Trout's Landing.

Jeb and the Chief wandered through the admin building as they looked around the place. While the kobolds would be perfectly fine living under the sycamore tree in tunnels and burrows. Jeb wasn't. Which meant cleaning the place up. First things first though, Jeb thought as he went over and pulled the handle on the sink, earning him nothing other than a squeaky faucet.

"So, no power. No runnin' water unless you wanna count the river." Jeb muttered and opened the oven door and found a family of opossums staring back at him.

"Whoops, sorry friends." Jeb apologized to the furry marsupials and closed the oven door again.

"And no gas either." He said as he looked around the kitchen that was covered in dust and rust in equal measure.

"So what are your plans, Master Jeb?" The Chief asked as he and a small handful of kobolds followed them around, some exploring the other cabinets while they spoke.

"Well, don't really need the gas with firewood available. And we can fashion a simple tub to bath in." Jeb stated as he locked the oven door to prevent the kobolds from disturbing the opossum family. They probably got in another way anyhow, Jeb thought.

"What about power?" The Chief asked as the other kobolds already began to pilfer the pots and pans.

"Honestly? I don't know. We could pump the water out of the generator room but I don't know how long its been soakin' in it. So it could just be a giant pile of scrap for all we know."

Not like we needed power across the lodge either, Jeb thought. He could apparently see in the dark. Or rather his eyes provided him with enough light to see in the dark. Still something to get used to, along with being able to conjure fire now too. He wasn't sure what the difference was between normal fire and the blue kind he could make. They both burned the same except for the fact that the blue fire didn't burn him. It still cooked things so there was at least that.

Jeb looked around at the kitchen, at first thought he wondered if he even really needed it when he could just conjure food at will. Then again, he wanted meat. Fresh fish, steak, porkchops, chicken. None of which he really wanted to find out if he could conjure them at will. No telling what they'd look, or even taste like, if he tried!

So with a sigh he left the kitchen to be pilfered by the kobolds as he left with the Chief and a few others close behind. He made his way out the admin building, taking a quick second to peek in on Ruby and their eggs. Which was still surreal to him to think about.

They stepped out of the dingy building to a lodge that was a bustle with life. Kobolds came to and fro as they went about their tasks. Buckets and wheelbarrows were being used to move dirt and rock from beneath the sycamore tree as they made steady progress towards building a proper kobold burrow beneath its roots.

Over in the distance he could see many kobolds doing their best as they speared fat catfish or reeled in bass or trout. Some of them would occasionally panic and be forced to cut the lines before some fish bigger than they were would take their bait and they would run the risk of being dragged into the freezing water! Along the river the lodge hugged, traps that held fish and some crawfish were pulled up and quickly secured against glutinous salamanders trying to nab a free meal while they lounged lazily on the pier and rocks nearby.

Jeb looked over to where he could see the Trap Master talking with his skirmishers about something before they nodded and rushed off into the woods nearby. Probably to scout more now that the spiders were dealt with, Jeb thought as he made his way over to the cabin with the fallen tree on it. The cabin was still standing but the roof was caved in because of the tree. But first they had to decide what to do with the cabin.

"Do you have any ideas?" Jeb asked the Chief.

"Well, while the extra space would be welcome, we don't need it. I fear that even if we were to remove the tree that the cabin would still be left abandoned."

"So it'd be better to just tear it all down then." Jeb said as he looked at the cabin.

"Alright, round up some folk and we'll get this torn down." Jeb declared and the other kobolds ran off to secure more help while the Chief stayed with Jeb as the two looked over the place.

"How do you plan to do it?" The Chief asked as they circled the cabin.

"Well, my plan is to use the tree to bring the cabin down." Jeb explained as a group of twenty kobolds came over with a team of salamanders in tow.

"Right, you lot go to the back of the tree and secure some rope around the roots. The rest of you head to the front and get ready to push on my mark!" Jeb ordered as the kobolds nodded before heading off to get into position.

The kobolds split up into two groups, one at the back near the tree had ropes secured around the salamanders like harnesses. The ones at the front placed their claws onto the front of the cabin and made ready to follow Jeb's command. Jeb went towards the back had a few help dig out the roots of the tree so that it would be easier to pull. Once enough space was dug out and roots were cut from where they had started to entrench the tree, Jeb headed to the front while the Chief stayed at the back as they all made to follow Jeb's signal.

"Now!" Jeb called and the kobolds around him began to push even as those at the back near the tree pulled.

They heaved and pushed against the old cabin while those at the back strained and grunted to pull the tree. The diggers continued to chip away at root and dirt both as the tree groaned and steadily began to pull away from the cabin. From Jeb's side they could hear the cabin groan in tandem and feel as the whole thing shifted as the tree was pulled back.

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"Heave!" Jeb called and the kobolds redoubled their efforts. Jeb sweated and strained as he pushed against the worn wood of the cabin beneath his hands he could feel the cabin groan in protest as he could feel something within it begin to crack and snap and he could see the cabin beginning to lean.

"ONCE MORE!" Jeb called again and the kobolds pushed and pulled one last time at his command.

The tree moved and groaned as it was pulled by the kobolds and salamanders. The branches that were within the cabin acting as hooks that fastened to the cabin and forced it to follow its path backwards. The cabin groaned in protest even as the couple of windows that remained shattered and broke as the wooden cabin shifted from the great effort.

With a final crack, the cabin cried out as momentum carried it down with the tree! Wooden walls tumbled and joined the tree upon the ground. The surrounding kobolds backed away as a cloud of dust billowed from the impact of the cabin finally succumbing to their joint efforts.

Jeb coughed as he waved his hand in order to clear some of the dust away. Even before he could see the demolished cabin he could pick out streaks of red as the kobolds already got to work scavanging the ruins. Glass shards and brick from the fireplace were taken elsewhere along with what was left inside the cabin as even that wasn't exempt and he could see remains of bedding and furniture being sifted through and taken by kobolds that apparently had come by in order to watch them tear down the cabin.

As the dust cleared he could see the ruins properly now. Piles of wood and brick littered the space where the floor was. Remnants of the roof were now joined by broken brick and shattered wood from the rest of the cabin. He could see the rest of the tree as it was pulled the rest of the way out of the wreck by the kobolds and salamanders as the Chief trotted up to him.

"Great work Master Jeb!" The Chief stated.

"Of course, thanks for the assistance." Jeb returned as they both watched kobolds gather the wood from the cabin while others ran over to the tree with axes and began to process it into something more manageable and useful.

"So what are you gonna do with it?" Jeb asked.

"The worst of the wood will be used as fuel for the fires. The rest will be used to create supports for the tunnels or used to help repair some of the buildings and tools." The Chief explained.

Jeb nodded and left the kobolds to their work as he made his way over to the river to help clean off the dust he was no-doubt covered in. As he steeled himself for the freezing cold and dunked himself into the river he heard the sounds of clawed feet approaching. He shook himself off and turned to find some of the skirmishers come towards him with looks like they were doing something they weren't supposed to.

One of the them that carried a long rifle approached and spoke to him in an almost conspiratorial tone.

"Master Jeb?"

"Yeah? What's wrong?" Jeb asked as he looked around. Ready for whatever might got them acting skittish.

The skirmishers looked to where the Game Warden's cabin was before shuffling closer to him and spoke in a whispered tone.

"Could you perhaps assist us?"

"Of course. But you'll have to tell me what it is before I can." Jeb said as he dunked his head into the river once more before coming up with a gasp and heading over to a nearby firepit to warm up, the skittish skirmishers following close behind.

"We were wondering if you might perhaps assist us in something?"

"Like what?"

The skirmishers glanced over to the Game Warden's cabin was once again before shuffling closer.

"Would it be possible if you could assist us in getting somewhere?"

"Oh? Where do you wanna go?" Jeb asked a little concerned.

The kobolds pointed their claws towards the top of the cliff on the other side of the river. Jeb gave a whistle.

"Up there huh?"

The kobolds nodded as the one that spoke continued.

"We wish to put our longer rifles to better use! And we can't do that from down here! There's too many trees in the way, even down by the road! They're going to waste and we want to put their range to its full use!"

The other kobolds nodded as they held fast to their long rifles. Jeb could get behind that. If you were good with it why change, he thought as he looked down at the kobolds then up at the cliff that was practically a sheer climb. They'd need some kind of support to climb it. He had an idea for it though.

"Sure I'll help, but we need a few things first." Jeb said as the kobolds smiled and followed after him while keeping eyes on the Game Warden's cabin and the Trap Master that was inside.

"Let's see let's see. Where did they ah ha!" Jeb cheered as he found where the kobolds had stored the metal fencing they had torn down.

Alot of it wasn't in good condition as it was rusted and filled with holes from wear and tear. But there should be enough to do what he wanted, Jeb thought as he gathered a few sheets of the wire fencing and gave them to the kobolds.

"Get as many of these that're in good condition and bring them over near the river." Jeb said as he made to find some tools.

This place must've had some sort of storage for tents, Jeb thought as he wandered into the admin building and shifted through desks and tables before opening the closet and finding what he was looking for! He grabbed some line, a hammer, and some metal tent stakes before heading back towards the edge of the river where he could see the kobolds had gathered plenty of good wire fence.

"Good! This'll work fine!" Jeb declared.

"What is this all for?" One of them asked.

"Easy. Roll that up and follow me." Jeb said as he went over to the boathouse. The kobolds shrugging and following behind as some of them rolled up the wire fencing as best they could before following.

Jeb threw his tools into a rowboat and helped the kobolds do the same before they dragged it out and into the water. Jeb hopped in and assisted the kobolds before he began to row them over towards the cliff on the other side of the river. The kobolds looked warily at the cold water so close to them. Jeb wasn't sure why at first until he remembered that they were cold-blooded. Would his kids be cold-blooded too, Jeb thought idly as they neared the cliff and Jeb plopped the small anchor over the side to secure them against the pull of the river.

"Good. Now hand me a sheet of fence." Jeb said as he rose unsteadily in the rowboat.

The kobolds unrolled a single sheet of fence and handed it to Jeb. He placed it against the stone face.

"Now hand me a stake and hammer."

The kobolds did so and watched as Jeb hammered a tent stake into the stone. The hook on the stake securing the wire fencing against the cliff! Jeb repeated this process three more times before he pulled on the wire firmly and stepped away from the cliff and looked at the wire fencing turned wall climb.

"Well? Try it out!" Jeb said and gestured to the wire.

The kobolds looked scared and unsure, but one of them gulped and walked unsteadily towards the wire. He turned and looked up at Jeb who just smiled and nodded encouragingly. The kobold took a deep breath and grabbed ahold of the wire. Then he took his other claw and grabbed on. Then a third. Then a fourth. Until he was suspended in the air and completely off the boat!

The kobolds muttered and cheered. They all turned and looked when they heard others cheering too and saw some of the tribe gathered on the pier and riverbank as they watched them work! The kobolds smiled and waved at the onlookers for a moment before handing Jeb another sheet of fence so he could repeat the process.

Sheet by sheet, tent stake by tent stake. They climbed up the cliff face. Using the length of line Jeb had they secured themselves to the stakes as they climbed more and more until they ran out of fencing. Which was a good thing though, Jeb thought. The wind was already getting pretty cold at this height and the kobolds had to retreat back down. He turned and looked out around him. He was maybe 20-30ft above the lodge. All around him he could see trees and mountains. He could see the road that came this way and the rest of the river through some of the trees.

If the kobolds wanted to make sniper perches from up here they would have either dig them out or build them. Both had their own problems, Jeb thought as he looked at the cliff and back down at the lodge. For starters, he they were going to dig some out then they would need some way to get the rock and stone moved without it falling on their boat or those beneath. If they were going to build some they would also need an easier way to move the building materials over the river and up the cliff.

Jeb looked over to where a bit of mountain jutted just behind the lodge. It was roughly about level from where he was. Perhaps some sort of rope bridge or zipline, Jeb thought as he shivered and headed back down to the kobolds. As he began to climb back down, he saw something further up the river to his left. Some weird shadow in the water swimming in the river towards the lodge.

"What the hell?"

He watched as the strange shadow swam right up to a fish trap as it was just about to be hoisted up. The kobold that tried to pull it up struggled and fought with whatever had latched onto the trap as Jeb made his way back down as the struggle got worse and worse and a couple other kobolds came over to assist the first one.

As Jeb got to the boat however they managed to pull the trap up. Along with whatever was trying to steal the trap or whatever was inside it. Jeb watched a slimy green fishlike creature with arms and legs of a frog was yanked from the water and plopped against the pier.

The thing stood up and was just shorter than the kobolds in terms of height. It blinked and gurgled as it stared at them all from the two eyes it had on either side of it's greenish blue fishlike head/body which had a deep blue streak along its side and several long rubbery protrusions on its back that wobbled with every movement it made. As the kobolds and the strange fish thing stared at one another it suddenly lunged forwards and took the trap that was forgotten by the kobolds during the strange encounter.

With a gurgle it hopped back into the river and Jeb could see its froglike shadow swimming away up river as they rowed back towards the shore. Jeb could hear their chatting from where he was, some of them thought that it was some kind of fishkin or one of the frogfolk. But Jeb had a different theory.

"Was that a fuckin' murloc?"