* Chapter 5 - Transgression •
As the Ambassador left the cave, an unexpected visitor showed up. One of the blue kobolds approached the tunnel, freezing at the sight of the machine. The kobold observed it for a moment, before sprinting full speed back where he came from. “Do you know him? What was that about?” asked Verja. “He is from Sinyvka tribe. Scout. Me think he afraid of you,” Erglus replied. I understood that much. Thanks to all the Specters, I noticed him coming some time ago, and hid my troops. After asking about the Sinyvka tribe, the chief replied: “They are larger tribe. They threaten us with violence for food! When surface dwellers descended, we attacked them! But they weapon better, and we lost many. Since then, we’ve had food problems, as Sinyvka wants some of ours.” After inquiring about the “surface dwellers” they seemed to be humans according to Erglus’ description. “Speaking to them is useless, they know not of our tongue.” So there is a chance.
Oh. This might be bad. Verja noticed that the blue kobold had run up to his allies, which was a group of around a hundred well-armed and armored kobolds. “Excuse me, but would you happen to know why there are about hundred armed Sinyvkans in a tunnel nearby?” asked Verja from the Chief. Erglus looked at the Ambassador, shocked. “You say what? Hundred? Sinyvka tribe has two hundred, and half are here? How you know?” “By Verja’s powers, I see beyond what the eyes of a mortal can.” Well, I’m not really lying, am I? “If half of their members are here, are they perhaps trying to kill you off?”
As the first few Sinyvkans came into sight, Erglus panicked, and pleaded: “Strong one! We beg of you! Please protect us!” “Worry nought, my child. As I said before, no harm shall come to you.” A wall of shoddy kite shields made out of bone appeared, with spears behind them, and archers in the rear. It seems like they know some basic tactics. Well, it’s my policy to warn ‘em before I do anything. The Ambassador walked towards the group, and said: “HALT. THY ARE TRESPASSING ON THE HOLY GROUND OF VERJA’S DOMAIN. RETREAT IMMEDIATELY OR PAY FOR THY TRANSGRESSION WITH THY LIVES. I truly am getting really good at this whole religious fanatic thing.
The wall stopped, as sparks could be seen flying in the air from the back of the Sinyvka’s strike force. Suddenly, the cavern was lit up completely, as three orbs of raging yellow flames flew towards the ambassador. Oh, some new form of magic. The specters measured the flameballs to be around 2 000 °C, hot enough to melt common steel. But the Ambassador spread its arms wide, as the fire engulfed it. Behind the cloud of smoke, an almost unharmed Ambassador with a half-melted helmet stared at the attackers. The Lancers formed into a line, training their guns towards the Sinyvkans. Verja looked at the shocked expressions of the magicians in the back, as the archers released a rain of arrows, which bounced off the armor of the machines.
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Three stone golems rised up from the backlines, and advanced to the vanguard. Well, I warned you all. Sorry. The Arbiter opened fire, with its coilgun turret spewing metal at incredible speeds towards the attackers. The Lancers joined the fight, shooting off important targets here and there. The golems posed less of a threat now that a single grenade launched by the Arbiter combined with a precision coilgun shot could take care of them. Less than ten seconds passed, and all but one attacker were dead on the ground. “As I promised, I have protected thee,” said Solocron. The friendly kobolds looked at the pile of blood and scales and the Ambassador alternatively. “Now, I shall get going. I will leave two guards here. If any danger presents itself, you can ask them and they will assist thee. You can do whatever you like with the bodies,” said Verja, as they left the kobolds by themselves.
Days passed, until the rest of the Sinyvkans surrendered to Erglus’s tribe. They were mostly composed of non-combatants, so the possibility of betrayal was low. Their leader, Sinyvka, was apparently one of the now-dead magicians. While they had no shortage of food for now, Verja taught them agriculture for the future. Verja taught them how to grow a small species of fast-growing fungi, which grew in enormous patches. The kobolds were reluctant at first, but it didn’t take long before they embraced the new source of nutrients. They are truly a fascinating species.
One week later, the Erglus tribe had a headcount of 154. The last remaining Sinyvkan magician had started teaching the Elder and the scarface about their tribe’s own spell called ｢Fragment of Calamity｣, which launched a hot ball of flames and sparks. The two tribes surprisingly did not hold any grudges against each other, since “Kobolds together strong!”
Back at the facility, Verja had been doing everything in their power to save Vivienne, with mixed results. Her body was fine, but she hadn’t woken up no matter what. Eventually, Verja left her in a Hibernation Casket, a device which could keep a human in stasis for up to two years. While it seems like a common coma, I’ll have to see if I can find answers and help for her in this world.