Rank Disparity
The meeting with the wildlings went as violent as expected. The Swordmaidens and Vandals opted to greet the tribal dwarf nomads without mechs and on foot. They wore medium and heavy combat armor to balance speed and protection.
The armor also helped to distinguish them from the tall and lean forms of the blessed people without appearing too threatening. Nobody knew how the dwarves would react against mechs, so the ground forces kept them out of sight.
Of course, they might as well be ghosts or monsters from the reaction of the savages. The Dwarves all yelled at the first contact delegation before holding up their spears and clubs in a battle stance.
While their men urged their golding mounts to slowly charge forward, their women and children drove their smaller mounts away from the battle.
No matter what the Vandals and Swordmaidens tried to say, the dwarves completely ignored their entreaties.