The day started out like any other, I went out to forage various roots and herbs and if I got lucky snag a rabbit or vole, head back to my hut and continue my research in solitude. Currently I find myself up a tree staring at three live female goblins and a dead male. 

"Is there any reason there are female goblins hunting me" I asked. 

"Not enough male. female hunt too. chief want man meat" responded the goblin with the bright red mohawk. 

"Well, I happen to be wizard meat. does chief want wizard meat?" I responded. 

"Wizard meat man meat, one sound spicier. what difference?" asked the goblin with the dark black hair.  

" I don't know about spicier, but wizard meat is far harder to get, I already kicked your male out of the tree I'd hate to harm the rest of you." I answered  

"Male dumb male not chief." retorted the red haired one 

"That he was but if I'm smarter than male who says I'm not smarter than chief" 

"You can't get down, sound dumb to me." said the dark haired one 

"oh, I can get down, easy enough. I'd just rather not have chargrilled goblin for lunch today." 

"Get down maybe, kill gobby maybe, survive doubtful." the white haired one spoke for the first time 

pointing at the white haired one I said "you seem smart, is your chief smarter than you?" 

"Not sure but chief stronger" was the white haired ones response. 

"well, isn't that something, cause I'm pretty sure I'm smarter than you and I know I'm stronger" was my answer 

"If stronger why not kill" asked the red head 

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"don't wanna, being strong means doing what I want and I don't wanna kill" 

The three goblins looked at me as if id said dung tasted like water. 

In truth I could kill them easy enough but I really don't want to deal with the side of effects of channeling the aether. Fucking aether, all the power to break reality with just force of will but then you have to deal with a broken fucking reality. 

All of them were wearing tattered furs and not much of it with crude sharpened sticks for weapons. for having a chief they seemed to be doing remarkably poorly and I had was beginning to suspect why. 

"Was your chief born a chief or did he kill and claim his right as chief?" 

"Born chief, strong gobby blood" answered the black haired one. 

I put my head in my palm and sighed leaving my fingers just open enough to catch any funny ideas the goblins might have. so, they have a young dumb goblin chief who knows he wants to go out and conquer but no idea how or why he even wants to. 

This is going to make my life hell, if I get away more goblins are just going to keep roaming the forest looking for trouble but the Black haired one isn't wrong a born chief is strong, strong and aggressive. 

I reach into my pack and pull out my jerky throwing some at the goblins below "its lunch time I'm eating your welcome to join me" 

the goblins immediately tear into the little bit of jerky I've thrown them, between three of them it won't last long but if they're that hungry they can always eat the dead male. Goblins have a reputation for cannibalism but from what I know of them it's really more a desire not to starve......understandable even if it's disturbing. 

I'm well aware I'm stalling at this point I don't even have any good ideas I'm going to have to do something if I ever want peace again but I really don't want to have to deal with this. I've got no weapons, no back up, and very little chance of not causing some very big problems if I have to use the aether to fix my problems. 

I really just want to go back home have some coffee in peace but that not going to happen now is it. I finish my jerky heave another sigh and focus back on my little green guest. 

The goblins have all sat down with their sticks beside them and are staring at me intently having long since finished the jerky. The male’s body is still there so I guess they aren't starving yet. 

"so, am I safe to assume you're not going to eat me as soon as I come down this tree?" I questioned 

"We not eat, chief want eat, we bring you to chief, chief your problem then chief not our problem" the red haired one responded with a very annoying shit eating grin.