The creature mediating the conflict looked at Zalia with too large eyes for a good three seconds before responding,

“Under the mountain, yes yes. Very tall mountain yes,” it replied.

“Right, yes that explains everything,” Zalia thought.

“Alright, well how about a name, do you have a name?” she asked.

“Yes yes, a name. Humans use names, yes, Glemp!” Glemp replied, "and what name would be given to you human."

“Zalia,” Zalia replied, “you know of humans?”

“Oh yes yes, of course. Humans, yes, very tall. A few I have met, learnt. Glemp speaks your language, yes?” Glemp replied.

“Are they.. Nearby?” Zalia asked.

“No no no, not anymore. Not since many, many passings of the sun,” Glemp responded.

“Well ah, do you know where I could go to find them?” Zalia asked.

“Mmm no no, yes, no. Yes, a direction but not how far, yes,” Glemp said, nodding.

Zalia slowly put away her bow, trusting enough in the small creatures not to immediately attack at this point. The three who she had initially met were talking amongst themselves, still suspicious of her.

“You are from the outside, yes?” Glemp asked.

“Yes,” Zalia replied.

“Oh good oh good, very interesting, yes. Did you bring any plants, or maybe some pieces of rare creatures, yes?” Glemp asked.

“I might have, why do you ask?” asked Zalia.

“Oh, oh well Glemp does much research, yes, hmmmm in the language of humans, alchemy maybe, science?” Glemp responded.

“Alchemy hey, I might be interested in learning a little bit from you,” Zalia said.

“I did in fact bring some plants with me, maybe you could tell me how I can use them,” she continued.

“Oh good, yes Glemp can show, follow, follow,” Glemp said, before saying something to the other three nearby creatures and beginning to walk off.

“May I ask, what does your race call themselves?” asked Zalia.

“Oh yes, humans call us goblins yes, but we call ourselves hmm in your language those Born of Heat and Stone maybe, yes,” Glemp said.

“Born of heat and stone, explains the lava thing that other one had going on I guess,” Zalia thought

Glemp led Zalia out of the tunnel onto a large outcropping in a giant cavern. Stretching far both up and down, the cavern had pools of lava at the bottom lighting up the large space, the heat of which she could feel even from here. All up the sides of the cavern spread tunnels, bridges and paths dug into and made of stone. Various streams of lava could be seen floating through the space following other Goblins as they clambered up treacherous paths. Looking further up Zalia could see a peak of sunlight coming through at an angle far, far above where the top of the mountain had a hole to the outside world.

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Following Glemp, none of the other denizens of the mountain gave her much trouble apart from various stares and mutters in their language. From what Glemp had said she wasn't the first human to have been in the cavernous city, however rare it was.

They eventually arrived in what Zalia assumed to be Glemp’s home. Various rough-hewn benches lined the walls of the circular room covered in all sorts of instruments, plants and most prominently, animal parts. A doorway at the far end led to what she thought was probably a sleeping space of some sort. Glemp’s eyes started glowing a deep red as a stream of lava flowed into the space, lighting up the dark corners of the room.

“Welcome, welcome Zalia of the humans, to my home, yes,” Glemp said, spreading their arms to the side.

“Much like your other kin I don't really get along well with humans, Glemp, call me… Zalia of the snow,” Zalia responded, “it's a nice home you have here and you weren't kidding about the research stuff. What is all this?”

“Tools and pieces, pieces and tools, yes. Much you would have to learn to understand, above your rank, yes,” Glemp said. “of the snow you say, do not the beings of ice attack you?”

“Beings of ice? Not that I'm aware of. Did get attacked by some big bear thing though, if that's what you mean,” Zalia answered.

“No no, bear things, no. I do not know what a bear is. No, us of Heat and Stone are attacked by the elements of ice, come to life, when we stray from our home, yes,” Glemp said.

“Huh, never saw any of those while I was there,” said Zalia

Glemp looked at her for a few seconds before turning to some of the benches, clearing a space.

“Place the plants, yes?” Glemp asked.

Placing down all the plants she had brought from outside, Zalia looked at Glemp as they looked over them.

“Hmm, yes, yes I know most of these, yes. Tin rank ones, not much magic, no, no. These two of iron rank, Snow-leaf, very common, very. Good for many snow and ice magics, yes. The other, yes Bitterbalm, can use for some rituals, yes, rituals to put curses on others, good for cooking too. From what Glemp has heard it is in many places of the world, yes,” Glemp said, looking at the first five.

“Curse rituals?” Zalia asked.

“Shh shh, yes. Let me finish before you begin your questions, yes,” Glemp admonished.

“Now, bronze rank, yes. Quite rare, yes, very. Good for injuries yes. Some call it Frozen Heart, yes a good name. Good for rituals of healing yes, and many potions, very good use. Will slow down bleeding, diseases, all kinds of ailments, yes,” Glemp said.

“But this last one, oh no, yes. Silver rank I have not seen, must be very rare, unheard of,” Glemp continued, looking up to Zalia.

Congratulations! You have picked various herbs and learnt of their uses. You have unlocked the class ‘Herbalist’. Would you like to make this one of your classes?

“Ooooh, that I can get behind. Later though, later,” Zalia thought.

“I wonder, Zalia of the snow, would you hunt for Glemp?” asked Glemp.

“Hunt for you?” said Zalia, answering the question with another.

“Yes, yes, Glemp needs many materials from creatures beyond the mountains, yes,” answered Glemp.

“Hmm, you know I wouldn’t be opposed to it but what do I get out of it? How about you teach me what you know of herbs in this region?” Zalia asked.

Glemp thought for a moment,

“This can be a deal, yes,” answered Glemp.

“Anything you want me to hunt for you in particular?” asked Zalia.

An unnerving gleam appeared in the eyes of Glemp.

“Oh yes, yes indeed but not yet. Zalia of the snow needs to become much stronger, yes much,” Glemp said, “for now, whatever you find, yes it will do.”

“Alright Glemp, it sounds like we have an arrangement. Do you have any food?” asked Zalia.

“Yes, yes food. We have much, may I ask to keep this Silver rank plant to… experiment with?” asked Glemp.

“Only if you give me something in return. Do you have any like.. Healing potions? Is that a thing?” asked Zalia.

“Hmmm, yes indeed, yes. You may have one for this, agreed? It is very strong for someone of your power Zalia of the snow. You must only use in an emergency, when you are safe from outside danger. Very likely make you pass out,” Glemp replied.

“Agreed,” said Zalia.

Glemp went to fetch her potion and Zalia packed away her other herbs and plants. Coming back to her with a small vial, Glemp handed it to her and took the Silver rank herb before moving out the door into the cavern once more.

“Let us find you food, yes, food we shall,” said Glemp.