There was simplicity in moving forward, to laying ones regrets and indecision in the crucible, to be consumed by the flames of determination and growth. Of course, it would also not do to be reckless, as I approached the meat processing place. It was also a butcher's shop, and even if the owners had been interested in selling, well, I don't think they would have wanted to sell out to goblins. Something that I would correct, before they made it into too much of a warren. Speed was the key at the moment, even as I wondered how I would deal with the barghest.
Sure, there had been a magical longsword on the dread necromancer last night, but I was not proficient with them. Five hundred more mythos points and I'd be able to charge my claws with my own will. But that was pleasant thoughts for later, of expanding on and strengthening my build. In many ways, I was not looking to be a magical scholar, but rather something closer to a war mage. I nearly chuffed in amusement, as I came up to the processing plant itself. My thought was reaching out... and there were plenty of minds close at hand.
Of course, from the feel of it, as I moved quietly near first the actual business, and then the shed and the owners house, that most of the goblins were on the ground floors and basements, with a few minds up on the second floor... and I could feel the barghest in the house, on the upper floor oddly. Or, given where the master bedroom would be, perhaps not. It was a sharp thing that mind, like obsidian that hungered and drank in the light, something like rancid oil clinging to it.
Likely due to the fact it was a fiend really, as I turned to the main building and moved quicker, strides lengthening as my legs made ready to leap, claws digging into the buildings side as I reached the apex of that leap, and I quickly hauled my extra large ass up, claws and feet digging into brick. Of course, my lips curled into a smirk, once the killing started... well, I only hoped to thin the numbers of goblins before the barghest got involved.
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Terk, Goblin Witchdoctor
Terk was strong and cunning. But not too strong, because that would get you eaten by the master. But he was strong enough to have good food, to take the females when he desired and to smack around the fools that thought that they could take what was his! But, Terk was cunning and had stolen the secrets of how to make booze! Well, more like he tortured it from one of the human whelps before the master ate it, leaving not even scraps for them.
It was strange to see how the dull and foul potatoes, which tasted worse than dirt mixed with dung, could make that delightful and potent elixir. But, if the stupid thing didn't lie to spite him, it would take two whole weeks to finish. So, he kicked one of the other warriors, who yipped like a dog, even as glass shattered above. "Check noise!" He of course, was too smart to check this, but the weak and lazy fools around him needed to be motivated with smacks of his stirring stick and firm kicks.
Worthless slugs, the lot of them, but at least under his leadership they would be good for something. But, he had a vat to check on, scraps to throw into the cauldron and plans to make. As it was... he would need to wait until Toadface, Redeye, Erdog, Mudfoot and Weaktooth returned. Sure, as he added another pinch of crushed and ground jade into the mixture, they were slow, stupid and foolish... but still smart enough to find signs of humans and the potential site for a new warren.
After all, they would need to move into the new one after they convinced the humans to slay that wolf-goblin Bearbite, bribing the stupid prey with a few doses of Jade Water, the better to poison the hungry thing. Better that the humans fight and die than the tribe after all. Minutes passed, and while there was some scuffling, it was drowned out in parts by snoring, and of some grunts and groaning as warriors made use of the stew. But, the lazy fools that he sent to check on the noise?
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Terk scowled as he moved, stirring stick in hand as he ventured away from the vats, though something made him pause for half a moment, caution flaring to life. Because things were getting quieter. The tone was changing, and there was no sign of the guards. Wisely, he took out the small mirror looted from a human female, and used it look around the corner, towards one of the doors. None of the guards were there, and he expected them to at least scream before they were killed. Unless they left their posts to stick their spears into the stew pots.
Really, was that the sort of thanks he got, making sure they had scraps and doles of water to go along with easy duties! Well, no more kind and compassionate gob for them! Now, he wasn't just going to tan their hides and box their ears, but break their noses, slice up their ears and break their toes! Nothing that wouldn't heal of course, but would some discipline be too much to ask for?
Bah, it was enough to ignite the thirst in him, even as he noticed that there were a few bodies laying around. Likely knifed by their rivals, still... Terk considered things carefully. To drag the bodies over to Bearbite... or to dismember them and have a little meal where the hungry beast wouldn't know about it? Well, it wasn't like he would be getting any infant that wasn't a zombie for a while, and if he wasn't going to get that kind of special treat? Might as well make the most of things!
Which is when the hand grabbed him from behind, choking and squeezing his neck as he was lifted into the air, unable to scream, scrambling and swinging as the monster walked back on silent feet. And soon enough, Terk found his vision going black. Then, the goblin knew no more.
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Matt
Now, the amusing thing about the claws was that I had a climb speed while they were out. The scary thing? Between that, mind sight and darkvision I was able to pull off being a spider striking from ambush, killing goblins that were awake before hoping back up to hide in the rafters, coming back down to kill a few more... including a few dozen that had been sleeping, claws cutting throats in their sleep, punching into defenceless skulls and generally not bothering to let them wake.
I would lose a fair fight against these numbers, so why would I give them one? And then from another room came a goblin dressed like Nazeebo from Diablo 3? Frankly, that screamed spellcaster... and so there was a solution, as I came down the walls and reached out, choking a gob. There is something disturbing about choking someone to death, as they struggle and writhe in your grip, even as you slowly back away to make sure they cannot alert the rest of your future victims of what was coming.
Lucky me, that goblins were seemingly nocturnal, and thus most were sleeping when I came in, with some evidence that they were starting to fortify and expand the basement. The witchdoctor in my hands went limp, and I thought there might be some additional scent of piss and shit. But given how they were going everywhere? Yeah, there was no way for me to tell for sure. So, it was a quick lopping off the head, because there was no reason not to make sure where spellcasters were involved.
Dropping the body, I reached out, feeling the remaining minds. Still plenty of work to do, but... It was not that hard to lock and bar the doors. From there? A matter of sneaking up on the ones rutting with each other, claws flashing down to tear at them, silencing them as I moved on, moving quicker and quicker as I butchered them. I think I blacked out at some point, as I fought and killed. Because it was not just warriors whose lives I ended, most gurgling in their sleep, some screaming as they woke in the end.
No, goblin women and children were killed, their blood staining my claws as I worked to butcher and purge this nest. I could not say how many exactly, as I flailed, claws scything down and they fell like wheat before a combine harvester. The last eight were begging for their lives, as they tried to tear the door open, weeping and whimpering as their blood drenched the floor and my skin.
I'm not ashamed to admit I hurled, as much from the fact that I was just some sort of movie monster and butcher of children as from the fact I breathed in through my nose and it reeked of shit, piss and blood worse than the zombie corpses. Of course, as I was shaking, hands on my knees, thats when I got the damn pop up.
[Congratulations, you are making progressing on purging a goblin nest! For taking care of business and the little goblings, your alignment has shifted towards Neutral Good! Keep up the good work hero!]
There was a surge of relief, and then shame and guilt. I just killed non-combatants and the system said that it was morally and ethically righteous? Was I more disgusted with that fact, or that it gave me a moment of relief, as if the blood did not itch and burn in my mind? It was something that needed to be done, but righteous and just... That seemed a step too far. Then again, was it because they served a fiend in the form of a barghest?
THAT at least, I could feel justified about killing! So, shaky on my feet, I moved towards the house, the sun still rising behind me, as fire roared in my veins.