Orchid sat back at camp. She would’ve tried to get some work done but now that she was done fighting, her body was just too sore to even stand up. For a few seconds she closed her eyes and rested, but before too long more of her minions had come over to pester her. Bigs and Wej wanted to be midboss while Jeeze wanted advice for the rope. A pair of goblins we’re going to go get healing herbs back at the cave; Orchid was about to tell them to look elsewhere, but frankly she didn’t have much choice at the moment. This would have to do.

First looking at Bigs and Wej, Orchid sighed. [color=firebrick]”One boss and a midboss is too simple. We might be small, but we’re gunna have more roles than just boss and midboss.”[/color] Orchid took a stick and started drawing in the dirt. She made big circle representing her. [color=firebrick]”Boss. That’s me.”[/color] Then Orchid made three circles, one she labeled with two crossed spears, one with a water droplet, and another with a hammer. 

Orchid pointed towards the circle with the spears. [color=firebrick]”Now I need three midboss. One leads the Hunters. They fight our enemies and fight for food. I only want the disciplined. That means you follow my orders, know when to fight, and how to fight.”[/color] Then she pointed towards the circle with the water drop. [color=firebrick]”Then I need Keepers. They gather supplies like food, Wood, Stone, water, treasure, whatever we need. They don’t need to fight, they just need to bring back something we can use.”[/color] Then Orchid pointed towards her last circle. She tapped on it a few times to emphasis it. [color=firebrick]”Then the Crafters. Like me. Make weapons, armor, shelter, whatever. Using what the Hunters and Keepers bring back, Crafters can make better things so Hunter’s and Keepers can find better stuff.”[/color]

Hopefully this diagram was simple enough even for these goblins to understand. Now onto the important part that Orchid was sure they wanted to know. [color=firebrick]”So now I need three midboss, each to take care of either the Hunters, Keepers, and Crafters. As Boss, I’ll make sure to help all three and let you all know what we need. I’ll tell Hunters where to go hunt, Keepers where to go look, and Crafters what we need made. This way too, stuff like what happened at the bonfire don’t happen again. So Bigs, you’re the Hunter Midboss. Get better at fighting. Wej you’re the Crafter Midboss. You wanna build that wall? Learn how to make bricks.”[/color]

Then Orchid looked to Jeeze and her rope. Without even touching she could tell her cordage was weak, and Orchid wasn’t afraid to point it out. [color=firebrick]”This sucks.”[/color] Orchid have Jeeze What was left of her own cordage, though it was only of average quality. [color=firebrick]”Make like this. I started with a big fat piece at first, but kept twisting until it became tough and thin. Use a stick to help you twist it, like this.”[/color] Orchid frayed the end of her rope a bit, then used a fairly small twig to tighten the rope back together. It also reminded Orchid if something else as unstrung the sling she had wrapped around her arm; it had helped compress her muscles so the bleeding wound on her shoulder didn’t get to bad. She handed it to Bigs.

[color=firebrick]”That’s called a sling. Helps you throw rocks harder and faster. If you wanna be a good hunter learn how to use it. You can even use it with your spear, so you can throw it harder and farther.”[/color]

"Ya mean we all gets ta be Mid-bosses!?" Bigs and Wej looked at each other, then turned back to Orchid. Then they grinned idiotically and [url=https://youtu.be/Hpw3ItaYac0?t=16]began[/url] [url=https://youtu.be/Hpw3ItaYac0?t=29]dancing.[/url] "We's all midbosses! All midbosses! All-Mid-Boss!"

Jezee winced when Orchid didn't pull any punches. The younger female sniffled as Orchid handed it back to her, but then her eyes got big when Orchid gave her the Average Fiber Cord. Still slightly disappointed, but setting her tiny jawline, Jezee nodded and went off to find more sticks for bark strips. 

Once Bigs and Wej stopped dancing long enough for Orchid to give Bigs the Sling, Wej protested loudly. "Oi! What about me!? How I make burricks? Wat burricks even is?"

"...Is what human houses made out of. Like da farm." Bigs and Wej jumped at the sound of Crispy's voice, though it was low and growly--still strained with pain. The Flame-touched Goblin was looking at Orchid with suspicion again. "Youngl--Boss...musta seen it in dreams."

[quote=System:Orchid]
Your Item: Wicker Shield has Broken!

You have defeated Crispy! You are now Boss of your Native Goblin Tribe! You have gained the new Title: Goblin Chieftain! The effects of this Title aren't yet clear. Current Title Rank: I.

LEVEL UP!
Your experiences have culminated into new power! You are now Level 5! You gain Skill Points to distribute as you please!

[color=red]Unspent[/color] [color=green]Skill[/color] [color=red]Points[/color]: [color=green]9[/color]

Current Skills:
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.1)
Stronger I (1.7)
Crafting IV (4.6)
Material Analysis II (2.05)
Monster Analysis I (1.25)
Smash I (1.5)
Charisma I (1.6)
Taboo I (1.1)
<UNUSABLE>
Muffle (0.8)
Deception (0.7)
Charm (0.3)
Alert (0.3)
Stone Shot (0.4)
Throw Item (0.4)
Slash (0.8)
Warcry (0.5)
Pierce Resistance (0.7)
Blunt Resistance (0.3)
Slash Resistance (0.1)
Blood Drain (0.35)
Skewer (0.4)
Mental Resistance (0.4)
Fireball (0.5)
Mana Orb (0.2)
Focus (0.2)
Magic Analysis (0.2)
Faster (0.9)
Overwork (0.3)
Intercept (0.3)
Defender (0.7)
Rabid Fit (0.5)
First Aid (0.1)
Intimidate (0.5)
Counter (0.4)
Shield Slam (0.6)
Poison Resistance (0.1)
Fire Resistance (0.6)
Dust Blow (0.1)
Magic Resistance (0.2)

YOUR BODY IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE! You are undergoing Transformation! Based on your life experiences, your ability to survive, and the strength of your will, new paths have appeared! Choose carefully--there is no going back! [color=red]WARNING. THIS PROCESS WILL LEAVE YOU TEMPORARILY VULNERABLE.[/color]

OPTIONS (* Indicates Suitability):
**(Adult) Goblin (Low Variant Chance) - Goblins stand between three and three-and-a-half feet tall on average, and while their physical strength isn't to be underestimated, they are much like human children. However, their natural cunning and viciousness is far more vile, and while they can use tools they have a limited intelligence. They tend to form savage tribes with little in common save for the constant drive to survive, and a lack of emotional control that causes them to do whatever they feel necessary to satisfy any primal craving they happen to feel at any given moment. They aren't typically capable of long-term planning and have difficulty with abstract concepts.[list]
[*]Slightly increase all base-stats
[*]Increase HP
[*]Increase Potential[/list]

**(Immature) Hobgoblin (Low Variant Chance) - These advanced goblins develop darker skin colors, their former green bodies turning a shade of the forest or changing tint slightly to blues or browns. They are a foot taller than goblins on average, and while their proportions are similar their extra mass shifts towards a more wiry, muscular form. With greater intelligence but about the same level of maturity, if Goblins can be compared to vicious children then Hobgoblins could be mean-spirited teenagers. Their faces become slightly less ugly, and they grow more hair much like various humanoids.[list]
[*]Increase all base stats
[*]Gain Medium Equipment Skill (reduced)
[*]Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier[/list]

*(Immature) Bugbear - Bugbears are an evolved form of the Goblin. Less suited to the natural cleverness or deftness of their smaller cousins, they more than make up for this with their toughness and strength. Their thick fur allows them to venture out from their caves or huts into many different environments. Their strength allows them to use larger types of equipment, and they'll often bully other goblins around as the leaders of small tribes. They can almost never work together with other Bugbears, as the species is highly aggressive and competitive.[list]
[*]Slightly increase speed-and-defense stats
[*]Increase base strength stats (reduced)
[*]Increase Medium Equipment skill (reduced)
[*]Increase Stamina[/list]

(Immature) Demiblin - Goblins that have been influenced by demonic energies, often committing acts that even make their brethren pause or else being influenced by a greater demonic being. They are roughly the same size as normal goblins but tend towards the taller and more muscular side of the average. Their skin darkens until it becomes almost ink black, and they often develop strange magical sigils on their skin. They show increased aptitudes for magic.[list]
[*]Slight increase to base stats.
[*]Increase Demon Affinity (reduced). 
[*]Gain Access to Job System: 0th Tier.
[*][color=red]Taboo Offering[/color][/list]

**(Immature) Redcap - Goblins that, like the Bugbear, value physical strength but also have enough intelligence they could be considered "tactical" often transform into these red-skinned, larger-than-usual goblinoids. Redcaps are more militaristic than normal goblins and make excellent tribal chieftains, but are also industrious and begin to develop more skill in using tools and equipment. However, their tribes are often very small, as a Redcap's demand for excellence leads to many desertions.[list]
[*]Increase base strength stats (reduced)
[*]Increase Weapon Affinity (reduced)
[*]Gain Medium Equipment Skill[/list]
[/quote]

Finally. Orchid felt like she had been waiting forever for a level up. Lots of options here. Plenty of good stuff. She wished she could trade out some skills like her Animal Handling for some sort of resistance, but she’ll just have to play whatever hand was dealt to her. But first she needed to get her goblins out of her hair. She looked over to Crispy who seemed to have stopped crying enough to talk. Orchid gripped her club but remained stoic.

[color=firebrick]”Aye. They’re like rocks, cept harder. You need mud and fire to make them. Crispy! You go teach Wej how to make a fire, and gather some more wood while you’re at it. You’re going to be one of the Crafters now. Teach Wej what you know but remember who’s the boss now.”[/color] While she didn’t trust Crispy, it wasn’t going to do her any good keeping him off to the side doing nothing. Treachery was one thing, but being useless wasn’t going to be something she’d tolerate ever. 

She wanted to level up and evolve but didn’t want to leave herself exposed, she called over to Biggs. Using her broken Wicker Shield, she hung it up on a low branch and handed Biggs some stones. [color=firebrick]”Practice with your sling here. I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up if there’s any trouble.”[/color] With Biggs nearby Orchid hopes to get some rest and deal with her level up. She leaned against a tree and sat back down, holding her sharp club in a way to ensure she could wake up swinging it anyone had any stupid ideas. As she closed her eyes she started to deal with her points and stuff.

Obviously, five points into fireball. She’d already invested into it so she planned to make the most out of it. Plus with her intent to continue crafting and advancing her creations, having a ready access to fire and heat would be greatly important. This way she could slowly phase out Crispy too. That left four points left over. There was a lot of cool sounding skills she thought she could use, but Orchid needed to keep it simple and stick with whatever is most functional. Practical stuff. So she added one point into Faster, and the remaining three points into Stronger so she’ll level up in both.

Finally the evolution. She knew that Ash had evolved in some strange fashion, so Orchid knew she could too. The options seemed interesting. Adult goblin, young hobgoblin, bugbear, Demiblin, and Redcap. She didn’t really know what any of those things where beyond what the descriptions said. Rattleskull was probably a bugbear now that she thought about it, and she winced at the idea of being just as dumb and thick-headed. Crispy was probably an adult goblin and he didn’t seem too impressive. Redcap seemed like it’d be right up her alley, however she didn’t like the idea of having only a small tribe. While it may be a headache to have to take care of a bunch of goblins, civilization flourished because of the great many, not the special few. She it was between the Hobgoblin and Demiblin, which apparently was some sort of demonic goblin. Hob best fit Orchid’s preference for simple and straightforward upgrades, but she’d be lying if she didn’t admit to wanting to know more about magic. If it was like anything from the stories, Magic was basically technology in fantasy worlds, and Orchid, despite her craft skills, was no scientist. She couldn’t make a car or robot with her limited knowledge. But magic seemed like an easy enough alternative to reach something similar to her modern knowledge. 

So Orchid choose Demiblin. No doubt it’ll have a lot of evil options granted into it. But… Orchid has already accepted that. She wasn’t going to pretend she was anything better. So she selected Demiblin, and awaited to see what would happen.

Once Orchid had made her decision, she suddenly felt a deep fatigue come over her. She felt deep asleep, her club dropping from her hands, and as if in a dream she rose up and up...

Orchid could see EVERYTHING.

Not in crystal clarity, of course. But she drifted upwards, out of her body, rising enough that she could look out over the forest. She could see the mountains to the west, and they stretched both north and south forming a wall between two lands. She could see the forest stretching out for miles to the east, broken by a series of square clearings where a large house of stone, wood, and thatch sat calmly puffing smoke. To the south, she could see the cave where all of this had begun, and the barest hint of a great, grassy plain...

[color=firebrick]"Devourer of thy kin...deceiver of thy brethren..."[/color]

Orchid rose higher, but something felt wrong. Fear began to creep around her heart and up from her toes. She could see further to the south where wave upon wave of grass spread over the plains, towards a place where the sun beat down upon the earth. Further to the east, a large body of water glistened with the rays of the morning sun. Upon its shores sat a vast city of wood and stone, banners flying from castle towers. To the north, a thundering river spilled out of the mountains and down into a great valley, and further beyond that another thick forest grew, darker and colder than this one...

[color=greenyellow]"Is a tiger guilty of murder when it brings down the gazelle? Or only if it hunts another tiger? What if it knew better?"[/color]

She rose higher. To the south beyond the grassland, deserts and canyons, windstorms sweeping over dunes. Further to the east, a bright light cutting a path to safety for those in need of guidance. Over the mountains, to the southwest, a grand city stretching for miles. Still in the west, but far further north, a tower like a mighty tree reaching up to the heavens with roots stretching deep, deep into the earth. So far to the east that it became west again, a lonely, cold, desolate island where red lightning split the sky. Here, Orchid felt an eye upon her, and the fear that gripped her threatened to choke her. Spreading up from the tips of her fingers she felt an icy burn...

[color=fuchsia]"Yes, you too despise doing as you are told. Is it merely because you are told? Or do you merely wish to be the one giving the orders?"[/color]

She rose higher. A world, a planet, rotated thousands of miles an hour, yet from this distance appeared as no more than a soap bubble, as if it would pop if she but brushed a fingertip against it. The city lured her, cried out for her. The island's red skies held her in sway...

[color=black]And unseen hands grabbed her, turned her to look away from that world, and into the Void.[/color]

The moon and stars? Outer space? A galaxy, a universe? In this void there was nothing...and between the nothing, [i]they[/i] were. Dark clouds of matter that did not exist. Heavier than gravity, they passed between atoms. Negative numbers, fraying strands of time and space, they did not exist.

[color=black]"You are the second Goblin from this insignificant tribe of worthless insects we have met today. Will you too, prove too cowardly to continue the work you have already begun? Or will you continue to lie, to steal, to kill, and devour? We look forward to your depravity."[/color]

The Abyss gazed into Orchid, and though she no doubt wanted to blink as terror strangled her she could not shut her eyes.

[quote=WVS0KU:Orchid]
[color=red]You have 1 Offering. To gain greater Offerings you must commit Taboo.[/color]

With your available Offerings, only these have taken pity upon you:

Hellish Fiend's Protection (Petty) - Increase resistance to the powers of Fire. (1 Offering)

Hellish Fiend's Gift (Petty) - Increase your powers of Fire. (1 Offering)

Dedication to the Hellish Power - If you dedicate yourself to the Hellish Power, you shall be marked. You may no longer make offerings to other powers or receive their favor, but the favor of the Hellish Power towards you shall increase. Please the Hellish Power, and you may Quest in their name... (1 Offering, Cancels out any non-Hellish Favors, [color=red]Displeasure may result in Infernal Torment[/color])

Chaos Fiend's Protection (Petty) - Increase resistance to the powers of the Dark. (1 Offering)

Wrathful Fiend's Gift (Petty) - Increase your powers of Physical Destruction. (1 Offering)

Wrathful Fiend's Brand (Petty) - Increase your Strength. (1 Offering)

Dedication to the Wrathful Power - If you dedicate yourself to the Wrathful Power, you shall be marked. You may no longer make offerings to other powers or receive their favor, but the favor of the Wrathful Power towards you shall increase. Please the Wrathful Power, and you may Quest in their name... (1 Offering, Cancels out any non-Wrathful Favors, [color=red]Displeasure may result in Infernal Torment[/color])

Carnal Fiend's Gift (Petty) - Increase your powers of Glamour, and your sensual appeal to others. (1 Offering)
[/quote]

Orchid was given several choices. But as the unseen hands let her go, an unheard voice beckoned to her.

[color=antiquewhite]She did not have to make this choice. She could still turn back. If she sought forgiveness, the [color=red]Taboo[/color] could be lifted from her...[/color]

Slowly, she felt herself being pulled back towards the world below...

[color=firebrick][i]”What.”[/i][/color]

This was all so confusing. So scary! Orchid thought she had found some measure of courage before, fighting Crispy and all, but this place… It drove her somewhere beyond mere fear. Madness even. She wanted to cry out and cover her eyes, to run and hide, get away from this craziness all over again. By the time she internal screaming could stop and she could make sense of things again, she was presented with a choice. Her sins have allowed her to take on some sort of demonic power now. Forces, likely maligned, beckoned her to make a choice. Obtain more power, or turn away and try to seek redemption.

It was only now that somehow Orchid could muster up some sort of energy to act, if only to make her choice and a quip or two.

[i][color=firebrick]”D-Damn you… I’ll not… I won’t be weak again! This power… IS MINES!”[/color][/i]

Orchid reached out to grasp these demonic powers, reaching for the Hellish Fiend’s Protection. She was going to use a lot of fire for what she had planned in the future, so she’ll need to build resistance against it. As she reached out she could feel her weight falling back to the ground. All she could do was grit her teeth, clench her fist, and hope that somehow she’ll gain some power from this ordeal. She didn’t care who she had to step on to get ahead. No matter who had to be sacrificed. 

[color=firebrick][i]”This world is mines!”[/i][/color]

Orchid made her choice. She reached out and grasped the immaterial words that only existed inside her head--she grasped power in a tight and desperate grip. And she felt it brand her. Fire surged through her being. It burned away sensation, burned away sight, burned away the planet floating below her and the sun up above her and the bright light behind her that turned away with disappointment. It burned away the Void, but there was one thing it could not burn.

The deep, echoing, resonating laughter. [i]Their[/i] laughter.

With flames all around her, Orchid found herself somewhere [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMIYLUo1THQ]new[/url]. Somewhere the earth had turned to ash, and that too was burning away. Bare rock had become molten but even that was evaporating. Up above her, the sun was burned out, black and dead--no. It was a hole, a gateway back to the Void, and the fire reached up to pass through it in a whirling spire. Things--beings--swam up that inferno, struggling to reach its top and escape the all-consuming pyre.

[color=orange]"Even the Ancient Men did not create Fire. They merely found it, and took it from its resting place to spread it across the World."[/color] One of [i]them[/i] was speaking to her. Something rose out of the flames behind her, but no matter how she turned she could not find it.

[color=orange]"But within Fire they found Warmth. Fire fed them with meat, Fire burned away disease and impurity. Torches lit the way through darkness, to protect them from shadows, to show them the path of exploration. Candles held the night at bay and revealed the hidden words of their books--Fire granted them Knowledge. And with Knowledge, they controlled Fire. They lost the Fear of Fire."[/color]

Though it was all around her, none of these flames had yet harmed her.

[color=orange]"Fire does not care if they do not fear it. Fire does not care if it is used for good or ill--do not mistake me for the Will of Fire."[/color] Orchid might remember what Crispy had said once: [i]Fire strong. Stronger than Rattleskull. Maybe strong enough to burn whole world.[/i] The voice continued, [color=orange]"But it is [i]my[/i] will that they fear fire--or rather, that they fear the fire that would turn their books of knowledge to ash, the fire that would blacken their lands, the fire that would sear their throats. That fire is my fire. That fire is [i]Hell Fire[/i]. I grant you my Protection, however, that you may do my bidding without being reduced to cinder."

"The Taboo of Flame shall be thus:
Hellfire may burn the temples of every god before you;
Hellfire's graven image shall not be that of Man's Fire, and Hellfire must seek to consume the Flame of Man;
The Flame of Man shall burn in vanity, undo its works and cast them down as ash;
Let all holy days be burned away, and only the Fear of Fire remain until all creatures would even hide from the sun;
Hellfire may consume all around you, even thy father and mother;
Thou may kill in the most wretched of manners with Hellfire;
Thou may commit the most unspeakable acts, that the carnal flames may be truly ignited, by Hellfire;
Thou may steal the Warmth of Man's Fire and replace it with the Fear of Hellfire.
Thou may bear false witness of works done by flame in order to do your own works unperturbed.
Everything thou covet, ye may toss into Hellfire to prove thy devotion."

"I care not if you fulfill every Taboo. I care not if you dedicate yourself only to my service, though I shall not tolerate disloyalty if you do. But if you gather Offerings, then I may bestow upon you my Favors. I ask only..."[/color]

Laughter. Again that laughter that snapped and crackled all around her, that popped and sizzled in her ear, that smouldered in the depths of her soul.

[color=orange]"That you give me Fuel. Give me Fire. Give me that which I Desire...[/color]"

Flames burst forth from below and consumed Orchid. She was carried aloft as if upon the eruption of a volcano, into the midst of the black sun. She kept going up, and up, and up, into the cold and solid darkness of the earth, through stone and soil, and the last thing she saw was a green body lying on the ground...

[hr]

When Orchid had gone off to take her nap, Crispy had glared at Wej. Wej stood there dumbly, looking back and forth between the two "bossy" goblins with furtive glances. Just because he had seen Crispy injured, it didn't quite undo the short lifetime of intimidation he had experienced at the other goblin's hands.

"I teach ya how to make fire." Crispy said finally, spitting to one side. "But youse go gets da wood. And when I heal up, youse gonna ask Boss to make ME da Crafter Midboss."

"Why would I do dat?! I'M da Midboss!" Wej countered, beating his chest. "You...youse just a Mini-boss now!"

"What da Midboss of Crafting do, Wej?" Crispy snarled.

"Make stuff! Like bricks! And big walls!" Wej replied, turning his fat nose up and smirking.

"Does ya like makin' stuff, Wej? Seems stupid to me! Wall stupid too!"

"Wall not stupid! Youse just mad cause ya ain't Boss no mores! Or Midboss!"

"Is too stupid! Look at dat rock over dere!" Crispy pointed further up the hillside to the largest rock he could see. Wej followed his gaze. "Ya wanna make a big wall? Bricks gotta be dat big!"

"...Dat big?" Wej tilted his head. The rock in question was almost the size of one of the goblins themselves. "Why dat big?"

"Cause walls got to be big and tough! Ya tink youse could break dat wall wif a stick? Or a smaller rock?" Crispy smiled through crooked teeth as Wej thought about this, scratching his bald head. "Da Crafty-Boss is gonna have to make all dose big bricks, and carry 'em, and stack 'em up--!"

"Carry 'em!? Me!?" Wej pointed at the rock and looked back at Crispy incredulously. "Why I gots to do all dat!?"

"Ya just said I can't be Crafty-Boss, ya dum! So if you's Crafty-Boss, and ya wants to build a wall, you da one dat gots to build it!"

"...Hey!" Wej suddenly narrowed his eyes. "I sees what youse doin'!" Crispy's own eyes widened. "Ya tryin' t'trick me! I don't have to lift all da heavy stuff just cause I'm Crafty-boss! I just gets da uddas to do it FOR me! Like how you and Rattleskull made us all do stuff!"

"Dat's even dummier, Wej!" Crispy threw up his arms, and Wej was again caught off guard. "When I was midboss and made fire all da time, do ya know why I didn't make YOU do it?"

"...Uh...cause..." Wej tapped the side of his head. It made a rather hollow thump. "...Cause you da only one dat knows how to make fire?"

"Yeah! Youse IS smarter den ya looks!" Crispy clapped his hands together, and Wej puffed out his chest. "Only Crispy knows how to make fire, only Bosses knows how to be Bosses, and only Crafty-bosses knows how to make bricks and walls! So Crafty-bosses got to be the ones makin' em, carryin' em, stackin' em, buildin' da big walls--all by deyselves!" Then Crispy shrugged and shook his head. "But I guess yas too smart for me, Wej, since ya saw through my trick! Since you's da smarterest, I guess you gots to be da Crafty-boss after all, and do alllll dat work..."

"N-now hold on dere, Crispy!" Wej held up his green palms. "You dun figured all dat out, so I think YOUSE the smarterer one! I'm gonna get da Boss to make YOU Crafty-Boss, since you wants it so bad! And dat way I ain't gotta carry all dat stuff!"

"But Wej, if you ain't da Crafty-boss, what're ya gonna do?" Crispy protested with big eyes and a wobbly lip.

"Da Boss told ya to teach me how to make fire!" Wej folded his arms and nodded, standing his ground. "So youse gonna teach me fire, and den I'LL make all da fires while you makes all da bricks! We jus' trades jerbs!"

"Wej, dat's a good idea!" Crispy said, smacking one fist into his palm. "Youse must be, like one o' dem smurt Humans--a Genie!"

Both of them starting chuckling and nodding at each other. Wej's "hurr hurr hurr" laugh went on for a few seconds longer than Crispy's did, and then they looked at each other. Crispy snarled and slapped him on the side of the head.

"SO GO GETS ME MORE WOOD!"

As Wej ran off, Crispy looked over at Orchid. She was sound asleep under that tree--and her dreaded sharp club was dangling from her hands. He looked around the camp. Jezee was making rope. Bigs was practicing with his sling. Neither of them were looking at the boss. His two minions were still gone for the moment to find Healing Herbs for him. Sqwal was...where had Sqwal gotten to? No matter, that one was small and weak. So that left...Clod.

"Oi. Clod." Crispy began hobbling over towards the other goblin. Clod had just finished making something, and was looking over his creation with an unusually focused eye...It was really [url=https://conanexiles.gamepedia.com/File:Icon_primal_sword-1.png]rather impressive for a goblin.[/url] "Wut happen to ya rocks?"

"Boss took some of 'em. Broked 'em to make my--her sharp club, I mean. Was s'posed to make it for me..." he grumbled.

"Look over dere!" Crispy pointed, and Clod slowly looked up with narrowed eyes and a deep frown. "Da boss asleep! You could just go take it from hers!"

"...Den she'd just beat me up. Like she did you, dummie." Clod growled.

"Wif what?" Crispy waggled his finger. "If ya take her sharp club--"

Then Orchid suddenly burst into flame.

Black flames, though tinged with a sulfurous orange. This strange aura came out of the ground underneath her as if it were erupting, and consumed her entirely. All the goblins within ear and eyeshot gasped and leaped back, Crispy included. His eyes widened. His teeth began to chatter. He broke out in a sweat.

"She...she really [i]did[/i] have dreams like me mudda!" he whispered. "But she...she musta had...[i]Demon dreams![/i]"

Orchid awakened as the black aura died away. Her body felt feverishly warm at first, but soon that began to die down. She had grown taller, being four inches over four feet. Her muscle tone had not changed much but felt more "solid," and her proportions weren't fully mature but had grown beyond childlike. Her hair, while being burned, turned from back to red and hereyes skin had become a dusky, smouldering orange. On the back of the same hand she had "reached out" for power with, a symbol glowed softly as if it were freshly branded. Two diamonds interlocked side by side, and between them a jagged line like lightning went up almost to her knuckles, ending in a sharp tip. On either side of this bolt's midpoint, two more lines crossed it. The longer one below had flared tips like a leaf-shaped blade. The upper one split into a jagged, three pronged fork at either end. Though she couldn't see them without a mirror, her eyes had a shifting, flame-like orange glow to them that slowly dimmed as she blinked, taking in the world around her from this new perspective.

[quote=System:Orchid]
TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE!
Goblin > (Immature) Demigoblin!
You have Transformed!
Your base stats have slightly increased!
You have not reached your full Potential. The skill Demon Affinity's development is reduced. Your desires have boosted the Demon Affinity! Skill is currently at (0.666)
You have gained access to the Job System at 0th Tier!
---Job System---
Creatures with a certain level of intelligence, sophistication, and potential for civilization often learn that specialized functions for different members make the society better. Specific forms of training, and specific mindsets, mean that those who undertake a "Job" are better suited for certain things than others with different "Jobs." When you take on a Job Type, the World System will allocate earned Skill Points in a way more favorable to your choice. Using a skill you are familiar with as an example...[Smash]. By swinging your [Sharp Stone Club] weapon, you gained points for this skill and also for the Slash skill. You intentionally attempted to use blunt force, along with other weapon types, and thus Smash developed faster than Slash. However, if you were in a blade-weapon based Job, the points that went to Smash would have automatically gone to Slash instead, boosting its development. Jobs may cost you versatility, and make it harder to learn skills you already have that do not fit the Job's prerogative. However, they will speed up development of the more fitting skills. Jobs are not permanent choices and may be changed, however doing so will require a training period for the new Job.

Available Jobs for Demigoblin:
0th Tier[list]
[*]Raider - Physical focus. Offensive focus.
[*]Skirmisher - Balanced focus. Defensive and Support focus.
[*]Voodooist - Magic focus. Offensive focus.
[*]Bandit - Physical focus. Offensive and Defensive focus.
[*]Sneak - Physical focus. Evasive focus.
[*]Scrapper - Physical focus. Offensive and Evasive focus.
[*]Cultist - Magic focus. Support focus (debilitating) and Healing focus.
[*]Gatherer - Balanced focus. Support focus.
[*]Scout - Physical focus. Evasive and Ranged focus.
[*]Crafter - Utility focus. Further increase relative skills at the hindrance of combat ability.[/list]

You may unlock other Jobs by fulfilling certain conditions. You may gather further information about Jobs by focusing on one at a time before making your choice.
---Job Tutorial Complete!---

Skill Gain: Fireball I!
The fire-themed version of a basic magical attack. With roughly the same power, range, and MP consumption as a Mana Orb, it has the unique property of being able to inflict a burn on the target. However, as an elemental spell, these same properties render it harder to use in certain circumstances. Non-flammable or elementally opposed targets, for example, will be much less affected.

Skill Gain: Faster I!
Your base physical speed is increased! By gaining the skills Harder, Better, and Stronger, Skill Synergy will occur and you will gain one rank of Physical Conditioning.

Skill Rank Up: Stronger I > Stronger II!
Your base physical strength has increased even further! --You possess the Use Light Equipment skill, but with this increase to your stats there may be some other forms of equipment you can wear without the proper skills. For instance, you may meet the requirement for a larger weapon if you are holding it in both hands or using your body more efficiently to lift and swing it. However, sub-enhancements for this equipment will be greatly diminished.--

Special Skill Gain: Hellish Fiend's Protection (Petty)!
Gain Fire Resistance I and Hellish Fiend's Sigil, lose 1 Rank of Taboo. This damage resistance skill applies to both magical and natural flames, as well as higher temperatures in general. [s]If other elemental resistances are gained, skill synergy may occur.[/s] Having this skill may make using certain types of fire magic or other fire oriented skills easier. [color=red]This is a cursed skill. Some may recognize your true nature. Even now, the evil seed of what you've done germinates within you...[/color]

[color=red]Skill Loss: Taboo I![/color]
The Taboo Skill has lost 1 Rank. Skill is currently at (0.1).
[/quote] 

All the goblins present--which meant everyone but Wej, Sqwal, and Crispy's two minions--slowly approached Orchid, crouched low as if afraid she might suddenly lash out. Crispy still cradled his arm, but his jaw hung slack and his eyes kept looking at the sigil on her hand.

"B-boss!" The flame-touched goblin's attitude had taken an oddly respectful turn all of a sudden. "Y-you changed, l-like Rattleskull! But you a Demiblin now! Did...did ya get to talk to da Big Demons!?"

Orchid opened her eyes as she awakened. Her dream was vague but still fresh in her memories. Like she wasn’t looking at everything through her own eyes but as merely an observer. It was bizarre but she let that moment past. She had access to new class related things but she held off from picking any of them for now. She needed to figure out what was needed the most at the given time. She fancied herself a crafter but she wouldn’t be surprised if she’ll have to focus more on combat related skills. Either way as she stirred awake everyone else gathered around to see what had happened. Crispy was the first to speak up to her. Apparently he knew what had just happened, or at least seen it happen before.

[color=firebrick]”Yeah. I did. I got their powers now.”[/color] Orchid stood up and flexed her hand, and then made a fireball. It was about the size of her fist. Nodding her head she dismissed it and walked towards the group. She noticed Clod had made himself his own stone sword. It looked… Crude. Possibly effective. [color=firebrick]”Nice Sword.”[/color] Orchid handed Clod her sharp club and then pointed over to Biggs. [color=firebrick]”You’re one of the Hunters now. Talk to Biggs to know more. More importantly, next time you go hunting see which sword works better. We’ll start making more of whichever works best.”[/color]

She looked at everyone gathered here. They were missing a few but it was enough for her to announce a new decree. Something to get everyone started on something. [color=firebrick]”That’s right, once we get more sticks and stones I’ll make sure everyone’s got some sort of sharp club, and a shield too. So if you ain’t doing nothing, you ought to be getting more wood or making something. Biggs and Clod, I want you two to head into the woods and find something for us to eat. Grubs and roots if that’s all you can find, but a nice animal would be better.”[/color]

That made Orchid look back at Crispy. Pretty sure she told him to teach Wej how to make a fire. But she didn’t see Wej, nor any new fires. So she just looked at Crispy. [color=firebrick]”What’s Wej doing?”[/color]

Crispy's eyes bugged out of his head as he saw Orchid make a fireball. He fell to his knees, his wounded arm held close to his body as his other hand gripped his head like he was having some kind of conniption.

Clod's eyes bugged out of his head as Orchid handed him her sharp club and complimented his sword. He looked between the two with slack jawed awe, then dumbly nodded and scrambled to his feet. He dashed over towards Bigs, causing the other goblin to flinch out of the way of those wildly flailing stone blades. The two hunters wasted no time following her orders, crashing off into the forest--more than likely they had just scared off any animal they could probably hunt, but maybe they would at least find some worms or berries.

When she asked about Wej, Crispy looked up blankly for a moment, then shook his head.

"He gettin' wood for da fire. An' he said he dun wanna be crafty-boss cause he dun wanna work on bricks." Slowly, due to his injury, he began trying to get back to his feet. His attitude seemed to have undergone a significant change. "B-boss, it already almost mid-day. If we wants to get to farm before night time we gots to leave quick. But if we gonna stay here--" Around this time, the two minions reappeared near the entrance of the cave. The male one had some monster's blood on him, his knife-wielding hand being covered in it, and the female had a double armfull of Healing Herbs and a few Mana Crystals.

"--then we needs to find shell-ter or somewheres, forest will be more an' more dangerous when night gets close. Won't always get lucky like we been."

Orchid narrowed her eyes at Crispy. On one hand, she wanted to punish him for obviously manipulating Wej. But then again, Orchid can at least respect someone smart enough to be capable of manipulation. If Wej is so simple minded that he could be easily swayed, than he wouldn’t be of any use to Orchid. But she didn’t want Crispy to think he was slick either. So she raised a single finger towards him. [color=firebrick]”Crispy, Crispy, Crispy… You’re not stupid. I can respect that. If I had to fight Rattleskull for leadership he would’ve chosen to die fighting than to work with me. I can respect that smarts. So don’t try to play dumb; you know I said we’re going to have people for gathering sticks. Wej is supposed to focus on building things. Things like bricks, walls, and fire.”[/color] Then Orchid raised a second finger. [color=firebrick]”And I told [i]you[/i] to teach him how to make fire. I gave you that order. And if [i]I[/i] have to be the one to teach him… You’ll starting to look a lot less useful.”[/color]

After she spoke the two goblins who had left came back with a bounty of herbs. One looked fairly bloodied. Orchid pointed towards them with her chin. [color=firebrick]”Go patch yourself up. You’re no use to me in this state.”[/color] Orchid did, however, help herself to some herbs first, taking a few for herself. As Crispy warned her that it’ll get more dangerous, she had to admit he was right. They didn’t have too much time left before it’ll get dark and they still lacked much usable gear. Orchid wanted to rest some more, but alas, no rest for the wicked.

[color=firebrick]”When the hunter group and Wej get back, I’ll explain how things are going to work in this tribe, eat food, and then we’ll get going. But we’re not heading to the farm today. We’re going to find the monsters from before and see if we can’t get them to help.”[/color] Orchid applied the herbs to her wounds and glanced around for her other goblins. Wondering what they’re doing, and what she might have to do if she’s gotta kill anyone right now.

"I, I's gonna teach him, Boss!" Crispy protested. "I just made 'im go get wood cause I can't! Me arm's still broked!" Oddly enough, through the nasal whining it seemed like Crispy was being genuine--with a broken arm like that, he [i]would[/i] have been quite limited in gathering firewood. So he had bullied Wej into doing it--probably because, just like Orchid, he had figured out that showing any kind of weakness was bad news in a goblin tribe. He had to keep kicking around other goblins lower than him on the totem pole or else he might not survive. Of course, he didn't seem to realize Orchid might kick him out for causing trouble with the others--because Goblins had already proven, hadn't they, that they weren't so great with long term planning?

Orchid took 3 of the Healing Herbs, the male Minion ate one of them to fix up the few scrapes he had taken, and the female minion began to chew one as well. Five more were laid aside, presumably for communal storage, but the female took the remaining five over to Crispy.

"Boss, I don't tink dat's good idea." said the male minion, following behind Orchid as she looked for the others. He moved over to one side, between her and the other two. "Dem udda mobs was real weird, and dey was always messin' wif stuff. Made dat beetle go boom. If dey messes stuff up for us we all might gets killed cause of it."

"Crispy, gimme yer arm."

"Ow! Don't touch it, Tiddies! An' what Yoona doin', we can't make da Boss mad now--"

"Shaddup for minute ya dum! Good, da bone not crooked...I dun tink." She spat out the herb she had been chewing, now ground into a fine paste. She began rubbing it into Crispy's wound, all the way down like she was trying to get it right onto his broken bone. The flame touched goblin suddenly bit down on his own hand, the good one, until blood spurted out from under his teeth. Even with that Orchid could still hear his agonized squeal. After making sure she had gotten all the herb into the wound--which didn't exactly look sanitary--the female minion began to wrap the others around Crispy's arm along with a thin pointy stick for a brace. She pressed them until their own juices acted as an adhesive, although admittedly not a strong one at all. She left Crispy to hold his own makeshift wrappings in place and began searching the nearest tree for creeping vines.

Just then, Bigs, Wej, and Clod came bursting back through the treeline. Wej was holding a bundle of sticks under one arm, and a bloodied, thick branch in the other. Clod had both of his swords, Orchid's borrowed one dangling from his wrist by the cord she had made for that very purpose and the other one held in the same hand. In his other hand, he clutched two Pixie corpses by the leg. One of the heads had been hacked clean off, but the other looked fairly mangled and crushed. Bigs came back holding his spear and two more Pixies, one of which had its body bludgeoned while the other had several holes in its torso.

"We finds food!" Bigs crowed.

"An' wood!" added Wej. He took the sticks over towards Crispy, throwing them down on the ground. Crispy looked hurriedly at Orchid and immediately pointed his good hand at the pile before the boss could possibly get around the crowd of her own minions. 

"FIREBALL!"

It was the first rank of the spell, so the explosion wasn't so big, but the blast still tossed some of the wood to the side and nearly singed Wej's eyebrows off. Crispy grabbed him before he could fall over and pointed. 

"Dat how ya makes fire wif magic! Grab a couple sticks and I shows ya da udda way!"

"Oi, Boss." Clod threw the two pixies down in front of Orchid and pointed at each one. "Yore sharp-club got dat one." He indicated the one whose head looked fairly mangled. "It cuts, but it can't go deep cause the shards ain't long and da body kinda stops da club part. It hits harder, tho--killed da Pixie in one hit." Then he switched to the other body. "My sword make good cut, not messy! Real bloody tho. Got it in the neck so we didn't haf ta waits too long. But it took me a couple tries to cut da head all da way off." He shook the sharp club off of his wrist and handed it back to her. "I tink yers prolly betta...but I made mines all by myself so I likes it more." The goblin seemed thoughtful about something--like he had actually learned from this experience. "I'mma make a even betterer one...soon as I find me some betta rocks..."

"When we gonna go to da farm?" Bigs broke in. "I didn't get ta use me slinger on dem Pixies! Wanna hunt some humens!"

With her minions back together, Orchid nodded her head. Time for a little rally and setting forth the game plan. First she needed to address some things about how this tribe was going to be ran. [color=firebrick]”Alright. First things first. Now that I’m the boss, we’re gunna do things different here. I’m still the boss, but now we got three midbosses, each one for a different thing. The Hunters for hunting and fighting, Seekers for gathering things like wood, rocks, and herbs, and Crafters that’ll make weapons and stuff. Biggs is the Hunter midboss and Wej is the Crafter Midboss.”[/color] Orchid looks over to Wej who, if Crispy said was true, didn’t want to be the midboss. Orchid would deal with that at a later time. She pointed over to Yoona, who had voiced his opinion about the other monsters.

[color=firebrick]”Yoona, you’re the Seeker Midboss now. Your job is to find stuff for us to use. You don’t need to fight or hunt, it’s more important that you and whoever you take with you come back alive with important stuff. Now as for those monsters…”[/color] Orchid crosses her arms and thought about the other monsters. Frankly, she wasn’t sure if they could be trustworthy. Ash at least was cooperative but Orchid didn’t know a thing about the others. Chances are at least one of them was responsible for the initial attack on the goblins when they all still lived in the cave. She would t be surprised if tensions grew and another fight starts. But she had already made her choice.

[color=firebrick]”I’ll keep that in mind Yoona. They’re definitely dangerous. That’s why I’ll be dealing with them. If they cause you any trouble come to me first and I’ll deal with them. And that’s the important thing! If there’s something wrong, you come to me! We work something out. Do stuff on your own, get into trouble because you want to pick a fight, you’re on your own. If they messing with you though, if anything attacked you, feel free to fight back. Even better, get the rest of us and we’ll gang up on them.”[/color]

Finally, Clod brought a few dead pixies to her. His sword cleaved the head off one pixie after he had hacked it once, but her sharp club had killed the pixie in a single blow. If Clod’s sword was made of metal Orchid had no doubt it would’ve been more effective than her club. But until they could get their hands on metal, sticks and stones will have to do. Taking her club back Orchid flipped the pixies off the ground and onto her club. [color=firebrick]”You do that Clod. Keep it up and I might even make you the Crafter Midboss.”[/color]

Getting the Pixies from Biggs, Orchid would cook them for the goblins. Four pixies, four limbs, and there were eight goblins to feed. That meant everyone got to have at least two limbs to chew on. Orchid might be able to make some meat off the torso and head too, but she didn’t expect much if she roasted them over the fire. In any case the day was getting late. It was finally time to pack up and leave. [color=firebrick]”Alright! I’m going to cook these pixies for us. Everyone gets an arm and a leg. Might be able to make something out of the bodies too but don't expect much. Gather up your stuff. Once we done eating we’re going to go find those other monsters. Tomorrow we’ll make more weapons and stuff, see if those monsters are willing to help, and maybe if I trust em they can help us attack the farm. Now get going!”[/color]

Without any seasoning all Orchid could do for grilling the pixies was breaking their limbs off and cooking them on sticks. For the torso she simply took her nail and a bit of muscle to tear open their dead bodies and trying to debone them. Their bones were far too small to even be used as needles. It was like gutting a fish. Orchid felt oddly unperturbed at desecrating these bodies like this. Was it because she was a Demiblin, or has she just always been this callous? She didn’t question it.

But as everyone ate, Orchid noticed something off. They were missing someone. Orchid quietly got up and looked around thinking maybe she didn’t notice them. But sure enough, Jezee and Sqwal were missing. Where could they had gone? [color=firebrick]”Oi… Where’s Jezee at? Did Sqwal ever come back?”[/color]  Orchid turned to the others. Tiddies and Yoona didn’t see any other goblins in the cave. Neither did Bigs, Wej, or Clod when they were out. This annoyed Orchid. She wanted to leave today, but she couldn’t leave her goblins behind. Sqwal might be a little twat but he seemed ambitious about being a better crafter, and Orchid could respect that. Jezee was obedient too, which is more than some of these goblins.

[color=firebrick]”Dammit. Crispy, Bigs, you guys are going to follow me. We’re going to find those two gits. The rest of you gather up your things here and be on guard. Clod, I’ll leave it to you to watch over the camp. Wej, I want you to start building some spears with those sticks and stones. Yoona, help them with whatever they need.”[/color] Orchid took the last of her fibre rope and tied it around her left arm like a gauntlet. She didn’t have time to make a shield, so this would have to do. Flexing her hand she looped her club’s sling over her main hand, summoned a small ball of fire, and looked deeper into the forest.

[color=firebrick]”Let’s go.”[/color]

[hider=Stats]
Health: Wounded
Stamina: Winded
Magicka: Full

nventory -
Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Sharp Stone Club (Well-Made) (Equipped)
Fiber Cordage Rope Gauntlet (Above Average) (Equipped)
Club (Good) (Stored)
Torch (Stored)
Rawhide Bag (2/12) (Equipped)
[list][*]Antidote Fern
[*]Bloody Garrote[/list]

Current Skills:
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.1)
Stronger I (2.0)
Crafting IV (4.6)
Material Analysis II (2.05)
Monster Analysis I (1.25)
Smash I (1.5)
Faster (1.0)
Fireball (1.0)
Charisma I (1.6)
Taboo I (0.1)
Hellish Fiend's Protection (Petty)

<UNUSABLE>

Demon Affinity (0.666)
Muffle (0.8)
Deception (0.7)
Charm (0.3)
Alert (0.3)
Stone Shot (0.4)
Throw Item (0.4)
Slash (0.8)
Warcry (0.5)
Pierce Resistance (0.7)
Blunt Resistance (0.3)
Slash Resistance (0.1)
Blood Drain (0.35)
Skewer (0.4)
Mental Resistance (0.4)
Mana Orb (0.2)
Focus (0.2)
Magic Analysis (0.2)
Overwork (0.3)
Intercept (0.3)
Defender (0.7)
Rabid Fit (0.5)
First Aid (0.1)
Intimidate (0.5)
Counter (0.4)
Shield Slam (0.6)
Poison Resistance (0.1)
Fire Resistance (0.6)
Dust Blow (0.1)
Magic Resistance (0.2)

[/hider]