Palesa is pacing up and down she is with Reku.
"Enough Reku! How long do you expect me to supply your Tinks with resources."
"Warmaster's please understand. The blue prints you gave us are far more complex than anything we can make." Says Reku pointing to the Blue prints.
"Fine just keep working on it." Says Palesa as she walks out. Her plan to have the recuirt said dressed in the horde's armor is proving difficult. The materials needed are complex even the basic iron in the blue print has a purity of over ninety five per cent. None of the goblin Tinks have been able to make the basic metals needed to forge the armors.
Palesa goes to her encampment her mind is on Diana and Tau. Diana is going through something alone and no matter what she tries Diana is shut about it. Tau is a moron. She could help him and capture the damn Eagle but he is set on getting the first one himself. She is also mad at him for the way he is training.
Palesa has to sacrifice quality for quantity and with Tau's focus on using the system less. Their talks with the other leaders just after leaving the dungeon. With Gcina's advice on monster flesh and cores. The gobo can grow through training and eating higher quality food. Depending on the rank of the monsters eaten and the efforts of the gobo. The rewards from training can develop a gobo by of five hundred white rank power a week.
She he arrives at the sweat stink encampment that is the Emerald Horde. All forty recruits have been put on the same training program. She has Wash her second training them. Wash is an Ogearkanzi. A subsect of Ogres that keep their goblin traits while having the increased sized that comes with the Ogre evolution path.
Palesa is still trying to figure out with the help of Diana and Oda on creating a blood ritual that will help provide Horde goblins access to lower goblin evolution paths. Oda is the blood specialist and while his almost mate Jade is a difficult gobo... Palesa will do what ever it takes to get the job done. She more than the other Masters has invested a large part of her time. To not having to rely on the system at all all her recuirts use none system methods.
Tau did say to Palesa, " I don't mean the system will dissappear exactly. It's more like the mission might become so difficult that we lose access to the rewards of the system. I don't want my army dependent on the system." Palesa knows the importance of cultivating their own methods of development. And Tau had put it very well and she understood his feelings. It also has to do with his frustration with Martial Eagle.
The worries that Tau feels from the system is something he is still figuring it out. Wash shouts at the recruits Palesa has had him receive special training. The other nine from the snake incident are assigned to hunting mission. She would be mad at them since Tau and two of his gobo's bring higher quality meat in more quantities. Tau assured her,"It's only because of my Horde master trait."
"How's it going today Wash?" Says Palesa picking up a bit of dirt from the sand smelling it.
"Not good I may have over done yesterday." Says Wash his voice high tenor. He is not afraid but he can't help but be nervous around his Warmaster. She is leagues ahead of all the gobo's in the Horde in terms of power. Wash believes she can take the Hordemaster title for herself. He won't tell her that he is not stupid she loves her mates.
"I can smell that, still push them harder. Blood in the sand today will save them tomorrow." Says Palesa. Looking over the recuirts they are sparring with each other all except one.
"Right away my master." Say Wash moving to the training field proper. He plans to do a boss simulation with him as the boss. When Palesa does it she almost kills everyone, every time. Wash is not looking forward to it. Her ice makes everything difficult even breathing let alone fighting.
Palesa moves to the lone recuirt. He has been with the Horde the longest. He stayed behind to protect caravan when she went with her ten to hunt the snakes. He is a loyal gobo. She is raking her brain to remember his name. His scent of daffodils reminds her. He is a former Hectrol family gobo, most of brood was wiped out by Diana when she destroyed the Northern Rover gang.
"Master?" He asks. Palesa clicks her fingers as his name comes to her.
"Wick! Are you not training today?" Says Palesa her face lighting up with a smile. She likes knowing who is in her Horde. For the time being she at least wants to know about her gobo's as much as is possible.
"I'm not sure, I feel stuck in my training." Says Wick he is a Troic goblin. At least he doesn't snivel like some others. His teeth are very sharp and he makes sure to stand up straight unlike some other Troics.
"You probably at the limit of your power." Says Palesa. This is another problem some goblins have low potential. Some goblins that have forced out of the Emerald Horde have low potential. Palesa observers him with her Warmaster's assessment. She can tell potential value she can she he is around two thousand white rank power. She sighs on the inside his development is not only low but his speed is also slow.
"I feel that too but I think I can break through." Says Wick his scent is determined. His eyes locked onto hers. A clenched fist he feels that he can break through his rank.
"Walt died doing that I won't force you but I will support you." All the goblins from Tau to Wrik know that goblins are the weakest of weak. The hunts are going well because of the leaders influences. Most parties without leaders suffer losses fighting the rats. The Horde as a whole is a moving meal.
"I know but I can't stop. I won't stop having a chance at power real power is important to me, to us as gobo's." Says Walt relieved that she is willing to support his efforts.
"I know that too...living life is important to you know." Says Palesa she has lost a couple of gobo to rank breaking. The method they think might work is defeating and consuming whole a powerful opponent.
"Go back to what I was before is no life at all. The horde is a hope for all us and I plan to contribute to the success of the horde." Says Wick
"You don't need to convince me. I have had this conversation before." Says Palesa the problem is that they can't divert efforts to this yet. She knows she has to but at the moment training those that can be trained and providing for them. While protecting the Horde is what is important. Wali comes running a Chartreuse green plains goblin. He is wearing a leather tunic bright red. He has to use his knees to support himself catching his breathe first.
"Warmaster the Warbeasts dungeon has been located the others have already been called back there hunt. Hordemaster has provided the new weapons and armor. The Emerald Star second was in the scouting party so she is already in waiting." Says Wali he is terrified of his Master. She is powerful beautiful and deadly. He has faced her in training twice and each time his wounds take about two days to heal.
"Good good, what about the other masters that are suppose to come where are they." Asks Palesa wiping of the sand from her dress as she stands up. Towering over Wali who scents fear and awe with a dense overscent of respect.
"The other runners are going to them they should meet you at the dungeon, the Hordemaster is hunting in the immediate area. Wily is reporting to Wash." Says Wali kneeling as he is to proud to stand in her presence. He even scents a bit of reverence at her. Palesa is used to this the power gap is so large that she could destroy ever gobo here in one foul swoop. Her mana upgrade has increased her spell casting ability amongst other things.
Palesa follows behind Wali he is taking her to the dungeon. Palesa doesn't want to wait for the recuirts. The dungeon monster she has chosen is in the middle of its spawning season. This means they can capture many young one and have them develop alongside the recuirts. Palesa had to forgo her first choice the Shedu. The Shedu Tau brought back for is eating all the meat she brings in by itself. Even beingless than a month old. It has a massive appetite.
Tau had also brought Diana let too but she is raising her Gnoll egg and doesn't need another pet. Diana has confirmed to the mob that it is a hybrid monster so she wants to see the results herself. The Badgers are a stop gap measure for her banner since she doesn't know how long it will take for the Gnoll egg to hatch.
Palesa and Wali make it to the dungeon entrance it is out to the east of encampment close to the river they are following north to the Lake Laviathen. Wali runs ahead and informs the nine that the Warmaster is close. Her colthing making her stand out even more. The subtle blue of her skin with hints of lime green and fringes of a deeper blue on her hair. She is carrying a wand Reku made for the Warmaster.
The wand is shaped like a spear and Palesa can create a blade of frost that is attached to the hilt to use as a spear. With the help of Diana for inspiration and Gcina for some practical knowledge. Palesa has found the dungeon of the Steelhorns. They are as big as cows, stronger than rhinos and faster than Buffalo.
"Has anyone scouted how the dungeon yet?" Asks Palesa all the nine would not go in without her as they serve as her bodyguards. The others look like a bit forlorn.
Wali says "The whole herd is in there. That's over Two hundred females and each has at least on fowl." He stops without reason smiling wide. Palesa cat think why this gobo is not finishing the report she doesn't want to explode infront him. It's not his fault Diana is being difficult. Palesa removes that thought for the moment. She clenches her jaw and scents a slight maybe just a smidge of annoyance.
"Uhmm..its..sorry..I mean...the herd is accounted for with the fowls. One of our runners has marked the area to be one hundred and sixty meters inside the cave. " Wali says he was hoping to be praised by Palesa. Wali has been raised up by the nine because they like his work ethic and quick thinking. The arrangement of the scout squad he is using is from a chat he over heard between Two Masters.
"Good that ps better next time make sure to include any specific weakness or opportunities for us." Says Palesa scent worry. The Steelhorns are a creature that is impossible for them to defeat head on. The monster are skin after turning six months is harder than anyweapon they have been able to get their hands on.
"Yes Master," says Wali hanging his head low. He should let have thought of that too he goes into meet to Wyrm the scout gobo who wa inside the dungeon. Wali is going to prove his worth and bring his master back some useful information.
Palesa sits its with the nine the talk is on how to separate the mothers from the babies. The idea fighting them head is ludicrous. The plans they are coming up with is all a bit deadly. Each of the nine want to face the Steelhorns inside the entryway of the dungeon. The first floor of all dungeon have multiple ways in. A huff comes out the corner as Diana walks into the huddle of gobo's.
"Thats totally not going to work, you should do what Jade and Dimitri did to catch their's inside there dungeon its a good idea." Says Diana her scent nonexistent. She walks up to Palesa rubbing her hand alongside Palesa's neck. Palesa scents happiness but doesn't return the gesture. Diana sits behind her this is her operation so she is the defacto leader. Diana's light green headed gobo look so different from the nine that are light blue in the hands arms and head.
"Diana that was cruel I won't poison all those Steelhorns to get a few fowls, Jade even explained that many of fowls would die if use poison." Says Palesa the leaders along with their seconds have been going over what to do ever since Palesa announced she wants to have the Steelhorns as her Warbeasts. The poison plan sickens Palesa, Dimitri had ordered his Banneer to poison the waters around his prey he waited for most of them to die and only took those that survived as pets. It is a ruthless and effective way to kill of the weak pets without much effort.
"I know you and like already though of that of course. Like why don't we just smoke them out. It's normal for the babies to huddle down while the parents leave in such emergencies since they are too vulnerable." Says Diana smiling the idea she got it from one of the fire attributed Dandilions who use weeds and a fire blast to create a smoke screen. Her badgers have already sniffed out a large parcel. Palesa rubs Diana thigh scenting thanks. Palesa now has find the next exit.
Gcina and Tau arrive Gcina is working with her head up behind him. She is scenting rage and disappointment. Tau falls into Palesa rolling on the ground so that his head is on her thighs and he is facing up to her. The sky as background makes her look even more beautiful. Tau says, "Please speak to her! she is on about it again."
"No no no, not today we are here for the Steelhorn fowls nothing else. Gcina please with this done we will only have the Martial Eagles left." Says Palesa scenting exacerbation an odd smell of fatigue and irritation. Like smelling a sweaty gobo with perfume on.
"I know right like can't you gobo's just leave the slime alone for a day. It's like not fun at all." Says Diana she is long over the argument. Tau purposefully doesn't say anything it's already bad enough Jade knows that Gcina has one of the fragments now Gcina is hounding him for the reproductive slime which he won't part with. That single slime is key to many of his plans when they arrive at the lake. Plus Tau is sure if Gcina gets another top tier reward from him it will only increase tension among the Banners. Oda walks with Jade just like Tau she is hounding him to talk to Gcina about her fragment.
Oda sits as he signals Palesa to please begin. They sit all their together Gcina sitting on the opposite side to Diana. With Oda behind Palesa and Tau resting on her Thigh. Not he only gobo who would dare say something is busy. So Palesa takes the lead as Tau mind is fixed on tow things it of hundreds going through his head. The Martial Eagle can be solved bin the next few weeks he hopes. And the gobo's chasing them should arrive well after they setup at the next camping site. He is a little worried about what they want they all know it's probably Dimitri and have prepared to fight the Hobgoblin straight on.
Palesa outlines the plan that they are using the smoke out plan is as the best one she has, rubbing Diana's leg again this mob scent joy, the tension between Diana and Palesa is subtle but disharmonious at times like an itch just before you fall alseep sometimes it wakes them up. Wali comes back seeing all the leaders he falls to the ground to afraid to moves but determined to get his master so he crawls not sure what to do. Goblins have as traditions as their are babies to eat. Wali hasn't participated in the cultural class because he is till getting used to the scouting job.
one of the nine grab by his tunic and deposit him in amongst them. Diana's ten don't even flinch at the mild interruption. Tau did thou he let loose a sharp scent. Only Palesa rubbing s forehead making him let it go. Some unintuitive goblins have tried to poach his mob at meetings but the masters have each in their own killed those gobo's ambitions.
He hands one of the nine a piece of paper. Any fool will tell that any plan is improved by knowing the terrain even a little and that's what he has there a small map created by Wyrm so that he would nit get lost. Which he did anyway lucky for him he came from an air hole. Wali can't help but scent happiness. Palesa stops and sends for him it is so strong that she knows he must have something good since he displaying it.
Gcina pops several times. She is not happy at all, unlucky for Wali he thinks it is to do with his behavior. Diana matching it with her own to quell Gcina. Tau and Oda trying their best to be small. Being surround by powerful gobo's is both a blessing and miracle. Tau hopes he can somehow get Gcina off his back on this one thing.
Palesa finishes up and the expedition will begin in just under an hour, Diana's gobo's having moved into the dungeon with the weeds to start the smoking process.