Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

"NO! 1 pig plus 1 pig equals 2 pigs!" Clive shouted up at Sloth as he, once again, failed to grasp basic math.

"Wonpig!" Sloth called as he picked up said pig and skewered it.

Clive threw his math book aside in frustration and took a seat by the roaring bonfire.

"You do know tha' it'd be easier ta teach tha pigs there than tha giant 'ere right?" Kilpa chimed in as she sat nearby, watching Clive struggle to give Sloth a basic education.

While Sloth was, understandably, weary of the halflings. Once he realized that she was with Clive he seemed to accept her, or at least he didn't try and turn her into paste.

Which Clive was starting to wish he had. Her constant ribbing wasn't helping his frustration. Even teaching Jeb some of the advanced stuff he learned in college wasn't this hard!

Of course he was 90% sure that Jeb didn't remember any of what Clive showed him, but at least he TRIED to understand it. With Sloth it was like teaching a rock calculus! If Kilpa was right than maybe he would have better luck teaching the rock rather than the giant.

But he wasn't going to tell her that.

"Not helping!"

"Oi! Ain't my fault tha giant's thick as a mountain 'nd as dumb as one!" She snapped back.

"I know! Just, why is it so hard? This is basic stuff that kids learn with little problems."

"Maybe he just DOESN'T want ta learn? E'er think o' tha'?" She said as she rocked her feet on the stump she sat on.

"Ignorance is bliss isn't it." Clive admitted. Maybe it was a futile gesture trying to teach Sloth. After all, what was he going to do with it? Calculate how many pigs he needs to eat? Not like he's going to college or university. Hell, the only way he's going to school would be as a walking bus or lab experiment.

The former probably wouldn't be so bad. But Clive'll be damned if some lab coats come to cut open his friend! Gigantism didn't make people this big so he couldn't just bullshit his way out if anyone saw him.

Clive looked at Sloth, happily eating away at his roasted pig. Why did he want to teach him? Was it because he thought the halflings were too intrenched in their ways to be taught something from a college? Or was it some fatherly or brotherly instinct? He had to admit that despite the size difference he has grown protective of the giant.

Not like he needed it. Other than the lake, it seemed like Sloth would be fine dealing with most stuff... except maybe several Hellfire Missiles. But that was a thought he didn't want to have so soon. Besides, if the military got involved it was most likely for something else.

Like Morty's goblins. Speaking of which. He probably should stop by to at least check on him one of these days. He was mad at him but he was still his friend. Another thing to add to the list. Deal with conflict between Kilpa and the kobolds. Get Jeb and Morty to settle things.

He scratched "teach Sloth" off the list as it seemed that even some of the most basic stuff just refused to enter that giant, thick head of his. He looked at Sloth, so content to be simple. Eat, sleep. That was pretty much all he did. Or at least all Clive has seen him do, and he seemed happy to do so.

Conceding, Clive got up and said goodbye to Sloth for the day. Kilpa hopped down from her spot and skipped along after him. Sloth gave a mighty wave at his friend and the halfling that followed him.

Clive and Kilpa reached the edge of the halfling tent-town after a few minutes of quiet walking. He didn't want to talk about the kobolds just yet, and she didn't want to push for conversation. So they had nothing but semi-awkward silence on their return journey.

Clive could see that Skeeter had arrived with building materials for the hothouse and was in the process of setting it up. While most halflings went about their business some had taken the leap and started to aid Sam and the growing number of bodies in building the town.

It looked like word got out and the dozen or so men have doubled since yesterday. While none of the halflings were eager to operate the machinery, like the excavator or saw table, many were still willing to help. Either by carrying tool-boxes or even helping build themselves! Of course it was a little awkward given the size difference of the humans and halflings. But after a time they started to find a rhythm!

"TIMBER!!!" A shout came out as a tree was felled nearby.

Clive looked at the source and found a mixed group of halflings and humans felling trees from the woods nearby. Clive walked over and asked what it was they were doing.

"Wood fer homes 'nd tha waterwheel!"

"What about the lumber that Sam and them brought?" Clive asked as worry mounted. If they were already cutting into the woods nearby then the time between them and Sloth meeting again was coming sooner rather than later!

"Well o' course we 'ave tha'! But wha' 'bout tomorrow? Or tha next?" A halfling asked.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"As nice as this job is, it doesn't make sense to buy and haul lumber when these woods are right here." One of the human workers said.

"Aye! So we're makin' a stockpile fer later 'nd ta clear land fer future farmin'!" The halfling continued.

Well shit, fix one problem and two more pop up, thought Clive as the tree was processed and moved before the lumberjacks moved to the next tree. If the halflings bred like he thought and Hamish has said, then a decent chunk of the woods will be cut down!

"Well. Good luck then!" Clive said as he walked away. One problem with urban development is that its a constant hungry beast. The bigger it gets the more it needs. It wouldn't shock him if most of the woods near the halfling colony was stripped clean for farming.

"Shit!" Clive cursed aloud. He should probably warn the halflings of going east towards the mountains then. He already had one problem with Kilpa and the kobolds at Jeb's. He didn't need them getting into it with his kin in the hills too!

"Wha's wrong?" Kilpa asked. Clive forgot for a moment that she was still with him.

"Problems. Lots of problems that seem like they sprout up the second you fix them." He said exasperated and overwhelmed.

"Oh? What problems?" She asked. Maybe now he would tell her what's on his mind, she thought.

He stopped and looked around to make sure they had some privacy. While other halflings were nearby, the sounds of development were enough to mask their talking.

"With them cutting into the woods west, their going to meet Sloth before long!"

"Well... he can move can't he?"

"Move where?! He's a GIANT! He can't just blend into the background!"

Kilpa stopped to think. Clive was right. A giant was something they couldn't hide for long. Even if they wanted to, the other halflings weren't going to chance having a giant nearby. Even if he was friendly with Clive didn't mean that he would forgive the other halflings for trying to drive him off once already.

"Not only that but if the colony decides to go east then they run into the mountains!"

"Wha's wrong with tha'? Sure we ain't hardy like tha dwarves but mountains ain't much o' an issue."

"No. But the gun-totting paranoid and not-at-all friendly to strangers people LIVING in the mountains and hills are!"

"Oh." She said plainly. She was familiar with rural people that live out in areas like the ones to the east of them. She was prepared to handle people like them. But the rest of the halflings weren't.

"And then there's the business between you and the kobolds that I have to deal with!" Clive blurted as the increased pressure caused him not to hold back.

"Wait. Wha' were tha'?"

"...What was what?" Clive asked as what he just said processed in his mind.

"Tha' bit 'bout me 'nd kobolds? Wha' were tha'?"

Fuck my life, Clive thought. He wanted to wait for a more appropriate time. Then again it wasn't exactly a topic you bring up during drinks! Better deal with it now then!

"Well, since the cats out of the bag. It would seem that those kobolds that you and your friends slaughtered are here in our world. And they're staying with my friend."

Kilpa paused at that information. The kobolds were here? In this world?

"But... How?"

"I don't know. They said that they went through a portal and ended up here!"

"'Nd they're stayin' with yer friend?! He's likely dead 'nd you don' care?!"

"He isn't dead! Me and Hamish just spoke with him AND the kobolds yesterday!"

"If he ain't then why are they still breathin'?!"

"Cause they're fucking people Kilpa! They walk and talk and think just like we do!"

"They're thieves 'nd raiders is wha' they is! Leave 'em fer long 'nd they'll be pilligein' us befer long!"

"And you would be to if a giant fucking dragon told you to!"

"Tha' don't excuse tha' fact tha' they're thievin' monsters!"

"Doesn't matter! My friend swears by them and I'm sticking with him!"

Kilpa couldn't believe what she was hearing! Not only were the kobolds here of all places. But not one but TWO humans were now DEFENDING them! She took a calming breath before speaking again.

"Clive. Kobolds are like gophers. As cute 'nd cuddly as they might seem. They are dangerous in large numbers! It's better ta cull them 'fore they become a problem!"

Clive got a dark look on his face.

"The same could be said for halflings too. After all, with such explosive growth maybe it would be better if we just cull your population before YOU become a problem!"

Kilpa took a step back as if she had been struck!

"You would side with those thieves o'er me? O'er US?!"

"No! I'm siding with my friend! My friend of over 20 years and the word of said friend over the woman I met just a few days ago! I don't know how things work on your world but here on planet Earth we have this thing called loyalty! And I'm loyal to my friend!" Clive shouted. He looked around when he realized it had grown quiet.

All around him halflings and humans had stopped their work to watch him and Kilpa yell and fight. He didn't care anymore though. He stormed off towards his car, leaving Kilpa in shocked silence.

Sam saw the whole thing and made to comfort Clive on his warpath.

"Cliven? Everythin' alright son?"

"Yes! Everything's fine! I've just had enough of halflings for one day!" Clive shouted as he got in his car and sped away towards town.

While Clive had left. Kilpa still stood in her spot as MANY eyes swiveled towards her. Well, the halflings did. The humans seemed to realized what just happened and went back to work. But the halflings just gave her judging looks. She was already more or less an outcast, while Clive was a big hero. For finding them a new home, for dealing with Sloth the first time, and for the aid of his human friends.

And now he was upset at her. It didn't matter for what. It was just seen as someone of higher standing being upset with someone of lower standing, and that was enough for the halflings.

She shuffled with a mix of shame, embarrassment, and frustration. After she'd had enough of the gazes of the rest of the halflings she bolted towards her own tent in tears.

In the meantime. Two other halflings smiled as they watched their own prospects of relations with Clive just increase.

For Addie this meant that Stella was now a better alternative to the very loose Carrie and the now out of favor Kilpa! While Carrie just saw it as an extra obstacle moved out of her inevitable destination of being Clive's mistress!

After many minutes of driving Clive found himself driving down the driveway of the Duval Estate. Morty might be many things but he was still a good friend in times of need. Even if he was a shithead most of the time.

He got out of his car and made for the door. But stopped when he saw the goblins, who were taller, and more tanned, than when he last saw them.

He walked up to the door and knocked. While he waited he looked around, and saw a scuffle happen nearby as what looked like two goblins fight over a pair of hedge sheers. After a moment a victor emerged and plunged said sheers into the chest of the loser. As the body was dragged off the victor got to work trimming the hedges with the now bloody sheers.

The door opened to reveal a goblin dressed in a butlers suit.

"Who are you?!"

"Uhm, I'm Clive. I'm here to see Morty?" Clive said with uncertainty.

The goblin gave him a weird look before slamming the door. Clive, unsure what to do, stood at the door with the two goblins. Though as he examined them more the more he realized that they're hobgoblins! Or some kind of proto-hobgoblin. Their features weren't quite what he remembered from the gamebooks the three friends played with. But they looked similar enough to them.

As he continued to examine the proto-hobgoblins the door opened to reveal the goblin butler again.

"Da Boss will see you in da kitchen!"

The butler opened the door to allow him entry. As he walked into the foyer he looked around as several other goblins hurried about in servants outfits and other hobgoblins in military uniforms stride by.

Just what's happened since last he saw Morty, Clive thought.

"Clive! In here!"

Clive went over to the sound of Morty's voice. He entered the lavish kitchen, where he saw Morty eating a meal of fish, potatoes, and colored greens. To either side of him were two female ogres. Both had to hunch just to fit in the kitchen but even then they were still intimidating to look at.

"Glad you stopped by! What can I do you for?"

"Well, where to start. Where did the hobgoblins come from?"

"The what?"

Clive wasn't surprised. Morty was someone that whenever he DM'd he just threw whatever looked scary at him and Jeb.

"The taller tan goblins. You do know they're hobgoblins right?"

"Huh. How 'bout that! I've just been calling them Red Caps!"

Of course he does.

"Anyway. What's new since last we hungout?"

"You mean when you stopped Jeb from killing me?"

"You mean when I stopped Jeb from doing what Jeb always does when you tease him too much?"

"Potato potato! Anyway. Where to start? Um, the mine was lost, my father took my grandpa off life support, I killed my father, took over the-"

"WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! What was that last one?!"

Morty chewed a piece of fairly overcooked fish before answering.

"Oh yeah. I killed my father. Over there in the foyer. All the servants too."

Clive just looked shocked and dumbfounded at Morty as he sipped at his glass of bourbon.

"What the fuck?!"