The forest was alive with sound as Kael and Marra made their way back to camp. The rustle of leaves, distant animal cries, and faint rustling in the underbrush kept Kael's senses on high alert. After the intense combat against the goblins, his body felt heavy, but his adrenaline kept him moving. Marra's composure, even after their fight, was unshaken. She strode confidently, her bow slung over her shoulder and her short blade now clean and sheathed.
As they stepped into the clearing where the outcasts had made their camp, Corin looked up from the fire with his ever-present sneer. Thane, however, leapt to his feet, rushing to meet them.
"You're back!" Thane exclaimed, his excitement making him look even younger. "Did you run into any trouble?"
Kael wiped sweat from his brow and gave a small nod. "Goblins. A leader and a few scouts."
"Of course it was goblins," Corin muttered, throwing a stick into the fire. "Seems like the forest is teeming with them these days."
"Is that normal?" Kael asked, glancing between Corin and Marra. "I mean, are goblins supposed to be everywhere?"
Marra folded her arms, leaning against a nearby tree. "Normally? No. Goblins are pests, but they usually stick to small packs and keep to themselves unless they're forced to move. Something's driving them closer to us."
Thane, ever curious, added, "Or organizing them. I've read that goblins can form bigger groups when they're led by a stronger leader. Like a chieftain or a shaman."
Kael frowned. "I don't know much about goblins, but that sounds… bad."
"It is," Marra said bluntly. "A goblin nest can cause chaos for miles around. They breed fast, raid anything they can find, and if they've got a strong leader, they'll fight to the death to protect their territory."
Kael shifted uncomfortably. He had assumed goblins were weak, based on the ones he had fought so far, but the way Marra described them made them sound far more dangerous as a collective force.
"Wait," Kael said, narrowing his eyes. "Nest?"
Marra nodded. "It's not just a group of goblins we're dealing with. If they've got a shaman or a chieftain, that means there's a nest nearby—probably dozens, maybe hundreds of goblins. And if we don't deal with it soon, they'll overrun this area."
Kael felt his stomach twist. "How do you destroy a nest?"
"You don't," Corin interjected with a sneer. "Unless you've got a death wish."
"We do," Marra said firmly, ignoring him. "It's dangerous, but we don't have a choice. If we let the nest grow unchecked, they'll come for us eventually."
Kael nodded slowly. He wasn't entirely convinced this was something he wanted to get involved in, but he also knew that staying out of it might mean death down the line. The outcasts had given him shelter and a chance to survive. He owed them something in return.
"What's the plan?" he asked.
***
The next morning, the group set out for the northern ridge. Marra led the way, her sharp eyes scanning the forest for signs of danger. Corin walked beside her, his dagger at the ready, while Thane followed closely behind, clutching his staff. Kael brought up the rear, his spear held tightly in both hands.
The tension was palpable as they moved deeper into the forest. The air felt heavier, the usual sounds of the woods growing faint. It wasn't long before they stumbled upon their first sign of trouble—a crude totem made of bones and sticks, planted firmly in the ground.
"What the hell is that?" Kael asked, wrinkling his nose at the sight of small animal skulls impaled on the spikes.
"A goblin marker," Marra said grimly. "They use these to mark their territory. It's a warning to stay away—or else."
Kael studied the totem with unease. The faint stench of decay hung in the air, and the ground around the marker was trampled and disturbed. "Does this mean we're close to their nest?"
"Probably," Marra replied, her voice low. "But we'll know for sure soon enough."
The group moved cautiously through the underbrush, each step careful and deliberate. Kael's grip on his spear tightened as the faint sound of guttural voices reached their ears. He glanced at Marra, who held up a hand, signaling them to stop.
Peering through the foliage, Kael saw a group of goblins gathered in a small clearing. There were at least ten of them, their crude weapons gleaming in the faint sunlight that filtered through the trees. At the center of the group stood a goblin shaman, its twisted staff glowing with faint green energy.
"What's with the one in the middle?" Kael whispered, gesturing toward the shaman.
"That's a shaman," Marra said, her voice barely audible. "It's bad news. Shamans can use magic to strengthen the others or attack us directly."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. He had fought goblins before, but the idea of one wielding magic was entirely new—and terrifying.
Flanking the shaman were two larger goblins, their jagged axes and crude armor making them stand out from the others.
"Those are warriors," Marra added. "They're tougher than the scouts we've been dealing with. If we're going to survive this, we need to take the shaman out first."
Kael nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "What's the plan?"
Marra's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. "You and I will take on the warriors. Corin, get behind them and pick off as many as you can. Thane, focus on disrupting the shaman's magic. If we can stop it from casting, we might have a chance."
Thane nodded, though his hands trembled slightly as he gripped his staff. "I'll do my best."
Kael took a deep breath, steadying himself. His mind raced as he prepared for the fight. He briefly considered using Skill Replication on Marra's combat style, but the idea of revealing one of his unique abilities still made him uneasy. Instead, he tightened his grip on his spear and followed her lead.
"Let's move," Marra whispered, and the group sprang into action.
Kael charged toward one of the warriors, his spear flashing in the sunlight as he struck. The goblin roared, swinging its axe in a wide arc. Kael ducked, spinning his spear to deliver a sharp thrust to the creature's side. The goblin staggered, blood dripping from the wound, but it recovered quickly.
Behind him, Marra engaged the second warrior, her blade flashing as she dodged its heavy strikes. Her movements were precise, each step calculated to exploit the goblin's weaknesses.
Thane raised his staff, the runes glowing brightly as he chanted a spell. A wave of energy burst forth, striking the shaman and causing its glowing staff to flicker. The shaman let out an angry hiss, its spell interrupted.
Corin darted through the shadows, his dagger finding the throats of two unsuspecting goblins. The creatures fell silently, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.
Kael pressed his attack, driving his spear into the warrior's chest. The goblin roared in pain, its HP dropping rapidly. With one final thrust, Kael ended the fight, turning just in time to see Marra finish off the second warrior with a well-placed strike.
The shaman screeched, raising its staff as green energy crackled around it. Kael's eyes widened as a bolt of magic shot toward him, but he managed to dive out of the way just in time. The spell struck the ground where he had been standing, leaving a smoldering crater.
"Thane!" Marra shouted. "Disrupt it again!"
Thane nodded, raising his staff to cast another spell. This time, a glowing chain of energy wrapped around the shaman, binding its movements. The creature thrashed and hissed, its magic faltering.
Kael seized the opportunity, charging toward the shaman with his spear. The creature's eyes widened in fear as he closed the distance, its staff glowing faintly as it tried to cast one last spell. Kael's spear struck true, piercing the shaman's chest and pinning it to the ground.
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin Shaman (Level 5)
+25 XP
Kael pulled his spear free, breathing heavily as he surveyed the carnage. Marra approached, her expression grim but satisfied.
"Good work," she said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But this was just the beginning. If there's a shaman here, the nest is close."
Kael nodded, his grip tightening on his spear. The fight had been intense, but it had also shown him how little he truly understood this world. As they prepared to move deeper into the forest, he couldn't shake the feeling that the real challenge was yet to come.