The members of the Violent Blade chased after their leader. Something was wrong and they needed to help her. Oaguz would never give up on her boss. She could still remember how they first met.
Life in Godara had a tendency to be a mess. Due to the constant wars, you only had a few options for life if you weren't in power or connected. You were expected to follow orders as a soldier or to keep your head low and work the fields. This wasn't to say those were the only options, but the others had severe restrictions and costs. You could gain work as a merchant or craftsman if you had the good fortune to catch the eye of someone who'd apprentice or sponsor you. You could manage to become a researcher or poet if you could obtain the education. Too bad such knowledge could normally only be afforded by the affluent. The ability to read and write was rare among the common folk. There was another chance for education that was available if you were found to have a certain potential. As for Oaguz, she took that option and entered into formal training to become a priestess of the way of endless spirits.
Her parents had always been poor and were barely making enough to get by in the paddies. One year things had gone bad. They were looking at having to sell off one of their children. They had already made plans for her oldest sister when the priest arrived. The man stood tall for a goblin and was bald. His frame wasn't much to look at and the robes he wore did nothing to compliment it. However, the priest seemed to be quite the lively individual. He was on his way to the village proper to give blessing to a construction site. He had seen the poor state of the house and wished to join them in prayer. Her family had agreed and it was during this that he found that she was loved by the spirits. To be honest, she couldn't even remember all of the details back then. Only what happened and the priest. He bought her from the family. For how much or what was given if not money, she knew not. Just that she was taken to a temple to study their faith. She learned to read and write and her world grew.
It was this growth that had been her downfall. She had come across stories telling of heroes from all over the continent. She especially loved the Dwarven epics. However, one story stood out to her more than any other. She usually didn't care for Elven stories, but the legend of Yu spoke to her. She became absorbed in it. So much so, she tried to emulate it. She would play at wielding a sword throughout her youth. Eventually, she rebelled and turned her back on the temple and the spirits. She hadn't heard the voices of the spirits in quite some time. The priest had only shook his head and warned her that there wasn't much out there in the world for her.
She quickly found this to be true. She didn't quite fit in with the other goblins of Godara. She had no status and acted with knowledge. She was a goblin who took interests on things from beyond her people's borders. While these things are fine for someone with power, someone with no status had no right to such foolishness. She was quickly ostracized. Unable to support herself, she she left for another part of Godara. This was the fateful choice.
"Hey there Missy, you're not from these parts,eh?" Asked a guard at the entrance to the town," Worthless refugees aren't need around here. At least not without a price!"
"Sorry, but I'm just passing through," Oaguz replied as she tried to push past, only to be grabbed by both of the guards.
"We don't think so," They spoke in unison before laughing. Whether it was at what they just said or what they planned, Oaguz didn't care for this in the least. She twisted around in their grasp before sending a foot sailing right between the legs of one of them. He dropped to the ground in writhing pain. She suddenly heard the thud of something falling on her other side. The other guard was now unconscious and standing over him was a violet skinned goblin.
"Come on, we gotta go! Ya picked a bad time to pull this!" She yelled as she grabbed Oaguz's arm," Gotta hurry before the patrol gets here!"
She didn't need anymore convincing than that. Soon they disappeared into the town, and she soon found herself in a shack in the poor part of the town,"Thanks."
The strangely colored goblin grunted at this," No need for thanks. Those guys are assholes. As far as I'm concerned, they deserved it and you didn't."
"Umm, ok? So you were just doing the right thing?" Oaguz asked curiously. She had to wonder if she had found a hero in the making. Her imagination was already beginning to stir. The other girl looked at her as she tilted her head in thought.
"The right thing?" she wondered aloud before snickering," Look girl, there's no such thing as right and wrong as far as I'm concerned. All that matters is what's deserved. Some jerk wants to screw with ya when you done nothing to deserve it? Well of course I'll make 'em get what they deserve."
"So you follow karma?" Oaguz asked.
"Huh? What's that crap again?" her possible friend queried to herself for a moment before blushing," Yeah, no. We only just met!"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Oaguz asked as the other slowly started to back away," It's just a philosophy."
"Look, I don't care if that's what they call it from wherever you come from. I don't even know you!" the now angry goblin yelled.
"Oh, well I'm Oaguz, what's your name?"
"That's not what I meant. Look, it's none of my business what you get up to at night, but don't go dragging total strangers in it!"
"Into what?"
"Sex!" the now angry, red faced goblin yelled back.
Oaguz jumped back waving her own hands in front of her as she spoke," What!? Nononono! What does that even have.. to... You don't know what karma is, do you?"
"I guess not?" the other replied with a bit of confusion before settling into a weak laugh that Oaguz joined. It soon filled the shack as they knelt, clutching their bellies in tears," Well, that was sobering. The name's Grizt. I'm looking to form a gang, ya know, a group to hang out and do whatever with."
"Ok, I guess that will be interesting," the former priestess in training answered. Something about Grizt just spoke to her. It was almost like hearing the spirits again. When given time later, she would think that it was the noble heart that Grizt had to have. She was just so different.
"Yeah, gonna have to work on that. Talk a little less formal. If we're gonna pull this off you'll need to be able to blend in a bit better. I stick out too much as it is!"
In time she would learn and take to talking as she does now. She had called Grizt the boss when not in private ever since.
"Ok, girls. The boss needs help and we're getting' nowhere just chasin'!" Oaguz called to the others," Shritoo, you take Stranbrai. Let her her lead the way and keep' er safe!"
Shritoo's expression relaxed slightly with a slight curve to her lips as she gave a nod. The brown skinned Stranbrai was grabbed before she could reply and taken to a side street. Her blue hair trailing behind her. Once her brain kicked in, they'd be good. Oaguz smiled viciously," Ok, now, Weye!"
"Ummm, yes?" Weye asked timidly. She never seemed to do well in these kinds of situations. She was always a bit soft.
"Stay with our hoity toity new boss. I doubt she'll be able to keep up!" Soon it was just her and that annoying sage wannabe," Got any idea on how ta fix the boss?"
Her opinion of answering to her was made perfectly clear with her silence as they continued to run.
"Okay, that's how yas gonna play it. Then I guess we'll smash then glowing thing you placed between her shoulder blades. Thing's practically begging to be smashed!" Oaguz taunted the woman out loud. It was obvious to her the woman cared more for that thing than the boss. So obviously, it'd be in her best interest to tell her.
"Noo! If anything, the best way is to just kill her! Getting a new slave is a simple matter. That core would take 3 years to make!" The woman screamed back. Oaguz felt the tattoo burn at the thought of harming a human.
"Not happening, so you either tell my another way so we can work together or I'm gonna say screw you and do it my way!" Oaguz yelled back. They could hear the sounds of screams and destruction up ahead.
"Fine! A good blunt strike to the base of the neck should damage the primary control crystal and buy the time for me to remove the core safely!" She answered in frustration.
"Wait, I didn't see a crystal there!"
"Of course not, the only exposed parts those types of prosthesis are the parts requiring regular maintenance and check-ups!"
"Fine, but if I find out you lied, I'll break it in an instant. Got me?" Oaguz conceded as a solution had finally been presented. The annoyance only huffed in indignation. Now they just had to keep following until either Grizt slowed down or Shritoo and Stranbrai got to her. She found herself smirking at what kind of mess those two would cause this time.