Chapter 110: Early Warning

Jennifer: “It is a complete waste, OF RESOURCES!”

Jennifer screamed the last part right in Shane’s face, who just stuck his fingers into his ears block her voice.

Shane: “A women wouldn’t understand, this is a man’s problem, this isn’t just one of your prissy little trinkets you women like to decorate yourselves with.”

Jennifer: “You did not just say that.”

Shane waved at Jennifer dismissively, pissing her off even more than she already was.”

Jonathan: “You two, again!?”

Hearing about the commotion from one of his men, Jonathan relunctantly, came to see what was wrong. Unsurprising he found Shane and Jennifer at each other’s throats as per usual.

Jonathan: “The operation was supposed to begin fifteen minutes ago, and yet neither of you are in place.”

Jennifer: “It isn’t my fault; this fool is holding things up with his stupid problem.”

Shane: “See this is why I don’t keep women around longer then needed. They just don’t understand a man’s pride at all.”

Jennifer: “What a low standard for pride.”

Jonathan: “Enough, tell me what’s going on, now.”

Jennifer: “We were on our way to a respective destination, when I notice that I was missing around ten of the men under my command. Lo and behold, this fool had sent several men from both our teams to search for his stupid hat.”

Jonathan: “A hat?”

Shane: “It’s not just a hat, is a symbol of my very existence and has been a staple and helping me to woe the ladies.

Jonathan: “……What?”

Shane: “Lookie here youngster, imagine yourself riding into town on your trusty Avian. The lady’s curiosity has been peeked as you approached, wondering what lies just beneath the rim. Memorize by the stranger that riding past, they can do nothing but stare in anticipation, looking for any chance to get a peek the face just beneath, then you stop right in front of them, their hearts skip a beat. With just enough suspense built up, with a flick of your finger and side smirk, you reveal the devilishly handsome face that lies beneath and then before you even spoken a word, you already have them hooked, there yours and that night they will make sure you know.”

Shane raised his head after finishing his dramatization, a sparkle in his eye leaving Jonathan stupefied. Jennifer turned to Jonathan and pointed at Shane; she didn’t even need to speak for Jonathan to understand what she wanted to say (Do you see how stupid he is).

Shane: “And that is why, I had no choice but to send the men to find my hat, it is essential for image, and I cannot do without.”

Jonathan: “Shane, we don’t have time for this, as we speak the Lycanian is exploring the inner caverns of that Goblin Nest. We don’t know when he’ll return, and we only have one of the three exits being patrolled. Stop messing around and get to your post.”

Shane: “Nothing doing, until I get my hat back, I just don’t feel whole, ya know.”

I the blink of an eye, Jennifer had a dagger to Shane’s neck. Working together or not, she has had enough of his antics.

Shane: “Now what are you going to do with that thing?”

Jennifer: “Enough of your games, send for our men at once.”

Jonathan: “Jennifer, stop.”

Jennifer: “Jonathan, we told by master to work with him, he never told us to put up with his crap. Perhaps he to be educated on exactly where he stands.”

Jennifer drew the blade closer to Shane’s neck, she had it with him, but quicker than she could move Shane caught her arm and moved the knife away from his neck. He leaned forward bring Jennifer with him, before flipping her onto her back with a “fwump” sound. Jennifer quickly got back to her feet but found that the dagger she was using had been taken by Shane. Smirking triumphantly at Jennifer, as he balanced the dagger on the tip of his finger.

Shane: “You should be careful, these things are sharp, now what would you have done if I died?”

Jennifer: “Tch!”

Jennifer raise her dress, showing of her long beautiful legs, she grabbed two daggers from the holster in her thigh.

Shane: “*whistle* Trying to seduce me, if was that sorta lesson, you should have led with that.”

Jennifer: “That’s it, you’re”

Jonathan: “ENOUGH, WE HAVE KNOW TIME FOR THIS RIDICULOUS ACT. BOTH OF YOU GET IT TOGETHER, WE HAVE A JOB TO DO!”

Jonathan went and grabbed the knife from Shane and tossed it back to Jennifer.

Jonathan: “Go back to where I stationed you, I will deal with him.”

Jennifer: “But-”

Jonathan: “Now.”

Jennifer stared down Jonathan for a moment before conceding. She quickly put it away, before walking off and given Shane a death glare. Jonathan than turned back to Shane who was shrugging his shoulders.

Shane: “That one’s has a fire in her.”

Jonathan: “I ask you to stop messing around.”

Shane: “What, she’s the one brandishing daggers and showing off her legs, not that I’m complaining about the latter.”

Jonathan: “You could simply have told her the truth of the matter and that you actually sent those men to watch and stall anyone heading this way, namely the companions of the Lycanian.”

Shane: “That might have come up, but mostly I want my hat back.”

Jonathan: “Be serious, did you finish what we need?”

Shane: “Yeah, yeah.”

Shane open up the chest he had and pulled out an arrow. The heed was wrapped in a red cloth with a rune symbol.

Shane: “These exploding arrows were expensive, so you only get three.”

Jonathan: “Will they do the job?”

Shane: “If they don’t, then I just wasted a shit ton of raw material for nothing. Just make sure your archers don’t invoke the incantation until their ready to fire. You won’t want to waste a second of time before the explosion.”

Jonathan: “Understood.”

Shane: “Oh and make sure they don’t miss, they explode contact obviously enough.”

Jonathan handed one off to his men to catch up with Jennifer and kept the other for himself.

Jonathan: “And stop annoying her or I might not be able to stop her next time. I’ll explain to her what you were really doing.”

Shane: “What, I honestly lost my hat, and I honestly told the men to keep a lookout for it.”

Jonathan: “Unbelievable.”

Shane: “What, it’s my pride and joy.”

Jonathan: “Just get to your post, you take care of the highest exit. Fire only after you hear the first tw-

Shane: “I know, I know, until I hear two booms, got it.”

Jonathan took his leave ignoring Shane as he walked away.

Shane: “Tch, they just don’t get it, what’s a man without his hat *sigh*.

Shane picked up his trusty bow, give a good once over before taking a short walk. A little way off he found the group of bandits under his command and with of wave of his hand he order them get ready. Ahead of him was the lone unguarded entrance to the Goblin nest. Several feet off the ground, it was a difficult shot for any other archer to hit, but not for Shane. He smiled deeply thinking what was to come. It hadn’t been that long, but it felt like an eternity since they saw the man who ruined his and his parties’ lives.

The sheer amount of bullshit he went through in the last few months, stem from Nathan ruining that deal.

Shane: "All he to do was be a good little endangered species and live a life of captivity, he would have gotten to live and i would have raked it in. But no, he had to go in ruin everything, like a selfish mutt and screw over the wrong people.And after all we did for him."

Shane contiued to mutter to himself, much to the discomfort of the men and women around him, all of them unsure if he was talking to them or to himself.

Shane: "We didn't have to give him direction or let him a ride free of charge and what did he do he ruined us."

Lucky for Shane he also happened to piss off the Thieves Guild as well, best part is, he probably doesn't even realize it. Shane would never forget the humiliation he felt that day, being beaten so easily defeated and sent on his way without a scratch, like he and his party were no real threat.

*Thwack*

Shane drove his fist into the nearest tree over and over again, until his fist was bloody and soar. His subordinates looked on in confusion as Shane continued to ram his fist into the tree. After a few minutes, he stop and shook his hand to get rid of the numbing sensation. His part might have given up on this, but he sure wouldn't let it go.

Shane: “ Just you wait mutt, I’ll make damn sure you regret ever taking me lightly.”

_

_

Ash: “Are you done yet?”

Jasmine: “Just a little longer, there got to be something here.”

Jasmine sorted through the pile of what most would consider garbage. Somehow, while avoiding the Goblin patrols, they ended up hiding in the treasure room. When Ash realized where they were,he was pissed, but she swore that it was absolutely a coincidence. It has been around fifteen minutes and Jasmine had yet to give up sorting through the so called treasure of the Goblin. She did come across the occasional jewel or gold piece, but nothing screamed amazing treasure.

Ash: “Give it up already Jasmine, there’s nothing here.”

Jasmine: “Argh, there really isn’t anything here, I guess the really are fighting for dominance. That’s so lame.”

Ash: “Well since your done sorting through trash, lets head back over, Nathan could be coming out any minute now..”

Jasmine: “Uggghh, fiiiinnnne.”

Jasmine sluggishly got to her feet and followed Ash out. She didn’t hide how disappointed she was, she was truly hoping for treasure.

Ash: “The Goblin Elites should have finished their rounds, but we should still be careful while walking through.”

Jasmine: “Yeah, yeah.”

Ash: “What were you expecting, there just goblins. Them having some incredible treasure that no one was aware of, doesn’t it sound a little far-fetched?”

Jasmine: “I guess, but Elites, Dons, and Shaman don’t appear every day, not at the same time and sure as hell not as enemies. And to all crowd this one nest, i was sure their would be something here.”

Ash: “What are you saying, you think there not fighting over territory?”

Jasmine: “No they probably are, but I think there fighting over this territory specifically. The Don isn’t trying to take the southern nest. Adventurers are still able to hunt in the south without fear of goblin skirmishes, right?”

Ash: “……. You think that there’s something here the Shaman wants and it sending it forces to retrieve it.”

Jasmine: “Right, there not fighting over expansion for their hordes, there fighting for something specifically here in this nest. And I figured it would be held in their treasure room, *sigh* but guess I was wrong. No treasure there, not even a single guard, what a waste of time.”

Ash: “…..Maybe you were looking in the wrong place.”

Jasmine: “No, I’m sure this is the treasure room. I've been here a few times before and thats where they stash all there treasure.”

Ash: “The thing they were fighting over, wouldn’t it be in a place with high security?”

Jasmine: “What, the mating chamber, those guard are there to protect the Don right? Beside that place is super gross, I wouldn’t store anything of value in there.”

Ash: “Maybe not you, but if a goblin wanted to protect something, I would keep it close and surround it with my strongest men, right? And I don’t think goblins give a crap about how gross something is if there fine living in this trash heap.”

Jasmine: “Then what are we suppose to do, there's no way we’re getting past all those guards.”

Ash: “We’re not doing anything.”

Jasmine: “What!?”

Ash: “I haven’t changed my mind, if there really is something there, then we should live it alone, in less you want hordes of goblins chasing you everywhere you go.”

Jasmine: “Ugh.”

Jasmine moaned in frustration, she thought maybe Ash had come over to her side of things, only to be shot down instantly.

Jasmine: “Can’t at least make sure?

Ash: “It’s not worth the risk, we can’t take on all those goblins by ourselves.”

*Tok Tok*

Jasmine: “More goblins are coming.”

Ash: “Let’s go.”

Ash turned to leave , but as he did, he also heard footsteps coming adjacent tunnel.

Ash: “From both sides, Shit, back in the treasure room.”

Jasmine followed Ash as they both ducked back inside the treasure room to hide. Peeking out from inside, they found two groups of Goblin Elites patrolling, walking right pass one another. Jasmine and Ash breathe a sigh of relief as the two groups ignored the treasure room all together and instead headed away in opposite directions.

*Gurgle*

All of a sudden one of the goblins grabbed at its stomach, hunch over from the sudden pain. The other goblin stared at him in confusion, as did Jasmine and Ash who were still watching from afar. The goblin stepped to the side and squatted down, grunting as several unpleasant sounds escaped its backside.

Jasmine: “Eww.”

Ash: “Like I said, they don’t give a crap.

*Clonk*

The other goblin smacks the one squatting on its head and they began to yell at it in an intangible language. Jasmine though gross out, couldn’t help but snicker at the scene.

Jasmine: “Heheheh, Ash are you seeing this…………. Ash?”

Jasmine stared in confusion, as Ash look around in a panic. He looked to one end of the room, to the ceiling then down at the floor, over and over again.

Ash: “(What is this feeling?)”

Jasmine: “Ash, what’s wro-”

*shrieking*

Out in the hall, the goblins were still arguing, one now clutching its bottom trying to hold back. The other goblin spoke and pointed toward the treasure room.

Jasmine: “(What!?)”

The goblin clutching its stomach began to head toward them

Jasmine: “Crap, hide.”

Jasmine dove into a corner, out of sight, but when she turned back, she was shocked to see that Ash hadn’t move. Before she could even call out to him, the goblin had already run right passed him. Standing over a pile of garbage, the goblin began to relieve itself. The expression of bliss on its face from finally reliving itself, faded as it turned to Ash. At the same time Ash eyes fell on the goblin, finally coming out of his trance.

*Thwick*

Goblin: “Gragh!?”

An arrow lodge itself in the goblins neck, killing it instantly. Falling over into a pile of its own waste, Ash stared stun as fresh blood poured out of the wound.

Ash: “Jasmine what did you do?”

Jasmine: “What did I do, what the hell were you thinking standing there like an idiot?

Ash: “I was-”

*Shriek*

Ash moved back towards the entrance and peaked out and as if to answer the question, the goblin standing outside, after catching the scent of blood from its falling comrade, began to shout and scream for reinforcements.

Ash took off and quickly made it over to the screaming goblin and swung his blade. The goblin held up its weapon to meet Ash’s sword but failed to account for his second blade. With a squelching sound, Ash drove the sword deep into the goblin’s side, before kicking it away to retrieve his sword. He was able to stop its shouts for help, but the damage was already done. When Jasmine caught up to him, the sound of shrieking from the other goblin patrol heading back their way was already echoing through the caverns.

Jasmine: “Crap.”

Ash: “Forget it, we got to get Nathan and get out of here, somethings wrong.”

Jasmine: “I can hear fine, looks like that other patrol cause for more, they’re going to start swarming us any minute.”

Ash: “I’m not talking about the goblins.”

Jasmine: “Huh?”

Ash took off in the opposite direction of the footsteps, with Jasmine close behind. However, honestly the goblins were the least of his worries. For whatever reason, ‘Threat Detection’ was active and every inch of the cavern, was setting it off.

Ash: “What this hell is going on?”

_

_

Mating chamber, five minutes earlier

Nathan: “(Are you fricking kidding me!?)”

Nathan tried for the umpteenth time to raise the accessory from the goblin but was finding it much more difficult than anticipated. The items were made as to not be removed so easily, hugging the goblins limbs so tightly on would think it would cut off blood flow. However, it wasn’t the same for the necklace and Nathan was having a much easier time grabbing and removing that, however the costing tossing and turning of the goblins in their sleep.

*slip*

Nathan: “(Dammit………who am I kidding, this isn’t gonna work. But the only alternative is-)”

Nathan sigh in frustration, it was becoming increasingly obvious what he would have to do, since this wasn’t working. Looking down into th pit Nathan shiver as the floor of the pit was completely drenched with the foulest of substances. Lucky for him, there were large boulders sprawled all around, perfect for him to use a steppingstone.

Nathan checked to make sure his plant was still sending the pit down into the pit before getting his vines to wrap around him. He rose high into the air and on the side of the wall grew several vines, creating a makeshift foothold large enough for a small person to lie comfortably. Unhooking the hood holding Iris from his cloak, Nathan placed her on the vine platform and had several wrapped around her to keep her from falling.

With Iris secure Nathan descended into the pit, using his vines to carefully place himself atop some boulders. Jumping along the rocks nicely, searching for a viable target. With a quick little jump Nathan arrived right in front of one of the sleeping goblins.

With its crazy sleeping position, its foot was hanging up in the air, decorated with an anklet.

Nathan: “(Perfect.)”

Nathan placed a hand on the anklet and tried to send it into his inventory.

*Bzzt* *Bzzt*

Nathan: “(Huh, it’s not working?)”

Nathan attempted several more times to send it into his inventory, both waving his hand in front of the anklet and touching it directly, but it wasn’t working.

He wasn’t sure what was going on, he was sure that as long as he touched or waved his hand in front of the items, he could send it into his inventory, but maybe he was wrong. No matter what he did it kept making that noise and telling him the object cannot be placed in inventory.

Nathan turned to a bone nearby and waved his hand over it and the bone disappeared. It went in without a problem, so why wasn’t I working with the accessories.

Nathan: “(Screw this.)”

Nathan didn’t want to waste time trying to figure it out, he simply went for the next target.

Nathan laid eyes on the last of the Goblin chiefs, sleeping up against a rock, he had moved away from the others, but still caught the effects of the flowers Nathan planted.

Nathan: “(No way).”

Nathan didn’t know if it was an act of god or just sheer luck, but the necklace that was so secure around the others, dangle half off down the goblin’s chest. One side was still around its neck and being held in place by the wall, but that shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. As long as he didn’t’ make contact with the goblin his invisibility would not come undone. Then again, it was asleep, so even if Nathan was visible, it wouldn’t matter much.

Nathan got ready to head down, slowly lowering himself careful not to get to close to the pit of fire in fear of losing his lifeline. Touching the floor, to his surprise, the area of the floor was he was standing was surprisingly less filthy. This Goblin Chief at least kept his filth to a minimum, except the discarded remain of its meal. Nathan stealthily moved around the debris and headed toward his prize, the goblin completely asleep and drooling.

Reaching for the necklace, a gust of hot air blew pass disturbing the goblin. Drew his hand back quickly, as the goblin flipped over in his sleep. It quickly settled down, but to Nathan’s surprise the breeze had yet to cease.

Nathan: “(What could be causing that so deep in the cave?”

Nathan couldn’t see any other entrances except for the one he entered, he was about to dismiss it, when sudden movement was caught in his peripheral vision. It was subtle, but particularly large boulder was moving ever so slightly, rising and falling like calm breathing. Then defying everything Nathan knew about boulders, it flipped entirely over, and he was able to make out what I really was.

Nathan: “(Hollee Shit, that’s not a boulder, fricking huge monster.)”

Nathan stared in amazement at the massive goblin lying in the corner. With tusks protruding from either side of its mouth and huge gut that shook we it turned over. He wasn’t feeling a breeze, it was the breath of the huge goblin.

From Nathan’s perspective, he couldn’t see the legs, for that matter he couldn’t see any of the lower half of its body. The Goblin lower half was hidden in a den like hole in the wall. With its arms crossed in it lying down the way it was, no one what have guessed it was alive.

Nathan: “(That must be the Don, he is absolutely massive.)”

Nathan wouldn’t have noticed the monster had he not seen or felt its breathing and would have made a horrible mistake if he had grabbed for the necklace and became visible. For even with the Nathan's flower doing their job, the massive Goblin in front of him, was wide awake.