After their escape from the mine, Weed began piecing things together. Weed concluded the black diamond never existed in the first place. Kendelbreu who had most of his wealth trapped inside the monster’s lair. Maybe his wealth had always been there and the scorpion made the lair it’s new home or something else happened. The point is, it was stuck there. Kendelbreu had been recruiting desperately, the greedy or adventuring dwarves to reclaim his lost wealth. He did it through whatever means necessary. This included lying. Fabled black diamond was the bait he used to lure and snag Theodore’s finalists, who didn’t know better about his reputation. Tasha and Sarkaan were batied with vast treasures. Tinaquarrier and Masin had the same misfortune as Weed to be tricked and lured in with the same bait. Now what remained of them? All of them disappeared like they never existed. What happened to them? Weed had no idea, he could only leave them behind as he ran for his life.
There was another part of the puzzle. Theodore’s riddle. Was Theodore in league with Kendelbreu? It was a possibility Weed could not dismiss. There was however, another possibility, one which Weed did not want to admit to. The poems which all the dwarves sang, was the right clue after all. Kendelbreu could have been programmed to mislead the players to begin with.
How many hour did he run in the darkness? Weed had no idea. The scorpions were a persistent bunch. In the end, they did give up. As Weed limped back into the city, he saw a familiar dwarf at the entrance.
“I cannot believe you made it back, elf.” Kendelbreu cackled as he warmly greeted Weed.
Weed was for the first time assailed by a feeling unknown to him. He could not fully comprehend these complicated feelings yet at his age. But he felt profound dislike for this old calculating, cunning, manipulative, evil, twisted dwarf. He would recognize this later when he got older as feelings of pure hatred.
“Is that all you have to say?” Weed’s body shook with his feeling as he spoke the words. He just wanted to snap the old dwarves neck in two. How did he refrain himself from doing so? Weed did not know.
“Why, yes. Is there anything else?” Kendelbreu was still smiling, completely amused at Weed’s predicament.
“There isn’t anything else left.” Weed shouted back in anger. His hooded armor was completely destroyed. His harbinger sword version six was also gone. He managed to escape with only his life.
“Oh, Yes. I completely forgot! There is the treasure too!” Kendelbreu added as if completely oblivious to Weed’s haggard look. “Did you find it?” By Kendelbreu’s side stood another finalist, clearly a another one lured. At the mention of treasure his eyes nearly popped out. He clearly hadn’t unlocked the hidden quest.
Normally, an adult could chalk such misadventure to bitter experience. But with RREV, the line between reality and VR sometimes blurred. Especially in the heat of the moment. The realism of the created world blurred Weed’s normally sharp wit. His emotional capability was also not fully developed. Being tricked and tricking each other had been natural for children. But it was the first time he experienced a true betrayal of trust. He was led on a wild goose chase which resulted in an entire week being wasted. He did one of the two options any child of his age do when they were in height of emotion. He punched Kendelbreu using his fist of furry skill for added impact. It was not a lethal blow given his low level. Only enough to floor the old man. It also shocked the old dwarf enough as he did not see it coming. Kendelbreu’s henchmen were equally shocked but reacted quickly to the rude treatment.
“Get the...” Elf would be the next word.
Before the dwarf in front had even finished talking Weed had turned and began to run thanks to the running skill he was able to get away before they could finish boxing him in but he could hear them following behind him. Turning a corner he looked up to see that there were more dwarves blocking the way head, he quickly changed direction. Soon he could tell that they were blocking him again as more and more times when he changed streets he found it blocked. The fact that he didn’t know his way around yet was definitely a problem.
After running for several minutes Weed found himself stuck in a blind alley, with walls on three sides and the sound of the pursuing dwarves coming closer. He knew this wasn’t going to go well since the guard would certain back whatever story the locals told even if he was able to report the incident. Just then he felt something hit his shoulder and looked up to see a rope hanging over the back wall.
“Quick up before they get here” a voice hissed above him.
Grabbing the rope he climbed quickly reaching the top and getting over the side just before the dwarves reached the alley. He could hear them below cursing and swearing that he wasn’t there, they quickly left to go and find him figuring he had hid somewhere during the chase. Turning he saw a small figure covered in a hood, shorter than most dwarves he figured it was a child.
“Follow me now”
Weed thought about it for a few seconds and decided that it couldn’t be worse than what was in the other direction. Following the child, he soon became lost as they took back roads, small tunnels and more often than not the rooftops. Weed appreciated the complexity of the route taken as if skilfully avoided unwanted attention. Weed had just ticked off two dwarf groups in the city; bandits of the upper level and now Kendelbreu at the lower levels of the city. If possible, Weed would avoid confrontation as much as possible.
Finally, they reached a larger tunnel with a piece of canvas covering the mouth on it was a picture of a dragon head and words in a script that he didn’t recognize. Holding open the canvas the child told him to go inside. Walking into the tunnel he heard a large number of voices up ahead all of them sort of hissing like his rescuer.
As reached the end of the tunnel he stepped out onto a ledge and started in surprise. In front of him was a large bazaar filled with shouting, singing, laughing, and all the other sounds of business and daily life. What shocked him was that there was not a single dwarf anywhere in sight. Instead he saw hundreds if not thousands of midget lizards, at least that’s what he thought at first they were all between three and four feet in height standing on two legs and walking around at first he thought that they might be lizard-men but it was soon clear they weren’t. Lizard men stood at six feet, longer tails....these creatures were....walking up to stand beside him his rescuer took off his cloak and under it was a face more dragon like then lizard. Turning it smiled up at him and said...
“Welcome to Kobold Hall”
You are the first to discover Kobold Hall! Hidden away deep inside the Northern Mountain City, only a true explorer of the city could find the city!
Rewards: Fame: +250, all merchandise bought in Kobold is now 50% cheaper for 1 week!
- Kobold is now a race that can be selected at the starting menu!
“What?Who?How?” Weed didn’t really know what was going on after all they were in a Dwarf city what were Kobolds doing here, they are monsters weren’t they?
“Follow me and I’ll explain” said his fellow midget Kobold guide and rescurer gestured for him to follow. Weed quickly hurried after him. Travelling through the crowds was an odd experience as the he was far taller than the Kobolds and they would stop and stare and chatter whenever they saw him. They made their way down a flight of stairs located right of the market. It opened to a new alleyway. Weed struggled moving in this small city where he towered like a giant. The kobolds however, displayed no curiosity. They continued about their daily life as if nothing happened. After walking for awhile they came to a building that clearly resembled a miniature tavern. The kobold knocked on the door before stepping inside.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“I found him”
“The Elf Smith.”
“The Elf?”
“Yes, remember? The elf blacksmith Weed, you requested me to summon?” The kobold were a forgetful race as they aged. All the Kobolds looked up when he stepped inside. Weed could barely fit inside. He sat on the floor to make himself comfortable.
“I present to you, Weed.” his rescuer announced them to the room.
Soon they were all running up to shake weeds hand. Weed was very confused but after receiving the cold shoulders and glares from the dwarf community, he was more than welcoming the kobolds kind gestures and politeness. After each and every Kobold shook hands with Weed, who was now begging them to practically stop. They all sat by the fire.
Sitting across from him and beside his rescuer, was an older Kobold who moved slowly like he was stiff and in pain but looking at his eyes Weed could tell that his mind was still sharp. Or maybe if you looked at any lizard’s face, you would think they have an angular sharp face. Or maybe Weed was just tired and the dim light was playing tricks on his mind.
“Welcome Weed Weed to our humble abode, a small and poor race are we. I’m sssssure you’re wondering many things right know.”
Weed simply nodded his head. The kobold had...well a hissing like accent.
“I ssshalll do my best to answer those questions now. My name is Mnementh Mnementh, Elder of the Kobolds of Kobold Hall. We were once savages, barbarians with no hope of a sustainable civilization until the great silver dragon Mnomonth Mnomonth arrived here in the Northern Mountains. We worshiped him as our god and he decided to stay and teach us. He showed us the way to civilization and under his leadership we were able to found this city.”
“But I thought this was a dwarven city?” Weed asked as he wondered, “ Does he repeat every name twice? ”
The one beside the elder glared at Weed for speaking what could only be described in Kobold culture as heretic. Mementh Mementh shook his head sideways disagreeing and placed his hand on the angered kobold. Outsiders would never the truth.
“Weed, this city was once a Kobold city the only Kobold city that I know about. Mnomonth Mnomonth the Silver taught us much. He was not a God but that there were the Gods of the elements. From the blessed earth which bears all fruits, came the God of Earth, Enki. From the raging to the gentlest of winds we have God of Wind, Vayu. For the water, we thank Gong Gong and for the heat we thank Ishum. Mnomonth Mnomonth the silver taught us more, from him we learned how to channel their power and we grew to have a close relationship with the Earth God and moved here underground. Mnomonth Mnomonth is a great silver dragon, true saviour of all. After a long time Mnomonth Mnomonth decided that he had done all he could to help us and that he so he left to find others to teach. That was when our troubles began....”
“The great silver Mnomonth Mnomonth presence had been keeping many fellow tribesman who did not embrace Mnomonth Mnomonth teaching, at bay. After he left they began to attack us. We were under siege and we could no longer mine, grow food, or live our lives by the teachings of Mnomonth Mnomonth. Instead, we were continuously involved in constant war. Precious money that we storessss was lost buying weapons from evil dwarf merchants. We losssst more than money....we lossst many livesssss......
Knowing we needed help we sent message requesting help with one of the dwarf merchants. No dwarf clan came to be allies of oursss. Why? No one want to fight tribe. Called them monster. Called usss ‘monsters’.”
The Elder Kobold wept a little as he bitter revealed the history of the dwarves. Many of the younger kobolds too were saddened listening to their own history. They had heard it many times before, yet it always made them sad and teary.
“One day we find young dwarf in trouble. We helped rescue dwarf for nothing. Kobold only follow what Mnomonth Mnomonth teaches. As Mnomonth Mnomonth teaches, helping always rewarded. In gratitude the dwarf pledged to help us. He was the oldest son of a famous merchant clan he was able to gather many dwarves and led an army to help us here. With their help we were able to break the siege and clear the surrounding land.”
“Then a terrible dark deed happened..... the young dwarf had a brother. The brother too had come with the army. Dwarves true passion is rock, he knew best the value of what we lived in. Having seen the wealth of our mines he decided to take them for himself. He led a small group of loyal dwarves to an ambush his own brother. I remember the fight, fierce it was indeed. Small but strong were they and now no tail I have. In the end, the greedy brother won and slew his own blood. Using the bodies of kobolds and his own men’s lies as evidence he claimed that we had attacked his brother and that he had arrived too late to save him. LIES LIES LIES!”
“LIES LIES LIES” shouted along the other kobolds.
“As recompense he demanded that we surrender to him or he would put us and all Kobolds to death. Accepting as we were outnumbered and tired of the constant war we were driven to this the oldest part of the city and have tried to live our best since that day. But our struggle not over. One day strange monsters came to this land. They kill many kobold for food. Number koboldsss grew smaller and smaller. We sent another Elder to talks to dwarves, but they cut his head off. Quietly we suffered. One day strange dwarf find us and give us swords he make. We thought he trick us, so we didn’t take. But he leave them here and go. We took weapon and learnt to defend ourselves. Now with weapons we strong. We kept monsters away. But we have no blacksmith, our weapons break. Slowly, we have no weapons. The strange dwarf returned, just as we finish his old weapons. This time he brings more. We gladly accept, he tell us many stories. He told us our saviour would come, stranger than him would he be. We never see that strange dwarf again.
Weeee, now see strange dwarf not lying! Truly a more stranger creature appear. Elf in dwarf city strange. Elf who learn blacksmithing stranger. Elf with silver hair, pretty not strange. But elf who glow in the dark? Very strange indeed.”
Weed didn’t know how to take that. Insulting or plain facts?
“Weeeeed Weed, we need your help for the mines and resources of this area are few and we cannot find work easily among the dwarves. There are some monsters that has taken over some of our few remaining mines and we cannot drive it out or slay it. We ask you the killer of the black arachnid scorpions and survivor of the “Death Mine” help us reclaim what we lost! We need your help! Please clear out our mines! Kill all the giant black scorpion!”
Weed smacked his forehead. Not again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authors Note:
1. Will be edited soon. Please do expect a lot of mistakes as we worked .....very late to write this.
2. Thank you so much V4LKYR13 and Tewlve for writing this. A special thanks to Tewlve for thinking of kobolds positively and coming up with this.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?YesNo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------