Ves'ra followed the mountains west, following the artifact towards the village for two hours. As she neared the treeline Arvog showed her she had an observer - a small, hungry looking kobold child.

She changed her path towards him, it would be much easier if she could get a guide, and kobold children were easy to bribe, she’d just have to offer him some food. He was hidden in some kind of nest, nearly invisible from where she stood.

Ves'ra took of both her helmet and her pack before looking where she knew he was and sitting down. She took some of her rations out of her pack, and offered him some. The child came out when it was obvious she knew he was there - yet he was a lot more cautious than even she had been at that age - and took the offered food.

“Hello there young hatchling, I'm Ves'ra. Who are you?” She asked him as he started stuffing his mouth full of the offered food.

“I'm Khu’te.” He answered curtly, only pausing eating for the smallest amount of time. She was in no hurry, she didn't expect human company for another six months, so she let him finish all the offered food. He didn't take long to finish, and looked at her expectantly when he was.

“Still hungry?” She asked, careful to sound friendly. The boy shook his head, good. “Would you mind answering a few questions then?”

“No.” He did not seem to like talking all that much.

"You're from the nearby village, aren't you?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Can you lead me there? I'd like to speak to your chief."

"No."

"Why not?" She asked, astonished.

"You're nice, I don't want you to get hurt." He answered and she saw something in his eyes, a rooted so deep it had to be stroked since he hatched. Ves'ra smiled, calming and friendly.

“Why would I get hurt?” She asked slowly.

"The adults are all mean, they take our food and beat us." He told her.

“It’s really nice of you to worry about me, but I can take care of myself, look.” She let some sparks dance in between her claws, drawing a gasp and furious nodding. “Let's go.”

Ves'ra didn't know what to think about what he told her, a chief had to take care of his people, feed them, not starve and terrify hatchlings!

They didn't take long to run into a scout - even if she was passable at best - a relatively sated looking kobold with some nasty scars in her face. The scout’s eyes zeroed in on Khu’te, a nasty glint entering her eyes. The hatchling didn't waste any time and ran back, hiding behind Ves'ra’s back.

“And who are you? How did you find him, when the scaleless one always sneaks off no one can find him.” She asked, looking about to jump on her.

“We met in the mountains, and he agreed to lead me to your village.” Ves'ra answered, unfazed by the display in front of her - she didn't worry about a single kobold, no matter how aggressive. A nasty grin spread about the other kobolds face.

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“Let's go then, I’ll lead you.”

What was that village, why would a hatchling fear one of the adults to hide behind a stranger, and a scout stop her lookout just like that? Even if Khu’te were a troublemaker he wouldn't be treated like he seemed to.

Ves'ra smelled the village before she saw it. The reek of death, decay and feces continued to grow until she could see the village. It was an absolute nightmare, randomly placed huts, all full of holes, dozens of kobolds idling around when they should be hunting or crafting, no observable leadership.

She could only shake her head when she saw their furs, if one could even call them that - these ‘furs’ were rags, nothing a self respecting kobold would wear.

"CHIEF, SOMEONE WANTS TO SEE YOU." The female kobold yelled. The whole village focused on them, eyes filled with pity or anticipation. She really wanted to know what this was all about.

She didn't take long to find out, as a brute that could have been a kobold once came running out of the best looking hut. He didn't even wear furs! His eyes focused on them and he roared before taking off in their direction.

"WHO DISTURB ME?" He screamed. Did he want to attract every monster around here? How stupid could a kobold be? Especially one that seemed to be evolved like this one.

"I wanted to talk to you." She said, careful to keep her thoughts off her face. His eyes focused on her, and a glint she didn't like entered his eyes.

"TALK, YES. FOLLOW." He yelled. Couldn't he tone it down? Regardless, Ves'ra started to follow him when she felt someone tugging her arm.

She looked in the teary eyes of Khu'te, "Don't follow him, he'll hurt you." He said.

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself." She answered. Still, it would be stupid to ignore such a heartfelt warning, so she began drawing water towards herself, forming a thin layer of water around her - a brute like that wouldn't be able to do more than punch anyway.

The hut was disgusting. It was obvious this 'chief' had never washed himself, or even thought of it. The hut was completely dark as well, and she had to rely on the perception her magic brought to see.

She saw two kobolds curled up next to the entrance and the 'chief' sitting at the other end of the hut like some third grade villain.

"WHAT YOU WANT?" He 'asked'.

"I originally wanted to ask if I can move here for a few months, in return I'd offer protection against anything strong and a helping hand when hunting. I don't want that anymore, it's better to live alone than in a shithole like this. You should take better care of your people." She said, turning around to leave.

"YOU TALK TOO MUCH. YOU DON'T LEAVE UNTIL I SAY!" He roared, barreling into her. Her shield held, yet she flew out of the hut because he was so much more massive than her, and the shield wasn't anchored in the ground.

Ves'ra rose from where she fell, cracked her neck and turned towards the chief.

"You shouldn't have done that." She stated, before drawing on her magic.

A bolt of lightning slammed into the charging kobold, causing him to stumble and fall. An icicle sharper than nature allowed pierced his head a moment later, causing the village to go still.

Ves'ra looked around her, at the stunned faces of kobolds that slowly turned to fear. Her armor was still clean - the shield could weather alot more damage than that.

"What? He attacked me first." She said, turning around to leave. Arvog had already left in search for a suitable home for the coming months, she wouldn't live in such a dump, a kobold had standards. Some of the kobolds looked like they wanted to stop her, but none looked to be awakened so she didn't worry and turned to leave - Arvog was already searching for a suitable home for the coming months.

She was stopped by an old, starved looking kobold, yet her eyes were filled with hope and respect. “Can we follow you revered shaman?” She asked. The woman was alone.

“We?” Ves'ra asked. The kobold nodded.

“I sent young Khu’te to gather them, they will be here shortly.”

Ves'ra wouldn't lose anything by waiting, so she did. At the end about thirty kobolds gathered, ten starved looking adults and nearly twenty hatchlings. Half of the hatchlings were carrying an egg, and all looked at the old woman with respect bordering worship.

“You look hungry.” She noted.

The old woman nodded, "Hatchlings shouldn't hunger." She said. Ves'ra eyed those around her before nodding, it seemed the village did have some normal kobolds in the end.

"Let's go."