I had started my life as a Goblin in Gor Uhn's Yordal a month ago. In that time, I have accomplished and lost things. I have learned and grown. I have been stabbed in the chest and almost died.
A month ago I acquired two raiding parties from Nyx Darkclaw, now my slave, and Raider Myr, now maggot food.
Many left before I took command and many died completing the tasks I set forth. The few remaining have grown stronger after giving them the money earned during the trade festival to buy as they pleased while explored the Tomb of Anon.
I started with one slave, now I have seven and a life partner. Though my level is only at eight. My support is strong, my foundation is as solid as it could be with the limited knowledge I had at the time, and my experience and skill list are vast.
This past month was full of ups, downs, and hard-pressed deadlines. But I came out on top as an heir to an ancient tomb with vast wealth. And though my planned raid now seemed a bit meaningless to me, it meant a lot to my raiding party and the Yordal as a whole. The reputation alone will give Chief Gor Uhn a lot more capital to maneuver with.
Walking through the Yordal, I received the attention of all my fellow goblins. It was the day that I had promised a month ago. They were all ready and waiting for my arrival.
Standing before Chief Gor Uhn and Gniqee, I felt a mix of emotions. From Gniqee, the moment she spotted the slave seals on my apprentice sisters, exuded satisfaction and excitement. From Gor Uhn, anger and impatience.
"Chief, this nephew has returned," I spoke while offering my salute.
"Boy, you're late! We have many things to talk about. A few are not worth mentioning if this raid is a success. So let's get to business." Gor Uhn spoke.
"As you wish..." I replied.
I then began to explain the plan. "On this day, the Elixir Tower would be sending 100 adventures from Star Cresent City to meet the people of the Herbalist College from Black Goat Town. They will be exchanging Common Currency --Ounce gold coins used across the continent, and heavenly treasures of high quality. The two locations are 100 miles apart. At the midway point, Gor Uhn and his people will attack. The goal now is for every enemy present to die and their bodies brought back to the Yordal."
Naturally, I need something worthwhile from this raid considering the new plan also gifted the Yordal one hundred percent of the loot save what I and my beauties pick out with our own hands.
"The remaining raiders and their parties will fall under my command and attack Black Goat Town while most of their strongest are away. But that is not absolute as we all know dragons like to sleep in deep pounds and they also like to walk amongst men. So stay vigilant, this raid will decide the fate of the Yordal for the next ten years at least...
The goal is to siege the town, loot, and collect slaves. Nonslaves die, no negotiations. Raiders have first pick and the rest are for all of you. But most importantly, we must hold the town until Chief Gor Uhn and his group arrives to attack the Herbalist College with full force. The people of the college will be the stimulus that the yordal needs to strengthen its self. All of the survivors in the college are to be kept alive and chained. They're less important than you, more important than a slave.
At the end of this, the Yordal will be rich, powerful, and flush with slaves. Our population will increase significantly and we will become the strongest Yordal of the three borders."
My explanation garnered battle cries and cheers. The Yordal was already split into two large groups. Gor Uhn and Gniqee took 300 while I took the remaining 820. But I soon discovered that Gniqee's chief apprentice still had 200 goblins and they were unaccounted for.
When the war band set out, even the children and nonfighters joined. The Yordal was left completely empty. About fifteen miles over the border into the Ismellia's forest, the two groups continued on separate paths and the elves quietly opened the way without fight or discourse. Even those who would have usually fought in disguise stood frozen as Gor Uhn had the elven princess cloaked and chained. One wrong move and she was dead.
Traveling through the forest with the elves at bay meant that no one was aware of our movements.
Riding on the back of my monster mount, Prax sat with me as she was keen on being in direct contact with me for the duration of our trip. As she held me from behind and rested her head on my shoulder while she slept, my System went off.
[Quest Alert: First Raid]
[Hidden Quest: Pill Slave]
[Hidden Quest: Traitor to his people]
'Oh shit.' I thought. I had been dealing with Prince Anon's Tomb and people closely related to the Dragon Hunt for a while that I almost got used to not receiving the quest. But now I'm back in the world and away from Dragon-related problems, the quest function returned with a vengeance.
Still, I wondered what my system had against dragons. Anyways...
'Expand Quest' I commanded.
[First Raid: Successfully capture black goat town and the Herbalist college without losing more than 200 fighters.
Reward: Most Famous Raider in the Rocklands, 10,000 exp, Map to Wind Lightning Soul
Failure: Cast out of Yordal and regression to level 5]
[Hidden Quest: Pill Slave: Requirments have been met. Fate has put an old classmate in the halls of the Herbalist College during your raiding window. This classmate can be anywhere until the raid is over. Do not let them escape and make her your pill slave.
Reward: Access to the Tier 4 Herbalist System, Slave Master Renown, Enemy of Heros, Upgrade Iron Body
Failure: Heavy Blow to divine luck and Regression to level 1]
[Hidden Quest: Traitor to his people (Optional): Option 1, Host must enslave Classmate/Hero Marika Sato during his first raid and become a traitor to heroes. This will unlock system-generated hunting contracts on heroes and garner support from Infernals
Option 2, Host will spare Marika Sato. This will garner the support of the Emperyeans and nullify the failure penalties of 'First Raid' and 'Pill Slave']
'Chain quests. Fuck my life.' I thought, but the system is a part of me and it knows me as well as I know myself. It obviously chooses rewards that would appeal to me. Like hunting heroes, just looting their bodies is reward enough, now the system will also pay me is a great boon. Upgrading Iron body and the location of a Wind Lightning Soul. All of these are worthwhile.
I couldn't help but sigh. Foundation is important and achieving high-grade skills and resources at a low level was everyone's wet dream, especially mine. And especially now that I know about the ranks above level 100. Not to mention that Atoria is considered a farm and entering Oscular Sect will surely be hard to adjust to if I'm viewed as an animal. I have to become the strongest within my realm.
"Hey..." Prax mumbled by my ear, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Hmm," I replied, still a bit distant.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You feel a bit off. Nerves getting to you?"
I chuckled with a hint of a smile. "Not all." I told her, "Just a lot on my mind. I just found out that an old friend of mine will be at the Herbalist College."
"I take it this is a non-goblin friend," she said.
"Mhmm, and I need your help catching her. Her level should be close to the mid-forties. She is also a genius when it comes to heavenly treasures. Her strength might be far above her level."
"You should let Ofia handle it then," said Prax.
I glanced over at the short busty apprentice sister, only second to the chief apprentice. "Why her?" I ask.
"Ofia is dangerous. She practices the arts of dark sealing. Though she's only level 39, her sealing makes her a deadly foe against mid-levelers. After all, the art of seals can confine mana and strength, body and soul. Rob you of your sense and plunge you not darkness. That is why she is Gniqee's number two." Prax explained and I couldn't help but gulp.
I would have never thought that Ofia was as dangerous as Prax explained. I figured she had skill considering her position, but to excel in Seals is an entirely different leave. When it comes to ranking calligraphic arts, Inscriptions are below Seal with Geomancy at the top of the food chain.
Inscriptionists travel in packs, Sealing experts are coupled, and geomancers are hermits living single lives and rarely ever seen.
"So what do you plan to do with this little friend?"
"She will be my final slave in this world. After taking her. We will retire to the tomb. We have a lot to prepare for. I haven't told you, ladies, a lot and I barely know any of you. The tomb will be good for our relations be it intimacy, communication, master servants, and partners in war."
Prax giggled into my shoulder and I felt a soft kiss on my neck that slightly tickled.
"Now that we're bound together in the chains of fate. Partners for life. I understand your words a lot better now. I also know that the look in your eyes is not belittling but reflecting your grand vision. I remember Phele ranting about your arrogant gaze after we first met you. But being close to you, I know only the small-minded will feel belittled by your gaze because only grand things fill your vision."
I chucked. "Why say such things?"
"I don't know. I just feel your reluctance, anxiety, and anticipations. The chains of fate opens us up to each other. It's all new to me. So, be gentle if I ever speak on something I shouldn't." Prax tightens her hold on me and falls silent.
Though their path to me was undoubtedly sinister and ill-ridden. I know that Fate did well by me for giving me a handful of beautiful, mature, deadly women to keep at my side. And I am grateful.
I moved one hand to hold Prax's arms and my other remained on the reins.
'Dahlia..." I transmitted.
'Yes, master." She replied.
"Do you know anyone in Black Goat Town?"
There was a brief pause. 'My youngest aunt... Like me, she was kicked out of the family, but in a much harsher way.'
'How so?" I was curious.
'As you know, the lower Faye blood is a raffle. The Virnala Family is a rarity. We generally birth Undine at a higher rate than most lines. But there are exceptions. My youngest aunt was born Gnome. Now established earth elemental family exists at the moment. She was cast out to keep the line pure.'
'So what did they do to a Salamander like you?'
'Haiz! They engaged me to the Pentas Family. Like the Virnala, they gave way to generations of Faye blood with one affinity. And because we're 'half Faye' and not True Half Breeds, we need to mate with similar kinds to keep the blood density balanced.' Dahlia explained.
'Why don't they just go find pure elementals?'
Dahlia laughed. 'Elementals only appear to other elementals, higher Faye, and pure humans. Very rarely do people with my blood come in contact with them. And when we do, we usually kidnap them and use them as breeders. So, it makes sense why they would hide from us.'
'Well, I need you to take Sahyia to go see your aunt in town when we arrive. You ladies have a very important job to do. Perhaps the most important job.'
'Anything you wish, we can do.' Dahlia spoke eagerly.