The night was still, stars hidden by the torchlights as the camp conversed in their tongue about the delicious food, the thought of ambushing more caravans and more women to fill their needs and help them grow. For these Goblins life was simple as could be, eat, murder, steal, kill and reproduce and with their king (Passionately referred to as the Gob Father) leading them they couldn't be stopped. The night was peaceful, that was until a horn sounded and signaled all of the goblins to raise arms as they all gathered to the gates prepared for an attack. A mare, as black as the night, rode into the camp seemingly spooked by something unseen as they all watched cautiously as if something could happen or the horse would suddenly start throwing out magic.
But there was nothing, just a spooked horse suddenly appearing and surrounded by ten goblins as they patiently waited, some snickering as a Hobgoblin grumbled and took the reins of the beast and began to lead it. The moment the Hobgoblin's hand touched the reigns two bodies fell from the towers, one with an two arrows in it. One shattering the horn in his hand and the other in the throat as he choked on his own olive green blood with a hand on the wound. The other watcher had a stone buried in his forehead, spasming a bit as he foamed at the mouth.
Every goblin was shocked and speechless as they were baffled by the goblins now dead on the ground as the last two near the back of the camp walls suddenly fell, three arrows in one and two in another. Without warning the horse reared, winning out as it then bucked, sending three goblins flying out of the castle gates, most likely dead as the Hobgoblin tried his best to calm the beast as arrows fell from the sky with little precision but effectiveness as they struck a few Orcs and pinned four goblins to the ground as they yelled and screamed in pain.
Fire began to engulf the surrounding camp, flames on the outskirts of the camp as it trapped them, and a lone Gnome stood with a sling in hand and narrow eyes, his eyes full of fury as he let out another stone, hitting the Hobgoblin in the back of the head as his hands loosened on the reigns and the mare began to buck and rampage through the camp. Greasy-skinned goblins all began to charge, the hobgoblin that was hit in the back of the head began to boil with anger as his faded red skin began to grow redder and the order for the attack was given.
Small feet of scantily clad Goblins charged the lone Gnome, ready to send this intruder to death as more stones were flung into the horde of Seven goblins and a Hobgoblin charged. Jesse was scared shitless, watching as this green menace charged towards him and he pelted them with stones, injuring them but not able to land a killing blow but on a few, reducing their numbers and thinning them out some. A trail of green blood and bodies led to the Gnome as the Orcs back at camp were quick to begin dawning their armor as a few began to pray to Argus for a wonderful blood bath and glorious battle. The two struck with arrows grunted as they pulled the lodged arrows from them as dark forest green blood oozed from their wounds.
Menna was quiet as he waited near the tents of the Orcs. He had already silently picked off three who were sleeping, quick the rip their throats out with his mighty maw, his eyes glancing towards the cages as he could barely make out Max who was silently undoing the locks with magic. With each lock, he connected his former pack into the consciousness.
"I have no time to explain. If you wish to rid your former captors from the mortal coil then leave the mage, horse and Gnome be. They are honorary pack members, feast on the flesh of green bloods, and eat your fill! Make them taste the vengeance of the pack by tasting their flesh!"
Each was silent but understood. Though Menna once showed cowardice, he was now here defending and freeing them. They owed the boy for giving them back their freedom as they lay in wait for their captors to come. Max could feel his heart racing as he had never pulled anything like this off before as he undid the last lock but something felt wrong. Without even thinking his body reacted, turning and ducking some as a blade struck the cage and his eyes went wide, seeing the poorly maintained blade striking where he was as sparks jumped from the metal on metal contact.
A blue-tinted Hobgoblin held the blade as he snarled and cursed at him but Max didn't understand a word. Max had little time to think as the blade went to strike again. His footing wasn't the best as the tip snagged his shirt, tearing it open as a small cut began to form on his stomach and he winced, teeth-gritting in pain as he reached for his blade. Hand on the hilt of the blade as he began to unsheath his blade only to watch as the cage door busted open and a drake began to tear into the monster under him as Max put a hand on his cut and hissed a bit as he felt the wound throb and his head spin a bit. A familiar ding went off in his head but he didn't have time to check it as all the drakes took their fellow pack member's attack as initiative and slaughter began to initiate.
Door after door flew open and the drakes began their hunt, goblins being clawed and bit, Orcs having little time to react as the five drakes began their hunt of the goblins, Jesse still drawing some attention as he clashed with the Hobgoblin. Green blood was splattered across Jesse as he glared at his foe, blocking and defending blow after relentless blow as he struggled to find an opening. Menna and his pack had thinned out the goblins, the last of them killed rather quickly as they moved to the few Orcs outside of the Gob Father's throne room. Max was in charge of the king and he had a feeling it was going to be anything but easy as Midnight retreated, deciding to aid the gnome in his fight.
Jesse was barely able to stand his ground, the Hobgoblin was humanoid and had a good two feet of height of him as he struggled. Taking out the other green bloods was a struggle as he blocked each blow of the cleaver-like blade with the shaft of his spear. The Hob shifted his footing, ringing the blade down with a heftier blow than the previous one, snapping the shaft of his spear in two before quickly shifting his weight to bring the blade back up. This was going to hurt but it was what he was looking for as he had full faith in the boy's craftsmanship to handle this blow. As the blade came to cut upwards of his chest as if to split Jesse in two he leaned back, letting the blade hit his breastplate just enough. In a glorious shower of sparks, the blade stood no chance against the armor as it shattered, biting into the gnome a good bit as he thrusted what remained of his spear into the creature's chest as he felt the warm blood spew from their combined wounds. The Hobgoblin reeled back to punch Jesse as he clutched the Gnome's wrist onto feel his spine shatter as the Midnight planted her hooves right into the monster's back.
Jesse was glad to have the held but less glad to feel his hand and wrist shatter as he wailed out in pain, shaking as he knew a healing pot wasn't going to fix this. With shaky hands he weakly pried his mangled hand from the clutches of the monster as he bit his tongue and quickly wrapped his hand as best he could, making it into a fist as to keep hold of his spear as he hobbled towards the camp, knowing that Max needed him still.
Menna had finished the last of the Orcs with his pack as he growled, watching Max approach the makeshift throne room, speaking gently to him but sternly.
"We have crippled them, no need to get yourself killed. We have slaughtered most of their numbers. There are two Hobgoblins, two Orcs, and the Goblin King in there. Fighting them all is suicide little mage!"
The drake showed compassion towards Max as he huffed and gently pat the snout of the fearsome creature. Smiling lightly as he knew what he had to do but didn't expect a creature of instinct to fully understand.
"Take Jesse to where the captive women are being held. Take them to the nearest village or gather them into a caravan. Escort them to the nearby town and let no harm come to them. I promise your pack food and already gave them freedom, I'm going finish this"
With a sigh he turned back to the doors, drawing his sword as he gulped, not knowing what to expect other than five enemies. The doors slowly creaked open as max stared up the small flight of steps and made his way in as Jesse got closer, catching a glimpse of Max as the door closed behind him. The kid was insane but efficient as he took a breath and quickly helped finish the remaining vermin.
As Max entered the doors closed behind him, torches on the wall lighting with magic. Someone was expecting him as he slowly walked up the steps into a dim-lit room, the Goblin king sitting at the head of the table and his lackeys sitting on the sides. The Goblin was dressed oddly nice for a goblin and the other four seemed to also have a similar getup to them. Two-piece suits, poorly managed and dingy as the Goblin stared Max down with little change in his gaze as he puffed on a fat stick of smoke weed. Max felt like he was in a mafia movie as the chair at the end of the table moved on its own and the king nodded towards it.
"Sit boy, you've already intruded and been informal. Nah, I think them parents of yours taught you a little better didn't they? Be polite, none of my men will do ya harm lest they wanna lose their heads over it"
Max gulped and narrowed his eyes, taking a seat as he looked at the four blank-faced creatures as he pulled his chair in, one of the Orcs looked annoyed, less than five feet from Max as he grumbled.
"Welcome boy, to the table of the Gob Father, now state your reason for slaughterin my boys"