Chapter 5 - Patrolling

The days turned to weeks, which turned to months.

It took us two whole months to finish renovating the cave. But it was well worth it. Now, instead of small alcoves on the way to the main hall, there are six rooms. Three on each side of the main tunnel, each room having space for five goblins to live comfortably.

Once you get to the main hall there are seven more rooms. one is larger, and is meant to be the new nursery. Placed at the innermost part of the cave, it means the eggs and hatchlings will be much safer than they were before.

We've also gotten some new residents. They're not goblins though. Apparently, once we added enough reinforcement to the cave, it began to be counted as a mine. And naturally occurring in mines in this world are creatures called "Tommyknockers".

*Tommyknocker*

*A kind of sprite (an elemental attuned to two or more elements) attuned to Light and Earth. They appear in mines, regardless of who made them. The gem on their head provides light, and their sensitive tail is constantly touching and investigating the ceiling around the crossbeam they make their home. If they sense instability or an imminent collapse of the mine, they start knocking their tail against the crossbeam, creating a distinctive "tom tom tom" sound, which is how they get their name. Humanoids have a hard time seeing the Tommyknocker or its light, but can hear their warning knocks just fine. due to this, many miners believe that their knocking is the cause of cave-ins, not a warning that a cave-in is imminent*

*Ranking: 1 star*

They're very cute. They look like mice with a pearl on their head, with a long prehensile tail that has a hard but sensitive tip. Their ambient light is a great bonus, and they're kind enough to turn it off when we're sleeping.

In other news, Brutus has evolved into a warrior! Not that I was particularly surprised at his choice. I don't think he had the stats or skills for any of the other possibilities.

Blue has... well, we're not sure. The gatherers complain that he just vanishes for the entire day before coming back just before the group heads to the cave, with nothing gathered. I worry about him. Hes already in a poor social situation because of his stature.

I've been too busy with helping renovate the cave to actually work on my evolution. My stats are good enough, but I still need a few more skills before I'm eligible for Evolution. I need to work on my Heal and Cure spells and somehow get a hold of a damage resistance Skill.

Goblin evolution has a few possibilities, but each individual is usually destined for one, regardless of their own desire. It's more or less chosen by their genetics. There's the warrior, the rogue, the shaman, the archer, and the warlock. Whilst the shaman is more of an utility spell-caster, with heals and buffs and debuffs, the warlock is an offensive spell-caster with affinity for many kinds of elements, usually Fire, Earth, Water and Air.

My build seems to have veered onto the path of the Shaman. Not that I mind, I prefer when people around me are happy and healthy. I do however wonder how it will affect the power dynamics in the tribe.

Any one tribe usually only has one shaman or one warlock which act as the leader. If a new shaman or warlock evolves, they end up in a power struggle with each other, where the tribe either fragments into two, or the new shaman/warlock overthrows the old one.

Rarely though, if the new shaman/warlock shows submission, they instead get the post of "second in command" and the tribe stays whole. I'd much rather have the last outcome, but it all depends on the old shaman accepting my submission.

As there wasn't really much more I wanted to accomplish in the maintenance group, I joined the scouts. I want to explore more of the forest that is my home, and also maybe get to kill some new things, preferably with cool and useful Skills.

Apparently, there was recently a change of management in the local pack of Bristle Wolves, the old alpha got his ass handed to him, and he was kicked out of the pack. Now he's roaming around in the daytime, and its got everyone spooked. Some of the gatherers swear they saw him lurking around the Foolsbane clearing, maybe scavenging carrion? He must be really down in the dumps considering Bristle Wolves are usually apex predators except if there's wyverns nesting in the area.

Unfortunately, the scouts rarely went there, preferring to make laps of the tribes territory instead. I had hoped to check how hurt he was and then maybe even fight him.

The patrol starts at the river, where a sizable chunk of the forest is missing. We ended up cutting down quite a few trees to make supports for the cave. I notice that the river isn't quite as big or fast slowing as it used to be. It's also getting hotter every day. I guess summer is soon upon us. Heading north from the felling site, we follow the river upstream for several hours.

Along the way we spot some Kobolds! They were on the other side of the river and ran to hide the moment they spotted us, so I didn't get time to inspect one. World Knowledge gave me some info on them though.

*Kobold*

*The base form of the pseudo-dragonoids (~False dragon form~AN~). Fills a similar ecological role as goblins, although kobolds are typically nomadic, whilst goblins are stationary. Goblins and kobolds are well known for their hatred for each other, but kobolds, with their fiery breath and sharp claws can usually overpower goblins in small scuffles. What goblins have over kobolds are teamwork and craftiness. A prepared goblin team can easily outsmart the less intelligent kobolds and lead them into traps and ambushes to thin their numbers.*

*Ranking: 2 stars (one) - 4 stars (Kobold war-party)*

They look like small bipedal dragons. They also look dumb, but that might be my goblin side speaking.

Once we reach a waterfall, we start heading east, following a set of marks carved into the trunks of trees. They seem to mark where our territory ends. Peeking on the other side of the trees, I see a different mark carved into the bark. must be the mark of another tribe.

We take a break, according to my map, we're almost directly north of our home. A few hundred meters ahead of us seems to be, well, something tall and grey. The topography prediction is very limited in its details.

I want to investigate it though, it seems interesting.

Once we start moving again, I start course correcting towards the grey tall thing. We do end up crossing into enemy territory, but as long as we hurry we shouldn't be discovered. The others are nervous. They follow me because of my titles, but they aren't liking where we're going.

We get to the destination. It is a collection of large boulders, looking like they were just dropped out of the sky ages ago. Glacier remnants? They lean on each other in a way that makes a natural cave beneath them. I walk closer to investigate. The others are staying behind. Seems this is as far they dare follow me.

As I step near the small opening, I hear a crunch below.

I look at what I stepped on.

There were hundreds of bones scattered about.

I try to step back, but before I can, a long pink thing lashes me across the chest. a tongue?

I am knocked back, and as I look towards where the tongue came from, I see. I see. Uh, what the hell is that thing?!

*Beelzetoad*

*A highly evolved amphiboid. It has shed its permeable skin in favor of thick quill-like fur. It does however boast long range attacks in the form of spit and tongue attacks. Their spit inflicts paralysis. Shares the same weakness as other amphiboids, poison and fire. Its tongue is sought after as a delicacy, and their eyes make potent staff cores. Paralyses its victims with its spit before devouring them whole. It later regurgitates the bones in front of its lair to act as a warning system.*

*Ranking: 4 stars*

Unnamed

Species: Beelzeltoad (Amphiboid) (Rare)

Gender: Female

HP: 500/500

MP: 10/10

SP: 250/250

Attack: 100

Armor: 200 (-100 Vs Fire/Poison)

M.Attack: 10

M.Armor: 150 (-50 Vs Fire/Poison)

Speed: 50

STR: 100

CON: 180

INT: 10

WIL: 130

DEX: 45

Skills:

Tongue Action (Great)  -  Spit Attack: Paralysis (Normal)

Great Swallow (Great)  -  Damage Resistance: Physical (Lesser)

Regeneration: HP (Lesser)  -  Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Great)

Crafting Skills:

Trapmaker (Novice)

Social Titles:

Glutton  -  Kin-Killer

Cannibal

Why on earth is that skill named that??? That's disgusting. It's disgusting, it's a giant hairy toad!

I cast Heal on myself and retrieve my spear. The others retreat further and hide behind some bushes, I can see their heads poking out to watch though. I suspect they wont help me once I start fighting it.

That's just as well, means less people to worry about. Its attacks hurt a lot, and glancing at my HP before the heal, I suspect I can take a maximum of three consecutive hits before dying. Just gotta keep on my toes.

I retrieve a stone and aim at one of its eyes.

As I throw the rock, the Beezletoad launches its tongue to deflect it. It then lashes it upwards before bringing it down towards me.

I sidestep in time, but the wind pressure from the attack almost knocks me off balance. Its okay, I just gotta get more distance on the dodges.

Seems there is some recovery time to the slam, just long enough to get a hit in on the tongue before it's retracted.

I retrieve another rock to try to bait out the attack again. This time I'll be ready, I just hope the ten intelligence points it has means it's dumb enough to fall for the same trick twice.

As luck would have it, it is actually dumb enough to fall for it again.

I sidestep a bit further this time, and have enough time to land a counter. I stab the tongue with the spear. The spear that inflicts Toxic (Lesser) on hit.

A shudder goes through the toad when I stab at its tongue.

I glance at its status.

Unnamed

Species: Beelzetoad (Amphiboid) (Rare)

Status: Poisoned (Grand) - Paralysis (Lesser)

HP: 85%

MP: 100%

SP: 90%

HMMM? It didn't get the Toxic status?

My confusion lets the Beelzetoad land a strike in my side. I respond with a Heal and hope that I haven't sustained internal injuries. My Heal spell can heal small cuts and bruises, not a ruptured spleen (do goblins even have spleens? Tell me later, World Knowledge).

*The Skill Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Great) reduces the strength of incoming paralysis statuses. Therefore, the Toxic (Lesser) was broken into its component conditions, Poisoned (Grand) and Paralysis (Grand). The paralysis was then reduced to (Lesser) by the skill.*

Oh. That's good to know but save the goblin anatomy for later.

Its health is gradually ticking down, regardless of how paralyzed it is. Its movements slowed down a little though, so I'll risk going in for the kill!

Baiting out another tongue slam, I move towards the toad whilst it's recovering. Aiming my spear towards its throat, I stab it with full force.

*Weak spot hit! +50 attack on this hit!*

Aha! Aiming for weak and vital parts is good! The spear gets stuck though, and the Beelzetoad staggers backwards in pain, yanking the spear out of my grip in the process.

Shit.

Getting close seemed to be a mistake to me, it might be slower but I am now unarmed. My bravado earns me a tongue across the face and a good dousing of spit.

*Status updated: Paralysis (Normal)*

My movements become molasses. Everything is a struggle to do. The toad is limping towards me, ready to devour me whole.

I glance at her HP.

15%.

So close.

I just need one more good hit on her.

I retrieve an axe from storage. Using Abstract Positioning, I place its appearance at where the toads head is going to be in just a moment. I then place it in the world.

The axe falls graciously, right onto the head of the Beelzetoad. It didn't do much damage, as it hit with the flat side, but it bought me time.

In the time it staggers backwards, I cast Cure (Lesser) a few times.

*Cure (Lesser) became Cure (Normal)!*

*Can cure statuses of tier (Normal) or less in one cast! (Higher tiers require multiple casts)*

I can move! I can fight! Just as the toad recovered from the hit to the head, its time was up.

A tremor goes through its body, and it falls over. Dead.

*Power Osmosis Activated!*

*Osmosis successful, displaying results*

*+100 STR, +180 CON, +10 INT, +130 WIL, +45 DEX*

*Skills Obtained:

-Tongue Action (Great) (Incompatible with current form) - Lets the user use their tongue as a prehensile weapon.

-Spit Attack: Paralysis (Normal) - The users saliva inflicts paralysis on hit

-Great Swallow (Great) (Incompatible with current form) - Lets the user swallow items/creatures their size or smaller

-Damage Resistance: Physical (Lesser) - Reduces the damage taken after Attack Vs Armor calculation by 5%

-Regeneration: HP (Lesser) - User regenerates 1% of max HP per 60 seconds. allows the regrowing of lost limbs at a slow rate.

-Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Great) - Prevents Paralysis (Normal) or less, reduces higher tier Paralysis by two tiers*

*Crafting Skill Obtained:

-Trapmaker (Novice): User can make simple makeshift traps*

*Updating Stats - Successful*

A searing hot feeling rushes through my body, radiating from my chest. I double over in pain. This was nothing like the other times when I killed smaller creatures!

I slip in and out of consciousness, the pain making my mind shut down.

The pain slowly subsides, but my entire body feels like it has had a twelve hour workout the day before. Seems raising your stats a lot all at once isn't exactly healthy.

The other goblins, who had been gasping and cheering in time with my fight, rushed over whilst I was incapacitated. Once they make sure I'm okay, they excitedly talk amongst themselves about how impressive my fight was, despite me messing up and almost getting myself eaten.

I check my status whilst storing the dead Beelzetoad. The others are going to be very impressed when I bring this feast home!

Unnamed

Species: Goblin (Goblinoid) (Common)

Gender: Female

HP: 100/100 *MAX*

MP: 70/70

SP: 100/100 *MAX*

Attack: 75

Armor: 100

M.Attack: 35

M.Armor: 100

Speed: 60

STR: 75 *MAX* (115)

CON: 75 *MAX* (195)

INT: 35

WIL: 100 *MAX* (150)

DEX: 58

Skills:

Language Comprehension: Goblin (Great) - Innate World Knowledge (True - Unique)

Power Osmosis (True - Fated - Unique) - Condition Resistance: Poison (Lesser)

Condition Resistance: Disease (Lesser) - Teamwork (Lesser)

Hardy Digestion (Lesser) - Cellulose Digestion (Great)

Strong Bite (Normal) - Elemental Affinity: Life (Lesser)

Hidden Space (True - Unique)  -  Spit Attack: Paralysis (Normal)

Damage Resistance: Physical (Lesser)  -  Regeneration: HP (Lesser)

Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Great)  -  Tongue Action (Great)

Great Swallow (Great)

Crafting Skills:

Weapon Crafting (Apprentice)   -   Weapon Twisting (Apprentice)

Magic Tool Crafting (Apprentice)  -  Trapmaker (Novice)

Spells:

Heal (Normal) - Cure (Normal)

Social Titles:

Compassionate   -  Makeshift Midwife

Runt Defender   -   Big Sister

Lifesaver  -  Innovator

*As some stats exceed what is physically possible for your current form, they have been lowered as to prevent structural compromise. The true values are displayed in parentheses*

*Requirements for Evolution are met. Please find a secure location before starting the Evolution process*

And just like that, my stats look like they belong to Brutus. I guess that is what I get when the generous donor was really dumb. Also, structural compromise? What?

*If you were allowed to move with your true stat values, your muscles would put immense strain on your skeleton, leading to warping or deforming of large bones if not outright pulling them apart.*

O-oh. Glad the system has safeties in place in case someone like me decides to break the rules.

I turn to my fellow goblins, the sun is starting to set and I'm very tired. We discuss amongst ourselves and decide the safest thing will be to stay the night in the Beelzetoad den. Other monsters would avoid the place, so it should be safe. I retrieve some rations I keep just in case, and hand them out to the others. Hopefully that will make up for us being in enemy territory after sunset.

The cave is a bit small, but we all fit comfortably inside. The others take turns guarding the entrance, with me being assigned the role of "if something comes, fight it off". How long will Evolution take?

*An hour is the average Evolution time for goblins*

Oh okay, then I'll evolve real quick and then sleep the rest of the night, provided nothing attacks us.

*Displaying Evolution Options*

*Goblin Shaman*

Changes to stats:

-50 Max STR

-25 Max CON

+50 Max INT

+25 Max WIL

-25 Max DEX

Skills obtained:

-Guard Share (Lesser - Unique(Goblin Shaman)) - Shares the users resistances with two other targets.

- Wide-Casting (Lesser) - Enables having multiple targets for spells. Current maximum: 2

- Leadership (Lesser) - Synergizes with Teamwork, lets the user more effectively command others with the Teamwork Skill. Also lets the user see the full statistics of allies with the Teamwork Skill.

- Elemental Affinity: Dark (Lesser) - Lets the user cast spells of the Dark element.

- Elemental Affinity: Light (Lesser) - Lets the user cast spells of the Light element.

- Spell-Casting Affinity: Weaken (Lesser) - Lets the user cast Compound Spells composed of Life and Dark.

-Spell-Casting Affinity: Bolster (Lesser) - Lets the user cast Compound Spells composed of Life and Light.

Spells Obtained:

- Blind (Lesser) - Creates an orb of perfect darkness around targets head, blinding it. Lasts 15 seconds.

- Dark Bead (Lesser) - Shoots a small ball of darkness at the target, dealing magical Dark damage. Higher tiers increase ball size and speed.

- Light (Lesser) - Summons a small orb of light that hovers above the casters head. lasts 15 minutes and sheds light in a 3 meter (ca  9.8 feet) radius. time and brightness increases with tier.

- Radiant Beam (Lesser) - Fires a beam of concentrated light at a target, dealing magical Light damage. Cannot be Wide-Cast.

- Empower (Lesser) - Increase Atc. and M.Atc. by 25 for 10 minutes

- Shield (Lesser) - Decreases damage taken before Attack Vs Armor calculation by 12.5%

- Shell (Lesser) - Decreases damage taken before M.Attack Vs M.Armor calculation by 12.5%

- Weaken (Lesser) - Reduces Atc. and M.Atc. by 25 for 5 minutes

- Fracture Armor (Lesser) - Increases damage taken before Attack Vs Armor calculation by 12.5%

- Disrupt Will (Lesser) - Increases damage taken before M.Attack Vs M.Armor calculation by 12.5%

That's. That's a lot of stuff! Thankfully I only had the one option of Shaman... I select Shaman as my evolution, and I fall fast asleep as the process starts.

When I next awake, it is morning. Seems we didn't have any disturbances last night. The others are readying to go. I take a moment to stretch and inspect my body once we're out of the cave. Seems most of the stiffness from yesterday is gone, I almost feel like a new person!

I almost look like a new person too. My velvet-like fur has grown denser and slightly longer, its color shifting from a light olive-grey to a darker, slightly more saturated olive. My ears feel different too. Shorter, less floppy. Other than that I don't notice any major physical changes. The other scouts yell at me to follow them. I run to join them.

We hurry back to our side of the marked trees, and continue east, eventually rounding off to the south-east, and then directly south.

I check the map, we've walked for a good five hours, and we're still not directly east of our home. seems the river cuts off a portion of the territory we'd normally have?

Whilst we walk, I have World Knowledge explain general monster anatomy.

*Monster is the broad classification given to any non-humanoid life, excluding plants, fungus and single celled life. Although there are monsters that may share characteristics with the other great classifications of life, they are still considered monsters. Science is still debating how to classify close symbiosis between monsters and other kinds of life, such as the Em-Bush. Is it a plant? Is it a monster? The monster cannot live without the plant, and no living plant of that genus has ever been observed without its monster host.

Monster anatomy is as varied as it can get. Even between two members of the same species you may find internal organs in a completely different place, though it still fulfills its function without issue. As such, aiming for the heart is a difficult thing when said heart can be anywhere within the torso. Monster hunters learn early to go for the weak spots that are shared among most monsters: soft parts, joints, neck and head.*

Interesting. So there are five great classifications (or clades), Monster, Plant, Fungus, Single Celled, and Humanoid. And then there's weirdos that don't fit exactly. Just like my old world. (~She is referring to how there are life we don't know where fits on the tree of life.~AN~)

The forest has started to thin slightly, and I see a long band of light green on my map. The forest was mostly dark green. A road?

The others start to turn towards the west. I want to continue south though! But I fear that after my stunt yesterday they wont bother following me. And although I could find my way back home from here just fine, I can't just leave them. Casting a longing look towards the south, I sigh and follow them west.

The sun is hanging low in the sky when we stop for the day. There's a massive fallen tree, hollowed out by something. Looking at the marks left on the wood, I suspect whatever did this had mandibles of some sort. A Great Logbore Beetle?

Sticks and various debris has been stacked against one end, turning the tunnel into a makeshift cave. Dried leaves of various origin pile up to our waists. The others settle down in the various piles. I follow suit and bring out more rations, which is just raw meat I've stored in my skill for later. I share the wealth. Do they not normally eat when patrolling? Or did they just assume that I'd look out for them? No matter, I should still have enough for one more day, and even then I could butcher the Beelzetoad if things get tight.

I am assigned second shift this night. Once it's my turn, I creep towards the entrance of of our little shelter and hide myself deep into the leaves, leaving just enough so I can see.

I didn't see much though. But I HEARD.

The sing-song chittering of somethings crawling around in the canopy.

The distant tremors of something big moving around.

A cry from something that didn't run fast enough, or hide well enough.

I was enraptured by the sounds of the night-time. And trembling in fear.

I almost forgot to wake the one assigned to third shift. But once he was on guard, I fell sound asleep. Perhaps it is better to hide away in unconsciousness than to sit and listen to the horrors of the night.

The third day should be the last day of our lap around our territory. The others complain that we'd be done now if I hadn't come with. That may be so, but you got to see a cool fight, and who gave you free food? Don't complain too much.

We started just about directly south from the cave, and around six or so hours later we were back at where we started. In just the few days between us visiting it, the river had been reduced from a roaring beast to a slow-flowing stream.

Is something further up blocking the flow? You could probably even ford the river at this point.

I glance over to the other side, the river bank is dotted with clawed footprints.

I have a bad feeling about this.