It took them a couple of moments for them to get from the edge of my territory to the entrance to the graveyard. Though the small group seemed nervous as soon as they entered into the area that is well and truly me and mine. Something about them being from a dungeon has me very on edge about these guys, like a nasty itch that refuses to go away. Ignoring it though is simple enough, and I start wondering why the dragon or wyverns didn’t set it off like this. Something about this group of smaller dragonoids has me more on edge then any large winged creature ever has. What was it though, something to ponder later when I didn’t have to keep such a close eye on them. I poke Terra about it and he is quick to drop what he is doing and begin sliding along the ground towards them. He is faster now that he has a core, and more active in general, which I find as a good thing all things considered.
With him on the way I also poke Elisa and the Eldest Heir to make sure they are both ready for whatever is about to happen. I make sure to impose on them to not attack unless I say so but otherwise let them move as they see fit to this meeting. Whatever goes on here could drastically shape events either to more hostile or more friendly. What this came down to fundamentally, I notice, is whether or not the dungeon is mad at me for refusing his racket or if it was a misunderstanding. Option A means that I just made a very powerful enemy and I should be worried. Option B means that we can start over from square one and get this deal working properly and not just kill each other. Frankly I don’t know which would be better for me here.
Putting that out of my mind for the time being and just focusing on the group I take stock of them. About five or six people all heading towards the cemetery, fairly sparsely dressed with primarily cloaks on. I can see just barely what appears to be jewelry adorning them. Mostly just bangles and necklaces but others seem to have studded their scales or tattooed gold inlaid in their scales. Personally I find it fascinating since in most showings of kobolds they are wearing rags and rarely a gem they are given as status symbols. But these ones wore finery I am pretty sure even the old king would be jealous of by shear opulence. Of the group one seemed to be more dressed and gilded then the others, though I couldn’t quite tell just how quite yet with how fast they moved and the cloaks they wore. What I could tell was that out of all of them the one in the lead radiated the most power, mana pouring off like a waterfall. The only person I had met quite like that was Ava so I could piece together that this was likely a mage of some variety.
With that in mind I made sure that my monsters knew what was up and how to prepare, but other then that, there was only waiting. I wanted the meeting to take place in my graveyard so as to give as much open area for things if it got messy. Forests are hard to replace but I can work the earth to look normal again in a clearing. The only thing I was really worried about where the gravestones since I didn’t know who was burred where and didn’t want to desecrate them more then I already was. God trying to be a good person and a good dungeon was becoming a headache by the day, but still, worth it. As they approached the entrance to the graveyard I made sure that the elemental was in position to meet them. Right in the center was where I intended this to happen, best for all of us and I wasn’t quite sure if the Kobolds had that mind link like the dragon and wyverns.
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As the group approached my elemental they slowed the lead kobold, who was the one with all the mana pouring off him, approached. There was a tense moment as the kobold and Terra looked at each other without so much as blinking. Just as the tension seemed ready to boil over the kobold bowed to Terra and the rest of the cohort followed suit. A spike of confusion shot straight through me and into Terra who tilted his head at this before bowing slightly in return. The lead kobold stood up straight and drew back their hood to reveal themselves fully. I was not wrong to say they where draped in gem and gold, as I could hardly see below the sparkle atop their scales.
“Dungeon, we have come with words of the great one and apologies on his behalf.” A voice slipped into my head and I tilted my view at that before me and Terra mimiced a sigh in unison. There was a small weight that had been quickly growing that vanished as he spoke those words.
“Thank you for bringing this to me” I responded with clear relief in my voice. “however bad our first meetings where I would much prefer less trouble then more to come my way.” There was a small nod from the lead kobold before he turned to his small group. There was a series of words that I couldn’t understand, hell and I felt a bit thin on my [Aether] to try my skill on deciphering it right now. “in order to make amends and insure a continued relation and your growth, the great one has sent gifts.” That piqued my interest.
“I would be most grateful to receive them,” and maybe these gifts can solve a few of my problems. There was a nod and the first of the group approached, pulling a small bundle off of a belt and unraveling it on the ground before Terra. I noticed that there was a small hesitance so I asked Terra to make a better spot for them to put these on. He nodded and created a decently sized table out of the stone in the ground, pulling it up and forming it. There was a bit of awe in most of the kobolds but the lead kobold just seemed….surprised or suspicious, it was hard to tell. But with that settled it was time for the gifts and I glanced down at my own supply of gems and gold and thought it might be best to pay back in turn.
