Similar to the Mound Tribe, the Leaftop Tribe is located near a titanic insect colony but unlike the former, the Leaftop Tribe housed leafcutter ants rather than termites.

  While also gigantic, the ants here still relied on leaves and trees for food so the inherent risk of a Kobold getting killed by them is slim to none in terms of chances. That isn't to say that a Kobold is completely safe however...

  "They eat meat?" Baskal asked, the guard seemingly confused at the sight of several dozen leafcutter ants- with a few being as big as her torso, - biting at the legs of, and pulling apart an unfortunate Greatwood Scorpion.

  "No, that'll probably get used as fertilizer for their crops rather than get eaten," replied Sylka, "leave the ants be, otherwise you'd end up just like the scorpion."

  None of them were stupid enough to tempt fate and mess with a colony of giant ants so her warning was ultimately useless but regardless, one cannot know the inherent risks of having such fragile minded subordinates like her guards.

  And it's not like she's worried about them building resentment and betraying her so she didn't mind constantly berating them about these things.

  She's already come up with several ideas for how to deal with them the moment she gets a hint of displeasure from the two guards.

  Honestly, if they are like her past praetorians- which is to say, unable to take criticism despite their flaws, - then she didn't feel the need to give them pity for their deaths.

  Before long, they got to their first destination; the home of the more tamer group of Kobolds she would have to talk to for a guaranteed alliance against the greenskins.

  After all, there was no greater motivation to put aside tribal rivalry than the looming threat of death. And these guys are on the precipice of it.

  The home of the Leaftop Tribe was intertwined with nature, in a sense.

  They lived underneath a great canopy drenched in white silk, a roof crawling with orange insects half the size of Sylka's forearm- with a few warriors being larger than half her body, - which also acted as a natural barrier from the weather.

  The underbrush, while damp, is not overtly wet. A stark contrast to the rest of the forest floor by far. It is also infested with ants tending to balls of white, fuzzy mold scattered throughout the ground.

  The insectoids farmers were protected by large warriors and tended to by Kobolds who didn't seem to mind the armored death machines working along side them.

  Sylka passed them all by through a paved road between two large "farmlands". The farmers themselves gave her an apprehensive look instead of disguised hostility, which spoke volumes of just how dire the situation they found themselves is in.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Sylka spotted a stable which housed a decent amount of Treefeller Anteaters. The large animals were on the ground, eyes closed and slumbering carelessly as the world around them moved about within a tense atmosphere so thick, one could cut it with a knife.

  Naturally, the reason for this are the goblins. Those things are slowly gaining power and overtime, would be able to take each tribe enmasse.

  By that point, Sylka feared the outcome for their people wouldn't just end with death. In fact, death would be a mercy compared to a fate of being shackled by a Satyr.

  She and her entourage stopped in front of the largest structure found throughout the settlement.

  Like most houses here, it is constructed between 2 to 3 tree trunks- or several of them in this case, - using sticks and branches tied to their surface acting as racks.

  Leaves, leather, and fabric are then draped over these branches before they are then glued together using the silk produced by the leaf cutter ant larvae. It was a haphazard yet clearly efficient way of construction.

  Sylka was willing to admit that such a method would be useful to have in her own tribe.

  The guards let them enter the chieftain's home unperturbed with the chief and his family already present in the living room and waiting for them to arrive.

  Sylka began the negotiations with a blunt reassurance.

  "Let's cut through the pleasantries-" she and Velkris, the chief's brother and advisor, exchanged subtle nods despite her words, "- and cut to the chase. We have a potion, specifically, my father has one."

  Thrasik curiously raised an eyebrow, "your shaman made it?" The chief skeptically asked, justifiably so, "Trivok is a powerful shaman but I don't trust that what he makes would be good enough to fight half demon hybrids."

  "He didn't make it," Sylka smiled, "we found someone inside the forest some night ago, she is an alchemist, and in exchange for helping her out she gave us a high quality strength boosting potion."

  "And you are sure of this?" Thrasik was naturally suspicious of the potion but what other choice did this Kobold have? Nothing. He needed an alliance now because the goblins will only continue to grow stronger.

  "Yes, I have inspected it myself- in fact, I was the one who had been given the potion in the first place." Smiled Sylka, she hoped this was enough of a reassurance. If it wasn't, then Velkris would vouch for her later.

  And speaking of him, "can I ask who this person is? I would like to meet your benefactor if possible."

  As always, the shrewd old man wanted a quick grab at power when he sees an opportunity to take it. Sylka turned to him, a contemplative look on her face.

  "Thariel, she's a Damphir." Sylka explained, "she was looking for Amori Falls last I heard,"

  Amidst the shocked gazes of everyone, only Velkris was calm enough to assess the situation and read the implications of Sylka's words.

  "She's not going to be able to purify herself with the necklace." Velkris smirked.

  "She isn't- that wasn't her goal." Zyla murmured, "she was looking for the shrine."

  "She has a Plasmononicon?" Velkris turned to their priestess, who nodded. Eyes wide, the Kobold adds, "so the brood is helping us out..."

  "Seems to be," nodded Sylka, otherwise it wouldn't make sense for them to send a Damphir their way. "I think they perceive the goblins as a threat."

  "Understandable given how those things would become pure blooded imps in just a few more generations, the time scale is too soon for comfort. Goblins breed far too quickly." Velkris considered.

  Sylka nodded, "yes."

  Goblins are like that. Annoying pests who couldn't keep their own groins to themselves. She swears those things have large breeding parties every night. Thinking about it is enough to make her gag.

  "How long do you think it'll take before the imps evolve into other demons?" Velkris turned to Sylka.

  "My guess? A year, and that's assuming they pop out right now, which they haven't yet." There are most likely a few present in that tribe of theirs, though their blood wouldn't be as pure as the Satyr would want them to be so they'd only be fodder instead of proper conquerors.

  "A year hm?.." Velkris nodded, "I see, we'll be there when the meeting starts."

  "What about-" Thrasik tried to intervene but a shake from his brother's head was all it took to shut him up.

  "We're not leaving the forest for the sake of escaping with our lives." Explained Velkris, "we have established a life here and rebuilding it elsewhere would just make it harder for us in the long run."

  A pointless task, admittedly. Especially since in Sylka's own perspective, the food and stability provided by the farmland the Leaftop Tribe has established would serve them for generations, essentially turning casualties in a small scale war pointless. However many.

  It is why an alliance with this place would be good. Sylka hoped that she'd have access to the ants the tribe produces as they are a great source of protein.

  Lumprats were also good, but her tribe is too inefficient at raising them to be sustainable in the short term.