You know there are moments in your life that the question "What the fuck am I doing?" just sort of pops in your head.

This? This is one of those moments.

Here I am, in a cave, naked, following four teenagers and a grungy knight as we collectively prepare to do battle with a bunch of child sized rape monsters.

It's just...

There are no words really.

I'm sort of expecting to wake up and find this is a dream or something like that. Doubtful, but it wouldn't surprise me. Shit is just too wild for my imagination I think. Too many details. Especially the smells.

Doesn't matter anyways. Treat it as if it's real just in case.

We've already come up with a plan, mostly based on the fact that we were assuming the big ass chamber I saw is the main room.

Plan was simple: Slayer and I charge in drawing all eyes to the entrance, Priestess flashbangs the chamber from behind us so we don't get blinded, Wizard keeps her last spell in reserve to hopefully snipe the shaman, Warrior and Fighter are to throw their torches into the cave to give us some light to work with then guard the door to the chamber to keep the casters safe, the goblins trapped, and make sure we have a open fall back point. If Goblin Slayer and I feel there's too many we fall back to the choke point of the entrance and if we really start getting overwhelmed Priestess burns her last spell on a barrier to give us time to regroup or just run away.

Honestly? Solid plan. Done more with less on the table top. Hopefully it works just as well in real life.

Goblin Slayer is at the front of the group leading us through the caves. The little fuckers are known to be tricky apparently, using traps and surprisingly well thought out ambushes, which brings to mind DnD kobolds. Just more viscous.

So far we've found nothing though. Our guide hasn't commented on it beyond it being "unusual." That's just set me on edge frankly. When the tricky fuckers are acting off the mark something has gone wrong, for us or them remains to be seen.

I've been assigned rear guard which makes sense I suppose. No way can I sneak. I'm far, far to large. That same bulk also means I effectively take up the entire path. Not bad as a rear guard as it makes it effectively impossible to get past me, but at the front I'd just be blocking anyone else from helping me. That and my ability to see into the darkness behind us means I can't easily be ambushed. Assuming they even try it. Personally I'd take one look at the massive lizard monster and book it the hell out of there if I was the goblin in this theoretical ambush.

Goblin Slayer stops ahead of us suddenly and we all almost slam into each other trying to halt. Somehow we don't make too much noise, but it wouldn't surprise me if whatever caused our lead man to stop heard that.

"Some warning next time please?" I grumble out from the back.

Slayer looks over his shoulder and nods. "Apologies. I am unused to working in a group."

"No problem." I wave it off. "Why'd we stop?"

He looks forward again and gestures with his sword. "The tunnel widens ahead." He glanced back at me. "You said you ran into a large chamber further in?" At my nod he continues. "This is it then. Whatever is left of the nest will be within and waiting for us."

Ah, I see. Final preparations.

I roll my shoulders and flex my wings in a way that undoes some of the tension running through my body. Loosen up those muscles, boyo, it's clobbering time.

Warrior takes a deep breath and exhales. Fighter just shifts on her feet somewhat restlessly. Wizard is muttering to herself, going over spells maybe? Priestess is shaking like a leaf though.

Can't have that. Her panicking at the wrong moment can get us all killed.

Without much thought I lower a hand onto her back. I would of gone for her shoulder, but frankly my hand is nearly the size of her entire upper torso if you count the claws.

She freezes for a second then winces as she looks in my direction with wide eyes.

"Take a breath." I instruct calmly. She does as I say more on reflex then anything else I think. "Exhale, slowly." The air rushes back out. "What's your job?" I ask.

The others are looking at us, faces ranging from confusion to understanding. Goblin Slayer's head is tilted in a way that brings to mind curiosity.

"I.. I um..." She stutters.

"One thought at a time. Priority number one. First thing we told you we need you to do."

"Wait... wait until you and Mr. Goblin Slayer are inside then cast Holy Light."

"Right." I nod. "After that what?"

She takes another breath and exhales again. Noticeably more controlled then the first. "I stay back with Wizard. If... if you and Mr. Goblin Slayer need to pull back we all run back into the tunnel. If it looks like we're going to be overwhelmed I seal the chamber off with Protection."

"That's right." I nod again. "See easy. Just two steps. Probably one. Goblin Slayer and I should be able to kill them all without much issue." Bravado at it's finest. Fake it tell you make it and if my fake confidence could bolster hers all the better. I pat her back as gently as I can, she still staggers a little. "Just keep calm. We've got this. Those little bastards are already dead, they just haven't caught on to that fact yet."

"Ye- yes!" She bounces on the spot and nods firmly.

I chuckle. "Alright kids, squish up against the wall, I need to get up front."

The teens comply. I note they actually all seem much calmer now. Warrior actually looks outright eager if anything and Fighters face is a grimly determined. As I manage to squeeze past them to the front I look at Goblin Slayer.

"Me first?" I suggest. "I can see in the dark so I should be able to clear out the doorway at least."

He pauses for a moment then nods. "That would be effective."

"Right." I lower into a crouch, muscles tensing in preparation to launch forward. "On three."

"One."

I hear metal shift next to me as Goblin Slayer also braces to charge. His sword is just at the edge of my vision held chambered to stab rather then slash. A good tactic for a charge.

"Two."

I can hear one of the kids take another deep breath and exhale.

"THREE!"

My legs push and I shoot forward like an arrow. The small distance from the tunnel to the chamber entrance vanishes almost instantly. As I power through the doorway I glance right and see the shocked face of a goblin. The thing's skull disappears in a spray of bone chips and brain matter as my stolen club swings through it. The goblins headless body goes careening off into the chamber.

"Check left!" I roar, hoping that either Goblin Slayer or one of the melee fighters of the teens understand that the door is probably guarded on both sides.

I can't take time to make sure of that though as there are at least a dozen of the little fuckers right in front me. Thankfully, my sudden entrance and probably unexpected size have scared the shit out of them.

That lets me lunge forward into the group with a sweeping sing of my club. Tiny green bodies go flying. Some get stuck on the club, their mangled corpses twisting around the heavy piece of wood. That one attack took out another four. That still left far to many of them and whether from fear or fury they finally react. Five of the little bastards move towards me. Two more circle left. I ignore those, hoping Goblin Slayer is dealing with less and can deal with them.

A split second later the entire cavern lights up. The radiance washes out my dark vision completely, but other then a few spots in my vision I come out alright. The same can't be said for the goblins who are staggering backwards and screaming as they cover their eyes.

I snarl and slam the club down on the nearest monster crushing it into literal paste on the cave floor. A step forward lets me grab another goblin's flailing arm with my free hand and I wrench it's body to the side with as much force as I can muster. I feel bones snap in my grip as I let it go and it collides with two more of the creatures that were out of my reach. As they tumble to the ground I see Goblin Slayer lung at them, his sword skewers two and a quick stomp to the throat kills the third.

Another flash of light catches my attention. Mostly because it's not coming from-

Pain. Searing pain.

Not debilitating, but it feels like my entire body has suddenly been fried by a sun burn. I let loose a roar, more out of surprise then anything else, and spin toward the source of the light.

A goblin with a staff and robe was looking at me in surprise, electricity was sparking from the tip of its staff. It took me a second to realize what had just happened. The little fucker had shot me with a lightning bolt!

Rage welled up in me. My hand snapped up to point toward what had to be the shaman as it frantically began chanting another spell.

"Sask!" I snarled at the goblin.

Instantly a beam of pale green light shot from my pointing claw and struck the goblin dead center. The little monster screamed and staggered, it's spell fizzling as it lost concentration. It collapsed to it's knees for a moment, but the damn thing was glaring at me still so it wasn't out yet.

"Firebolt!"

From behind me a crackling orb of fire shot through the air and struck the already injured shaman. The creature was blown backwards even as it burst into flames. The shaman's body fell out of sight, but two spells connecting like that nearly guaranteed it was at least out of the fight for a bit.

I turned to examine the rest of the chamber. The kids were still holding the door, six or so dead goblins around Fighter and Warrior. Goblin Slayer was putting down the last two goblins I could see standing. I would of moved to help, but even as I took note of the fight he had crushed ones head with a club and was turning to finish the other.

Where the hell had he gotten a club from? Did he loot the goblins mid fight? That's actually sort of crazy if he was switching weapons the entire time.

The last goblin died when Goblin Slayer caught it in the throat with a haymaker from his shield arm. The edge of the shield more or less decapitated the the damn thing.

Right. Personal reminder: shields are in fact weapons. Use them as such.

And after all that? Silence.

We spend a few seconds gazing around the chamber only to see nothing. After a few more tense moments I start to relax.

Holy shit.

Holy shit we did it. We fucking won.

I laugh. I couldn't help it. The adrenaline was the best high I'd ever had in my life and it was making me a little loopy.

"Check them." Goblin Slayer says loudly enough to be heard by all of us as he leaned down to grab one of the torches that had been thrown into the room. There was a distinct note of satisfactions to his normally rather emotionless voice though. "They sometimes play dead to try and escape."

"Kids stay by the door." I shout back at them getting an affirmative from Warrior. I start stomping toward the back of the cave, the adrenaline wearing off making my limbs feel heavy. "I'll check the shaman."

Goblin Slayer nods even as he stabs a dead goblin. Right be extra sure. Stab or crush something vital just to be safe. I glance at one of my kills as I move past it. All that's left is a sort of goblin shaped sack of pulped flesh and broken bones. Pretty sure everything I hit head on is dead.

I do pause smash the skull of an mostly intact corpse I spot though. Thing actually jerked when I hit it too. Not sure if that was just a reaction to the impact or if it really was still alive. I get to the back of the cave and spot the still smoldering shaman. I was pretty sure he couldn't survive being reduced to literal charcoal.

I chuckle. "Oh, he's dead all right. Deep fried." I look back toward the entrance where the kids are still watching tensely. "Good shot wizard!" I call out.

I see her stand a little straighter and wave at me from the back line.

Goblin Slayer walks up next to me and nods. "Thirty two goblins, two hobs, one shaman."

I pause. "Two hobs?"

He nods and points to the side and sure as sunrise I see another of the big bastards belly up on the floor dead. From were I'm standing I can see a sword in it's gut and an ax sticking out of it's face.

"They are much easier to kill when blind." Goblin Slayer points out flatly.

"Most things are." I agree with a chuckle before glancing down at him. "Numbers about right?"

"For a nest this size. Yes." He confirms. "Now we just have to find the captives. Or their remains."

That spoiled my mood somewhat. Grim, but honest. I nod and glance around. They weren't here and there didn't seem to be other entrances. Goblin Slayer moved with purpose though so I trailed after him. Sure enough as soon as he got near the back wall of the cave he kicked over a throne like chair made of bones and drywood I hadn't thought much about.

"Found them." The adventurer stated in a voice even more dead then usual.

I glance over his shoulder and realized the throne had been blocking another smaller chamber. Inside were the captives.

And the goblin's spawn.

My lips pulled back in a snarl as I saw the little creatures. They were just babies, but already they had the same miasma of vileness the adults had. A species literally born into evil. In their midst were the village girls. Two of them. The poor women didn't even react to the torchlight. They were covered in injuries. Marks from bites, claws, and just general brutality. The abuse was painfully obvious even in dim light and from a decent distance. My hatred for goblins burned a little brighter at the sight and my eyes turned to the spawn.

Priorities. Victims first and foremost.

"Get the girls out of there." I growled.

Goblin Slayer moved forward and gently put the arm of one of the village women over his shoulder. She was essentially dead weight, completely unresponsive. The goblin spawn scrambled to the back of the cave. It was a dead end though, they couldn't go anywhere. For a moment Goblin Slayer stared at them, but the woman he was holding shifted slightly and he ripped his gaze away.

I didn't even want to think about what they must of endured to be reduced to this state. I started to reach for the other girl, but she finally reacted to something. Namely she turned just enough to look at me and started whimpering.

I didn't even blame her. I was a huge, scary lizard monster and she'd already suffered god knows what horrors at the claws of the last non-humans that were near her.

I drew back instantly and turned towards the entrance. "Fighter! Get over here! We found the captives! Need help moving them!"

"Ok!" The monk shouted back and sprinted towards me. As soon as she got close she gave me a curious look so I decided to explain why I wasn't doing anything.

"Scared of me. Don't blame them." I said simply. "I'm going to move out of your way, help Goblin Slayer get them."

She just nodded, her face set. Even as I moved away I still heard her gasp as she entered the small chamber. A short discussion broke out between her and Goblin Slayer, but a few moments later the two of them staggered out with one village girl each.

As the light of Goblin Slayer's torch faded I stepped back into the hidden chamber just in time to cut off the spawn who had tried to scramble into the dark of the main cave. To hide and escape.

A growl rumbled out of my throat and the baby monsters drew back in terror. I should of felt pity. Maybe horror that I'd just killed their entire family. Yet I didn't. The only thing I felt was disgust. Even now, as literal infants, they were evil. If they were allowed to grow they'd only repeat this cycle.

There could be no mercy. Not for these creatures. Only extinction.

"Mitne!" I growled out.

The word blossomed into a burst of radiance, but unlike Priestess' Holy Light, this wasn't just for blinding a room. The light burned the goblin spawn to ashes. They didn't even get to scream. A quick, clean death. It was likely more then they deserved and certainly more then they would of ever given any victims had they been allowed to survive.

I growled again as my eyes scanned the darkened chamber making sure the spell had destroyed all the creatures. Once I was sure I turned back around and nearly ran right over Goblin Slayer. He looked in the hidden room and paused.

"The spawn?" He asked tonelessly.

"Destroyed." I responded just as flatly.

He stared at me for a moment then nodded and without a word turned and began making his way back toward the entrance. I took one last look behind me then followed.

I mostly ignored the humans around me as we made our way towards the surface. I had... a lot to think about.

Priestess was glad the fight was over. It had been scary, but also somewhat awe inspiring. Mr Goblin Slayer and Mr Cleric were both very skilled fighters, much more then her party which wasn't really anything against them. It just highlighted the difference between seasoned warriors and those only beginning on that journey. It was humbling, but it had also inspired the others to reach for those heights themselves.

Mr Goblin Slayer didn't really have any magic from what she could tell, but the way he moved and fought it almost seemed he was reading the goblins minds. He was just always a step ahead of the creatures no matter what they tried to do and he seemed to know how to use every weapon he got his hands on. Warrior had commented on it as they watched and claimed that being able to do something like that would take years of experience.

Then there was Mr Cleric who might be the most powerful person she had ever personally met. The image of him wading into the mass of goblins completely unafraid and simply breaking their formation with a few swings of his weapon was as inspiring as it was frightening. She knew he was strong, at his size he had to be, but it went beyond that. She wasn't sure a human, no matter their strength could do what he had done. The image of the lightning bolt hitting him was seared into her mind.

Lightning was a force of nature. A power most mortals could barely understand. The blast of light illuminating the cave, the arc of electricity coming from the goblin shamans staff as sparks snapped across the huge man's body. It should have killed him or at the very least debilitated him badly. She'd been fully prepared to run out into the melee to get close enough to cast a healing spell on him, but she hadn't needed to. Mr Cleric had shrugged the strike off without effort and then...

"Sask!"

She remembered the word clearly and despite it being a language she didn't know she knew exactly what it meant: rot. Somehow the meaning of it was part of the magic itself. The spell was rot or sickness in some way.

That it wasn't a chant just a single word of power that had launched the beam of sickly green light at Mr Cleric's foe was actually a little frightening. That was the kind of magic only very powerful adventurers could wield.

It also felt dark, not evil necessarily, though she didn't have the experience to know for sure on that. It was more a feeling. It felt natural and she'd heard true demonic magic from the Gods of Chaos felt anything but natural. Still it was almost a pure opposite to holy magic. She didn't know what that magic was, but that he wielded it along with holy power... it had implications into which god he served.

She might have been distrustful in another situation, but she also remembered the feel of his massive clawed hand on her back. His words as he calmed her fears before the fight and gave her focus. A bad person wouldn't of done something like that. She would still ask about his god later though. It was a professional interest if nothing else as she was always curious about the divines other races worshiped.

Only after they got these poor girls to safety though. That had to take priority over everything else now. She had used her last spell on them, hoping to heal what she could and while the magic had undone the physical harm... she didn't think anything would ever undo the deeper scars. Maybe magic that could take away the memories, but such things were beyond her.

Mr. Cleric was keeping his distance from them. Apparently they'd had a bad reaction to his appearance which he didn't seem to blame them for. She was glad he didn't hold it against the young women, many in his position likely would. He'd risked his life to save them after all for literally no reason beyond being nearby. Many adventurers would be offended at the mere idea of the very people they work to save being afraid of them.

Mr Goblin Slayer had brought a cart with him from the nearby village specifically to aid in moving the goblins victims, or as he morbidly pointed out their bodies, after killing the nest. It was big enough for all of them minus Mr Cleric, but he'd waved them off saying he could keep up fine.

It turned out he could for one good reason: he could fly. Watching him take off into the air after a short sprint was surprising, but it quickly became apparent flying was simply fun. As they continued on their course back toward the village Mr Cleric preformed idle flips and loops through air seemingly just amusing himself with general acrobatics. He even did some tricks that Warrior and Wizard called out to him including a mid air spin Wizard called an aileron roll. He seemed quite pleased with being out in the open air, but in truth they all were.

They'd succeeded. Not quite the glamorous victory they'd hoped for and the fact they almost certainly would of ended up dead if not for the two more powerful adventurers arriving just in the nick of time, but they'd still passed their first quest.

"Village is up ahead." Mr Goblin Slayer called out.

"I'm going to land then and jog alongside." Mr Cleric yelled down at them. "No sense in scaring them."

She giggled slightly at that. It was a real concern though, she had thought the huge draconic man was a dragon of some form when she first saw him too. The villagers were almost certain to mistake him for some kind of monster.

She watched as he came down to their right in an open field next to the road. The landing seemed a little rough, but he simply fell into a light jog next to them. The fact that he was still taller then her even sitting in the back of a horse draw cart really put his sheer size into perspective. He had to be over twice her height at least.

"Not going to have a problem keeping up the rest of the way." Wizard asked curiously.

He shook his head. "I could of jogged the whole way there," He responded easily, not even sounded the least bit strained, "but why walk when you can fly?"

They took a moment to take that in. It was a good question. Why would you walk when you could fly. It just looked... so liberating in a way.

Soon enough the village came into view and like they thought Mr Cleric drew a lot of uneasy attention right away. The fact he was standing with them kept anyone from panicking outright, but the villagers were obviously frightened. Just like with the goblins victims he didn't seem to mind. She got the feeling he was a rather understanding person. Maybe that's why he became a cleric?

Regardless it was time to get the victims back to their families and hopefully they'd take them to someone who could help heal the pain her magic couldn't take away. She'd suggest the Temple of the Supreme One to the villagers. She knew her matron had helped heal minds and spirits before and if they couldn't help they would know which temples could.

I stepped back as my temporary companions started helping the young women down from the cart. They looked... still horrible, but better. Maybe just the fresh air and sunlight had helped a little. Let them know the nightmare was over for now.

At least in the waking world.

A sigh escaped me at that thought. That experience would haunt them forever, I knew. The scars from such things never really went away.

Also started thinking about my own situation on the journey here. It had taken a good hour, the cart wasn't exactly fast.

At least I'd started thinking about my situation after I got over being able to fly. That had taken a while because... come on it was flying. Under my own power. The sheer feeling of freedom was... it was indescribable really. I could of just taken off in any direction I wanted and nothing could stop me. Well maybe a really tall mountain could, but that was about it.

Still at this point I had come to the conclusion I wasn't exactly in Kansas any more as the saying went. Magic. Actual magic wasn't real. Dragons weren't real. Yet I was both magical and some kind of dragonman.

Draconian my mind told me. Which was a race from a board game. Ridiculous and yet...

I looked down at my hand and flexed the claws at the tips of my fingers. I watched the light shine off glimmering blue scales. I felt muscles that should of felt completely alien shift on my back to control my wings. I felt my balance change as my tail lashed the dirt behind me in agitation.

It could all be a dream I suppose. After all who wouldn't want to dream about becoming some mythical creature and going on a high fantasy adventure. The only problem with that...

A flash of light.

Pain. Searing, burning pain as electricity crackled along my body.

I'd never felt pain in a dream before. It was suppose to be one of those things you couldn't really do. Pain would wake you up if you actually felt it. It hadn't been that much pain admittedly, as if I'd gotten a full body sunburn for a few minutes and a nasty onset of muscle cramps, but it was still pain.

But I hadn't woke up.

I think... I think this is real.

Even if it's not the only thing I can really do is act as if it is. What's reality besides what you perceive? There's no point in doubting it all.

"Mr Cleric?" A quiet voice asks.

I glance around before remembering I was tall as hell now and look down. Priestess stares up at me a little nervously, but she'd become much more relaxed over the journey here. She still looked like she was about to jump at her own shadow, but I got the feeling that was more just her natural state then anything to do with me.

"The others are going to get us some rooms at the local inn." She shuffled on her feet. "We weren't sure if you had a place to stay, but Warrior wanted to offer you a room for the night. If... if that's alright at least!"

She twitched a little at the end there and I smiled at her, making sure not to show teeth.

"I would greatly appreciate it, Miss Priestess." I said and bowed to her. To my amusement she began to try and wave me off in an embarrassed panic.

"It's- it's fine Mr Cleric! Really!" She babbled. "It's the least we could do. For all the help you gave us. We offered to put Mr Goblin Slayer up for the night too, but he refused. Follow me, I-I'll lead you to the inn we're staying at."

"Were I in better position to pay for myself I would as well." I nodded as I began plodding after her.

The townsfolk seemed more relaxed, some of them outright amused after that little exchange. It's sort of amazing how quickly people can get used to something. I guess just the fact I hadn't eaten anyone yet had cooled their nerves.

She hurried along, but even with her nearly jogging I barely had to try to keep up. My strides just that much bigger then her own. It didn't take us long to get to the inn.

Unsurprisingly I had to duck to get in the door.

The inn keeper, an older woman with brown hair beginning to go gray, took one look at me and told me outright she didn't have a bed that could fit me. I told her I just needed some bedding and enough floor room to stretch out on and I'd be fine. I'd slept in worse conditions.

She didn't seem happy about that, muttering about it not being right to treat guests that way, but relented easily enough. Warrior payed for a meal for all of us, apparently from his parties funds which they all agreed with, and even Goblin Slayer agreed to sit in for a meal. I got the feeling I could probably eat the inn out of food if I wanted, but kept it small ordering only a meal of beef steak and stew. Well made surprisingly. Rather bland, but the meat was cooked to tender perfection.

After the meal I bid the party goodbye and walked back out into the night, telling the inn keeper I'd be back in a few hours at the latest. She told me not to worry, the inn was open twenty four hours a day and that one of her daughters would probably be up running things by the time I got back.

With that I headed out and took off into the sky. I made for the nearest empty meadow I could find and sat down on a rock.

I just... needed time alone to think. Or to not think at all. Just decompress.

I gazed up at the sky in silence and accepted I was not home any more. This wasn't my world.

For in the sky above me there were two moons. One smaller red moon and a larger green moon.

I would likely never see my home again. Or my family. My friends. Coworkers. Acquaintances.

They were all gone. I felt hollow. The loss was there, but it was... just too much.

How do you react to losing your whole world?

So I sat and stared up at the alien sky. I have no idea how long I was there just... letting it all roll over me.

But as I sat I felt something stir awake within me. Here alone, in this moment of solace and despair something else woke up.

I felt a connection to something in my mind. A being who was aware of me. Something I thought... might be a god. I was a cleric according to my memories after all and clerics drew strength from a divine patron.

A sense of sorrow and understanding came from that connection. Feminine and ethereal. Something that brought forth memories of fog shrouded twilights and sorrowful vigils.

A goddess then. I served a goddess.

I'd been an atheist, but that was mostly because I'd never seen hide nor hair of anything even remotely divine on my original world. That and the Abrahamic god, at least as he was portrayed in all their books, frankly disgusted me. Even if someone had shown me proof that thing was real I'd have probably still been an atheist purely out of spite. The most damning autobiography ever written was the Bible.

Are you better? I wondered at the feeling.

A sense of surprise. Then of determination and interest both. The feeling of cool, ghostly fingers trailing along my jaw and a declaration of challenge.

I couldn't help chuckling. I suppose I'll see won't I.

Satisfaction now. Along with... happiness? I wasn't sure. Perhaps my Goddess was one that didn't get many worshipers. A minor divine maybe? Or one whose aspects most mortals shied away from.

Realization came across the connection and a moment later...

Ah, I see.

She Who Dwells Beneath. The Pale Lady. The Rest Giver. The Tolltaker. Breath Stealer. Dream Ender. Mother Winter. Sister Shadow. A dozen other titles given by every race that lives. For all things know my Goddess.

Death.

There was a sense of waiting, of almost nervousness.

"Hello, my Goddess." I whispered up at the starry night sky. "It's good to meet you."

A sensation of contentment along with the feeling of ghostly arms wrapping around my torso from behind. I was a little surprised when I actually felt those ethereal arms tighten in a hug.

She was... really touchy for a goddess wasn't she? Weren't they suppose to be all aloof and mysterious? Oh, well. I'd always been a fan of Death ever since I'd seen the DC comics interpretation of it.

I chuckled. Let's see where this life takes me I suppose.

Agreement and with a final ghostly squeeze the presence faded away, but not completely. It was still there just in the back of my mind.

With that I stood and walked back towards the inn my companions had gotten us for the night.

Tomorrow was a new day. In more ways then one.

A/N

The spells Cleric used this chapter were Ray of Sickness to debilitate and injure the Goblin Shaman. Then later Word of Radiance to destroy the Goblin spawn. Last chapter he used racial trait versions of Shocking Grasp and Divine Smite in that order on the Hob to kill it. We also got to see Cleric's Resistance to Electricity in action here. The language Cleric uses to cast spells is Draconic, or at least a false version put together by the internet.

Funny note: the goblin shaman knew Firebolt and Lightning bolt along with having three cast slots. I flipped five coins to see what it would cast (heads: lightning, tails: fire, majority wins) and they came out with Lightning Bolt as it's opening attack. If it had led with Firebolt it would of done a lot more damage. Or just not aimed at the biggest target it could see, but you can't really blame it much for that.