The next day they sold loot and earned almost a gold coin worth in silvers and coppers. Their mood improved considerably. Roland noticed something.
"Goblin Slayers."
"Yo, what the fuck, Roland?"
"Please don't mention that around me, Honey."
"Hold on. Yesterday, they were pointing at the 2 bags Brewary carried. We were also beaten up quite badly. Today-", said Roland, pointing to their regular wear,
"-they don't recognize us, and our loot was in 2 filled bags". It took awhile to register.
"So these motherfuckers are looking out for beat-up Volunteers carrying only a little bit of goblin loot to sell?"
"Oh no, that is cruel. The poor things", said Brewary.
"Fuck, that is savage. UGH!"
Jakson, squatting at the side with a skewer and his new wineskin, laughed. Demit joined in, then Roland. Brewary thought Team Manato was adorable and he joined in laughing too.
"That's rude. We shouldn't be laughing at them", said Brewary later.
"Funniest shit I ever heard in Grimgar. Speaking of Goblins…"
"They jumped us", answered Roland.
"They know we're there and were lying in wait".
"Is ambush", said Jakson apologetically.
"Go on, Broski, tell us what happened."
"I use Sneaking and walk quiet, but many looking on roof. I fight back, but…", said Jakson, ending with a shrug.
"We got too comfortable, Broski. That's all. And that pisses the fuck outta me."
"I vote we go back, darlings. Only the finest men in Grimgar are allowed to rough me up like that."
"Yea. Let's go back", said Roland. Jakson nodded.
"Tomorrow, Fireteam Alpha is going back to New City, crash that party and fuck some shit up. Hooah?". 2 'Hooahs' and an 'Ura' answered.
Better bandages were bought instead of the torn strips of linen that they usually used. These Medicated Bandages were shaped like slings, with extra length to double as a tourniquet. The part that made them more expensive was the centre that contained a salve of sealant and medicine, which hopefully would stop a bleeding. Jakson replaced his missing pieces of armour. All edged weapons were sent for sharpening instead of doing it at the room with a whetstone. Brewary could finally afford a used cuirass. It was patched over the hole where the heart would be. According to the armoursmith, the previous owner caught an orc arrow to the heart. He decorated it by painting on a red flower with 5 petals, called a Scarlet Pimpernel. Roland could finally afford a Gambeson as well. Gambesons and Jackets were sent to tailors with specific instructions to patch with quality materials.
Hopes were high that evening. They sat at the market, watching people go by as they drank.
"What an adorable little girl", Brewary commented. A rather small girl in Thief clothing passed. She had black hair. Based on the looks of her gear, it was quite basic. Her party looked like 3 Warriors, a Priest, a Mage and her as a Thief.
"New bodies for the meat grinder", replied Demit.
"But 3 Warriors, though?", she continued.
"Anyone seen any of them in your guilds?", she asked. For Roland, naturally 'no'. Brewary and Jakson hadn't either, which meant that they had trained for trainee badges later than Fireteam Alpha.
Done lounging around, they took their time collecting their gear from the smiths, sharpeners, tailors and sorts. Suddenly Jakson slapped Brewary's arm and pointed in a direction.
"It's Team Manato". Their Warrior was carrying Manato. The Thief and Dreadknight were clearing the way. Following them, the Mage who was crying and being supported by the Hunter.
"Oh fuck no, pretty boy what have you done?"
"Let's follow and see", suggested Roland.
They tailed the group to the Temple of Lumiaris. Team Manato went up the stairs. Priests stopped them from entering so they kept to the temple pillars outside.
"That's drill sergeant Head Priest Honen", said Demit. Team Manato began to beg for help. The Head Priest was loud. He asked what Lumiaris could do to resurrect the dead. He lamented the loss of Manato, in whom he had faith and a plan for the future. He cried visibly. The Dreadknight wanted to grab the Head Priest but was stopped. The Mage sank to the floor and broke down. The rest just stood there, helpless.
"God fucking dammit. This ain't right. Give them a few minutes, then I'll slip in and find out what happened. Carry my shit for me? See you at Ruai for dinner". Demit entered the temple.
At Ruai, she explained what had happened.
"The worst. Fucking. Thing. They carried Manato to the crematorium but was turned away 'cos the fucker's closed for the day. So they had to carry him back, and now he's dead at some corner of the Temple and his squad's just sitting there."
"Poor things. What happened to Manato?", asked Brewary.
"Y'all promise to keep your cool?". They nodded.
"For real. Sit the fuck down and stay calm". everyone nodded again.
"From the ambush. The Armoured Goblin and Hobgoblin that got away…". The looks on everyone's faces were of horror. Jakson cussed in some different language.
"According to a Priest, they planned to attack the Armoured Goblin, but the fucker had a crossbow and got their Thief Haruhiro". So his name wasn't 'Parupiro'. Idiot Dreadknight, thought Roland.
"Manato turned to help. They were 2 men down from the get-go and shit went FUBAR"
"So how do you know it was our goblins?", asked Roland. Everyone could guess from context what a 'FUBAR' was.
"It makes sense, don't it? They survived ambushing us and learned. Armoured up. Even the Hobgoblin had armour and a spiked club. But here's the kicker, here's how I knew it was our goblin", Demit paused to take a sip, and the rest were hanging on to every word.
"Fucker chucked a knife into Manato's back, right when he was organising the retreat". Everyone turned to look at Roland, who took the first knife to the belly.
"They must have gotten exiled from New City for failing to kill us", said Roland.
"Overnight, they killed any Old City Goblin they could find for gear. Maybe even some from the fortress, since they got better after surviving us. Probably planning to set up base after that", answered Demit. Everyone was silent.
"Dumbass motherfucker. Buy some armour next time, asshole", she said and banged her wooden mug on the table. Demit had taken stabs, cuts, darts and even once getting tossed to the side by a Hobgoblin club, breaking some ribs. She survived all because of the patchy padded jacket and then Gambeson, which was made by layering different fabrics into cushioning, dart-stopping soft armour.
They peeked at the Temple again before ending the day. Team Manato was there, sitting around his dead body, downcast. The descended, shaking their heads.
"Poor things got food and drink?", asked Brewary.
"Yea. Temple'll feed them. Doubt they have appetites."
"Who'll be the next leader?", wondered Roland.
"Hope not Ranta urod", said Jakson. Demit agreed.
"Maybe Orion will take them in", suggested Brewary.
"Here's what we do. Tomorrow, we go to New City and teach those goblins a lesson."
The next day, the hillock was abuzz with activity. Goblins had chopped the trees and turned the entrance they used into a small gatehouse of mason and wood. As they approached, the goblins went back in, closed the gate and started making threatening noises from the walls and roofs. A rain of darts came down and fell short of where they were standing. The situation in New City had changed. The goblins had come down from their ring of defences and taken in the entirety of the New City. There was no more Damrow safe zone to operate in. It was New City or the land of Grimgar outside.
An Armoured Goblin in charge of the gate was jeering, spurring the rest to join in. A Hobgoblin climbed up and started laughing in its own dumb way. Demit turned to Roland.
"Soldier, I need an AP round into that thing ASAP."
"Okay, but we're not getting his bag."
"No, soldier we will not. Now drop the fucker". Roland pulled out a bodkin. Penetrator hit the Armoured Goblin in the neck, punching right through. The Hobgoblin tried to steady the Armoured Goblin, but ended up pushing it over the edge outside the walls. Brewary handed his sword to Jakson.
"Oh, we're getting its bag". He sprinted, bracers covering his neck and groin. Roland's second Penetrator ended in the Hobgoblin's head, dropping it. It flailed and brought down 2 other goblins into the City side of the wall. The goblins on the walls and roofs fired at Brewary, and Roland did what he could. The gate opened again but Roland fired a Penetrator which splintered the wood on its way through. There were terrified shrieks and the gate remained ajar. A broadhead hit a goblin that dared stand in it and hurl insults. Brewary used the dead Armoured Goblin as a shield to return. Darts bounced off its armour. Jakson took the bag, held it up and Fireteam Alpha yelled back at the wall. Another rain of darts fell short. Roland fired another Penetrator at the gate, hoping to hit something. This time it was closed from the inside. They were displaying unbecoming behaviour but there was bad blood. Who could blame the New City Goblins for using an ambush to kill or expel an invader that was thinning their ranks? And who could blame Fireteam Alpha for being bitter about being ambushed? Still, it was a win for the Damrow Goblins as now only an army could enter New City. Roland had a feeling that after awhile, New City Goblins would claim Old City as well. A proper Goblin Kingdom would be formed. With a few final insults, arrows and dares that they came out to fight, Fireteam Alpha left.
"Should we hunt down the Armoured Goblin and Hobgoblin, finish the job?", asked Brewary.
"No. Team Manato's got beef with the fuckers now", answered Demit. Jakson agreed.
"Is Team Manato revenge".
"Orcs. We go for orcs tomorrow. Agreed?". Everyone did.
The one bag yielded loot worth 4 silvers. It seemed quite low for a single New City Armoured Goblin. Maybe reclaiming the New City costs money. Oh no, they have some kind of an economy. And I spent all my bodkins.
"Oh man. Lost my temper and used up 3 bodkins", complained Roland.
"Worth it. I'll buy you one. I'll replace the one that took the Armoured Goblin."
"I'll give you something special", said Brewary with a laugh. Back at Alterna, Team Manato was seen burying the ashes of Manato on the hillside. They stood by his gravestone. The group looked broken in spirit. Ranta said something, tried to walk away and Yume yelled, calling him an idiot. Fireteam Alpha felt bad for them.
Brewary really did bring something special, a gift from the 'finest men'. It was a bodkin with a shining tip. Brewary said that it was called 'elemental coating', which could give arrows additional attributes like extra piercing power or elemental magic. He did not know which, as the mysterious benefactor wanted it to be a surprise. It also explained why richer, more wealthy and experienced Volunteers had glowing armour and weapons. Roland examined his new arrow. Even the shaft was made from a different kind of wood.