking. Not instinctively, but rationally. It's trying to..." Farengar paused, his brow furrowing in concentration. "It's trying to communicate with me. Telepathically."
Can you hear me? Marcus projected as strongly as he could toward the mage.
Farengar stumbled backward, his eyes going wide. "Sweet Talos preserve us. It... it spoke to me. In my mind. In perfect Common."
"What did it say?" Captain Stormwind demanded.
"It... he... asked if I could hear him." Farengar steadied himself, his academic excitement overriding his shock. "This is unprecedented. A mudcrab with human-level intelligence and telepathic abilities?"
[The mage appears receptive to communication. I suggest proceeding with caution and diplomacy.]
Tell him I can understand everything they're saying, Marcus projected. And that I'd like to speak with them peacefully.
Farengar nodded slowly, then turned to Captain Stormwind. "He says he can understand us, and he wants to talk. Peacefully."
The Captain looked skeptical. "He?"
"Captain," Elena interjected, "I told you what happened. This... mudcrab... and his companions defeated eight armed bandits without killing any of them. They freed me and let me go. If they meant harm, they could have done it already."
[The human female speaks sense. However, I detect elevated stress levels among the mounted soldiers. They are prepared for combat despite the diplomatic approach.]
Tell the mage that we're not a threat, Marcus projected. We're builders, not destroyers. We want to establish peaceful relations.
Farengar relayed the message, adding, "He's... remarkably articulate. The telepathic communication is clearer than many humans I've mind-linked with."
Captain Stormwind studied the scene before her: organized mudcrabs, a clean and well-maintained camp, and supplies that were clearly being managed rather than hoarded. "Very well. But we maintain our defensive posture. Elena, you said they had prisoners?"
"Just me," Elena replied. "The bandits kidnapped me for ransom three weeks ago. When these... mudcrabs... took the camp, they freed me immediately."
Ask if we can give them a tour of our base, Marcus suggested. Show them we're civilized.
"He wants to show you around," Farengar translated. "He's... proud of what they've built here."
The tour was a revelation. The humans had expected to find a mudcrab nest in the caves. Instead, they discovered organized storage areas, sleeping quarters arranged with military precision, and even what appeared to be a primitive but functional workshop.
"This is impossible," Captain Stormwind muttered as she examined a carefully maintained inventory list written in mudcrab claw scratches. "Animals don't... they don't organize like this."
[The humans are impressed but confused. This challenges their fundamental understanding of mudcrab intelligence.]
Tell them about the economics lessons, Marcus suggested. Show them the coin organization.
When Farengar relayed this, Tank proudly led them to the treasure room, where the captured bandit loot was sorted by type and value. Gold coins in one pile, silver in another, weapons organized by quality and condition.
"They understand currency," Farengar breathed. "They're not just hoarding—they're managing resources."
"But how?" Captain Stormwind demanded. "How does a mudcrab learn economics?"
That's... complicated, Marcus replied through Farengar. Let's just say I wasn't always a mudcrab.
The translation of that statement caused a stir among the humans. Elena's eyes widened in recognition—she'd suspected something unusual about her rescuer.
"Reincarnation?" Farengar asked, his voice filled with academic excitement. "You're claiming to be a reincarnated human soul?"
Something like that. I retain memories and knowledge from my previous life.
"Fascinating! The metaphysical implications alone—"
"Focus, mage," Captain Stormwind interrupted. "If this is true, then we're dealing with a human intelligence in a mudcrab body. With followers. Armed followers."
We're not a threat, Marcus projected firmly. We defeated the bandits that your guards couldn't handle, and we did it without killing anyone. We want to trade, to build, to coexist peacefully.
It was at that moment that one of the captured bandits—who had been pretending to be more unconscious than he actually was—made his move.
"You're all fools!" the bandit snarled, lunging at the nearest soldier with a concealed dagger. "Listening to animals! They're just beasts!"
The soldier, caught off-guard, stumbled backward. The bandit's blade flashed toward the man's exposed throat—
And was stopped by Tank's massive claw, which caught the bandit's wrist with a sound like metal striking metal. The bandit howled in pain as his wrist bent at an unnatural angle, the dagger clattering to the ground.
Tank looked at the stunned soldier, then slowly extended his other claw in a gesture Marcus had taught all his followers—a fist bump.
The soldier, operating on pure instinct, completed the gesture. The sound of shell meeting gauntlet echoed through the cave.
"Well," Captain Stormwind said after a moment of stunned silence, "that was... unexpected."
[The human appears to be reconsidering his assessment of mudcrab intelligence,] Libra observed. [The gesture was particularly effective at demonstrating camaraderie.]
The soldier was staring at Tank with something approaching respect. "He... he saved my life. And then he... did we just fist bump?"
It's a gesture of friendship and mutual respect, Marcus explained through Farengar. Something I taught them. Warriors acknowledging each other.
"This is all very touching," Captain Stormwind said, though her tone had noticeably warmed, "but I still need to understand the bigger picture. You've established a base, organized an army, and demonstrated capabilities far beyond any known mudcrab population. What are your intentions?"
[A reasonable question. How do you intend to respond?]
Marcus considered carefully. This was the moment that would determine everything.
We want to build something better, he projected. A place where intelligence and merit matter more than species or origin. We want to trade with humans, learn from them, and maybe teach them a few things in return.
Farengar's translation was met with skeptical looks from most of the delegation, but Elena stepped forward.
"He's telling the truth," she said firmly. "When I was their prisoner—the bandits' prisoner—I was treated horribly. But when these mudcrabs rescued me, they showed me more kindness and respect than I'd seen in weeks. They didn't ask for anything in return."
"Trade," Captain Stormwind repeated. "What could mudcrabs possibly have to trade?"
Ask them what they know about the bandits' supply network, Marcus suggested. And their contacts in the city.
The question, when translated, made Captain Stormwind's eyes narrow. "You have information about bandit networks?"
We have everything they had, Marcus replied. Maps, correspondence, supplier contacts, fence operations. We're willing to share it all, in exchange for recognition as a legitimate settlement and trading rights.
"Maps?" Captain Stormwind was suddenly very interested. "Correspondence?"
Sergeant scuttled forward, carrying a leather satchel in his claws. Inside were documents that made the Captain's expression grow increasingly grim.
"These are... this is intelligence we've been trying to gather for months," she said, looking up at Marcus with newfound respect. "Three separate bandit groups, their supply routes, their contacts in the city... this is incredibly valuable."
[The humans are beginning to understand your value as an ally rather than a curiosity.]
We're not just asking for charity, Marcus projected. We're offering partnership. Information, security for this region, and maybe some unconventional problem-solving approaches.
Elena smiled. "I think what he's saying is that sometimes you need to think outside the box. And what's more outside the box than a mudcrab army?"
Farengar chuckled. "Indeed. The question is: are we prepared to accept such an... unusual... alliance?"
Captain Stormwind was quiet for a long moment, studying Marcus and his assembled followers. Finally, she spoke.
"I'll need to report this to the Jarl. But... provisionally... I think we can work something out. You've already proven your worth by clearing out this bandit camp and providing valuable intelligence."
[Success! The first diplomatic contact has been established.]
"However," the Captain continued, "there will be conditions. Regular communication, shared intelligence, and assurance that your... people... will not pose a threat to trade routes or settlements."
Agreed, Marcus projected. We want to be good neighbors.
"Then we have the beginning of an understanding," Captain Stormwind said. "Mage, can you maintain communication with... what do we call you?"
Marcus. My name is Marcus.
"Marcus," Farengar repeated. "A fine name for a leader. I believe I can facilitate regular communication. This is a fascinating development from a magical research perspective."
[The mage appears to be considering the potential for studying your abilities. This could be beneficial for developing your telepathic range.]
As the delegation prepared to leave, Elena approached Marcus one final time.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For everything. I'll make sure my father knows that you're... that you're people. Real people, just... different."
[The human female's support could prove valuable in establishing broader acceptance.]
Tell her she's welcome here anytime, Marcus projected. And that we look forward to doing business with her family.
As the humans rode away, Marcus felt a deep sense of satisfaction. They'd done it. They'd made first contact with human civilization and come away with the beginnings of a real alliance.
Commander, Sergeant's mental voice was filled with pride. We did it. They accepted us.
This is just the beginning, Marcus replied, looking out over his growing domain. We've proven we can work with humans. Now we need to prove we can build something worth protecting.
[Indeed. However, I must point out that not all humans will be as receptive as this delegation. You may face greater challenges ahead.]
"Maybe," Marcus agreed. "But we'll face them together. And we'll face them as equals, not as animals."
[An admirable goal. I look forward to observing how you achieve it.]
As the sun set over their mountain stronghold, Marcus felt a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead. They'd crossed the first major hurdle—now it was time to see how far a mudcrab with big dreams could really go.
The age of the Mudcrab Monarch had begun.
ns216.73.216.133da2
and then Add to home screen.