CH3.4

I kept my mouth shut as I was led from the dirt road to a stone road wide enough to pull a wagon through. Miles of walking later, riders forming ranks behind me to keep me honest. Up a brutal hill and peaking over the tree line, a massive structure revealed itself where it said goblin hole on my map. A wall of concrete met nearly 50ft tall with goblins armed with bows and trebuchets on top of the installation. Far into the city, a massive green tower pointed on top like a nasal with a spiraled base pierced the air. More goblins formed lines shining in the fading sun with steel helmets, running drills, moving siege weapons, and the magically inclined crafted spells before launching them in the shape of flying insects at struggling humans.

"You are probably thankful you made the right call, or that could be you, like the other desperate humans attacking our people." I quietly canceled the quest to take 20 goblin ears. There wasn't any point in going to that town when this one was so close.

The stone walls did look far more impressive than the half-wood walls of the other town. One guard waved a spear at me with no armor. Why hadn't these guys attacked that town already? Upon seeing the massive stone gate open to a lavishly dressed goblin wearing blue robes and a wide-brimmed hat on a palanquin carried by golems, I understood the reason readily. The town had nothing these people wanted at the moment. They were fine letting the other town rot and using their mounted scouts to pick up any refugee-turned-would-be heroes that the human town sacrificed.

I watched the mounted guards I had spoken to raise their fists to their chests and then approach the goblin wizard. Words were spoken, and then I was rushed inside and the massive stone gates of the goblin town were closed behind me.

The interior of the goblin town came out of the stories people told of the massive cities like Neo Boston or the capital of Van Raven, the Ink City. Massive squat white stone homes lined the interior in a grid pattern. Male goblins sat on balconies watching me some with spears in their hands or a collection of skulls they shined while a collection of female goblins waited on them. A particular goblin with red hair watched me as she poured a drink for a particularly muscular hobgoblin.

A goblin dressed in white and wielding a ceremonial staff approached me soon after, along with guards wearing white wing symbols on their leather armor.

"Did you know we goblins and humans have a lot in common we are both tournament mating species?" I shook my head in the negative.

"I heard of mating tournaments, but they were bloody spectacles only fit for the old arena," I said.

I followed the robed goblin down a street and learned a few rules of the city. Mounts could be brought in, but they wore bags to collect their droppings. The roads were slanted to drain liquids down into a set of grates that led to a sewer. Goblins stood directing traffic, including those on the sidewalk. The robed goblin led me to a crossroad and stopped.

"We both also enjoy our blood sports. Our desire to protect and provide for our women is strong for both species. If not for our biological advantage, we would be in a similar situation to your people. While humanity is declining, we are on the rise. You don't seem to be well-educated. Why would the adventurers teach you instead of a learned scholar or a gifted warrior?" The goblin asked.

I sucked in a breath and collected my thoughts. A breeze blew from the north down one of the paths we could take. From there, I smelled the rot of decaying animals. "Adventurers are insane. While some may appear rational in some ways, they are only hiding their true selves. I've met three; two of them were my teachers, and none of them think as we do. As for myself, I was in the right place at the right time the first time. The second time, what I learned from the first adventurer captured the curiosity of the second. Even so, it was more a game on his part than true teaching." I said.

The goblin nodded slowly. "We have compiled information about adventurers from their words, stories, and our own observations. There is a method to their madness. Power like theirs should be respected." The goblin said.

He turned away from the rotten smell and took me further into the city. "Every twenty levels, an adventurer can gain a profession. So long as that adventurer has the materials, they can become better in that profession than any mortal. You claim to have access to the same power. What is your level?" The goblin asked.

"Twenty-three," the goblin nodded.

"One free slot unused, we know these professions can be exceedingly specialized or broad. Alchemists are broad despite their famous potions. Enchanters are well known for their ability to imbue items with effects and curses. Even architects are well-known and beloved professionals. The great cities of man were made by adventurers tens of thousands of years ago and not by human hands. Why are you here?" The goblin asked.

My stomach chose that intense moment to growl.

"Ah, say no more; my name is Blonca and the gob in charge of interspecies affairs. We have a dryad on staff that will most likely vote for your profession to be agriculture. Food production is very important for our growing city. We have these bacon-wrapped jalapenos filled with goat cheese that are to die for."

After paying the man in copper coins, a guard returned with a tray of a vegetable wrapped in bacon. My mouth watered at the sight of the masterpiece of culinary arts. I took one bite and knew I was addicted. For food that good, I would jump to Team Goblin in a second. Who knows, maybe this was a better move than going to Neo Boston. My goal hadn't changed we were on the yellow line. The King in yellow was the enemy, and it was better to be part of a group taking it on than alone.

I remembered that Raid bosses took hundreds to millions of adventurers to defeat. How would I have ever beaten them by myself?

My steps increased in difficulty, meaning I gained a little more strength. What I wanted to be was a no-brainer, especially if the goblins were going to fund me. "Do you need an enchanter?" I asked.

"Enchanters are rare, even among adventurers. We could use one but we need potions more now. We'll sign you up with a recurring quest today. Make us low-tier health potions, and we'll be able to range further and take more risks." Blanca said.

I nodded slowly.

Quest 

Supply The Gobs 100 health potions a week. 

Reward 

A place in the community.

50 Stars 

Alchemy xp 

 The stars were silver coins, solid and worth a fortune. The system was paying me for the quest, but so would the goblins, by the looks of it. I was going to be rich; this would turn my life around and help me build a place for my sister once I got her back. I had a force of goblins that would naturally come into conflict with the raid boss, and all I had to do was supply potions to them.