7 Change on the horizon

"Ah! Marek, your hunt good!"

"You strong if can hunt alone!"

The spear wielding guards at the entrance of the tribe eagerly greeted me as I approached the gate, Guilefox slung over my back. I greeted them with a small smile, giving a few sparse details about my hunt and lightly smacking the hand of one of them who was curiously tugging on my bow.

"Ah! You bleed!" Obar said, eyeing my injured shoulder. "We carry beast!"

"Guys, it's fine, my first shot injured the animal but didn't kill it. The thing managed to graze me while in a frenzy before I could put it down."

Neither of them seemed to be listening, carefully taking the fox from me and helping me inside as if I were a child.

"Jeez..."

Still, I guess I could understand. Kobold frequently died on hunts and new Kobold had to be born in order to keep up with this. Since these two stood guard instead of hunting, they likely watched a lot of kobold leave, and not come back. After I participated in hunting the boar, my name started to become known around the tribe.

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STATUS

Name: Marek Antos

Species: Kobold

Level: 8/20 Progress to level 9: 14%

HP: 10/13 Strength: 9

Agility: 10 Resistance: 9

Endurance: 8 Dexterity: 12

Intelligence: 4 Wisdom: 4

Available points: 0

Element: N/A

Skills: Provoke Lv. 3, Archery Lv. 3, Crafting Lv. 4

Abilities: God tongue, Hard scales Lv. 2

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My level was starting to rise, but I was still at a disadvantage against lower leveled creatures in direct combat. Even something as simple as a grazing blow was enough to take down my health by a fourth. So to that end, I needed armor. Having reached level 9 and putting all of my points into dexterity, it was now time to make some new gear. Moving to the end of the settlement, I approached the junk pile. Various things such as killed animals, feces, and items that would eventually be buried. I had to sift through the discarded carcasses of the animals hunted by me and other things I dare not mention. Both the stench and the bodies taking a toll on me.

"It 's fine... just shopping meat at a deli store...just...URP!"

I'm not proud to say that I ended up vomiting. Eventually just taking what was left of the Bristleback body and running off, not wanting to bother with the rest. The carcass thankfully was relatively clean and had been picked apart by the other kobold, leaving behind its hide and quills. I would have liked to take the tusks, but the entire head was taken by the chief as a trophy, and I didn't intend to complain.

I had to wash the pieces of the hide...thoroughly. And even then some of the scent still lingered. "God I miss soap." Removing the quills from the body was annoying, but I needed them so it couldn't be helped.

"Mmm...I'm not sure how well this is gonna turn out.

Using the Sickle Badger's claw, I was able to cut and stick the pieces of the hide together, but without any sewing equipment, I was lucky it was usable at all. As a last touch, cutting the quills and carefully lining them side by side and sticking them on with the sap. Finally, I was finished.

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Quill Armored Shirt: Defense: 5

Durability 6/6 Quality: Poor

Quill Armored Shorts: Defense: 3

Durability 4/4 Quality: Poor

Crafting has become Lv. 5

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The quality of the boar armor wasn't looking so good.. And while that was disappointing, it was to be expected. The carcass had been ripped apart by the tribe and was a day old. Also, some sewing equipment would have been nice. Still, it was a tremendous step up from my loincloth and now meant I could shrug off minor attacks if I was careful.

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In the decorated palace, a man sat in a throne stroking his short beard with a pensive expression. His hair was golden, and a little wild, reaching his shoulders. Small traces of gray could be seen around the edges of his hair. His eyes were a deep green, and were calm, but gave off a commanding presence. As a man in his fifties, he possessed wrinkles, however, his visage seemed no less noble for it. King Destar Ahnbry intently listened as General Kom went over his strategy for the current situation.

"As you can see sire, we have the advantage in numbers." He said gesturing to the map with the pointer in his hands. "However, the quality of the average soldier for the demons is greater than our own. We're pushing back against their forces, but slowly."

Destar nodded thoughtfully before speaking. "What is the rate of casualties this time around? Is it still something that can be sustained?"

Kom furrowed his brows, his normally impassive stone face showing a bit of an edge. "We can, but that's what worries me, my lord. Ever since their invasion at the city of Vest five months ago, they've gone on the defensive. A few strikes here and there, but they've walled up in the city." He gripped the pointer in his hand tightly, snapping it in the process. "Not a single man has been able to make it inside. I believe they're stalling for the time being, but for what, I'm not sure."

"I see..." the king turned to the other general sitting quietly. A man in his late twenties, with short orange hair and piercing blue eyes. "Labast, your thoughts?"

The young general leaned back in his seat. "It does sound suspicious. Were I to hazard a guess, I might suggest the demons are working on something. While we currently have the advantage with help from the other two kingdoms, the difference isn't large. If the demons really wanted it, the damage would be significantly greater."

As the three were still discussing, the great door behind them opened showing a lone soldier standing. He gave a salute before deeply bowing. "My apologies sire! Generals. I do not wish to interrupt but this matter is of great importance!"

The king raised an eyebrow. "It must be, considering you're barging in on a matter that involves the kingdom."

"To my eternal shame! I am willing to-"

"Enough. Speak."

"Yes my king. It is best if you see it yourself" The soldier stood up and motioned to a few others behind him. The soldiers walked in carrying a stretcher with a white sheet covering a body, the sheet possessing a number of spots of blood on it. The soldiers set it down at the foot of the steps of the throne. "Forgive my impudence, but this information is...sensitive. The captain suggested only his majesty and the generals should see it." The soldier gave one another bow, waiting for their response.

"Hmph!" Kom glanced coldly at the rest of the war council. "Leave." With just a single word, the war council stood out of their chair with reluctant expressions and left without a word. Soon enough the room was empty, save for the three and the soldier with the message. After receiving a nod from the king, the soldier continued.

"While trying to break the demon's encampment, we came across a few elves fighting alongside the demons." the soldier walked to the stretcher, taking the large cloth off and revealing a male elven corpse. The body was a dark gray color, carrying its race's signature of long pointed ears.

"Oh dear..." Destar frowned shaking his head. "Report. How many of them were there?"

"There weren't many your majesty, only a score or so of them. The unit that came across them has been sworn to secrecy. As have I of course."

Labast stood up from his chair moving over to the body on the stretcher. He stood quietly over it for a moment, examining it. "Why is this elf look so different from the usual ones? Did this happen when it died?"

"No sir. He was still that color when he was alive. The ones we fought called themselves 'Dark Elves'."

"So..." Kom smiled darkly glaring down at the body. This is what the demons were busy with. Turning the elves against us."

"Now hold on, we can't outright assume this is the case. Twenty or so elves working with the enemy isn't enough evidence to damn their entire race."

"This isn't the courts Labast, we need to take measures to fight against both of these forces. If we just sit back and wait until the evidence is 100% conclusive, they'll be more ready then we are."

The young general turned to the king who had yet to give his opinion. His arms folded and his eyes closed in deep thought. "Your majesty?"

King Destar's eyes remained closed for a while still mulling it all over, the two generals patiently awaiting his decision. "Labast is right in this situation..." he said opening his eyes. "As he said, we can't say this isn't just a minority of elves that don't agree with their isolation policy. We'll need to investigate it thoroughly. No matter what happens we WILL lose if they elves side with the demons, so I'm not about to incite them over a suspicion."

The stone-faced general's brow twitched, but he kept his expression impassive otherwise. "As you will my king."

"Labast, send out a number of our scouts to the Everfree Forest to try and find traces of demons or lingering demonic energy. Only have them search the outskirts of the forest, the inner area where the elves live is forbidden. Understood?"

"Understood, I'll have the order sent out immediately." He gave a small salute before gesturing to the soldier. "You're with me."

"Sir!"

King Destar leaned back in his chair heaving a tired sigh. "Things just got a lot more complicated..."