Lucas decided it was too early to think too far ahead. He still didn’t know where he was, what kind of world this was, or even the limits of his newfound abilities. Sometimes, he thought this could all be a dream, but he quickly dismissed the notion.
As he pondered the mysteries of his new life, he remembered that the scout automaton had just returned with the goblin. The creature was struggling to free itself, clearly desperate despite its injuries. Amid its efforts, it mumbled unintelligible words, and Lucas had an idea.
He had never thought about talking to this wild goblin before, but now, an idea struck him. It was a wild, barbaric creature—what could be gained from trying to converse with it? But Lucas had to try, so he called upon the messenger-class automaton.
“Ask this goblin if it has a name,” Lucas instructed.
The automaton approached and spoke in the goblin’s language, asking for its name. The goblin looked confused but answered.
“It has no name or anything like it,” the automaton reported.
"Hmm. Okay, no name. How about where it lives? That could give me some insight," Lucas thought aloud.
The automaton repeated the question, and the goblin responded.
“It lives near a large lake, in the center of a forest. There are many goblin villages around it, but it’s no longer its home. Now, they seek refuge elsewhere.”
Lucas frowned. "Seeking refuge? But why leave a village? It doesn’t make sense."
He ordered the automaton to ask why they left their village. The goblin’s answer painted a bleak picture.
“They were overtaken by another tribe, one that controls all the land around the lake. These marauders raid the villages for loot, and they’ve done so for as long as the goblins can remember.”
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"Why not fight back?" Lucas asked, puzzled by the goblin’s defeatist attitude.
The goblin explained, “The enemy has wooden platforms with sails, and they came in large numbers. All the tribes around the lake tried to resist, but no one knows where the marauders are from. After catching one of them, they discovered they came from the middle of the lake.”
Lucas’s interest piqued. "If the enemy is on the lake, why not just sail there and fight them?"
The goblin shook its head. “The tribes don’t know how to use the ‘Lake Drifters.’ Even when the marauders were captured, no one could figure out how to operate the strange watercraft.”
“So, the marauders have the advantage in mobility,” Lucas mused. “And the tribes are stuck either paying tribute or being enslaved.”
"Exactly," the goblin replied, its voice heavy with defeat. "The tribute is two weeks' worth of food per goblin. If they can’t pay, they’re forced to serve as slaves. The remaining tribes are choosing to leave, but we don’t know where to go."
Lucas’s thoughts churned as the goblin continued. The tribute system was unsustainable—it would eventually lead to starvation for the goblins. Yet, the creatures seemed to accept it. It didn’t sit well with him. What kind of society would allow this to continue?
He decided to ask the goblin a direct question.
“Would you be willing to serve me as a subordinate? If you do, I’ll let you live and graze in the area around here.”
The goblin seemed hesitant, then asked, “What do you ask of me in return?”
Lucas had a plan. “You will provide me with a tribute of one day’s worth of food each week—four days a month. You will also serve me when I call upon you for battle.”
The goblin considered this offer carefully. After a long pause, it nodded. "I accept."
“Good,” Lucas said. “But I have one more condition. If you want to serve me, you must go back to your home and bring me more subordinates.”
The goblin’s eyes widened, but it agreed. "I will gather more, if I can."
“Fine. But you will be accompanied by an automaton. I don’t trust you to return alone.”
Lucas watched as the goblin, now slightly stronger after tending to its wounds, prepared to leave. As it rested for a few days, Lucas pondered the situation. One goblin might not mean much, but the information it could provide about the geography and politics of the world was invaluable. A single automaton accompanying the goblin wasn’t a big risk.
The goblin eventually departed, leaving Lucas to consider the larger picture. His plans were shifting—this world was far more complex than he first imagined, and he might need to build alliances, even with creatures like goblins, if he were ever going to survive.