[X] Send a group to talk with the outsiders. See who they are and what they want.
Arth doesn't take long to come to a decision. These unknown men and women may not be the People, but they are not animals either. He certainly wouldn't approve of his hunters treating them like more prey to be slain and brought back for meat, skins and bones.
That said, they are not the People either so while they should not be rejected out of hand, neither should they be embraced and treated like the People for they are not. While it had been generations since any such thing had happened, a few tales remain of the People fighting against men and women who are not People when they were encountered in the days of old.
Arth doesn't put enough faith in a few old stories to let them determine how he will deal with these outsiders, but between those tales and these people not being People, Arth isn't going to welcome the outsiders with open arms like he would if they were People.
He will welcome them, but he shall do so cautiously. Arth decides that keeping the food and hunters at home for now if the best course of action while he shall lead a small group out to talk with these outsiders.
***
Leading Garth in charge of the village, Arth watches the outsiders approach the village with a group of four elders and four hunters with him. While he will negotiate as part of his responsibility as leader of the People, the elders can provide support for him with their wisdom and experience while the hunters can defend them should these outsiders turn out to be hostile.
There are a dozen people in the approaching group, all of them looking like hunters, armed with either spears or bows and arrows, sometimes both.
As the outsiders, Arth narrows his eyes as he realises that not all of these outsiders are outsiders like he thought.
"Sorn!" calls Arth, "Abandoner of family! Why do you return here and with whom?"
The outsiders come to a halt some distance away, pausing as they turn to look at the former member of the People within their midst. While it has been some winters since he last saw Sorn, Arth still recognises the man even after he fled the village so long ago, unhappy with Arth's leadership when he was still so young.
Glancing at Arth, but not meeting the eyes of the People's leader, Sorn instead turns his attention to one of the outsider women rather than reply to Arth's challenge. As the woman turn her focus from Sorn to Arth and the People with him, Arth gets a better look at her.
Tall, muscular and healthy, the woman carries herself with an air of leadership despite being even younger than Arth is and even at this distance, Arth can tell she looks rather attractive and easy on the eyes.
"I am Vryn of the People," declares the woman as she strides towards Arth, clearly the leader of these outsiders, "I wish to speak with Arth of the Sea Farmers."
"I am Arth," replies Arth, "What do seek here?"
"Knowledge and a new future," answers Vryn, "Sorn has told us of his old people, how you live in huts by the river and the Sea lake. He has also told us that you are able to do so by growing your own food rather than relying on what nature provides you."
"That is true," confirms Arth, wondering how much Sorn has told these outsiders of the People.
"The elders of my People wish to have such knowledge and the ability to shape our own future," continues Vryn, "I have been sent to get it."
Sent to get it. Those word make Arth wary. This woman seems to be willingly to do things peacefully, but that wording leaves open the possibility of Vryn and the outsiders attempting to claim the People's knowledge of farming by force.
Maybe they would try taking some of the farmers or grown crops. Perhaps they might attempt to claim the village for themselves.
But if they wish to talk, well, talking is something that Arth is rather good at and he has a talent for bringing people about to his way of things.
"Then let us talk," Arth tells Vryn with a smile on his face.
The Outsiders wish to settle down and set up their own farms after learning about the People from a former member of the People.
[] Reject the Outsiders. They are not the People and shall not lay claim to the People's knowledge and hard work.
[] Teach the Outsiders how to farm and let them set up their own village.
[] Offer to exchange knowledge of farming in return for something from the Outsiders.
[] Invite the Outsiders into the village and let them join the People.