Whispered Warnings and Goblin Lore

The Silverhaven Adventurer's Guild bustled with mid-morning energy. Tankards clanked against wooden tables, parchment rustled in the hands of anxious newcomers, and the sharp scent of steel and leather filled the air. Sunlight streamed through the arched stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the floor as adventurers milled about between quests.

Selena and Red stood near the quest board, just having finished picking up another low-tier slime extermination notice, when a group of rough-looking warriors seated near the fireplace burst into loud conversation.

"…I'm telling you, I saw the smoke myself," said one, a burly man with a notched axe and a braided beard. "A whole village torched. Not by bandits, either."

"Goblins, maybe," another chimed in, lowering his voice and leaning in. "Northward, past the Drythorn woods. Couple of traders gone missing up that way too. It's them, I'd bet my blade."

"Wasn't there a patrol that went out two days ago?" a third asked, tone uneasy. "Didn't come back, did they?"

Selena tilted her head, curiosity piqued.

Selena: Red, They're talking about goblins. Are they really that dangerous? They sound… kind of like smaller orcs."

Red didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned away from the board and nodded toward a quieter table in the corner of the guild hall. Selena followed, and they both sat down, away from the bustle and noise.

He rested his arms on the table, his dark eyes steady as he finally spoke.

Red: Goblins are more dangerous than most people realize,

Red: Especially when ignored.

Selena leaned in, intrigued.

Selena: How so?

Red: They're weak alone. Small, clumsy, not very intelligent. Most rookie adventurers underestimate them because they're easy to kill, especially the common green goblins. But they don't survive through strength. They survive through numbers… and breeding.

Selena: Breeding?

Red: Goblins reproduce quickly. Their population can explode in just weeks if left unchecked. That's why even a small tribe can become a threat if you let it fester. And they don't always breed with their own kind.

Selena: What does that mean?

Red: They raid villages, They steal food, tools, weapons and women. Especially human women. They take them as breeders. That's how their numbers grow even faster. It's... one of the reasons most experienced adventurers don't take goblin infestations lightly.

Selena's stomach twisted uncomfortably. She lowered her gaze.

Selena: That's horrible…

Red: They're one of the crueler monster races

Red continued, tone unwavering.

Red: And goblins don't work alone for long. When they get bold or organized, it usually means they have a leader or something stronger."

Selena: Like a chieftain?

Red: Goblin Chieftains, Hobgoblins, or even mutated types. I've seen goblin kings with armor made from stolen human gear, using tactics that most monsters wouldn't think of. Traps, flanks, ambushes. And the worst ones? They learn from every fight.

Selena shivered a little, wrapping her arms around herself.

Selena: Do they use weapons too?

Red: Whatever they can steal or craft. Crude swords, jagged spears, spiked clubs. Some of the smarter ones figure out bows. I've seen ones with enchanted daggers taken from dead adventurers."

Selena: And armor?

Red: Leather scraps. Sometimes metal plates. Shields, too, when they can. It's all mismatched and ugly but effective."

Selena was quiet for a moment, processing all of that.

Selena: I always thought goblins were just… comic relief monsters. Silly and green and squeaky.

Red: That's how stories portray them. Until they burn a village and leave no survivors.

There was a pause.

Selena: Have you… fought many of them before?

Red: Too many to remember.....

She bit her lip, then asked, 

Selena: And what happened to the people they took?

He didn't answer.

The silence was enough.

Selena leaned back, her mood dampened. She looked toward the fireplace, where the adventurers continued their hushed debate.

Selena: So if there's rumors of a goblin tribe up north…

Red: It's worth watching, But I doubt the guild will take it seriously unless someone comes back with proof.

Selena: Or doesn't come back at all

Red nodded.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the topic lingering heavily in the air. Then Selena looked up again, more determined this time.

Selena: Then I want to learn how to fight them. Properly, I mean. I can't just fumble around like with the slimes.

Red: You're improving

Selena: But not enough, If what you said is true… I don't ever want to be the kind of person goblins can drag away."

Red looked at her then. Not just glanced, looked. His gaze was thoughtful, serious.

Red: Then you'll need more than a dagger.

Selena: Oh?

Red: We'll stop by the training yard later

Red: Learn proper stances. And I'll show you how to fight with reach. A short sword or a polearm might serve you better against swarming enemies.

Selena: Alright. I'll learn. I promise.

Red: Good, Finish your juice. We'll start after the slime job.

Selena: Yes, sir.

As Red walked away toward the request desk, Selena remained seated a moment longer, her mind buzzing with everything he'd said.

The goblins weren't just cannon fodder. They were monsters with methods. Cruel, cunning, and relentless.

And one day, she might have to face them.

But next time, she'd be ready.