Although I though the goblins didn't make any comments on my jokes, I could tell they were giving me a better treatment than the others. Taking advantage of this I would make small talk with them when possible, eventually I had managed to perhaps have built enough trust with a Goblin.
"I... I k-know you are busy and all... but could you hear me out please?"
As I petition him that, he started intensely staring at me, perhaps trying to figure me out.
"Speak, I'll hear what you have to say."
"... C-Could... Could y-you turn me over?"
He looked at me, but nothing more. Although I was speaking and looking at him, the way the had tied me up left me facing the ground.
"I rather not get too close to you."
"B-But... but why?"
*teary eyes*
"Something isn't right with you."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you are abnormal."
"But... you are a band of talking goblins who understands our language."
"I... Wouldn't group all of us together."
"Why not, are you not all brothers and sisters?"
"..."
"I-Is everything... Okay?"
"No, but soon it won't matter anymore."
...
"Sooo... buddy what are you guys going to do with us?"
"I don't think I should answer that." He frowned, or maybe she, after hearing my question.
I will have to try again, but maybe showing some more concern might do it. Could make me look more friendly to him, lets call all gender indeterminable people as males. Okay?
"What do you mean"
I question with the most worried expression I could do.
"I don't need to explain this to you." As he retorted this he gave me his back and was about to leave when.
"Do you fear Death?"
Ever so slowly he turns around to look at me in the eyes.
"Who doesn't."
"Then why are you doing this, you know your people are digging their own graves by doing this."
"..."
"Nothing good will come out of this."
"What could you possibly know?"
"I know that your people will be exterminated like vermin after this. Even If you all try to escape it will be too late if you don't leave now."
"... We have no choice."
"You DO have a choice, you will die either way if you go on with this."
"What do you know"
"Clearly more than you give me credit for, unless fluently speaking toddlers is a thing common for you Goblins."
"... NO. No it isn't it."
"I that case let me ask you, what is keeping you here? What could be SO important that your willing risk your life... No... to sacrifice your life for."
"... My tribe."
"They will all die if you guys stay here, it's already been a day since you kidnapped us"
"How long do you think it will take for the adventurers or soldier to come and find you. What will you do when that happens?"
"Fight-"
"Till death?... You are wasting your lives... And its not even for a good reason."
"... We have to obey our leada.... W-We also need a new home and food."
"Your leader is leading your tribe to ruin, where will you get your home and food?
Taking over the village?"
Hearing me mock him and his plan he turns red with anger.
"STOP LAUGHING!"
"Forgive me, but..."
"Let me make ask you a question, you and your tribe seem abnormally smart compared to all other Goblins. You can speak our language, you seem to have some decent formations and distribution of roles. This all clearly points to a decently trained and coordinated tribe. The question isn't how, it's WHO trained you guys that is what I'm interested to know."
"..."
"Whoever it was clearly knew what he, or she, was doing. Which leads to wonder, what happened to that person as your tribe is clearly now taking dumb risk. What I'm actually getting at is:"
"Who was your past leader, what happened to your past leader, how long ago did it happened, and why do you still follow your current leader."
"You have nothing to lose by telling me so, in fact you might gain some insight by talking to me.
Knowledge is power after all."
...
"*sigh* Fine... I'll tell you. Past leader was my brother, he died when he attempted an our usual hunting parties to bring back food. He died trying to protect his people, all of this happened around maybe a month and a half."
"And... Well. We follow new leada because he prove he's the strongest around. Is that not worthy enough of leadership."
"... Are you serious?... You choose your new leader because he was the strongest? Leadership is about insight and intelligence, maybe also charisma but that's an extra. Even so, strength is the most useless thing you could have on your leader, unless it's mental strength instead of physical."
"Actually... I have a better idea, why don't you lead the tribe."
"I couldn't."
"Yes you can, if you think you lack the skills. Well I can tell you that you have way more than your current leader. And if you are instead concerned of not having enough support, well you are brother of the past leader."
"I'm sure he was at least a respected man, meaning you could build your leadership upon his."
"...I don't want to."
"..."
"Is your tribe not the most important thing in your life? Do you want to protect what your brother sacrificed his life for? Would you give your life for it?"
"... Yes... Yes I would"
"Then do it, lead your people to a safer tomorrow. Heck I'd even help you, my people hate too much me at this point. Either way, wouldn't you giving your life to become the leader and giving your tribe a brighter future the same as I just told you."
"... You... You talk a lot."
"That is true. Through the power of our voice everything can be changed. That my friend is your first lesson in leadership, the next would be motivation and self-confidence."
"..."
"Were would I even start?"
"Start talking to your and your brothers closest friends, then start with those who are dissatisfied with the current leader. Next try convincing the rest with the problem at hand and how the new leader is messing up. That if your brother was alive this would have not happened. That you need a new leader, one who is wise to lead you."
"Tell them that this can still be fixed, that their is hope and if they lost all motivation... Then tell them to do it for their families, for everyone who has died to make their lives not be lost in vain."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
"Should anyone dare rebuke you that you don't now what they are feeling or that you don't understand. Then tell them about your brother, how you missed and how you will honor his death by ensuring his work isn't wasted."
"Did you get all that?"
"Hmm... NOPE. Can you write it down for me?"
"I don't know how to write yet... Wait you can write?"
"Yeah... but not to well, I'm not anything magnificent."
"You can only get better. Don't worry for now."
"Well... I don't know how to write, you can't teach in such a short span of time, so then I will have to make you a speech and have you memorize it."
"I still don't know if I should do this?"
"Give it a try, do it for the tribe, for your brother."
"Okay... wait.. Are you Guilt tripping me with my brother and my tribe."
"Indeed, you learn fast. I'm proud of you.
That aside, lets get on with the memorization."
.....
.......
.........
*Goblin point of view*
I guess this is it, after half a day and 3 dead children, I finally memorized most of my speech. It was a dark night, a perfect time for a secret meeting. The location was good, away from our base in the solitude of the forest. All that remains is to, as he says, "Sell this Show". Not sure what that means but I will try my best.
I tried to get as many people together without the leada or his close followers finding out.
"BROTHERS AND SISTERS!"
I shout at my highest voice possible, so much I even startle myself... NO. Stay focused.
"I have gathered us here to discuss the future of our tribe."
They all look at each other confused.
"It has come to my attention that our tribe will suffer annihilation once the humans find us. So attempting to conquer the nearby village for ourselves is the worst way to go."
"B-But it is what leader says we do."
"And wrongly he has leaded us, look around you. What have we come too"
"We are now hiding like animals here on this... I can't even call it a shelter."
"SO Many have died during those damned exploration trips."
I go quiet, I wait and allow those words to sink in.
"... We can't go on like this, the humans will find us soon. Their isn't enough of us to fight them, we don't even have the equipment to do so."
"What would we even do?"
Concern and murmuring could be seen all around.
"We leave here, get away from the humans, hunt animals along the way. Have you forgotten what our elders taught us?"
"We can still hunt, we just have to be more careful and keep a distance from powerful species, like the humans."
"Won't the Leda get angry?"
"Angry?... We are DYING here, do you really care about his feelings? What about ours? We also have feelings, ambitions, and thoughts. Why does only his matter, he's only one person. We are the majority, it is US who should matter the most."
"But clearly he doesn't, if so he would have never done this.
He would have never allowed our families to die and starve.
Things have to change, for the better."
"What i-if he try to stop us."
"Then we fight back, all of us against him and maybe a few others.
He may be strong but we are many.
That is how our species has managed to hunt larger and stronger animals."
"We can subdue him and his followers if any arise.
We live and one day no longer have to hunger.
We can survive.
We will survive.
Yes We Can."
"Say it with:
Yes We can."
"'Yes we can'"
"SAY IT LOUDER!
YES WE CAN!"
"'YES WE CAN'"
And with thunderous shouts and cheers a new leada had been chosen. I only hope I can make my brotha proud. This is for him, for everyone.
This was surprisingly easier than I though, I didn't even have to use all of my counter arguments or guilt tripping them with our still flesh loses. All it took was to give them some hope and move them in the right direction.
I have to still many things to do, he told me this would just be the start. Next I would have to disarm the possible loyalist of the older leada, possibly with a supposed "break" or a "change of shift". Either or would work, but the hardest part afterwards would be removing the old leada.
The kid told me that he wouldn't give up. First he would try to ascertain his dominance by either striking us or talking us down. I had to ensure that when he fought we could sufficiently be capable of suppressing him. If instead, or afterwards, he tried to tell everyone he was the leada not me, I would have to tell everyone how bad of one he was and how much ruin he's brought under his rule.
But for now I all I have to tell them what to do and then get ready for tomorrow morning. While everyone is sleeping we will strike, we have already volunteer for all of the shifts and positions that require us to be awake. Those we knew would definitely side with him we would tie up while they are sleeping while keeping a cloth to their mouths. With this their noise will be minimized.
Well... Enough of that I have to get ready now. Their is so much to do and not enough of time. We also have to leave after we subdue the leada, the humans could arrive at any moment and we shouldn't be here by then.
....
......
........
*Back to Protagonist POV*
I have started hearing many movements around, I know he was successful. Since I didn't know how hard it would be to start an uprising with the Goblins I had him memorize the best possible plan with the highest chance success. Nothing too complex, just your simple full blow sudden takeover.
If things goes well, he should come to me and wake me up after all of this is over.
Is th-this aright? Many might die if things continue on like this.
They have to do this or else they will die, either at the hands of the humans or natures harsh elements. I good leader is always necessary. The right man in the right, or wrong really, place can do all the difference.
...
Lets hope that Goblin is the right man. It will be fine, don't worry too much.
Well enough of this, I'm going to sleep. Tomorrow morning will be hectic and I need all of my energy. Wake me up if anything comes up.
Okay. Goodnight.
Goodnight to you too Blue.
I close my eyes and allow the darkness to envelop me... How I hate this.
...
....
(Authors Notes)
Sorry for the delay guys, I have been busy in real life. Any ways I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can.
(End of Author Notes)