Part ThreeThe four found themselves within a dark pit bordering the lands of Nusmzolak. Who knows how many times it had been cleared out previously, but now it was being done again. As a spearman Arthur's advantage was his reach, and so advanced slowly through the tunnels as the occasional goblin would come charging out to attack the elf. Soon though Uvel and Birrello lost interest in waiting and charged past as the duo butchered their way through tunnels into the main pit.
Arthur would walk behind and spear fallen goblins through the head as they continued to brutalize the pitiable creatures. Miara couldn't get a shot in the cramped space and so followed mostly.
The last few goblins in the main pit were unarmed civilians and Arthur could see his two mercenaries laughing and jeering at them. Miara prepared for her first open shot since they arrived before Arthur laid a hand on her bow to push it down
"Stop you two!" He shouted "No unnecessary killing"
Uvel, covered in blood and viscera again frowned at Arthur only turning his head toward the elf, said "There's no such thing as unnecessary killing with us. These guys will be picking up weapons in a matter of days"
"No we won't! we would never!" the trio of goblins exclaimed begging for their lives
Arthur knew that heroes didn't kill people on what they
might do.
"Who rules here?" he asked
They looked between each other still visibly afraid of the terrible four "They're called the Misty Vice. I don't know who leads them I swear!"
Uvel screamed and and shook his blade in the air "Pathetic liars! I'll eat your entrails!"
"We swear we don't know! We swear!"
"Where are their forces at?" Arthur continued
"I do not know. You killed all the ones we've seen here!"
Uvel snarled at the goblins again as they whimpered. Arthur considered this. Some of the pits they went to had still been abandoned since the last adventurer or army had come through, but according to research it was still ruled by Nusmzolak. Perhaps they had decided to prevent their leaders from dying by not stationing them at the pits themselves? It would be a sure way to ensure only unimportant goblins ever died. Either way he had to stop his companions before they butchered these creatures before them.
Arthur reached into his pack and gently unfolded the torso sized leaf he had retrieved and attached it to the extra spear he brought and planted it before the goblins. Upon the leaf was a large sigil drawn in blood. "This land belongs to the fields of liberation now! If anyone has a problem with it tell them to come and fight me: Arthur Mossdiamonds the Light Eagle!"
"the land is yours! It's yours! We don't care who rules here!"
"You may stay here and you will serve the ones who are to come here under my direction, are we clear?"
"Yes, Lord!" they said groveling.
The four departed the pits, but not before Uvel snarled one last time at them and made them jump again.
From there they went to the border city of Tormentlives. In it's heyday capable of fitting thousands of goblins, but now completely abandoned. They explored every nook and cranny of the dark fortress and found no one, but did stop in it's dungeons which had enough weapons and armor lying around to outfit an army.
The goblins seemed disinterested in the location completely. Uvel kicked a helmet while Birrello admired a statue.
"Do you care nothing to see your people's lands lay in ruin?" Miara said. Arthur could feel the cold in her tone
"The weak deserve to die" Birrello said without even turning.
Miara went expressionless which usually indicated an explosion was coming so Arthur cut in "Uvel, you wanted to kill those civilians at the last pit. Why? I feel like I somewhat understand your bloodlust when fighting soldiers, but they had nothing to do with it"
Uvel didn't seem upset at the question, but more the expression when someone asks a question even a child should know "There's no such thing as goblin civilians. Just bad soldiers."
"Then why kill them? Why don't you help your people get stronger?" Miara cut in
Uvel laughed as Birrello fingered her whip "You want us to turn on you? Is that it?"
"It would make my day actually" She retorted coldly
Uvel was not shaken "All goblins should look out for themselves. If we all focus on making ourselves greater than we will all become stronger."
"And the weak shall perish" Birrello muttered
"That too!" he chuckled
"The weak should be lifted up and made stronger by the strong. Not butchered as you would" Arthur interjected
"That doesn't work and your own people are proof of it" Miara bristled, but Uvel continued "Look at all of you! You're almost all died out from wars and plagues while we've prospered. Sure you got those adventurers, but half the time they end up releasing some stupid plague or monster, but we're still here!"
Miara shouted "We're still here and we aren't done yet!" Arthur stayed quiet considering this insight into goblin perspective.
Source:
Uvel pointed one finger upwards "I'm going to keep doing what works best for me, and one day when I reach the top everyone will fall in line or their heads will fall onto the ground!"
"Even us?" Arthur asked calmly
"Even you!" Uvel grinned while saying. Birrello spoke up "We are all this way. Unlike the humans and dwarves we have all the time in the world and all of us dream of taking the top"
"Your dreams are pathetic" Miara muttered. Birrello looked at her now "Are yours any different?"
Arthur put up a hand "Let's just mark this place as a new holding and move on. We need to get to Stoneclasps"
The next few days of travel were quiet indeed.
Stoneclasps was south-east of Incenseorder by some days. An old dwarven city, but now almost empty of any dwarves. Instead it was populated almost entirely by humans, many of which were fleeing the blight. Despite the protection of a fortress and presence of work humans did not find comfort in going days without sunlight. Arthur was a known merchant in this city and so as he walked through it's gates some men came up to him to shake his hand and greet him. He hadn't seen them since they were children, time really did fly for this species, and they would talk.
Arthur made his way to the population centers of the city and would speak to the crowds, but his main interest was in hunters and warriors in the city. He spoke of lands between here and Razorbridge that he had laid claim to and was opening for anyone to live in.
"All you need is the strength to take it with your own two hands!" he said enthusiastically
"But what about the goblins?" One man from the crowd called
"But what about the blight?!" Arthur responded "Everywhere you go in this age there is great trials, but how many places are there where you can say 'This is my land! This is my wealth!'?"
The man quieted, but another spoke up "Will it be safe though?"
"My companions and I struck through those lands these last few weeks and fought bandits and goblins alike to clear it and claim the land I am now giving away to you" Arthur responded "But no. It's not safe. Taking control of your own life and future is never safe. There will be great trials to overcome and ruined lands to restore, but it will be your land to restore and your life to build!"
The people murmured interest. Arthur was excited.
Afterwords he would catch individual warriors or hunters he saw separately and offer them lordship of different sites in the region. Not a single one told him no.
The future of the Jungle of Dents would be decided by honest men and women who would fight to build their own future. "and" arthur reasoned. the governments of this world would be inclined to help these people for they would be the only buffer between the Most Sin and the rest of civilization to the north and west.
OOC:
Sorry for a talking heavy portion. The combat that did happen quickly ended because of how fast and brutal Uvel and Birrello were, but from here things get way more interesting.
Author
Topic: Museum III, adventure succession game (DF 0.47.05) (Read 409380 times)