While I hoped that Dróttinn was smart enough to have taken the necessary precautions, I decided to make a list of my concerns, just in case. Moving to the bookshelf, I flew up to the top shelf and grabbed some paper, ink, and quills before sitting down on the table. I didn’t really want to stand on the chair and write, so I might as well sit on top of the table instead.

After pondering for a few minutes, I dipped the quill in ink and began writing out factors that might be influential in any upcoming conflicts.

Sources of Concern

* Guard the food and water sources.

* Guard other resources, such as the dire weasels.

* Prepare backup supplies.

* Scout the perimeter of the tribe’s territory.

* Limit access points to the territory.

* Reinforce defenses.

* Prepare shelters for non-combatants.

* Prepare escape routes.

* Ensure secure communication lines.

* Prepare for casualties.

* Create contingency plans.

I left out several ideas since I considered them long-term plans or are simply not feasible. For example, while some of the kobolds were capable fighters, most kobolds were trappers and miners. While the trappers would be useful, the traps were already in place, and therefore, trappers wouldn’t be quite as useful. “When I am in charge,” I said to no one in particular, “I am definitely going to implement some type of combat training for all kobolds.”

Looking down at the essentials for defending the kobold tribe’s territory, I decided a few of things I had written down could be eliminated. Preparing backup supplies was probably not possible, at least not with the number of growing kobold newborns. If I had any indication of how much the average kobold wyrmling could eat, I was already amazed the tribe was able to scrounge enough food to satisfy all the hungry mouths. Stockpiling extra food was probably impossible, at least in the short term. The same could be said for other supplies, such as healing potions or weapons.

Reinforcing defenses and limiting access could also be written off the list. As it was, there were already so many traps that it boggled my mind. Therefore, everything that could be done to reinforce defenses had most likely already been done. Preparing shelters and escape routes were also projects that had long since been accomplished. As for securing communication lines, I wasn’t even sure how this could be done in a magical world. Therefore, I needed more information before I could make productive recommendations. In fact, preparing for casualties and creating contingency plans also had to already be in place. Even gnomes were smart enough to prepare for such things in a world where adventurers could attack at any minute.

That really only left a few details that I should be really worried about, the safety and preservation of food and water sources, other resources, and scouting the perimeter. Had I not been lucky enough to encounter the adventurers, the kobold tribe might have been surprised, at least to some degree. Now that such a large party of enemies had arrived, I was certain that there must be some kobold scouts searching the perimeter of our territory.

Essentially, the main thing we needed to focus on that might not already be done would be to guard the resources of the tribe. Nodding, I placed stars next to those two items. However, I also realized there really wasn’t much that I could do. However, since I was a gothi of the tribe, I most likely had the authority to issue a few commands, or at the least, a few requests.

“Dang, I really should have asked for someone to stop by periodically, just in case I needed anything,” I said to myself as I picked up the piece of paper. I then crawled down off the table and went to the door. While I doubted anyone would be passing by, I could always wait a few minutes until someone did and get them to pass on my message. Once I opened the doorway, however, I was pleasantly surprised.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

One of the maids was sitting outside the door. Apparently, she had been asked to stay in case I needed something. Smiling, I held out the piece of paper I had written on, “Can you give this to Dróttinn? I scribbled down some of my worries. Please let him know that I am sure he has already taken care of these issues, but for my peace of mind, I wanted to share them with him. I don’t really trust the Groenneitr ambassador. Please let him know that the ambassador considers me an enemy.”

Of course, the only reason I knew this was because of my information screen. How else would I be considered an enemy of his tribe? That was another reason I was certain that the ambassador and the intruders were somehow related. If I really thought it wouldn’t cause more problems than it would solve, I would have considered taking him out of the picture.

The maid bowed. “As you wish,” she said, taking the piece of paper. Without another word, she turned around and hurried off to deliver the message.

After she left, I realized something, “Wait, there is something I can do,” I said, thinking about the Libram. It had several rituals that could be cast. Smiling, I returned to my room and climbed onto the bed with the Aegis Libram. Opening the book, I started reading it to see if there were any useful spells in it.

A few minutes later, I sighed in disappointment. Even the lowest level rituals in the book were above my ability to cast. Shaking my head, I realized once again that I really needed to raise my level. Just looking at my information screen made me feel like an overpowered god, the fact that I couldn’t cast even the lowest spells in the Aegis Libram dashed away any hubris that was starting to develop.

However, on the positive side, after one more level, I would be able to cast the lowest level spells in the book. Although I wasn’t sure how useful the two spells would be, Magic Circle and Glyph of Warding sounded impressive. Unfortunately, I was still a long way away from leveling up, especially when I had to split the experience with my familiar. Speaking of which, where was my familiar?

I knew she was fine, but what had she been doing while I was busy? The last I had seen her was when I sent her off to kill a few low-level creatures to see if I would get experience. Curious, I looked at my experience points. Surprisingly, I realized that she had obviously killed several creatures since we parted ways. What she killed, I had no idea about, however. Still, I was very pleased with the results. Free experience was always appreciated.

“If she can find low-level monsters to fight, then I can as well,” I muttered to myself. “All I need to do is find something that can actually hurt me. The bugs, spiders, and lizards were no threat, which might be why they weren’t worth any experience. So, what I need to do is find some type of animal that is very numerous. The animal also has to be easy to kill. However, it does have to pose at least some threat.

“In fact, I probably need to slay as many low-level monsters as I can while I am at a low-level as well. After all, when I reached higher-levels, low-level monsters might not be worth any experience since they aren’t much of a danger. Then again, if they were at all dangerous, maybe I would get experience for them. However, something about that doesn’t seem correct. A powerful wizard could kill thousands of tiny-sized monsters if they are at a high enough level. Would they still get the same experience, or would it be reduced?

I trailed off as I thought about it and made a mental list of all the creatures that might fit that list. Monster-sized scorpions and spiders did exist and would definitely be able to injure me. However, they might pose too large of a danger if I encountered them in a group. I needed something that wasn’t potentially venomous.

After a few minutes, I had discarded dozens of potential victims; I meant experience providers. Reluctantly, I finally settled on one that I needed to check with Alsvartr about. Bats were abundant in the area, small enough that I could easily kill, but also could theoretically inflict damage. While I would have preferred to kill rats or mice, bats would be easier to find in the caves.

However, I wasn’t sure how Alsvartr would feel about me hunting down his cousins. Would he be offended? Would he help me? Hesitantly, I reached out with my mind and tried to speak with her. I sent the image of both of us killing swarms of bats to see how she would feel about it. A few seconds later, I sensed her reply.