Trillia sat in what used to be the healing hall. The name wasn't quite descriptive for it anymore. In addition to the back part of the room still being used for healing and restoration, the front part of the room had been converted into a small tavern and place to barter with the dungeon denizens themselves. Almost always via one of the goblins that could venture from the bounds of the place.

Trillia and Amelia sat at a small table close to the healing hall. Normally they'd lend their efforts toward healing. Today they were just trying to get information. It didn't take long for Gobbinz to arrive, and Trillia began to wonder just how many skills and traits the little goblin had since he appeared pretty much anywhere he was required.

"Hello, Sir Gobbinz. We have a few questions. Ba'Shoon says you can probably help." Trillia smiled at him as he approached.

Gobbinz returned the smile and joined them at their table. "I will do my best. I hope the two of you are well. I didn't get the chance at the funeral proper. We're all sorry to see that Lord Mon'tag is no longer with us."

Trillia's smile vanished at the mention of his name. Amelia saw her frown and took over. "That's part of why we are here. The two of us have decided that if we want to progress to a point we can make a difference, we need a more rounded-out group. Just the two of us aren't enough. Between the three of us, we want to recruit people from the orc and minotaur cities. To promote the use of non-combat classes amongst our kind."

Gobbinz nodded along the whole time. As she said that, he pulled a small leather-bound ledger from a pouch at his side. Trillia stared at the little goblin for a while and realized that he had slowly changed over the years. When they first met, Sir Gobbinz had this washed-out grey-green skin and a loincloth. Now his skin was a rich forest green. He sported the same orange eyes and floppy ears. But his attire had changed drastically. Rags were now a wolf skin tunic and leather pants, with well-stitched pouches hanging at his sides.

"What sort of classes are the two of you looking for?"

"In a perfect world, an armourer, an enchanter, and a cleric. Or people close to that." Amelia answered for the duo.

Gobbinz flipped through his ledger and nodded. "No armourers yet. From what the humans tell me, it's a very difficult non-combat class to acquire. There is a cleric. Worships a deity called Ora'sys, Goddess of Retribution. Only level sixty, but she's a good lass. Comes in to help out in the healing hall every few days. She's an orc named Layla; odd name for an orc."

"There are three enchanters that I know of, one human, one orc, one minotaur. The human is certainly the highest level and most skilled. But if you're set on orcs and minotaurs, I'd recommend the minotaur."

Trillia tilted her head. "Why is that?"

"Well. The orc is uhhh... trying to specialize in curses. To curse his opponents. I don't think that's what either of you are after."

"Ah... no. No, that's not what we are after. Tell us of the minotaur." Amelia prompted as he flipped through his ledger.

"He's a hard lad. A refugee from God's Watch. He's nineteen now and lost both his parents in the initial attack. His classes are a bit scattered. You can tell the poor kid was lost for most of his childhood. He's a primary enchanter, though. Does decent work and specializes in defensive enchantments. Might do him some good to see another minotaur near his age from God's Watch trying to find their place in the world."

Amelia and Trillia shared a glance, and Amelia nodded. "I agree. What's his name?"

"Malor. You'll have to travel back to the rift city to find him. Spends most of his time there, enchanting the walls. For a long time, people made fun of him for doing it. Right until a megapede pack hit the walls and did exactly no damage to the wall proper. Now he's earned begrudging respect and has even started teaching a few others how to do the job. Might be a difficult sell on leaving the city, though."

Trillia squinted her eyes and glared at Gobbinz. "How do you know all of this?"

Gobbinz smiled and tapped the ledger to his head. "Father tells me that every good organization has a master of secrets. I'm suited to the role. It also helps me to alert King Cordaos and Chieftain Tormash to troublemakers. The dungeon hears all."

For some reason, that unsettled Trillia. She trusted Red River and Sir Gobbinz, but something in her gut told her that this wasn't normally how a dungeon operated.

"What do you think for an armourer?"

Gobbinz closed the ledger and stared at the two. "Permission to speak freely?"

The girls glanced at each other, shrugged, and bobbed their heads.

"Take a human. You are both royalty amongst your people. If your entire group is composed entirely of orcs and minotaurs, it will breed mistrust with the humans. I don't blame either of you for that. Humans seem to be a dodgy lot on the best of days. But having a human in your group will ease some of that worry. It will also show everyone involved that even the royalty of their respective tribes and clans are willing to work with anyone if they have the right skill set."

Amelia scoffed and shook her head. "Ba'Shoon is right. You're becoming entirely too familiar with matters of state and diplomacy. I agree with his point. I think we should listen, Trillia."

Gobbinz only offered a devious little smirk at her words. Trillia nodded. "I'm fine with that. I just hope the orcs give non-combat classes a chance. I'm pretty sure Cleric is a combat class."

"I wouldn't worry about that. Lady Ba'Shoon has a rather extensive following. She's kind when the situation warrants it but turns to steel when confrontation arises. I think you'd be surprised how many orcs consider her and your brother to be perfect leaders for orcs. Especially after the initial worry of your mother stepping down."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Once more, the ledger was flipped open. "There's a human named Frederick. Goes by Fred. He's an armourer and a young one. Should be seventeen. Apparently, both of his parents are also armourers, so he got the class rather early and easily. Don't let that cloud your thinking that he's weak, though. His family moved into the orc city and set up their forge and shop there. I believe his father's exact words to Chieftain Tormash were. 'Your people have shite armor. It's a crime against the forge to call it such.' I think it amused Tormash more than anything. In any case, Frederick's family agreed to provide a hundred suits of armor to the orc military in exchange for the materials to build their forge and home. Tormash agreed, and that's that."

Trillia nodded and stood. "Thank you for all the help, Gobbinz. We'll be back to conquer the dungeon as soon as we have the rest of our group together."

Amelia stood and gave the goblin a hug. "Thank you for everything you do. Thank your father for us as well. I appreciate that you look out for our best interests."

Gobbinz returned the hug with a smile. "That's what allies do, Princess Amelia. We look out for each other. I look forward to your next encounter with the second-floor boss." The goblin gave them a little wave before heading off to another table to discuss things with another group of people.

Once they had left the dungeon, Amelia sighed. "Let's get the armourer first? I think convincing the humans will be the most difficult one. I know the humans are warming up to our kind. Still, I worry."

Trillia had no arguments with that, so they began asking around and eventually found themselves near the wall of the city. A large wood and stone building with an attachment that had three forges and a slew of hammers, tongs, and other equipment for metalworking. Two humans were currently working the forges, a gruff-looking man with stubble on his chin, wide shoulders, and roughly chopped hair. In addition to a stout woman who barely broke the five-foot mark. Long brown hair tied up in a bun, with a brown dress and a leather apron.

The two stood next to an anvil chatting in the human tongue. They paused when Trillia and Amelia approached. Trillia saw the man's hand slide over to the handle of a hammer. "What can we do for ya' dear misses." The man's voice was gruff but not unpleasant. The woman rested her hand on top of his, reminding him they didn't want to cause trouble.

The girls bowed slightly to them. Trillia looked at Amelia. "Do you speak the human tongue yet?" Amelia shook her head. Trillia nodded and translated as they went.

"Sir Gobbinz of Red River sent us here. He said that your son is an accomplished armourer. We're looking to put together a team to venture into the dungeon." Trillia wasn't about to lie to these people. Especially not at the same time as asking them to entrust their son to an orc.

The man's eyes darkened. "Be honest. Is it cause he's good with armor? Or because he's a human?"

Trillia translated but smiled at the man. "Both. If I'm being honest. Orcs and minotaurs haven't unlocked the armourer class yet. I also think, from a diplomatic angle, that having a human venture with us would be good for all of our people."

The woman sighed. Her voice was far softer. It took Trillia by surprise, given the woman's gruff demeanor. "Frederick is eager to strike out on his own. Humans normally leave the nest after their sixteenth year...but Alirast has gone all topsy-turvy, and I refused to let him leave with my blessing. Why should we trust you to keep him safe? Sorry miss, the orcs have been respectful to us so far. But letting us live here in peace and trusting our son to you are two very different things."

Trillia translated first before stepping forward. "I've lowered my skill that blocks scanning. Please scan me first." The two glanced at each other before scanning her. The woman's eyes went wide, and the man bowed deeply to her.

"Forgive me, lass. I had no idea you served Lord Arlyss. I meant no disrespect." The man's tone had also softened.

"Is it ok, with the two of you, if I scan you?" They both nodded, and Trillia turned on her [Mana-Sight]

[Human - Master Armorsmith - 109] Tempering Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits:

Jack-Of-All-Trades

[Human - Master Armorsmith - 107] Water Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits:

Jack-Of-All-Trades

"Sir Gobbinz was certainly right about the two of you being good at what you do. I've never seen that trait before. May I ask what it does?" Trillia smiled at the two of them. They seemed far more comfortable now that they knew she was pact-bound to Arlyss. Amelia also motioned to herself.

To Trillia's surprise, neither tensed at her class. The woman actually walked over and pulled Amelia into a hug. "I'm so sorry, dearie. I heard about your city. It's a tragedy that so many lives were lost to the beasts of this realm. The only reason we didn't suffer a similar fate is because Lord Arlyss saved us."

Amelia was shocked. Not only at being pulled into a hug but also because try as she might, she couldn't actually pull away from the woman. Trillia translated yet again. After hearing the words, Amelia offered a smile and returned the hug. "Thank you for the kind words. The loss of my home is why Trillia and I are seeking out a party. I'm done being weak. I'm done letting the beasts have their way. I don't want to lose anyone else. I give you my word. I won't abandon your son. If he dies, know that we will die at his side."

Trillia translated for Amelia. The woman teared up a little and sniffled. The man was gently running his fingers along the handle of his hammer. After a moment, he nodded. "Aye. Now I know where I've seen that name. Trillia Demonsbane. Your ma' is a legend in D'Jamu. Your brother is the current Chieftain." He motioned to Amelia with his free hand. "Yer the Princess, right? Your da' is also a legend in our city. A lot of folks say he's one of the toughest mortals out there."

The girls smiled and gave small little nods at what was said. Trillia walked up to him and extended a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. As my friend said... we want to get stronger. I was recently reminded of just how weak some of the creatures in this realm view us. If you don't trust us with your son, I don't blame you. I also want you to understand. Regardless of your decision today, it will not reflect how the tribe views you or your position in this city. I didn't reveal myself for either of you to feel pressured into accepting. I revealed myself because I wanted you to see, at least partially, what I'm capable of."

The man took his hand from the hammer and shook hers. "Tell you what. We have a shipment of metal coming in from the city on the rift. My boy and me were headed that way. Are the two of you okay to join us?"

Trillia nodded immediately. "We have business there as well. We're recruiting a minotaur that's good at defensive enchantments. Amelia and I are good at dealing damage. We just aren't very good at taking it."

The man let go of her hand. "The trait you asked about. Our crafting skills all share a level. Well, at least any crafting skill related to forge and hammer. Our boy has it as well." The man put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "It's ok, Anna. I told you that Tormash is a good leader. Makes sense the whole family is."

The woman smiled and wiped her eyes. "Silly me, getting all weepy. We're used to D'Jamu. The people there have turned cold in the last decade. Life was too hard for too long. I know that Lord Arlyss will change it. You girls take good care of my boy for me."

Nods all around before the man spoke. "We'll be ready by sunrise tomorrow. We'll meet you at the eastern gate as the sun crests the realm. That good for you?"

The girls nodded, bowed, and turned to leave. Trillia breathed a heavy sigh. "I'm surprised that went so well." As she looked over, she saw Amelia with tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"The mother...the banshee that inhabits me saw so much pain in her soul. Sometimes it's a little difficult to separate myself from it. Sorry." Trillia leaned over and gave her another hug. "Let's not add any more. We'll keep our promise to keep their son safe. Let's go and see about Layla. Tomorrow we can all go to the rift city."

Amelia returned the hug, and the two went off to look for Layla.