Stones the size of fists rained down on Hemut and William and they charged out of the mine shaft.

“I got these!” Drew said.

A charge drained out of his stone wand as he reached out with a spell to grab onto the falling stones and send them into a wide orbit around himself.

Like electrons, or satellites around a planet.

The first stones were drawn to him before they could fly past completely. As more and more stones were caught in Drew’s spell he used another charge of the wand to start sending them back at the goblins above.

“Nice going Skurr!” Pegg shouted as he sliced down on one of the goblins that had been feasting on its fallen comrades.

“Try to at least kill one this time!” Vaylari shouted as she loaded another bolt onto her crossbow.

William was making his own slow progress across the melee. A goblin jumped onto his back but could not get its spear angled between the shining plates of armor.

Drew turned a couple stones towards the goblin and released them. They arced through the air and hit the goblin in the back and head.

Combat Results: Feral Goblin (lvl 15). 825 exp.

Three goblins jumped from the level above, two were badly injured in the fall, the third scrambled after Vaylari. She reloaded her crossbow while jogging backwards.

“I could use some help with this one!” She called out.

MP: 65%

Drew released another stone to intercept the goblin, it missed and he launched another which struck it in the hip, staggering it. Vaylari finished it off.

Combat Results: Feral Goblin (lvl 14). 245 exp.

That’s two.

Pegg and Hemut were squaring off with 5 goblins, they were holding their own but had not killed one yet. William joined up with Pegg and swung his greatsword in a wide arc.

The swing was slow, but it was heavy and the sword was sharp. It cleaved through two goblins and Pegg rolled out of the way of the backswing.

“What level is your sword proficiency?” Pegg shouted.

“Just leveled to 1!” William said excitedly. His voice echoed a deep baritone from within the helmet.

Hemut laughed and kicked a goblin in the knee, breaking its leg. He followed with a broad swing, ending its life and the life of the goblin next to it as well.

“Fight. Learn!” Hemut laughed again.

“I’m stuck between these two cleavers!” Pegg cried.

The large goblin reached for his horn but Drew was faster.

He released three stones from their orbit and they struck the large goblin in the chest, neck and head.

The goblin tried to raise William’s shield but it was too weak.

We should enchant that shield to raise physical stats.

William wound up another swing of his greatsword but lost his balance. Hemut stepped in to knee the goblin before it could take advantage of William’s weakness.

And the sword too. How much of a bonus we could get since it’s such a rare metal? He would be a powerhouse.

“One left.” Vaylari shouted.

“That one is the Skurr’s” Pegg said.

Pegg picked up the shield with some effort and brought it over to William.

Vaylari was keeping the goblins well back from the edge above them with her bolts.

Could I make returning bolts? She must be running out by now.

Hemut kicked the last goblin down onto the ground. He scrambled for a few seconds with it then tore away the goblin’s battle horn.

“He’s all yours Drew.” Pegg said evenly. “Finish what you started.”

The goblin snarled and clawed at Hemut but the big man would not let the monster get up.

“Just let the goblin go, he’s not got his horn.” Drew said.

The level they were on was relatively clear of obstructions. There were several more mine shafts and some scattered rusty mine carts between Drew’s group and the ramp leading back to the level above.

“The fortress is right over there. We could escape -“

“I’ll finish it.” William said. “After all, you all helped me get my armor back.”

William equipped his shield on his left arm. With the full set complete he struck an intimidating pose. The blacksmith had already had broad shoulders, with the armor he was truely massive, bigger even than Hemut. The crowned helmet made him taller than the massive rancher.

Drew landed to pick up the goblin’s horn.

“You have a sword, and you know how to use it. You could have been fighting in this armor this whole time!” Pegg shouted.

The final goblin was clawing frantically at Hemuts leg. It managed to slip a couple claws underneath his armor and sliced into his leg.

It slipped free of Hemut’s control and ran away from William, directly towards Drew.

“Kill it!” Pegg shouted.

The Goblin locked eyes with the Skurr and charged him.

I could stun it with my wand, or lightning, or fly out of the way-

The goblin was on top of Drew and at the last moment he used mage hand to drive his dirk through its chest.

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Bane: (0:45)

“You did not have to be my enemy.” Drew said with a shudder. “We could have been friends. I should have helped you.”

The goblin gurgled on its blood and died.

Combat Results: Feral Goblin (lvl 19). 2245 exp.

With the death of their leader, the remaining goblins up above, scattered.

“Time to go.” Vaylari said, she pulled another spear out of Hemut’s shoulder and stuffed a bandage into the wound.

“There’s a path this way that heads towards that fortress.” Pegg called out.

“Do we still want to go that way?” Vaylari asked. “We could leave. Or try to.”

“Is the fort part of the quest?” William asked.

I was out of options. It was him or me. Damien’s shield would have spared all these goblins.

William slung his shield on to his back and hitched the sword to his hip. He stomped over to where Drew held vigil for the goblin.

“Drew. The quest?” He asked again, compassion tinging his voice.

“What? Possibly.” Drew said.

“Then it is time to move on Drew.” He said. “Someday we will be strong enough to stop any monster from hurting us.”

Someday I’ll be strong enough that even monsters like this won’t be a danger to my friends.

“Let’s get moving!” Pegg called. “Or do we need to wait while you eat that goblin?”

“Have some respect.” Drew said sharply. “We got lock. It could have been us dead here and the goblins walking away.”

“We can talk about odds and luck over a cabal table. When we are safe behind sturdy walls.” Vaylari said.

“Ale.” Hemut agreed.

“And ale.” She said. “William how fast can you move in all that armor?”

“We will find out.” He said earning him a pat on the back from their impromptu leader.

He turned to Drew and gave him a nod.

“I’ll fly ahead and watch for trouble.” He said solemnly.

-

The bell inside the dwarf’s fortress clanged urgently.

Drew and his group paused out of view on the ramp from the lower level up to the top level.

“Sounds like more trouble.” William said.

Drew flew up and got a look at the battle taking place. Before flying back down.

“How many?” Vaylari asked.

“Close to 100. Possibly a little less.” He said.

“Let’s just wait down here until they win.” Pegg suggested.

A roar echoed louder this time and the group shrunk down against the rocks.

“What if they don’t win?” Drew said. “We should go drive the goblins off.”

Drew had recharged his earth and fire wands while they traveled silently. There had not been enough time to recharge them all.

“There were more attacking them before, they should be fine.” Pegg said.

“If we are able to help them we should.” William said.

“Why? Cause it’s the right thing to do?” Pegg scoffed. “Suddenly you have a shield and armor and you are a hero of legend?”

”I have always had honor. I won’t throw that away if I can help.” William said.

“If we help, they would be grateful and more likely to let us in.” Vaylari said. “We are unexpected visitors, and strange ones at that.”

“And it’s the right thing to do.” Drew said.

Drew pulled out his Dirk and held it ready in his beak.

“Oh no no. If we are going out there it’s with you and your fire magic blazing!” Pegg growled. “No more of this happy go lucky Skurr attitude. You will get me killed. You are going to blow them all to bits and we will clean up the survivors.”

“He has a point Drew. They are feral monsters. Even a hundred of them would run us down in a minute.”

“Fight and win. Yes. The true king must fight and win.” A raspy voice tittered from behind them.

An old woman decked out in thick sheafs of mushroom leather armor was caressing the wall behind William. Her form was covered in a short cape made of a large bat wing.

She reached out to touch William but his armor troubled her.

“Witch!” Pegg cried, taking the opportunity to fall onto his butt.

“Old mother,” Drew said swooping down to land on William’s shoulder. “Please. We do not need your prophesy today.”

“Ah ho. Child of Miia? A hero! Protect what you know, far from this place you will go.” She said.

Vaylari dug into her satchel and pulled out a parcel wrapped in paper. She opened it to reveal pastries of different shapes with purple icing.

“Wise mother, a gift for you. Your words are wise and know the truth.” She said. Before she could place the food at the Hag’s feet she spoke.

“A word of warning. Keep your confections girl. Stay and fight, know your destiny.”

Hemut made a circular sign to ward off evil and Pegg spat on the ground.

The hag was unfazed by their reactions and reached for William. Her hand moved as if through honey, unable to reach him while his armor protected him.

Drew squawked at her and she cackled.

Do all Hag’s cackle? Is Hag a class? Or a race? She has the same cloudy white eyes too.

“Protect yourself. Protect your king!” She whispered. Her hand snaked down to a book strapped to her hip. Her fingers caressed it like a lover’s hand.

“A king and a hero, here to cleave, here to save. End this triangle, everything in cycle.” She rhymed.

“Old Daughter, thank you for your warning.” William said shakily.

The Hag smiled with a mouth full of sharp teeth.

Without turning her back on the Hag, Vaylari helped Pegg up to his feet.

“Quick we have to go.” She whispered.

The group backed away slowly, moving up the ramp. The Hag let them leave unmolested.

The bell clanged again. Another wave of goblins charged the fortress.

“This hoard of goblins hardly seems better than the hag.” Pegg grumbled.

“Shut up!” Vaylari hissed.

William looked back, but there was no sign of the woman.

“Are they really so dangerous?” Drew asked.

“Yes. They can see the strings of fate that tie people together.” Vaylari said.

“And they can sever them or tie them together!” Pegg said quietly.

“They cannot change your fate, that is the solely responsibility of each of us.” William said.

“I’d rather fight a hoard of goblins then let a witch diddle my fate.” Pegg said.

“Just hope they kill you before they eat you.” Vaylari said.

“You may get your wish.” Drew said. “Let’s flank them from the right. I’ll raise a couple walls we can fight between and funnel them into a gauntlet.”

”And some big fire ball explosions! Don’t forget!” Pegg hissed.

“That is as good as plain as any.” Vaylari said, pulling out her two curved daggers. “Do it.”

-

“I need more arrows!” Khermet shouted through his plaited green beard. He pulled and fired three more arrows at once into the swarming goblins.

“Bandage!” Cried Wocca Ironchin. The curly bearded dwarf speared another of the larger goblins with a javelin.

“Ale!” Shouted Pigra Goldgrasp as he raised his fist and threw another fireball into the hoard of goblins. “Don’t worry Khermet my love! They won’t lay a hand on a hair on your chinny chin chin!”

“Hurry up Bikrin!” Cried Gizmo as he struggled to fill three quivers of arrows from their barrel of arrows.

Bikrin poured the ale from a blackened keg. The two humans anlways ran support during anttacks. They were not frontline fighters. He tossed the ale up to Pigra with a look at Gizmo.

“Alright, alright! I’ll hurry up then.” Gizmo said. “Here, get this bandage to Master Wocca.”

A goblin ran down the length of the defenses. She leapt over Wicca’s head and deflected a spear from hitting him.

“They are throwing your spears back!” She groused.

“Yandas! That’s the point!” Wocca said waggling his eyebrows at her, earning him a groan.

“Then catch them you goof!” She retorted.

She unhitched her two small automatic crossbows from her belt and unloaded both into the feral goblins below the wall. She did not stop moving. She ejected the cartridges and reloaded the crossbows as she moved down the wall.

“Always ready to bolt.” Wocca said and laughed alone at his own joke while piercing two goblins through their eyes before they could reach the top of the wall.

Down behind the wall, Staddler poured another round for himself and his brother.

“These goblins cannot take a hint. It’s growing old quickly.” He said.

“You are growing old quickly!” Wolderrf Bitterbrew replied. He downed the ale his brother passed him and finished wrapping off a fuse on the explosive he was working on.

“Bikrin! Toss this to Wacca, he will have a blast with it! Oh hohohoho!” He chortled.

Bikrin barely caught the explosive and stumbled into a run. He scaled the steps to the wall and presented the explosive to Wacca.

“Oh! Speedy delivery! Our guests will be sure to have a blast with this!” He wheezed.

“Get your own jokes you fool!” Walderff yelled.

Walls sprang up to the left of the mass of Goblins.

“Khermet, do the goblins have mages?” Pigra asked.

“No why?” He replied, without pausing his barrage of arrows.

“Well there’s some walls growing out of the ground on their flank.” He replied.

“We will have steak dinner tonight!” Wocca cheered. “Because those goblins are getting flanked! Eh eh?”

Pigra deadpanned at his bad joke.

“I wish someone would flank you Wocca!” Staddler called.

“Ve-a duoo hefe-a geeunt bet steeke-a boot zeey ere-a luoons nut floonks!” A dwarf dressed in a blood spattered apron popped out from the tent. He wore a cropped hat on his head. He held up the leg of a giant bat for Wocca to see.

“Master Swëdgar, he was joking.” Gizmo said as he refilled more quivers before Khermet ran out again.

“Oh it seems we have reinforcements!” Pigra cheered.

William and Hemut stepped into the gap in the wall Drew had erected. Drew launched three fireballs into the hoard of goblins, blasting them in every direction.

“Men of culture at that!” Pigra roared. “Cheers to that! I’ll take another ale!”

“Dinner and a show!” Wocca cheered. “A fireworks show!”

“More arrows Bikrin!” Khermet yelled. “That’s all we need, another hot head.”