The journey that took Tect and the remnants of the Darh Goblin clan to Mountain Heart took 5 days originally, this time it took Tect 3. On top of being much faster now, Tect also didn't hunt, get into a fight with any adventurers and didn't use as much caution. At one point that lack of caution caused him to run into a bear, but Tect quickly cut down the animal with his new sword. Common animals just couldn't compete with crazed rats or rock elementals. Unfortunately Tect didn't have space in the spatial bag for more food so he skinned the bear and cut away some of the better cuts of meat and used the pelt as a makeshift backpack. That slowed him down a bit but just around night fall Tect arrived at his first destination, The Slave Pens.
The area was covered in a thin layer of snow, but it was clear that everything had been cleared. Tect wondered for a moment if the Townsfolk even knew about it. That was impossible though, he knew even if they had decided against working together Arnold would have come that morning to see him off.
The place gave Tect chills, even though he had left, and found a new home for his clan, what was left anyway, the slave pens still gave him the feeling of being trapped. It felt like a tightness in his chest, like no matter how deeply he breathed he would never get enough air.
It took Tect a moment but he eventually walked away, headed towards the town. Halfway there Tect noticed a new fence, as he neared it he could see the crosses so many crosses and a large stone obelisk made from the stone around the mines entrance, a dark grey stone that the miners hate to have to dig through.
Tect slowly approached the stone, his heart in his throat.
Here lies the 425 Free Goblins of the Darh Goblin Tribe. On November 16th 19372L The Goblins of the Dahr Clan were officially Declared Free Members of the Nadteifelt Community, and granted all rights of a human citizen. They who had once been slaves forgave the crimes of the past and chose to embrass a more peaceful future, a future they would never realize themselves. With Cruelty and Malice the former slavers of Nadteifelt struck them down in the night, burning them as they slept. Now that they are gone we truly realize what we have lost. Rest in Peace little brothers and sisters, may your spirits find the love and acceptance you so thoroughly deserve in life.
The Citizens of Nadteifelt
Tect Fell to his knees, the tears could not be stopped. His hand resting on the pedestal carved from the mountain by miners, from the stone they hated most in this world, and engraved by his master. Only one thing stood out to Tect. The number of goblins was wrong, by his count it should have been 424. It took Tect a while to collect himself and steady his emotions. He had not expected this, the old smith he certainly held in high esteem, and the miners all treated him well, but this was more. The plot of land had to be approved by the Town Council, the wooden crosses were made of finished lumber, and the graves each had the mark of the Church of Lumnos, which meant that the Priest had blessed the burials. This would have been the effort of the whole town. Tect smiled, if only they had been given a chance then perhaps they would have been able to live in peace together, but you can't change the past so Tect began to walk forwards, to his next stop and the place he would hopefully find his master.
Tect stayed to the outside of the town and slowly cautiously made his way to Arnold's home. Though Tect didn't fear being attacked by the remaining slavers he didn't want to be seen yet, especially since he looked very different from before. Still Tect wanted to know the state of the town so he stayed close to the edges, the bar was one of the few buildings still lit this late, but none of the rowdy sounds of miners letting loose could be heard, in fact it was eerily quiet. Thats when Tect noticed it, there were no dogs barking. There weren't a lot of dogs in the town, but a few people had pets, or hunting hounds but not even barking was heard. Tect had a bad feeling so he hurried straight to Arnold's house.
From the outside Arnold's house looked normal, but Tect was still worried. He practically jumped up the steps to the front door and began knocking, urgently but softly so he didn't alert any passing people or close neighbors. A gruff voice sounded from inside.
"Damn it Dennis if your hear for more food you and your gang will have to pry it from my cold dead hands." The door was roughly jerked open. The old smith was thin, his face was beginning to look gaunt and his once round cheeks had begun to sink in. Clearly Tect was right to be worried, how had things gotten so bad so quickly.
The old man was surprised to see a green skinned elf and was flustered for a moment. "Ehh… sorry bout that. How can I help you?"
"Have you lost your sight now old man, can't even recognise your own employee anymore?" The voice did it, the old man instantly knew who stood at his door, tears streaking his face before he even managed to react, lunging forward to hug Tect tightly.
"By Lumnos, I can't believe it's you. We all thought you had died." The old man barely managed to get even those words out between sobs. Tect for the second time today found he could control his own tears and the two men hugged and cried together like small children before Julia arrived, much to their embarrassment.
"Uhm Father, who is your friend?"
The old man took a deep breath, looked around to see if they attracted any attention then whisked Tect inside to the sitting room near a weakly smoldering fire. The old man threw a fresh log in and had Tect sit. Julia was still in the dark as to what was going on. That was until Tect started talking.
"Hey Julia, long time no see." Julia's face turned white as a sheet, she didn't break down as her father did but the shock was clear.
"You look so different since last I saw you. What happened?"
Tect smiled, "I'll be more than happy to tell you everything but first… Where can I put this bear meat." Tect had no clue of the weight of that question. Instantly Arnold and Julia felt their mouths water, and the constant pang of hunger rose up like a wild beast.
"YOU HAVE BEAR MEAT IN THAT PACK!!!!!"
Tect smiled, "Thats only the start of the gifts I have for you."
Julia helped Tect set the bear skin down and unwrapped it slowly. The dark red meat glistened in the fire light.
"Quickly Julia, get a pot of water, if we boil it the neighbors won't smell it." Julia ran to get a pot of water to place on the fire. Tect was confused by the old mans attitude towards his neighbors.
"Have things gotten so bad that you fear your neighbors so much?"
"Tect things got way worse after what happened. The slaughter in the slave pens started a fight between the remaining slavers and townsfolk. Eventually the slavers packed up and headed south, but they took a lot of the food with them. The town is barely surviving, we sent a group to Gribadir to get assistance from Lord Campbell, but they never came back and we have no idea what happened to them. The only reason we are still alive is because we have been using the fish traps we thought of, and eating rats we manage to catch. Even then half of all the food we manage to catch gets taken by Dennis and his gang of assholes. If someone tries to hide food from them they beat them. 3 people have died from it. On top of that he will reward anyone who turns in a hoarder, everyone is afraid of being next."
Tect shook his head, leave it to Dennis to starve and beat his neighbors during a crisis.
"It's worse than I thought. I filled this bag with food hoping it would be enough to help the town, but if half of it gets taken by Dennis it won't be enough." Tect showed the bag to the old man.
"Tect… is that a magic bag or a regular bag?" The old mans eyes were wide anticipating Tects answer.
"It's a magical bag."
"How much food is in that bag?"
"Well it's hard to say for sure, we stuffed it until the bag started shooting stuff back out. The space is about the size of a room, probably 15ft by 15ft. The vegetables stack very neatly but the chicken eggs and mutton kind of formed a pile, and I also brought some medicinal herbs."
When Tect was done listing off things he looked over to see the old man staring at him with his jaw hanging open. "Tect, we have to make sure everyone in town gets some, there aren't that many people left, and we need to get all the supplies from Dennis. If we divide it up evenly we should make it to spring without any problems."
Tect wasn't sure how many people were left in town, before he left it had been over 800 and he figured with all of their stored food plus the high quality of his food it would be enough, now though that would be a tough push to spring. But the old man wasn't wrong, they would certainly be hungry but they would survive between the stored food and food being brought into town from fishing and hunting traps. The big problem would be Dennis, Dennis was always a problem for Tect. But for now Tect didn't want to think about that, he wanted to enjoy this reunion and tell his friends about his new home. Julia woke little Arnold even though it was late, and even though he started to fuss, as soon as he tasted the food he immediately calmed down and became the happy baby Tect remembered. While they ate, Tect told them his story. Afterward Tect did something no one could have expected.
"In the spring before I go to Gribadir I would be more than happy to take you three to Mountain Heart. The others could use the help of a skilled craftsman, and Julia could teach them to read and do math."
The old smith smiled, "It's a mighty nice offer Tect. Let us think on it for now, we have plenty of time till spring."
With full hearts and fuller bellies they all went to bed in the early hours of the morning.