Zog was a bit annoying sometimes. I sighed as I watched the gigantic ogre crying over a spilled cup of mead. It would make sense if he was drunk but no. He was just sad over spilling his drink. Like a child. We were sitting in the Dead Leg, a crappy bar on the north side of town, spending the little amount of crowns we had left from the previous job. Me and Zog were mercenaries. He was the brawns being the large dumb ogre and I was the brains being a dashing and amazing Kobold. Zog turned to me as I was thinking of how awesome I was and said. “Ay Red, think we should get another job soon? I don’t get any more crowns. I’m still hungry”
I nodded and said. “Zog, I explained this before. We are at the tavern to meet a man who says he is going to hire us. He said he would pay over 100 gold crowns. Now wipe your tears and I’ll buy you another mug.”He smiled gleefully at this and nodded like a child and I couldn’t help but grin. No matter how dumb he was he was the greatest friend anyone could ask for. I leaned back and took a sip of my wine. My grin grew wider as our newest employer walked in. Arthur Thompson, mayor of the nearby town of Mor. A pathetic creature who utilized criminals to guarantee his political career. He was a dream come true for a mercenary.
“Mr Thompson, as always it is an honor.” I bowed my head so it was flat on the floor as I talked to him. “I heard you want us to help you with something. The usual?”Thompson scratched his face and said. “I’m afraid I need you for something else. Recently I came into possession of a certain illegal product. I need you to protect me while I sell it. I’ll give you 20% of the crowns I get from it.” I felt my tail move side to side as I began to grow excited. This was the type of job I loved. The ones where I would be on top in the end.. “My lord, we would be honored to assist you. Me and my large friend will be your bodyguards until the transaction is complete.” I couldn't help but grin as I shook his hand. After he left I turned to see how Zog was doing and of course, found him asleep on the ground. I kicked the useless lump in the face and he woke up with a surprised grunt.
“Thompson told me where the deal is taking place. I want to set up. Grab my tools and meet me outside! Move it you loaf!” I kicked him one last time. Before scurrying towards my satchel by the table. I pulled out my weapons and started strapping them on. I liked to have my weapons on me. Made me feel safer. I strapped a dagger onto my leg for surprise attacks. I slung my crossbow over my shoulder for ranged attackers and smiled as I pulled out my favorite thing in the world. The battle shovel. A weapon of such beauty and grace that it felt like fighting beside a god. After having been given a shovel by my old owner I had bonded with the weapon. I smiled as I placed the shovel on its sheath on my back. After that, I pulled my cloak on and walked out of the tavern. I smiled as I saw Zog with a giant sack.
I climbed onto his shoulder and hung on to his neck as he began walking forward. We walked for a few minutes in silence until Zog finally spoke. “I don’t like this Red. Thompson is a sneaky bugger.” I patted my friend on the head and said “Don’t worry. When this is over you have to see him again. He’ll just be an unpleasant memory..” I began laughing after saying this but composed myself after a second. “Zog, don't worry. Thompson didn’t fulfill his payment last time. That means he doesn't count as a person anymore.” After a few more minutes of walking through the city, we made it to the location I had been given. It was a large abandoned warehouse located near the harbor.
I looked at it for a few seconds and turned to Zog. “Hey Zog, after this job what do you say we make this our base of sorts? We've been camping out in the Dead Leg for a while. A change of pace might be nice.” Zog nodded happily and walked into the warehouse. I walked in as well and began yelling out instructions. I was a kobold. And the thing kobolds were best at was making traps. I quickly set to work preparing the setting of tonight's triumph. Time passed quickly and soon enough Thomson had arrived.
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I walked up to him and said. “Hello there sir, I set up a few traps in case things go south.” I pointed towards an area of the floor that was a slightly different color than the rest of the floor. “Just stand here no matter what. Even if they rush you. Do not move. Me and Zog can protect you. Just make sure you hold up your part of the deal.”Thomson smiled at this and said. “Of course dear Kobold. I do hope it won’t come to that but I thank you for your efforts. I’ll get the crowns to you once I count it out at my manor.” I grew annoyed at the last sentence but kept my face in a smile. “Thank you for your consideration, my lord. I’ll finish up preparing the area. I’ll be out of sight. Zog will be there to protect you, however.”
As I said this I slowly backed away until I was consumed by the shadows in the warehouse. The warehouse was filled with boxes filled with old junk. I did take some of the contents of the boxes but only to spruce up a few traps. The buyers were set to arrive in around an hour. That gave me ample time to think. Thomson was selling a drug known as Bliss. It was highly addictive and expensive. That fact that he got his hands on a large enough amount to sell meant he was smarter than I thought. I smiled at the thought of getting rid of him. He was a useful employer but as of late, he hadn’t paid us. That meant it was time to look for new job opportunities.
I spent the next hour looking around the warehouse for a good place to live. I found a platform on the rafters that held my weight pretty well so I plopped down and started setting my stuff up. I quickly put down my stuff and after retrieving a large knapsack it looked pretty good. By the time I was set up, the buyers had arrived. A strange-looking man walked in. I stared at him in confusion as I had never seen his race before. He had horns like a satyr but they looked more like a reptile’s than a mammal’s. And yet he had the body of a human. I stared at him in confusion but wrote it off as a half-breed. The other two with him were just regular humans.
The halfbreed walked up to Thomson and shook his hand and with a strange smooth tone said. “Hello there friend. My name is Yukino. I have brought the agreed-upon amount. Please allow my friends over here to inspect the goods” As Thomson handed over the Bliss, Zog moved side to side mentally preparing himself to fight. Or he had to fart and was trying to make it so no one noticed. I sighed and realized it was probably the second one. The humans took the Bliss but instead of looking at it slipped the package into a small bag. I quickly sprang up smiling as I readied myself. I had attached a few strings to my platform so I could remotely activate the traps.
I quickly tugged one string and 4 wooden spikes were flung towards the attackers. They were not very accurate but each one was laced with a poison that caused people to bleed from every pore in their body. If they didn't die from it they would be in too much pain to fight back. I chucked as two spikes slammed into one of the humans. He fell to the ground as the human and halfbreed charged Thomson. Zog walked forward wielding a large metal pole. He swung it at the remaining human and completely pulverized the man. The half-breed dodged under and shot an icicle at Thomson. I saw this and said “Shit! Mage!” I waited for the mage to move before pulling another string. This time a box fell off a stack and rained down caltrops. The mage quickly retreated away and fell into my trap.
A weighted net fell onto him when he stepped on a tripwire but he shot a blast of ice at it knocking it away. The mage then summoned ice and slammed it together. This created a misty fog and by the time it cleared, the mage was gone. I jumped down from the rafters to check on Zog.”Zog, you good?” I found him chewing on the dead human, a large wound in his arm. “I’m good, they're kinda stringy though. Might make the other one into a stew.”I nodded at this and felt my rage rise as I saw Thomson trying to walk away. I walked up to him but this time I didn’t even attempt to flatter him. “ Hey, I’m gonna need some compensation for that fight. My friend over there is injured. Pay us 10 gold crowns and you can go.”
He turned to me in shock and said. “Of course, I’ll mail it over the second I get back.” I shook my head and chuckled. Then I drew my shovel and charged him. I slammed the handle into his crotch and immediately after slammed the flat side into his face. As he collapsed to the ground I pulled out my dagger and slit his throat. “Next time you pay us, bitch!” I kicked his corpse and started going through his pockets. I quickly found a small coin pouch with 37 copper crowns, 23 silver, and 4 gold. I also took his rings and necklace. I would keep them on my platform for safekeeping. I turned to Zog and was about to congratulate him when I saw another kobold talking to Zog. He noticed I was looking at him and said. “Ah, Red. Nice to meet you. My patron would like to talk to you. She has a job offer.”