Path to Villainy: An NPC Kobold's Tale

by S. L. Rowland

  Witt motioned for the refugees to join him. “Tomorrow, we start a new day in Murkwell. Kessy, I want you to make sure that our new brothers and sisters all find burrows. For the rest of you, no one is to leave the village tomorrow. Your days of mining and farming are over. I have plenty of work for you to do here. I suggest you all rest for the night. Hux, Zirn, Razul, I’d like to have a word with you.”

  Everyone disbanded and Witt took a seat around the fire.

  “What happened?” asked Hux.

  Witt leaned forward, hanging his head. His body threatened to crumple, the tension inside too much to bear. He was finally safe at home and a wave of emotion threatened to drown him. “This was all my fault. They all died because of me.”

  Razul shook his head. “No, they died because of the heroes. They made the choice to attack the village. The same way they made the choice to kill us over and over for sport.”

  Zirn put a hand on Witt’s arm. “You can’t blame yourself for this. You are a gift. For once, we have a chance to be great again. To be respected. You can’t let one setback deter you from what must be done.”

  He sighed again. They were right. He couldn’t let the devastation he witnessed hinder him from what needed to be done.

  The kobold in the corner of his vision pulsed, signaling he had a new notification. He quickly pulled it up.

  Notifications:

  Quest Alert: You have entered the village of Murkwell. It currently remains unclaimed. Would you like to claim Murkwell, making it your stronghold?

  Witt nodded, accepting the prompt, and another notification appeared.

  Quest Alert: Congratulations! You have claimed the village of Murkwell as your stronghold. It will remain under your control until your villain points reach zero or the village is usurped by another. Note: only those with titles may claim strongholds.

  The ground rumbled and a second later, a wave of energy expanded across the village. The trees swished and several animals bolted in alarm. Then the village sat in silence aside from the crackle of the fire.

  The other three kobolds looked at Witt with confounded expressions.

  “Most interesting.” Hux’s expression changed from one of confusion to mischief. “It has been many years since a kobold laid claim to a stronghold.”

  Witt stood up, pacing back and forth in front of the fire. “Tomorrow, we will begin plans to turn Murkwell into a fortress. Put all of the miners and farmers to work. I want a palisade around the perimeter. I want guards posted at every tunnel leading in and out of the village at all times.”

  Zirn nodded. “We’ll get to it first thing in the morning.”

  “Good. Then tomorrow night, we go hunting.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Witt worked through the night while the rest of Murkwell slumbered. Scouts still watched the trapped entrances but aside from them, the village was empty. Eerily empty. Even Olah’s boar kept his snorts to himself.

  Usually, there were at least a few drunken revelers partying well past bedtime. Schekt was among them more often than not.

  Witt took one of the hidden tunnels, bypassing the traps, and emerged outside of the village and into the dense forest. He snuck as quietly as he could, making notes that would be helpful the next night.

  By the break of dawn, Witt had circled the entire perimeter of the village and found himself back at the hidden tunnel. He felt confident in his recon. His eyes were bloodshot and scratchy, but he stuck to his motto. No rest for the wicked.

  The village center was crowded when Witt arrived. The addition of the kobolds from Swampside made them a formidable force. Gerah, one of the nurse mothers from the hatchery, approached Witt.

  “We’ve had nearly two dozen eggs hatch overnight. Many more are shaking, and it looks like they will be hatching in the coming days.” She beamed with pride.

  “Excellent.” Witt returned her smile. “Make sure you have everything you need. Ask Kessy, and she will see that it is done.”

  The time had come for Witt to start delegating. For once, he had more on his plate than he could handle. The new addition of the young kobolds would help replenish their ranks, but it took months for them to mature into productive members of society. Months that Witt wasn’t sure they had.

  He took his familiar place on top of the boulder and addressed the crowd. “Today is the beginning of a new era for kobolds. One where we no longer suffer disrespect and contempt with a smile. One where we take what is ours.” Witt scanned the crowd and his eyes rested on Kessy. She smiled and nodded. “You may be wondering what that is. For now, it is Murkwell. This is our home, and our fortress. We have drifted under everyone’s noses for too long. Only noticed when we had a part to play or if they thought we were in the way.” Witt paused, and his lip curled into a snarl. “But they are noticing us now. And they will forever remember what happens when you wake a sleeping dragon!”

  The crowd hissed and roared in response. They would fight and die for him if he asked. They would leap into the Pit of Despair at his command. Witt had his army, he had his power, now he needed to learn how to wield it.

  He held his hand in the air and waited for them to quiet. “Farmers, I want you with Zirn. Today we will be putting that famous kobold work ethic to good use. I want a palisade surrounding the village by nightfall. Miners, today you will trade your pickaxe for a saw. We need lumber to build our defenses. Clear the perimeter surrounding the village, it will aid us in spotting our attackers and provide the materials we need for our safety. Today will be tough, but it will be worth it. The rest of you, make sure we are well stocked on food and supplies. We need spears and arrows. This may be your last day to enter the city, so empty the coffers and buy what you can. Zirn, Hux, Kessy, and Razul, I’d like a word.”

  His four most trusted allies joined him at the foot of the boulder.

  “You look tired. Did you sleep at all last night?” Hux squinted as he looked Witt over.

  “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Witt laughed. “Zirn, I want you in charge of building the palisade. Feel free to add any tricks and traps you have at your disposal. Move the ones you have further out. I want these heroes hurt and bleeding long before they ever make it to the walls.”

  “I’ll see that it is done.” Zirn turned to the group. “Farmers, you’re with me. Let’s get moving.”

  “Razul, Hux, I want you in charge of lumber and clearing the area around the village. I want scorched earth between the forest and the new palisade. Any hero that emerges from the forest will be an easy target as they charge the wall.”

  The two nodded, and then gathered the miners.

  “Kessy, you’re the only one of us who can set foot in Skullheyden at the moment. Take the wagons and the others and go buy as much as you can. I don’t fear Skullheyden will attack us, but we need to be prepared for a siege.”

  Kessy moved in closer and placed a hand on Witt’s arm. “I’m proud of you, Witt. However this all ends, I’ll be by your side through it all.”

  He placed his hand on top of hers and a warmth traveled up his fingers. “You always have been my biggest supporter. Thanks for believing in me.”

  While Kessy went to fetch supplies with the others, Witt set to empowering his people. Zirn and the farmers removed the traps they had painstakingly engineered the day before, and the miners went to work chopping trees and clearing brush from the village borders.

  The task was simple enough that Witt could use his influence over the kobolds to somewhat control them while playing Inspired Frenzy. The raging miners hacked and sawed with increased vigor. Occasionally, a fight would break out as two miners competed to see who could saw a tree faster. Razul would break them up and after a cool-down period they would be back to work again.

  With every foot of cleared forest, Hux erupted a wall of flame, cleansing the earth of shrubbery and debris. Song of Enlightenment kept his mana regenerated so that he could keep up with the demand. Soon, they were running like a well-oiled machine and
clearing the forest in droves.

  Once the traps were reset deeper into the forest, the farmers set to erecting a palisade from the downed trees. The tops of the trees that would make up the wall were carved into spikes. The excess branches were set aside to be used as spears and arrows. With the help of the tinkerers, they used a system of ropes and pulleys to move the stakes into position, arranging them one beside the other with no space in between. It would be a sturdy defense, and kobolds could still bombard anyone on the other side by climbing the trees inside the village walls.

  Kobolds moved like ants with everyone constantly working. Witt’s voice ached from the constant singing. His head pounded and his vision blurred at objects in the distance. Even on his busiest days at the dungeon, he had never buffed so much. By noon, he was thoroughly exhausted.

  “Here, take this.” Razul handed him a vial of green liquid.

  Witt examined it.

  Item. Greater Stamina Potion. Restores stamina completely.

  He downed the green liquid. It was surprisingly sweet and syrupy. So much so that he thought he might gag as it slowly descended down his throat.

  Once he got over the discomfort, a sudden relief coursed through his body. The pounding headache faded along with the sore throat, and his vision was crisp and clear once again.

  “Wow, thanks. Where’d that come from?”

  Razul winked. “I stole it from the caravan before we trashed them. I figured today was as good a day as any to use it. Time is of the essence after all.”

  That was the truth of it. After a quick break for lunch they were all back to work.

  By early afternoon the exterior of the village was unrecognizable. Nearly half of the palisade had been erected and three quarters of the perimeter had been cleared. Murkwell was beginning to look like a formidable town and less like a hidden village. Normally, this rate of production would have been impossible, but thanks to Witt they were moving at an astounding pace.

  For the next few hours, he continued to buff his people as they fortified Murkwell with anger and rage. As the sun began to wane, Witt spotted Kessy and Olah with a train of people coming to the main entrance. The wagons were loaded with supplies, so much so that they shook with every bump on the trail. The stragglers carried baskets full of potions, meat, vegetables, and other items.

  “We spent it all. Every last coin the village had.” Kessy beamed with pride. She paused for a moment to look at her surroundings. “I can’t believe you did this in a day. It’s barely recognizable.”

  Witt grinned. “Never underestimate the power of a group of raging kobolds. Go ahead and make sure everything is stored safely underground, you can fill me in on what you picked up over dinner. We still have work to do out here.”

  The village continued working past twilight. The palisade was ninety percent complete, and Witt was faced with a decision. Should he press on with construction or go ahead with his plan to level up? Perhaps he could have both.

  A defensive structure was important, but he needed his people stronger if they hoped to survive what was coming.

  “Dig in!” Witt moved aside and waited for everyone to grab their food before taking his own.

  Several cheers resounded as they carved the suckling hog from the spit. As they ate, chatter was minimal and no one drank kobold brew. There would be a time for celebration, but it wasn’t tonight. There was still work to do and they all knew it. Even Schekt sat in silence as he ate.

  Witt’s council joined him.

  Zirn spoke first. “I’m amazed by the progress we made today. Once the wall is finished, I pity anyone who dares set foot in Murkwell uninvited.”

  “Hear, hear!” Razul lifted a dagger that pierced through a slab of meat. “What’s the plan for tonight, boss?”

  “We’ll get to that. First, I want to know about our new supplies.”

  Kessy wiped her mouth on her tunic. “Where to begin? I bought potions. I don’t know much about them, but heroes use them after battle, so I thought they might be a good idea. We got elixirs, boom powder, an assortment of weapons, armor, enough food to last us for a few weeks even if we can’t go out to hunt. And I got this for you.” She reached in the pouch hanging from her side and pulled out a necklace with a green stone in the pendant.

  “What is this?” Witt took the pendant and felt a surge of energy rush through his body.

  “It’s an amulet. It is supposed to offer you protection.”

  Witt analyzed the amulet.

  Item. Jade Amulet. +3 Charisma to bards. This mystical stone is said to bring good fortune to the wearer, and ward off evil spirits.

  Witt placed the amulet around his neck. The green stone seemed to have an energy of its own inside it. “Thank you, Kessy. I’m sure this will be of great use someday.”

  Kessy flushed and her eyes darted into the forest.

  Witt pressed his fingers to the stone. This was an item designed for heroes; he’d seen many like it in the market on his way to the dungeon each day. And yet here he was, soon to use their own items against them.

  He finished his meat and stood up. It was time to get back to work. He strummed his lute to gather everyone’s attention.

  “Farmers, it is time to finish the palisade. I will buff you one final time before we head out. Tomorrow, you all will join the hunt. Everyone else, gather your weapons. Spears are best if you have them, but anything will do, even a pickaxe. Once you are ready, meet me at the gate.”

  The farmers got to work. Directed by the tinkerers and buffed by Inspired Frenzy, they moved logs with fervor. Witt had no doubt they would be finished by the time he returned.

  A crowd awaited Witt when he returned to the gate. They were much more prepared than the times he had sent them in a rage to fight the troll. This time, they were heavily armed. He would make sure no one died tonight.

  Witt pulled a piece of parchment out of his pouch and held it up in the air. “Last night, I scouted beyond our borders and made a list of all the monsters that resided here. While they roam freely during the day, most of them return to the same place at night to sleep. If by some chance they have been killed during the day, then they will respawn in the same area come morning. Tonight, we are going to clear the forest and all of you will grow stronger.” He tucked the parchment away. “Silence is of the utmost importance, therefore I will not be buffing you for this. We will attack quietly and in unison, and you will all see the morning.”

  Witt found it strange that he suddenly cared so much whether his fellow kobolds lived or died. Death had never meant much to him before. All kobolds were reborn in the hatchery and their spirit lived on. But now, when he lost a kobold, he was losing their utility. It would take months for a hatchling to replace them. He didn’t value their lives for their spirit and personality. He valued them for what they could do for him.

  Perhaps he was a villain.

  “First stop, the troll.”

  A single tinkerer traveled with them to spot traps and disarm them when needed. The group walked through the forest like silent assassins; the only sounds were the snapping of an occasional twig or the hoot of an owl in the distance.

  They came upon the familiar sight of the boil-covered troll as it slept raucously through the night.

  Kobolds surrounded the troll on every side, swords drawn and spears raised. More climbed into the trees with their bows and arrows.

  Witt lifted his hand and curled it into a fist. When he lowered it, the troll barely had time to groan before the life faded from its eyes.

  One down, a whole forest to go.

  After killing a family of bears, satyrs, an ogre, and a group of monstrous shrubs, some of the level-one kobolds had leveled up. Witt quickly realized that this wouldn’t be as easy or as quick as he thought. The group was too big and the experience too few to level them all like this. He would need to take them in smaller groups if he hoped to make a real dent. The best fighters and those with the most to gain would be the priority. They needed stro
ng fighters that could go head to head with the heroes even though they didn’t have abilities.

  Witt needed to think.

  “That’s it for tonight. I’m sure you can all use the rest. We’ll get back at this tomorrow.”

  Hux stepped next to Witt. “Is everything okay? There is still plenty of night left.”

  Witt clenched his fist, angry that he hadn’t thought of the division of experience points. Up until now, all of the experience had gone to him and him alone. No wonder he had leveled up so fast. “This isn’t going to work. It’s too slow. I need a faster way to level them up. Let’s get back to the village.”

  “You heard the skald,” Razul shouted. “Back to the village.”

  “It wasn’t a bad plan.” Kessy tried to comfort him. “Sometimes things just don’t work out the way we imagine.”

  “I don’t have time to fail.” Witt shook his head in desperation. “There is a target on my back and if I lose, we all lose.”

  Snapping branches echoed from deep in the forest. There was an explosion of light, and then more branches snapped.

  Witt grew cold all over. Was it the heroes? Had they regrouped so quickly?

  “Everyone back to the village!” Witt shouted, but he didn’t run. He would face whatever abomination was coming. With a dagger in each hand, it was time to fight.

  The patter of kobold feet rolled like a gentle breeze behind them while a tidal wave of doom threatened to swallow him from the front.

  Witt would hold them off as long as he could to give his people a chance at safety.

  A shadowy figure appeared to his right, and then Hux joined his left.

  “You two need to run. If you die, you won’t respawn.” Witt appreciated the gesture, but he couldn’t afford to lose them. If he died, he’d wake up back in the village.