"HAHAHAHA!" A burst of laughter jaunted Drazahar awake. He had been dreaming of being back here, in this familiar room, since they had left it. He didn't dream of a past life much anymore. He had accepted his new lot in life.

The blasted notification alert he had arranged was blaring again in his corner, informing him that this was not a dream. Ignoring it as he usually did as there rarely, if ever was a change.

'Hold on; I'm in the yurt. Was that all a dream?' The memories of the fight started flooding back. 'Oh, gods, what were we forced to do?' He felt vomit rising in his throat. The feel of his spear sinking into one of the various open wounds lacerating flesh, still lingered on his hands.

Worse, he was feeling hungry from the smells coming from the doorway. He walked to the wash basin and cleaned his face off to recollect himself.

He took note of his surroundings. He was the only one here. That means:

A: I was the only one to survive

B: They left me here to eat without waking me, and someone was owed a beating.

He determined that option B was likely as he heard Maka laughing from outside the doorway. Balling his fist, he walked out and into the central yurt. He was greeted immediately by a hanging body of a beefy nude female hoblin wearing a sack on her head... scented with rosemary? The body was dripping blood into a barrel and appeared pale.

He walked around it, he had seen this before, on the way to the temple. He was more perceptive than his siblings. He never mentioned it to them before however, there were rows of a similar scene down one of the alleys.

He had already determined this world was a savage and brutal one and he had been given the short straw. It angered him that he couldn't get the answers he wanted when he wanted them.

He was greeted by aromas and smells he was not familiar with.

When they awake, they will be in their home. in the yurt, there will be smells and noise. A Leather drum was being beat on by Tasar while the rest of his siblings drank a red liquid while slurring the drinking song Tusa taught us.

There he noticed a large Orcus sitting on a large stool with our mother Urana on his lap, both drinking from giant jars of the liquid dripping from their mouths. "A strong no, not I! Twuewet is I! DAMN!" The Orcus bellowed as he took another swig and then noticed me.

"AHHH! Drazahar, my son sit! Drink the blood and honor the fallen! Refusal will have you beat!" A Black swirling void appeared above me as a red metallic cup slowly lowered into my hand. I saw him pour some of the red liquid into a similar black mass and it came out of my mass perfectly filling my cup.... 'neat trick for a drunk' I thought to myself and was met with a sweet and very sharp alcoholic smell.

Not wanting to be beaten, I drank it. The burning sensation dripped down my throat it was nothing like what I drank in the temple. I felt it coarse through me. I felt it hit me all at once, I felt the horror of betrayal, the hopes of rescue, and relief from torment. I wanted to start crying when I accepted the feeling of death looming over me.

Then, I felt as though I was running on the wind across fields of savannah grass with my mate. I delved into fires of battle with my rider bellowing a war cry on my back! I was howling songs of victory while tearing into my latest kill!

It ended as abruptly as it began. I hadn't noticed, but I was sitting next to Maka and Mal finishing my tenth cup. I heard laughter from my father again.

"It is a father's pride and joy to watch der child's first Bloodwine." My father had attempted subtly to not appear drunk with a slight slip towards the end there.

"We honor the fallen be it enemy or friend by witnessing their life. Even good ol Gooblis will be used as bloodwine.... Well, for the Staghorns." he decidedly added in the end.

I wanted to ask more questions, but the only one that came out of my mouth was "Are you really my father?"

Sadaash stared at me and then sighed. He nodded to Urana, and he raised his hand. A shimmer of light passed through us. The feelings I felt left me, as did the tinge of alcohol. I felt cleansed.

This time a notification notice chimed in another feature, I added a while back, and I mentally opened it. I was flooded with notifications at this time. 'I need to add better opening mechanic....' As I Tucked that mental note away, I read the latest one.

You have been cleansed by Entity: Race: Sadaash Bloodstorm

Spell used: lesser Cleanse

Spell used: Mind Cleanse

Spell used: Blood Cleanse

Effect summary: You have been cleansed of emotions and alcohol, and Rotblood Bane Poison.

'Rotblood Bane poison?'

Rotblood Bane Poison

Inquiring . . . . .

Inquiry Failed

His system that he has customized with expanded parameters and summarizing information to only the important information really didn't help him much at this moment. 'Wait, Rotblood, that is Tusa and Gooblis's last names... Where we are being poisoned. So many questions were raised in his head.

"The poison was in Sha'ree's blood. We do not dilute it, for it is dishonorable to poison our enemies in a duel. Hence we suffer alongside them.... However, use poison if that's the only way to win. Remember, when you suffer the bloodwine, it is because of your own weakness." Sadaash informed me, sensing my questions.

I felt invigorated I was being answered for the first time. In full, at that. Then my eyes fell on a figure trying to be small, holding a cup in the corner of the yurt. It was a small hoblin I hadn't recognized save for the tight deel. It couldn't be, could it?

Following my gaze, Urana called over to the Hoblin, "Tusa Rotblood, come over and greet them and explain their goals now."

The Hoblin stepped forward nervously, and bruises were visible on her body. She began with a much, much more even-cowed tone.

"You will sleep at midnight, and I will commence your of-age ritual. All races undergo this. A shaman, regardless of how far they are will commence it for you. This is called dream walking and many shamans learn to do this so that our newer generations can advance." She began speaking with equal respect to the children.

"As for what has happened to me, I am level 21, we gain levels after you come of age based on your milestones. Every ten levels you will have a racial rite similar to your of-age ritual. Your mythonic Rite must be done in a temple... or by a priest." She stared at Sadaash with obvious bewilderment and quickly returned to her explanation after he motioned for her to continue.

Visibly nervous, she continued, "Though it is forbidden, I will now explain the Evolution of the horde to you. If you train up your attributes in a certain manner, you can evolve into either an Orcus, Hoblin, or Sha'hara from being a goblin. A Hoblin can become a Madrin with higher magic skills and spiritual attributes.... That was your parent's goal. This is forbidden, and all who hear it will be killed..." Visibly pale, she continued with a nod from Sadaash, who was obviously enjoying this.

A ding in my head was heard, and I opened the notification Placing the other blaring ones in the read later tab.

Racial Rank Mythonic Lock has been released

A lock had been placed on the information of your trait, Evolution of the Horde. Through the explanation of the trait, the information has been unlocked.

Soul Tip: Racial Rank Mythonic Locks are used to lock information about said race from others of their race. Performed by the leaders of your mythos that hold a Gold or platinum rank in their respective race. This is a rare and in poor-taste useless action that costs the life of the user.

"Your father has been banished, as have I. Your mother will be serving not a year but three months in exchange for running the temple in the untimely .... Natural death of Gooblis." Pausing only to take a glance at the hanging body over the barrel labeled Raghorn feed.

Continuing," This is no concern for you. You must live as clanless. If you make it to the burrows, you will be safe. If you make it to the oasis, you can make or join a clan... such as your fathers and live with them.... as is the "cough' loophole in our laws." Tusa had an obviously uncomfortable look about her at adding that last part.

She continued, "When you awaken tomorrow, you will be with the other out casted goblins with a loincloth and will be unable to return. If you do not find a burrow within three days you will be hunted as food." She finished by slumping to the ground and downing her cup, passing out afterward.

"Well, what a weak child. It was just a Lil mind-influence spell. she will learn some respect after this, I'm sure." Sadaash decided to expand on Tusa's explanation. "Magic is only illegal because the Madrin are the rightful ruler of our hordes. The Ograsi are not" He paused for a few moments and continued. "I am an Invocation Alchemist and an Ignasian Paladin... I'm as magic as they come. You should see my magical transformation." Winking, he continued. "Evolution is a choice, and sadly, my Paladin self must follow the ignasian laws as does your mother regardless of how they have changed and despised them. We cannot follow you nor save you. Tomorrow you will be on your own."

With those words, we heard a chime, and one after another, my siblings fell asleep.

"You cannot fail this test; the choice is yours to make, my children," Sadaash uttered those last words as my own eyes closed, and everything went silent.