Scope out the area
From Create Your Own Story
A bit away from the main road you make sure nothing else can take you by surprise. There are some wild animal tracks, but just some deer prints. No wolves or kobolds seem to be around here. You do, however, find some herbal ingredients to make potions. As a paladin you have a good understanding of basic field medicine and simple alchemy. You pick up roots, leaves, and berries and stop by a creek to get from fresh water to make the potions in.
By the creek, you spot one of the animals you noticed before, or at least something that resembled them. A centaur-like creature, but with a deer's body instead of a horse's was stringing up his bow further down the river. Small game hangs from ropes slung over his back, but from the looks of it you don't think he can hunt anything bigger than a raccoon.
He waves to you. Deciding it'd be best not to anger a centaur in his native habitat, you walk down the stream and meet him.
"Wondered when I'd see you," he said, gesturing to your boots. "Spotted your tracks a while ago."
You nod and look to his hooves. "Same here, though I couldn't have guessed you were more than a deer."
He laughs. "True, it helps push away travelers looking for more exciting things than big game, though hunters are still a problem."
"They shoot you even though you're not game?" you ask.
"They think our bones are magical or something," he scoffs, and then sniffs the air. "You have someone else with you? I smell a campfire."
"A prisoner," you explain to him. "He's a criminal I captured, and right now I'm making him work to pay for his crimes."
"Justice must rule," the centaur nods approvingly, but you can tell he's still not happy. "I'll have to tell the other hunters though. Our tribe generally doesn't like outsiders, and even if your intentions are harmless, I think they'll still push you out."
That's not good. You only just set up camp and moving would slow your trip down by a lot. It's clear he's not happy about forcing the situation on you, so you wonder if there's any way to make him consider breaking his loyalty to his tribe just to let you rest for the night.
