There were goblins everywhere. The little green ‘monsters’ moved across the pathways between tents. Some were stopped and socializing while others fulfilled various tasks. One group of goblins was dragging a covered cart that smelled of fresh blood towards the center of camp. Other goblins were off to the side in a field training. Some used swords, some spears, some bows.

None of them wore metal armor like the humans did. Rather, all of the goblins wore either leather or cloth that covered their legs and torso. A few wore bone ornaments around their wrists or as ear piercings… but no metal except in their weapons.

What surprised Raymond and Lexi the most though was the sheer number of goblins. Just within her line of sight, Raymond estimated that there were at least three hundred goblins in the camp.

A very small goblin, a child, noticed Raymond and pointed at her.

“New person!” the goblin child shouted.

Dozens of heads turned in the direction of the group and Raymond felt their curious eyes drilling into her. The sensation of all eyes focusing on her… it sent shivers through her body but she smiled. She took the first step hesitantly, pushing back the wave of trauma.

“These ones won’t try to eat me.” she whispered to herself. She raised her head and then strode forward confidently, flicking her hair to the side and raising her chin slightly.

“What are you doing?” Lexi asked.

“Naturally, she is merely projecting her superiority.” Mort supplied.

Raymond smirked, “Got to look confident, right? Besides, I enjoy getting attention from people that aren’t trying to kill me.”

Og and the other goblins moved alongside Raymond, guiding them towards a large tent in the center of the camp. As they moved down the semi-narrow walkways, the crowd parted. By now, every goblin in the camp was staring at us and all chatter and work had paused.

Og paused with a sigh, turning to address the crowd.

“Get back to work! We need the camp ready before sundown!”

With a jolt, the crowd began to disperse and various conversations picked up once again. The group started to move forward again when they noticed a small group of fifteen goblins approaching. Trog groaned.

“Damn it, it’s Vorg,” he muttered.

Og stepped forward to greet the approaching goblins.

“Og, you have returned.” the leading goblin said.

“Vorg.” he replied simply.

“You seem to have brought back guests,” Vorg continued, “One wonders what gutter you found these ones in?”

“What do you want, Vorg?” Urg asked, “This is Glitter business… take your Gobbers somewhere else.”

“Oh?” Vorg responded, a dangerous gleam entering into his eyes, “Interesting.” he said as he turned and looked Raymond in the eyes. Raymond met his gaze, staring down the creature. He gave off an unpleasant aura and from his previous comment, she was certain that he was looking down on her.

That was absolutely not okay.

Mort agreed.

“Who dares to challenge the Great Lady? Speak thine name so I know who to curse!” Mort demanded.

Vorg blinked in surprise, staring at the Raven Lord with amusement. “I am Vorg, envoy for the Gobber Goblins. Who is this ‘Great Lady’ you speak of?”

Mort attempted to respond but Raymond reached up and pinched his beak. Mort would be Mort and now was really not the time to piss off the goblins.

“I’m…” she started when Og cut her off.

“Someone who is not yet any of your concern.”

Vorg narrowed his eyes. “Yet?” he inquired.

Og simply shrugged.

After a moment of tense silence, Vorg raised an arm, signaling his fellow ‘Gobbers’ to back off.

“You will give me the details at another time.” he ordered, turning to move away himself. Then he paused,

“Oh, and Trog… I’m sorry to see that you are doing well.”

With a flourish, he bowed and then followed after the other Gobbers.

Raymond turned a questioning eye on Trog and he grimaced.

“Vorg’s my grandgobby.” he said, “He’s mad that I switched sides.”

“Switched sides in what?” Raymond asked as the group started moving forward again.

“There are two political factions among goblins: Glitters and Gobbers. Trog was born a Gobber but switched sides four months ago.” Jug explained, “The Glitterfart goblins actually get their name from our political stance and we developed the technique later.”

“What’s the difference between the two factions?”

“Glitters embrace our heritage, Gobbers embrace the inner goblin.” Og supplied.

“Heritage?”

The goblins remained silent for a moment. They were almost to the tent.

They reached the entrance and Og turned to look at Raymond.

“We can talk more about this later. Now, we need to speak with Shaman.”

Raymond nodded in agreement. Og turned and entered the tent. A few tense minutes later, he returned, ushering Raymond and Lexi to enter.

Raymond tapped Mort. “You, go make yourself useful. Fly around and see if you find anything suspicious.

“By your will, my lady!”

Raymond and Lexi stepped forward, pushing the flap aside and they entered the tent.

The interior of the tent was warm. Despite the midday hour, a small fire was lit in the center. On the far side of the fire, a rocking chair wobbled back and forth. Seated atop the chair was a wrinkled old goblin. Her hair was grey, her once-sharp teeth dulled and crooked. She had a gnarled staff in her right hand. Raymond noticed a sword hooked to the old goblins belt and smiled inwardly.

She wouldn’t be surprised if the old goblin knew how to use it.

“Come, children.” the old goblin said, waving the group forward, “Come and speak with Shaman.”

Raymond and Lexi stepped forward while Og stayed near the entrance. The rest of the goblins had remained outside. Stepping around the fire, the two girls approached the rocking throne.

Lexi kneeled, bowing her head to the venerable goblin. Raymond simply nodded her head in acknowledgment

Shaman’s eyes twinkled in amusement.

“Little one, why do you not bow?”

“I greet you as a person of power and influence but I do not acknowledge your superiority. I will not bow.”.

Shaman laughed. “Ah, you remind me of dear Evelyn. That small part of you, at least, has not changed.”

She turned and addressed the catgirl, “Rise, meek one. I am honored by your presence.”

Lexi rose and gave Shaman a weak smile.

“Og has told me of how he found you. I admit, I am almost as intrigued as I am distressed to learn of my dear friend Evelyn’s fate. To lose her now… these are dark times indeed. Do you know what the humans call this Age?”

Raymond shook her head but Shaman was looking at Lexi.

“Th...the Age of Peace.” she replied softly.

“Right! The Age of Peace… for humans. For us, it is truly the Age of Fear and Death.” A hint of despair entered Shaman’s voice as the simmering embers of her eyes dimmed.

Raymond stepped forward, catching Shaman’s attention.

“We’re here on behalf of Legion.”

“Ah yes,” Shaman muttered, “The new Overseer, correct? The one that chose a True Vampire as his Tether. Evelyn was supposed to destroy the adventurers, not join them!” she practically shouted, a hint of anger entering her voice, “Tell me, young one. Why should we trust him?”

Raymond paused, “What do you mean?”

“The Overseers and the humans appeared on this world at the exact same time 1595 years ago. At the exact same moment, Demestrix, the mother of our race, disappeared and we became goblins, a fallen race. In all that time, the Overseers have exclusively favored the humans and demanded the eradication of ‘monsters’. Knowing this, you expect us to abandon our search for Demestrix and follow some unknown entity?”

“Yes.” Raymond replied simply.

Shaman stared at her for a moment, speechless. Then she started to laugh. “My, you don’t mince your words, do you?”

Raymond shrugged, “I don’t expect you to stop searching for this ‘Demestrix’, but as Tether of Legion, the Great One, I offer you and your tribe salvation. Swear allegiance to Legion and I promise that he will help the goblin race.”

Shaman looked over at Og.

“What do you think?” she asked, waving him forward.

Og approached the wobbling throne and kneeled.

“I will accept your decision, no matter what it is…” he started, “But I don’t think we can continue as we are. Something must change and maybe… maybe this Overseer can give us the push we need to make a home for ourselves.”

Shaman took a deep breath, sighing deeply. She seemed to age another decade as she pondered.

Finally, she looked at Lexi.

“Meek one, I would hear your thoughts. Why do you follow this ‘Legion’.”

Lexi looked up and met Shaman’s eyes, a hint of her budding devotion in her gaze. “Legion… sent Raymond to save me. He called me family. I know the other Overseers are bad but… I want to believe that there is someone out there who cares about me.”

Shaman sighed again. “I will think on this issue. Know that I am not the only person you must convince. Glitter Goblins are as free to choose their own destiny as the humans let us be. You may sojourn among us for a while. I recommend you use the time to convince us that Legion is a god worth following.”

Raymond nodded. “I don’t think it will take long.” she said confidently.

Shaman smiled, “Has he any words for me?”

Raymond smiled, “Let me ask.”

She willed a connection to open and then waited. A clicking sound signaled his presence.

“Yo.”

“You got anything to say here?”

“Hmmm, maybe something like “I’m not fooled by the act you’re putting on?”

Raymond hesitated, “That really doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“I’m not interested in pleasing with pretty words. Tell her that as well.”

Raymond frowned. “He says he won’t use pretty words… and that he isn’t buying your act.”

Og coughed in surprise and Shaman burst into laughter.

“Oh dear…” she chuckled, “I suppose things are about to get really interesting.”

Raymond shook her head as she felt the connection to Legion cut off.

“Um…” Lexi interjected, looking at Shaman nervously. All eyes turned to her and she trembled slightly. “You’re a magic user, right? C..could you tell me how to unlock the Acolyte class?”

“Acolyte? I suppose I could, it’s not as difficult as Fighter or Rogue… might I ask, what class are you aiming for?”

Lexi looked down. “I’m not sure yet. Legion promised me a special class…” she mumbled.

Shaman’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Oh… a religious class! As a non-human… times are changing indeed, but this could be very good for us monsters…” she mused. “Yes, I suppose I could teach you. Stay a little longer and we’ll discuss this.”

Then she turned to Og and Raymond, “Og, take the Tether around and introduce her to those that she’ll need to convince.”

Og bowed and then started walking towards the exit flap. Raymond waved at Lexi before moving to follow. As she neared the tent flap, she felt an intense mental pressure assail her. Then Mort’s voice filled her mind.

“My Lady, be careful. There is a trap outside.”

Raymond grimaced. “Let me see… Remote View!” she whispered. She felt her vision shift and distort… and then she was looking down on the camp from above.

The camp was in chaos. The old, young and other non-combatants were running away from the central area dominated by the large tent. A small group of fifteen… no, sixteen goblins surrounded the tent with weapons drawn. Three goblins stood spaced around the tent in an elongated triangle, ready to push back any who approached.

Raymond recognized Vorg immediately. With a start, she noticed the goblin by his side and growled, taking on a feral grin. Og, nearing the tent flap, heard the noise and glanced back at her. He saw the violent expression on her face and shivered.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Now is the time for the second message that I bring.” Raymond said, “I offered you salvation. If you decide to reject it, that is your choice and I will not hold it against you. But if someone goes further and stands against us…”

She drew her sword out of her Bag of Holding.

“Then there is only death.”