His First Earth Elemental

Yet even as the plans settled into place, Grashok knew stone and water alone would not be enough. Expansion demanded hands—workers who could shape, carry, and endure where goblins faltered. His mind raced as he recalled a section in his Fame menu dedicated to minions. Could it really be as straightforward as that? He quickly opened the menu again and navigated to the sub‑section labelled Minions. Sure enough, the option was there, though the description warned that such creatures would be limited in many ways, confined to specific tasks. Despite the restrictions, the prospect of gaining an ally was too tempting to ignore.b

With a determined tap, he accepted the option to summon an Earth Elemental for 50 fame, leaving 92 points remaining. A moment later, a figure materialised before him: a dust golem, a crude amalgamation of rocks and pebbles bound together by a swirling haze of dust, shaped roughly like a man. Its eyes and mouth were shallow indentations, and it lacked any features resembling a nose or hair. Yet, for a creature barely a foot and a half tall, it had an impressively thick and powerful build.

Grashok pointed toward the construction site, where the Goblin Lair was being prepared. To his relief, the elemental nodded in understanding and began its march to the wall. Yet the sight quickly soured. Each step was a drawn‑out shuffle, its squat legs dragging as though weighed down by the very stone it was made from. What should have been a short walk across the hall felt endless, the golem’s progress painfully slow.

Grashok frowned, doubts creeping in. Had he made the right choice? An Earth Elemental would not need to eat, drink, or rest, making it well‑suited for labour inside the mountain. But watching it lumber forward at such a glacial pace, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had misjudged. He had imagined something more imposing—something that could inspire awe and fear. Instead, he was left with a creature that looked sturdy enough, but moved with all the urgency of a boulder rolling uphill.

Those thoughts were quickly interrupted as the dust golem finally reached the archway. It braced its squat legs and pressed its arms against the stone wall. For a moment it paused, then began its assault—bang, bang, bang—each strike an astonishing display of force. The speed at which it worked was remarkable. Grashok had no frame of reference for a jackhammer; yet if he had known of such a thing, the golem’s relentless vibration against the stone would have been the closest comparison. The noise was equally overwhelming, echoing through the entrance hall like a thunderous roar.

Pop-up Notification:

Construction Initiated!

Skill Bonus Active

Strength Bonus Active

Tool Bonus Active

Grashok could hardly believe his eyes. The golem was working at a staggering pace, chiselling into the stone with a determination that left him momentarily speechless. Its speed and noise, combined with unyielding strength, promised rapid progress.

"Maybe this wasn’t such a bad investment after all," he muttered, crossing his arms as he observed the elemental at work. The dust golem’s efficiency was undeniable, its steady rhythm against the stone already driving the construction forward.

The cub, startled at first by the thunderous racket, soon recovered and bounded after the golem. It pawed at the dust clouds kicked up by the elemental’s movements, yipping and snapping at the swirling grit as though it were prey. Every time the golem slammed its arms into the stone, the cub leapt back with wide eyes, only to dart forward again, tail wagging furiously. Grashok couldn’t help but chuckle—while the golem carved through rock with relentless force, the cub was convinced it was part of the game.

As the creature continued its labour, Grashok turned back to the construction menu, wondering if he could allocate more fame points for additional minions in the future. He would need to keep a close eye on his total, but with the goblins now part of his domain, the dust golem driving construction, and the cub adding its own chaotic energy, he was beginning to picture a thriving underground haven.

After a few moments, he realised he needed to keep the momentum going. The dust golem’s efforts would speed up the construction of the lair, but Grashok still had plans to expand and refine his domain. He queued a training area, set to follow the Goblin Lair, the Large Mess Hall, and the expansion of the Mana Pool, lining up the necessary resources in readiness. Unsure what to schedule beyond that, he sketched a series of winding tunnels to the west, ensuring the golem would remain active should immediate projects run short. Finally, he reassigned the two goblins who had been on construction back to the general pool, confident the golem could handle the heavy labour alone.

Grashok turned to leave. The cub, mid‑pounce at a drifting cloud of dust, paused and watched him go, torn between the game and the movement at the doorway. It gave the haze one last playful snap, then bounded after him, tail wagging, claws clicking lightly against the stone as it fell into step at his heels.

With that settled, Grashok made his way to the crafting room, where the other goblins were hard at work forging tools. He considered how best to maximise their efficiency while the dust golem continued to shoulder the heavy labour of construction.