Miner Negotiations

Having no support so far for further exploration, Tarmen was a bit crestfallen as he ventured to where the native workers were supposed to be. One way or another, he needed men in the mine.
He saw a small group of them gathered around a shallow fire pit, conversing with each other before quieting at his approach.
Not sure if Balt was the only one who could speak for them, he chose the direct approach.
“Any of you speak my language?”

One of the man looked up at Tarmen seizing him up and spat into the fire. "Dog." He said grinning as the other men bursted out laughing.

More attitude. Great. He questioned his next thought process, but tapping the imps head he stowed the doubts. Doubts got you killed.
He grinned at the insult, regaining his cockiness.
“Good, was hopin’ I wouldn’t have to put much effort into this.”
He drew closer, purposefully kicking a clod of dirt onto the fire as he settled into a crouch.
“So then tell this ‘Dog’ what is in that mine and why you all are so afraid of touchin’ those stones.”

The men around the fire reached for their blades but stopped short once seeing the shrunken head. One made a warding sign against evil, by crossing his thumb over his chest and left eye.

The one who called you 'dog' grinned. "Forbidden" he told you shrugging. Another spoke to his comrade in short guttural sentences pointing at the road leading to the mountain mine.

You could see the fear in some of their eyes

Tarmen chuckled at their agitation. He couldn’t remember how many ‘cursed’ places he had been and it always amused him how superstition stalled even the greatest of warriors.
“Somethin’ about whatever settlement is in there? A lost past?”

The man looked at the shrunken head again. "Fight. Win you give. Loose I tell." He said getting up rolling his massive shoulders. He spoke harshly to the men around the fire who also.got up whopping and shouting.

He was expecting a fight, but he still tensed at how they always demanded what was most valuable.
Removing any loose items, having left his blade in his tent just for this, he looked to his opponent.
“So then what is this? First one on the ground or the first to give?”

It wasn’t hard for Voah to find Tarmen. It looked like he was about to get into another sparring match. She smirked at the sight and at the memory of their spar on the Hogue. Approaching from behind, she did not yet notice the shrunken head of the redcap dangling from his waist.

Before getting a reply the large miner barreled into Tarmen sending both to the ground, lifting a cloud of dust up as they both almost rolled over the Arbiter with them "First blood." The man growled and tried to headbutt Tarmen.

The sudden charge and the savagery of the man awoke a dormant part of Tarmen. The part that found joy in violence.
Laughing in his opponents face, Tarmen returned the gesture, setting his own thick skull against the clansmen’s.

Both heads clashed with an audible thunk, the other clansmen looked on cheering, however a few glared directly at Voah and the presence of a woman with a weapon.

The miner brought his forearm across Tarmen's nose trying to draw blood.

Using the clansmen’s bloodlust as a distraction, Tarmen kicked off the ground to throw him off. Hoping he smacked his face on the dirt, Tarmen still scrambled to his feet. Seeing the clansmen already rising from the dust cloud he had made, Tarmen stomped on his back, relishing the wheeze of air that escaped, before lifting him to his knees.
Looking down with excited fury, Tarmen sneered.
“Show you who’s the dog.”

The man swore in his language grabbing at Tarmen's arm, twisting his body and kicking Tarmen in the knee. He rolled away and got up lifting his fists with a grin in his dirty face

A cry of pain escaped Tarmen as his knee buckled, though it didn’t stifle a hearty chuckle at the tables being turned so suddenly.
So much for showmanship.
Using his hand to brace himself for a second, he gathered some dirt and charged the clansmen. He flung the clod at the man’s head before lowering into a tackle.

Voah looked on wondering just how far this fight was going to go. There was no worry on her face. She knew Tarmen could take a beating, but if there was a chance he was in danger of being seriously injured or killed, she would certainly step in. She still needed to speak with him after all. The stares of the clansmen were not lost on her.

The miner turned his head and closed his eyes to slow before Tarmen tackled him. However the man was much taller and much stronger than Tarmen. He was pushed a few steps back but dug his heels in the dirt, staying on his feet. He reached around Tarmen's waist with his huge arms and using the jungle man's momentum lifted him up in the air with a huge growl. Tarmen flailed at empty air as the miner proceeded to spin his body up and powerbombing him to the ground.

Tarmen head and back hit the dirt hard and all air exploded from his chest. A cracked rib or two probably.

Someone shouted. 'Krov'sh'

Before Tarmen could regain his composure the miner took his hand to his face, his fingers coming away red. The jungle man had raked his cheeks on the way up.

The man stopped for a few heartbeats not believing what had happened, kick some dirt over a prove Tarmen and swore.

The remaining clansman clapped and shouted, beating their chest and two ran to help Tarmen to his feet.

Being hoisted up brought Tarmen back from the void, instinctively thrashing against them until his vision steadied. Nodding his thanks to the clansmen, he realized the Arbiter had been standing for Zin knows how long.
Wiping dirt and sweat from his face, he gave the best smile the growing pain in his chest would allow.
“Arbiter, it is a joy to see you. Just workin’ out a deal with the miners.”
He turned towards the glowering clansmen, now nursing his wounds.
“You. Talk.”