Is This Zone Big Enough for Two?

The days seem to be passing slower now, even as they roll on into weeks. It's probably because you're no longer in a race against the clock? But it could also be because out of every kobold in the village, you seem to be the only one who doesn't actually have a job.

You're a Tactician. So...should you be tactics-ing? That seemed like a reasonable thought, so your first few days were spent drawing up contingencies for possible attacks upon the village or whatever theoretical threat happened to pop into your mind. And you were rewarded with a stream of Student of Warfare experience, seemingly confirming that you were on the right track. But your gains crawled to a trickle well before your imagination did, with the goal of Level 2 nowhere close to within reach. When you put the final flourish on a plan to defend the town from foes who could fly AND swim, only to be rewarded a half-point of experience, you figured it was time to put away your quill and give up grinding for now. Still though. Flying and swimming? That is fucking treacherous.

Going down to the grounds that Gero claimed for the training and housing of the warriors seems like it'd be a solid option, but that's a no go. You spent one day doing just that, target training with the harriers and officiating sparring matches between the bruisers, but afterwards Gero let you know in no uncertain terms that you being there for so long was a distraction to the others. And there was no use being peeved about it, because you could tell she was right. For whatever reason, your prolonged presence had the rest of the warriors second guessing themselves left and right, overthinking their actions and making flustered mistakes you knew they would normally easily avoid. Being an active detriment is obviously worse than just being dead weight, so that's out.

And the townsfolk are out too. They're all more than happy to discuss their trades and work with you, cheerily explaining the ins and outs of tending saplings and spreading manure and fitting wooden joints, and all the other topics that they find fascinating and are beyond the moon at discovering you find fascinating, too. And when you ask if you can give any of those jobs a try? You're don't *think* it's possible to hurt yourself with the wideness of a grin, but the townsfolk certainly give it their all. But that, it seems, is the line: Once or twice you've suggested coming back the next day to help more thoroughly, and the result is always the same: a gasp of disbelief and an immediate, intensely polite refusal, usually accompanied by them apologizing to you over the idea, for some bizarre reason. Maybe this is just part of kobold culture. Well that's all well and good, but seeing as "kobold culture" is about three weeks old at this point, this all seems a bit ****. Somedays you just wish you could go back and pick 'Barbaric', you know?

It turns out there is only one job in the entire tribe that no one seems to have a problem with you doing, and that is sweeping the leaves from the pathway to the village shrine. And man, do they ever seem to appreciate you doing it. It seems that every time you look up from your simple, utterly brainless task, one of your passing tribe mates is giving you the most beaming look of pride as they go about doing their actually useful jobs, jobs that require skill and effort rather than a broom and deep, deep boredom.

As for your new fish hobby, well...you suppose that's going well? But you quickly discovered you can't speed up a fish's egg laying by staring at them all day. You can only hope you'll have more to do after the Full Moon ceremony the day after next. It became clear a few days ago that all the tribe needed to reach Level Two was to finish a few minor improvements to the town center, and Momo suggested saving them for the first dedication ceremony to the tribe's newfound Goddess. You'd been practically burning to learn what new twists came with Tribal Strength Two, but a suggestion from the High Priestess may s well be an order from on high. Blugh.

Well, no use complaining. And there are certainly less pleasant ways to spend a few hours than drifting about the serene temple to Tasan Okaa, a faint scent of peaches wafting from the trees to accompany the light swish of your broom and the sweet, gentle humming of Momo as she carefully inks charms in the graceful, complex script that seems to be your written language. You don't mind the view, either; it seems that every day more and more rounded belly bulges out from the gentle little priestess, her massive breasts close to enveloping her chin whenever she sits down. She says she's about two thirds of the way into her pregnancy, with the baby due roughly between the full moon in a few days and the one after that. You hope she's right, because otherwise she's set to give birth to a baby that's actually bigger than she is.

And compared to Hana, the other priestess, her belly might as well be flat as a board. You've gotten to know the merry kobold, a pert, leggy girl with an easy smile and cheerful disposition, quite well during your janitorial duties. At first her tummy was relatively the same size as Momo's, but as the days went on you couldn't help noticing that she had quickly become almost twice as large. Now, she looks as if she has a full grown Bruiser nestled within her womb, her over taxed robe so distended that her pert, swollen little breasts are happy exposed for all the see. Momo explained to you that Okaa could bestow any number of different blessings to her sacred daughters, and that Hana's was that she could be further impregnated even while already carrying a litter. She doesn't seem at all hindered by her fertile burden as she happily goes about her duties, though, which mostly seem to be chatting with you and then bringing off-duty villages back to the shrine to fuck. It's a good thing she has strong legs, because otherwise you're quite certainly the priestess would be immobilized under her own stomach before much longer. You mentioned as much, and couldn't miss the zealot's gleam that sparked across Hana's eyes.

You continue to sweep the leaves from the path as the priestess plops down on the nearby steps to the shrine, letting out a sigh of contentment as she rests one hand on her giant belly and begins to go over her information again. "So okay! Spells!"

This has been a frequent conversation: which level one spells Hana wants. Much as the eager priestess delights in a wide range of mates, she likewise seems to find it difficult to narrow her choices down to just a few spells. Not that you mind the somewhat circuitous conversation; the chance to really discuss the ins and outs of divine spells is fascinating to your layman's perspective. You just hope that no situation arises anytime soon requiring any actual magic from the girl, because it's been several days now and there is **** in sight.

"Well, what did Momo suggest?"

Hana groans, throwing a handful of leaves at you. "I can't bother the High Priestess about level one spells! That would make me the worst priestess in the world!"

"Oh, that's not fair. You are at least the second best priestess Tasan Okaa has ever had."

The kobold beams for a moment before working through your jibe, quickly sticking her tongue out and throwing another handful of leaves in your general direction. "Boo! Boo to Shin! I'm going to tell the High Priestess you were making fun of me, and then she won't fuck you anymore!"

Dire threats indeed. You chuckle a bit, but still glance around to make sure Momo is still meditating deep inside the shrine. It would actually be pretty goddamn dire if she didn't fuck you anymore. You open your mouth to shift the conversation in a direction that won't get you in trouble with one of your lovers when you're interrupted by the sound of frenzied footsteps further down the path.

You turn in time to see one of the harriers waving his arms at you as he bursts into the shrine. "Shin, Shin! They're here!"

You furrow your brow, setting the broom aside as Hana hefts herself to her feet with surprising grace. Isn't this one of the harriers who had been assigned to watch the borders of the zones? "Who's here? Is Higen back?"

It's no use though, the archer has already spun on his heel and darted back the way he came. You glance over at Hana, who offers you an amiable shrug before waddling off to follow at a surprisingly brisk pace. You're not far behind, though you do double back for just a moment to set aside the broom. Probably not the best look for meeting new family.

You spent most of the trip trying to decide how to re-approach Higen. You hadn't left things on the best note, what with you making it clear you didn't like him and him coming pretty close to murdering you with a knife. Do you pretend it didn't happen? Extend an olive branch? Bring your own knife? You're so preoccupied with the matter that what actually awaits you at the border of the zone is...well, unexpected.

Instead of a grumpy, potentially stabby ranger and a small group of semi-intelligent hamster puppies, you crest the hill to find yourself staring down a bruiser and three vaguely nervous-looking harriers, their weapons drawn but not readied as they keep guard on a decidedly different ensemble. They're...well, you haven't seen a lot of things yet, and these are definitely in that group. At a glance they remind you of elves, noticeably taller than the average kobold with long limbs and swept back, pointed ears. But there is a somewhat savage cast to their otherwise graceful features, their skin an orange-tinted gray and pronounced canines unmistakable when they open their mouths. And none of the elves you've met so far would be caught dead in the tatters of leather and fur these ones wear.

There seem to be four of them, two seeming almost meek as they support the third, who's impressively long beard has gone snow white and is clearly very old and frail. It's the fourth who catches your eye, though. She stands ramrod straight and defiant as you approach, her thick black hair cropped just above her intensely piercing green eyes. She stares back at you unbowed, even as her companions exchange unsure looks. You know you've seen those eyes before, that gaze of steeled determination. But where would you have....

Oh. Oh, wait a second. Is it really? You lean in slightly and take a deep sniff, the woman recoiling in surprise before she can stop herself. Yes, there's no questioning it. You shift into a welcoming stance as you offer a friendly smile, the warriors relaxing at your lead as Hana folds her hands atop her belly and watches on with wide-eyed interest. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it Hilde?"

The woman sputters at that, her two compatriots almost dropping their enfeebled old charge in that shock. "Wha-? How do you know my name!" You offer the woman an impish shrug, which prompts even more outraged sputtering. "Tell me, damn you!"

"What, you've forgotten your old friend Shh, then? My feelings are hurt. Still, I admit you were right: being a hobgoblin suits you."

Hilde stars at you incredulously for a long moment, then bursts into raucous laughter as her helpless friends look on in weary confusion. You can't help smiling, even though you still aren't certain how this will end up playing out. Still, it's not Higen. That's something.