Chapter 15 - Keggma's Chamber

Warfrost Ramorai led the group through the crumbling amusement park, speaking to them.

"This place was once a grand attraction, drawing adventurers from far and wide who sought to plunder the treasures of a dungeon," Warfrost said. "Curgelek's father was a master trap builder, designing intricate mechanisms to both protect the grotto's riches and entertain. It was an enticing dungeon."

Edna listened intently, her eyes scanning the dilapidated rides and concession stands. "So Curgelek's father is in here?"

Warfrost shook his head, his regal head dipping slightly. "Curgelek's son. He is the goblin that took me from our home. After carrying me here from Danvers, I escaped from his tiny hovel and ran. After many hours of searching, the goblin came here but gave up and took a nap."

The group looked around further at the mention of a goblin.

Hildebrin grunted, her hand resting on the hilt of her hammer. "Where is he?"

The massive cat turned his glowing eyes to the half-Dwarf woman. "Hiding in one of his favorite rides, watching, and saying nothing."

Makaik, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "I do feel his presence ahead."

Fuyuhiro nodded.

Warfrost paused, his gaze shifting to a peculiar ride that stood before them. The once-vibrant colors of a small Ferris Wheel were faded and peeling. "This," he said, "is where the future of this grotto hides."

The group approached the ride, a complex-looking wheel that spun from a central axis with suspended carts. Warfrost studied it for a moment, then let out a deep rumble that sounded almost like a chuckle.

"Curgelek," the cat called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous park in goblin tongue. "I know you are here. Come forth and face us."

Edna, Hildebrin, Makaik, and Fuyuhiro heard only the mumbling language of little green creatures.

A sudden movement caught their eyes, and a small, green figure emerged from the shadows of one suspended cart above them.

They had each killed hundreds of goblins that looked just like this one.

"I… You are so big!" Curgelek said, terrified, "how are you so big? And how do you speak?"

The Human people didn't respond, and instead looked confused. He knew they probably didn't understand goblin tongue. But the cat suddenly was giant, and had the ability to speak and understand him.

"I shall now speak both languages at once so there is no confusion." Warfrost said, "your time of hiding is over."

Curgelek stammered, his thin fingers trembling against the ride he held onto. "I...what?"

Curgelek swallowed hard, his gaze darting between the massive cat and the other members of the group. "What...what do you want from me? If you wish to slaughter me for what I did, then do it! I am not sorry that I took you!"

Warfrost let out a rumbling sigh. None of that mattered. "I have a task for you, Curgelek. One that will test the limits of your… perseverance."

The goblin's brow furrowed in confusion. "A task? But I thought you wanted to kill me, like the others."

"Kill you?" Warfrost chuckled. "No, Curgelek. Your punishment will be far more...interesting."

The goblin was horribly confused, but did not answer immediately.

Warfrost turned to face the group, his eyes shining with a hint of mischief. "As I said earlier, I intend to make Curgelek the new chieftain of the grotto. It will be Curgelek's Grotto from now on."

Hildebrin's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can't be serious, lad! That goblin doesn't deserve to lead anything, let alone an entire grotto full of his kind!"

Makaik and Fuyuhiro pondered the thought but remained quiet.

Edna said, "maybe this is a good thing. If Curgelek rules the grotto the way goblins once did, then they will be much more focused on attracting adventurers to plunder them rather than attacking and raiding nearby towns."

Warfrost nodded, his massive head dipping in acknowledgment. "Precisely. As a house cat I ran all through the grotto overhearing the goblins speak. Keggma is a horrible leader, and an even worse individual. No one respects his rule."

The cat turned his attention back to the goblin, who seemed to be on the verge of trembling apart. "Curgelek, you will lead us through the third level, to the doors where Keggma hides. And once we have dealt with that coward, you will take your place as chieftain."

Curgelek's eyes widened in a mix of fear and disbelief. "But...but I don't want to be a chieftain! I just want to go home and play with my children!"

Warfrost's expression softened ever so slightly. "I'm afraid that is no longer an option, Curgelek. Your actions have consequences, and this is the path you must now walk."

Curgelek hesitated, his gaze darting between Edna and the towering Warfrost. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he nodded, not wanting to die. "Very well. I will...I will lead you to Keggma's chambers."

Warfrost roared in approval, his tail swishing back and forth. The cat turned back to the group. "Excellent. He will lead the way, so do not attack him."

The goblin climbed nervously down from his hiding spot in the spinning cart. The group followed Curgelek as he led them to the other side of the cavern, and then through a series of twisting, turning hallways.

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Curgelek constantly looked back. A giant talking cat and four big people followed behind him. Never in his life did he ever think anything like this could be a possibility. He had to be imagining things.

But he did not want to die in this cruel joke, if that's what it was.

The group continued on, the hallways growing ever more grand and imposing, until they reached a set of massive, heavily reinforced doors. Warfrost halted, his eyes fixed upon it.

Warfrost Ramorai stopped in front of them, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the imposing structure. Curgelek, the small goblin who had once stolen the mighty cat, stood beside him, his thin frame trembling with a mix of fear and trepidation.

"Keggma is behind these doors," Curgelek said, "he hides within, surrounded by the wealth he has stolen and hoarded from other goblins."

"Very well," Warfrost sat near the door and looked at the group. "Then we will kill Keggma and Curgelek here will take over the grotto."

"I've been thinking about that as we walked," Curgelek managed to get out, "and I don't want-"

The cat cut him off. "You no longer get to decide."

"But…"

Warfrost regarded the goblin with a measured gaze. "Your punishment, Curgelek, is not death. No, your punishment is to become the new chieftain of this grotto."

Curgelek shook his head. "Chieftain? Me? I have no idea how to rule over a grotto!"

"Too bad," Warfrost said, "you shouldn't have stolen a cat from an old woman!"

Hildebrin laughed as the little goblin shrunk even further beneath the embarrassment of Warfrost's statement.

The cat rumbled a deep, resonating chuckle. "You will not be alone, Curgelek. You will enter this chamber with us and watch Keggma die with his hoard of ill-gotten wealth."

"And then what?" Curgelek asked, "no one will follow me. I will not be listened to by the other goblins."

Warfrost smiled. "I will…convince them on your behalf."

The issue seemingly settled, Warfrost turned to face the group, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Edna, Hildebrin, Makaik, Fuyuhiro – the time has come. Keggma is the last goblin to be dealt with here today. Once he is defeated, Curgelek will take his place as the new chieftain of this Grotto."

Hildebrin gripped her hammer tightly, her expression one of reluctant acceptance. "So be it, then. Let's put an end to this goblin's pitiful reign."

Warfrost nodded, then turned back to the doors. With a powerful push, the massive doors swung open, revealing a cavernous chamber beyond.

The group stepped into the vast vault, their eyes widening at the sheer magnitude of Keggma's hoard. Piles of gold, jewels, and other valuable artifacts stretched out as far as the eye could see, casting a dazzling glow upon the chamber. A decade's worth of raiding and hoarding lay before them.

Curgelek's gaze darted around, his mouth agape. "By the darkness... I had no idea Keggma had amassed so much wealth."

Makaik's brow furrowed as he studied the vast collection. "Indeed. It seems Keggma's greed knew no bounds."

Edna's gaze swept the chamber, her expression hardening. "Where is Keggma?"

As if in response to her question, a squeaky voice echoed through the chamber.

"Who dares to trespass in my domain?"

The group turned to see a tiny yet grotesque goblin emerge from the shadows, his beady eyes narrowed in rage. It was almost cute. Edna and Hildebrin both turned their heads in curious intrigue.

"Keggma," Warfrost rumbled. "Your reign of terror ends today."

Keggma's lips curled into a snarl, and he drew two gleaming sabers from his little belt. They looked like daggers. "You think you can defeat me? I am the chieftain of this grotto, and I will not surrender my power to the likes of you!"

The goblin chieftain charged forward, his tiny blades flashing in the dim light. Every single member of the group froze in what could only be described as confusion. This tiny goblin was smaller than Curgelek, and seemed to possess no magical abilities or ancient powerful weapons.

They paused as Keggma ran at the giant cat. The little green creature was no more than waist height, even to Hildebrin, and yet he charged forward to his obvious death as if he were more powerful than a giant, half-god cat.

Warfrost met his attack with a single swipe of one paw, knocking Keggma back.

Keggma staggered, his sabers clattering to the ground as he clutched the single claw wound and fell over. Once again, the fight had lasted only seconds.

The chamber fell silent before anyone had to do any fighting. Curgelek stared at the fallen goblin chieftain, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief, triumph, and confusion.

Hildebrin didn't believe it. "That was Keggma?"

"Yeah," Curgelek said, looking relieved and stunned. "He was a mean, mean, goblin."

"HAH!" Hildebrin laughed again.

Beside the half-Dwarf woman, Edna and Makaik only had smirks upon their faces. How such a tiny creature had come to rule over the goblins made absolutely no sense to them.

"I expected," Makaik said, "a much larger dungeon boss."

Fuyuhiro nodded. "This Keggma possessed much hatred and greed. He had a very large aura that is now seeping away from that tiny body."

Edna looked at the others. "Well, it was still a difficult quest for me, as I have grown into an old woman."

Hildebrin nodded. "Same here, though you are very formidable with those flying blades, Ednarite Moonwhatever last name you said before."

Edna laughed.

She had her cat back. Hildebrin smashed plenty of goblins in her quest to avenge Magdelina's death. Makaik found hope in a future of continued training with his master no longer under the influence of The Betrayers.

Warfrost Ramorai had been reunited with his soul stone, and he stood before them in what was now Curgelek's Grotto.

The little goblin looked between Keggma's dead body, the piles of massive wealth, the cat, and the people.

Curgelek had no idea what to say. The moment scared him into what felt like a panic attack.

"I…I don't know what to do. I do not know, big cat, big people, big problems…" he stuttered, feeling lightheaded. "I can't be a leader!"

Warfrost translated the goblin's words.

Hildebrin shook her head. "Listen, little lad! If that overzealous tiny thing could do it, then so can you!"

Edna nodded. "She's right."

The goblin looked at each of the women, confused.

Warfrost explained to him in the goblin tongue what they had just said.

Curgelek's face suddenly understood, but he didn't look any more confident in his own abilities.

After a minute of silence, Warfrost gave the goblin some final instructions. "You will gather all goblins in the cavern of the amusement park, and I will speak to them, striking fear into their hearts and minds. You will be their named chieftain, and they shall not harm you for a time of at least one year, lest they be killed by my wrath."

Curgelek gulped. "And then what after a year?"

"I expect the grotto to be completely self-sufficient by then." Warfrost explained. "No more raids on nearby villages. No more thievery. No more evil. You, the son of a goblin trap builder, chieftain of a once renown dungeon, must restore this place to proper order. Begin attracting adventurers who might die within your grotto of their own accord."

Curgelek understood. He nodded slowly, mind racing with the implications of Warfrost's words. "I...I will try, great cat. For the sake of my children, I will do my best to transform this grotto into a place of wonder and wealth, rather than fear and destruction."

Warfrost rumbled in approval. "Then let us begin, Curgelek. The future of the grotto rests in your hands."

Curgelek took a deep breath, feeling immense pressure to do right by his goblin horde.

"Why, oh, why…" the goblin muttered quietly, "why did I do what I did? It's just a cat, lady!"

Warfrost chuffed with personal amusement, and chose not to directly translate Curgelek's mutterings to the group.

"What?" Hildebrin asked.

Warfrost smiled. "Curgelek is just expressing his excitement."

The goblin gulped, shaking his head. He was very clearly not excited about his future.

Hildebrin was satisfied in her quest for vengeance, although she felt a pang of sadness for her return home to Danvers. She knew that burying her sister Magdelina would be a difficult yet necessary task.

Edna would visit her children and grandchildren before joining Warfrost Ramorai on his quest to find and reunite ancient cat kind. The Betrayers would become an increasingly dangerous threat now that they knew of Warfrost's immense powers.

Makaik and Fuyuhiro would try to right the wrongs committed when Master Fuyuhiro was under the influence of The Betrayers.

They each had a long and difficult road ahead of them.

Edna smiled at the giant cat, proud that, even as an old woman, she'd been able to keep her promise after all.

A goblin took her cat, and the entire world was forever changed because of it.