Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

"The hell took you so long!" Jeb snapped as he watched his kin come down from the hills. A few more raids had happened while he waited. No deaths fortunately, at least on their side. They were more prepared and got a few goblins for their trouble though.

"Dere were dis lil feller- HA! I WERE RIGHT!!!" Cole yelled as he spotted the kobolds. They weren't hiding themselves from Jeb's relatives, though they, mostly Cole, got weary looks.

"Yeah, yeah Cole. You were right. Now come on. I need your help with somethin'." Jeb said as he led his kin towards the mine.

"Hehehe... Hey! Dat means you hit me!" Cole said as he rubbed his jaw where Jeb decked him on their prior meeting.

"And I'll do it again if you don't can it and come with me!" Jeb snapped. Cole stopped his ranting save for a few more mutterings of "I were right". While a couple of boys watched the tunnel for anymore raids, they made their way towards the mine.

When they got there Jeb led them to the storage shed, after fumbling for the spare key he cracked it open and dragged out what he was after. Several secured crates of excavation charges. There even was some TNT sticks in the shed too!

"Shit Jebadiah! Yous lookin' to blowed up da whole damn place!?" Cole said as him and the others, gingerly, carried the crates back to Jeb's home.

"Nope, just got a problem with some green gophers." Jeb said as he carried along his own couple crates.

"You mean those little green critters that've been sniffin' about the place?" Someone said.

Jeb looked at the rest of his kin.

"Yeah? How do you guys know about them?"

"We've seen them snoopin' around the hills. They didn't get very far." Was the answer.

That was a problem, Jeb thought. If they have a place they hole up in, they'll need to clear it out or this is just gonna be a constant problem to deal with. But first, they needed to deal with that tunnel. The rest can come after they get some breathing room!

When they got home Jeb had some kobolds bring some picks and shovels and follow them. Jeb had the kobolds point out where exactly the tunnel was aboveground. Then they would dig a decent ways down, place a charge, wire it up, then repeat the process until there was over a dozen charges set along where the tunnel was. Rigging the charges to a detonator then setting up a little warning system, now all they had to do was wait for the little green monsters and then they'd get what's coming!

-----

Spirits were high over in Goblintown! After the initial raid they had done a few more infrequent probes. Nothing really came of them other than making the kobolds jittery as they waited for the next raid!

Sure they lost a couple more bois, but with the spawning pits spitting out more goblins he could afford the losses. They would have to do something though. The goblins were expendable and the coveralls could be made from whatever was around. The gas masks though were a little more tricky to make, or get.

Morty had an idea of "smuggling" some goblins over in sealed sacks while him and the others in gas protection carried them over, that way they would have more numbers. Maybe then they could drive them out!

He said goodbye to the recovering sisters as him and the honor guard made ready for, hopefully, one last raid. Getting geared up again, he threw a bag over his shoulder that carried two other goblins, the others could only carry one each. But with their numbers doubled he hoped they could get the job done.

So him and almost 20 other goblins, baglins included, they made their way through the gas once more. They got to the other side, no sign of sentries. That was either a good thing or bad.

They let the goblins out the bags when they cleared the gas. Then they made their way further down. The longer they went though the worse the feeling Morty got.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

They stopped dead as Morty looked down and noticed some thin fishing line that held little bells. Bells that rang as he stepped!

"THEY'RE HERE!!! NOW!!!!" Someone shouted ahead of them.

Morty looked up as he heard, and felt, booms. He then ran as the tunnel cracked and fell down on them!

The whole place rumbled as him and the goblins ran away from the crumbling tunnel. The goblins followed along. A couple died to falling rocks. Then they came to the gas cloud.

While he and the others could run through no problem. The ones they brought over were doomed as they either followed into the gas, and melted, or they stayed and got crushed from the collapsing tunnel.

Didn't matter to Morty though. They were replaceable. HE wasn't!

Rushing along the tunnel, and almost tripping on some fallen rock, he finally stopped to breathe when they entered the cavern that held Goblintown. Dirt, dust, and some remnant gas, followed behind them as it bloomed out after them.

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The cavern shook for an agonizing minute. But then it stopped and Morty let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Morty stripped out of his raid gear and made for the ogre sisters. They were, understandably, upset.

"Are you alright Master?!" The recovering Orga asked, followed by a coughing fit.

"I'm fine. Just had the whole mountain almost fall on me but other than that I'm fine!" Morty said, though with the looks they gave he wasn't sure they appreciated his light tone!

His words did put a thought in his head though. Caves were good when they were cavemen hitting each other with sticks. But they, well, HE wasn't a caveman. It also was a bad idea to have his workforce live in a cave that could collapse if an earthquake happened! He ESPECIALLY didn't want to be down here when that happens!

Speaking of "earthquake", Morty thought. Where the hell did those little shits get explosives?! His little plan was going to shit because of the kobolds. His tunnel was gone and now he was going to have the goblins work over-overtime to get it cleared!

In the meantime. He needed to get rid of those pests! If going THROUGH the earth wasn't going to work. He'll go OVER!

"Whas da plan Boss!?" Morty was shocked when he looked down and saw the goblin Headman was still alive!

"Have some boys stay here and look after the place. But most of them are moving topside! We're going to drive them out the old fashioned way!" Morty proclaimed.

The Headman made his way to organize the other goblins while Morty stayed with the ogre sisters a little longer. He was going to have them moved up top when his "warcamp" got set up. He didn't like the idea of them being down here.

For now though, he'll wait and rest. They'll strike when night comes.

-----

Over at Jeb's place they were celebrating in the backyard. Which amounted to drinking and singing! With the tunnel gone they didn't need to worry about the goblins pouring into the kobold's new home, and Jeb's backyard, anymore!

The sun was starting to set as the fires roared and music was played. Even the kobolds got into the Appalachian spirit as a couple were being taught how to play the banjo!

Cole was already plastered, if he wasn't before, when he ran into the Trap Master.

"Hey! Ifin it ain't da giant red lizshard!"

The Trap Master didn't so much as say a word as he headbutted Cole in the groin. Much to his pain, and amusement to the rest. He grinned as he walked away from the groaning human.

The wounded kobolds and even the Chief were wheeled out to join in the celebration somewhat.

Jeb sat in a lawn chair with Ruby on his lap as they just sat and watched as the party progressed. They knew this wouldn't be over. But for now, they had sometime to breath. One good thing about a hillbilly party was that almost everyone of them were carrying.

Which was good when the sun set and the woods turned to hell as the goblins rushed them while screaming!

Hundreds of them charged from the dark woods! The celebration died as Jeb's kin threw up their guns and popped off at the viet-gobs! Flaming moonshine bottles were thrown haphazardly at the rushing horde. The kobolds aided the humans, picking the goblins off at a distance with javelins, or holding them back with spears!

The humans faired better. The various hunting rifles, shotguns, and even M-16s tearing through the Greentide! A couple kobolds even picked up a spare rifle and held it two team, one aimed and fired, while the other held a trashcan lid to help stabilize and help protect him. Before long most of the goblins had been cut down.

Jeb fought some off while Ruby and a couple others rushed the wounded back into the house.

When the smoke had cleared it was a mess of blood and gore! The kobolds dragged any goblin corpses into a fire. After explaining how they spawned, the humans helped out. Either by carrying bodies to the fire, or filling in the pools that had started to form around the area.

Cole held up a green arm.

"You fink dey's good eatin?"

"Don't know Cole, why don't you take a bite and tell us?" One of the other humans said as he helped burn the goblin corpses.

Cole, perhaps seeing the sizzling and popping of the liquifying bodies decided better and threw the arm into the fire as well.

Jeb just groaned as he held Ruby at his side. None of the humans had died, though there were a few wounded. Even more fortunately no kobolds had died either! All in all range was the winner as they could hold them back with guns and spears. But they only had so much ammo. It was going to be a long night.

-----

Morty looked down at a map in his tent. The first wave had already gone to deal with the kobolds. They had set up camp in the yard outside. It was him and the ogre sisters and the remainder of his honor guard as they went over strategy.

Which was simple. Throw goblins at them until the job was done. If you have an abundance of manpower, or goblinpower in this case, exploit it like it owes you money!

He was a little concerned about them stumbling onto Jeb's. But wasn't too worried. The tunnel should've been far enough away that he shouldn't have to worry about him. If they just followed where the tunnel plans said then they should just find the kobolds. Kill them. Then get back to working on the tunnel!

-----

Jeb was sitting down with Ruby watching the wounded once again. They had guards placed out back, pretty much a firing line had been established towards the trees where the goblins had come from.

Not much is said as they just waited. They would either need to run to town, or up the mountain for supplies. Both had risks as going to town for so much ammo would look suspicious. Going up the mountain ran the risk of running into goblins.

They were shocked out of their contemplation when a knock came from the front door. Before Jeb or Ruby could do or say anything the figure opened the door and walked in.

"MA!" Jeb said as he ran and hugged his mother. Ruby however was rooted to the spot as she saw something that most certainly was not human!

What she saw was a creature in a tattered robe, and every tear held an eye that glared at her. Incessant maddened whispers filled her ears and mind. The smile it had on it's face crept wider and wider until it's whole face seemed to split open to the unnatural crevice of teeth and flesh.

Then she blinked and it was gone, and stood in the place was an ageing human woman. Friendly smile on her face as she looked at Ruby. Throwing a knowing playful wink at her before wrapping the little lizard woman in a hug.

"Oh aren't you just a precious little thing!"

"Ma, what're you doin' here this late?" Jeb asked as his mother set the kobold back down.

"What? Can't a mother visit her boy anymore?" She teased.

"That's no-" Jeb was interrupted as she snatched his hand and held it up to her face.

"What happened dear?"

Jeb sighed.

"Nothin' just a paper cut from the Library is all."

Jeb's mother smiled at the "paper cut", which to her eyes was a cleverly hidden rune branded onto his soul! What sloppy work Mathelusa, she thought.

"Oh you poor dear!" She said, then uttering something in an eldritch tongue that made Jeb and Ruby's ears buzz. She then spat on the "paper cut".

"EEEHHH!!! Why'd you do that?!" Jeb said as he rubbed his mother's spit on his pants. Soul rune clearing in the process.

"Call it a witches blessing sweetie!" She said as she pinched his cheek.

Rubbing his cheek Jeb muttered.

"Its talk like that, that folk never come this way for Halloween. Or any other time."

They were interrupted when the front door opened and Jeb's father burst in.

"JEB!!! JEB!!! ARE YOU AL-"

"Hello Sam." His mother said not looking at his father.

His father stiffened as he noticed her.

"Hilda. What're you doin' here!?"

"Now Jeb, you take care will you? And come see your mother more often! Oh, and you should get coffee in town tomorrow I heard they have a special brew that's quite enlightening. " She said as she finished pampering Jeb a little.

He mumbled a yes as she stalked towards the door. She paused as she looked over at Ruby, who still hadn't moved from her spot.

"Congratulations by the way sweetie!"

She gave a knowing wink at the confused kobold as she made for the door.

"Don't ignore me!"

She rounded on Sam so fast he almost fell over.

"I don't think you want my attention again Sam."

With a smile she left. Jeb's father collected himself before checking up on his son.

"Are you alright Jeb? It didn't do anything did it?"

Jeb just sighed.

"Can't you two ever get along!"

"That's not the issue! What did she do?!"

"Nothin'! She came to check up on me, same as you!"

"I'll bet that's all she did." Sam muttered as he examined his son.

"Is there somthin' you wanted or did you just come to bitch about Ma?"

Sam smacked Jeb in the back of the head.

"Don't get smart with me! As a matter of fact, yeah! I did. I heard explosions and gunfire! Thought I'd check up on my only piss head son!"

Jeb just gestured at himself as answer. Earning him another smack.

"Ok smartass! Your fine. Guess I'll head back to Sammy. She cursed up a storm when you swiped her hairspray!"

"Like she needed that much anyway!"

Patting him on the shoulder Sam turned to head out. Then he, finally, noticed the kobolds starring at him.

"Who're they?"

"Friends from out of town?" Jeb said uncertainly.

Sam huffed.

"Can't you get normal fuckin' friends?"

"Clive's normal!"

"Yeah, get more friends like Clive!" He huffed as he left.

Jeb just rubbed his face in exhaustion. It was obvious Ruby wanted answers, but he was too drained to give them right now. So he picked her up and sat her next to him as they both got some rest.