Chapter 1: The System
The coward reached his hand towards Gob's stomach, but as he got within centimetres of touching his plump stomach a huge roar screeched through the mountainous path, shaking the very stone beneath them.
"Fucking scatter!" the grovelled voice roared at this men "This is not a fucking drill!"
Gob heard the coward slump to the floor, he dare not look past his hands. But, the light shone no more on Gob as a huge creature shadowed the very sun. Gob peeked past his gnarled fingers only to see the silhouette of a mighty beast. It stood taller than any trees nearby, had two mighty horns atop its thick, shielded frill. Two arms with leathery skin stretching between its' fingers.
The creature screamed again, knocking over the cart through pure sound. Gob was tossed out of the cage, the iron shackles cracked open by the fall. He hesitated, turning back to see the creature. It lowered its head and moved its long neck towards Gob. The coward sat there, in disbelief over his troop being decimated. In a moment of desperation he stood and tried to run, only for the beast to bite down on him, splattering blood all over Gob.
Gob wiped his face, the blood of his apparent master spread over his hand and face. He looked up at the behemoth, and shed a single tear. The beast looked back at Gob, almost intrigued by him.
"Do you fear me," it said, in a low barbaric tone "Little green one?"
Gob looked on, not in fear this time, but in amazement. Gob's natural instinct is to be subservient, upon seeing his current masters demise he immediately chose the creature as his master. Gob stood, and bowed his head to the monster. It let out an extremely loud chuckle as it looked on at the supposed courage of this Goblin.
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"Ha, you have spunk little green one," it spoke "I believe that you are either extremely wise, or a buffoon."
"Me no wise" Gob spoke for the first time in days, his voice hoarse from dehydration "Me worship master."
"Ah, I see. You wish to treat me as your master? You shall do no such thing, you have potential. I will grant you one wish, anything in existence. What shall you wish for?"
Gob stood for a moment, contemplating what was asked of him. He stood for far too long, but the beast seemed genuine on his interest for the goblin, allowing him to think upon it for about 20 minutes.
"Gob knows what wish." Gob shouted proudly.
"Ah, you have made a decision?" The beast replied
"Gob want be better" He said simply.
"A very wise answer, even if you didn't mean it that way. The wish to be better is almost never asked for, nor achieved little green one. I shall grant you your wish, but the journey will be difficult. Do not give up, for I have high hopes for you." The behemoth chuckles, before reaching a huge claw forward, and scratching Gob across his chest.
Gob reels back in pain, screaming as loud as he can. But no blood was spilled, no wound was given, and no mark was left.
"I have granted you your wish, now do not curse me for your choice." the beast says, as it reels back its neck, stretches its wings, and takes off.
Gob lays there, in relief after the pain subsided. He looked around only to see all his human "masters" dead. He sits there, dumbfounded on what to do next, before the earth underneath him gives way and opens up into a large cavern. Gob falls for about an hour, passing in and out of consciousness. When he finally lands, he has no wounds but is sat in a dimly blue-lit cave with no food, or water. The only words that Gob can say is "What do?".