After the swing. A prompt appeared.

Congratulations. You have slain a level 5 Rabbit. You have been awarded 75 experience points. May you find your way on the path of power.

With a disgruntled sigh a rusted dagger was removed from a sheathe. And the rope was cut. Dropping the rabbit to the ground. The large red hands picked up the rope. And dangled the sport in front of its face. “Seventy nine experience. What a joke.” With a thought he pulled up his character sheet.

Name: Red

Race: Mountain Goblin

Level 4

Age: 20

Exp: 7369 / 10,000

Hp: 90/90

Mana: 40/40

Stamina: 70/70

Strength

Agility

Constitution

Intelligence

Wisdom

Charisma

Endurance

Luck

11

6

9

5

4

5

7

6

Mountain Goblins are much sturdier, bulkier stock than their green cousins. Years of living in the mountain ranges has enhanced their physiques to contend with the Dwarves and Trolls that share those mountains as homes. Mountain Goblins get 1 point of strength, 1 point of constitution and 3 points to distribute per level.

Red could never understand how other hunters leveled up. The experience he and his gang got from killing animals was pitiful. They had only gotten to the level they were at now because of quests they had completed for other goblins in the warren. If he had been assigned to the monster hunting squad. He would probably be going for his trial to become a professional warrior. But the average animal they hunted brought less than ninety experience.

Dropping the bunny and the rope into his sack there was a sickening sound as the blood soaked bag had the body settle in it. He left the bait he had left out and began to walk back through the underbrush. Traveling through the forest never sat quite right with him. Being surrounded by the green and shrubbery made him feel smothered. Like nature itself was trying to lure him. And the lack of any kind of roof made him wary of anything flying. Terrible place.

Climbing over the large mound of dirt. Red was in a clearing. A homestead was off in the distance. Even from this far it was obvious that it had been ransacked. The windows smashed. Door torn ajar. If there were any other humans around his group would have been found by now. Crossing the distance he walked into the open door and made his way into the first room.

The room had been a human dining area. The large table in the center had been taken out and placed on the cart that the goblins had brought with them. The same was done with the dishes they had found in the cooking area. Taking his beating stick off of his waist. Red struck a pot he had hung off of the roof. Trying to signal to his gang that he wanted a meeting.

After a few bangs the sound of scurrying feet came from the upper levels of the farm house. Then three distinct looking goblins made their way into the dining room. All three of the goblins were much shorter than Red himself. They stood in the middle of the room while Red stood in front of the door.Taking the beating stick. Red pointed it at the goblin on the far left. ”Pebble. What did you do with the bodies?” The red goblins' voice became a bit gruff. With a commanding tone.

Pebble stood three foot two inches. Though that was only because his knees forced him to squat slightly. His skin was a brownish orange. And his head had gray pointy bumps instead of hair. Each of them felt like rocks. And were the size of Red’s thumb. Both his arms and legs were long for someone of his height. The way his knees bent not only made him short. But it put his hands near the ground. Almost dragging his nails against the ground. Hearing his name called Pebble stood up a bit. Though he barely moved from how he was standing before. “Oh! Wells. I took all the humies. And I dragged them out to the fields. Then I used my hands to dig holeses.” Pebble held up his hands. Showing his claw like fingers. Each was a bit longer. And the skin on his fingers was callused. “Then I threw them in. And buried them again!” With that Red gave a nod of his head and a grunt of acceptance.

“Good. Now..” Red moved the stick to the right. Until it pointed at the next goblin. A Bog Goblin. He had gray skin and a head of white hair. An uncombed mop of frizzy white hair pointing in every direction. He stood at four feet even and his gray face was scrunched in his normal frown. His nose was more bulbous. Its shape was more like a plum than the normal hook noses goblins came with. “Fen! What valuables did you find?” As he was called on Fen cleared his throat. His sneer was clear on his face. But Red didn’t detour. He kept his eyes firmly on the gray skinned Goblin.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Yaagh!” Fen gave an exhausted groan of acceptance. He brought out two sacks. One the size of an orange and the other was the size of a filled potato sack. His voice was filled with the righteous sense of knowing that this place had nothing of value. And Red should have listened to him from the start. “I put all the coins and valuables we found in this bag.” He gave a slap to the belt pouch. Knowing it was filled with everything of value that they found on this trip. Red didn’t enjoy the rough treatment of the burlap pouch. He picked up the bag and took a look inside the small pouch.

Congratulations! You have found 4 gold, 15, silver, and 30 copper. You have also found 2 small pearl gold wedding rings, 1 minor ruby ring, and 1 small amber gold ring.

It wasn’t as much as a raiding party would bring back. But they might get some good gear in exchange for this bundle of goodies.

The gray goblin took note of his leader's reaction. And moved on to the second bag. “And this one.” He gave the bag some soft pats. “Is for the quest.” Fen’s tone changed for the first time. He dropped his knowing superior tone. Now only speaking with a neutral tone.

Red’s eyes opened wide. Not realizing that the disgruntled goblin had done anything to complete the task they were given before they left. He gave a nod of approval. And moved to the next and last goblin.

With the mossy green skin common among most of the goblins in their warren. Pok stood five inches above Fen. His ears were big and fin shaped. Large and floppy. His nose was hook shaped and a full 4 inches long. There was one large brown mole sitting half way on his nose. It was the size of Red’s pinkie nail. The size of a pebble. Pok’s finger was stuck in his nose. Moving in a circular motion to dig even deeper in the cavity.

Even with the club in his face. Pok was spaced out and digging even deeper. Red slammed his stick against the makeshift gong. “Ugly!” That time the roaring voice caught the goblin’s attention. He looked up lazily. Not sure why he was being yelled at.

“What you want?” His voice was more annoyed than angry. And his finger made no attempt to leave his nose.

Red grunted annoyed. “Did you find any meat?”

The goblin froze his finger after the question was asked. His brain took a full half second to think of an answer. “Well…I looked out back. But there were no animals. Well there were dogs. But those don’t taste good. No cows or pigs. Not even chickens. I looked in an old shed. And they hads plenty of salted meats.” Pok pointed at a bag that was left on the floor in front of one of the cupboards.

The goblins had killed the family a few days ago. Which meant that rats and other insects had begun creeping into the house. A clear sign that Pebble had not done his job as quickly as he tried to convey. To Red’s disgust. The bag was being looked over by a few furry little rats. “Mmh. Alright. I suppose that’s good enough. I caught a few rabbits. Fen. You help Pebble catch a few rats. I’m going to put the loot on one of the carts they had out back. Pebble. Help me carry all this stuff. We leave once night falls.”

The three goblins in front of him made a few annoyed grunts and remarks. But they eventually conceded and went to do what he had ordered.

Pebble waddled over to the bag that Pok had left on the floor. Lifting it up to his chest before moving to the back door. As he passed by Red. The larger goblin put the sack with the treasure on top of the bag Pebble was already carrying. Sticking it on as an afterthought. And in a spot that wasn’t entirely secure.

Red himself picked up the bag with the items needed for their quest. He held it gingerly in his large hands. Cradling it to cause no harm to what was inside.

The two goblins made their way outside. And moved to the back side of the house where a stable was built. The horses had gotten spooked by their assault on their house. And had run away. If the damn things had been tied down properly. Then they’d be able to carry the cart no problem. But now Red would have to…improvise.

Entering the stable. Red looked at the small room built on the house. The floor was covered in hay. And there were spaces for three horses. And at the long end of the room. Tucked away in the back. A wooden cart was set. The lack of light made it a bit dark. But everything was visible enough. Pebble approached the cart. And looked curiously at the vehicle. Red followed the Rock Goblin’s lead.

The cart looked to be in ok shape. It wasn’t designed to take a large load of goods. Instead it looked rather small. Only enough room to carry four people. Not including the driver. This would probably be easier than he thought.

“How's we gonna bring this back to the warren?” Pebble asked Red walked right past him and stepped up on the back of the cart. He had to squeeze in since there wasn’t a lot of space between the cart and the wall. But he settled it in. Right under one of the seats. In between the seat and the floor of the cart.

“The warren is half a day’s walk from this farm.” Red stepped from the back of the cart onto the driver's seat. “But that was us moving at a regular pace. But if one of us had to move slower. It shouldn’t take more than a day.” Putting out one of his hands. He gestured for Pebble to hand over the bags he was holding.

Pebble cocked his head to the side. Obviously confused with Red’s response. Handing over the bags. Pebble tried to clarify what he wanted to know. “That doesn'ts explain how we are going to gets back with the cartses. You needs a horse for thats!”

Tossing the bags in the back. Both of them landed haphazardly on the seat. Little care was given for their well being. Looking back to his rock covered goblin friend. Red gave an annoyed grunt as he jumped down between the two reins of the cart. He grabbed the two shafts on the small cart. And began to pull them as he walked towards the door. “No we don’t.” Was Red’s simple reply.

He took a step and pulled forward. There was more resistance than he thought they were. Looking back as he continued to apply force. He saw that the cart had been here for a while. The wheels were entrenched in the dirt. And making it stuck in place. With a small groan Red gripped the shafts tighter. And yanked on the cart with a mighty pull.

With that single jerk motion. The cart came out of it’s rut. And the force Red was applying was soon all on his person. Sending him into the ground with a mighty thud. “Grrah!” He let out a mighty yelp as he fell to the ground.

Taking a second to get back up to his feet. Red could hear three voices laughing at him. Bringing his head off the ground. He could see all three of his subordinates. Pebble was a few steps away from him. And the other two had gotten into the stable just in time to see him fall. And took no time to begin laughing.

Their shrill laughs made his blood boil a bit. He got up to his feet. Grabbing the shafts of the cart he began walking. Pebble was too busy laughing to notice the cart moving. And the other two hadn’t noticed him moving either.

Fen and Pok were blocking the door. So Red pushed past them by kicking them both in the asses to the side. “I’m headed back to the warren. If any of you sad sacks want to come back with me. You better come now. Because the rewards won’t be waiting for anyone else!” With that the three goblins made a mad dash for the cart. The Bog and ugly goblin got their first. And Pebble was able to get on before Red made it back into the forest.