Casper had no real desire to actually do the mushroom job, but he had figured that if he mentioned he was going to take the goblin job by himself the others would protest. That, and he wanted to be able to use the mark without worrying about other people seeing him do so.
Casper strapped on his gear, folded the piece of paper and started walking. Out from the bustling noise of the city and back into the quiet cool of the countryside. Really there was no rush on it. Besides if he went too quickly it would be suspicious, so Casper did well to take his time, winding through the long paths, taking detours through the hills and lighter forested areas until he started reaching the grouping of hills that touched the mountain range that rose up to the west. The trees began to grow denser as the mountain rose, and it wasn't until he got deeper into the security of the trees did he finally relax and start taking it seriously.
Casper had been practicing his power on the journey here up until he came Into the company of Alex and Annabelle, and since then hasn't had a moment to himself, or to practice. He figured now would be a good time, and goblins would be a good enemy to do it on.
Casper walked through the woods, climbing higher and higher through the trees and the rocky cliff sides and flora filled hilltops until he reached the flank of the goblin camp.
The goblin camp sat half built into the far hillside, dropping down into a tight valley and back up the adjacent hill. On the other side of that hill and down the slope was the trade route these goblins have been harassing. The goblin camp itself was a dirty mess of wood and planks. Felled logs. Mud, stone and all manner of shabby and ramshackle debris. The whole place stunk of farm animals, shit, piss and blood. The sounds of the yapping growl goblinoid voices echoed through the camp and the small segment of caves that ran through the underside of the hill.
The goblins themselves looked like small, twisted humans with enlarged heads, long ears and dull greenish skin. Some wore parts of armor or cloth and many wore nothing at all, all shoving past each other digging through the mud, a few digging through an animal carcass.
There were quite a few of them, about 15 visible, and likely even more in the sections of cave not visible from the hill. The vile creatures chartered among each other, it was a particularly disgusting sight. Especially paired with the smell.
It would be better to get this done quickly, Casper was itching to let loose at least a little. No more stalling then.
He closed his eyes and channeled the mark. He let it run through his body, the heat crawling up his spine, through his head and chest to the tips of his fingers and the bottom of his feet. He channeled the heat and let the power run through his whole body. There was no one around. He was free to let loose. But he didn't know the potential it held. He would hold back a bit. He would give maybe %1, he thought.
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Smoke surrounded him, and he appeared in the center of the camp, in an instant. Teleported right into the center. The goblins didn't have even a moment to react. He breathed out, Blake smoke swirling through the air, around the goblins, like black collars around each of their necks, tight and almost choking. Casper dashed forward. The force of his movement sending mud and dirt and stone up behind him, his blade slicing clean through the goblin like a hot knife through butter. And simultaneously every goblin with black collar split in half exactly the same way, all 12 dropping instantly.
An arrow sailed through the air, aimed at Casper's head, he didn't even look at it. As it entered within inches of him, he sensed it, his free hand flicking the tip of the arrow and shattering it instantly without any effort at all. Casper turned, his hand outstretched and the black smoke collapsed the goblins head in.
He could hear the sounds of them in the cave, scattering and flailing and gathering. He wouldn't give them any time. Casper sprinted into the cave. The sheer speed of him sending wind around the cave. His speed was faster than any human, near faster than any animal as he ran.
He passed by goblins as a blur, barely even visible, but to Casper they were all so slow. Almost stood still. Moving an inch a minute. He effortlessly hacked and slashed, carved and crushed, choked, and destroyed.
Casper exited the cave. It had taken him 15 seconds to utterly and completely destroy the goblin camp . He was covered in blood. Their blood.
He let out a breath and let the heat of the mark fall away back to the cool air of the countryside. Out of curiosity, he lifted his tunic sleeve and examined his arm. The smallest sliver of marking was gone. One of the thinnest, smallest, newest lines in the entire black inky mess was removed.
Casper had alot more in him. After all, he had been storing it for years now. %1 he had given today, and that was perhaps far too much to give to goblins.
Casper grabbed his empty pack and began piling the goblins' heads. He had killed the hobgoblin in the mess of it all and didn't even notice. A good collection of heads, they would fetch him a decent reward. Hopefully then between his efforts and the others, they would have enough to keep things moving quickly. After all, he did have business to do, and it wasn't just accidentally picking up women all day.
While both were attractive in their own right. Annabelle was a very well built woman with an impressive bust, and Elisayra was cute and seemed to be hiding quite the ass under her baggy clothes.
That being said, Casper couldn't simply abuse his position of power over them. Annabel felt like she owed him, and Elisayra seemed eager to serve. But just because it was easy didn't mean it was right. Casper recognized that he was in a position of power and they were technically, and in Elisayra's case literally, beholden to him. It didn't feel quite right. Not that it was wrong per say, after all it was the norm in the kingdom, in fact Casper was the odd man out for not taking the resources given to him, however Casper's father was a fair and honest man who taught Casper similar virtues. That abuse of power will lead to hate. That if you crush those under your boot they will rise against you.
Casper had no desire for short term pleasure, as tempting as it was, for long term damage to him and his name. So for now he would hold fast and hold by. After all. There were always brothels or his hand should he feel he needed it. And unfortunately after using the mark. He really felt he needed to. But he also needed the money. So no whores today. Perhaps if he got back to his room early and sooner than the others he could take care of himself before either of them got back.