The High Chief was in his study, his hands were resting on the table and his eyes were looking absentmindedly at the research scroll. The scroll was only a draft but even so, it was done properly and had the title ‘Preliminary Notes on Monster System’. He turned to look at his young attendant.
“Inspect and Identify. What is the difference?” He said that while still looking at her but both knew he wasn’t asking and just thinking out loud. “Identify was the original skill used to peer into the nature of an item, but now I also have inspect.” He began making notes. “Identify is for items only, but inspect seems to work with anything. Items, people and even the status tables fall under its effects.” He looked up at the girl again. “So is one better than the other? maybe so.”
The drow attendant nodded as if listening.
“Now let's touch on magic.” He leaned back in to continue the notes “The Monster System seems to circumvent the otherwise ironclad rules of the ordinary System. First, it deleted the Magus class and gave Magic+. Was this why the King insists on calling the magi as mages? I always thought it odd, the System was clear on the name – it was a magus. Anyway, the change was significant because the magic was now more accessible. Normally an individual had to be born with magic or use Essence to obtain it, but now there were ways to circumvent it. The Spider King’s Imbue was one of such ways. Which is strange…” He looked back at his attendant.
“Your cousin, The Kings’ Assistant had obtained that perk as well.” The eyes of the girl shone as if impressed. “The name is the same but for some reason, she can only do a fraction of what the King can. She can’t imbue magic to other plants or creatures; items is her limit at the moment. Is that due to a difference in skill or something else entirely? In those regards, the Monster System still remains ill-defined.” He made quick notes. “Also, people can now obtain affinities, which helps them to unlock magic.” He tapped his pen on the parchment for a pause.
“Yes! I have Dark affinity now!” The drow girl exclaimed proudly.
“And mine is a dual one Wind/Earth. But somehow, I think that since you have one, yours is stronger.”
“Really?”
“Well, more research is needed. Also, we don’t know the requirements of unlocking an affinity.” He made more notes. “Also, [Status].”
Title: Drow High Chief
Magic Affinity: Wind/Earth
Perks
Jobs:
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HP:80
MP:200
STA:80
Spells
Magic+ [3]
Research [3]
Archery [2]
Alchemy [1]
Crafting [1]
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███▒░
████▒
████░
██░░░
🕷️
Reputation
Resistances
Status Effects
“What’s up with the spider in my status screen? Is that because I am the Spider King’s subject? That must be it…” He sighed. “More research is needed… let’s take a break and have something to eat.” He stood up from his chair.
The drow attendant looked at the IceShard Cooler with hunger-filled eyes. The High Chief made sure to stock it with cold deserts the King so adored. The cooler was there only for the sole reason of pleasing the King when he came to visit him; it was there to win some brownie points. Of course, The High Chief had tried the substance and he just couldn’t understand what was so good about it. He wasn’t a big fan, but the Drow children seemed to like it, which made sense if you thought about where the materials from the desert came from.
“Aren’t you a bit too old to like them?” He said so fully ignoring the unfairness of the statement.
The girl looked at him with big purple pleading eyes.
“Okay, just one.”
“Yes! Ice Cream!” She jumped in excitement opening the cooler. “High Chief, you want some?”
He frowned remembering the source of the ice cream. “I’m going to Spidery Delicious for a proper meal. I’ve heard they have a new mushroom dish, Mushroom Stroganoff, I’ve been itching to try it.”
The two began descending down the winding stairs of Drow Archives.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Yes! Can I get a Spidery Combo?” She said while licking the frozen desert.
He nodded with a faint smile. She wanted that because it came with a carved wooden toy, a random collectable. And while his young attendant was… young, she was not a child, she was way past twenty. But who he was to spoil someone’s fun?
“Sure, why not? I’ll get one too.” He said so even if it would be too much food for him.
“Yes, thank you!” She jumped again in joy. “Maybe today I will get a rare Trusty Advisor figurine.”
“Huh? Did you think I’d be giving out my Spidery Combo toy? If it’s the Trusty Advisor I’m definitely keeping it!” He only teased of course. “But if it’s the Spider Farmer you can keep it.”
“But I have like twenty of them already!”
Indeed she did, indeed…
…
“Any time. King.” The Crystal Spider waved.
The King too gave a parting wave, he had collected the Spider Crystals he needed. His next stop was the Kobold Capital; he had several errands there. All the way from the Oberon Undermountain entrance to the Kobold Capital the cave tunnel was improved. It was widened significantly, and the floors were smoothed. The walls were carved with interesting pictures of either spiders or kobolds, the style was somewhat primitive but it had a unique charm to it.
He emerged into a large cavern. It was full of rectangular stone houses stacked on top of each other. There were a lot of them, the cavern was practically at full capacity. Evidently, the kobold population had increased significantly, either because of migration or natural reasons. Cave Moss grew on the walls of the houses illuminating the surroundings ever so slightly. At the spots with no moss, there would be a pot growing Glow Shroom. Even if the light was dim the Capital was rather well-illuminated. Also, the carved stone paths and sidewalks were clean. The Kobolds had improved their level of civilisation by leaps and bounds.
He walked through winding paths towards his destination. A rare occasional spider would wave to him in passing, but the local Kobolds also recognised him, they too either nodded in passing or even stopped to bow. This was pleasantly surprising, someone had taught them proper manners.
The path he was walking was labyrinthine due to the nature of the Kobold city planning, or maybe the lack of it, but even then it might have been intentional. On a number of occasions, he had to ask for directions, but in the end, inevitably, he got lost. The Kobold Capital was just too big and too labyrinthine.
He looked at a particularly large Glow Shroom planted in the middle of the crossroads, it was as big as him and illuminated the surroundings in a warm muted yellow light.
*Sigh, “I think I’ve been here already,” he sighed again, “I’m lost.”
Someone tugged at the bottom part of his cloak. “Are you lost, King?” A very tiny red kobold asked.
“I am, do you know the way to the Kobold Leader’s house?”
The tiny kobold raised her chin high. “Yes-Yes! He’s my daddy. Come!” The kid dragged him by the coat.
‘What a coincidence’ – he thought taking a better look at the tiny kobold. Indeed, this one was better dressed than other pedestrians, or more precisely, just dressed. Aside from guards in armour, most kobolds still preferred to go full commando, but due to a certain royal edict, they had to wear at least a loincloth. This little kobold was wearing a blue tunic, or maybe it was a dress; It was hard to tell.
As he was just done pondering about kobold fashion he soon found himself in front of a rather large stone mansion. Like all kobold structures, this one was rectangular but clearly a standalone structure, and the biggest he had seen so far.
“Daddy’s Castle, yes-yes.” The little kobold smiled at him giving a proud smirk.
Kobolds were little creatures, at best reaching just above his knees, but surprisingly the ‘Daddy’s Castle’ was human-sized; at least the entrance was.
He crouched closer to the little kobold. “Is your daddy home? I have important business with him. Can you call him out?”
“Hmm…” The little kobold was thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t know where daddy is, no-no. But come inside!”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Come, come!” The little kobold dragged him in.
He was right, the inside was human-sized. There was a reception room, but he was led into a separate room on the side, which was just as large. Of course, neither of the rooms was vacant, there were kobolds around, but mostly just kids.
“Sit. I call mommy.”
The little kobold ran out hurriedly followed by a few of other kids. And the rest were all: “King!”, “King!”, “Yes-Yes!”, “Hello!”. Soon he was surrounded by a mass of little kobolds, tugging, and prodding at him. He wondered if all of them were Kobold Leader’s offspring, if so, there were no less than twenty here already.
The little kobolds were speaking over each other, and it was hard to reply properly, but he didn’t need to suffer for long.
“Scram! Leave the King alone.” A familiar kobold waved a Peacekeeping Stick threatening.
She didn’t need to ask twice because all the kids soon disappeared. This wasn’t the Kobold Leader but his wife; he had seen her before.
“Hello King, I am The Wife.” She introduced herself regardless.
“Hello, I am here for…” he wasn’t allowed to finish.
That was because the wife didn’t come alone.
“Hello King, I am The Wife.” Another Kobold spoke the line.
“Hello King, I am The Wife.” Another one, this time blue who he also recognised.
“Hello, I am The Wife.”, “Hello, I am The Wife.” Two more red kobolds.
“THE WIFE!” A brown kobold shortened but voiced it rather loud.
Okay, there was a lot to unpack. ‘Kobold Leader, how many wives do you need?!’ – he wanted to shout. And aside from the brown and blue kobold, how was he supposed to tell them apart if they all were ‘The Wife’. However, the shenanigans weren’t over.
“The Wife.” A particularly well-encoded drow said with a bow.
“Eh?”
She must have realised the reason for his confusion, “We’ve married to strengthen the Alliance.” She explained helpfully.
“Yes-yes, she’s an outsider.”, “She thinks she’s better than us.”, “Steals the husband at bedtime all the time.” The three of four red wives complained. The Drow Wife didn’t seem to mind their crass comments and just looked down at the kobolds; her chin was high and her eyes filled with a look of superiority.
Oh boy! There was a lot of drama here. He was glad he didn’t have a harem.
Anyway, he was informed that the Kobold Leader was on his way, and in the meantime, the wives entertained him. Or maybe he was entertaining them. Either way, they had a surprisingly pleasant conversation.
…
“[Grant Access],” he said with a creaking voice and a sore throat. “Is this the last one?”
“Yes-yes. Now we all have Monster System. Thank you, King!”
“There is one more thing, here.”
“Food? Okay.” The Kobold Leader swallowed. “Oh!” he began running and jumping frantically.
“What did you get?”
“I am a dragon now! I am a dragon now!”
The kobold hadn't changed physically, so he was mostly only exaggerating. Probably….
“[Inspect].”
Monster Race: Dragonoid
Variant: Red Kobold
HP:50
MP:50
STA:100
Active Perks
[Stone Shape], [Claw]
Passive Perks
[Skulking], [Stone Sense], [Dragon Strength]
Resistances
[Fire Resistance: Lesser], [Physical Resistance: Lesser]
“Is it Dragon Strength?”
“Yes-yes, rawr!” The Kobold Leader punched a nearby wall, and it cracked.
“It looks powerful, lucky you.” He made a mental note of the effects on kobolds.
“I need more of this! I want to feel like a dragon all the time! This is like a dream come true!”
“I have a very limited supply.” He looked at the Kobold Leader apologetically.
The kobold leader was giving him those big begging eyes, they were moist as if about to cry.
“Well, I can leave you a flask or two. It won’t be all the time, but some the time, okay?”
“Yes-yes!” The Kobold Leader jumped excitedly. “This this I will be able to challenge the rebels!”
“The rebels?”
“Mmm… You don’t need to worry about that, King.” The Kobold Leader said evasively.
“If you need any…”
“No-no, there is nothing to worry about.”
“If you say so.”
He left the Kobold Leader the promised jelly and then went to complete the side quest: The Meat for The Lamia Queen. For that, he will need to visit the top of the mountain where the IceShard Bird roamed the frigid skies. The monster was rich in valuable materials, but surprisingly hard to hunt down; the first time was just a lucky fluke.