"Seriously, how is he this well stacked? He's got more base stats than most of us!" Rhua snapped with envy in her voice.

  "Based on his traits, though, it looks like he can't equip any armour or weapons, maybe that's why, like a trade-off?" Came the good thinking of Lucy.

  "Why would a fine chap such as myself have any need for something to slow me down when I have the BOF up there to give me all I could need!" Dillee replied, staring at the sun. He enjoyed the rays and began glowing brightly in his little yellow face, smiling as he did so.

  Guess that's us getting back to normal, I thought.

  Wardi had leapt up to the house and dragged the Gobbander back down to us. Still out from the arse-kicking we gave him, of course.

  Horace took Wakey-Wakey salts from his inventory and waved them under the Gobhead's nose, waking him up.

  "Ah woz dat then, fecking steenks mate. Wate wher iz oi?" he began panicking, looking around at all the beat-up kin scattered around the town. Wardi took out the bosh and interrogated him.

  "Oi, you caused a ton of problems here, attacked me and my friends. What’s your fucking name?"

  "Mmm-Mattee." The scales tipped positively as he continued speaking.

  "I duno wot oi've dun pal, am sori i dun member anyfin honest. Ow long av I bin owt cold ere?"

  The scales tipped further still.

  "Not long…Where did you come from exactly? We ain't seen so many Gobs out in public before. Did something happen in your territory?"

  Mattee stood there trying desperately to remember, but it only hurt his head more.

  "I dun member surr, las fing oi members woz da wellfer office an gettin me welfare cheque, all a blurr from den on."

  Wardi, realising the Gobhead is too scared to try and lie his way out of this, finishes using his gift.

  The Gobhead glowed red and seemed to become more at ease.

  "Wow, that felt rather good, what was that?" Mattee said, speaking far more like us suddenly. "You get used to these types of side effects with the godly gifts. Seems that you received a speech boost. It will probably last you a few hours, so make the most of it. Run for parliament or congress what ever you lot do."

  "May just go and do that, you have yourselves a fine day." Mattee began walking off, watched by Horace ready to bolt him if he tried anything.

  "We keep going, there's nothing for us here it's been totally trashed." Says Wardi heading to the edge and climbing down.

  I said to Wardi, "Aren't you curious to find out who this Johnno feller is? It's got my attention." Wardi dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

  "We still need to get to that doctor down south. If things work out, then we could look into it, but let's not dawdle, there's still daylight for a few hours and we should make the most of it."

  "You make a compelling argument, you as well, Dillee!" his sad eyes were calling for some acknowledgement from me. For a devilishly smart...thing he sure is desperate for my attention. I thought and began walking away, he soon followed behind me like a blue-ass fly.

  ***

  "Solin, how fares the things on your side?" The twisted wind elemental symbol spoke out. It's ominously glowing green, hovering high in the air. He is joined next to a more peculiar-looking Gobhead, wearing armour of far greater status than most rankers.

  "Incitement of the greys is painfully easy, Yeathe." A Gorthen elemental symbol sputtered chunks of soil out as it hovered beside a figure cloaked in deep black cloth attire. His face covered, appearing to wield firearms, not of this world.

  Rows upon rows of hooded people, organised, ready on both sides.

  "How fortunate those cultist fools deemed the greys unworthy of funeral rites, my brother." Solin was delighted at the judgment of beings thinking they are beyond others.

  "Indeed, Yeathe. May I have the honour of starting this charade off? It would be of the greatest satisfaction to me."

  "By all means, sister, enjoy it all to your heart's content!" He echoed to Yeathe.

  Yeathe spoke directly to the head figure in the room. "Soja, it is time."

  "People ~ today we gonna start sumting massive, u get me? Them Gobdems ain't hot, dem mans need wetting up. Wid Yeathe with us, we is gonna take over Maliterr. Is ar fookin time now rudetings ye!? LEMME HEAR YA SAY WOTS GOOD FAMS?"

  "WOTS GOOD!" they shouted in unison.

  "Brother, this is going to be a much better idea than what our stupid sibling did, what a fool Czarda was. To think of fighting against a fate denier in such a way." Yeathe cackling and in excitement nearly released strong winds into the crowds, stopping at the last second.

  "They always were a white sheep sister, good riddance, we do not require such a disappointment to be among us."

  "I digress, however. Duty calls here as well." The voice echoed out.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Lizbuth Dook. Would you kindly~" A charismatic Solin beckoned the regal Gobhead.

  "I will do so without fail." Lizbuth began walking forward after replying, towards a platform. Where hordes of Gobheads stood watching from below.

  "My people. The time has come for the Greys to return to the surface. No longer will we be confined to the dark depths within the realm. By Solin's grace, we will claim back what the surface dwellers took. And we will eliminate the vile Mandems, clean from our Maliterr!"

  Solin! Solin! Solin! They chanted. The praise thrust upon him filled him with only the most delectably evil energies.

  Both sides and their people began to move to their stations. Forges burned brighter, fiercer. Creating weapons like the sentients above.

  Stones of familiar curiosity were added in the tons. The shimmers of the Vechesia stone were unmistakable.

  Gobsmiths, Gobweavers and Gobtanners synthesised armours for the troops. Gobchemists brewed potions using it. The ingredients caused the bottles to shake violently once mixed. How they didn't shatter to pieces with the quality contained within was a surprise even to them.

  These were people ready to throw their lives for the cause, supported by things that should not exist on this plane.

  ***

  “We killed it back there! Dillee’s going to be a welcome addition to the group, don’t you think so, Rhua?” She nodded, though it wasn't immediate.

  “Anything that takes the heat off me, I am not going to complain about.” Replying whilst ruffling his leaves. Stopping only because the oils were starting to make her hand smell like she'd been prepping for cooking.

  Looking around, it seemed that maybe the Gobheads had come from somewhere on the western side. Much of the land in the distance was gone, dug up probably for their weapons and tools.

  “Do you think they’re up to something big?” I asked the group.

  “The Gobheads have always been at loggerheads with themselves, It’s why the city councils all agreed to build them those tower blocks instead of being in the cities.” Lucy always delivers the vital info.

  “THEY just never stop fighting, ESPECIALLY after a beer or twelve.” Piped Horace

  “That’s what happened with the fourteen locks incident wasn’t it? Massive barbecue in the city park, sunny weather and one too many beers.” couldn't help but laugh when I said this aloud.

  “And then the great rumble in the locks happened. Can’t believe my town went from being famous for its beautiful locks to the place that a glorified cage fight with those big-headed idiots happened!” Lucy was filled with annoyance, remembering it all.

  Knowing full well it would wind her up I said, “Could be worse, at least they didn’t destroy any.”

  “Yes, they did, they destroyed the nicest one, the ninth!” The venom in her words passed over me.

  “I was hoping you’d have forgotten, damn. Sorry~” She'd forgive me sooner than I’d feel bad for trying to play tricks on her.

  Rhua spoke, trying to be a voice of reason. “…Anyway, we’re kind of just walking aimlessly, get the map out.”

  Wardi whipped it out, and we gathered around checking it out.

  “By jove…how fascinating. Is this the OP-uk cartographer 2047 edition with real-time tracking? Wait, yes, I can tell without asking, silly Dillee, you can’t mistake the ultra-realistic fog around the borders that has never been fixed.” Said Dillee without any consideration for those around him.

  “Dillee, focus!” Lucy said, He placed his arms behind his back and stood tall, not saying another word.

  Based on the map, we were quite far off from the direction we needed to be in. Too far west, heading closer towards Spooks Ramu Forest.

  “Best bet for us is heading to the underpass - Trollmann Abode. It’s going to add a fair whack more time to the trip, but it is more sheltered. I think it’ll Raiton-shower soon, look at how angry those purple clouds look.” Wardi pointed up to the sky and returned to the map.

  “We can stay on this side of the path, and it’ll keep us on a beeline for the place. Next time we’re in one of the cities we’re going to that auction house, now we’ve got Dillee, the slingshot can’t function.” Wardi says, returning the map to his inventory and walking off.

  Following him down, Rhua kept the conversation going.

  “That’s starting to become a bit of a hindrance. Changing the landing pad to wherever we want to be frequently for the time being…it just doesn’t work.”

  “The older options will always be a valid method of transport. Sure, it’s going to need replacing, but it really is the fastest thing we have, until airships or the port and go network comes back.” Said Lucy

  “As if they will EVER FIX either.” Piped Horace, I looked at him, wondering why he was being so quiet, he just gave me a cheeky grin and made laugh.

  “Someone needs to, it’s been a nightmare having to walk all over the place. That bureaucratic red tape nonsense needs fixing.” Rhua’s words rang true.

  I’m surprised nobody else has tried to come up with anything. It’s not like it isn’t achievable with some of the smiths and engineers out there.

  Continuing, the route was a rather plain and uneventful one. Birds chirped in the woods, and occasionally, something broke a branch in the woods running alongside us. Was it an animal? A person? The mystery continues, but it was probably the former.

  Coming closer to Trollmann’s Abode, however, really began to stir things for us. The sights of trash in various forms scattered along the path and what looked to be remnants of fighting set off some alarm bells for us.

  Weapons were at the ready now as we slowed down to approach it.

  “This doesn’t look good, I think there’s something in there, a lot of somethings.” Wardi sent out a scanning pulse. Placing his hands at the hilt of his blade, ready for a fight.

  The prospect of another fight so soon wasn’t exactly making me feel chipper.

  A rock kicked down by Rhua accidentally set off a wave of shouting towards us.

  “Go away you frigging Gobends! You’ve already trashed our home once.” The voice of an old lady screamed out.

  “Back off ya big headed arsehats!” came the squeaky unbroken voice of a small child. Kids these days learn the worst words first, don’t they? I thought.

  “We’re not Gobheads!” Rhua yelled down at them. One of the people walked out into the light of the tunnel and saw us.

  “Oh, thank fook for that, it’s normal people.” Said a rather aggressive Scaq that appeared to have recently been chopping something up, judging by the stains down his front.

  Wandering down into the tunnel was a small group of people barely bigger than ours. They were dirty, stinking. No idea how long they’ve been down here but they must be choosing sustenance over keeping clean. Not surprising the nearest river is a good 6 / 7 hours away for these sorts of sentients.

  “What brings you to our temporary new home? Just passing through? Don’t suppose those Gobheads have fooked off from Isaac’s Shanti yet?”

  Lucy spoke out for us. “We dealt with them; they’ve probably retreated to recuperate.” The crowd was shocked at the words.

  “No way, you five?”

  “Sir, I am standing right here.” Said Dillee utterly disappointed at the guy in front of us’s lack of vision.

  “Hva I helvete…the fook is that thing!?”

  Intense staring was being delivered to Dillee the poor sod. Rhua took it upon herself to shut down the rudeness.

  “He’s not a thing, and you’re welcome. He was the reason we were even able to get there in the first place. Show him some respect.” Dillee bowed at Rhua, he was warmed by her gesture his face brightening up and shuffling his stem side to side.