To Gobma’s credit, he did not monologue. He walked forward with a confident swagger, hefting his strange blade in one hand. Casually, he wiped the blood of a dead gremlin off of it with his sleeve. It glinted in the light from the hearth, a razor with Daggat’s name on it. Gobma lunged.
Daggat dived out of the way in time to dodge the clumsy attack. Gobma was clearly not trained in the art of swordplay, but it seemed he didn’t need to be. Where the sword struck wood and stone, it cut through like butter. What was that made of?
“Wait! Why don’t we talk about this?” Gobma ignored Daggat’s plea. Chasing him as he ran under the table. Gobma began cutting his way through it.
“No! Not going to let you play one of your word tricks. Today you die!” Daggat ran around the table as it fell apart, then swung at Gobma’s leg with the poker.
The armor was not exactly well made, spare metal hammered into shape. The poker’s hook punched through it and into Gobma’s leg. “YOUCH!” He swung with his blade, missing Daggat but cutting the end of the poker off. He hopped on one leg and dug out the hook. “You miserable little pile of roach shit! I should have killed you myself.”
“That would have really helped your situation right now, yes.” Daggat tossed the useless metal at Gobma like a spear, it bounced off his armor and looked for an advantage. He had his potion, but he didn’t want to burn down the cottage completely. Calion could come back from this. The cottage interior was ruined, impressively so for how long the gremlins were in there. Plenty of debris to throw, but that wouldn’t help.
He was thinking too long. Gobma kicked him with one of his signature full-foot kicks. This sent Daggat tumbling into a wall. He was next to the fire. The fire!
Daggat scrambled into the fireplace as Gobma approached. The flames were warm and burned his clothes, but they did not harm his skin. Rather, it felt like staying in the sun. He suspected he might get a slight burn on prolonged contact.
“Get out of there!” He tried to reach in, but the fire was too much.
“NO!” Daggat was already starting to sweat. Maybe the fire wasn’t a great idea.
“Good gremlins listen to their boss.” He poked at the fire with his sword, which began to heat quickly. Too quickly, almost like silver. Gobma cursed and pulled the blade out. Daggat grabbed his potion, he didn’t want to drop it as his clothes burned away.
“I ain’t a good gremlin.” Daggat reached into the embers and flung it at Gobma. After a few more handfuls and a burning log, Gobma screamed as an ember fell between his armor and skin. Daggat dashed out, noting that the embers hadn’t caught the floor on fire, yet. That was good.
While Gobma hopped up and down to get the ember under control, Daggat scaled a shelf. “You know, you REALLY suck at the whole, killing me thing.” He picked up one of the stone carvings that Calion had on display, one that had not fallen in the gremlin raid. It was a fish breaking out of the water. “Makes sense, you have always been an idiot.” Gobma finally kicked out the ember just in time to see Daggat jumping at him with the small statue. It hit him square on the forehead, and the sculpture snapped at the tail.
Gobma staggered back and put a hand to his head. Blood flowed over his nose. He glared at Daggat, who was scrambling to get away. “Enough!” He yelled. He came at Daggat like a mad bull. The blade whistled at him, and Daggat rolled to the side. Too slow. With a burning pain, his ear was cut. The cut was so clean, it didn’t hurt at first.
He reached up to sooth his cut ear. His hand met air. With terror, Daggat looked down and saw his ear lying at his feet.
“NO!” Daggat cried with rage. His ear! He had managed to keep them pristine! It wasn’t fair. Gobma would pay for this! He jumped at Gobma like an angry possum. Clawing and biting, climbing up the goblin's legs and pulling at hair, pieces of armor, and anything he could get a hold of. He didn’t do any real damage, but he didn’t care. He just wanted to hurt him. He fumbled with his potion. Gobma would BURN!
“Get off! Idiot gremlin!” Gobma grabbed him by the scruff of the neck just as Daggat swallowed the potion. He held Daggat in front of him like a kitten. Daggat’s skin grew into gleaming red scales and his rage was only doubled by the fire’s influence.
Gobma lifted the sword in the other hand. “Did you steal some of the shaman's stuff? Heh, that won’t help you-”
Daggat screamed in rage. Putting everything into it. His frustration of living under him, the loss of Glut, the indignity of being a gremlin, and the rage granted by the potion. Fire sprayed over Gobma, engulfing him from the waist up. He screamed in pain and struck out instinctively.
Daggat’s scream was cut off as he was punched in the chest. No… not punched. He looked down. The sword was speared up to the hilt in Daggat’s chest. He hit the ground, and the blade jostled.
Then the pain surged like a tsunami. Agony ripped through Daggat’s chest. His body breathed naturally, and the breath felt as though his chest was being torn in two. He coughed blood, and more torture came with it.
Through bleary eyes, he saw Gobma flailing about, catching most of the cottage on fire. Daggat was going to die. He knew that. There was no surviving this wound. But to be killed by Gobma… the shame burned hotter than the pain. He promised he wouldn’t lose. But, he had no choice. He failed. Was too cocky or not strong enough. Daggat resigned to die in shame, naked and on fire since he had no other option.
Or did he?
An idea came to him. It was a risk, but he had no other options. Still, he couldn’t think straight. Every movement was agony and he couldn’t breathe.
Daggat entered his status void.
“Oh my, my, master. You’ve gotten yourself into quite the pickle.” The assistant grinned at him with a sadistic glee.
“Pain…” Daggat’s mental hand reached out.
“Oh, there would be. Being stabbed like that. So careless, please think of your poor staff. That being me.”
“Pain… tolerance…” Daggat’s thoughts were muddied. He pushed through the pain like swimming through tar.
“What’s this? Do you want the pain tolerance biotrait? Are you sure that is wise, it won’t save you, you know.”
“Yes… accept.” The assistant sighed, as though disappointed.
“Very well.” Then, quick as thought, it brought up the pain tolerance biotrait. Daggat accepted it mentally.
The pain did not disappear. But it faded into the background. He could still feel it, but it wasn’t urgent. Easily ignored. Using shaking hands, he drew the sword from his own chest. It was a cold sensation. A feeling beyond pain only tolerable by his new ability.
He crawled to his feet with great effort. He couldn’t breathe. His life faded from him noticeably. He almost slipped into his own pool of blood. Daggat found Gobma rolling on the floor, trying to put out the fire.
Without any fanfare, Daggat used Gobma’s sword to decapitate him. It was easier than he imagined, this blade was SHARP. Like cutting through soft, maggoty cheese.
[Feat achieved: Usurper. Cause: Slay a previous or current party leader. Reward: One level in Party Leader.]
Daggat didn’t have time to celebrate. His vision was blacking in and out. He fell onto Gobmas chest. The last thing his body was able to do was bite a chunk out of Gobma’s bleeding neck.
[You have devoured - goblin, level 11. Experience Gained. You have gained one monster level. One Biotrait Point awarded. All attributes increased by 1. One growth point available. Regenisis available.]
Back in the status void. Daggat felt cold. The pain had died away. He was at the very edge of death. Vaguely, he heard Calion’s scream for Daggat. No time for that.
“Regenisis…” This time the assistant looked worried. It moved back and forth, frantically.
“What kind? YOU have to decide. Hurry!” Daggat picked the first thing that came to his mind. There was no will left to make a decision.
“Goblin… accept.” The screen prompting the choice was a blur of blue and white. He selected yes a hair before losing consciousness altogether.
—
Daggat convulsed awake. Someone dropped him. The tail end of the transformation was intense, energy flooded him and he snapped his eyes open.
[Regenisis to Goblin complete. Strength, Dexterity, Constitution increased by 2. Intelligence and will increased by 1. Base size change: Small. New trait: Scavenger. Scavenger, the time limit on devouring after death is removed.]
He sat up and immediately felt his chest. The wound was gone. In its place, a pale scar. Then he realized he was naked. And… larger? His body felt weird. Hands bigger than he was used to, stout legs, and a broader chest. Skin slightly smoother. The hair on his body had mostly moved to his head. Then he felt his ears.
“FUCK!” Daggat screamed. One ear had stiffened and became pointed. A goblin ear. The other was gone. “DAMN IT ALL!”
“What, what’s wrong? Daggat, that’s you, right?” Calion stood over him. His face was a sea of emotions.
“Yes, I’m fine. But… my EAR. I healed a deadly chest wound but not a fucking ear? What rat shit is this?” Calion let out a relieved breath. Daggat realized he still held Gobma’s sword. At least he got something from the night's tragedy. They looked around.
All of the goblins and gremlins were either dead or had fled. The cottage was an oven.
“My house… home… memories…” Calion was dazed. He walked stilted but seemed unhurt. Then he fell to his knees. “My chickens.” He began to weep. That reminded Daggat. Zuss! Klaw! Where were they?
He stood and sprinted away. His stride was strange. Wider and heavier. He was unbalanced the first few steps. He was a goblin now and had to get used to it. Something about that prickled Daggat. He would have preferred Nilbog. Well, no changing what was done. He was alive, and that’s all that mattered.
Daggat found Zuss first. She was crawling towards the cottage. At some point, her mask bandages had come undone and were trailing behind her. She made a hissing noise when he approached and lifted a dagger.
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“Woah! Zuss, it’s me. Daggat. I’m…”He puffed up his chest, “Bigger, now!”
“Dag…at?” She looked him up and down. “Where’s… pants?”
“Oh, I think they burned off.” Daggat stood proud. He felt enough shame earlier for a lifetime, and this was nothing. “Are you, OK? Where’s claw?”
“Leg… broken. No idea. But… I… WON!”
“Me too, Zuss. Me too. Look, stay here, I’m going to find Klaw.” He about ran off, then called out, “Calion! Zuss is hurt, over here!” The old man looked towards them with a sorrowful expression. Then quickly moved to help.
Minutes later, Daggat found Klaw leaning against a tree. Upon seeing him, Klaw lifted one claw.
“C’mon, motherfucker. I still got fight left!”
“Klaw, it’s me. Dag.” Klaw looked him up and down.
“No, you ain’t.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Nuh, uh. Daggat’s scrawny.”
“Uh-huh! I am too Dag-” He took a breath. This was childish. “I evolved into a goblin. It’s really me. Are you hurt?” Klaw shrugged.
“A few ribs, I think. The same damn arm as last time. Maybe a broken back, but I’ve been too comfortable to check. What about you?”
“Nothing much. Just a sword through the chest.”
“Oh. good.” There was a moment of silence.
“Hey, Klaw.”
“Yeah?” He had a peaceful expression on his face.
“We WON.” Daggat grinned at his brother, who grinned back.
“Fuck yeah, we did.” He shifted his weight, then winced. “Zuss? She OK?”
“She’s hurt. But alive. But… I think we can fix that.”
“You got some medicine skills shoved up somewhere?”
“No, but look.” Daggat pointed at the carnage. The gore, the dead gremlins. Even the bits of exploded goblin. “There is a LOT of experience out there.” Klaw laughed.
“We need a way to divvy it up. Nice and fair-like. I did explode, after all. I want my share.”
“I’ve got a better idea.”
Daggat opened his status void.
“I never doubted you once, Master. I want you to know that.” He ignored the assistant and opened the party member. A large “create party” button was available.
He selected it.
[Party name?]
Daggat thought for a moment. Then wrote a party name.
[Party formed: The Crew. Experience share settings: Balanced, weighted, or custom.]
After some tinkering, he discovered the difference. Balanced will automatically bring all the party's experience levels the same. Weighted allowed him to specify percentages for certain members, like how Gobma’s skwad was set up. Custom allowed for even more specific settings. For a moment, a long moment, Daggat was tempted to weigh the experience in his favor.
In the end, it was best to be fair. He didn’t want to end up like Gobma.
There was an add member button. He selected it, then mentally selected Klaw.
“The Crew, huh? Well, good enough.”
[Klaw has joined party: The Crew.]
He stood up, clearly in pain. Klaw’s back was miraculously not broken. He wandered towards the gore.
“Wait until I add Zuss!” Daggat called out, then jogged back to Zuss. Calion was sitting, gently caressing Birdy, who was mewling. One wing was mangled and it seemed one of her legs was hurt as well. He was tutting over the cat. Zuss was lying with her leg outstretched, a board braced to it.
“Heads up! Party time!” Daggat’s smile glinted in the light from the burning cottage.
“What?” He added her to the party. “Oh. How did you get that?”
[Zuss has joined party: The Crew.]
“I killed Gobma! With his own sword.” He brandished it. “Now… I hope you're hungry.” He licked his lips. “I know I am.”
Then, the gremlins, and Daggat who was now a goblin, began to devour. One bite from every corpse they could find. Calion half screamed, half cried. “What are you doing?” The disgust was etched onto his face as clear as text.
“This is how we grow. You know that.” Daggat said between mouthfuls. He tossed a gremlin corpse to Zuss, it was nice to share.
“But… but… they are YOUR kind!” He looked as though he was going to be sick.
“You… eat… pig. What’s… problem?”
“I don’t eat HUMAN! I… I’m going for a walk.” Daggat looked at Zuss with a worried expression. That was going to be a problem. But, for now, FEAST!
[Party member has devoured - goblin, level 10. Experience Gained. You have gained one monster level. Growth period ended. One Biotrait Point awarded. All attributes increased by 2. One growth point available.]
So, level six was the end of the growth period. He would no longer gain attributes when leveling. He knew how to work around that, though. But, that required a mortal soul. That was near the top of his priorities. While they ate, Daggat took the goblin Zuss killed’s pants. The chill was getting to him. Still high on their victory, his growth, and the defeat of Gobma, Daggat thought he would treat himself.
He entered his status void.
“Greetings, Master. How can I be of assistance?” The sarcasm was as strong as ever.
“It’s been getting cold lately. Find me a biotrait to fight off this chill. Oh, and fetch me a glass of wine while you're at it.” Even without eyes, the assistant gave him a dubious look.
“Very well, Your Majesty.” The assistant scrolled through the list. “Fur, cold resistant skin, blubber, ooh, and my favorite, BOILING BLOOD. I think some of these will work.” Daggat mulled it over.
“Cold-resistant skin, please. I don’t want to be furry, fat, or in constant pain.”
“As you command.” Daggat made the selection.
[Biotrait Synergy requirements detected. Fire Resistant Skin, Cold Resistant Skin. Combine into Temperature Resistant Skin? Yes or No?]
Don’t mind if I do. He selected yes. Daggat was on cloud nine. The wins just kept on coming. He needed to defeat overwhelming odds more often, it seemed. Instantly, the cold air warmed into a nice, cool breeze.
“That’s better.”
“What’s up?” Klaw asked with a mouthful of gremlin. Daggat looked down at him. He smiled maliciously.
“Oh, look at you. So SMALL and CUTE. Just so tiny.” Daggat laughed as Klaw stretched his claws in frustration.
“Yeah, well my tiny ass can still kick yours. Watch it, GOBLIN!”
It took a few hours to track down all of the gremlin corpses and to rest between meals. Each gremlin was full.
Between meals, Zuss began to convulse. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head. Klaw and Daggat ran to her, frantically asking what was wrong. Then, she began to glow. Her limbs grew with audible snaps, her form changing completely. As the glow subsided, she sat up.
“Whoa! That’s a rush.” Her voice was deeper, but not as scratchy. Husky and breathy. Her clothes had changed to fit her and had been cleaned. Daggat thought that was unfair. How come he was naked? Oh, the fire. Right. “How do I look?”
“Weird,” Klaw replied without hesitation. “Your skin is… pink. Like Calion’s. ” Zuss grimaced. She was larger than before, but half a head shorter than Daggat. Her skin had indeed become human-like, though with a yellowish tinge. Zuss’s arms were longer, almost reaching her knees. Brown hair grew on her head. Other than that, she had distinctly goblin features. Long, pointed ears. A goblin-shaped head. Small claws and pointed teeth.
“And… my face?” She asked, almost meekly. It was red and white. Like the pattern of a lizard or… a burn scar.
“It’s… healed?” Daggat tried. Zuss shivered and looked down at her red scarf. Then, she wrapped it around her face and head. The effect was striking and slightly intimidating. Mysterious and deadly.
“That’s better. I also got a feat, mighty alacrity. For having 15 dexterity. It gave me improved flexibility, which combined with improved balance and improved nerve conduction into improved body control. Then hobgoblin gave me nimble fingers, which synergized AGAIN into nimble hands and feet.” While she spoke, she stretched then contorted herself into a strange shape. It was uncomfortable to watch. Daggat felt like he didn't get nearly as much from his evolution. Well, at least they were allies.
“What are you? I mean, what regenisis did you choose?” She stood on her now healed leg.
“Hobgoblin. It suited me best.”
“Me next, me next!” Klaw was already searching through his options. Then, he smiled as he found one he liked.
Klaw dropped like a stone and convulsed. Then, his body glowed the same as Zuss’s. He too was larger. But, when the light receded, he was covered in hair. Klaw flexed long, thin arms. Then his eyes widened as though he saw something.
Klaw grew even larger. Growing to the height of Calion, and then a few inches more.
“HAHA! WHOSE SCRAWNY NOW, DAGGAT!?” Klaw laughed and flexed some more. He was a monster, rather, monstrous. A huge goblin-shaped creature with thick, boar-like hair. The beginning of tusks in his bottom jaw. His claws were even larger than before.
“What… what happened?”
“I chose bugbear! Then got some strength. Then it said, ‘Feat achieved: Mighty Strength.’ He brought his arms close together into a different flex position. “It asked if I wanted to increase my size. I said yes!”
Daggat was dumbstruck. He had gone from almost two feet tall to six! Though… his dense muscles were still in effect. He was tall but thin. Lean. He looked like a flag pole. Daggat chuckled, then laughed maniacally.
“We are going to be unstoppable!”
They went back to the feast. Half an hour later,
[Party member has devoured - gremlin, level 3. Experience Gained. You have gained one monster level. One Biotrait Point awarded.]
THREE levels in one day? Was this Daggat’s birthday? Sometime later, the three of them managed to track down Calion, who shrieked when he saw them.
After some quick explanations, he calmed down. There was a haunted look in his eyes, and he was glancing at the three of them with suspicious gazes. Birdy was asleep, her wing set and bandaged with some cloth. It was tied tightly to her body.
“We’re done.” Calion nodded, eyes still unfocused.
“Good… good.” The crew looked at one another.
“Are… you doing alright?”
“Hmm? Oh, yes. I’m fine. It’s just… my house burned down, is all.” He stared at the smoldering remains of his home. “Oh, and my life’s work with it. All my research. No… no big deal. I’m alive. That’s all that matters.”
“Well, that’s good, hey we-”
“Oh, and my cat is hurt. She might never fly again. But, she’s alive.” Something glinted in his eyes. The crew took a step back. “And I was vomited at. Can’t forget that. Hoards of monsters at my doorstep. Fifty years! Fifty years of peace. But, I’m still spry! I can just go and BEG my daughter to let me stay with her.”
“You have a-”
“And another thing! I took in some children recently. THEY almost destroyed my home, too.” His voice was getting heated. “But I gave them food, educated them, gave them my kindness! For what?” His glare was like two red hot daggers. “They lured MONSTERS TO MY HOME. Oh, but wait. THE MONSTERS DIDN’T BURN MY COTTAGE. They burned my storage shed. No, it was the CHILD I BROUGHT INTO MY HOME that burned it down!” He stood and took menacing steps towards Daggat. “A MONSTER child. A gremlin! A beast! Always taking and taking, never satisfied never even saying THANK YOU, CALION. No, ‘We will repay your kindness, Calion.’ Instead, HE BURNS MY HOUSE DOWN!”
The crew fled. Running into the woods.
“Vile beasts! Gremlins! Cannibals! Monsters! Homewreckers!” Calion grew red in the face as he just screamed insult after insult. Daggat KNEW he would break Calion’s calm facade one day.
The crew, now newly evolved and with greater strength, ran into the woods. Though, not all of the crew... none noticed the hobgoblin slip into the shadows.
--
Finally, Calion calmed himself. He had run off the gremli- the... crew. A sense of guilt washed over him. It wasn't REALLY their fault. He had gotten carried away. Calion hoped that they would forgive his outburst.
"Well, what's done is done. Come on Birdy, we have a lot of walking to do." He looked to where his cat was lying a moment ago. "Birdy? Where are you?" Calion desperately searched for the cat.
"BIRDY! Psst psst psst." But, the cat was nowhere to be seen.
Daggat
True Name: Daggat
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin
Genbloom: goblin
Monster Level: 7
Attributes [2]:
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 20
Will: 10
Charm: 10
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Act: Fledgling Alchemist
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Usurper
Skills[0]:
Alchemy: 1
System Aptitude: 1
System Assistant: 1
Mind Codex: 1
Biotraits [2]:
Base size: Small
Regenerative Teeth
Enhanced Night Vision
Rot Resistance
Dominating Gaze*
Temperature Resistant Skin
Scavenger
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 charm
Extreme temperature resistant Scales
Fire breath
Other:
Variant: +10 Intelligence
Klaw
True Name: Klaw
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin
Genbloom: bugbear
Monster Level: 7
Attributes [2]:
Strength: 17
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 8
Will: 9
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Strength
Skills[0]:
System Aptitude: 1
Burst of Strength: 1
Biotraits [3]:
Base size: Standard
Regenerative Teeth
Enhanced Night Vision
Rot Resistance
Forged Claws*
Dense Muscle Fibers
Rough Fur
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 constitution
Fire-proof Scales
Burning Claws
Zuss
True Name: Zuss
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin
Genbloom: Hobgoblin
Monster Level: 7
Attributes [2]:
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 8
Will: 9
Charm: 9
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Alacrity
Skills[2]:
System Aptitude: 1
Deep Shadows (Stealth 5): 1
Biotraits [4]:
Base size: Small
Regenerative Teeth
Enhanced Night Vision
Rot Resistance
Improved Body Control
Nimble Feet and Hands
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Smoke Aura
Lesser Wings