The addition of the ebon dwarves was an incredible blessing to Coralia and the kobolds. Brecker and Gorta the married stone masons each knew magic that could shape earth and stone into simple shapes such as blocks as well as adhere the blocks to one another. Within a day, they had quarried enough stone and earth with their magic to construct a series of large stone foundations to build on. After that feat of construction, the two dwarves had nearly depleted their mana and required a few days of rest to recover it.
Coralia cut down several trees and limbed each of them in the blink of an eye. She then used rune magic to lighten the large logs so that they could be carried with just a single kobold on each end. She used a combination of spells to seal the otherwise useless green limbs in an airtight field while another super heated the green material. The resulting charcoal and pine tar would be used to fuel fires, seal roofs, and prevent drafts.
With the further help of the skilled dwarves and the enthusiastic labor of the kobolds, a longhouse crafted from stone and timber was erected as a gathering hall and shelter against summer thunderstorms while the rest of the village was under construction.
Progress continued for the next three days to include a kiln for firing clay pottery and a workshop for the smiths to begin creating what they could with the nearby limited resources.
Another useful magic unique to the ebon dwarves allowed the recovery of iron from the beds of lakes and rivers using a powerful enchanted lodestone. The smiths Hobb and Straga determined they could produce steel but it would likely be weeks before their first ingot was created.
“How’s it work?” Coralia asked curiously as she watched the married metalworkers prepare the heavy lodestone, charging it with electricity and various enchantments.
“We charge this stone which we then throw out into the lake and drag the bottom. Any silt that is rich with iron will stick to the stone as it is reeled in. That sandy ore is then ready to be smelted into iron, it works well but it takes a great deal of carefully collected sand to produce pure iron and eventually steel. The length of rope we have will also slow us down. None of us know how to spin plant fibers or weave so we’re stuck with barely thirty feet of rope.” Straga described the process as she worked.
Coralia knew the kobolds were adept weavers having seen their baskets and other containers. She wondered if they could make rope as well. She asked Hurstag to join her in speaking to Laz, daughter of the kobold elder to find out.
“She says they already have rope used in constructing snares that might be suitable.” Hurstag translated the kobold girl’s words back to Coralia.
“Great! Will you ask her to have it brought to the lakeside where Hobb and Straga are working?” She bade the invaluable dwarf.
“Yes my lady.” Hurstag replied.
“Eww don’t do that. I was kidding with the queen stuff. Coralia is fine.” She said to the dwarf as she set off.
A fleeting feeling of unfamiliar mana caught her attention as she walked. She stopped and closed her eyes, attuning her mana sense to locate the source.
A scrying spell? She guessed, based on the feeling of it. Someone was spying and failed to completely erase their presence. She marked the signature in her mind so that she would be more attuned to it in the future. She walked among the bustling kobolds, lending her strength anywhere it seemed needed.
In the coming days, progress continued. For the first time since being driven from their underground homes, the refugees were living with a purpose beyond surviving to the next day. The clearing by the lake grew as Coralia continued to guide the kobolds in harvesting timber and clearing away undergrowth. In spite of appearances, the kobolds were incredibly quick at grasping building concepts. They were also experts at constructing traps and snares for wild game.
The magical spy wasn’t the only one intently watching the eccentric and dangerous Coralia. A certain tiny (even among his small kind) kobold was stealthily trailing her every move. He darted from cover to cover with the skill and caution of a mouse in a sleeping cat’s pantry. He briefly lost sight of her as she rounded one of the new log structures. He moved around the building in the opposite direction and waited for her to reappear. A sudden tap on his shoulder made him squeak involuntarily and leap a full foot in the air.
He spun to see the woman crouching next to him and smiling at his small antics.
“Motive to quiet chase Coralia?” She asked in low common with no anger or suspicion evident in her tone.
The little kobold dropped to his hands and knees and prostrated himself.
“Nib-follow-leader-Coralia. Nib-watch-enemies! Nib-weak-small-quiet-strong-eyes-ears.” The fast and squeaky reply took Coralia a moment to decipher.
“You’re too small and weak to be very helpful with the other work so you decided to be a secret scout for me.” She said more to herself than to Nib. “Interesting.”
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Coralia took a minute to contemplate the behavior. She had never imagined a kobold taking such an interesting and independent task upon itself. Very few would have ever noticed the tiny kobold, Coralia herself nearly second guessed her hunch that she was being followed. She made a decision and spoke.
“Follow.” She ordered the cautious kobold. “No trouble.” She added, causing Nib to relax greatly.
Coralia led Nib to where Hurstag was drawing plans in the dirt for their next building site.
“Hey, Hurstag.” She greeted with Nib in tow.
“Coralia.” He greeted back with a smooth bow.
“I have some instructions to relay to my new spy here.” She explained, gesturing for Nib to step forward. “I want him to survey the crags to the south, specifically looking for caves and signs of any other creatures in that area. He is not to enter any caves he finds or engage anything he meets. He is to hide his presence at all times and I want him back by nightfall or sooner if he finds something.” The ebon dwarf nodded and relayed the instructions in the kobold tongue.
Nib’s eyes sparkled at Hurstag’s relayed orders. He nodded furiously in affirmation.
“Night talk Coralia.” Reiterated Coralia seriously.
“Oh shit!” He squeaked and gave a stiff bow.
As Coralia stifled a snort, he immediately scampered off to gather supplies for his mission. He resolved that he would never fail her, the woman that had yanked him from the jaws of death as an ogre was about to rip him apart by his legs.
“Are we ever going to tell them what that means?” The normally stoic dwarf asked with a light chuckle.
“Oh don’t you dare.” Coralia replied. “Though if it’s at all possible I would like to have one of you begin teaching the basics of high common to any that wish to learn it.” She added more seriously.
“I was actually going to mention that myself.” Hurstag said. “The masons’ daughter Kiri shows little interest in the family trade and speaks both languages well enough to teach. With your blessing I’ll have her begin evening lessons.”
“Please do!” Coralia replied gratefully.
The day then progressed as usual. The two dwarven smiths were hauling much more iron sand from the lake than expected and claimed that they could begin producing steel within the week.
An hour or so later Nib exited the southern pine forest near the dark rocky crags. He crept from shadow to shadow, searching for cave entrances and crevices which could house any creatures.
Two hours passed with no discovery and Nib was about to return to the woods when a quiet voice caused his big ears to twitch. He followed the sound and more voices joined the first. They were speaking in a language Nib didn’t know. He found a hidden cave entrance and carefully peeked inside. Three humanoids that looked much like his new master Coralia sitting with a mountain goat carcass between them which they tore away chunks of to devour raw. Two were large wearing ornate armor, and one was no bigger than a kobold wearing a dirty white robe.
Nib didn’t want to risk discovery but made sure to absorb as many details as possible. Once he was satisfied, he quickly left the scene and ran north with all speed.
“Creatures that look like you in a cave eating raw goat.” Hurstag relayed Nib’s report to Coralia from next to their firepit. “Two big and armored and one small in a robe.”
“Tell him to take a short rest. I want him to lead you and I to the cave before sunrise.” Coralia ordered Hurstag.
“Just us two?” Hurstag asked after he had complied.
“I would go alone but I might need an interpreter.” Coralia explained. “I won’t put you in any unnecessary danger.”
“Do you take me for a coward?” Hurstag asked, crossing his arms with a scowl. “I only wonder if we should show force to these potential enemies.” He added.
“Forgive me. I don’t question your courage. I have some idea of what we’re likely facing and I want as little collateral damage as possible.” Coralia clarified in apology.
“Very well, find me when it’s time to go.” Hurstag said dismissing the misunderstanding.
The following predawn, Nib led Coralia and Hurstag to the cave. Before they got close, the sounds of battle echoed to them through the rocky crags.
“I’m going ahead.” Coralia said. “Follow cautiously, only reveal yourself if you must.” With that she vanished from sight.
Coralia found the battlefield easily. A small clearing near the mouth of a cave. Two human warriors: male and female in ornate plate armor stood back to back with a small bundled figure huddled between them. They were beset by at least a score of pig faced demons with the bodies of gorillas and bat like wings. Coralia recognized them instantly. Maiphonian orcs were demonized orcs, and the most common fodder of the evil god Maiphon’s forces.
Coralia took a moment to activate a couple of her enhancement spells. She would never take a demon lightly, no matter how low it was in the hierarchy of the hells.
The battle slowed around her as the speed and sensory enchantments took effect. She rushed a cluster of three demons that were pressing the flanks of the two knights. She swung with all of her considerable strength, knowing full well that the demon hide might repel her dull and battered sword. Her sweeping strike sliced between the orc’s ribs but lodged in its thick spine. Luckily the force of the blow sent it smashing into its two allies and all three flew away in a great heap of demonic curses and flapping bat wings.
The two knights noted the sudden appearance of an apparent ally but did not react other than to shift position to allow Coralia a place, forming a triangle around the tiny form. Coralia carefully watched the two knights from her peripheral vision. They moved like high level hunters, but there was a clear signature to their style. Their weapons were greatswords that glowed with a black flame which ultimately gave away their identity. They were demons themselves, Coralia was certain of that much. Every orc they hit was killed instantly or slowly devoured by the clinging black flames. In fact Coralia doubted they had needed her intervention at all. Between the three of them, the Maiphonian orcs were massacred in a few short minutes.
As Coralia withdrew her dark pitted blade from the eye socket of the final one, she turned with caution to the two knights who hid all of their features behind a wall of dark embossed metal. They took a non threatening but firm stance between her and what appeared to be the small child behind them.
“Do you understand me?” Coralia asked hopefully.
“We know common.” The female spoke from beneath her helm. She had a clean and pleasant voice.
“Good. I don’t think we are enemies. May we speak?” Coralia asked.
“It’s not safe here. We have to leave before many more come from below.” The male urgently responded. “We must get the girl to safety.”
Coralia didn’t sense any ill intent from them, just urgency and weariness. Still, she needed to confirm her suspicions.
“Show me your faces and I will lead you to safety.” Coralia offered.
“We...we can make our way on our own thank you for the help.” The female answered, beginning to move back and away.
“I don’t care that you’re demons. I just need to look at your face and ask you a question.” Coralia assured the wary warriors.
“You know?” The male began but the female elbowed him hard in the side.
“Fine.” The female raised her gauntlet and pulled the full helm from her head.
She was clearly a native of the hells, her skin was ruby red, and her eyes were coal black. Two thumb sized horns protruded from just under her hairline which was thick and raven black. Demonic though she was, she was also beautiful in her own way with chiseled noble features, full dark lips, and arched thin eyebrows.
The male followed suit and revealed similar but masculine features. Coralia didn’t react other than to smile slightly.
“Did you come to this plane to harm mortals?” She asked simply.
“No.” They both answered in unison.
“Good enough. The rest can wait. Pack your stuff and follow me.” Coralia said after studying them intently as they answered.
With few other options available, the two weary demons looked to each other and sighed in resignation. They put on their helmets, shouldered their belongings, and the female picked up the quiet bundled child before following the bizarre human woman.