I trigger the evolution.
Hobgoblin Shaman (Uncommon)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Shamans are spiritual leaders of bigger goblin tribes. They use primitive magic to help their tribes and curse their enemies.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.1 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.1 Endurance
+0.3 Dexterity
+0.7 Intelligence
+0.7 Will
+0.7 Affinity
Bonus:
Blood Curse (Uncommon)
+5 Strength
+5 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+10 Dexterity
+15 Intelligence
+15 Will
+15 Affinity
Hobgoblin Magical Shaman (Rare)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
At least 30 levels in the Mana Manipulation skill
At least 15 Affinity
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Magical Shamans are talented mages. They can cast simple spells on top of being shamans.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.1 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.2 Endurance
+0.5 Dexterity
+0.8 Intelligence
+1 Will
+1 Affinity
Bonus:
Blood Curse (Uncommon)
Mana Orb (Uncommon)
+5 Strength
+5 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+10 Dexterity
+15 Intelligence
+18 Will
+18 Affinity
Hobgoblin Genius Shaman (Rare)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
The intelligence of at least 25
Rare planning-type skill
Any social skill
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Genius Shamans are incredibly intelligent goblins that use their intelligence to be a menace. They often create elaborate traps and lead their enemies into ambushes.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.1 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.1 Endurance
+0.4 Dexterity
+1.5 Intelligence
+0.4 Will
+0.4 Affinity
Bonus:
Blood Curse (Uncommon) skill
Fast Thinker (Uncommon) trait
+5 Strength
+5 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+10 Dexterity
+30 Intelligence
+10 Will
+10 Affinity
Hobgoblin Genius Researcher (Very Rare)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
Shaman path
The Intelligence of at least 25
Will at least 20
The Affinity of at least 20
At least 20 levels in Runic Basics skill
At least 40 levels in Mana Sense skill
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Genius Researchers are talented goblins with an understanding of runes and magic. They can create magical traps and even enchant weapons for their tribe. Their high Intelligence makes them very dangerous if unprepared.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.1 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.2 Endurance
+0.3 Dexterity
+1.5 Intelligence
+0.7 Will
+0.7 Affinity
Bonus:
Rune Lore (Rare) skill
Mana Manipulation Mastery (Rare) skill
+5 Strength
+5 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+10 Dexterity
+30 Intelligence
+15 Will
+15 Affinity
Hobgoblin Shaman Enchanter (Rare)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
At least 20 levels in Rune Scribbling skill
A skill about understanding runes
A weapon crafting skill
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Shaman Enchanters provide enchanted weapons and armor to their tribe. They are not very dangerous on their own, but they can increase the power of their tribe significantly.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.5 Strength
+0.3 Vitality
+0.6 Endurance
+1 Dexterity
+0.4 Intelligence
+0.2 Will
+0.2 Affinity
Bonus:
Enchanting (Rare) skill
+15 Strength
+5 Vitality
+15 Endurance
+20 Dexterity
+10 Intelligence
+5 Will
+5 Affinity
Hobgoblin Mage (Rare)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
At least 25 levels in a mana controling skill.
At least 25 levels in a mana sensing skill
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Any elemental mana control skill
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Mages are rare hobgoblins that managed to gain mana core. They wield their magic to vanquish their foes.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.1 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.2 Endurance
+0.1 Dexterity
+0.6 Intelligence
+0.8 Will
+1 Affinity
Bonus:
A suitable affinity skill (Rare)
+5 Strength
+5 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+5 Dexterity
+15 Intelligence
+20 Will
+25 Affinity
Hobgoblin Prodigy Mage (Very Rare)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
At least 30 levels in a mana controlling skill
At least 30 levels in a mana sensing skill
Elemental mana control skill of at least Epic rarity
At least 25 Intelligence
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Prodigy Mages are very rare hobgoblins that managed to gain a powerful mana type. They are usually very powerful, quickly becoming one of the most powerful monsters in their area.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.1 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.2 Endurance
+0.1 Dexterity
+0.8 Intelligence
+1 Will
+1.5 Affinity
Bonus:
A suitable affinity skill (Very Rare)
+5 Strength
+5 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+5 Dexterity
+15 Intelligence
+20 Will
+30 Affinity
Hobgoblin Grand Shaman (Epic)
Requirements:
1st tier goblin race.
No path was selected, or the current path is compatible.
At least 35 levels in the Mana Manipulation skill
At least 35 levels in the Mana Sense skill
Elemental mana control skill of at least Epic rarity
At least Very Rare rarity magic skill that’s not an elemental mana control skill
A skill about understanding runes
Any planning skill
Any social skill
2nd tier Monster
Hobgoblin Grand Shamans are the backbones of their tribes. Intelligent, they wield powerful magic, but that’s not the end of their abilities. They can create vicious plots, plan ahead, and use magic outside of their mana type by using runes. The appearance of Hobgoblin Grand Shaman heralds greatness for their tribe.
Racial traits: Iron Stomach
Growth per level:
+0.2 Strength
+0.2 Vitality
+0.2 Endurance
+0.5 Dexterity
+1.2 Intelligence
+1.2 Will
+1.2 Affinity
Bonus:
A suitable affinity skill (Very Rare)
+5 Strength
+10 Vitality
+5 Endurance
+15 Dexterity
+25 Intelligence
+25 Will
+25 Affinity
That’s it. I guess I lack something for a Heroic option. Probably a stronger social skill, or maybe my Rune Basics skill is too weak for a Heroic evolution. Maybe I need more levels in my Vitality Mana Control skill. Regardless, it’s obvious which option is the best for me. I pick Hobgoblin Grand Shaman, and I hope for the best.
I wake up. I look at myself. I’m taller, just like Axi. Stronger. Smarter.
You have learned the Vitality Banks (Very Rare) skill!
You have reached the maximum number of magical skills! Replace your current skills or refuse to accept the new skill!
I check my status screen. Transfer Vitality is completely redundant now, but I kinda want to check what new perks will appear at the next threshold. There’s a possibility of great synergy with my mana type. I drop Mana Reinforcement. I picked this skill only to get more stats. Sadly, this drops my Affinity back to 51 and decreases my maximum mana pool. No big deal; I will get 3 affinity points from 2 levels of my new race.
Name: NA
Age: 0
Race: Hobgoblin Grand Shaman
Level:0/20
Strength: 16
Vitality: 21
Endurance: 10
Dexterity: 29
Intelligence: 67
Will: 67
Affinity: 46
Health:154/154
Stamina:94/124
Mana:313/424
Traits
Iron Stomach 19 (Uncommon) – Resistant Stomach
Vitality Mana Affinity 1 (Legendary) -
Combat skills
Spear Fighting 22 (Common) – Strength I, Strength II
Sneaking 21 (Common) – Silent Walk I, Silent Walk II
Hiding 22 (Common) – Temperate Forest Monster Lore I, Silent Breathing
Tracking 12 (Uncommon) Intelligence I
Strategy 17 (Rare) – Will I
Magic Skills
Mana Sense 41 (Uncommon) - Inward Perfection, Resolution I, Vitality Sense, Master of Own Body
Mana Manipulation 40 (Uncommon) – Mana Burst, Mana Flow I, Mana Lock I, Affinity I
Mana Infusion 23 (Uncommon) – Affinity I, Affinity II
Mana Orb 31 (Uncommon) – Structured Orb, Delayed Orb, No More an Orb,
Transfer Vitality 24 (Rare) – Blood Buff, Vitality Seal,
Soul Perception 18 (Very Rare) – Decay Sense
Move Soul 10 (Very Rare) - Preserver
Rune Basics 23 (Uncommon) – Basic Runes, Basic Earth Runes,
Vitality Banks 1 (Very Rare)
Vitality Mana Control 1 (Legendary) -
Crafting Skills
Wood Working 24 (Common) - Mana Wood Reinforcement I, Rune Carving
Fortification Construction 11 (Rare) – Intelligence I
Trap Making 20 (Common) - Will I, Will II
Leadership 16 (Uncommon) – Will I
Rune Scribbling 25 (Uncommon) - Rune Scribbling Specialist I, Rune Scribbling Specialist II
Bone Working 12 (Common) – Dexterity I
Plotting 16 (Uncommon) - Acting I
Titles
None
I check the new skill. I hoped for something at least related to the resurrection, but no luck. The new skill allows me to mark living beings as my banks. I can drain them of vitality any time I want, as long as they aren’t too far from me. I can heal this way too, but HP is not vitality. I got a cruel example of this from Axi. Vitality helps heal the body, but it's not the body, not the HP, which is a measure of body integrity.
“Congratulations,” Anastasia says.
I sigh. “No luck, though. I still have my last option. I only lack the final part of the puzzle. I’m going to try to force a new skill.”
“Good luck.” She says it with a sigh. No, I’m not going to lose hope. I can still bring Axi back.
So, a new skill. I don’t have a place for it, so I’m dropping Vitality Banks for now. I think I will replace Transfer Vitality after it reaches back to level 10. I never dropped a new skill imminently. I feel as if my new knowledge goes behind a mist, somehow out of my reach. I can still remember most of it, but it will be a chore to regain the skill. Whatever.
I pick skills for new creations. Mana Manipulation. Mana Sense. Soul Perception. Move Soul. Transfer Vitality. I hesitate for a moment, then add Vitality Mana Control. I know it has level 1, but it will be needed for the final creation. Who knows, maybe it will work.
I concentrate on the new skill. How it should work. What I don’t know. I need to know. I’m willing to pay.
You have successfully created a new skill!
You have learned the Transplant Soul (Epic) skill!
Mana Manipulation, Mana Sense, Soul Perception, Move Soul, and Transfer Vitality skill levels have been lost.
New information enters my soul and completes the puzzle. I take a look at my status screen. My Affinity dropped back to 46 as I lost a perk from Mana Manipulation. My mana sensing went down as well. But I know how to resurrect Axi now. It wasn’t that hard, just the missing puzzle part, but… it may be hard from the technical side. No. I will resurrect Axi. Even if I have to sacrifice my own conscience in the process.
“Fail?”
“No. I succeed. It’s just… I need your help. I can’t do so on my own.”
“Well, I’m dead tired, but if I can help, I will.”
“Ok, so… I can’t place Axi’s soul into another body. Body and soul would mishmash, resulting in vitality being distorted. I can’t use her old body because it’s broken and I don’t have the means to restore it. I would need to have some flesh mana or something like that.”
“Ok... So?”
“Simply put, I need a new body that is very malleable. Effectively, a baby. No, a fetus.”
“You want…”
“I wouldn't ask if this wasn’t the only way.”
“But what about two mind-destroyed girls?”
“I thought about it. The fetuses are too developed. I need a fetus that has a fresh soul. I observed conception with my skills as part of my research. The soul appears in goblin fetuses around an hour after conception. I don’t get how, but that’s not important right now. The only way would be to abort their current babies and immediately make new ones. The problem is a lack of time. I can fill them with vitality, but it only restores the body to its default shape and state. Women's bodies are not immediately ready for new babies. I could maybe speed things up with careful manipulation of vitality flows, but it would still likely take hours. Maybe if I had more time to train with my new mana type, but that is the crux of the matter. We don’t have that much time.”
Anastasia walks a few meters to the side, then rotates on her feet and walks back. She is thinking. I’m going to revive Axi. In the worst case, I will need to rape her. I thought I wasn't a rapist, but it seems circumstances can change a lot. Actually, would it be even a bad thing to do? I would save someone's life. It would only cost someone else some misery. I don’t want to do it, but letting Axi go is even worse.
“But I don’t have my fertile days now. It’s impossible.”
“I can speed it up with magic. I mean, I can do so to those women as well; all of it would just take way longer.”
“Damn you.”
“Is it that bad? I mean, it’s just two weeks. Practically one week, given that you won’t have a big stomach for the first one. You did that before.”
“You know what? You are right. Fuck this.” She goes for the shack with a sour face. Good enough. I pick up Axi’s soul and go after her. She has already started to strip.
“Ok. Sit down first. I need to force you to ovulate.”
She sits down. I kneel beside her and start to change her vitality. I have never done something like that before. I also lost all Mana Sense perks, so it’s harder for me to even know what I’m doing. The chance for a serious problem is small, though. Vitality ought to restore the body to normal. I just need to stimulate her ovaries.
“Ok. That should do it.”
“So, what now?”
I shrug. “It’s just normal sex now.”
“Fine.” She lies down and spreads her legs. I come closer and strip off my loincloth. It seems my penis also grew due to my evolution, matching my bigger body. I enter her and start moving. She doesn’t say anything. I reach out with my arms and start to fondle her breast.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing is stopping us from feeling pleasure. Want me to kiss you?”
“Gross. You are too ugly.”
“Come on. I’m quite handsome for a goblin.”
“Maybe, but all goblins are hideous.”
I don't actually care for pleasure that much, just to come as fast as possible. I grunt and sent my seed into Anastasia.
“Ok. It’s done.” I move back. “Now, we wait for conception.”
“Shit.” She sits up.
“What?”
“Fuck this!” She hits the ground in anger, then exhales and lies back. I think she is crying.
“Was it really so bad?”
“It was way worse in a way I didn’t expect it.” She replies.
We stay in silence for a while. I’m not in the mood for chatting, and I’m concentrating on Anastasia’s body. I don’t want to miss the time. I don’t think she wants to talk either.
After around an hour, I feel something. A bundle of vitality. I can see detail without my perks, but I know there’s no soul yet. Soon, the bundle splits into six smaller ones, and I observe as souls come into existence. I wait for one of them to finish, and as soon as that happens, I rip out that soul and replace it with Axi’s. The skill guides my magic. I attach Axi's soul to vitality, and it happens without any trouble. The new raw vitality is completely malleable, and the fetus’s body is probably only a clump of cells. The original soul crumbles to pieces outside the body.
I let Axi's soul go, and it’s all stable. I smile. Axi is going to be back. However, I frown. She is in Anastasia’s womb. I can’t let Anastasia ruin everything. Is it necessary? She is cooperative. No, no chances.
I use my magic to strike Anastasia’s vitality nerves and paralyze her. She wasn’t using a mana shield or anything like that, so it was easy from such a close distance.
I grab ropes and tie her up.
“Sorry, but I can let you go back to humans. I know you are cooperative, but I don’t want to take any chances with Axi’s life. You stay still for two weeks, and I will release you then. I don’t mind if you even return to humans then.”
Paralysis fades after a few minutes to reveal an enraged Anastasia. “You bastard! After all I have done for you! For what I lost!”
“Sorry. Just stay still for two weeks. I will make sure you are completely fine.”
“Fuck you. Fuck you! Fuck you all! Damn all monsters!” She starts to cry again.
“Just… sorry. I will cook something for you.” I leave. She probably doesn’t want to see me, and I know her binding is enough to keep her in place.
[Anastasia’s POV]
“I wouldn't ask if this wasn’t the only way.”
He wants to have sex with me. Breed me. Damn him!
“Is it that bad? I mean, it’s just two weeks. Practically one week, given you won’t have a big stomach for the first one. You did that before.”
I think about it. He is actually right. I fear being one of the girls in the shack with a broken mind. All in all, it’s not the end of the world, and if I can help Axi… She really was my friend. She was a nice person. I want to help her. Is that really so strange? I spend months with goblins. Humans already think I’m a witch.
“You know what? You are right. Fuck this.” I say, and I walk to the shack. I start stripping. Let's just do this fast. I can use more levels. Axi is a great team member.
After his magic, we start having sex. It’s not bad overall. I had a boyfriend once, but we broke up after I became an adventurer. He was fine being a farmer. Smag is a decent lover.
He even wants to kiss me. I would rather not. I mean, I could imagine me kissing him if we were lovers, but it’s true goblins are ugly for human aesthetics.
He ejaculates in me just as planned.
You have willingly let a monster use you to breed more monsters.
You have earned the Monster Breeder (+1 to monsters perception of you, -1 to enlightened perception of you) title!
“Shit.” This is really bad. Like, really bad. I know what it is. It’s an aura of disgust around witches and warlocks. It’s mentioned often in stories and legends. Even pretty witches give off an aura of ugliness and corruption. It’s over. I can no longer return to civilization.
“Fuck this!” I start to cry from helplessness. It’s over.
“Was it really so bad?”
“It was way worse in a way I didn’t expect it,” I reply. What should I do now? Do I have to live among monsters all my life? Just become another witch. I really hope Axi will be back now. I don’t see myself making many friends among monsters.
Time passes, and I stay still. I’m going to have goblin babies anyway; I just hope one of them will be Axi. After some time, I notice Smag doing something. It’s time. I stay still in anticipation. I don’t want to ruin anything.
Smag sighs with a wide smile. I want to smile back. At least it’s a success. Suddenly, I can’t move. I panic. Did something go wrong?
“Sorry, but I can let you go back to humans. I know you are cooperative, but I don’t want to take any chances with Axi’s life. You stay still for two weeks, and I will release you then. I don’t mind if you even return to humans then.”
“You bastard! After all I have done for you! For what I lost!” I’m losing my mind. This bastard! How dares he? Why? Why me? I did everything to help. I just cry. This isn’t fair. This isn’t fine. I’m alone. I am truly alone in this world now.
I give up. I just need to stay for two weeks, right? Easy. Damn you, Smag. He comes back after a while with a meal. It’s a tasty meal. Cooked meat. I think he even used some herbs for better taste. I eat it in silence. Damn you, Smag. We are not friends.
He leaves me alone. I just think. What should I do? What can I do? What should I do with my life? I don’t know. I think about Smag. He is strange. Axi is just too intelligent for a goblin and too innocent. Smag, though, knows too much. Like, he just cooked a human meal. Goblins don’t cook. They eat raw. And it’s not like he learned from me. He knew from the beginning that I needed cooked meat.
He knows much about humans and our culture, but he doesn’t know about magic. That's actually normal; monsters are not supposed to be scholars. There are more strange things, like how he makes love like a human.
Could it be?
I heard about it once, I think. I heard about powerful warlocks who, in the endless chase for more power, threw away their enlightenment and Bright Gods and became monsters. But Smag is not so powerful. Why would he choose a goblin? Why not some very powerful race? Well… I think I can just ask him. It’s not like he can kill me right now, and I don’t care anymore.