The next morning, Lanek and Ograch started their journey to reach the Night Arrows encampment. Along the way, Ograch began his survival lessons, explaining which plants could aid with illness and food preservation as well as those that would provide essential nutrients in the winter months when all else failed. The hobgoblin scout would also point out which wood to utilize when trying to smoke fish and game. However, there were limits to what Ograch could teach him without having the means to demonstrate.
The sun was already hanging low in the sky when Ograch beckoned Lanek to stop and dismiss his companions. “The tribe probably isn’t ready to see those monsters just walk into camp. Their reactions would be hilarious, though.” Ograch laughed. The hobgoblin had made his peace with Sanguineus and Kazuma after having been fed by them twice now, even going so far as to reach out and pat them when they were in his reach.
Lanek complied, trusting the hobgoblin. Besides, it’s not like the hobgoblin knew that dismissing the beasts actually made Lanek stronger. Nice little surprise just in case things go horribly wrong. Lanek thought. The two continued onward, eager to get to camp. The journey had taken most of the day, with the two being forced to swing wide around the lake and dodge roving bands of gaunts. They hadn’t dared cut through the city with the recent mobilization of the dungeon’s forces.
Lanek did have to admit that the scout had slowed him down considerably. It wasn’t that Ograch was slow or didn’t have enough stamina to keep up, it was just that the hobgoblin had nothing like [Pathfinder] or [Traversal] to speed him along. Instead, he had a skill that Lanek’s [Shinobi] class had assimilated to create [Pathfinder], [Wilderness Strider], that kept the hobgoblin from becoming slowed by rough terrain and ensure that he had sure footing wherever he stepped. Ograch had also mentioned that the skill greatly increased his stamina when traveling, allowing him to keep going long after his comrades had to call it a day.
The pair were met by a lookout, who waved them through as soon as they saw Ograch. Lanek, expecting to wait a bit for the chief was startled when Ograch simply pushed his way into a large tent and motioned for him to follow. Inside, Lanek found himself face-to-chest with a massively muscled figure. While the creature had similar features and traits to the other hobgoblins, this particular one was as large as a bugbear with light gray skin and slate colored hair.
Stone Hobgoblin (Night Arrows)
Shieldbreaker
lvl 42
Stone is just one of multiple variants that a hobgoblin can evolve into at level 25. A stone hobgoblin enjoys much higher strength and HP than the other hobgoblin evolutions, but are also less agile and quick than their counterparts. The stone hobgoblin will be eligible for classes that focus on durability and power that will not be offered to their cousins.
“Chief Talwarg, this is Lanek, the human that warned us about the gaunts and led them away. He has an offer for us.” Ograch announced.
“Welcome, Lanek. I also understand that you are to thank for the three young hobgoblins that returned to us yesterday. You have my gratitude. Make your offer.” the chieftain rumbled, his voice seemingly deep enough to resonate within the human’s chest.
Lanek took a deep breath before explaining the offer he had discussed with Ograch. The trade deal, protection for those that entered Caelis, and even the prospective new village site. Not wanting to leave anything out, Lanek even shared his desire for survival training, which Talwarg waved off by stating that this was a deal between Lanek and Ograch and was no business of the tribe.
“The deal is tempting, but I would like to make one addition before we agree. You say that you are planning to live in the city so you can grow stronger, yes?” Talwarg queried.
Lanek nodded, “Yes.”
“Then I want you to let some of our warriors level alongside you from time to time. You see, while many of our people survive long enough to become hobgoblins, very few make it to level 25 to evolve again. This has left the Night Arrows in a precarious position as the feral tribes in the area are much more successful at increasing the numbers of their evolved. It seems that every time our strength seems to be recovering, we get attacked and have to start over.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“I can agree to that, chief. However, I have a request in return. You already know I am interested in training. I would request that you allow me to receive training for the bow, one-handed sword, spear, light blade, and axe. My levels in those skills are lacking and I have no idea how best to raise them.” Lanek explained.
Talwarg smiled broadly. “Done. I can arrange for one of our more experienced hobgoblins to join the groups we send you. Ograch there can handle axes and bows already.”
“Well, I do have some axes, but I don’t have a bow.” Lanek admitted.
“That won’t do, as a gift for a deal well struck and future trade deal, I’ll have Ograch bring you a bow.” Talwarg declared loudly. Ograch and Talwarg proceeded to discuss the area Lanek’s cave was in, occasionally asking Lanek for more information on what he had encountered so far. Finally, after two hours, the chief sent them off to rest before announcing to the rest of the tribe that they had a new home and to be ready to pack up camp and move in the morning. Judging from the cheers, Lanek assumed that they had been wandering for a while.
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The following day moved even slower for Lanek as an entire tribe, including children and the elderly, moved very slowly. Feeling his animal companions become impatient at being kept in their vessels, Lanek approached Talwarg and explained that he wanted to call out his companions but wanted to warn him first as the furballs could be intimidating.
“Really? Well, summon them here in front of me then, that should put the tribe at ease.” Talwarg stated.
Nodding in thanks, Lanek called Sanguineus and Kazuma, the two materializing almost immediately in their eagerness to be out and about. He could hear gasps from the rest of the tribe, but was most surprised by the chief’s reaction. The giant hobgoblin’s hand reached toward Sanguineus hesitantly, a look of adoration on his face, a look that turned into pure joy when the wolf leaned his head into the chief’s hand.
“Magnificent, simply magnificent…” Talwarg whispered while petting the wolf. A moment later, the chief’s other hand was nudged by Kazuma. With a laugh, the hobgoblin scratched the big cat. “Yes, you’re magnificent as well.”
“Where did they come from? Is it part of your [Soulbinder] class?” the big chieftain asked. Seeing Lanek jump at the question, Talwarg said, “The leader of our shamans was able to see your class and let me know about it. I can see why you wanted to keep it a secret, [Mythical] classes are highly sought after, with people willing to kill to find the trick of how to unlock one.”
“And you aren’t tempted?” Lanek asked.
“No. Those who try to find a secret to unlock a [Mythical] class are fools. Those classes can only be offered by greater powers. Primordials, gods, demigods, greater daemons, and things of that power level. Whether it is simply ignorance, greed, or desperation, I honestly don’t know why people try.” Talwarg snorted in derision.
Now knowing that his class was no longer a secret and that the Night Arrows didn’t care, Lanek was more comfortable sharing information. He explained that both companions were indeed bound to him by his class, but by their own choice. When he related the circumstances behind Sanguineus’ creation and the sacrifice of the tamed creature, Lanek could feel the rage radiating from the hobgoblin and angry looks from those of the tribe close enough to hear the story.
“It is good that those people are dead. The world will be better off without that filth.” Ograch growled, baring his teeth in a fearsome display. “It is a shame that there aren’t any more of Sanguineus’ kind out there, I would love to have them join the Night Arrows.”
While they discussed the void hunter, Lanek was distracted by giggling. So foreign was the sound to Lanek’s ears at this point that it instantly caught his attention. Turning, he saw a rambunctious Kazuma playing with the tribe’s children, knocking the older children to the ground before giving them a lick and simply lightly batting at the younger children, much to their delight. It warmed the Soulbinder’s heart, not only was he happy hearing laughter again, but he also knew how lonely the cat had been over the centuries. Even after his group moved to the city, he would need to return to the Night Arrows frequently to allow his companions to be fawned over.
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The journey had been uneventful, but long. The sun had already set fully by the time the tribe reached the cave, so a camp was thrown together quickly so everyone could rest.
Talwarg was the first to rise the next morning, immediately rousing and setting his people to work. He strode across the area with a group of advisors, pointing out tasks that needed to be done and organizing the future village’s layout. In the end, it seemed that the ambitious hobgoblin wanted to surround the entire hill with the village and a wall while the top of the hill would be set aside for lookout towers and a holdfast or small keep.
Lanek wasn’t sure if that much space was needed considering the Night Arrows only had around 80 members, with most of their numbers being goblins. In fact, there were only nine hobgoblins in the whole tribe: two shamans, Ograch, the three hobgoblins that had made it out of Caelis, Talwarg, and two warriors that were level 23 and 24 respectively. Of the hobgoblins, only those two warriors and Talwarg were above level 20.
Lanek felt a smack on his shoulder, turning to see Ograch standing behind him. “Come, it is time to begin your training.”