Deep in the forest of the great oak a small group of goblins have made a small ruined town their home. Kragnack, one of the goblins, has a dream of a burning building he can hear crying coming from within. He goes in to check it out. He runs through to find the crying. After throwing a door open a back-flash occurs and kragnak is startled awake. kragnak me and you are to scout nearby town ruins. Alright silver fang gives me the moment I need to find my notebooks. He waits for silver fang to leave, then looks around to see if he's alone. Once he feels it's safe he retrieves his note book from within his hay bed, grabs his beating stick and heads to the meeting fire to find silver fang. So silver fang what are we scouting for we have plenty of food if we find nothing again I'm gonna rip your ear off. Oh don't you worry in the night there was a battle. I'm sure there are lots of dead. I'm surprised you slept through all the noise. What noise are you talking about? I slept like a baby. Well you see there was a lot of marching nearby so I was sent to check it out I saw a small number of knights heading in the direction of that old town where the old lady lives. Ooooooooh that place is creepy. Hopefully they killed her. I want her Shinnies. Yeah let's go. The two head off toward where the ruins of the old town are. The bodies of the knights lay strewn about the dirt street. Kragnack feels a strange force pulling him towards a building at the end of town this one looks pristine as he opens the door he hears a crying and it hits him this is the house from his dream last night he walks through the house to the door. He cautiously opens the door as he pulls the handle the crying stops. A female voice calls out to him. Kragnack I need your help come save me. He peeks through a small slit in the semi open door. He can see a slender looking figure sitting on the bed, her head turning to the door meeting eyes with kragnack. She stands up moving into the light. Kragnack now sees her true form charred and decrepit. As she walks towards him he slowly starts to back away in fear. The house ignited into flames leaving him with no escape. He musters all the courage in his small body. Look miss I need to go find my friend I'm sorry I can't help you. She lets out a soft comforting laugh as she steps out of the light her skin and complexion returns to its original beauty. Caramel colored skin with dark brown hair. She caresses his face. My poor little friend didn't you get my message as you slept. I want to give you something as a gift for the most interesting goblin I've had the pleasure of playing with. What do you mean playing with us miss. Miss wait who are you. You can call me Tirion. I've been watching you and sending you the occasional voice or point in the direction of treasure. Would you like something special my little lovely. Y..yes miss Tirion. She pokes him in his eye and her form turns to a Smokey mist. She let out a creepy laugh and the mist flowed into his eye. The pain is excruciating his eye turns black as night and his body grows increasingly warmer. Kragnack lets out a blood curdling scream as the heat and pain pulses through his body a blast of fire comes from his hand and throws him into the wall. The explosion brings the walls down around him as he falls unconscious. His mind is filled with runes and script. At first it's indecipherable but it soon becomes clear these are the workings of a spell it tells of a combination of force and fire to be expelled from the user. After more script comes to mind but he is unable to decipher the words he wakes surrounded by his clan. the elder approaches him be still my son. Are you feeling alright? Uhh yeah I actually feel better than I ever have. Have a look at yourself my son. The elder hands him a hand mirror. Kragnack looks at himself. His face and body are covered in black veins, his eye a deep empty black. He throws the mirror to the ground. What ah. Clam yourself I'm sure the danger has passed you where sleep for 3 days. 3 days I guess that explains why I feel so good. A female goblin in a cloak steps forward. For some reason I feel like it's a little more complicated than that. Do you remember what happened to you.yeah I got a gift I guess. Kragnack's body seizes and his skin turns a pale green. Everyone runs, he's gonna explode silver fang screams frantically and runs out of the room.The female goblin grabs the elder and pushes him out of the room shutting the door. They wait on the other side for something to happen meanwhile Kragnack sees Tirion sitting in the corner of the room. Well we'll well I guess I chose correctly. What do you mean by that? I mean you didn't just implode. What I could have died. Awww how cute, strong and smart,but look here. I used my magic to connect you to the world's energy. World's energy huh what's that. The world's energy is the source of all magic. When I connected you. You touched primal magic. Most would have been pulled to their affinity and assimilated. Assimi.... yeah assimilated drawn in and made one with the primal force. In your case you were strong enough to survive the process gaining power. I can assume your affinity is flame just like mine. The flame is one of the most destructive of the primal forces. There are six different forces of primal energy, the flames,the rivers,the sediment,the winds and the forces of life and death. You can have an affinity for more than just one primal force. Unfortunately you do not have the means to test for affinities but first we must find you spells. Well Tirion I think I have one. While I was sleeping, weird words filled my dreams. I could read most of it. I think it was the same spell I used when I touched the primal magic. Hmmm..that's strange I've never heard of that sort of thing happening. How interesting you truly are fun and with those words she vanished into a black smoke. Kragnack catches his breath. The elder opens the door. the female goblin tries to stop him. Father no it's not safe Lilly please let an old man take care of himself. I'm sure we are all out of our depth here. Yes sir. Lilly steps back and lets her father by. Kragnack my son, do you have any idea what's going on with you. Well sir I believe I have been in contact with something called primal magic. I have the ability to control magic and I have an affinity for the flames and apparently I was supposed to die the other night now that witch Tirion can talk to me at any time I think... whoa whoa calm down kragnack. Sorry sir I'm just a little uncomfortable with recent events. I understand but take a deep breath and think about it. You've been given immense power, you may be the strongest in the village now. We shall have a feast,but for just rest. I'll leave Lilly here to take care of you should you need anything. She moves forward, pulls back her hood and bows. A courtesy rarely seen in goblins. Sir, should you need me I'll be right outside your door. The two leave and let kragnack rest. He takes a moment to think about what he's been through. Magic huh. I always thought it felt different. More tingly or something. All I feel is fear and uncertainty and I don't really understand the whole primal energy thing could I really be so strong so rare as to survive contact with such energy. All this thinking is making my head hurt. Kragnack lays down and drifts off to sleep. He's awakened by a gentle nudge and the smell of freshly cooked stew. Sir I brought you a meal and some water. How'd you sleep? Kragnack sits up and rubs his eyes. Compared to the last few days I'd say it was a pretty peaceful night. Lilly now getting a better look at his new features sees the true severity of his gift. I hope the pain wasn't too unbearable. Kragnack swallows down some stew. It felt like my skin was melting off me. That's terrible. Lilly kneels down on one knee, grabs her necklace and starts to pray. I pray for your safe passage through your life and all future journeys may the night mother keep you wreathed in her shadows and lead you to the greatest of spoils. Kragnack bows. May she guid you as well. The elder requested that you meet with him this morning. The two head to the elders hall. a small ruined inn that's been transformed into a goblin throne room. it's decorated in the best of the goblins' findings. Coins and silver cups and plates filled with food and drink. Kragnack my son, we have come to find that you have the blood of a warrior. I have decided to send you out again to the lair of the spider queen. She has been a thorn in our side for many years. She has made hunting impossible. She kills our kind for Fun. I feel we now have the power to strike back. You shall go to her lair when you feel comfortable with your new abilities. Lilly will accompany you. Father I.. I have decided that girl not another word. I will do my best to learn my new ability and rid us of this problem. That's all I ask of you. Kragnack turns to leave. Wait kragnack Lilly will accompany you from this day forward. Lilly follows him out. I'm sorry about this. It's alright Lilly it only makes sense. The spider queen is now the weak one. If we succeed we will officially own our surroundings. I understand that but do you believe you will be able to kill her and her spiders. I'll try my hardest. I believe with this new power gives me the upper hand. Can you even control it? Well I haven't had time to practice it. How about we go try it out on some spiders in the forest. Well that would give me a chance to see what I can do. Grab your gear and we'll head out. The two head out towards the spider infested forest outside of their town. So Lilly, how do you feel about fighting with me? Well I'm not very good at fighting actually. I spend most of my time praying to the night mother. But the night mother's teachings tell us to raid and plunder. Wouldn't that take a bit of fighting. I know of her teachings I...I'm afraid to fight. The sight of blood makes me freeze.my father has kept it a secret from the clan. Ever since my first kill even hunting has been hard. How did he keep it a secret we all have to go on hunts for the clan.well you see when I go hunting. I catch squirrels and rabbits and bring them to my dad then he kills. Wow. What. You're spoiled. I can't do it. Then why are you with me? I mean what are you going to do in there except get me killed. I don't know!I don't know!!! She walks directly into spider Webs. shhhh.. we're here. They look around and see two spiders approaching from the tree tops. Well use your spell. He puts up his hand and recites the script from his dreams. His hand gets warm as he can feel the energy culminating in his hand. But nothing releases a spider spits web at him he jumps to dodge it but the web hits his legs leaving him unable to walk as he scrambles to get the webs off Lilly runs. one of the spiders follows deeper into the forest. Lilly no get back here!! Kragnack tries to crawl in the direction she ran in when he is pounced on by a spider. He manages to hold the spider back from biting him. Ugh!! Gods help me. I can't die here when I survived actually exploding. The moment flashes through his head the intense heat flowing through his body. The violent release of magic energy. His skin starts to heat and he completely explodes. The explosion blows away a couple of surrounding trees. The spider completely disintegrates. In the distance he hears Lilly screaming he gathers himself and runs off towards the screams. Ahhhh kragnack help he's got me I'm bein.... kragnack comes upon the spider wrapping Lilly in a cocoon of web. He draws his dagger and charges the spider. He manages to tackle it off of Lilly. He attempts to stab the spider but it jumps away hissing and it spits acid at him. He rolls out of the way and darts behind a tree. He holds his hand out and recites the incantation. I got it this time. He spins around the tree and feels the heat build up in him and he feels it leave his body. I huge bolt leaves his hand destroying the spider and colliding with a tree and explodes. (The bolt was about the size of a teen human.) He turns back and cuts Lilly loose. You may be useless but you are good bait. That's terrible to say I could have died. Did it bite you? No! Well your fine get up. Kragnack helps her stand up cuts his hand and wipes it on her face. She completely loses it. She screams at the top of her lungs and kneels in the fetal position. Images of a human raid come to mind as she's hid under a pile of hay two male adventures kick down the door her parents jump to the ready the elder brandishing a short sword. You never make it out of here alive you human scum. Oh look here we got a lively one. The mayors said one silver per head right we're gonna make out like bandits today and it was so easy. Hahaha. Lilly tears streaming down her face holds her hand over her mouth to keep from making noise. One adventurer jumps towards her father he steps back and swings his sword missing. The other adventurer comes from his blind spot and kicks him in his ribs breaking a few. He lets out a labored wheeze and kneels down. Aw what happened you feelin a little under the weather. He walks over to his wife and picks her up by the hair. She screams and scratches for his face. Wow they really fight like they want to live hahaha. He pulls out a dagger and jams it in her stomach and pulls it to the side her organs start to spill out. No. The elder tries to jump to attack and gets held down by the other human. I think that was his wife haha. Well take a nice long look she's gonna die. The other one comes over and bends down next to them. I commend you staying strong for so long. The elder at this point just growling in anger. There we go back to your beastly roots. At that moment a blade comes plunging into his neck he grabs her and flings her into the hay next to Lilly and bleeds out on the floor. Lilly lets out a sad yell. Noooooooo!!! Mama!! The elder bites the man's hand in his confusion and tries to attack. The man pulls his blade and backs off now with fear and trips over his buddy. Lilly looks over at her dad and one thought came to mind. Murder!! Murder!! Murder!! She springs out of the hay grabs the dagger from the neck of the adventurer jumps up and drives the dagger straight into the chest of the last adventurer. She violently thrusts over and over again. Her father passed out on the floor unable to Console her. She stabs until she can no longer mover she falls asleep covered in blood and gore. Kragnack pours his water skin on her and she snaps out of it. Hey we gotta go. Get your shit together. She wipes her face gets up and walks with him what the fuck is wrong with you. Payback you almost got us killed idiot but I gotta say I didn't think it was that bad. We gotta do something about that. I can't do this. Kragnack I just can't. OK I get it that was really fucked up I'm sorry i shouldn't have done that. No you don't just get to apologize what you did was uncalled for I get it I'm useless! I get it I'll only get you killed but what am I supposed to do. Huh tell the elder no tell my dad his daughter is useless to the clan. She starts to cry. Whoa whoa Lilly I get it but you have to listen. Your not useless you're just a bit damaged OK. I assume that you have a real reason to have such a powerful reaction back there. It's OK we can work through it just calm down. Just leave me alone OK. Alright but know I really am sorry. The walk back was silent and you could suffocate on all the tension in the air. By the time they arrived back at the village it was late evening. The village is bustling with the conversation of goblins. The two split ways and kragnack heads to his room. Man I really shouldn't have done that. Tirions voice can be heard, oh yeah that was really fucked up. Why would you do that? I don't know Tirion. I was just upset the magic didn't work right then I had to chase down and save her. Why would he put me with her and send us to kill the spider queen. Well maybe it's a throw them to the wolves sort of situation. Yeah throw your daughter and the newly awakened wizard with barely a spell to the wolf spiders. You know what I'm gonna talk to the elder right now. Kragnack gets up and charges to the throne room. He throws open the door and begins to speak loudly. I have a few questions for yo.... elder? The room is empty. Kragnack searches around the room and finds an open cellar door. He can hear a voice coming from inside. Elder? You down there? He starts to walk down the stairs. Sir should I come back as he gets to the bottom he sees the elder in the cellar adorned in a black robe decorated with the sign of the night mother a moon with a hand across it. He begins to talk. Oh night mother may your darkness shroud is from our enemies. May the nightmares flow forth from you granting all who are weak never ending fear. He raises his hands and moves over to an altar. On the table where he was chanting lay a body. Covered in a white cloth. The elder lights all the candles in the room all made from a black wax. He begins to chant again. Oh night mother I come to you with a gift. The gift of body and soul. He pulls a scythe out of his robe. A black energy swirls into the room and engulfs the blade. Kragnack felt a very unnerving chill come over him. The elder begins to speak again. Night mother I give to you my most prized possession. He pulls the sheet back. Lilly lay underneath naked and still. She is holding her amulet of the night mother in her hands. The elder raises the blade high above his head. Kragnack tries to stop him but he's scared speechless his fear for Lilly is overwhelming every fiber of his being. The elder plunges the blade down. the room is filled with a black miasma. A female voice can be heard creepily whispering. Well well the pact has been formed the goblin known as Lilly now belongs to me. She shall be rewarded with strength of heart and fear of nothing. elder light bone do you accept to sell your soul to the endless nightmare. I accept night mother. The miasma flows into Lilly. Kragnack passes out. He hears the voice as he falls unconscious. Well boy I see you watched all of that. I will ask of you this watch over the girl see to it that she realizes her true potential. As he sleeps his mind is filled with the runes of the fire spell sections begin to glow a deep purple and change to primal magic of death. The second set of runes start to decipher the first half depicts the manipulation of the soul after death the second half teaches how to control the primal forces of death Magics. He wakes in a cold sweat. Oh gods was I dreaming? I need to go check on Lilly just to be sure. As he heads outside things seem pretty normal. Goblins chatting and wrestling with each other. He gets to the old inn, takes a deep breath and heads inside. The hall is a bit tidier than usual otherwise it's pretty Normal. At the throne he can see the elder relaxing having a drink. Next to him stands Lilly in her usual garb a brown tattered robe with her hood up. The elder notices kragnack and greets him kindly. Ah my boy what brings you are you here for Lilly off to do more training? Well girl what are you standing there for. Lilly heads over. kragnack meets her gaze and feels that familiar chill run up his spine. Lilly oddly stands at his side saying nothing but looking straight at him. Kragnack awkwardly steps back. Uhh well I guess we could go. He keeps an eye on her as they walk through the village she seems to be observing her surroundings quite intently. Hey Lilly are you ok. She just stares at him blankly. Umm. Is this about yesterday I really am sorry. I guess I was just overwhelmed ya know. The whole magic thing and the spiders. I know it was really fucked up to treat you like that. We are a team, more importantly we are clan mates. I should have just helped you and got you back safe.she looks at him and tilts her head. Her expression is one of confusion and intrigue. Well, are you going to say anything? She utters a soft whisper. Scared. You're all scared.she walks to the outskirts of the village. Well are we going to train or what. Aren't you eager I thought you hated fighting. She shoots him a cold lifeless look. I don't hate fighting, I'm afraid of it. Isn't that the Same thing Lilly. She walks towards the trail to the spider queens forest this time leading the way with her weapon drawn she moves with precision and care as they enter the forest webs everywhere they come across the bodies of two male adventurers. Drained of all life. She offers a prayer and begins to loot one of the corpses. Kragnack begins to loot the other he picks through the pockets securing a few gold coins and a piece of paper. The paper is a bounty for the capture of a few spiders from the area due to be delivered to a man named knock for a reward of 50 silver pieces.he begins to unfasten the Armour when Lilly pushes him to the side narrowly avoiding a shot of web from the shadows. It's a trap, be vigilant. I knew something didn't seem right about this. Spiders climb from trees and the surrounding forest completely surrounding the two goblins. This looks bad Lilly. Ah I can feel your fear radiating boy. Follow me she leaps to the closest spider without hesitation bringing a sword she picked up from the adventurer into the face of one of the spiders clearing the way the two run past the Body deeper into the forest. The spiders give chase. Kragnack turns and blasts the front two spiders with flames completely incinerating them. They continue to run until they are met with a rocky wall with the spiders quickly approaching from the rear. What now Lilly. Follow me kragnack. She runs along the wall following it to the east. They can hear the increasing number of spiders getting closer when Lilly pulls kragnack into a small opening in the wall. It seems to be an entry tunnel for the spiders; the two lay still motionless and breathless. As the spiders pass. After a second the spiders can be heard no more. Lilly crawls deeper into the tunnel. Hey where are you going Lilly. Shh..... follow. They crawl for quite some time in the small damp tunnel and eventually come across a medium sized room. Covered in webs and cocoons. Oh god you've led us to their feeding room great we're right where they want us. Lilly walks over to a small cocoon and cuts it open. a small goblin falls to the ground barely alive. She has thick black veins surrounding bite marks on her neck and her skin is in the process of turning grey. What's going on here something's not right. Lilly open up some more and let me look over this one. Kragnack bends down and examines the young girl. Her breathing shallow and labored her eyes completely blackened. He touches her neck where the bite is and is instantly filled with a familiar feeling of power. This is magic. This is not good. We have to save them. Lilly brings down a couple more bodies. All goblins, all women. We can't carry all of these bodies through that tunnel. I know but we can't very well leave them. Some of them are from the clan and the others are still just young girls. Well what do you suppose we do. Our job we end this here. I don't know if you remember just a second ago when we had to run for our lives from a group of spiders but I do. I know I know we just need a plan. I'm all ears. Look I'll worry about the plan for now you stay here and get the rest of these open. I'll scout around and see what I can find. OK don't you get yourself killed and if you do at least take a few out with you. Will do. Kragnack throws up his hood and leaves the room. He walks down a long damp corridor. The smell of rotting flesh permeates the air. In the distance he can hear a voice humming a sweet melody. He clings to the wall and peeks around a doorway there he can see a room furnished with elegant furniture, a large bed and wardrobe cover the left side of the room and on the right sitting in a chair facing a mirror sits a beautiful Elven woman brushing her hair. Her eyes a deep ruby color. Her hair is as white as spider silk. She stops humming but continues to brush her hair. She lets out a long sigh. You know it's rude to spy on people. I know you're over there come on out. I won't hurt you. Yet. Kragnack steps from the shadows quaking with fear. She looks at him through the mirror. How cute a little goblin has made his way into my bed chamber. Why are you here little one do you wish to feed my babies. Uhh... I'm... here to st.....stop you. Hahaha stop me. By yourself. She snaps her fingers and Kragnacks body moves on its own over to beside the woman and kneels. Stout see to me it looks like you wish to serve me. Kragnack struggles internally but can't even manage to control where he's looking let alone escape from the spell. Hmm.... there's something strange about you young goblin. You are absolutely radiating primal Magic. Her eyes pulse with a purple hue. There's also a familiar magic coming from that eye of yours. Tirion takes control of kragnack. Well well well if it isn't the princess. Tirion? Indeed. Why are you speaking through him? He's a friend of mine. I can see why you'd like him. His connection to the primal forces is the strongest I've ever seen. I was going to make him mine but I'll leave him to you. Are you still in that old town? Unfortunately I was found by the Thalian empire now I'm laying low. What are you doing here? Wouldn't you like to know? Mother wants me to make more for her army. So you've been using the goblins to fill your army using some kind of magic. Yes. It's a kind of metamorphosis. It changes them into something more agile and cunning. A humanoid spider. They come out stronger than they ever were before. What's the catch? Well it's more of a safety feature more than anything. If they try to attack me the spell sends a powerful neurotoxin through their body making for a painful death. Hmm... I gotta say that's pretty smart. Thank you. I can't take credit though mother made the spell. I just use it. Now tirion seriously why is he here? He wishes to stop you. Hmmm that's pretty annoying. What's his plan? He doesn't really have one he was going to try to kill you but he couldn't even lay a finger on you so just take it easy on him. Ok I'll take it easy on him but I will have to punish him. Do as you wish but remember you and your mother owe me. For helping with that town a few years back without my help those thalian subjugators would have turned you two into pets. I know. I know. That's the only reason I am even willing to help him at all. Tirion leaves his body and the spell fades bringing Kragnack to his knee. What is your name little goblin? Kragnack. Ok. Kragnack you are very lucky you have a friend in common. So I won't kill you and feed you to my pets. Instead I will join forces with you. Uhhh... what? You heard me. I will help you but first you must bring me to your village elder. Ummm.. ok. Should we go now? Let me grab a few things then we can go. She stands up and starts to pack a small bag with cloths and other assorted goods. Oh and grab your friend I think she's been alone long enough as for the girls you guys found they're safe I can assure you of that. They just need rest. Kragnack quickly scrambles back to the cocoon filled room. Lilly is down on both knees in front of about a dozen female goblins offering a prayer. LILLY!! Let's go now. What's wrong, why are you yelling? Are you being chased? No. Don't worry about it for now you just need to follow and leave the girls they'll be fine it'll all be explained when we get back to the village. She looks puzzled as she follows him to back to the bed chamber. Alright kragnack we all ready. Yes miss... uhh what's your name miss? Hmm call me Marcy. Alright Marcy we're ready to go. They leave the cave winding through a system of tunnels and nesting rooms the rooms covered in pods and spiders. As they reach the final door a large spider approaches Marcy. What is it dear ?the spider lets out a hiss. Oh my babies are almost here good tend to the ones behind my chambers would you. The spider hisses again and scurries off toward the back room.shall we go. What is that spider going to do to those girls? He's going to continue the process it's to late for them now all they can do is be turned and use what strength it gives them. Lilly pensively stares at Marcy. Lilly come on like she said there's nothing that can be done about it but I promise we will help the ones who are changed become better than ever just you watch. She sighs pulls her hood up and marches forward staying ahead of Marcy and kragnack. The three make their way through the forest at a pretty good pace. As they enter the village. The other goblins are noticeably unsettled by the outsider.they make there way to the old inn. the a few goblins ready themselves for attack. wait!!! she's with us. she is from the forest nearby she has promised to help us from here onward. Is this true witch? Yes it is little one . My name is Marcy i am a sorceress of the great spider matron. With her abilities i have been able to raise a small force. What kind of force is this you speak of? I'm glad you've asked. You see my force is one of elegance,beauty and power. I have taken a few of your girls and made them into spider kin they have been given a little power from the matron. I will hand the girls over to you on one condition. The elders face now twisted in to one of displeasure and anticipation. what is your demand sorceress? I wish to live and work here with you all. The elder now thoroughly confused. You wish to live and work with us? But why? Well you see this one here is special he has access to something very rare. Something that very few encounter in there lifetime so i wish to help see where he can go. uh... ok.. a goblin runs in screaming. Spiders Sp.. spiders everywhere!!!! oh don't worry about them they're just bringing my luggage and those girls.a wave of spiders. rush through the doors and broken windows. the spiders are all carrying various items a few come forward and drop down the cocoons.a few goblins run over and start to open them. I wouldn't do that if you want them to survive. give them a few days. are there any quarters for me available or shall i be staying with kragnack? we will find you your own space . What will you do about the spiders Marcy?oh i'll teach your people how to use and communicate with them as an added bonus i'll keep a few on patrol around her this place will now be the safest place in this forest. He points to two guards and tells them to prepare one of the best buildings for the sorceress. They hurry out and Marcy follows. kragnack we need to speak. kragnack looks up hesitantly.Everyone else leave us. lilly you may stay if you wish. she scoffs and leaves with the rest of the goblins. kragnack now stands alone with the elder. kragnack my boy. you have surely been blessed by the nightmare. Do you trust her though? I have a feeling we can trust her elder if she wanted to kill me she would have. Keep a close eye on her if she makes you uncomfortable. For now I need to rest. Kragnack walks out of the inn a little angry. Why would he ask something like? That she says that she'd help. Why not just accept it? Deep in thought kragnack bumps into Lilly. Oh! Sorry Lilly. I didn't see you there. I wasn't paying attention. There is no need to apologize. I didn't move out of your way. I saw you coming. I was just wondering. Why you are the only one? Huh?? The only one who has moments of fearlessness. Everyone in the village even that Marcy woman is always a little scared but you have these moments where you lose all fear and it's like nothing scares you anymore. How is that? Uhhh what? Kragnack blankly stares at Lilly. Umm.. OK you have to explain what it is you are talking about. Lilly puts her hood up and turns away from kragnack. Well you for a while now I've been able to kinda feel another person's fear. It honestly discussed me at first looking around and feeling nothing but fear from everyone. It made me feel like everyone was just as weak as I used to be. I felt like there was no one here who could protect this place we call home but out in that cave when you came back to get me. There wasn't a trace of fear in you. That gave me a new hope for our village. With your help we'll be stronger than ever. I thank you for giving me a glimpse of true fearlessness. She walks off toward her house. Kragnack sits by a fire in the middle of town and contemplates what she meant for a while. Ha. I guess I've got a new responsibility now. I'm going to take this village to places it's never been. Kragnack spends the rest of the evening by the fire relaxing and recounting how he gained his magic with some of the younger goblins. Gazing up at the stars he begins to think about the last dream he had about his spells. I wonder what I can do with the power of death and what does it mean?I thought I was only attuned to the primal force of fire. Man all this stuff is so hard to understand. I'm glad I survived but couldn't I have lived a more normal life. He lets out a deep sigh. I also have to figure out what's happening to Lilly. I wonder if it has anything to do with that ritual. Well I guess I'm gonna be real busy for a while. He gets up walks home and goes to bed. he wakes up early in the morning and heads to the armory a old locked storage room of the inn this is where all of the loot and money the goblins collect is hidden. he begins to look around for a while he finds a book that catches his eye its bound by black leather with a gold gem in its center. he picks it up and opens it. the pages are covered in runes as he reads it as if the pages speak to him and convey all their secrets . a wizards spell book i didn't know we had one of these. this is what ill take. He heads to his campfire and grabs some of the food cooking on it. he spends the morning reading over his book he can't seem to understand any page after the third one its as if he is being blocked by the books magic.but he does manage to add two more spells to his memory. the first is a spell that will help the user understand the magic hidden in a object. The second a spell that greatly reduces the effect of incoming fire damage. He heads back to the armory to test his new identifying spell. he gets there uses the spell and he finds that a sword and shield glow a faint purple along with a set of robes and a piece of paper.as he focuses on the word and shield he finds that the sword was infused with magic from the force of wind to speed up its user the shield was infused with power from the force of the sediment to increase its sturdiness in combat. wow that's pretty useful i should tell the elder about this but first let's find out what's up with these robs and that piece of paper . he inspects the robes they protect the wearer from ingested poisons completely.The elder would be impressed by what we just had laying around. he picked up the paper and ink started appearing scaring him. he drops it to the ground and the ink disappears. what the hell? he picks it up again and ink starts to appear he watches as the paper is slowly filled with a map leading 2 day travel deeper into the mountain to a mine on the back is written you must secure the forge and mine should be easy it's been locked for years signed Bart. well Bart will do sorry about your friends.he runs to the elder. Elder there is much i have to share with you. i found a spell book in the armory inside i found a spell that allowed me the ability to understand magic items. i used it in the armory and found a few items that could be of use first i found some robes that protect the wearer from ingested poison and a magic map that leads to a mine deeper in the mountain. oh my what a great find anything else i also found a sword that makes its user faster when wielding it and a shield that is magically reinforced we should distribute those around so we can increase our overall strength how will we distribute them kragnack? why don't we have a little tournament those who wish to prove themselves get chosen for the expedition and outfitted with a magic item. that sounds great a bit of fun as well. i'll give lilly the shield and the winner will get the sword. the doors are thrown open. sir they've hatched. what have? the girls they have all hatched. Marcy wishes to speak to you both. they hurry out of the old inn and follow the goblin to Marcy. she is standing in a large room filled with beds. About 20 girls in total had been turned not all goblins there where an elf and a human also sleeping all had their skin turned a pale grey from the process. Oh my gods what is this? these sir are the ones who turned. all given different amounts of power based on their compatibility with the magic but i assure you even the most incompatible creature is greatly improved. all sense heightened speed vitality strength all higher that they have ever been for these people. Good pick 1 they shall compete in the tournament and pick 3 more to accompany kragnack and Lilly to this mine he has found i need that place secured and working for us. it shall be done. with that the elder leaves. Marcy looks to kragnack you know my girls will defeat anyone of the goblins who come to fight them in the tournament. you may be right but this gives the elder a chance to see just how strong his new army is. Well I look forward to the look on his face. the girls start to wake up slowly one by one. they are given clothing and food. They are also told of what happened to them. All of the spider kin are unfazed by what they are told. the human woman laughs and says this should be fun i bet i could take all the rest of you girls with a hand tied behind my back. This causes an uproar. The goblin girls all surround her. You think you can take us all we'll see about that and the girls all charge her she skillfully dodges two hits as she lands a blow on another sending them flying off their feet. the girl grabs the two that swung at her and throws both of them into the crowd. Enough!!! you human what is your name kragnack yells. Sarah bright heart what are you good at. Well I'm a pretty good carpenter or I was. i was also an adventurer for a short time.i see how would you like to come with me on a little expedition? Now that seems like some fun. OK first you'll have to win a tournament tomorrow good luck. kragnack turns waves and waves good luck he says as he leaves the building and heads home.The event starts early in the morning. The first few bouts are nothing special, just some regular goblins with no real organization or fighting prowess, then the first spider kin steps into the ring just a circle drawn into the dirt with some rocks around it. She is up against Sarah brigh heart. the goblin spider kin looks to Sarah and curses at her. Sarah brushes it off nonchalantly which manages to bring the goblin to pure rage the battle starts and the goblin rushes Sarah but she simply jumps over her saying do you really think some lame tactic like that would work on me. the goblin girl snarls and whips back toward her and moments before her punch lands. Sarah turns unleashing a kick directly into the blind spot of the goblin sending her flying unconscious into the crowd there is a long silence and some goblins raise spears and knives. the elder stands. lower your weapons she won fair and square.he begins to clap.bring out the next fighters the battles are all pretty close between most of the girls then a big male goblin stands and enters the ring. bring me the human female i shall show her true strength . Sarah looks to Marcy,Marcy looks to Kragnack . kragnack looks over to the elder and says sir what do we do gorc has a very wild temper. the elder waves his hand and says gorc do you think your rudeness will be tolerated here. elder that bitch thinks she's so superior to us then she should fight the strongest of us. very well so be it but if you lose you shall be made to accompany her and made to be her servant. and when i win she shall be made my pet. Sarah lets out a violent laugh and steps forward into the ring. i want to have a little fun here what's your name. Gorc its going to be fun breaking you girl.'' The fight starts and for the first time Sarah moves first closing the gap between them faster than groc can exhale leading with an uppercut straight to his stomach he violently vomits onto the ground. She backs off and with an axe kick plows his face into the ground leaving him groaning. she pops her neck and laughs '' pfft i thought it was going to be a fun one i guess you're just as weak as the rest.she turns to walk out of the ring and he limply grabs her ankle you... haven't won yet. his bones start to crack and his skin starts to change color to a dark red. the elder stands in awe finally they have reemerged. groc slams his hands into the dirt and lifts his head he stands with not a scratch on him and spits in front of Sarah ``ahhh i see so this is what i felt from you had i been the old me you'd have me beat here but with this new spider kin shit i have you're about as strong as my human form. she puts her hands on her side and says i'll give you the first hit. Groc says first I have a new name goroc miss Sarah not just his body but his whole demeanor has changed no longer the rage driven madman now he stands poised and ready for combat. So this is what I felt now how about we start the show. shall we miss. They both rush each other letting out a flurry of blows each one hitting harder than the last. They both jump back and spit up a bit of blood,but it seems that groove is the only one brought to his knee haha I thought with this new found power is at least be able to hold out longer than this. He steadies himself and stands tall. So I guess this is my last attack. He holds out his hand and it is engulfed by this red pulsating flame. ah so i guess it's time to get serious i see.'' She takes a deep breath and squares her posture. she holds her hands out as if she is holding a two handed long sword they moves in faster than he had been moving the entire fight. he enters her range and she whispers something before she sidesteps his attack and steps towards him and swings her hands down and as if there is a blade in her hand his body is ripped open spraying blood across the dirt. She kneels next to him and lays her hands on him; the cuts and other wounds are closed and his eyes open. She helps him to his feet and says you put up a good fight but if i was to lose to you i would have disgraced the bright heart name. The entire crowd is dead silent as the elder walks out to the pit.so not only do we have a hobgoblin but we also have a paladin knight joining our ranks. Kragnack steps up and asks the elder.sir what has happened to him. Well kragnack you see the goblin known as groc is no more. He has transformed through sheer will power in the face of near death. He is a new creature entirely he is now the hobgoblin Goroc. the hobgoblins are a race of goblin somewhat rare usually clans have like two or three in there ranks but our clan hasn't seen one for years this is a good omen and Sarah here is somewhat of a divine knight her abilities are something we could never cultivate on our own although we could gain the power with help we are not inherently able to speak with healing gods our connection is to more negative gods. more importantly that sword art is from a knight family am i correct? Yes, how did you know? well I have seen a few sword arts in my day. Hmmm. well that's interesting a monster seeing a sword art and living to see another sunrise. hahaha what a spunky girl. you shall teach us the sword arts cultivated by your family. she looks at goroc and sighs i guess i can i mean you guys have basically saved me from death or something worse. losing my divine help so i guess until the day the goddess leaves me i'll help you out. she points at Marcy and says oh yeah your control over me has been severed by my goddess. so I make my own decisions but I've had a lot of fun here so i'll stay but the moment i see something i don't like I leave. you may have caught me off guard last time but now I'm stronger and i know all your tactics.'' She stands and wipes the dust from her clothes. I'll tell you who i am and where i come from as i told you before my name is Sarah bright heart of the bright heart knighthood my family owned a bit of land near the kingdom long story short we were betrayed and left for dead. so we left to find a place we could protect again i guess. So now you know me i hope we can help each other.Goroc stands and kneels in front of Sarah ``I am yours to command. Sarah slaps her hand down on his shoulder and Whispers to him you are free from your bond with me, keep honing your skills in battle and you may yet defeat me. She stands and walks over to Lilly. I have been told by my goddess to hone your skills we will start your training after the mission to now connect with your goddess and cultivate your powers The elder obviously shaken by the way she has just addressed them all. uhh... i Lilly is in touch with a deity. she laughs oh i mean she should try to talk to one that she knows like the night mother. she walks toward a broken building with a broad table this'll be perfect for my work. bring me an ale. I work better when I'm drunk.''the elder waves his hand and a goblin runs off to find some. The elder walks up to Sarah and asks what she is doing. well do you expect a knight of the bright heart family to live in this dump I'm no contractor but my expertise plus a bit of grunt work from your men i'll start to rebuild here this will be my workshop and home. Lilly spent the rest of the day at home thinking about what Sarah said to her. i haven't been able to pray for the last few days. all i can hear is fear and terror from all around me it's so loud. i haven't been able to feel fear in a while even when i was fighting i wasn't afraid instead it was an eerily safe feeling. night mother please show me your terrifying plan. In that moment it all goes silent.all she can hear is her breathing then she hears it a creeping whisper enters her mind. child you must calm yourself and listen to individual fears. pull them to the forefront of your mind. she focuses on the words drowning and stabbing and in front of her plays out two different things first a goblin is looking for fish in a river they see one and go to get it the lose their footing and are swept away in the water where they are pushed underneath the water struggling to get some air they finally lose consciousness. The other goblin is running frantically through the forest outside of town when a tall human cuts them off and throws them to the ground. They struggle to get up but it's too late and they are pinned to the ground and stabbed through the back until they bleed out. she snaps out of her visions gasping for air and confused. she hears the voice again.'' Good now draw on those fears to twist the minds of those who dare to look you in your eyes. Her eyes turn a deep purple and glow so bright the light the dark room. There is a blast of divine energy and she is knocked on to the floor unconscious. she is woken up by a swift kick from Sarah and the elder yelling. NOW SARAH YOU MAY BE STRONG BUT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO WHATEVER YOU WISH!!! Calm down old man if she couldn't take a mere kick to the ribs the sword arts would most likely kill her. Idiot get up get your shit and meet me at the pit I'm going to see how you do in a fight. oh and no magic shield.Lilly now seething with anger gets up grabs her things and heads to the pit. standing there in nothing but baggy pants and wraps over her top holding an ale. that's it girl show me your anger will probably get you killed in battle so i'll teach you now to control it. Now pick up your blade and show me you fighting spirit girl. your really starting to piss me off. she swings wildly becoming nothing more than an annoyance. girl is this really the extent of your fighting knowledge just swing around like a wild animal that may work on unorganized foe but those who really know there stuff will chew thru you like wet bread. Lilly swings again and Sarah side steps her and slaps the back of her head with the ale without spilling a single drop. square your legs more and straighten your posture swing with the entirety of your body give yourself more mobility don't be to stiff. as the training continued Lilly began to pick up some skills she became better at judging the distance she could cover with a strike and she could also recover from a strike faster although she still faced other challenges. she is knocked to the ground by a punch in the chest and before she can stand Sarah sits on top of her and dumps her empty ale mug on top of Lilly whelp it looks like your time is up go get a drink and some food then go train with your divinity I'm going to ask you to focus your mind. Tell her you are ready to receive all knowledge of her power and try to really understand the role you play for her. oh and child good job today.Lilly wipes herself off and stands but has no sign of disappointment or anger just drive and a want for battle the adrenaline pumping thru her felt wonderful it made her hair stand on end.without fear she can now fully enjoy the perils of battle. with her new found confidence she walks to the altar to the night mother and says \. oh night mother mistress of nightmare grants me the knowledge of your power so that i may truly understand what it is you have called on me for please i beg of you show me the terrifying plan of the night mother. the same voice from the night before begins to speak. Child, I see you are ready to take an oath and become a true knight of terror. swear to me that you will spread fear and terror to all who would oppose you.swear to take my name as your own. I swear night mother I shall be your child of nightmare then in front of her manifests a smokey goblinoid figure it silently holds its hand out. she takes its hand and the figure seems to be sucked into Lilly and she hears the night mother again. excellent child that is your first reward step one on your long journey to terror knighthood you may name him what you wish.in her head a single name is said Kragnack then her eyes shine a brilliant purple and a tattoo appears on her hand. call to him when you need aid and he will be there. His link to you cannot be easily broken. Take care my child.she spends the evening going over its capabilities. At first it seems pretty useless. I can't take a whole lot of damage and she can only call upon it three times. on her third time however she notices something very peculiar as the sun starts to fall and night descends upon her home the figure vanishes in the dark. wow you might be useful yet.lets go you shall keep watch in my room as i sleep. The next few days are spent training and planning. At last the day for the mine raid has come Lilly,kragnack,Goroc,Sarah and two other spider kin set out with riding spiders are ready to head to the mine. They head out early and spend the next two days on the road.they arrive at the mine to find a couple of carriages. the horses startle at the sight of the spiders. Sarah gets off her spider and calms the horses; she checks the back of the carriages; they're empty and don't look to have been used in a while. The horses are tied to a makeshift feeding trough roughly made of metal.as they enter the mine they can hear a faint banging in the depths of the mine as they walk deeper the sound gets louder and a foul odor reaches their nose. Oh gods what is that stench. Sarah steps to the front. Everyone get your weapons ready, that's the smell of rotting bodies. they slowly make their way through the mine finding empty rooms and working shafts. down one shaft close to the source of the noise they find a pile of burnt bodies. Sarah and Kragnack investigate the pile. there's about 12 bodies or so. Sarah this isn't good. this isn't any sort of magic i can see. kragnack we should deal with this carefully. not only are they burnt it seems they fought someone quite adept a sword play.all of these people have only been hit in vital places. Sarah i have a new spell everyone back off real quick kragnack utters a spell he had been theorizing.he waves his hands over the pile and bodies start to rise soon 12 zombies stand ready to fight. he begins another spell and carves a rune into each of their heads.alright.... he turns to face the rest of his party and they are all dumbfounded. uh i guess i should explain while you all were fighting and training i was spell crafting my understanding of death and fire allows me to create spells like raise dead and an explosion of fire. I have used both of these spells on the bodies you see here don't worry they will only explode if i will them to.they all stay well away from the bodies as they shamble past deeper into the mine. the banging gets louder and the mine hotter they get to the end of the final shaft the banging is now ear shattering. they can hear the muttering of a deep slow voice. by the fire of my forge may this blade never dull in battle. Kragnack peeks into the room where he sees a tall broad figure that seems to be completely made of metal. He whips back around and says I've never seen anything like this. We may have a problem. he sends the zombies in, they rush the metal man and explode into a violent boom. rocks metal and tools are thrown about the room. there is a violent scream from inside then a laugh. do you really think you could hurt me with that you fools. Sarah charges forth and swings her blade at the metal man he stands tall taking the hit like a breeze of wind. He laughs you've got spunk kid that almost cracked my armor. Goroc comes from behind Sarah with a blade covered in his aura. The swing slices clean through the armor of the metal man he stumbles back and a bolt of flame shoots through the room and strikes the metal man it pushes him back but otherwise does nothing. flames have no effect on my body you foolish wizard. he looks to Goroc. Now you are a bit troublesome i guess i should get a bit serious he holds his hand in front of his chest and a black and silver blade emerges. it looks to drip with shadow. he swings for Goroc but Sarah jumps in the way and blocks the strike. it clangs against her sword cutting almost clean through it. oh now now i misunderstood you are the strongest here. Lilly looks directly into his mind pulling out his deepest fear the metal man steps back shaking and lowers his guard as a small gnome man materializes he taps on the metal mans chest and says kal you know i must go i'll be back for you in a while just continue to craft and hone your skills don't let anyone take this place from you. this message replays in his head over and over. Everyone steps back and takes in the situation. Sarah looks at the rest of the group and says Girls go back and tell the elder what happened here get Marcy and bring her here. Lilly how long can you keep this up i don't know hes fighting it pretty hard and I've never really used it on anyone. That's fine just do your best kragnack set up more of those runes we don't need to beat him we just need time. Time we need two days. I know we just need to trap him in this room long enough for Marcy to get here get to work Goroc help me do as much damage as possible we need him to believe we are still fighting. Lilly shouts wait just let me try something. she drops her spell and calls out to the metal man. Kal listen to me Kal stands down we are not here to take this place from you we only wish to talk. i know how afraid you are. YOU KNOW NOTHING GIRL!!! Kal yells loudly. she walks forward. I know more than you think you're afraid you'll never see him again aren't you. STOP!! No kal i am here for you i will always be here for you we all will. you don't have to be alone anymore. I am not alone. Stonefleck will return. We both know the truth he has probably been dead for years he left 100 years ago. He..he. I know Kal said he'd be back he promised but the world out there is cruel. especially to those who are kind. I have also lost someone close to me. she pulls the memory of her mother dying forth and plays it for him. I was so afraid for many years but then Kragnack changed me. He helped me. let me help you.she walks toward him kragnack yells for her to stop but she ignores him she drops her shield and her sword. she gives Kal a hug and he drops to his knee as a memory plays in his head of the first time stonefleck showed him to forge as he slammed the hammer down on to hot metal for the first time he feels stoneflecks hand on his back he hears stonefleck guide him. he says to Lilly. I have a flame inside of me but I've missed this warmth for quite some time. He puts his sword away. I apologize to you all for my rudeness. kragnack approaches it is i who must apologize to you kal i attacked you first you were just protecting your home i ruined somewhere quite precious to you. i will help you get it in order i'm just glad you didn't kill anyone. Don't worry about helping me. I will put things in order. I must ask what brought you here. Well I found a magic map and followed it. We are rebuilding a ruined town two day ride from here. we actually could use a blacksmith.we would more than welcome you there we don't have any empty homes yet but you could bunk with anyone you wish. It is fine. I do not sleep thank you kragnack. Let me think about it. I just want to make sure it's right for me to leave here. Lilly puts her hand on Kal. Is it alright if i stay with you. Yes miss Lilly i would enjoy the company.also kal would you mind setting up some sort of trade for the metal in the mines. sure if i do decide to join you will have full reign of the mine. kragnack leaves with the rest of his party. heading back to the town. Kragnack heads directly to the elder to report.Elder we have a bit of news we found the mine there wasn't much in there but we did find a metal man named kal. we fought a little bit but Lilly managed to get kal to calm down and give joining our side a bit of thought. Hmmm. you think him joining would be worth it. sir i think if you want the mine it's the only way.He said that if he decided to join the metal in the mine is ours to do with what we like. he is also a blacksmith it would be good if we could secure some better weapons for defense and hunting.okay i trust you kragnack.where is lilly? she stayed behind to convince him to join us.without her i believe we all would have died. she deserves all the praise for this one.well we still have to see what this kal decides. ye sir. kragnck leaves and goes to his house. He lays down and reflects on his new life he holds his hand up and produces a steady flame i was useless out there i need to improve and expand my magic. In about three days time lilly returns with kal riding a golden metal horse. They ride up to the elders hut. Lilly gets off and heads inside. After a moment she exits with the elder. He raises an eyebrow. Hmmm..... so you are the one known as kal I've heard a lot about you in these last few days. Welcome to our little village Sarah the human woman you met is helping us rebuild and expand. What do you think? Kal looks around and sighs. So this is what happened to the town of Wolfram. They were nice people. They worked hard as he walked over to a round house where he has a memory of children playing with him teaching him games and how to draw. I used to bring shipments of metal her for my creator. He wasn't a people person plus he could only carry so much. I happen to have a gem in my chest capable of holding 600 lbs of iron. He bends down and picks a budding flower as another flashback of a festival of harvest. He came with stonefleck to drop of a shipment and have a little fun. He remembers one of the children placing a crown of flower buds with many buds and 7 fully bloomed flowers on his head. She explained that it was customary for children to wear this to symbolize their growth. The number of bloomed flowers referred to the child's age once the child reached 15 they would no longer wear the crown and would be given a job and role around town. He looks to the elder. With a somber look on his face. I will help you and you may work the mine. I see no problems there. But may I ask to pick my home. The elder nods. You may kal. He walks slowly over to the broken down house kragnack calls home. This one. Kal might I ask why this one. An old friend used to live here she taught me everything I know that's not blacksmithing. He walks inside having another flashback of the girl who gave him the flower crown now she's older around the age of 19 or 20 she seems excited she's dragging him by his hand into the hallway they get to a door and right as she opens it kragnack comes out. He jumps. Why are you in my home? Kal looks at him and says this is now our home. I shall share it with you or you can leave those are the only two options. Also that is my room now. Kragnack, not looking to piss off the metal man, steps aside. Sure but let me get my things first. He grabs up his books and clothes. He takes them to one of the other rooms of the house now being renovated. Kal starts to pull things from the gem in his chest, a set of tools, some metal and a large lockbox. Elder. Yes kal what is it? Would you mind if I was Lilly's protector from this day forward? I don't see why I would please be my guest. Thank you sir now if you'll excuse me it'll take me some time to outfit your people proper gear most of your people are outfitted with decayed equipment that wouldn't last very long in actual combat. That's very true we thank you for joining us and appreciate your enthusiasm to begin working. A commotion can be heard outside as Sarah yells for the elder. He runs over to the middle of town where Sarah has two tied up soldiers. Elder looks like we have two Thalia's spy's. What are they doing so far out here speak spy's what brings you this far out. One of them spits toward the elder. I'll not be answering to the likes of you. I'd rather die than tell you anything goblin scum your nothing but a demi-human nothing but a beast. The elder smiles. Well us beasts can do some pretty terrible things when we need to take them to the cellar and get me lilly tell her I have a job for her.lilly is brought to the cellar where she finds the elder and the two men. The men are shackled to the wall by their wrists and their neck. Lilly I need you to get all the information you can from these men. You'll get nothing from us. Oh I guarantee you she will get you to talk. The elder walks out of the cellar leaving the three alone the two men spit at lilly. She takes off her gloves and sets them on a nearby table. She picks a knife up of the table and without saying anything walks up to the men she slowly slides the knife against the cheek of one of the men. He looks unfazed and willful. I'll give you one chance to just tell me everything you know and what you're doing out here. Ha... do your worst.she looks him straight in the eyes. Her eyes flash a deep dark purple. The man is thrust into darkness he is surrounded by undead crawling towards him. He screams violently. Lily's eyes flash again and the undead fade away and are replaced by a demonic form purple with black horns it approaches him and grabs his throat. He feels as if he is choking. What are you doing to him what's happening the second guy now scared has no idea what's going on unable to see a thing. The demonic form grips the man's throat tighter and tighter the man starts to lose consciousness when the demon disappears. Now totally frightened he begins to plea for his life. Please spare me. We are a scouting party from Thalia. We have been sent this way to look for strategic locations to set up camps along the border of drakon. We are from a group called the forward sword lead by a knight named Lucius Staford he leads about 100 men. They are camped about a day away if we don't check in by tomorrow they will come looking for us. They will kill you if they find you. I told you everything please just don't hurt me. The other guy sits silently beside them shaking. Lilly pets the man he jerks away in fear. Good boy thank you for your help. Now for your punishment for spitting at me. Her eyes flash over and over again. Showing him everything he fears after an hour both men had collapsed from stress. Lilly heads up stairs where the elder is patiently waiting. Did you learn much? Yes sir there is an army of 100 men from the Thalian empire. They're about a day away if these men don't check in they will come and kill us all. This is troubling news. I must ask you to call a meeting of our strongest members tell them it is of great importance and they must be urgent. Lilly leaves and returns with kragnack kal Sarah goroc and Marcy. They all sit in the old hall. The elder sits at the head of the table let's out a big sigh. We have a big problem. As we speak there is a Thalia's scouting army camp about a day away. That is where those two are from. They say that the army will act if they find out we are here. They have an extreme hate for Demi-humans like us goblins. So I know their words are true that's why I must put forth a question. Shall we leave or fight. There is a pause as everyone looks to each other. What are their numbers? Sarah asks. The elder looks to her and says a knight named Lucius leads about 100 men. Kal scoffs and says. Leaving is the only option. Thalia is a terrifying empire; they take what they want and could care less about who owned it first; they are a pure human empire with no interest in non-humans; they have been known to enslave all other races. Even if we killed the 100 soldiers they would seek revenge and I doubt they will send 100 more men they'd seen 10,000 to take retribution for their losses. Kragnack stands. I will rally our people to get them ready to move. kal would you mind helping gather things up and ready for transport. They all dispersed and got to work after hours of gathering and moving finally they had rounded up everything. Kragnack helps gather the last of the goblin children together. When he collapses, falling unconscious he sees the land start to move around him taking him to a clearing about 3 hours out Thalia's soldiers marching in their direction. He jolts awake as kal stands over him. wizard are you ok ? He rubs his head. Yeah I think so but I'm more than certain we don't Have any time. Left and they'd catch up within a day. I must inform the elder.kragnack jumps up and runs full speed toward where the elder is; he enters the broken inn and sees the elder packing; he starts to speak but is stopped. I know we don't have time but I need you to listen. I saw exactly what you saw. That was a warning from the night mother. She tells me that you are strong and you have promised to see my daughter grow just as strong. What do you mean to say elder. I shall be staying behind to give you all time. What? they'll kill you! I don't have much time anyway boy my contract has reached its end. Contract? What contract? There are things in this world that are stronger than any empire young one. I suppose you have talked to her the night mother she calls to us both and is connected to my daughter. I will die here today that is certain but I need your help to save the rest. You must turn this place into a trap for them so that once they step foot into this place they explode. If these people catch you guys you will Face a punishment worse than death for no other crime than being Demi human. This knight captain is one of the most cruel out of their ranks he loves nothing more than the subjugation of Demi humans. Kragnack looks to the elder as he's about to speak when he hears tirion's voice. He is right the thalian empire hates Demi humans they treat them worse than slaves if they catch your people they will all be killed in some pretty gruesome ways. He lets out a sigh of complete defeat. What should I tell your daughter. The elder puts his hand on kragnacks shoulder. Tell her I always loved her and always will. Tell her to see the world and let go of the pain she carries also tell her I'm sorry I couldn't see her grow into the powerful knight I know she'll become. Now I must be going. I must commune with the night mother. He turns around and just like that he's gone. Kragnack heads out of the inn and talks to tirion in his head. How am I gonna rig this place to blow I've never done anything on that scale. She replies that'll be easy my friend. She shows him a picture of the town with symbols placed around the town and connected with lines and runes. Kal taps him on his head. Little mage did you not hear me. what did the elder say. I need you to take everyone to the border and get them to safety. Where is Lillith? She is over with the children trying to soothe them. Thanks kal get everyone started on moving I have to do some things here then I'll be right behind you all. Yes little mage I'll get things moving. Kragnack runs and finds the children with Lillith. Lillith is playing with the kids and making them laugh and play. Lillith can I talk to you. She stands up and waves to the kids and tells them to meet up with their families. She turns to kragnack. What's going on where's my father. The thing is he's staying behind. What do you mean staying behind I have to stop him? She tries to run toward the inn but kragnack stops her. Listen there's nothing that can be done at this point. He is talking to the night mother. At that moment her eyes start to glow purple and her consciousness is taken to a dark and creepy version of her childhood home. Where the event of her mother's death play out in front of her. As her mother dies she hears a prayer to the night mother. With my death I pledge my soul to you so that you may look over my child. In this moment her mom's soul is wished away in to a dark dripping portal and a burns into lilith's soul. A black sun rising over a rose directly over where her heart would sit. A soft and creepy voice starts to speak. My name is cabbrik bloth nice to meet you miss. A man wearing armor the color of blood pouring into gauntlets and boots with tips the color of the darkest shadows. The chest piece stamped with a black sun rising over a rose. His hair dark and slick. With skin the color of ash. his eyes the color of lavender. He bows to lilith. I have been sent here by the night mother to protect and aid you. All you need to do is call my name and I'll lend my aid. She snaps back to reality. She stumbles forward and passes out. KAL!!! Come quick get her on a spider and head out we're out of time. Kragnack runs for town. I'm sorry Lillith I'll tell you when you wake. Your father loves you and can't wait to see you reach your potential. Kragnack burns the runes into place and traces the magic circle as he finishes. The elder steps from a dark portal into the middle of the circle. The loud sound of the thalian soldiers marching can be heard in the distance. Elder I m going to go now I'll never forget all you've done for us. Kragnack son I want you to have this it is the symbol of the elder the duty is now yours. Protect the people with all you have also make sure you protect her for me. I want to see the type of person she becomes. A bag falls in front of kragnack he picks it up. inside are two things one is my wife's ring i want you to give that to lilly. The other is a parchment that will help you understand what exactly happened that night with lilly. the loud sound of footsteps grow louder as torches can be seen through the forest. go now kragnack before it is too late. He begins to run out of town heading for the others .The army reaches the edge of town. led by Lucius, a human man dressed in the finest thalian armor with long wavy blond hair with tanned white skin.the army walks into the center of town. Lucius sees the elder and approaches sending men to look around the ruined town. where are the rest of your people you filthy goblin. I hate how you filthy things look so scrawny. you things always look as if all you eat is scraps. you mutts are worth nothing. all you are good for is being used and thrown away.nothing but a stain upon this world .The elder raises his hand and points to Lucius. you are the one who is nothing. it is your kind that is filth and a stain upon this world.your empire breaks and beats down all you get your hands on .the thalian empire is the stain on this world. Lucius kicks him right in the stomach sending him sliding across the floor .He walks over and steps on his throat. I see we have a lively one. How dare you raise your hand to me, you filth. for your insulting words you will die here today. Lucius viciously stomps down on the elders neck. slamming him into the ground. there is a bright purple light that emanates from the mangled body of the elder. forcing Lucius back and on to the ground. After the light fades a woman stands next to the elder and offers her hand.he takes it. his wounds heal over. the woman looks over to lucius.her eyes glow a bright purple. flooding lucius's mind with his worst nightmares and deepest fears. he grabs his head and rolls on the ground the men around him stand in fear unable to move.one fearless soldier screams and charges forward. he strikes the woman. his body is ripped to shreds and thrown all over the place the other soldiers scream and lower their weapons. the mans parts and viscera are sucked back to where he was standing. his body was reformed and all the pain of that hit him at the same time he lets out a blood curdling scream and falls to his knees and starts to weep. Lucius scrambles to his feet and yells to his men. raise your weapons she is nothing. you cowards. he turns to look at the woman again and she is standing behind him. who are you to call a coward. how many of your own men have you left to die to save your own hide. i know your fears i know what its is you are most afraid of. you are nothing more than that scared child who watched his parents torn to shreds by elven soldiers. that would breed an undying hatred in anyone. lucius screams. You bitch! how dare you.he swings his sword and cleanly slices through her throat. oh young boy. Today is not your time to die she fades away into shadow and summoned 20 malformed goblins. her i have helped where i could and taken my payment. the elder grabs his chest and lets out a pained scream. his body starts to twist and form into a hobgoblin. one much bigger than goroc. he charges lucius and strikes. Lucius easily dodges and counters cutting off a few fingers on the elders left hand. Lucius holds his sword up high and exclaims. Disabling cuts he flashes behind the elder and strikes his tendons on the back of his legs all the way up his back. dropping him to his knees. did you really think you where going to beat me you filthy fucking monster.the elder laughs i knew from the start you would win i wasn't fighting to kill you just to give my family and friends time to escape. you thought you where so smart so much fucking better than us the whole time you where standing in his trap. Who's trap? A large toothy smile comes across the elders face. who you ask why the lowly goblin named kragnack. as he finishes all the runes start to glow a hot orange. the air around them starts to get dry and hot as the magic circle fills with the same glow. magic but how? how do the likes of goblin posses such things?as the circle fully lights a bright flash comes from the center of the circle the explosion envelops the two the elder in his final moments sees Lilith running towards kragnack and the others growing into a beautiful goblin woman. she turns and gives him a smile. They all give a sad wave goodbye. He then sees his wife walk through the blinding light giving him a hug the light fades and he is in another realm she holds him for a few seconds and grabs his hand taking him into the darkness. The explosion can be heard for miles and seen through the night as a small flash.The elder was wiped clean from this world but Lucius lay on the ground among the bodies and rubble with one thought in his mind .Kragnack I will find you and I will make you my slave. his body in tatters the right side of his body lost to the explosion.he faints due to the pain but his mission is clear: find kragnack and take everything from him. kragnack hears the explosion in the distance but doesn't look back. his heart hurts from the idea of destroying his home and losing his mentor and friend. but now he has no other choice but to move forward and catch up with the others. He runs through the night to find them using his tracking skills; he has little to no issue doing so when he finds them they are camping exhausted from the journey. they all gather round and Lilith steps forward. what happened, what was that explosion. i set a trap for the thalian army i rigged our home to blow at the sound of my name and waited till i left to activate the circle.What of my father? I'm sorry he stayed behind to give us time. I assume he is now dead.she sighs but doesn't cry. She doesn't even flinch. She just sits kal goes over to her. Little one it is OK to cry. Kragnack puts his hand on her shoulder and pulls out the bag he puts his hand in but it's empty. What ?how? there should be a ring in here. he checks again and like that the ring appears in the bag. its magic. i'll have to check this out later but here Lilith this is from your father. he said...she interrupts. that's my mothers ring. he also wanted me to tell you that he loves you and can't wait to see the strong and powerful woman you become. he will be watching over you for the rest of your life. right beside your mother.her body begins to shake slightly and she begins to quietly weep kal scoops her up and takes her to her tent. kragnack addressees everyone else. with the passing of the elder he has granted me title of chief i will swear to use all of my power to protect your lives and belongings.he clenches his fist and throws it to the sky we have long to go till we reach drakon until then we are fugitives from the thalian. i need all able bodied strong fighters willing to lay down their lives in sacrifice for those who cannot.the men and women of the tribe raise their hands and their voices cheering for kragnack. they disperse with excitement and a new found drive. some hours go by and they pack up to head out again for the long journey ahead of them. the next few days are filled with training and marching.many of the goblins sought out ways to make themselves physically stronger through personally carrying some of the heavier gear.a few of the goblins have even asked Marcy if they can undergo the spider kin ritual she explained that the ritual is very dangerous and can even kill some of them if they aren't strong enough so she sent most of the goblins who asked to go train their bodies by the end of the week she had started the ritual on only one goblin. Goroc and Lilith trained in swordsmanship with Sarah and Goroc took a few goblins in to try to push them to their limits. By the end of two weeks on the road he had learned how to grow an aura around him.making his swings and strikes faster and stronger than ever he could now fell a tree with an ax in only one swing. Meanwhile Kragnack spent time meditating and devising spells for future use. He had inspected the bag and realized how the magic worked. the complexities of the spell used where much to hard for him to understand at first,but close to three weeks in he had figured out that he could use the spell to bend space in anything with a shut-able opening creating a small pocket dimension. he realized the more complex the spell the more power and intensity of the outcome. using this idea he asked kal to craft a hilt with no blade. kal although confused as to why he would need a broken sword. as kal so elegantly put it. he crafted the hilt and gave it to kragnack. kragnack put together a series of runes and magic circles for the hilt. his first couple attempts were complete failures. His goal was to make a powerful stream of fire come from the hilt. All he could manage was a small gout of flame like a flame spell but he fine tuned the amount of power and the symbols used and by the time the second month of travel was almost over he had made it a blade made specifically for him. It used his magic and focused it into a stream of compressed plasma like fire. He played with the solidity of the blade till it felt like a real sword swinging through the air. the blade itself was so hot anything it touched would ignite on contact. kal looked on with surprise and excitement as kragnack had made his first artifact. kragnack do you know what you have just done? That blade there would be considered a magical artifact. that item there is worth thousands of gold. kragnack drops the blade in surprise. thousands?! Yes, thousands little one. can you make anything else or just that blade. you know kal i haven't really tried to make too much but the only magic i can use is reanimation and flame magic come here little one can you decipher the spells that made me immune to your flame. kal you're brilliant. kragnack cast identify and begins to read the spells put on kal. The runes flood his mind; they are some of the most complex spells he's ever seen although that's not saying much. he asks Tirion for her help in deciphering the runes.she snaps at him i am not your personal decoder you must learn magical rune making at some point although you have made more progress than i thought you would by now so i will reward you this one time boy. thanks Tirion have i really done better than expected of me. Yes ,but don't let that go to your head, you still have much to learn. Now quite while I work.she begins to focus on the runes and unlike when kragnack tried the runes slowly and more uniformly floated as if she was in control of the flow of information. Ahh i see that's what I've been feeling this whole time. What is it Tirion? well you see this person was not exactly made by magic. Is he magic in nature? yes. But is he made from the same stuff we use? no. he has more of a divine presence to his magic . So are you telling me you can't replicate it? Ha. what do you take me for some half wit mage who just learned spell making. just be quiet and pay attention. she rearranges the runes and some start to change into other runes. What are you doing? Don't you need those?you see kragnack i'm getting rid of the divinity in the spell and deriving a spell that you can copy its basic spell making i really must teach you these things i've never really been a good teacher. the spell stops moving and she sighs there it's done now it wont completely nullify the flame but it should greatly diminish it. A word of wisdom Kragnack doesn't tell him of his divinity in my experience if they were supposed to know they would and getting in the way of a god's plan will only end bad. he snaps out of his haze. well how'd it go you figure anything out. kragnack hesitates for a sec. ah yeah i found a way to replicate the spell to some degree he grabs a cloak and begins to weave the spell runes into the cloth. he fails miserably lighting the cloth on fire in spots by the time he gets it right the cloak is burned and tattered almost unusable but somehow still functional. he puts the cloak on and exclaims. Tirion is audibly surprised. Wait, that worked? What do you mean Tirion?Well usually a mage has to use pristine materials but you managed to somehow use that mangled piece of cloth as a base and it worked. how peculiar. you must have a strong connection to the forces of magic.but now your time of spell devising is over i must teach you the basics of spell preparation.yeah i'm pretty exhausted today any way i'm going to get on a spider and meditate.meanwhile the others have also been making strides in their own way. Lilith has now become comfortable with proper sword fighting she has long to go still till she is able to unleash a sword art. Goroc has given up on being a swordsman and has been training his hand to hand capabilities; he has been using his aura to harden his body while sparring with Sarah; he can now withstand her unarmed sword arts. his body can block most sword swings from untrained swordsman.his punches shatter trees into splinters but he lacks true form for now he is just a beast wildly swinging.halfway through the third month they reach the border checkpoint a large wall that spans the complete border of the two empires. made of large grey bricks with wooden battlements at the top. where thalian soldiers are currently trying to take the point from drakon soldiers.there are about 60 or so men attempting to storm the small border gate. kragnack fires a spell into the air and it explodes drawing the attention of the back line 20 or so men in total . him along with Sarah Lilith Goroc and kal all run ahead of the group to meet them. the soldiers scoff. Just the five of you think you can take all of us. You must have a death wish. The one talking moves forward and waves for his men to stand by. He approaches Kragnack and pokes his chest. You little one shouldn't you be pissin in your little shoes by now. kragnack giggles playfully. that's what i was going to say he points his finger at the mans chest. What's that supposed to do you..... kragnack lets out a terrifying laugh as a bolt of fire the size of a pebble shoots through the man hitting one other man behind him in the shoulder the soldier falls to the ground dead.the soldier who was hit in the shoulder is blown in half by the small fireball exploding.the soldiers hesitate for a second and draw their swords Lilith takes this time to fear those who made the mistake of looking into her eyes.she steps towards them and cuts them down effortlessly while they fight phantom nightmares. Goroc steps forward and laughs taunting a few to come attack their blades don't go deeper than the first knuckle on their finger he laughs and breaks their weapons by activating his aura they are each dispatched in a single hit the sound of bones crunchy is audible from the strikes hitting. kal pulls a ebony greatsword that drips in shadow out of his chest and effortlessly cleaves through men while Sarah plays with the remaining few her swordsmanship leagues ahead of theirs the battle is over in less than three minutes as they look up the forces are retreating from the wall after seeing they were about to be collapsed on by another enemy force.the group approaches the gate of the outpost. Halt what brings you here we appreciate the help but that doesn't mean we neglect our duty as guards. kragnack steps forward. Hello my name is kragnack and these are my people we were attacked by thalian soldiers months ago and lost our home we wish to come over to the drakon empire and live as free citizens. the man mulls it over for a bit and the waves for his men to open the gate they welcome kragnack and his people inside. It's a small circular keep used as a staging ground for importing and exporting goods but nowadays it's used as a choke point to keep thalian soldiers at bay. Welcome to the drakon empire we see more and more Demi-humans like yourself come in from Thalia every day feel free to stay for the night we will help however we can thank you for your help with those soldiers they've been sending the same amount of people almost daily. I worry for the families we are destroying each day but what can we do? They wish to take everything from us, even our freedom. i can't sit by and let them subjugate our people.Thank you sir we appreciate your hospitality. as the goblins make their way into the fort they get many looks as they bring people sized spiders in.they set up their equipment and take inventory.finally able to rest there is an almost visible sigh of relief. They sit around fires and have conversations with the guards and people. For the first time in months you could see actual smiles and hear laughter from the goblins.the times of struggle have passed for now.they celebrate and make merry till the morning and head out on their journey into the fields of the Drakon empire to find a new home.meanwhile back in the thalian capital Lucius is hysterically yelling and throwing things around his room where he has scratched kragnacks name into the stone wall. I will find you and i will take everything from you you filthy fucking goblin.