Her words strike a cord in you, and slowly the fear leaves you. She was right. You would defeat anyone who challenged you. The only question was how you wanted to do it.

In the end, you decide that the only way forwards is to keep going the way you have been. You got a Claimant Crystal, through luck, fate or skill, and with it, even in a few short days, your life has turned upside down. You trust that the gods wouldn't have created this tool without giving you the means to survive its use.

“We build,” is your eventual answer. Sapphire nods, accepting your decision instantly.

“What abilities can you afford that might help?”

You open your Fame menu, and turn so that Sapphire can read it too. She leans against your side and you are momentarily distracted by how soft she is.

“What does that one do?” she asks, bringing your attention back to the menu with a start. She's pointing at 'Evolve Minion'.

“I have no idea. I only seem to get told what they do after I purchase them.”

She hums in acknowledgement and you continue to browse. After around half an hour of scrolling through options, you've narrowed down a list of abilities that seem like they're be useful for your stated goal.

Manifest Worker 0/Lvl (6), 100 fame

You both agreed that that sounded like it would allow you to create at least one minion without having to recruit it.

Quicker Construction, 250 fame

This seemed pretty self explanatory, but was also hideously expensive

Minion Oversight, 100 fame

You had no idea what this would do, but from the cost and name you thought it would probably help. Sapphire shyly disagreed however, and thought it sounded more like something to get much later, when you had more minions.

Draconic Liegelord 2/10, 20 fame

You both thought with was a good idea, and was cheap, but might take a while to show to full effect.

Empower Minion (Repeatable), 50 fame

Again, neither of you are exactly sure what it will do, but agree its unlikely to hurt

You double check your fame total. 374.

Sapphire looked at you “Well that seems pretty obvious. One manifest, quicker construction, and then as many liegelords as you can, right?”

You shake your head slowly. “Too slow. No, I was thinking more...”

You select one manifest worker, and then, seeing the price stay the same, immediately select it again. Then, you pick two sets of Empower Minion. Finally, you pick one Liegelord, raising its price to 40, so you get it again.

When you close your fame menu, you see another menu open.

Empower Minion Available (x 2)

Choose minion

Choose Empowerment

You select

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Sapphire, Kobold Runt Beastmaster

first, noting with some amusement

Hyena, hyena companion

and then open the empowerments options. It looks like your choice is 'Combat Suite' or 'Worker Suite'

You look down at Sapphire. “I told you I would make you strong. You're going to have to be my claws for a while, until the lair is better. Can you do that for me?”

She nods, eyes bright with passion, and you select Combat. Next, you select Hyena, and almost immediately select Combat again, pausing for just a second at the new option – Sentience. Then you select Combat anyway, before looking at the results of your actions.

Sapphire straightens up and rolls her neck, bones popping and cracking. Her Hyena, apparently named Hyena, stretches long and low. Sapphire's rusty skin darkens a few shades, and while she's still certainly small, there is a smoothness to her movements that wasn't there before. Her horns are more pronounced and end in sharper points, her claws are a little more prominent. Her feminine softness is now laced through with iron, and when she turns to you and gives you a smouldering look through half lidded eyes, she practically oozes dangerous sex appeal. Her kilt crawls up her body, wrapping itself around her into a suit of dark leather straps and plates, causing her to giggle a little as some of the straps adjust around her chest and thighs. Then she opens her own character sheet and gapes at it.

Hyena's changes are less pronounced, but also more obvious. The darker spots on his coat had darkened further to a smokey black. His teeth and jaw were larger, as were his claws, and overall he pulled several extra inches of height, now sitting just over three foot at the shoulder. He looks down at you for the first time, evidently somewhat confused by the proceedings, before sniffing and staring at something behind you.

You turn to look, and see two more Kobolds stood behind you. These new arrivals were immediately and obviously different to Sapphire. Their scales were much redder, almost matching your own, and their eyes possessed the same fire that yours did. They were also significantly larger, at around three foot high. They were dressed in loose fitting robes of grey cloth, and bowed to you. In unison, they spoke.

“Lord Red Scale, command us.”

“You,” you point to the one of the left, “Work on the unfinished workshop down the tunnels. And you,” you gesture to the one on the right, “Go out and mine the boulders on the tops of these cliffs. Find me once your task is complete.”

The two bow again, and then scamper off to complete their tasks.

Sapphire pulls your attention almost immediately. “Sir, look!”

She gestures to her character sheet, still open in front of her.

Sapphire, Level 3 Kobold Runt Beastmaster

Monster, Kobold, Runt, Explicit

Experience to level up – 32/300

Attributes

Strength 14 > 17 + 6 Dexterity 34 > 38 + 6Endurance 14 > 16 + 6

Charisma 21 > 24 Manipulation 26 > 29 Appearance 26 > 27

Perception 34 > 36 Intelligence 27 > 29 Wits 27 >29

Skills

Archery 21 + 6

Stealth 21 (In Combat + 6)

Dodge 21 + 6

Athleticism 15

Awareness 13

Survival 10

Craft (Mechanism) 7

Melee 3 + 6

Occult (In Combat + 6)

Feats

Kobold Ingenuity –

Liege –

Liege (Empowered, Combat Suite) – Gain one time experience as if you had defeated your liege in combat. Gain a passive buff to your combat skills and Physical Attributes equal to your Liege's Level. Gain a combat feat from your Liege's race.

Liege (Fire Breath ) – Can make a Ranged Spell Attack, treating Occult as 10 higher than it is for the purpose of hitting, at Occult feet range. Deals Fire damage, has a chance to set foes on fire.

Monstrous Appearance –

Runt –

“Impressive,” you say, and then taking a chance, you nuzzle her affectionately, bumping her shoulder with your snout. She freezes for a second and blushes, then pales, then blushes again.

“I should go and...” she gestures vaguely at the entranceway, “Uh, we can't waste time right? I'll go hunting again.” She nods to herself and turns to go, before turning back and wrapping you in a hug. You notice she's grown, ever so slightly, as she presses herself against your leg.

“Thank you.” She whispers. You nuzzle her again, and this time she turns her head as you pull away, and gently kisses you. She breaks away before a single second has elapsed, and leaps onto Hyena's back. Hyena breaks into a trot, and swiftly carries her from your lair, leaving you with a stupid smile.