Chapter 2: One Bad Apple

Tzal was following others when the new track was found, and he half expected it to get lost in the woods or appear as a normal wild animal. But if it was the particular one they found on the walls of Victor's forge, then it would mean that something else was there and the village was probably not safe. As he heard the shriek, he was taken aback to find the swarm of goblins trying to ambush them. He quickly recovered himself and flicked an acid globule at one that was within his range.

"Great. How do we manage to get in trouble constantly?" he asks no one in particular.

As Tzal fires an acid globule, Wolfram takes advantage of attacking from a distance, nocking an arrow and letting it fly at one of the hideous goblins.

"My apologies. I cannot allow you to strip me for parts until I have exterminated every Wizard Creation which is currently malfunctioning. If you survive this encounter and wait until then, I will give myself over." R3N-L3 intoned calmly, even as he drew his sword and charged headfirst into the swarm of goblins, slashing out with a quick strike.

Squinting at the temple that came into view only brought up the gnawing reminder of the tomb they encountered in the Green Hills the month prior. Before Lauretta could begin to ponder the dangers within or its potential connection to the sickening rock back at the forge, the varied goblins began their ambush. Regardless of their stature or weapons, the fact of the situation was that they were outnumbered 4 to 1. While she was confident in R3N-L3's ability to survive the oncoming volley, she had significantly less confidence for herself or her companions. Being on the other side of a volley of arrows many times already showed her that sometimes it only takes one.

"High One protect us!"

The priest rushed to the middle-ground between her companions, trying to guard them all with the aura of magic she just ushered in. An angelic figure, barely visible, came to hover behind her. One could make out golden skin and beautiful feathered wings. The power around her was palpable, and those within could feel the safety provided by its presence.

Tzal dodged the stones and gritted his teeth from the onslaught. But the appearance of this angelic figure's aura surprised him. He turned to Lauretta and nodded in appreciation and gratefulness. There was no way they would survive the continued attack of so many creatures. He had to cut the head of the snake. Turning to the goblin who was shrieking commands, Tzal pointed his staff and sent a flying jellyfish towards it.

A horde of goblins bearing down on R3N-L3's dense metal form with a clattering barrage of stones and daggers was a scene that inspired awe in Lauretta. The clockwork was already a juggernaut in his own right, but seeing not a single blow make it past with the High One's protection made her wonder just how much the team was capable of. The sound of two thuds that followed behind her helped to ground the priest. Peeking back, she returned Tzal's nod and noticed the familiar formation of water in front of him.

"Bless your magics and strike!"

"This is a di-This is a dilemn-This is unfort-" R3N-L3 tried multiple times to speak over the hailstorm of blows that rained down upon his armored frame, sending sparks flying, not to mention the din of the goblin war cries. Finally, something within the war machine seemed to snap as his tone gained a decidedly annoyed edge, and he turned his head to eye the goblin leader ominously.

"Proposition. Let us see if your blood is blue and will stop the savages from interrupting me." He rumbled, before barging deeper into the horde of goblins, clearly intent on hammering his way to stick his blade into the goblin leader.

Wolfram is again in awe of Lauretta as the priest conjures up an angel. Meanwhile, arrows are bouncing off the charging R3NL3, which would be comical if everyone's lives weren't in danger.

Nocking an arrow, he aims at the goblin that provides the best open shot.

Tzal watched as all the goblins scattered. "Hmm, what are these? A goblin tribe so close to the village? We must warn them once we take care of the mystery. We may have taken care of the leader, but it is still a large group. Wolfram, you seem to have been hit by these nasty goblins. Let me check your injuries."

He brought out two bandages wrapped with odd greenish unguent and a pungent mixture of paste. He started mixing some other oils and fluids, which made it look more questionable. He then cleaned the wound and attached it. "It would take time to work, but you will feel better, and the wound won't fester."

He then stood up and looked around, "I guess we should check to see if we can find the tracks again. Who knows where it will lead us?"

"I estimate chances of 20.7% of failure to exterminate wholly. Should I give chase?" R3N-L3 inquired of the group, ignoring the fact that with the speed of the goblins, he'd be bulldozing through the forest after them until the sun exploded before he ever caught them.

"Oh no you don't!"

Lauretta gives chase to the closest goblin, seizing the eight-pointed star pendant she wears around her neck. The ethereal figure behind leans in, watching intently. A light begins to emanate from her holy symbol.

"By the will of the High One, I command you to stop! Renly, seize him!"

"I am a relatively civilized war machine. I will not kill you because comrade Lauretta does not wish me to. I will merely slice off your limbs and cauterize the wounds so you may not escape in any physical form."

Tzal was amazed at the swiftness of R3N-L3 and Lauretta, but he proceeded slowly to approach the captive. He turned to R3N-L3, "My friend, it won't be necessary immediately. We must first ask about their objective here; we will worry about interrogation later."

"Very well." R3N-L3 said, stopping besides the goblin to sheathe his sword and looking down at the diminutive creature. "As you heard from comrade Tzal, limb removal is not yet necessary. However, should you escape, you will once more become an enemy combatant, and for brevity, I will rip your limbs out of their sockets instead."

After a polite silence, R3N-L3 asked, in a polite yet hopeful manner, "Would you like to attempt escape?"

Wolfram can't help but chuckle at R3N's threats while sneering at the cowardly goblin.

"Yes, Tzal, I could use some healing, welcome it in fact." He offers his injured self to Tzal while enthusiastically watching the conversation unfold between the goblin and the clockwork.

Lauretta steps up alongside R3N-L3, placing a hand upon his shoulder.

"I don't think he would. Faeries may be untrustworthy, wicked, and dangerous, but they aren't suicidal. Don't mistake mercy for weakness, goblin! I can simply use the power of the divine to seize you again should you try to escape. There is no hope in avoiding this. You are at our mercy. If I suspect even slightly that the information you share with us is a lie, I will let my injured friend back there get some well-deserved revenge. Now, why were you and your people out here? And what did the lot of you have to do with the neighboring village? Did you put the cursed stone in the blacksmith's forge? Your life depends on providing us with the truth, so think carefully before you answer."

The priest was scowling with contempt at the petty creature. Even as a young girl that worshiped the Old Gods, her family warned her that some faeries, like goblins, were sour creatures. However, the Codex of Illumination condemned the Fair Folk in their entirety. She wasn't entirely without doubts, but for goblins there was little. Glancing back at Wolfram, she was glad to see him get some treatment. That volley of stones had her worried for a moment.