As the sun began to rise over the horizon kobolds gathered around Chungotlus’ clay hut. The entire camp had been told of his condition and each family sent little gifts and treats for the ailing Elder. Despite the protests of the shaman the children all gathered around Chungotlus’ bed and sat to wait for him to wake.
They sat waiting and watching the slow rise and fall of the Elder’s chest. Then in a near rasp he murmered out, “Aaah... Chucheedrin Plaguepoison has blessed us with this silence. This stillness to keep us from madness. Thank you, blessed lady.” The other kobolds scrunched up their noses and gave disbelieving looks, but who could be brave enough to tell Chungotlus the Eldest of the Elders that the goddess he praised was one worthy of fear, not adoration.
“But you have not come here for silence, have you pups? You wish to hear of times long past. We begin in the Spring of 126.The way had been long and treacherous, but the seven kobolds had made it safely at last. They had for themselves a list of what they would need to survive and thrive. When Taz called a halt of the cart all gathered around for the all important calling of resources.
“Trees,” barked out Taz with a glance about at the others.
“Trees,” confirmed Sen softly as she looked up at the canopy under which they were situated.
“Good. Water,” the leader yapped out for.
Splinter dipped his paw into the running stream and tasted the water before responding, “Water.”
“Good. Meat?”
Drix peered about with his brow furrowed before pointing out into the distance. “Meat. Big meat.” The other kobolds all furrowed their brows and squinted their eyes to try to make it out as well. A lumbering giant otter plodded along the opposite bank of the river far upstream.
“Good. That it?”
Azeaheru pointedly cleared her throat.
Taz and the other kobolds regarded her with confusion on their faces. “Gods?” asked Kelras with a glance upwards. “Yup. Gods here.”
Azeaheru heaved a melodramatic sigh and pointed at the nearby cliff wall of clay. “Clay. Got clay. Good.”
With this, it was decided that they would settle down here to create Nobletongues, a camp dedicated to creating feasts like the world had never seen before. They immediately took apart the caravan and set to work. Taz took his axe to many of the trees in the area as Azeaheru began constructing some beds to sleep in.
Sen set to work setting up the kitchen, butchery, and brewery with help from Splinter running materials for her. He hopped about and capered in a near war dance as he helped to prepare things. Sen watched him as she worked with a shy little smile on her face. It is lucky for them that there were no Elders to the camp yet or the two would have found themselves married before a hut was built.
Corai carried lumber longer than any of the other kobolds could appearing mostly lost in his own thoughts. When he passed Splinter doing an exceptionally ridiculous jump over a barrel however, he let his load thump to the ground and asked, “Splinter. Warband?”
So surprised was Splinter by this that he nearly fell face first into the middle of the wooden kitchen. He promptly pulled himself to his feet and made a sweeping motion with his hands. “Warband... Blades of Mystery!” The other kobolds thought this a fine name and it was so. There was much camaraderie as nearly the entire camp wished to be a Blade of Mystery.
While this bantering and talking was going on, Sen and Aseaheru remained hard at work. Sen began to gather berries to use for drinks as Aseaheru dug a deep hole that she insisted could be used for farming. Sen and Aseaheru sat discussing the plants they could grow and the fine sweet drinks that would keep the whole camp warm during the winter that would surely be coming.
Taz returned slowly from his time chopping down trees, rubbing at the back of his neck with one paw. “So tired,” he pointed out helpfully as he admired the large pile of wood that had been gathered. “Too tired.”
Kelras snapped at him, “Come, Taz! Night of Buseelus Boarbearded. Drink. Sing. Dance.”
Taz looked at the Bone Priestess as though she had abruptly grown a second head and then walked to stick his head in a barrel. After slurping down his fill, he sat down with his back against it and grumbled out, “No. Taz drink.”
Corai walked over to the older kobold and promptly hoisted him back up onto his feet. Amidst scuffling paws and quick snarls, the heftier kobold got one of Taz’s arms around his shoulder and pointed out, “Sing important. Buseelus want sing.” At this, Taz relented and the seven kobolds sang the sacred songs to thank Buseelus Boarbearded for the wondrous nature that they had been given.
Then Buseelus Boarbearded gave the kobolds a sign. Amidst their singing and dancing, a large shape began to lumber over. It rose from the river and plodded over on four legs, water dripping from it’s long mangy hair.
“Look!” called out Sen in a shocked and terrified voice. “Otter!”
The Blades of Mystery promptly grabbed their weapons and turned, thinking that they would have an easy fight only to have to look up far above their own heads to see the thing’s face. There was a hesitation and all turned to Splinter to see what to do.
“We hunt,” barked out Splinter with a broad grin forming on his face as he beat his sword against his buckler. A roar of triumph came forward and the kobolds charged, slamming out a warbeat against their shields. The otter stood on it’s hind legs for a moment blocking out the moon from view before it turned and fled chased by hoots and hollers. Finally it sunk back into the river and the kobolds stopped chasing it. There would be more time for hunting later.
The Blades returned to the camp and all began to trade stories and sing their own praises. Even Corai joined in a little with some support from Kalras. Soon the drink and the excitement began to pull them down towards sleep and the little ‘bolds slept under the gentle spring rain.
The Blades were the last to wake the following morning to sounds of industry and work. Wooden cudgels beat against wooden gears, pulleys squeaked and planks moved. They gathered about the pit that Azeaheru had dug where apparently Sen and Azeaheru were hard at work. The five warriors sat quietly watching until the two climbed out all covered in mud and grime.
Splinter chuckled and turned his head a bit to peer at Sen before joking, “Sen is otter now?”
Sen covered her cheeks with her paws in embarrassment before tossing some of the mud at Splinter as Azeaheru explained. “We make farm. Look. Pull this and tiiiny water get in.”
“Water good for farm,” explained Sen as she straightened out her fur as best as she could.
“You see,” barked Azeaheru as she pulled the lever to let a tiny trickle of water into the farm.
A flood of water promptly filled the farmland. Sen and Azeaheru looked between each other and cleared their throats. “It dry soon,” explained Sen.
The other kobolds were very impressed by this invention and drinks were passed all around.
Later that week, the construction of the first nesting building was finished. Though it wasn’t as sturdy as clay, it would have to work for now as the rock they had intended to bring to make the kiln was simply too heavy to drag the whole way. The kobolds settled into their new home and the rest of Spring went by pleasantly.
Spring was unfortunately REALLY uneventful. No migrants yet (as predicted, I believe) but hopefully we will get some in Summer, I think! In the meantime, we have most of the things we need for our industries and it's just a matter of getting to killing stuff! Woooo!
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Topic: Non-Running Kobold Community Camp and Questions About A New One (Read 24156 times)