Moonlit Sonata

Apotheosis

Still holding off to give those who've yet to post a chance to. I'll write something up later tonight.

Fate/Empty Providence

Dulle Griet

Foreigner's Graveyard
@Yukitamas

The Ruler, a man who shined as a beacon of heroism. A man who stood atop the world. A man who bore witness to her Hell and laughed in its face. Even if she didn't know his true name, the radiance that flowed from his body like a repulsive reek of purity was enough to make that much obvious.

The Archer, a man who should be awash with fear and steeped in hatred. A man who should scream in anguish for all that he has lived through. And yet, the version of him that had been summoned lacked that futility and rage that he should have possessed. A man who neglected her Hell and ran forwards, rejecting the mistakes he had made in pursuit of his hopes.

Her Master, a miserable fool who doesn't even realize how much of a clown she is. Stop smiling, stop smiling, stop smiling. Do not extend that hand to me. Do not look on me like I am something to be fixed. Do not nod in understanding when I go out to hunt. Do not watch my Hell and say that you will find a way to make those tragedies into nothing. You don't understand. Why don't you understand? Why won't you pull that hand back? Why will you not stop smiling-

His Master. His Master. His Master. Absurd, you're absurd. You're not something that can be sustained. You're putting a weight on yourself that makes even me laugh. It's not possible. Only someone like me who has seen Hell can tell you it with certainty. It can't happen. You're not strong enough, nobody's strong enough. A single person cannot erase Hell, and even if you could, it wouldn't do anything. You have to know it's pointless. You have to know that utopia you're chasing after won't be realized. You have to know that everything you've lived for is just an ephemeral dream ready to shatter, so why won't you just roll over and die?

Heroes, you're all fools. You can't defeat Hell. You are chosen by the Human Order, and so you cannot defy those tools designed by that very order to be turned against itself.

I condemn you.

You can't defeat my Hell. You can't reject my Hell. You can't create a perfect world. You should stop and accept your death.

I do not desire the Holy Grail. All I want is to see more of that terrified expression. All I want is to conquer, to pillage, to revel in the madness of this world. It doesn't matter that it's one-dimensional or simpleminded, because at least it's more consistent than your foolish attempts to do the impossible.

A boy sits alone, imprisoned by his own people. On his skin is carved all blasphemies that mankind has ever once uttered.

You are a demon. You shouldn't look upon me like that, with those eyes that plead for a miracle.

---

Facing certain death by the strike of Muramasa's blade, she could only smile.

She was weak.

Even if she was the strongest Servant of this war, she of all people knew just how weak she was. A third-rate vengeful spirit who had taken a paltry claim to power and clung to it until illusion became truth.

In that, Dulle Griet truly was a pathetic being.

But it didn't matter if she was weak. It didn't matter if she was pathetic. It didn't matter if she was comical.

As long as the treasury of the black capital lay at her back...

No hero could stand against her.

Foolish sword-wielder charging forwards, carrying that wish to overcome humanity's evils...

It's weak.

It's hilariously, incomprehensibly weak.

Because if this strike of your blade is forged out of "hope".

It seems I'll have to show you something that surpasses that "hope".

"...ha...ahaha...ahahahahaha!"

A cackle leaves Berserker, a manic glint of insanity filling her eyes.

Try as he might, Nakae Toshi is merely a human. The time needed to invoke not one, but two of those seals upon his body was the span of several seconds. Even in a fight between humans, this was significant, but in a fight between Servants?

By the time he had invoked the first Command Seal, the instant's pause in Berserker's onslaught had already ended and she had recomposed herself. With the speaking of the second, her preparations had recreated themselves. With the charge that flew on the heels of the second command, then, any advantage that could have been gained by that momentary pause was negated.

She could defend herself, she could meet his attack with one of her own, but even though he was a demon that sort of choice was foolish. She didn't know how strong he was when empowered by his Master as he was, nor what that blade he held was capable of. So then...

There is no applause.

There is no applause.

For as Muramasa charged forwards, a dazzling star launched to strike down the enemy before it, something formed between himself and his target. Not a weapon, not a shield, not a curse.

A gate.

An arrow once loosed cannot change its flight. Even empowered by a Command Seal, Muramasa is not something capable of this. Even a stronger Heroic Spirit who could ordinarily accomplish such a feat would likely fail here as well, simply because of how little distance was between the two when the gate formed.

Why would she flee into that other world, and leave him an opening to follow her in through, when it was so much simpler to let him waste the energy he was given to charge in there himself? Oh, no, if that Master was willing to use his third Command Seal then perhaps it would be possible for Muramasa to escape from Hell and rejoin this world. Ordinarily it would likely take two such seals to do so, but with the residual inklings of energy from the command to kill Dulle Griet, one would likely be possible.

However, as the gate vanished along with he who had stepped through it, Berserker was well aware that this chance would simply not come about.

It is said in some lands that those who enter Hell are stripped of their relationships. Their loves, their friends, their memories. All such attachments they had to others in life are severed so that they can be baptized in the flames of punishment anew.

Yes, Dulle Griet could not crush the impulse of Ruler's command to kill the human before her, but she didn't need to. For as the gate that had whisked her enemy away had formed, another had manifested behind Nakae himself, and from it shot a dagger that would merely graze his flesh. It was certainly not enough to kill, scarcely enough to injure, and yet it was enough. For once that dagger had reached him, that final Command Seal would go grey.

The contract to his Master severed, the only fate that laid there for Muramasa would be to fade away inside Hell.

A fitting end to a demon, she felt.

Apotheosis

Kichi

At Iris and Kluuto's questions, the chief of the Goblin tribe couldn't help a grin come to his face. A quiet laugh left him, as though he found something about what they had said funny.

Well, that was exactly the case, actually.

"Those incantations weren't magic, actually. The human could explain it better, obviously, but she trains in a combat art known as Align, which bases itself around 'vibration'. I'm told it was made by an order of monks in the desert across the northern sea. She seems to have cultivated to what those monks would call the 'second stage' of the art." He explained, shrugging slightly towards the end. Even if he was more than capable of evaluating the combat style given his eyes, things like the history behind it and the stages of cultivation were elements only those well-versed in it would actually be aware of, after all.

He had to wonder how it was that Iris had understood what the two had been saying when they were conversing in the human language though, but he would let it slide.

Glancing back over at his son, though, Kichi puffed up with pride very slightly. "As for Sabu, Potential Release isn't a spell, but rather his Gift. It draws out the latent power in the body and soul and amplifies it, pushing the user past their limits. As an addition, my family line has just the slightest trace of a dragon's blood in our ancestry. For me, it's too faint to do much besides some minor benefits, but Sabu's Gift has allowed him to essentially thicken the strength of his draconic bloodline, and by using his Gift at full force, what you saw just now is possible. His potential's honestly astounding. After his next Evolution, I'd be shocked if he wasn't finally stronger than me. For my dignity as a father, I can only hope that doesn't happen too soon though." He remarked, shaking his head with a chuckle.

"If you'd like to learn magic, there are better options than those two. Among our tribe, Aya is the best-suited for teaching basic magical theory. The humans have resources as well, but those generally require things like joining organizations to have access to. You could also always wait for Madam Archmage to return from her travels, but who knows how long that will take? If you do want to learn from those two, though, you'll be disappointed. The magic that they were both using is what the humans call 'Biological Harmonization Feedback'. It essentially runs magical energy through the body to boost strength, speed, reaction time, and a bit of durability. It's very common among the human soldiers. However, it's something only humans really have the aptitude for, but Sabu managed to create his own imitation of it through Potential Release. Monsters like us are already made of magical energy, so if we try to replicate it without a cheat like Sabu's, the results will be virtually nothing."

---

Sabu, Human Woman

At the approach of Rekzild, Sabu turned slightly, quirking up an eyebrow before he caught sight of the group of Goblins that was also nearby.

"<Oh, hey, it's da->" The Goblin cut himself off, switching from the human language to the Goblin one before continuing. "Oh, hey, it's dad. Came to make sure we didn't mess up the landscape, yeah? Oh, are these the newborns? They're finally up, solid." He called out, waving to the chief.

Around then, the youngling's compliment finally registered with him, his posture immediately straightening up and a new glint entering his eyes as a sharp laugh left him. "Gahaha! I appreciate your kind remarks, small one! <Hey, Ai, this one gives your fighting a thumbs-up.>" He remarked before translating to the human woman.

"<...thanks, I guess? Knoth's sake though, get your tribe to learn Human and just speak that already. Hearing that series of grunts you lot call a language gives me a headache.>"

---

Aya

"Eh..." A bit of an uneasy expression crossed Aya's face at Kresh's question, the druid going quiet for a handful of seconds before responding. "It's not like there's conflict between them or anything. The Elves are just...not to generalize, but you'll understand if you meet them. They're a bit quirky and like to keep to themselves."

"Humans are basically the polar opposite and will interact with anything that moves and most things that don't. Originally the Elf Village was public knowledge, but a few decades back the Elves got sick of dealing with the humans, pretended they moved to another forest, and got permission to live closer to the center in secret. As far as the humans know, the Elves moved out." She explained, shrugging slightly.

In response to Eek, though, her expression became more confused than anything else. "I mean, why would we need digging tools? It's not like there's much to really get out of the ground here, save for annoying Lord Yggdrasil if we mess with roots, and the caves around here aren't exactly ore-rich or anything. We've got weapons for hunting, axes and such to chop down trees with, but digging tools specifically just aren't really needed, so we don't have any around." She said, speaking as though the reasoning was obvious. Granted, to someone like her who had been raised in this environment, it necessarily was. "No need to dig equals no digging tools at hand. Pretty simple."

Apotheosis

Been traveling today. Expect a post later tonight.

Apotheosis

Kichi, Sabu, Human Woman

"Oh, don't worry. I was concerned it was something important, but it's just these two being at it again." Kichi murmured aloud, letting out a sizable chuckle. "Watch closely, though. If nothing else, it should be an entertaining bout."

No sooner than had the red fog formed than did Sabu dart forwards towards the woman, his opponent doing the same at a speed that the newborns could barely even call a blur. Spear thrust and fist swung out to meet their respective targets.

There was no sound of collision. In its place, a harsh thrumming noise filled the air, as though space itself was vibrating. The woman's fists were practically impossible to make out as they darted through the air, each of them striking out at the Goblin while his spear flashed like red light, blocking each strike and occasionally launching one of his own, only to be parried in turn.

"<Second stage, Pierce the Shell.>"

"<Ignite, Potential Release.>"

The thick reek of power around the woman only grew denser. Her right fist swung out, its form seeming indistinct, almost hazy as if the air in its way wasn't being moved, but was instead compressing itself against the force of her blow. The red fog around the Goblin shined to an almost blinding extent, his eyes glinting with a tyrannical light as the silhouette of "something" appeared behind him.

Spear and fist both cut through the air, the forces behind them clashing. A second thrumming sound rang out as the spear in Sabu's hands vibrated wildly, but nonetheless he kept his grip on it, his muscles flaring as the silhouette behind him let out a roar. The woman gritted her teeth, her second fist swinging out to strike the Goblin whilst he dealt with the first, but before it could meet its mark the spear's thrust completed. At the moment of contact between Sabu's spear and the woman's fist, the latter was knocked backwards, skidding against the grass as she leveled a glare forwards. Inexplicably, though, not a scratch could be seen on her body.

"<...damn, you're at that point already? Get to Devil's Peak damn it, the sooner you get some actual dragon blood in you the better.>"

"<Same goes for you. I thought you were still at the second stage's bottleneck? You've gotta hurry and get the scriptures for the next stage.>"

"<Yeah, yeah, like I can set foot in that desert without the Angels blasting me to death on sight. 'Unclean, unclean, she smells like a demon'. God, fuck them.>"

Neither of them seemed to have noticed their spectators. Well, that or they simply didn't care.

---

Aya

Oh.

Oh.

One of them had actually stayed behind instead of going off to listen to that idiot Sabu rant about how great humans were. Fantastic, looks like there was some hope for this group yet before they all got tainted by him.

"Just call me Aya. And don't worry about being a bother, the chief said to help you all out, so that's what I'll be doing. As long as I don't have to deal with that idiot." She replied, hefting her staff up off of the ground. "Just follow me. The tribe itself is a bit of a walk away, since we wanted to keep all of you in a different location in case the tribe wound up getting attacked somehow. The south region of the forest is pretty much entirely ours, though. North is a bit more of a wildland, that's where you've got the Horned Rabbits and their Evolutions around, and the Water Drakes are usually more in the section of the river that's in the north too, since they've learned we'll hunt them a lot more if they're closer to us. Lord Yggdrasil's main body is in the center, you can tell when you're getting there pretty easily; trees look hardier, air feels thicker, plus the Elves are there. Oh, don't tell the humans about the Elves though. Little secret among the forest denizens."

As she led Eek forwards, Aya's tone started to shift a bit from the previously-terse attitude she'd adopted when dealing with the newborns. Some of the tension seemed to leave her face, sentences practically streaming out of her without time to breathe. After a moment's pause, this only continued.

"Let's see...that covers it for the basics. There are the dungeons too, but you really shouldn't think about those until you've Evolved at least once. Even the weakest dungeon in the forest is something I can't casually go into, and the strongest...according to Lord Yggdrasil, the dungeon core of that one is even stronger than he is. So, you know, keep far away from that one."

Apotheosis

Kichi

The Goblin tribe chief gave a slight nod at Rekzild’s question. Certainly a fair one, given that the current prospect was of going to a village in which only one of the group had even slight comprehension of the language spoken. "The name of this forest, Ironwood, isn't simply a title. Each of the trees within the forest is infused with the spiritual energy of Lord Yggdrasil, and save for the weaker ones on the outmost fringes of the forest, their wood has a strength on par with metals." He explained, gesturing around himself as he led the group forwards.

"Lord Yggdrasil allows the humans to harvest some trees, but they always need more than they can personally take, and for that they come to us. Outside of that, you can acquire human currency through appropriate goods or services. Instead of using a Horned Rabbit's pelt for clothing, for instance, you can sell it to the humans, or you could agree to work in a human establishment. Sabu will also likely show you what the humans call an 'Adventurer's Guild', as he is a member, which is another way of earning human currency." The Bugbear finished. At Iris's question, though, Kichi couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle. Right, he'd forgotten that information on the gods wasn't included in the knowledge that the world gave them. He'd always wondered why that was the case, really.

"Knoth and Anekanta are the chief gods of this world. Knoth is the god of creation, he who is said to have created the world. In this land, he is the most worshipped by humans and monsters alike. His priests are essentially researchers, those who strive to learn more about the world and create things which have never been created before, though...if you were to ask my view, I would say that to the average being, Knoth's faith has become so broadspread that it has become generic and largely meaningless. That's not a bad thing by any means, though. Among the humans, he has chosen a champion who holds the title of the 'greatest inventor' in this world. I'm sure you'll learn about him very soon, many of mankind's creations originated in his mind."

"As for Anekanta, she is not evil, but she is undoubtedly more...troublesome. The sacred goddess and the sinful goddess, twin ruler of purity and corruption. She is extremism made manifest. A righteous paladin may follow her, as may a serial murderer, but one who walks the middle road may not. Her center of worship is the landmass across the sea to the north, a place of eternal war between order and chaos. You can obviously see why her granting you all a blessing would have slightly more worrying implications than it would with Knoth. Her chosen champion among the humans is the great demon-slayer, a paragon of morality, though it's also been rumored that she has a second champion for the half of sin."

"The other gods are lesser than those two, but still notable. Esid, the god of the natural world and elements. Shaiv, god of the soul. Vaish, goddess of doorways. And...En, goddess of taking. En has been sealed away by the others for her transgressions, though; you would do well to avoid mentioning her name in public. The story might be one from eons ago, but it is still one that has left scars." He explained, his face tightening slightly towards the end of the exposition. His head then turned to Lyminia, mouth opening to answer her question, only to stop himself as he realized that they had reached the edge of the forest.

"...ah, I'll explain the matter of my Evolution later. For now, it looks like we're here."

---

The Bugbear came to a halt as the foliage faded out into the open air. A small field of dense grass spread out from where the forest had ended, and not far in the distance was some sort of stone structure, what looked to be walls; no doubt, that was the entrance to the human city.

However, more noticeable than this were the two presences who stood in the grass outside the forest.

One, a Goblin who stood over a foot above the newborns, dense musculature lining his form. Fitted over his body was a finely-crafted set of leather armor, a far cry from the furs that Aya had been wearing, and gripped in his hands was a crimson spear. Most noticeable, though, were the scales that were visible along some parts of his body that were not covered by the armor, something that would seem more at home on a reptile than a Goblin. His body seemed to crackle with power, a buzz filling the air around him and a broad grin splitting his face.

Standing opposite him was a form unfamiliar to the newborn Goblins, a human woman, dressed in what humans would call business attire, who was only a hair shorter than the Goblin she faced. Neck-length black hair and dark blue eyes gave her a chilling visage, but this was more than offset by the manic glint in her eyes and what looked like a black fog that was emanating from her body. Around her was the same sort of presence that the Goblin had, the same crackling of power that filled the air. Equally notable was the fact that, unlike the Goblin, she seemed to lack any sort of weapon.

"<Well, seems like we're both capping out at three hundred and seventy-seven pulses, huh>?"

"<Seems like it. Let's see if your bloodline's still on top, or my Align and Factor have overtaken you. Hurry up and activate it before I get bored and attack you anyway.>"

"<Heh, so impatient, Miss General.>"

Conversing in a language that, among the newborns, only Kluuto would be able to roughly understand, the two laughed under their breath before their expressions firmed back up. The Goblin's eyes glinted as something within him ignited, his muscles tensing up as a deep red fog, similar to the black one around the woman but with a different sort of "presence", manifested.

Fate/Empty Providence

It's been two weeks since GreenGoat posted so uh...

@Asuras

I'll try to get ahold of them. If that fails, we'll work something out.

Fate/Empty Providence

Ruler, Church Interior

@Beloss@Cu Chulainn@Berserk Gene

The sight of the Boxzerker was enough to quell the confusion Ruler had, despite the absurdity of his appearance. Really, True Name Discernment was such a useful tool. He had to wonder how the other classes went without it, sounded horrible.

The Servant's brows furrowed at Norton's explanation, though. A Master wasn't even able to support her Servant just being materialized? The Grail wouldn't have chosen her in such a case, right? Ah, but if this was a Berserker that was being discussed, then it made some amount of sense. Even that bit of prana needed to maintain a Servant would be amplified by the force of Mad Enhancement, and in this particular case Ruler could see why that could become problematic.

"...troublesome. Someone simply dying like that...strictly speaking, the rules wouldn't have me do anything, since technically your summoner has brought this upon herself." He murmured aloud, shaking his head in dismay. "However..."

He had felt it once that freak's Noble Phantasm was released. Two Berserkers, clashing in the graveyard not far from here. He didn't know who the other Berserker was, but if they were against that freak then he doubted their odds were good. No, feeling the status of the other Berserker, while True Name Discernment wasn't in full swing, was enough for him to be almost certain of which of these two Servants was stronger, and which had a more capable Master. In which case...

"This is a bit of a headache for me, you know? But, well, I'm no magus, so I suppose the best path of recourse is this one. Unless I'm wrong, a Master in the graveyard's about to lose their Servant, so head over there." He spoke up, a resigned smile gracing his featured. From beneath his clothes, a deep red light appeared, a sharp exhale leaving Ruler before he spoke.

"Apologies for the small breach of neutrality, but you had more time to prepare than anyone else, so consider this a rebalancing. By the order of this Command Seal, Berserker of the Einzberns, you are not to kill the Master of the Servant you are currently fighting."

---

Dulle Griet

Foreigner's Graveyard
@Yukitamas

"Come on. More, more, more, faster, faster, faster-"

A manic grin now split the Berserker's face, a crimson lance appearing in her hand. The Berserker's swordplay was admirable. Foolhardy, certainly. Childlike, undoubtedly, but nonetheless admirable.

Those first six blades failed to meet their mark, held off by a cursed sword of equal merit as they sliced through the air. A sharp cackle left Berserker as she snapped her fingers. It was around that point that Muramasa and Nakae alike would notice that the sunlight no longer shined down on them.

Black, black, black. Overhead was a black gate of the same kind that had just summoned those swords, but of a tremendously higher magnitude. Blocking out the sun, it stood over the Servants and Master, an eyeless god looking down upon the world. And yet, the only one to whom it was anything but black was the one here with a body of flesh.

Pain. An incomprehensible ocean of pain. Simply looking at that gate was enough to overload his senses in an instant if he failed to turn his head away immediately after looking upon it.

Hell. What stood beyond that gate could only be called Hell.

"Let's switch up the scenery. This graveyard's just a shitty imitation, so you should really get to see the real thing." Berserker hissed gleefully under her breath, about to will the portal to fly down, to sweep up the three figures in the graveyard, when-

"By the order of this Command Seal, Berserker of the Einzberns, you are not to kill the Master of the Servant you are currently fighting."

Prana flared up around Berserker without warning, not empowering her but restricting her. Her eyes widened, nearly bulging out of her head as the gateway she had created dissipated without a word. "Ruler..." She choked out, her prior joy wiped over by rage as she gritted her teeth.

It was only a moment's pause in the battle, but perhaps that would be enough.

Apotheosis

Kichi

"Books? Hm, well we have some who like to write, such as Aya here, but if you want them en masse you'll need to go to the humans. They have this structure called a library, grants public access to more books than I'd say anyone in the city's read. Sabu should again be the one to go to on that, most of us stick to oral tradition." The chief explained to Rekzild, shrugging slightly. Part of him felt a bit bad about pushing so much of the burden onto his son, but the boy would have to get used to this sort of thing in due time, even though it was painfully obvious that he had no intention of vying for the position of chief when Kichi himself retired.

"When Sabu gets back, those among you who are willing to are welcome to accompany him when he heads to the human city next. Going on your own without knowing how to speak to the humans is inadvisable, and if you went with one of the others, myself included, we wouldn't be able to show you around as well as he could, so it's for the best that you go with him." He admitted, a hand going behind his head. Try as he might, the chief was still a monster separate from human civilization through and through; while leading a tribe of monsters was well within his capabilities, dealing with the messy web that was human culture was a headache for him, despite how much his son seemed to relish in it.

"As for a private room, well, if you're able to make one for yourself then feel free." The Bugbear remarked with a slight chuckle. "There's not much in the way of privacy out here, but you're free to either mark out a place for your own or even do your reading in the human city, whatever suits your fanc-" Kichi cut himself off, his brows furrowing slightly before he let out a sharp exhale. "...well then. According to Lord Yggdrasil, Sabu's back a bit early and is up to something at the forest's edge. As chief, I'll need to make sure he doesn't get out of hand. Those of you who would like to head to the human city, feel free to accompany me. Those who would rather get the lay of the land here in our forest, Aya can show you the ropes." He explained, shaking his head in light dismay before turning on his heel and moving to set out from the cave, gesturing for the interested parties to follow.

Apotheosis

Kichi, Aya

"Oh?" A coy grin played across Kishi's face as he watched Redd's attempt to sneak up on him. A shallow laugh left him, his head shaking slightly. "Admirable effort, child, but a word of advice: trying to approach a Bugbear with stealth is seldom a good idea. If any of you manage to Evolve into one, you'll understand why firsthand." He remarked, seeming thoroughly amused by the little one's fall. Well, he'd be fine, a couple scrapes and bruises never hurt in the long-term. Built character.

Ah, good. They seemed to have some questions for him, which was a good sign if nothing else. If they had just stayed silent then that would have been an indication that they wouldn't be the kind to take action on their own. Then again...thinking of his own son, Kichi could only wonder how bad that could really be.

At Kluuto's words, Kichi's eyes turned to her, an eyebrow quirking up at her question. "Hm...I'm not sure. Your circumstances are special, after all, and an entire group of Goblins all being born with souls strong enough to have Gifts is unheard of. You all are aware of what Gifts, Evolution, and such are, correct? If it's not that then any such feelings are likely related to your Gift or your soul. Ha, maybe you lot were given a bit of divine providence; that would certainly explain things. Hopefully by Knoth, though, I'd be a bit worried if Anekanta was responsible." He explained, listing off two unfamiliar names in the process as he gave a slight shrug.

Following that, his eyes flitted over to Lyminia. Digging tools, really? An oddly specific request, but her Gift seemed to have some traces of Earth affinity to it even if those hadn't manifested yet, so it made sense that she'd be drawn to it he supposed. "This is the Ironwood Forest. We Goblins make our home here, along with a handful of other monster species and the ruler of the forest, Lord Yggdrasil. There are a handful of caverns about, though some of them are what the humans call 'dungeons', areas of magic that command their own monsters. While you are young, you should keep away from those places. As for other settlements...well, some of the other monsters have their own territories, but you shouldn't concern yourself with those. The most important thing to know of is the human city just outside of our forest. Humans are...think of them as similar to you, but usually taller. Some of them are even as tall as myself. Their skin is usually a sort of pink color, and their bodies appear frail, but do not underestimate them. Their race can easily be called the rulers of this world. We cooperate with them rather frequently through trade and such, and many of us have friends among the humans, so do not be hostile with them. My son, Sabu, is currently in their town and should be back in a few hours. If you'd like to know more about them, I'm sure he'd be happy to speak with you." He explained, even as Aya rolled her eyes a bit from the side. "As for digging tools, that's rather specific. We don't have any such tools here since we have no use of them, but I'm certain the humans would."

Lastly, the Bugbear glanced over to Iris, another chuckle leaving him at the innocence of her questions. "You were given knowledge of what Evolution is by the world, correct? Aya here was once a Goblin like you, but her magical talents gave her the ability to evolve into a Goblin Druid." He explained, leaving Aya to puff up a bit in pride. "As for me, I began as a Goblin, then evolved into a mutated form of Hobgoblin thanks to my affinity for darkness. That in addition to some lucky encounters and practice allowed me to become a Bugbear. I'd be happy to explain what that entails, but for now let's not get too into detail." He said, though a bit of pride in himself did nonetheless show through in his tone. "That appearance of mine was a bit of a parlor trick. It's a rather simple invisibility spell done by mixing darkness elemental essence and air elemental essence. Stealth is something of a talent for Bugbears, despite our size. As for your parents, they are all Hobgoblins, though some of them are elite ones. You shouldn't accord them much special privilege, though. While the humans handle the matter differently, for our kind once a child is born, they are a member of the tribe like any other. You shouldn't expect special treatment from them, but that's simply because everyone in this tribe is your family as much as they are."

"...hmph, says the one who coddles his son more than anyone else in the tribe."

"Aya, not in front of the newborns."