The stances of the goblins changed after realizing that their elder no longer held great hostility. To W goblins were weak creatures but seeing this made him realize that these particular goblins shared a sense of unity. They learned to work together to survive hardships and they learned to trust in one another's trust.
'These goblins are tough cookies' A fitting description. They were like cookies that could be easily eaten whole but would make sure to give you a severe toothache.
The elder goblin then started to write something new. It was the same hill but this time there were small creatures entering it and a larger one. That was obviously him.
After some more shrieking and squealing the goblins that had come out with the intention to fight entered their lair silently once more. W now had to make a decision.
'I don't really want to enter' The place could be a trap. He had yet to see the elder in action but it was plainly obvious that his staff was made of orc bones. That goblin couldn't be a simple character and as such it might be wise enough to try and trick him.
The elder was the last one left. The elder turned to look at him, W now knew he couldn't delay his response.
'Diplomacy' That was the intention. Diplomats long ago could be sent into an enemy nation without knowing if they would return with their heads attached to their bodies. What was his excuse? Losing a plethora of skills and health on his main body?
That did sound very convincing but W followed after the elder anyway. Curiosity killed the cat, but what if it didn't? W squeezed through the goblins' hidden trapdoor.
Inside, he was met with warm torchlight. Apart from that, W saw many goblins. At least 40 goblins lived inside of this hill which was by all accounts not a small hill yet…
'It's too crowded' If someone told W that this was where most of the free goblins were he would believe it. There was only one space that had not a single soul near it. It was an altar of sorts. Atop this altar were pure white bones that shined even with the poor lighting.
This was where they headed. The crowd in the hidden cave hill parted and allowed a direct line towards this stone altar.
W walked behind the elder who just before he could stand on it stretched out his staff and poked him. The message was clear, don't come closer.
The elder goblin then closed their aged eyes and let out a small breathe. They were preparing for something. An incantation.
The goblin started to squeal and shriek in an ominous yet sophisticated pattern. As they did, the goblins that crowded the cave all began to cause lots of noise in excitement.
'What's it doing?' The elder started to also wave their staff and as they continued their chant, the atmosphere seemed to turn gloomy. The excited goblins were then overcome with fear.
W then suddenly felt a tug. His mind lost focus for a smidgen of a second and he was left in a confused daze.
'What was that?' It seemed W only had questions but no answers.
The goblin slowly opened their eyes and their ugly face carried a troubled expression. It then started to tell the other goblins something.
W didn't understand any of this but seeing the dejected expressions of the goblins clued him in a bit.
'Bones… a tug at my consciousness… Were they trying to summon me and failed?' This farfetched thought entered W's mind. Even if it wasn't true that they were trying to summon him they definitely connected to his consciousness. It was weird, extremely bizarre in fact.
'How did a goblin learn such a thing?' W wasn't convinced that this was something a simple goblin could do. If that was coupled with the worry the goblin showed when he mentioned god then it became clear to W that this goblin was owned by the dungeon. Technically, all of them were but this one was in contact with the dungeon.
The dungeon had to have passed on the knowledge on this type of magic for whatever reason and ever since the goblin lived a lowkey life as a leader of goblins allowing it to live until now.
'How can I learn this?' The small tug at his consciousness was like a tug at his heart. He really needed to know more about this weird spirit channeling. Wouldn't it be amazing if he could summon himself? Wouldn't that solve the problem of him dying far away from the main body?
'I'm going to be so stoked when I fuse with myself later' W thought smugly.
His happy thoughts were however cut short by some squealing. W realized the biggest inhibitor in his want for this magic. He couldn't communicate.
'Damn, I need a goblin body' The dungeon obviously wouldn't grant this request and for him to do it himself he would need to be his main body.
W was then poked by the bone staff again. The goblin chief now captured his attention. The chief started to draw in the dirt but this time the drawings were… Stickmen…? Many stickmen! With pointy sticks! An- And some could shoot fire! O- Others could shoot lighting! They were humans!
'This goblin must be a prophet like Sarfu' But W knew that the prophet profession was nothing more than the dungeon feeding the goblin or orc information. Now he had an inkling that it did this through rituals.
'Maybe I misunderstood the purpose of the ritual and it's actually to get prophecies' W couldn't be certain, he was only sure that the information was reliable as it came directly from the dungeon.
'The humans must be on this floor' It was either that or the humans were coming. He already knew the latter and W found it best to assume the worst. It was the only way to ensure maximum readiness.
The elder wasn't done with his drawings quite yet, however. The stickmen holding swords and spears didn't have a clear target but the wizards did. They were attacking a hill covered with bushes and trees.
'The goblins will be discovered by the humans this time around' That was what the prophecy seemed to be implying. Based on his previous thoughts this meant that the adventurers were properly scouting this time. They weren't rushing forward only clearing their immediate path.
'This is bad…' W needed to leave with his bones as soon as possible. He couldn't dally any longer. Yet, if he left just like that the goblins would be annihilated. That wouldn't be in his interest.
'Why don't you all just move?' W transmitted to the elder. The elder however only shook his head regretfully before saying something to the other goblins. They all became angry and some were also filled with fighting spirit. The message was clear, they wanted to fight for their home.
The goblins' secret hill was extremely suspicious but most orcs didn't do much thinking even if they had the capability to. This meant that the goblins only managed to remain mostly unnoticed due to this hill. They were as good as dead anywhere else.
This implied that the goblins believe any orcs that found them would kill them but Ed believed it would just be guarding a wall or been sent to scout the surroundings.
'I need to correct these guys' The goblins might prefer to die than to serve under orcs and while he couldn't understand the reason he did know one thing.
'If I can take them under my wing I'd only benefit' their techniques and experience would help the war effort. He couldn't allow these 40 something goblins to die just because.
'Elder, God does not wish for a devout tribe like yours to die meaninglessly. By god's will, I came to beseech your help eliminating these foreign invaders' W transmitted without doing as much as twitching an eye. The dungeon didn't send him to do anything but it most definitely would not interfere. What was that if not silent consent?
W's transmission entered the ears of the goblins and the elder fell to his knees. They gripped tightly onto their staff and looked down at the altar ground. As they did, small wet spots started to form. The goblin had a certain face, what was it? Gratefulness? Devotion?
The goblins started to chatter loudly all around. Some were angry that the elder was crying while some who understood better the situation seemed to want to cry alongside him. The veteran goblin in particular was tearful.
Their prayers were answered! They had not been forsaken! Yes, that was what their faces reflected. But they were not out of hot water quite yet.
***
"I wonder what an orc is doing by themselves all the way out here…" A scout muttered. His name was Explorer. A B-class assassin known for his curiosity among the company.
"Doesn't matter, just follow the prints" His buddy Roi replied sternly. There were footsteps and signs of searching in a large perimeter. The orc in question had to have dropped something in the area. Who knew, maybe they even hid some treasure?
Explorer did just as Roi said and under the faint moonlight that seeped past the tall canopy of trees, they found a hill. A hill surrounded by forest.
"Goblins!" Roi exclaimed recognizing the many footprints left on the ground in the vicinity.
"Orcs and goblins?" Explorer added in surprise. This was exactly the type of stuff Balin instructed them to report!
"Quick! You report back!" Explorer told the other scout leaving him dumbfounded.
"What are you doing then?" He asked taken aback.
"I'll be stalking" He was really curious as to why an orc visited a hidden goblin tribe.. Very curious.
