What's in a Name

John looked over the encampment and it was easy to see where the girls were due to how short the shelters the kobolds had made were. The girls were playing on a swing set that wasn’t there before, just outside of the encampment.

The two walked in that direction but John couldn’t help but look at the shelters; they were no taller than fifty centimetres and maybe just over a metre long, barring two which were a little larger, no doubt the Dragonshield kobolds’ shelters.

“Eighteen,” he muttered.

“What was that, John?” Ellie asked as they continued walking.

“Oh, uh, well, they all look almost identical other than the two larger ones. So it wasn’t easy counting how many were following me, but it looks like they’ve built a shelter each so there are eighteen shelters, minus the hut,” John explained.

Ellie chuckled. “I see, yeah the only ones that aren’t hyperactive and on the move all the time are the two larger kobolds.”

“Yeah, and they want me to be their leader, that would literally be like babysitting eighteen kids, as if I’d want to do that,” John complained.

“I think you might be the only guy who would have a bunch of fantasy creatures pledge themselves to you and you’d see it as a bad thing,” Ellie laughed.

John sighed, “It’s not that. I mean, yeah, it would be fun to just order them about and make them do stuff but it’s not the same as them actually suddenly wanting me to be their leader, and it’s a struggle to speak to them, the only ones that aren’t speaking in broken English are the two larger ones.”

“John, none of them are speaking in any English,” Ellie laughed. “But I get your point, it’s a lot of responsibility and it’s not the easiest thing to communicate with them.”

“Yeah... Can’t complain about how quickly they build and make stuff though, they managed to get all of this camp set up in like, what, two hours? Maybe three? Not only that, that swing set definitely wasn’t there before we went into the hut so they made that thing in like ten minutes,” John commended.

John couldn’t help but smile as they got close to the swing; it was surprisingly well built and didn’t seem to budge as Sprout and Yatina sat on the swings being pushed by a kobold each. Off to the side Mimi was jumping over a rope that was tied to one leg of the swing while being spun by another kobold.

Mimi ran over to the two. “Look! They made us a playground!” She beamed, and quickly wormed her way in between John and Ellie, pulling their hands apart and holding them as she led them closer. “They made swings and we have a jump rope.”

John laughed, “It’s very nice, did you all make sure to thank them for making this for you?”

Yatina jumped from the swing and ran over. “Yep, it’s the bestest playground ever!”

John and Ellie both laughed again seeing the joy on the girls’ faces. Sprout on the other hand didn’t look extremely enthusiastic about being on the swing as he seemed to be gripping the ropes tightly.

John walked over smiling at the kobold. “I think he might have had enough fun for now, thanks.” The kobold nodded and moved back, allowing John to slow the swing down and let Sprout down.

Sprout seemed ecstatic to be back on the ground and gave John’s leg a quick hug before running over to the girls.

John turned to the kobolds who had all moved closer to each other. “Uh, thanks for taking care of them while we were busy, which one of you was the one who offered to look after them again?”

One of the three stepped forward. “It I, master. I do good?”

John chuckled. “Well, they aren’t causing trouble, they aren’t hurt, and they seem to have had fun, so yes, you did very well. What’s with the swing set though? I didn’t think you guys would know what one was.”

“It trap but not blade and swap seat, little ones want,” the kobold said.

John nodded assuming he knew what they meant. “Uh, I have a feeling that we might get caught off guard by the girls. If they manage to sneak back with us, would you be willing to take care of them again?”

“Glad, want help master,” the kobold replied, again it was hard to see the emotion on the kobold’s face but it seemed to John that they were smiling.

“Thanks, uh, what’s your name? I have a bit of a hard time differentiating most of you, sorry,” John said awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

The kobolds brow seemed to furrow ever so slightly. “Name? No name. Only master have name.”

John thought for a moment. “But, one of the kobolds in the tunnels identified the spear I used as the weapon of a kobold named... Uh,” John scratched his head trying to think, “Ka I think?”

A hyena-like chuckle escaped the kobolds mouth. “Ka group, watch tunnels.”

John scratched his head. “So, Ka was the name of the scouting party?”

The kobold nodded. “Yes yes, scoutings.”

“There has to be something I could call you? A way for me to ask for you? Or could I give you a nickname?” John insisted.

“Name?” The kobold perked up saying the word in english. “Master wants give me name?”

Almost immediately after the kobold finished talking two voices came from behind him, “Master give name?” Before long more voices echoed the word “Name” all-around camp, and in seconds John and his group were surrounded by kobolds.

Ellie laughed and pushed John’s shoulder. “Ha of all the words to speak in English. Best get to it, They all look extremely excited and I don’t think they are going to leave our side until you do.”

“Yeah, this is going to be a pain. You guys have to help me with this,” John insisted before turning and addressing the kobolds. “If we are doing this, everyone get in a line behind the three that looked after the kids.”

Surprisingly the kobolds all quickly formed a single-file line, though unsurprisingly none of them could stand still.

John pulled out his phone and opened a notepad. “Alright so you three, uh huh... what to name you?”

Mimi and Yatina rushed forwards putting a hand on two of the kobolds arms, followed by Sprout when he saw the other two.

“Koko!” Mimi yelled.

“Lighty!” Yatina followed.

John sighed, “Okay, I guess Koko is okay… I’m not too sure about Lighty though, Yatina, uhm… how about Luna?”

The two kobolds seemed to light up slightly at the names, prompting him to jot the names down.

“QWEST!” Sprout’s high pitched voice called.

John looked over at him with a dismissive expression. “Oh, Clover is a pretty name,” Mimi beamed at Sprout, who nodded and smiled.

“I… okay, Clover is actually the most normal name out of the three so let’s just go with it,” John laughed.

The three kobolds moved behind John with the kids. Yatina and Mimi sat on the swings while Koko and Luna lightly pushed them and Sprout sat next to John drawing in the dirt with a stick.

“I guess we should come up with some names now, right? Got any ideas?” John asked Ellie.

“Hmm, well I was thinking of dragons in video games since I thought it would be easier. The first game that came to mind was Skyrim but I feel like most of the names are kinda awkward as actual names, how about Odah? Like Odahviing,” Ellie suggested.

“Oh, that’s a good idea, hmm, yeah, and next will be Ysera and Sindra from WoW,” John said as he added the names to the notepad. Odah, Ysera, and Sindra all happily moved on excitedly talking to each other about their new names.

Next was a nervous and skittish looking kobold who kept scratching the back of its neck as well as a kobold who seemed to have spent its time at the shore of the lake collecting what few shells they could find and turning them into jewellery.

“Itch!” Mimi yelled pointing at the skittish looking kobold and causing them to flinch.

“Shelly!” Yatina followed Mimi’s example.

John didn’t get the chance to veto Mimi’s name as Itch scurried away. “I’m not so sure about Shelly, to be honest, Sheldon? Or Michelle? Those are names that Shelly are short for,” John begrudgingly suggested.

“Me..." the kobold looked uncomfortable before it managed to struggle out English, "Sheldon?” the kobold asked, before nodding determinedly to itself. “Sheldon!”

With that the next set of Kobolds moved closer; John and Ellie looked at each other. “How about Ridley? From Metroid? And Corrin from Fire Emblem?” Ellie suggested.

John nodded and wrote those names down too; the newly named kobolds seemed happy as they ran off to the others.

John thought for a moment. “Oh, you can be Valoo from Wind Waker and you can be Zino, as in Zinogre from Monster Hunter,”

“Thank, master.” Zino bowed slightly followed by Valoo who seemed to be hiding something as their hands shifted from behind their back to in front of them as they turned around. The two then raced back into the camp.

John sighed, “I’m kinda running out of names already.”

Mimi and Yatina jumped out of the swings and rushed over. “We can do it.” The two passed John and Ellie running right towards the last four kobolds, tapping each as they passed and yelling a name, “Spike! Lizzie! Ssssasha! Edwin!”

“I, what? You know what, fuck it. Those aren’t bad names, but Mimi, why Edwin?”

“Cos Edwin is in the camp and super-duper smart and he’d be able to come up with a gazillion names,” Mimi answered.

“Uh... okay?” John dismissed. “I guess that’s everyone then.”

The last four seemed to sense John’s apprehensiveness but shrugged it off at the excitement of having their own names.

“We should go before something else happens. We’ve been in here a long while now and neither of us can get a phone signal here,” John said as he ushered the group back towards the Cullis Gate.

Approaching, he could hear a quiet argument between two familiar voices.

“-Not very comfortable out in the open like this, in the mountain we had control of the environment, the tunnels confused almost all intruders and we never had to worry about any threats,” one of the Dragonshield kobolds stressed

“You are worrying over nothing, we have a new master and he is stronger than Dâros even when he cheated, and he’s a drake. No one would dare mess with us now even being out in the open. Can’t you just enjoy the fresh air? This is the first time we’ve seen the sky, can’t you at least admire it? And look at the giant pool of water, it’s so big and it comes in and out making such a nice soothing sound,” the other argued.

“Yes, it’s pretty out here and it’s nice to be here, but I just would feel better being in a more defensible position, and underground is as defensible as you are going to get,” the first voice said.

John continued until both kobolds were in view, and upon seeing him they both seemed to quieten.

“Nothing is keeping you here, I told you to go back to your volcano before and that still stands,” John stated.

“No, we are happy to be wherever you are, and we can’t go back to the mountain now even if we wanted to; too many of our kin died fighting about our dishonourable ruler,” the least aggravated informed.

“Yes, the mountain is sullied with a battle that should never have happened. Although I do not like this open area we have set up camp in, we can’t ever return to the place we once called home,” the first begrudgingly conceded.

“I, uh. Well, if you’re insisting on staying here, I shouldn’t think you would be in any danger; if you are worried, rotate some guards to keep watch of the surroundings, there are grass plains all around this area and it’s backed up to the lake, so if you see something suspicious coming from any direction, you just retreat in the opposite direction. Worse comes to worst, temporarily go back to the volcano where you know the lay of the land,” John suggested.

The concerned kobold’s shoulders seemed to relax a little and they took a deep breath, “That is a good suggestion, master, thank you. And sorry for seeming ungrateful and unhappy with your choice of camp location. Our numbers have dwindled and I just want to keep us all safe. If you will excuse me, master, I would like to organise a guard rotation as you suggested.”

“Wait!” the second kobold ordered, grabbing the first’s arm, then turned to John. “Master, you gave names to the rest of our kin, would you find us worthy enough to be given names too?”

“Uh, sure…” John hesitated, “hmm, is there anything you like maybe? Might make it easier to think of a name.”

The kobold who seemed to be happy in the encampment smiled. “Well, being out here is wonderful, the wind and the fresh air is refreshing and a luxury we didn’t have in the volcano”

“Oh! Wait, no, that’s kinda unoriginal…” John doubted.

“What? I’m sure a name you found so quickly is one of instinct and would be a great name,” the kobold probed.

John sighed, “Well, it’s kinda simple, but if you like the fresh air and stuff, then a related name could be Skye.”

“I would be honoured to receive such a beautiful name. And my ungrateful sibling?” Skye inquired.

“What about Terra?” John wondered. “No, that’s dumb too.”

“No, it’s beautiful, don’t you think… Terra?” Skye nudged the other kobold.

“Thank you very much, master, it is a strong sounding name and I am grateful for it.” Terra bowed. “I hope you don’t find me rude but I would like to leave and put your idea in action as soon as possible.”

“Oh, sure. You don’t have to ask me,” John said, taken off guard by the change in attitude.

Terra hurried off towards a group of kobolds. “Don’t mind them, being out here just has them on edge. Terra likes the surroundings as much as I do but is used to being in control and having order. Having our kin fight amongst themselves is rather unnerving, especially seeing how you clearly produced Dâros’ weapon that he shouldn’t have had.”

John noticed Ellie looking curiously but obviously unable to understand so he gave her a quick rundown to which she replied “I heard about what happened and I’m sorry, I’m sure it was terrible for everyone,” the large kobold didn't understand until John translated back, to which she nodded.

“What is done, is done. We have to move on and move forward. Under our master’s leadership we should become stronger and prosper more than ever before,” Skye declared. A second passed and the kobold looked at Ellie with a cocked head, then down to the two girls. “Master, you favour female companions?”

John was taken back by the question that seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Ellie pestered him to tell her what had him looking so awkward before laughing.

“Yes, he does, though these two aren’t his,” Ellie cleared her throat, “companions… We are just looking out for them because they followed us here.” She looked at John, "Translate for me, and say it exactly how I said it. No changing things."

John sighed before doing as he was told.

“I see," they nodded. "Is there anything else I could help you with, master?” Skye asked.

“Actually, yes. I had kind of an idea. How quickly could you have a pillar or landmark erected?” John asked.

Skye thought for a moment. “Well, would a stone pillar suffice?”

“Yeah, that should work for what I have in mind, but it can’t be one of the stones from the," he said in draconic before switching back to English for the skill name "Cullis Gate.”

Skye waved over at a group of six kobolds, and directed them towards the shore of the lake. In no time a roughly fifty-centimetre square, two-metre tall stone pillar was lifted into place at the bottom of the hill by the Cullis gate.

“Okay, John, what is all this about?” Ellie firmly asked after prodding at him for the last 20 minutes.

“You know how back in Springfield I could use a fast travel skill to move between bus stops? Well, here there are no busses, as far as I have seen, so my idea is if I make some kind of landmark I could possibly will it to be a fast travel point, maybe we could teleport straight here using my fast travel skill rather than using the Cullis Gate, if not I could try getting another fast travel point at the Silverwood grove, making it easier to get there and back, depending on the price of course.

John looked at the pillar, then looked at his hand before he reached out, placing his palm on the flat surface of the rock, and focused trying to make a fast travel point out of the pillar.

Fast Travel Anchor cannot be placed in an unnamed location. Do you wish to claim and name this area?

Yes | No

John looked at it for a moment, before reaching out and tapping the ‘Yes’ option.

This land is now claimed, please enter the locations new name (Disclaimer: settlements within this location will be named separately.):

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