There is something many forget about goblins, something you think people would remember. They are both not stupid and breed extremely quickly. Both are relevant, as they tend to form tactics and strategies that are simple but effective. Where kobolds will rely on traps to an almost fetishistic degree, goblins have it as only a part of their warrens defences. Kobolds hate and loathe giving ground, while goblins are more than content to give ground if it lures their enemy into a better position to ambush and kill them. And anyone stupid enough to think that the goblins have not scouted out the area around their warrens extensively as they prepared deserved to die.
As it was, killing lone patrols? Barely an issue. Slaughtering a camp? Often regarded by many as a fun pass time. Venturing to crack open a warren without extensive prep work and assuming that everything would be going well because they are just goblins? That had a staggering death toll attached to it, which makes taking on a warren to be a serious venture and not one to be taken lightly by a gang. And even if I cheated, well, I was going to be sneaky about it and NOT simply charge in the front door.
Still, there were responsibilities to being worshiped by the goblins as a spirit. Truth be told, it was not too hard to be added to their little pantheons. You just needed to be dangerous and powerful and then they would tell stories and try and appease you. All while considering how to kill you of course, but if by prayer and worship they could direct a threat away from them and onto their enemies? Now, THAT they seized with open arms. And of course, was the fact that I brought gifts to them every now and then.
To be sure, I was seen as a spirit of death and hunger, the one that stalks unseen, lord of ghosts and skulls, the eater of the weak... and whose hunger was so great that I had imparted shards of it into a few select goblins, filling them with a hunger to eat injuries and sickness that would ultimately end up in my belly. Or rather, I have a few goblins a simple bite attack (that dealt far more positive energy than actual bite damage), along with the Vampire's Bite and Cleansing Bite feats meant that there were a handful of goblins that could heal by biting people and were able to 'eat' the disease and poison from their fellows.
Which resulted in a large boom in the tribute they provided me, because while it was not exactly spellcasting? It was still 'divine favor' as far as they were concerned. Which meant of course, that they were happy to sacrifice and tell me their problems of the 'please mighty one, hunt this' sort.
Which is why I was taking some care as I stalked the tunnels were the trolls were supposed to be. And truth be told, it was not too hard to find them. And on seeing them? I drooled. They would be a fest, and a host of graft points and those skulls! Those grand skulls! I would be able to use them to make the most potent of skull talismans... eventually. It was more about having the possibility than anything else, as I considered them. My scent was erased, and I blended into the dark, wrapped in invisibility as I moved quietly along the celling of the tunnels. Or cave as it may be, even as there needed to be a greater than usual level of caution from me.
You see, the larger tunnels and caves? Either they had 'owners' or were too far from a place that was not as able to support life. And the tunnels the trolls were in? Those were inside the long range patrols of the big city. Of course, long range patrols might only come by every... forty or fifty cycles. Somewhere in that timeframe, as it was far enough from the city to not really be a part of it, but was still able to exert force over with few logistical issues. Which is why the gangs and tribes made sure to keep at least two hours away from the area, because in truth?
As I looked over the passage, how part of the tunnel seemed to slope upwards, rising and turning so that there was a 'cliff wall' along part of it, well, this was one of the trade routes... and that the trolls, situated just off the road? I took out a length of hardened resin marked and etched with power, as I flicked the tip, a bead flying out before it detonated to screaming and shrieking, flames catching over the surprised trolls, as I decided to thoroughly cook my food first as I flicked it again, and then a third time. And like any proper hunt, it was over with quickly, before they had any chance to react.
Still, time to butcher my kills, taking only the meat and bones. Trolls after all had no use for the wealth, and so it would be believable if they left any plunder behind. Truth be told? I was not going to check, as I would not be able to keep it anyway. Six trolls, half an hour each to harvest the graft points and have myself a meal, so three hours plus some additional time to move the true valuables, rather than crap that I'd never get to use and should not worry about.
Hatchtone of Merchant House Orlyviir
He pondered things, as he looked over where the trolls had been spotted just two cycles before, as he looked to try and see whatever it was that had gotten them. It was an annoying thing, in part because the people who spotted the trolls? Well, they had not been equipped to actually deal with them, and decided to turn back, talk to the right people for a finders fee to be discussed after the retrieval of the product. Trolls were always useful for a few reasons, and his patrons in Orlyviir had long worked out the best way to extract value from the beasts. Which is why he had been issued six shock collars and the wagons. To be sure, it was not exactly expensive to send him out on this errand... but neither was it cheap.
So, he decided to ask the mage, who was already looking into a focus and seeming annoyed. "I cannot find the beasts, and attempting to scry for what killed them?" The male snorted, waving a soft hand around at the scorch marks on the rock. "You hardly need me to tell you that there was fire involved. As for whatever was involved... well, it seemed to only be after the trolls. Not any of the loot they had gathered." Which was something, as he breathed deeply, annoyed. But, there was nothing for it, as he barked orders to the slaves.
"Scour the area and load up the wagons!" Might as well try and earn a little profit from this little trip, before doing a little scouting. See if they could convince a higher up to send someone to talk to a local gang, see if they had heard something. Maybe see if any of them would be interested in the area. They needed something for the games after all, and the trolls had seemed to be a safe bet. Eh, not his call, as he looked around, as he made silent steps along the edges, pondering what managed to take the trolls.
Maybe he should see about hunting that? It had been a while since he had a proper hunt after all.