541 Squirrels again?

Geralt leads the group into the forest, looking for those that'd been chased by the Warband. He and see light tracks on the floor but they don't seem enough for the amount of arrows that were being shot...

His ears twitch as he hears a twig break, however it's not on the ground floor where he expected to find it... Above!

Looking up he sees around thirty people wearing dirty ragged clothing, all with drawn bows pointing in his direction.

Geralt "Scoia'tael?" he says in surprise out loud.

Zoltan "I thought they were all done for... 'Specially since the Black ones invaded..."

Suddenly a familiar figure walks out of the foliage, bandana covering his right eye and patches covering his clothing. A special bow rests on his back as he greets them.

Iorveth "Gwynnbleid, I knew it was you even from this distance, not many possess hair like yours." the grizzled elf says, looking much older than Geralt and Zoltan remembered.

Geralt "Iorveth? What are you doing here?" he asks, confused at the man's presence in this region.

Iorveth "Where else would we be? Nilfgaard still hunts us like animals and has invaded the North, the Northern Kingdoms remembers our faces and what we did. We have nowhere, no place to be safe." he says with a sombre expression.

Zoltan "Eh, surely wandering into monster-infested lands is the worst option available to you?"

Iorveth "No, I know ways to avoid monsters. You would be surprised at how much easier it is to evade them than it is Witch hunters or cavalry..."

Geralt "Hmm, so you've encountered the Eternal Fire."

Iorveth shakes his head with a grim expression, "Knight of the Flaming Rose were brutal, but the cruelty of the masses surprises me further. Burning non-human's for even the slightest offence, or even none at all. It only affirms my hatred for the race... Their focus are on Sorcerers for now, but how long until they run out and need another scape goat..." He sighs and changes the subject, asking something he himself was intrigued about. "And what are you doing here Gwynnbleid? The soldiers behind you aren't simply to help you hunt monsters are they?" he asks suspiciously.

Geralt "It might surprise you to find that they are, my long lost apprentice is creating a settlement and needs to clear the monsters to make it safe." he states.

Iorveth "Ah, yes. The son of the White Wolf, even I have heard of those ballads." he says, causing Ciri and Zoltan to chuckle at Geralts unamused expression.

Iorveth "I suppose that makes us enemies then Gwynnbleid, the Scoia'tael have never been friendly to settlements, human ones especially."

Quelaag scuttled forward, shocking the elves keeping watch. "Who said anything about a human settlement?" he asks, Iorveth having a shocked expression plastered across his face as he sees her.

Iorveth "... Forgive me for asking but, what are you?"

Quelaag "I am part-demon, my name is Quelaag and I am one of the leaders helping to create the settlement."

...

Iorveth "And you would do so knowing what the humans have done in the past, what they will do in the future?" he asks.

Quelaag "The race of those around me matters not, only their ideals."

Iorveth "That is admirable, but you cannot disregard Human's propensity for violence and destruction."

Quelaag "Even if that were true, we have means of dealing with it."

Geralt "Iorveth, we cannot allow you to remain in this region if you intend to continue your efforts. Even if you don't direct it towards us, it will lead to Kaedwin or even the entirety of the Eternal Fire to investigate, if they find the people inhabiting Kaer Morhen then we will have a war on our hands."

Iorveth "And you don't wish to fight a losing war?" he states, as if he already knows of the reason.

Geralt shakes his head, "No, because what happens afterwards will mean death and destruction for the Northern Kingdoms." he states with absolute certainty.

Iorveth "How can you be so sure about that? You may have a few Sorceresses and a small army but that is nothing compared to the legions of men they can send against you."

Rhea walks forwards, "Their holiness won't allow those non-believers to trample us, they will bring a rain of death the likes of which none have ever seen. It will make the sun look like a candle in comparison!" she exclaims.

Iorveth raises an eyebrow at Geralt, "You've joined a cult?"

Geralt just shakes his head, "No... Just consider us as having very, very powerful allies."

...

Zoltan crosses his arms, "Geralt, why not just take this lot in? The finest archer and a group of the most fierce combatants would definitely prove useful." he says, having admired Iorveth for his dedication to non-human rights.

Geralt "Iorveth has been labelled a terrorist by most places on the continent, if it were to get out that he's with us then we'd be making our stance clear."

Iorveth nods, "Who said we wanted to join you either, we have been betrayed too much to trust again. First was Dol Blathanna and Francesca, Second was that Sorceress Phillipa who bewitched Saskia... I do not intend to be betrayed a third time."

Ciaran walks in with Sif behind her, "Then you will die. As someone who's led men in the past, I can see you are low on supplies, arms, men and even rest. I give you a couple weeks before you are too weak to defend against the monsters in the area."

Iorveth grits his teeth, what she was saying is true, truth be told they were on their last legs... He didn't even think they'd be able to defeat the Warband that was chasing them, having used most of their arrows shooting down Harpies a couple days before. He takes a look at his men in the trees, some shaking and in danger of fainting on the spot due to hunger and exhaustion.

A low chuckle escapes his throat as he holds his face, "You would take us in Gwynbleidd?"

Geralt shrugs with a neutral expression, not really knowing how to deal with this.

Quelaag "It will be up to Reima and Solaire." she adds, saving Geralt the responsibility of making a decision on the matter.

Iorveth looks down for a moment before finally adding, "Then, I will add my own condition. We will actively seek to free Saskia from Philippa Eilhart's control, if you wish to truly create an equal place for all races, then prove it."

Geralt "Saskia escaped her control years ago, you must've not heard."

Iorveth continues, "Then we must find her, despite how long it's been, she is still a beacon of hope for non-humans." he says, deciding to leave it at that.