POV Unnamed First High Goblin

So, it was decided, not really, I would lead the males north into the forest and Brainy would lead the only other two females south into the swamp. We each know are self-appointed jobs and will carry them out or die trying. Gallons of blood will be spilt in the future by our hands.

“Family the time is now! We will prove our superiority over the filthy savages and beasts that infest this floor, and we will reign supreme!” I shouted to my assembled troops.

As the first proper goblin in the masters dungeon, it fell to me to whip the others into fighting shape and ensure we dominated all others on this floor. Since the master had not given us names, we simply referred to each other by what made us unique. I am called Firstborn because I was first just as Brainy is called that because she is smartest. Neither of us knows why it just makes the most sense to us. The others are called by their weapon of choice.

Brainy left and Daggers, and Bow followed her into the swamp. I plan to lead the remaining males into the forest to search for boars and wolves. It goes without saying that any Savage Goblin seen will either surrender to us and serve or be slaughtered like the vermin they are. I don’t see why we need to kill all the savages when we can use them as fodder, but Brainy has her reasons and I won’t challenge them for now. Today the start of a glorious campaign of carnage is upon us. First blood will belong to us High Goblins as is proper.

I went down the line of High Goblins assembled before me and checked their weapons again myself. We have 5 spears, 7 swords, 3 morning stars, 4 war hammers, and 2 with flails. I could feel a pulsing beat in the air around us, as if the air wanted to sing of the conquest to come, it was intoxicating, and I wanted to please this beat as much as my master. Victory or Death, that is what the beat sang to me, and I knew my brothers heard it too.

“Come brothers, it is time we tame this floor.”

“Yes, Firstborn!!”

The journey north to the forest went without any altercations. It pissed me off, and the longer we went without a fight the louder the beat got. If this continues, we will not spill the blood of our enemies but our own to sate the hungering pulse of that cursed beat. If we don’t find prey soon, I fear what will happen to us.

As we walked deeper into the forest the beat continued to increase and I could see some of my brothers start to twitch with anxiety, they longed to appease it and fight. Time is not on our side. It's about time to get proactive and find ourselves a fight. “Spear’s 2 and 3, Sword’s 5 and 7 go into the brush and see if you can flush whatever creatures live here out of hiding and back to us. Everyone else, get ready, be prepared to kill anything that runs this way.” I ordered my brothers.

As we waited one of my brothers approached and sneered before asking me a question. “Firstborn, what are we really doing here? It can’t be just to hunt some worthless beasts that can’t possibly threaten us. Maybe someone else should lead, someone like me. I am bigger and my weapon can cause much more damage than your paltry axe can.” The gall of Morningstar 3 to ask such a question, and to top it off he would really dare to challenge me like this with empty words, under normal circumstances I would ignore him, but the pulse of the beat was getting worse. I would not stand for it.

I lost my temper and roared “MORNINGSTAR 3 DO YOU NOT HEAR THE BEATING PULSE OF BATTLE AS THE REST OF US DO? DO YOU TRULY WISH TO STAND AGAINST ME IN THIS TRYING TIME, JUST TO TRY AND PROVE SUPERIORITY, JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN ME MEANS NOTHING? OR MAYBE YOU THINK THIS A WASTE OF YOUR INCREDIBLY PRECIOUS TIME, THAT YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE ABOVE THE NEED TO BE USEFUL TO THE MASTER, YOU PATHETIC WASTE OF GOBLIN FLESH!!!” I saw nothing but red as I unleashed a torrent of hateful words upon my brother. My mind raced and I saw a vision. In it I attacked Morningstar 3 without remorse or the chance to defend himself like he was a worthless savage. I shook my head to dispel the thought.

The pulsing beat had become a deep and foreboding boom in my ears. No, I would not lose myself to rage no matter how satisfying it would be. Yet the need to unleash my wrath continued to double by the second, I needed an outlet for it quickly. Morningstar 3 I am sorry to have to do this, but you brought this upon yourself, and it is the only way to keep the rage at bay. “Morningstar 3 you questioned my leadership and that is something that I cannot forgive. I challenge you to a blood duel. For VICTORY OR DEATH. Whoever wins will lead going forward the loser dies.”

Morningstar 3 was mortified, he truly had no desire to usurp Firstborn, he didn’t even remember what he had said that angered him, all he could recall was the beat pulsing in his ears. Now he stood before his brother and had two options: fight and attempt to kill Firstborn or refuse and get jumped on by his other brothers for showing weakness. No wait his brothers wouldn’t kill him for refusing to fight when challenged right. He looked over and saw bloodlust in all their eyes, and they watched him expectantly. Morningstar 3 swallowed hard then risked a glance at Firstborn, all he saw in the eyes of his eldest brother was sadness. It didn’t take genius to realize what would need to happen to appease the rage they all were feeling, someone needed to die.

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Morningstar 3 swallowed again and spoke, “I accept your challenge Firstborn, know that I don’t plan on dying today.” This may be my last day alive, but I will not go out looking like a weakling in front of my brothers. At my acceptance they surrounded Firstborn and myself, a circle of goblins armed and ready to kill if the chance arrives.

It's now or never, our fate will be decided. Morningstar 3 was bigger than me, but I made up for it with speed and agility. As soon as the circle closed, we began. He charged me and brought his Morningstar down in an overhead smash. I leapt to the right and dodged out of the way. Morningstar 3 overextended with that strike and is wide open. I took my chance my axe sang as it whooshed through the air and sunk into the shoulder of the arm, he held his Morningstar in with a meaty *THUNK*.

To his credit Morningstar 3 didn’t scream out in pain, just a strained grunt as he quickly switched his weapon to his other hand and continued on with the fight. Morningstar 3 refused to back down and viciously attacked Firstborn even when his right arm hung to his body by a chunk of bone and meat. The sight filled Firstborn with pride and dread, pride that his brother can keep fighting with such a debilitating injury and dread that no matter what Morningstar 3 did he would have to kill him to save everyone.

As Morningstar 3 approached again with the intent to deliver a crushing blow, Firstborn had had enough of this, his brother might not show it, but he was in pain and Firstborn decided to end this farce now. As the swing missed Firstborn’s head for a second time, he hefted his axe and brought it down directly on Morningstar 3’s head with a sickening *CRUNCH * of bone.

Morningstar 3 stared wide eyed at his brother, blood slowly leaking from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. He could do nothing else as his body shut down. So, this is what it feels like to die thought Morningstar 3, it’s not so bad, hopefully Firstborn saves the others. “Th...th...th..ank y...y...y...ou F..ffirstborn” With those final words Morningstar 3 collapsed to the ground dead.

“FIRSTBORN IS VICTORIOUS, ALL HAIL FIRSTBORN!!!” One of my brothers shouted. Soon all the rest present joined in with their cheers.

“FIRSTBORN FIRSTBORN FIRSTBORN FIRSTBORN FIRSTBORN FIRSTBORN!!!!”

One of our brothers lay dead at my feet and all the others do is cheer my name. I feel sick, how can they be so callous. No, they weren’t callous, I could see it in their eyes, their deep blood red eyes, they were saddened at this but couldn't show their true feelings. Why did this have to happen? Oh no if this happened to us what about the girls. I can only hope they will be alright until we can regroup with them. I trust Brainy will be able to keep them alive.

With all these thoughts floating around in my head I came to a decision that never again would never let another of my kind die such a senseless death. I swear that I will never again fall to this madness of rage. Suddenly a searing heat rushed over me, and a woman yelled out. (WHO ARE YOU TO DEFY MY WILL GOBLIN. GIVE INTO YOUR RAGE AND SATE YOUR BLOODLUST.) “Brothers, did any of you hear that voice?” I asked as I turned to face them. They stood frozen and unmoving. (DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THEM THEY LIVE FOR NOW. I FROZE TIME AS I WANT NO INTERRUPTIONS TO OUR TALK.)

“What are you, what do you want?” (WHO I AM, I AM CONQUEST, CHALLENGE, DESTRUCTION, DISASTER, AND WAR. AS FOR WHAT I WANT. I WANT YOU TO TURN ON THEM AND CLEAVE THEIR SKULLS.) I won’t kill my brothers just because you want me to. They are my family. We are born to serve the same master. Why would I kill them? (FOR THE FUN OF KILLING. TO TEST YOUR STRENGTH. YOU DIDN’T SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM SLAUGHTERING THE ONE THAT LAYS DEAD AT YOUR FEET DID YOU!!) “I had no choice but to kill Morningstar 3, it was the only way to free us from the rage.” (WHO SAID YOU WERE FREE FROM IT?)

With those words the pounding beat returned to my ears, and with it my rage. It was louder than before, and I felt my mind slipping back into that dark place again. (YES, IT IS BEAUTIFUL ISN'T IT. THE POUNDING OF MY DRUMS OF WAR, THE RAGE OF A WARRIORS SAVAGE ROAR, THE JOY OF VICTORY SNATCHED FROM DEATH, THAT’S MY WAR CRY.) Is that what the sound was the drums of war. It didn’t matter, I would not fall to its influence again.

(STOP RESISTING. I REFUSE TO LOSE ANOTHER GOBLIN ON A FLOOR DEDICATED TO ME TO PSYCHOSIS! I DON'T CARE IF HIS POWER IS WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO BE HERE, I WON’T LOSE ANOTHER!!)

“What do you mean lose another? I don’t know what you're talking about. My only desire is to protect my kin, and I can’t do that if I give in to rage and kill them.” (You really don't? Fine I don’t normally do this but how about we make a deal? If you honor me in combat and slay 10 of the Dire Wolves that call this Dungeon’s Forest home before time is up, I will release you from my rage and grant you a boon?) She stopped yelling and offered a deal. “Ok I will accept your challenge. For my family's safety and protection and the glory of my Master’s dungeon I would do anything. (Then we have a deal.)

Havoc Matron of Devastation offers you the personal quest: Slaughter In My Name

Slaughter In My Name

Slay a total of 10 Dire Wolves single handedly in the forest while under the effects of Rage Fueled Supremacy.

Upon Successful Completion You Will Receive A Boon Of Her Choice And All High Goblins Will Be Made Immune To Rage Fueled Supremacy’s Effects In The Future.

If You Fail You Will Be Cursed With All Consuming Rage And Attempt To Kill Any And Everything That Crosses Your Path Until You Are Put Down.

Do You Accept Y/N

There was no need to even ask. Of course, I accept anything to save my siblings.

(So be it little goblin. Try and entertain me.) With that the heat and the voice were gone and my brothers started to move again. Now to find some wolves.

“Firstborn we return, and we bring good news. There appears to be a den of wolves a short walk to the northeast.” Perfect, this could not have come at a better time.

Feeling invigorated and somewhat at peace knowing Morningstar 3’s sacrifice was not in vain I made a proclamation. “Brothers we have suffered a loss, but we remain strong. Now we have a target, they may not have caused our loss, but they will feel our wrath. They will feel my hate and they will die.” After finishing my little speech, I charged off into the forest. I had wolves to kill and a family to protect.