@Aristocles@Searat@Blackmist16

Vox shuddered at the thought of slimes. Out of everything he had seen in the forest, slimes were one of the few things that genuinely scared him. Especially the ones from the bog...slimes, disgusting things that just ate and ate not even for survival just a mindeless hunger. He remembered the day he was chased. He got extremely lucky, the bugbear that was chasing him couldn't climb, and Vox was too fast for it to grab him, however they didn't stop them from trying to knock the tree that box was in down off its roots. Unfortunately for the bugbear it was loud, and loud things make easy prey. The grey oozes and brown puddings that resided in the bog made work of the bugbear, corpse and all.

"Bogs are a good source of foxtail...but not worth it..."

"I hope and pray that isn't the case." Griz said with a grimace. The tribe was facing winter and a war with the Bluefeet tribe. Adding a conflict with the orcs would likely spell the end of them. Maybe he'll scout a little further tomorrow? Just to make sure the owlbear didn't wander from orc territory. Or at the very least find the place where the Bluefeet goblins are camping before the raid begins. He'd ask the Chief to spare some of the hunters so they can keep a low profile and make a quick escape if needed.

But that was the future Griz's problem.

Taking a sip from the bitter drink, he nods to Vox's comment. The only good thing he could think of that came from the bog was likely the materials their shaman sometimes used in rituals. But other than that? He wished the bog was outside their borders and in another's. Like the orc's for example.

The hammer falls one more time. The metal is cherry red still as Koglan lifts it, and with just abit of haste grabs the shaped handle.

Moments later...

A series of pangs as Koglan hammers the handle of the axe into the still heated axe head. The wood hissing and starting to burn. Yes enough that is fits into the hole made for it. And seals there as Koglan plunges handle and axe head into a vat of cockatrice acid. Quenching it with a hiss. He pulls it clear and holds it up, the light of the fire lighting the new axe. Etched with Cockatrice acid just slightly. Leaving the edge with a very nice wavy hamon or blade pattern along it's edge. He nods, "Good." looking over at the light through his window he nods, "I still need to..." He hangs the axe upon the wall of weapons.

And grabs the chiming dancing rings he made. Gathering up a basket of food as well.

It's odd seeing the smith out of his forge. As he usually has so much work to do. But he hurries along. And finally stops at the door to a hut. Hefting the basket of food and setting the bear hide connected dancing rings atop the basket he knocks at the door to Siwa's hut, "Siwa? I come bearing gifts. And no trying to wave them off. I have spoken on this young gobliness."

@Aristocles

Sagely the druid nodded and sat beneath the tree his wolf had settled under. "Yes we must be prepared for the first chill of winter," Twig said running a finger against the trees bark noting the texture and characteristic features "The tribe need not worry I will hunt in winter," he said with unwavering confidence as he poked a crevasse in the tree with a finger, sap douseing it and he shrugged "The wolf hunts even in winter to provide to his pack" nonchalantly Twig looked at his fingers with an aloof expression.

Glancing to his left the green-eyed druid looked at Breden "Tell the chief the tribe will have no quarrel amongst the wolves that hunt within this territory," reinforcing his point Greslarch snorted "As long as I remain here the wolves will not attack us" Twig told the goblins without humor or doubt as he was closely tied to the lupine by a spiritual bond.

Griz's smile grew even wider. He had gotten the answers he came for. The druid was going to be an exceptional addition to the tribe. Not only does he mean no harm to the village, but he will also help alleviate some of the troubles the tribe faced during wintertime. The ancestors and nature spirits still smiled upon the village and its people. "Wonderful. This is very good news. May your stay in the village be a long one then." Griz finishes by raising his bowl to the druid and his wolf before raising it to the unseen powers of nature and great goblins long past. "To the druid and his young apprentice, may your lives be long and your bloodline strong." Griz then pours the warm contents of the bowl into his mouth and finishes the drink in one fell swoop.

With his purpose of the visit completed, Griz would be departing soon as he would be expecting company at his hut a little later this evening.

@Blackmist16

Not for the first time, it was a lot for Breden to take in all at once. "O-okay. I'll let him know that we won't have anything to worry about from wolves. Not sure if he'll believe you, but if it really is as you say, then you'll become very popular around here very quickly. We almost always lose at least one person to wolves whenever its a cold winter. They tend to get hungry when that happens, and goblins are just the size of most of their prey."

@BigPapaBelial

Siwa had finished giving birth not an hour before Koglan knocked on her hut. Had it been anyone else but him, she would have sent him or her away, but she desperately wanted to show someone off to him.

"Kog! C-come in! Watch your step, though! I have six infants on the mats and two in my arms. M-my eldest child is a son who looks just like you! Come in here and name him! I'm sure he's yours!" Normally, such a thing as paternity didn't matter much to goblins, but a smith's skills were a rare thing. Whether or not they were in part passed down by blood was unknown, but what was clear was that whatever went into Koglan's lineage didn't inhibit his skills as a smith. It was likely that at least something useful was passed down to the boy.

"I also have another surprise for you!"

@Aristocles@Blackmist16

"Brendan...I have a solution for food...in the winter..."Vox guided his guess to the clay pots he had pulled out earlier. He removed one of the lids and almost immediately a sour smell could be found coming from the out. Inside the pot were pickled fiddle heads, a baby fern that typically grew in the autumn time inside marshes and forests. When preserved it could be eaten like a vegetable. The real issue was how it was preserved "Tricked I learned from the humans...they call it Vinagare.. can be used to preserve plants...and meat..."
Vox opened in the other pot and inside were two whole preserved rainbow trouts Vox had caught near the wide rivers, he quickly prepared and served the fish and wildgreens to Brendan and Twig. He also served some raw meat to Greslarch
"I can...make enough for the winter.. that way ...we can hunt...less"

@Zillanilla@Aristocles

It came as a surprise to the druid though it was in no way unpleasant in the slightest. Vox must not be very people smart but the hunter must know lots of things about these woods. Not being without grace the goblin ate strips of the trout whild listening to Greslarch snarf down the meat Vox had given him, admittedly it tasted quite good as he had been eating meagrely since he departed from the burnt grove.

Heaving a sigh the druid turned watching Griz leave calling "Ancestors blessing upon you Griz," Twig said bidding the the other hunter farewell before turning his attention back to Brenden and Vox, Twig's eyes reflected the moon slowly rising as twilight dimmed "The moon is a beautiful mysterious thing." the druid said admiring the slowly darkening sky.

With a long silence they ate, their silence broken only by the sounds of crickets and the whisper of a breeze yet Twig was first to break the quiet looking to Brenden and clearing his throat "You should go check in with Siwa," Twig told him picking the last of the meat off the trout "I need to speak with my apprentice in private Brenden," standing Twig reached his hand forward "Your help was greatly appreciated and I swear upon the soil I stand that I'll return the favor someday." he gestured with his hand a sign of oath before placing his hands back onto his lap.

@Dark Cloud@Zillanilla

"Vin-a-ger? What's it made out of?" Breden hadn't heard of such a thing. "We normally preserve meat by smoking it. If we can get our hands on some salt, we use that too." He didn't mention that most salt they had was stolen from the humans, but as Aidan hadn't actually taken any himself, he didn't see fit to add that part. "Oh, and my name is Breden, not 'Brendan' or 'Brenden'. Common mistake, don't worry."

Breden turned to Twig. "I suppose I'll head on to Siwa, then. Anyone else who wants to come can, I guess. Maybe we can discuss this vin-a... that stuff on the way. As for Siwa, it'll be up to her as to whether or not she'll let us all in, but I don't think she'll say no if you're coming with me. And if it's important to you, she'll be back to her frisky self in a few weeks, once she settles into her new routine as a mother. Just don't expect her to "see" too many males at once, now that she has a litter to care for."

@Aristocles

Koglan stopped at the door.

Then opened it slowly and carefully.

Far more careful then he would be in many things.

And there on the floor, tiny mewling goblins. Babies. The Kits of the Goblin people. He gulped, and set the basket of food beside the door and the dancing chime atop it.

Oh how he felt awkward and out of place. Male Goblins did not usually make themselves a huge part in their offspring. But here these would likely have his blood in them. He picked his way past the kits as they rolled and slept on the mat. And made his way to Siwa, and there saw the oldest. The resemblance he could see clearly enough, the eldest Goblin is indeed his. The same sharp nose he can see, which would grow to the spear point that rests on his own face. The same slightly grey-green skin. He nodded, "Hafinjal, after my great grand sire. Before me, one of the greatest Smiths we ever had in this clan. Or so the stories say." He said proudly, "If you will still allow me too Siwa, I will train him when he is older. Pass down what I can. With any hope when my time draws nearer I can pass on my forge to him, and he can be our next smith."

Koglan carefully knelt, and looked down as one of the crawling Kits made it over and latched onto his leg hugging it softly. The old Goblin smith getting a soft look in his eyes as he looked down at the kit. He then looked back to Siwa, "You said there was something else?"

@Aristocles@Dark Cloud

"Will show later...still have many things to show..." Vox stated before Brenden made his leave. He had indeed learned many things over the course of the past summer, like how to make tallow from the fat of animals, how to extract bone marrow food and for oil, even ways on how to cook the bone marrow inside the bone. He even learned of a bizarre strange food that looked like a brick that was made from meat dust, and how to make bone dust to feed the soil. With this knowledge not one part of the animal would go to waste thanks to Vox.
Siwa had given birth to a whole litter of young ones, that was incredibly rare for a goblin, then we need all the food that they can get to survive the winter. It was his duty to make sure that they do survive.
As Breden left, his direction turned to Twig "Time for the first lesson teacher?" as he sat down and faced his mentor excitement in his eyes.

@BigPapaBelial

Siwa had a pair of newborn goblins pressed to her chest. She was wearing her top, so they weren't being fed at this very moment. Both of the children had Koglan's skin tone, hair, and looked very much like his offspring. More to the point, one was a boy who looked like the spitting image of him, and the girl clearly looked like his daughter would. None of her other six children closely resembled the two she held right now, and she suspected that her other three sons and three daughters each had a different sire. Four of each, but it seemed like Koglan was the only sire who had two kids with her so far.

"I can't prove it for sure, but if these aren't your son and daughter, I'd be very surprised. None of the other males I've been with look anything like these two. For what it's worth, this boy was born first, shortly followed by his sister. You can name this girl as well as this boy." She waited for him to speak, and she heard the name she gave her firstborn son.

"Hafinjal? Sounds good. I can call him 'Haf' for short." She pronounced 'Haf' in a way that rhymed with 'calf' or 'laugh'. "As for the other thing, that would be the girl. Just don't expect her to work in your forge as well. I am a bit surprised you know who your father's line is, really. I don't even know my father, let alone my grandfather and great-grandfather. Most goblins don't."

@Zillanilla

"I'll just be on my way to see her. Anyone wants to come, just follow me" Breden quickly walked down the path to her hut, not looking back. It seemed that the other goblins who were with him had their own plans.

@Aristocles

Koglan jerks his head from looking at Hafinjal. He'd sired many children through his life but he won't fool himself, this litter may be one of the final ones he sires. He's getting far too old. Soon his work will all be what keeps him a working part of the clan. The Iron and Steel he weaves for the hunters and warriors may end up being all he can manage. But this young goblin may be his legacy.

But that jerk of his head shows he's surprised. He looks at the other goblin baby in her arms, "A girl." He leans forward a little, "A girl-child." He nods, the father usually doesn't have this much hand in the raising of their children. This is an interesting turn around. He hums, "Tiwa...perhaps. Like her mother. May she be as good a dancer as her mother perhaps." He chuckles. Then looks at Siwa, "I cannot promise to be a proper father to them, I have no head for it. But if they come to me asking for help, shelter and even food, I will do my best to give them what they need. Never let it be said that Koglan Ironweaver will turn away his own blood." He nods, his powerful shoulders and arms flexing, "And the same goes for you Siwa. My door is always open to you, as is my larder. You are welcome and so is your litter."

He gets up and grabs the basket, "I brought you food. Bread, some dried fruit, some salted meats and a few skins of water and a skin of milk." He sets the basket down. And from atop it pulls up the paired dancing rings, "And these...I made them as a gift and an experiment. Meant to rest on your arms or if you're brave, your ankles. To chime and ring as you dance." He smiles proud of himself despite his awkward words.

Twig would have enjoyed accompanying Breden but it would have to wait until later, now in the quiet with only the crickets chirping and the sudden pops of the fire breaking the stillness of the darkness slowly creeping as the light of day disappear from the sky.

Greslarch began to softly snore warmed by the fire as it cast their shadows against the cave walls like two giants which to any onlooker would have appeared ironic. Relaxing the druid removed his mantle exposing his upper half which had been hidden since they assisted Siwa. For a practitioner of primal magic his physique was quite defined, which for a magic user might appear out of the ordinary.

"A quiet night," Twig broke the silence finally "The spirits are at peace and nature's children are thriving before the frost comes." standing the druid walked the interior of the old bears den as he traced a hand along the walls. Stopping he turned looking in Vox's direction and studied the young hunter with a scrutinizing gaze.

"It will take years to learn druidic spellcraft," sounding disgruntled he frowned looking at his feet before sighing and returning his attention back to Vox "But I'll teach you all I know starting with something simple." Twig said walking over to Vox. "Where are your herbs stored Vox?" Twig asked not explaining further about the lesson, leaving the young hunter to try and figure what his master was going to show him.

@Dark Cloud

Vox at first was confused at his master's request, until he remembered something the shaman once said to him. Druids were masters of the forest, and often held the greatest secrets of it. Vox had kept a variety of dried herbs among the shelves of his den. He had often collected them in an attempt to know what were there effects but never had the time with his other duties. Wait...could the lesson be what he thought it would be? He brought 4 small jars to twig. "These are edible..and inedible" he told his teacher honestly.
"Teacher...will you be teaching me about plants?"

Vox was at least partially correct he was being taught about plants, but not specifically about them it was how to use them. Twig nodded simply taking the various herbs and placed them upon his mantle to keep them from getting soiled by the dirt of the caves floor "I'm teaching you how to use them," the druid said as he sat cross-legged by the light of the fire "For herbal remedies and disease cures." he finally let on to his student.

@Dark Cloud

Vox's eyes grew wide with excitement. There were many plants that had unknown effects to him, effects if learned would make living in the forest much easier. Vox say cross legged across his teacher, while it may not have been magic, any lesson to be learned about the forest was a lesson worth it's weight in meat.
"Teacher...may I ask how is it you can know of plants? Did you also have a teacher? Vox had grown to be naturally curious, after all he knew little to nothing of his teacher. The goblin wondered what had led Twig on the path of the druid?

@BigPapaBelial

"Tiwa. Sounds good! And honestly, you don't need to worry about being a proper father... whatever that is. Really more of a human thing. Just keep them fed, healthy, safe, and teach them how to do something useful. And it's not like you'd be taking care of them until they were old enough to help you around the smithy. Well, Haf can help, at least. Tiwa will probably spend more of her time here. She'll make a good dancer someday, I'll make sure of it. Not like a female has the strength needed to work a forge anyway." Siwa wasn't wrong when she said that. Only the very strongest of goblin males could hope to be even barely competent smiths; he average goblin male wouldn't be suited as a smith, and the considerably smaller musculature of a female goblin simply ruled that craft out as a matter of biology, regardless of one's feelings about the matter.

She paused as he gave her the gifts. "Ooh. I've seen humans use those before, but you'll have to forgive me if I don't rush to try them on now. Hands are a bit full with the younglings, and my feet and ankles are still swollen from carrying them, but I'll be sure to wear 'em later. Thanks!" She moved to get the milk to the younglings now, as it would spoil before long. "I can feed them with these things on my chest- which aren't just for your viewing pleasure, of course- but it's nice to not have to do so for a little while. Got plenty of milk myself, as long as I have enough food to eat myself."

Breden sat quietly, knowing that it would be his turn with Siwa before long. Not tonight of course, but when she had recovered and had an hour or two when she didn't have to look after her new family.

@Dark Cloud@Zillanilla

Vox and Twig's conversation was cut short by the approach of a small humanoid coming out of the woods. It was a small humanoid about the size of a goblin, but instead of human-like features, it had clawed limbs, digitgrade feet, reddish scales, a reptilian snout, and a pair of stubby horns in place of hair. A kobold, a male one to be exact. He was unarmed and clad only in a loincloth, but he had a piece of animal hide with some characters scribbled into it.

"Uhh... hello. Is this a bad time? Are one of you the goblin chief? I've got a message for him from my tribe, the long-tails." He waved around the hide, not sure what to do with it. From his appearance and his voice, it was obvious that this kobold was barely an adult and was still quite naive about how things worked.