Chapter One: Into the Wilds.

A world of wonder and danger lies in the heart of the wilds, where the trees grow tall, and the sun barely shines. And the worst of it all, we find the goblin. They are known for their complete lack of intelligence and their general uselessness. If there's one thing goblins are good at, it's making a mess. Whether it's raiding abandoned human settlements or just tripping over their own feet. Is there anything more entertaining than watching these tiny terrors bumble through life?

They say goblins are like rats, scurrying about in the shadows and picking at scraps. But that's not entirely fair to rats. At least rats have some sense of self-preservation.

The goblin scavengers, however, seemed unfazed by the potential dangers lurking in the wilds. These little creatures may not be the sharpest tools in the shed, but they have a certain knack for scavenging through abandoned human homes and making off with anything shiny or valuable. Will they find anything of worth in this excursion? Or will they end up bumbling around and getting themselves killed?

"I don't care what it is; I'm eating it!" exclaimed Tivel. A scrappy goblin with a wild look in his eyes as he eagerly stuffed a handful of purple berries into his mouth. The other goblins in the scavenging party groaned and rolled their eyes, knowing all too well the consequences of eating unknown plants in the forest. Grendel grumbled, his no-nonsense tone evident. "Those berries could be poisonous, or worse, give you the runs for a week!" But Tivel paid him no mind, reaching for another handful of berries with a reckless grin.

He picked up a giant reddish mushroom and brought it to his mouth, ready to take a bite. The other goblins in his scavenging party exchanged glances and shook their heads. "Tivel, you idiot, that's a poisonous mushroom!" exclaimed Grendel, trying to snatch the mushroom from Tivel's hands. But Tivel was stubborn, and he resisted the other goblin's efforts. "Stop worrying so much," he mumbled through a mouthful of mushrooms, dismissing their concerns.

Tivel's eyes widen as he chews on the giant reddish mushroom, savoring the tangy, earthy taste. Oblivious to the concerned looks of his fellow goblins. Grendel reaches over and forces Tivel's jaw open. He plunges his fingers into Tivel's mouth and pulls out the half-eaten mushroom, examining it with a critical eye. "Are you trying to kill yourself?!" he scolds, tossing the mushroom away.

Grendel and the others shook their heads in frustration. "You're courting death with your reckless eating," Grendel scolded, crushing the mushroom underfoot. Tivel whined, "I'd rather starve than listen to you!" Grendel rolls his eyes at Tivel's complaint. "Starvation? You're as plump as a tick. You couldn't starve if you tried."

Oigmuird, the leader of the scavenging party, takes a breath and sighs, "Just because you're hungry doesn't mean you have to eat everything in sight, Tivel. We must be careful what we put in our bodies in the wild." The rest of the group nods in agreement, eyeing the various mushrooms and berries skeptically. They know that while some of the plants in the forest are safe to eat, others could be deadly. They need to be cautious to survive another day in the dangerous wilderness.

Grendel sighed, looking around at the dense forest. "We need to find something to eat, or we'll all be in trouble," he said. Oigmuird agreed, and he was leading the way deeper into the woods.

The other goblins followed behind; finding food would be difficult but not impossible. If they were lucky, the forest would provide them with plenty of edible plants, nuts, and berries. Their stomachs growled loudly, and the goblins continued through the wood until they found a small clearing surrounded by tall trees.

The goblin party had been traveling through the Wilds for days, scouring the landscape for anything of value. They were on a mission to gather as much treasure as possible and had already collected an impressive haul of gold coins and jewelry. As they trudged through the dense forest, their keen eyes spotted a looming structure in the distance. It was an abandoned mansion, its windows missing and its once-grand facade now covered in vines. The goblins made their way toward the dilapidated building, ready to scavenge whatever treasures they could find.

The goblins set down their packs and gathered around the building, eager to explore the ruined building. They had no idea what they would find.

Grendel, Tivel, and the others had never explored a place like this before, but they knew that large old human homes like this always had great things to scavenge. They were all excited to see what treasures they could find. "This place looks like a real gold mine!" Grendel cheered. "I'll bet we find tons of treasure in here!"

They wondered what they would find inside as they entered the dilapidated building.

Oigmuird led his goblin party into the abandoned human mansion, determined to scavenge any valuables they could find. Grendel, as usual, was quick to point out the dangers and the need to stay focused, but Tivel and Nibb were too busy goofing around to listen. Tivel found a feather boa and started prancing around like a showgirl, while Nibb discovered a bright red hat and put it on, dancing a little jig. Meanwhile, Oigmuird was frantically searching for anything of actual value. Suddenly, the goblins bumped into each other and tumbled to the ground, causing a loud crash. Grendel scolded them for their carelessness, but Tivel and Nibb couldn't stop laughing at the sight of each other covered in dust and cobwebs.

Eventually, they returned to work, arguing over who should carry a particularly shiny vase. Ultimately, they all decided to take it together, resulting in another round of bickering and laughter. As they continued scavenging, they found useless items like a broken candelabrum missing its crystals, but they still got excited, shouting, "Big Boss, look what we found!" Oigmuird just shook his head, wondering how he ended up leading this group of silly goblins.

"Hey, big boss, can we take this shiny thing?" Tivel and Nibb asked, holding up a rusted old suit of armor. "No, we're only taking what we can carry," Grendel scolded, shaking his head. Nibb pouted, "But I wanted to wear some human armor; it looks so cool!" As the goblin party stepped outside the mansion, their bags filled with shiny objects and valuables. Tivel and Nibb, still disappointed that they couldn't take the heavy human armor, looked at each other in confusion. The sound of a low whistle reverberated throughout the wood. "What's that noise, big boss?" Tivel asked Oigmuird,

At first, no one made any move to investigate. The whistling came again, this time louder than before. The goblins glanced at each other, wondering who could be making such a strange noise. It took only moments for everyone to realize the source of the sound: the giant centipede crawling along the forest floor.

The giant centipedes of the northern forests are among the enormous creatures in all of Denduron. These monsters can quickly devour a goblin whole with their hefty body and razor-sharp teeth. This monster stood nearly five feet long, and its carapace was as hard as iron. Its mandibles loudly clacked as it moved slowly across the ground. The goblins looked at each other nervously, but none dared to approach the enormous centipede.

A few seconds later, rustling leaves echoed through the wood, and a second giant centipede appeared. The two monsters scuttled together, searching for prey. Oigmuird, the goblin leader, stepped forward. "What do we do now?" The goblins asked Oigmuird. No one had an answer. None of them had ever seen a giant centipede before, and the thought of being eaten alive by these monstrous creatures terrified them.

Oigmuird took a breath and spoke calmly. "Tivel. Are you still hungry?" He asked the young goblin.

"Of course!" replied Tivel enthusiastically.

"Then there's dinner," answered Oigmuird pointing to the centipedes.

The other goblins shook their heads, unsure what to say. They knew that if they left, the centipedes would come after them. But at the same time, none wanted to be eaten, and it was do-or-die. The centipedes continued their food search, ignoring the goblins altogether.

Tivel stepped forward, curious to see just how giant the centipedes were. As he approached, the centipede let out a loud hiss and raised its head, preparing to strike. Oigmuird ran over and pushed it onto its back, exposing its vulnerable belly. The creature struggled against the goblin's weight, but Oigmuird remained persistent. He held the centipede down with both hands while Tivel reached out and grabbed a leg. He gave it a good tug, and it flopped backward. Grendel rushed forward with his spear and drove it deep into the centipede's abdomen. The monster thrashed violently for a moment, pinned to the grown.

The other goblins nervously watched as Tivel pulled the centipede's abdomen apart. They were pulling out a massive chunk of meat from the centipede's stomach, and the flesh was thick and juicy, and Tivel chowed down hungrily. The rest devoured the rest of the centipede in several large bites and then greedily stuffed the empty abdomen back inside.

Oigmuird nodded approvingly, pleased to see that his plan worked. "Maybe we should try that more often," he joked. The other goblins laughed and joined in the joking, relieved that they wouldn't all end up dead.

After their fill, Oigmuird became curious about the Centipedes poking around at the large fallen rotten tree. He walked over to investigate. "What the Snortlede is that?" he exclaimed. He'd never seen anything like it before. Between the corner of the fallen tree and the rotten truck, Oigmuird spotted something unusual lying on the ground. It's small, pink, and squirming.

Oigmuird went closer to inspect the strange creature. The scavenging party spotted their leader investigating something and rushed over to explore. The goblins huddled around it. Closely examining when they saw what Oigmuird found, they gasped in surprise. It was a baby, a human baby.

Oigmuird crouched down next to the baby. It was crying softly and staring at him with wide eyes. Oigmuird reached out gently and poked its cheek. "What is it?" The party asked.

Oigmuird screamed in horror, "A human!"

All of the goblins turned and ran for their lives. As they fled, Oigmuird listened to the human crying. "Baby! A human baby!" he cried to his frightened colleagues. They stopped their sheepish running and returned to Oigmuird to continue gawking at the human infant.

"A baby?" Grendel replied. The other goblins looked at each other, unsure of what to do. They knew that humans were dangerous creatures. They all know that humans are dangerous creatures who would kill them without a second thought if caught near their offspring, but they couldn't help but feel sympathy for the baby. The baby was crying softly and reaching out toward Oigmuird. He wasn't sure what to do. The other goblins looked at each other, wondering what to do. "Can we eat it?" asked Tivel.

"No!" Oigmuird shouted. "It's a human baby!"

"How do we know it's a human baby? Probably some kind of animal. Maybe a hairless rat or something."

Grendel shook his head. "That's not a rat; it's a human baby." He took a breath and sighed. "I know it's difficult, but we need to leave it alone, and we know to leave humans alone."

Grendel turned to the other goblins, hoping the young ones would understand. "If we touch it, we'll have blood on us. If we get blood on ourselves, the humans will come after us, and we'll all end up dead."

Grendel was right. The goblins didn't want to risk getting killed by a human because they touched a baby, and they shuddered at the thought of being torn apart by those terrifying blades. The baby continued to cry. Oigmuird picked up the baby in his hands and cradled it close to his chest. The baby stopped crying immediately and fell asleep.

Oigmuird looked around at the other goblins. "We have to take it with us," he said.

Grendel shook his head. "That's not a good idea, and there's no telling what would happen if we bring it with us."

Oigmuird sighed and nodded in agreement. "You're right. But there's no way we'll leave it here, though," he said.

Grendel shrugged, annoyed that Oigmuird agreed with him. "Alright, but you're the one who decides what we do with it once we get back to town."

Oigmuird nodded. "Let's head home," he said. The other goblins nodded in agreement. They started walking back into the woods,

The baby slept peacefully in Oigmuird's arms. "We should make camp here for the night," he said.

The other goblins nodded in agreement, glad they wouldn't share a tent with the baby.

The party marched through the woods, following Oigmuird's path, heading back towards the safety of their Village, Caverest Wal. Away from the dangers of the forest, they saw the borders of their village home. They could see the smoke rising from the chimneys and hear the villagers' voices. They were excitingly awaiting to turn in their bounty of scavenged treasures for the day's profits.

As the goblin party returned to their village, tired and dusty from their scavenging expedition, Grendel again voiced his concerns to Oigmuird about the human infant he was carrying in his arms.

Oigmuird sighed, "We'll address the matter at the village hall board and ensure everyone knows the risks." Tivel and Nibb, goofing off and jostling each other in the back, suddenly perked up at the mention of the village hall. "Ooh, can we come too, big boss? We've never been to one of those meetings before!"

Tivel exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. Grendel rolled his eyes, "I doubt they'll let you two in, but we'll see." As they made their way to the village hall, Tivel, and Nibb couldn't help but wonder what kind of silly antics they might get up to at the meeting while Grendel grumbled about having to deal with yet another problem caused by humans.

The goblin party marched into the village hall board, their bags filled with scavenged items and a human infant cradled in Oigmuird's arms. As they approached the representative desk, Tivel and Nibb couldn't help but whisper to each other. Grendel scowled at their childish behavior, but Oigmuird stepped forward, ready to address the matter. "Fellow goblins, we have found a newborn human infant and wish to offer it our help," Oigmuird announced. The council members looked at each other in surprise,

As Oigmuird stood before the goblin hall board, holding the human infant in his arms, he could feel the weight of responsibility pressing upon him. He gazed at the tiny, fragile creature and then turned his attention to his fellow goblins. "We must consider the long-term welfare of this child," Oigmuird began, his voice filled with earnestness. "Our village, while strong in many ways, lacks the resources and knowledge to provide proper care for a human infant. It is not in our nature to raise children of another kind, and doing so may put the child's life in danger. Moreover, we must acknowledge the potential conflicts that could arise if the humans discover we have taken one of their own. By returning the baby to the human kingdoms, we not only ensure its safety but also uphold a moral duty to reunite the child with its own kind."

He could feel the judgmental stares of his fellow goblins piercing through him. Some council members exchanged uncertain glances, while others wore furrowed brows, their expressions reflecting a mixture of disagreement and contemplation. "What do you propose we do?" a goblin council member asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

Oigmuird looked around the room, unsure of what to say. "We should send word to the human kingdoms to let them know we found one of their children." He could sense the tension in the air as the council members exchanged hesitant glances, their faces etched with worry. The room was silent momentarily before erupting into a chorus of objections and protests.

After a moment of silence, another board member spoke up, his voice filled with concern, "Send word to them? Are you serious?" "Do you really think the humans will believe us if we tell them where we found the baby?" one council member exclaimed. "They won't trust us, and they might even come after us, risking the destruction of the whole village."

Oigmuird held the baby close, feeling the weight of the decision resting heavily upon him. "We should take the baby to the human kingdoms and let them decide what to do with it" The goblins looked at one another uncertainly, their eyes shifting as they weighed the risks and benefits of Oigmuird's suggestion. Some nodded their heads in agreement, while others shook them, their expressions revealing their inner conflicts.

Oigmuird looked around the room for someone to support him. His eyes met Grendel's, and despite Grendel's scowl, Oigmuird could see a glimmer of understanding in his gaze. Grendel stood quietly in the back of the room, his face stoic, grappling with the decision that lay before them. Although Grendel knew the dangers of bringing a human into the village, Oigmuird sensed a silent endorsement from his loyal companion.

As Oigmuird presented his proposal, Grendel's brows furrowed in deep contemplation. He had been the voice of reason, expressing his concerns from the start. 'This is a dangerous path we tread,' Grendel thought, his gaze fixed on the tiny human in Oigmuird's arms. 'Bringing a human into our village puts us all at risk. We know the stories of their wrath and the destruction they can unleash. What if they come searching for their lost child and find our sanctuary? It could be our undoing.' Grendel's voice broke the silence of the council chamber, his tone laced with caution and experience

The other goblins sat silently, waiting patiently to see what The Goblin would do. After several moments had passed, one of the council members finally spoke up, 'How will you take the baby to the human kingdoms? What if they come looking for it while we're gone? We don't know how to defend ourselves against humans. How many goblins would die before we could even reach the kingdoms?

. "Oigmuird, I understand your compassion, but we must consider the consequences. Perhaps we can send a trusted scout to discreetly inform the human kingdoms of the child's discovery, without exposing our village to unnecessary danger. We must prioritize our own safety and the safety of our kin.' It would be safer to keep the child here and send one of our scouts to send word to the human kingdoms."

As the goblin council deliberated on the fate of the baby, the room buzzed with uncertainty and worry. The decision weighed heavily on Oigmuird's mind, and he could feel the weight of responsibility growing with each passing moment. Finally, the council agreed to keep the baby in the village until its parents could be found. Oigmuird cleared his throat and spoke up, "Now. Which among your party was it that discovered the helpless child?"

Oigmuird's chest swelled with a mix of pride and nervousness as he stepped forward. He had always been the curious and compassionate one among his companions, often finding himself drawn to creatures in need. The council members regarded him with a mixture of respect and expectation, knowing that his heart was in the right place. "I did," Oigmuird announced proudly, realizing that the decision had been made, and he had been entrusted with a significant role in the baby's fate..

The council members exchanged approving glances, their wrinkled faces breaking into rare smiles. "Your heart is in the right place," they said, their voices carrying a newfound warmth. "Showing kindness and mercy to a less fortunate creature. That's why you'll be in charge of the welfare of the babe until its parents claim it," they declared, their trust in Oigmuird evident in their words.

Oigmuird's party erupted in laughter as the goblin board made their proclamation, their playful teasing adding a touch of lightheartedness to the weighty situation. Oigmuird looked proud and nervous, realizing he had just been given a huge responsibility. "H-hey! Wait a minute!" he stammered.

The goblin council's decision echoed through the meeting hall, met with a mix of amusement and camaraderie among Oigmuird's party. Their laughter filled the air, accompanied by playful jibes and good-natured teasing. "Looks like you've got your hands full now, Oigmuird!" Tivel exclaimed with a mischievous grin, nudging Nibb playfully. "A human baby under your care? Remember to lock the cage at night!" The other goblins joined in, their voices mingling in jovial banter as they filed out of the hall.

The board members exchanged amused glances before one said, "Finders keepers, no take backs!" More laughter followed as Oigmuird rolled his eyes and sighed, realizing he was stuck with a human baby for the foreseeable future. "Great," he muttered under his breath, "I'll add babysitter to my list of duties." The other goblins teased him good-naturedly as they filed out of the meeting hall, leaving Oigmuird alone with his thoughts and the tiny human in his arms.

Oigmuird walked through the wooden door of his cozy home, the scent of simmering stew filling the air. Cradling the tiny newborn baby human in his arms, he entered the warm and inviting kitchen where his wife Saablaafsai was busy stirring the bubbling pot. Placing the infant on the table, Oigmuird looked into Saablaafsai's eyes, her expression filled with curiosity and concern. "Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Oigmuird chuckled nervously, trying to downplay the situation. "Everything is fine. I've got a baby now," his voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Saablaafsai looked at the infant, her eyes widening with delight and adoration. She took one look and immediately fell in love with it. "Oh, you sweet little thing!" she cooed, unable to resist the urge to touch its soft cheek tenderly. "It's so small! Just like a doll!" Oigmuird sighed and shook his head. "Yes, well...it's not a doll, and this is a real, human baby. Saablaafsai looked at the infant. "But it's so cute!"

Oigmuird's eyebrows shot up in amusement as he watched his wife's instant affection for the tiny human. He couldn't help but tease her a little, knowing well how goblins compared humans to dangerous animals. "Remember to lock the cage at night!" he joked, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Saablaafsai playfully swatted his arm, a smirk curling on her lips. "Oh, hush! We're not dealing with a wild beast here. This little one needs our care and love." She turned her attention back to the baby, gently cradling it in her arms. "But you're right, my dear. We'll have to be extra vigilant. Who knows when this tiny creature will unleash its hidden powers of chaos!"

Oigmuird chuckled, his worry momentarily replaced with a sense of lightheartedness. Together, they gazed down at the human baby, their hearts full of curiosity and a willingness to embrace the unpredictable adventure that lay ahead.

"There's more to it than that," Oigmuird said. He put his hand on Saablaafsai's arm and whispered, "This isn't going to be easy."

His wife stared at him, worried. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm going to have to find the parents and let them know their baby has been found."

Saablaafsai shook her head. "Why would you do that?"

Oigmuird sighed. "If I don't do something, then the humans will come and kill us all. We have to send a message to the human kingdoms."

Saablaafsai looked at Oigmuird in disbelief. "Oh no, they are not taking my treasure away!"

Oigmuild groaned and rubbed his forehead. He felt overwhelmed. "You mean you don't want me to deliver the baby to the human kingdoms?"

His wife sighed. "No, not at all. You found it during a scavenge. That means he's a treasure. He's my precious treasure!" Oigmuird smiled. "That's very nice of you. But what if the humans come looking for it, we need to give it back."

Saablaafsai shook her head. "I'll fight them off!"

Oigmuird shrugged. "Do you think you can fight them off? You're not really built for fighting."

Saablaafsai glared at him. "I'll show you who's not built for fighting!"

Oigmuird shook his head. Saablaafsai was having none of it. She had fallen head over heels for the little bundle of joy

Saablaafsai smiled. As she continued playing with the baby, Ybexislag, Oigmuird's, and Saablaafsai's daughter entered the room. She looked at the infant with confusion and asked, "What is that?" Oigmuird rolled his eyes. "It's a baby." Ybexislag frowned. "A baby?" she said, looking at the infant with confusion.

"Yes, a baby. A cute baby!" Saablaafsai said solemnly. "Daddy found it in the wilds," she said.

Ybexislag looked confused. "In the wilds? Is that where babies come from?"

Saablaafsai chuckled. "Well, I don't know," Ybexislag said. "It just seems strange."

Oigmuird shook his head. Well fine. "He's all yours now. I'll leave you two to your bonding time."

Ybexislag picked up the infant in her arms and smiled.

The day passed, and Saablaafsai and Ybexislag had done nothing but gawk and cuddled the little human baby. Oigmuird watched from afar, helpless, as his village grew suspicious of the human infant. He knew that humans would have to come and take their child back, and if they didn't, then the humans would eventually come and slaughter his people. Oigmuird spent most of the night worrying. Saablaafsai and Ybexislag just went on and played with the little infant. They were making baby talk to it. Oigmuird could hear them whispering to the baby, "Don't cry, baby. It's ok. I'm here. Don't worry."

"You're cute little round ears. Little Uilrondithir." Saablaafsai said. Oigmuird's heart sank. "You named it?!" he shouted.

Saablaafsai looked up at Oigmuird. "It's my baby. I gave it a name."

"You can't name it! If you name it, you'll get attached and won't want to give it up when the humans come to take it back!" spoke Oigmuird.

Saablaafsai glared at her husband, "Absolutely not. I'm naming him Uilrondithir, he's our treasure now, and that's final."

Oigmuird shook his head. "No, you're not."

Saablaafsai scowled. "You're not going to stop me."

Oigmuird sighed, knowing he was no match for his wife's determination. "Fine, whatever."

Saablaafsai hugged the baby tight. "You're going to be my little treasure, Uilrondithir." she cooed.

Oigmuird scowled and shook his head. "I wish there were some way to convince the humans to forget about this."

Saablaafsai called for Ybexislag. "Come here, Ybexis."

The little goblin entered the kitchen, and her mother pulled her aside. "Listen to me. I need you to do something for me." Ybexislag looked at her mommy curiously. "Life will be tough for Uilrondithir growing up; I need you to promise me to be a good big sister and watch over your new little brother. Protect him and guide him. Can you do that for Mommy?"

Ybexislag nodded. "Yes, I will. I promise."

"Good girl," Saablaafsai said, rubbing her daughter's head.

Oigmuird sighed, frustrated. He knew he couldn't argue with his wife anymore, and he could only wait and pray that the humans would come and take the child away before Saablaafsai fell too deeply in love with the baby.

Unfortunately, no humans ever came to claim the lost baby the scavengers found during their travels. Despite their attempts to contact the neighboring kingdoms, no one ever stepped forward to take responsibility for the child.

But time marches on, and that baby has now become an energetic young boy. Eleven years have passed since the goblins stumbled upon him near that abandoned home, and he's now ready to explore the world around him. As he stretches his arms and legs, he can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder about what's to come.

Of course, the goblin world isn't exactly what most humans consider "cozy" or "homely," but that doesn't seem to faze the young boy. He's already survived eleven years among the goblins, who are now more like family than anything else. He's learned their language, their customs, and their quirks. He's ready for whatever the world throws at him, whether dangerous monsters, treacherous terrain, or the general absurdity of goblin life.