What, no option for the remaining Antlings?
The area is not of value to the Hive right now. They are only here as observers, but more colonizing groups may come once the age-long winter goes away.The calendar spring of 83 was quite eventful. On the surface, the humans were locked in a feud with the ratlings who took to stealing their supplies. Though they managed to catch a few thieves, they were steadily losing whatever was not nailed down. The ratlings also dug a new tunnel which led to a few of them getting caught by the spider. Oh well.
Far below, the stone giants broke into the overgrown caverns and cleared them of deadly vegetation.
The dwarves sent an emissary group to the humans of Galkagaval. They extended an offer of trade and friendship, bringing with them samples of Dwarven goods, books and art pieces. In return, they wanted various food supplies as the Dwarves have long sought to enrich their cuisine. The humans were tempted, but their leaders were not used to committing to an agreement; it got worse when a minor misunderstanding in the market square led to a scuffle and then a shootout using flintlock pistols. The dwarves withdrew, but the result of this brief conflict sent a clear message as to whose weapons were superior.
The humans didn't get the message right, though. The same spring they sent a raiding party against the dwarves, intending to both take vengeance and seize some of the goods and riches they'd heard about. Needless to say, it backfired in a spectacular fashion—the humans might've had a chance against an outpost but not the capital. Many of the raiders were captured, a few were executed and others were now looking at a long sentence in the mines. Without leadership and its best warriors, Galkagaval was doomed to become a ghost town; some of the remaining inhabitants fled to the surface, a few fell victim to the basilisk that made its lair nearby and yet more were captured by Ÿare and the plant cult.
As summer arrived on the calendar, a lone goblin wandered into the empty halls.
Now, let me tell you a story.
Ngerxung Nakobåx was born in 18, in a raider camp far away from Oldlands. In 33, she became a fighter, taking part in her first raid into the human lands of Bok-Anlar (back then merely a tribal chiefdom), and killing two of the defending force. She continued raiding for five years against humans and other goblin tribes, and by the time King Azstrog brought all goblins under his rule, she was already a leader of her own warband. Excelling in ambushing, she became a forward scout of the king's growing retinue, based in the newly-built dark citadel, Tursong.
Ngerxung was there for the battle against Usnos Namo, "The Eel of Decay", and she was one of the few survivors. She advised the king during his fateful hunt that ended in the capture of Horridlurk, and after that she stayed in the upper tunnels as an acting frontier leader. Ngerxung held on to that position until she heard about the rebellion in Tursong in 43 and the King's disappearance, after which she took a squad and left to find him.
She had been adventuring since then. This intrepid goblin had been to Bok-Anlar in the west, to the mountains of Niwirtar, to the Southern kingdoms and elsewhere. She fought manticores among the Great Dunes and spoke to the earth titan Icmon'Etru who was reputed to know everything.
And she came back to the valley upon hearing of Azstrog's return. Alas, it was too late because the dragon ate him—and before long a band of adventurers robbed her of possible revenge by killing the dragon as well. Now she lurked in the caves like a shade, stealing and killing and being insane. Though Goblins do not age in the same way humans or dwarves do, years had not been kind to her, especially not her mind.
Ngerxung is a wildcard goblin. She had been there all along since 67, but now she's on the radar, so to say. The titan was not actually omniscient, but it did know something, and she learned from it a legendary skill. Make a choice:- Earthcraft. Ngerxung can dig or seal tunnels and trap enemies using a cave-in.
- Animal lore. Will muster any of the non-sentient cave creatures on the map to her aid.
- Shapeshifting. Ngerxung will plague civilization like a werebeast would, but independent of moon phase.
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Topic: Oldlands: Age of Dwarves (Read 34317 times)