“Hmph” Guba snorted again, “can’t trust no hobgoblin.”
“He swore on Corgoram’s name.”
“Hmph,” She snorted, though it was clear she was impressed.
A thought occurred to me.
“Guba, you said you lost your clan in the past?” I looked at the stern old gobliness. “Does that mean you know how I can start a new clan?”
She looked at me shrewdly. “So that be yer new plan, eh? Just arrived, and already want to be a Totem-Chieftain, eh?”
I shrugged. “I don’t see anyone else around up to the task. I hope we can build a new clan together. Become larger and stronger. Zuban here already pledged his help. I could certainly use the advice of our most noble cook who has fed five generations of goblins.” I bowed deeply.
Vic snorted
Nothing wrong with a little outrageous flattery from time to time. I replied.
I looked at Guba and grinned, especially when it works.
“Hmph. Alright, alright.”
Was she blushing? Hard to tell with her goblin-green complexion.
“Well, if you be dead set on starting a new clan, you’ll be needing some stuff first.”
“What kind of stuff, Guba?” I inquired politely.
“You be needing a good defendable position, and set yerself up with decent chieftain quarters. And don’t be forgetting to put a good quality chest in it.” She paused, thinking.
“Then you be needing a proper cemetery. But that ain’t be easy, you will be needing an ancestral bone fer the consecration rite. I don’t know where you be finding one, those hobgoblin burnt our old cemetery to soot and ashes.” She gave Zuban a dirty look.
“That be the basics. It be a tall order makin’ a clan with only the eight goblins.” She snorted, “and one hobgoblin. We’ll be needing some females to pick up the population. Tika here can’t manage it all on her own.”
Tika blushed. Her’s was a rose-tinged green blush, much nicer than Guba’s.
“There will actually be eleven of us,” I motioned at the path I came from. “Vrick and two warriors survived the battle, they’re should arrive shortly.”
“Hmph! Even then, they are ill suited for bearing young ‘uns.” she replied. “What will ya do fer females?”
“I’ll figure something out when we get to it.” I replied shortly. “But you were right, first we need to find a new location, preferably far from here, where the hobgoblins won’t find us.” I sighed. “I guess we could form scouting parties and start looking for a place. Once Vrick gets here, we’ll split into--”
“Totem…” Tika interrupted me hesitantly, “I know place like this.”
I perked up at that. It would be great to be spared the hassle of searching for a new location.
“Where, Tika?”
“Erm...” She was flustered as everyone’s attention centered on her, Zuban’s included.
“‘That way” she pointed to the thick of the forest. “Big mountain there. I go once. Mountains around me. Lost.” She was nervous, but swallowed hard and continued. “Mountain like circle… trees inside. Hard find. Hard find way out. Big place.”
A mountain gorge? That could be just what we needed.
“That sounds promising, well done” I smiled at her.
I opened the map of the surrounding area I looted from the hobgoblin lieutenant.
“Can you show me on the map where it is?”
Tika nodded and pointed to a small mountain range to the south of us. I didn’t see a gorge on the map, but I hoped it was due to its low quality.
As I was considering the map, the sound of stones rolling down the slope heralded the arrival of Vrick and his two remaining warriors.
The two warriors were indifferent, but Vrick was enraged when he learned about the destruction of the clan. It took some effort, but I calmed him down enough to prevent him from killing Zuban.
I took a good look at my new clan to be:
Zuban, Tika, Guba, Vrick, and Bek were my intelligent NPCs, each one, as I now realized, was controlled by a VI. I also had two level 4 warriors and three level 1 goblins workers. Those would have to make do for starters.
“Alright everyone” I addressed them. “We’ll be leaving there shortly. So everyone spread out and gather everything you find that we can use. Food, tools, material, everything.”
The goblins nodded their understanding and made their way inside.
“Vic,” I turned my head, looking over my shoulder, ”As a VI in his natural form, you’ve got a pretty good memory, right?”
“Good,” I rubbed my hands together, “you’ll be my logistics guy, I’ll need you to track our clan’s inventory. It’ll be useful to know what I have available at all times.”
“When we made our contract you promised to help me as best you could,” I reminded him. “With your perfect memory, you should remember that” I replied smugly.
I got him this time.
“Of course”. I graciously let him have the final word.
“Start by cataloging everything we bring out of the cave” I pointed at the goblins, coming out carrying various items; tools, pieces of wood, cooking utensils, worn furs and bits of foodstuff.
It only took us about ten minutes, there was nothing else left to take. The invading hobgoblins had done a good job of ransacking the place.
“That’s all there is” Vrick pointed at a small pile of items. “And we only have enough food for one day.”
I nodded. “Divide the load among everyone and prepare to leave. I have something to take care of first.”
“Yes, esteemed Totem” Vrick replied respectfully.
Did I get a new nickname while I wasn’t looking? I was about to check the interface when I something annoying passed by me.
“Bek” I called in a commanding voice. The little critter was coming out of the cave carrying some equipment.
He looked at me apprehensively.
“Come here.”
Reluctantly, the goblin dropped the items he was carrying into the pile, and approached me, his face betraying his nervousness. “Y-yes Esteemed Totem?”
“We have a problem.” I stated matter of factly. “I killed your master and you tried to kill me. Twice. I don’t think there's a place for you here anymore.”
Bek stared at me with a shocked expression, then fell to his knees. “P-please noble Totem, mercy, I stupid, stupid goblin.”
I looked at the miserable creature groveling at my feet and felt a tiny bit sorry for the pitiful fellow.
Did being transformed into a goblin make me soft? A few days ago I had no qualms killing any mob, especially one that insulted me. Now, here I am feeling sympathy for one.
I frowned. “But why? It’s just a game, it’s not real.”
I was dumbfounded by the notion.
That was a deep and insightful observation. Could a computer program really come up with that kind of existential argument?
It was a troubling notion. Vic made it sound like the game was a different type of existence. A world that the VIs considered to be as real as we humans consider ours to
be.
And we slaughter them eagerly, without a moment of remorse… I realized.
I shook my head, trying to focus.
That’s nonsense, it’s a form of entertainment. Humans created this game, it’s just a bunch of ones and zeroes.
And yet that doubt lingered, gnawing at me.
What if I’m wrong? What if we are tormenting sentient beings in our ‘play’?
+50 reputation with Vic (The awesome companion).
Current rank: Neutral. Points to next rank: 640
I looked down at the groveling Bek, feeling pity for the creature now.
“Stand up, Bek” I said gently.
He raised his ugly face, tears in his eyes.
“Swear upon Corgoram’s name to serve me faithfully and do me no harm.”
“I swear.” He squeaked, staring at me cow eyed. “I swear to Corgoram, I be good goblin, protect new Totem.”
To my surprise, when he raised his hand to swear, a dim green light came from it.
“Bek, can you cast spells?”
He nodded his head enthusiastically “Yes! Bek Smart, Totem teach Bek heal.”
“Show me.”
“Yes, yes.” he replied happily, looking around. He ran to a nearby boulder and started banging his head against it repeatedly.
“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled at him.
There was blood trickling down his face when he looked at me.
“I show heal. First show wound.”
I facepalmed. Goblins!
Bek mumbled some words, his hand once again glowed with golden-green light. He touched his own forehead and the light flowed into the open wound, fading away as the wound closed.
I now had a healer. This was unexpected, a healer was a vital component in any group. My Luck came through for me again.
“By Corgoram’s name, I swear to take care of you as one of my followers.” Much less committing vow than the one I gave Zuban, but Bek seemed to like it regardless.
+1000 reputation with Bek.
Current rank: Neutral. Points to next rank: 1000
The others finished loading up all the gear. Zuban, being larger and stronger than the rest of us, was able to carry much more equipment than anyone else. But to my surprise the three smaller goblin workers carried almost as much Zuban.
They must have some skill that allows carrying heavy loads. I should remember to check everyone’s stats as soon as possible.
“Alright everyone, let’s go.” I turned to Tika “Please, lead the way”.
“Yes, esteemed Totem”
And then we were off. Leaving the destroyed clan behind us without a second thought.
Using my newly acquired War Party skill, I formed a party with our entire group of refugees in it. Icons superimposed on my view, representing every one of my goblins.
Tika led us into the forest trail leading south.
We walked for hours in silence. The goblins often cast fearful glances into the darker parts of the forest. Bek was visibly trembling as he walked. Our first day of travel passed uneventfully. As night began to fall we made our camp in a small clearing. I had Vrick post sentries, then checked the map. Based on the location Tika had pointed out to me earlier, we had covered about a third of the distance. Guba prepared soup and roasted meat for our dinner, after which we went to sleep.
The night passed peacefully. At first light we continued our journey, but without breaking our fast, since we had run out of food.
Tika and I ranged ahead of the group so we could hunt. With her bow and my magic, we took down small game that crossed our path; squirrels, rabbits, and a giant mole the size of a goblin.
Guba collected some herbs for seasoning and served a tasty mole-meat stew. Morale was up when went to sleep with our bellies full.
***
I woke, blinking blearily as I sat up. It was still dark and one of the warriors was standing over me.
“What’s up?” I rubbed my eyes.
He looked vacantly at me then pointed to the forest. A loud thump came from the direction he indicated. The surge of adrenaline had me alert and wide awake instantly.
“Go and wake everyone up” I ordered the warrior. I grabbed my staff and stood. Facing the direction the noise came from, I cast Mana Shield and conjured an empowered Drilling Arrow.
The thump sounded again, this time closer.
Something big, and heavy, was making its way toward us.
The warrior had woken everyone, Tika looked afraid.
I can’t lose any of them. The thought flashed in my mind. I didn’t even know if this many goblins were enough to establish a new clan.
I had the most hit points, by far, of anyone else, and my Mana Shield effectively doubled the amount of damage I could take. That meant I would have to be the group's Tank, the person who absorbs the enemy attacks while the rest of the group tries to kill it.
I stepped toward the coming noise and glanced at my goblins.
“Vrick, you and the two warriors stand behind me, try to attack with your spears from a distance.” Hopefully it would give them enough reach to avoid getting hit in melee.
“Tika, climb that tree, support us with your bow.”
“Yes Esteemed Totem.”
“Bek, stand behind the warriors, be ready to heal anyone who gets injured”
“Yes Esteemed Totem,” he squeaked, and trembling in fear, moved to his assigned place.
“Everyone else, move back away, stay out of danger.”
Then we waited.
The noise was coming closer and closer.
Thump.
I braced myself as the branches on the edge of the clearing were swept aside, and a huge creature came crashing into the clearing.
Analyze.
Forest Ogre. Level 10. 210Hp
Damn, it was an imposing brute. Nearly three meters tall, it was four times taller than any of us except Zuban. He wore crude furs that offered little protection, but I knew Ogres had natural tough skin. To make matters worse, they had innate magic resistance. In his hand he held a huge club, that probably weighed twice as much as I did.
Damn, he has more reach with that club than my warriors do with their spears. I realized, and revised my strategy.
“Vrick, move everyone back ten steps. Throw your spears at him, if you run out of spears, start throwing daggers.” We had plenty of those now.
“Vic, anything in our inventory that will help us take this thing out?”
I hated using such a rare item, but that was our only ace we had. I took the grenade out, aimed carefully at the unconcerned Ogre and threw it.
A hit.
The grenade exploded when it impacted the Ogre’s chest. Liquid fire burst out and covered part of his body. The blazing fire was tinged with red and black. The Ogre roared in pain and rage, and charged straight at me.
Good, I got all the aggro. He will focus only on me now.
Cursed Flame Grenade burns Forest Ogre for 10 damage
That’s it? That’s pathetic. I frowned. I expected such an ominous sounding weapon to be a lot more lethal.
I loosed my empowered Drilling Arrow to hit the raging Ogre. From my vantage it looked as pitiful as a mosquito bite.
Drilling Arrow hit Forest Ogre for 14 damage. Spell resistance ignore 6 damage
Well, at least the damage was decent. I had expected half the damage to be ignored instead of almost a third, but the new Drilling Arrow was proving its usefulness against the Ogre’s magic resistance.
Three spears, an arrow and some rocks flashed across the distance, all hitting the Ogre but barely penetrating its thick skin. A glance at the log showed me the damage they inflicted; 4, 4, 2, 3. The rocks did no damage. Pitiful.
Then the Ogre was on me. He closed the gap between us with three great strides. Lifting his club he r
oared and swung down at me.
The club smashed through the Mana shield and hit me.
Forest Ogre hit Mana Shield for 57 damage. 32 mana drain. You take 21 damage
The shield absorbed most of the damage, but I still lost nearly a fifth of my hit points.
That’s not too bad, I tried to think positively as I estimated the numbers. I can outlast him.
I could feel the damage, and the ensuing rage, enable Blood Wrath, but I ignored it. This ‘hulk’ wouldn’t even feel the damage from it.
Then, to my delight another battle message opened.
Cursed Flame Grenade burn Forest Ogre for 10 damage
Yes!
I didn’t realize the grenade had an ongoing damage effect. We just needed to last long enough for the grenade to burn the Ogre to death.
I cast an unpowered Drilling Arrow, that did 7 points of damage. My goblins launched another volley of projectiles that dealt an additional 10 damage. The Ogre’s health bar was down by a third, and my own injuries were insignificant.
Things were going pretty well.
Then the Ogre before me bellowed a roar and an Enraged icon appeared next to his health bar, triggered by the creature’s wounded state. I had forgotten Ogres had a special ability. Crap.
The Enraged buffs energized the Ogre, increasing his speed and power.
The Ogre lifted his club again and smashed my Shield with his enhanced strength, with uncanny speed he swung again and delivered another hit.
Forest Ogre Club hit Mana Shield for 62 damage. 32 mana drain. You take 26 damage
Forest Ogre Club hit Mana Shield for 65 damage. 32 mana drain. You take 29 damage
My wounded body screamed at me, my sight blurred, and I could feel myself losing consciousness.
NO. I couldn’t let go. I was the only one who could stop that brute from massacring everyone. I would lose them all if I’d surrendered now.
I had only 36 HP remaining, dangerously low. But my rage had built up, fueling Blood Wrath, and burning through the haze of pain.
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