As we returned to the cave, we were greeted by most of the maintainers. They were sitting outside the cave, making stuff. It's honestly the best description I can give for it.
After we finished the renovation of the cave, there was less need for constant checking and maintenance, so they took to imitating me when I was crafting.
With the severely limited vocabulary of the goblin language, and them not having the intelligence of a human stuck in a goblin body, they didn't really get what I was doing, nor could I explain.
The result was... well... Interesting. Some of them had figured out how to gather clay from the river banks, and I had managed to teach them the basics of working it. So now the front of the cave was besieged by clay figures of various shapes and sizes.
I ask around for the Shaman. The first order of business after my Evolution would be to make sure I could still stay with the tribe, and not fracture it in the process.
Apparently he and the other hunters were still out hunting for the day. Oh well.
I took the opportunity to make some sort of apology gifts for the scouts. I kinda feel bad for making the patrol take longer than necessary with my curiosity. I wish I had access to string of some sort, when I could try to make bows. Seems that would suit them.
Sadly, I was string-less.
Instead I start making some simple stone daggers, one for each. I have copious amounts of branches and roots left over from the renovation, so I bring out a few fitting pieces and some rocks.
All attention is on me now, and the maintainers abandon their clay and flock to view my crafting. It seems that they're incredibly fascinated by the process. The scouts hang around too. they're done for the day, but aren't as interested in watching me craft as the others.
Half an hour later, the first blade was completed. I hold it up in the light to inspect it. The blade is about the length of my hand, and the handle fits nicely in my grasp.
*Weapon Twisted: Stone Dagger (Primitive - Twisted), updating stats*
*Stone Dagger (Primitive - Twisted) (+30 Atc. +5 M.Atc. Can be thrown)*
Nice. Seems twisting makes the weapon do more damage than a non-twisted weapon. It's on par with my razorback dagger.
The next hour and a half is spent making three more daggers. I then present one each to the scouts with an apology for making patrol take longer. They become slightly flustered, not expecting me to apologize this way. They do accept the daggers though.
I should try making some sort of scabbard for them, but I'd need leather for that. Raw hides wouldn't do, and I don't know how to tan hides.
Before I completely forget, and since the hunting group haven't returned yet, I make some space, and retrieve the slain Beelzetoad. An audible gasp of surprise and awe run though the group. I then retrieve my dagger and start dismantling the creature.
Let's see. The eyes were useful, the tongue is tasty, is there anything else I should take care to preserve?
*Other than the bones in the hind legs, there are few things left of value other than its flesh*
Okay. I carefully cut out the two eyes, remove the tongue and then proceed to skin and dismember the body. leaving the meat on the bone in all cases except the hind legs, where i take great care in removing the meat from the bone. By the time I'm done, the hunters and gatherers have returned, and the sun is setting.
Leaving the others to their feast, I beckon the Shaman to follow me into the cave. He seems to understand what I'm planning, and follows me.
Once we are inside, I kneel before him and bow my head. He looks me over, and although I sense some lingering doubts, he orders me to rise. "Prove self." he commands. "Harm self"
I hesitate, so he wants me to prove that I will follow his every order by harming myself in front of him? He eyes me, I am much stronger than him, stats wise, and I think also more popular with the others. I guess that is why he is having his doubts. I could lead the entire tribe if I wanted, but instead I chose to be subservient.
I retrieve my dagger. With a shaky breath I steel myself for the pain.
A warm and wet feeling spreads across my arm. A deep wound is carved into my forearm.
*25 damage taken*
*Status Updated: Bleeding (Great)*
I let out a small cry. My nerves have caught up to the pain, and it is terrible. Tears well up in my eyes. Blood is dripping from my arm, staining the cave floor a deep rusty brown. Cuts are much worse than blunt strikes!
*Goblin Shaman cast Great Heal (Normal) upon you! 25 damage restored!*
As I watch, the gaping wound I made is closing up and healing. not even a mark remains. I wipe my tears and look at him. Was that enough? He nods, satisfied.
*Social Title Earned: Second In Command*
*You've evolved into a shaman in a tribe with a shaman leader. Instead of dethroning the leader or breaking up the tribe, you submit yourself to their will. When the leader isn't around, goblins will obey your orders instead, unless they conflict with orders previously given by the leader.*
Thank God.
I take the opportunity to inform him of the state of the river, and the tracks we saw on the other side of the river.
He nods in agreement to my opinion: This is bad news, and if and when the river gets low enough, the Kobolds might attack. However, it is late, and I've brought a rare meal to the tribe. Patting me on the shoulder, he heads outside to join the others. Seems that for tonight, the Kobolds aren't that much of a worry.
By the time I join the feast, most of the Beelzetoad is gone. I manage to snatch a piece and sit down to eat. The others look at my bloodstained arm. Though my hands were already stained by Beelzetoad blood and innards, goblin blood has a much darker hue to it. I demonstrate that nothing is wrong with it, and they seem to accept it. I wonder if they know what me and the shaman did in the cave?
Are they aware of my new title? Their effects seem to be almost subconscious in nature. I scan the gathering for Blue. Hes not there. I ask about him.
Seems hes been gone since yesterday. He vanished as usual, but this time he didn't return in time for sunset.
A pang of worry goes through me. Is he hurt somewhere? Did he run into the ex-alpha Bristle Wolf? The others don't seem to care at all. I guess since he was the runt, he's just one less mouth to feed when hes gone. If he doesn't return by tomorrow nigh, I'll go look for him.
I spend the time before bed planning a shopping list of things we'll need. I don't know how long until the kobolds will make their move, and I do not dare to use the Tear of Ashura to make it rain to fill the river. Seeing as wars have been fought over the amulet, I fear a medium size goblin tribe wont be much of a deterrent to reclaim it. I do plan on wearing it in the battle though, for the defenses it gives.
Spears seem to be ideal against kobolds, as they use their claws for close quarter combat. I quickly calculate the amount of spears I'd need to prepare. If I craft nonstop, I might be able to get them done in two days, with time to sleep in-between. If possible I'd like to try making staffs for me and the shaman. Should boost our magic. He already has a wooden staff which, judging by the size, once belonged to a human. Too long to be used efficiently by the shorter goblin shaman.
I could also try getting the others to help. They cant twist weapons, but they should be able to prepare the spears before I add the stone tip. But then I'd need more daggers... If only I knew how much time I had before they attacked. Or if they were going to attack at all.
I slowly fall asleep as it ponder these things.
The next morning I awake to a sweltering heat emanating from the main tunnel. The room I sleep in is one of the closest to the entrance of the cave. I rub the sleep out of my eyes before walking to the exit to investigate. The sun was barely up, but the air seemed to shimmer with heat.
*Abnormal levels of elemental Heat detected. The ambient temperature will increase, and prolonged exposure could lead to overheating or heat-stroke. Increases the damage of Light, Fire and Heat based attacks.*
Elemental Heat? Like, magic Heat? Sounds like a compound element. Let me guess... Light and Fire? Since Cold is Dark and Water? And also since the weather powers up Light, Fire and Heat?
*Correct.*
But this is bad. It's far too hot to do anything outside at the moment. Hopefully it wont get much hotter. Then our biggest worry would be a forest fire. But why is there an abnormal amount of elemental Heat?
*Unable to answer, you haven't encountered the cause of this before.*
Ugh. Stupid "I have to have encountered a thing to know more about it" clause. Even when told of the Bristle Wolves I wasn't able to get any info on them since I hadn't actually met one before. Seems this freak weather phenomenon will have to remain a mystery for some time. How long will this last though? And it certainly speeds up the lessening of the rivers flow...
*Calculating... Creating display...*
*Enable Weather Display?*
*Yes - No*
Uh, sure, should be handy?
A small icon appears next to my time display in my peripheral vision. It consists of a circle with a small icon inside it, and an attached timer, next to the timer is another circle with icon with the text *Forecast*
*Weather display displays the current weather in your location, the predicted remaining time of the current weather, along with the next predicted weather phenomenon*
I see. Currently... This weather abnormality will last three days??? Luckily, it seems after that we're getting rain. But still, three whole days of super-heat. Ugh.
I steel myself, and start heading towards the river. Not just to inspect the water level, but also to store water for later. If it gets too hot to move around at all we'll be screwed once we use up the last of our Sogleaf supply. I should go gather some of those too... Water is the most important resource in the heat after all.
Once I get to the river, I spot even more footprints on the opposite shore, as well as some on the side I'm on as well. Did one of them get across and then regret his decision?
I inspect the tracks on my side of the river. They seem to just. Stop. As if the one making them just got snapped into the air. Did he?
I recall the large bird I saw on my first day outside. Maybe he got snatched by that one? Whilst warily looking to the sky, I clamber down the rocky riverbank to get to the drastically reduced river. It's so slow moving I could even dare to take a bath.
My desire overcomes me.
I lower myself into the stream, letting the water caress my body. Oh how I've missed proper hygiene. If only I had some soap...
Taking in a breath of air, I dive below the surface.
Immediately an intense panic sets in. Some primal fear takes hold of me, and I scramble onto the shore again, gasping for air.
How strange. Being in the water was just fine, but the moment my head was under water I had an averse reaction.
Some sort of anti-drowning instinct? I never had hydrophobia even in my previous life.
Once I calm down I try again. This time I could somewhat suppress it, but it was just for a moment. Once again I'm on my hands and knees heaving for air.
Let's not push my luck, next time I might inhale water in my panic to get out of the river.
Shaking off the excess water, somewhat like a dog, I turn back to the task I originally came here for. Submerging my hand in the river, I start storing water. Half a minute later, I think I've got enough water to last at least a little while. Now, for the Sogleaf.
One of the better areas for finding Sogleaf is a little bit west of the Foolsbane clearing.
I should pick up some of those too. Never know when debilitating poison could come in handy.
What awaited me once I reached the clearing turned my stomach. It was a bloodbath.
The ground was torn up, there was a big piece of the fallen tree missing, and just below that missing piece lies a bloody mess. Sticking to the edge of the clearing, I move to get a better look at the carcass.
Unnamed
Species: Bristle Wolf Alpha (Mammaloid) (Rare)
Gender: Male
HP: 0/0 *DEAD* *Cause of death: '/&¤#¤!=/(=*
What? The ex Bristle Wolf Alpha? What killed it? It's just a twitching jumble of symbols where the cause of death should be. My head hurts just looking at it.
There certainly was a battle though. And then whatever took it out ate most of it?
Or was this just what was left after the theoretical impact with the log?
I don't think I'll dare go into the clearing to get berries. In fact I sort of just want to run home and stay there a while. Something able to do that to the apex predator of the forest is something to fear.
I do however grab a few armfuls of Sogleaf. The sun is starting to climb higher into the sky and it is very humid and hot. I hurry as fast as the temperatures allow back to the cave, where I find the rest of the tribe hiding in the innermost part of the main hall. It's still hot, but its much more livable in here than out there. The Shaman, the only member that wears clothes (yes I've been running around naked all this time. I got fur, I don't need clothes) has shed his ragged robe and is sitting next to the others, looking haggard. Seems the heat is hard on his old body?
Actually what is the lifespan of a goblin? Makes me worry I will only get a few years in this world if it's short.
*Monsters do not die of old age. Some monsters even reach a stage of effective immortality since they've grown far too strong for anything in their environment to kill them, the only threat being an Elder Dragon or Humanoids. The average lifespan of a Goblin is fairly low compared to most monsters however, as there is a rather high mortality rate in hatchlings. The Shamans state is probably caused by him wearing clothes in addition to his fur, leading to overheating.*
Oh sweet, so as long as I don't get myself killed I could technically live forever? Though I'm fairly low on the food-chain, I bet that could change as I evolve...
I join the others, and start working on spears. they don't seem interested in helping, too occupied with being miserable in the heat.
We don't need to eat every day, but water is a necessity for life, even for monsters. So once the evening arrives we drink from the Sogleaves before heading for bed.
I still worry about Blue though. Is there no way to find him?
*Do you wish to enable Entity Tracking?*
*Yes - No*
Seems things pop up when it's convenient... Can I track the Kobolds that made the tracks by the river too?
*Entity Tracking can only track individuals you've actually seen, and only in areas you've actually been to*
Ehhh, cant be too convenient, can you now... Oh well, I'll enable entity tracking on Blue, so if he's still alive and moving around I'll spot him once he goes into an area I've already been to. I just hope he's still alive...
And what would even happen if he was to return to the tribe? Hes effectively deserted, hasn't he. Ugh, Blue, why did you run away?