Neb An Dee Pinky Knite
For long time pinkies and all other races was fearing Nezzar. Even after departure of Reth and beginning of dee time of Retreat, Goblyns was holding land around volcano in great strength. They remember old ways and follow their Khadines fearless into battle. None dare cross mountain that surround volcano and dee forest around it, and none dare walk in dee valley where Goblyns hunt.
But after a while a elfie named dee King of Stars lead his armies to destroy Nezzar. Elfie army spill into valley that lead through mountains to Nezzar, shimmering steel like fish scales. Dee Khadine rally Goblyns to war, and they fall on elfie army like avalanche. Thousands of elfies be killed, pulled out of their shiny armor and torn to pieces. But there be too many, an too well armed, an most of all too many damn elfie magik users. Elfie army be strong and fresh, while Goblyn ranks is thin from war, and their weapons be old and broken from many battles. Goblyns who survive flee into forest, an dee last Khadine die, surrounded and cut down as she battle King of Stars, with Skribbit’s rage burning strong till dee end.
Goblyns hide, and hunt elfies when they try to drive Goblyns from dee forest and dee volcano. Eventually elfies grow tired and leave, going to nearby vale and making huge city. But dee Goblyns no longer have strength to stop other races and pinkies from entering Nezzar and harrassing dem. But still, no one tries to live in Nezzar, other races fear it. Until long time later, in dee time of Neb’s grandfather, when hu-man knite come to carve kingdom for himself from forest. He call himself “baron” and spend time hunting Goblyns, who by then is scattered and weak.
Not too long after Neb face dee boar, dis baron come riding through, killing Goblyns and taking them away to be slaves. He do this often enough. Leader of Goblyn tribe at dis time be Ukek (no one really believe story about dee boar, dey think Neb’s friends lie. Neb never talk about it either). Ukek say that Goblyns must move village again, further into forest and away from volcano, to hide from Baron. Goblyns is nodding heads when Neb stand up to speak. Ukek is surprised, cause Goblyns rarely speak against him, and Neb never said anything in coucil before.
“Why is you so quick to run, Ukek?” Neb pull out his stone knife and point to volcano which loom over dem. “Dis place be place of Goblyn power, why you be so quick to abandon it? I say when dis Baron come back, we kill him an be done.”
Ukek stare, then laugh at Neb. “You never seen Baron. He have second skin of steel that he wear, and ride on huge horse-creature! How you intend to kill him with little knife?” Other Goblyns shake their head. They was afraid of Baron.
Neb is quiet for a while. “Under dee steel, he be pink. You not believe what must be done can be done, den sit in stupid, useless council, I show you how.” He stand in front of fire and turn knife on himself. He press tip into his arm, and begin to cut. “You is forgotten everything. You is forgotten all that matter.” He raise arm. Under dark blood, Goblyns see dee burning swirl of Skribbit. They shudder. “I show you how.” He turn and walk away.
“Stupid?? Useless??? You go to die, idiot! I lead Goblyns, and we stay alive! That god is abandoned us, he not help you!”
Baron built stone tower under volcano, next to valley that lead through mountains that circle Nezzar. Ukek’s village be on other side of volcano. Neb is halfway there when his father catch up to him. Neb’s father Bahltasar be a hero, to dee extent dat Goblyns living in those time had heroes. He had snuck into Baron’s camp one night when he young and rescued many slaves. For a while they walk in silence. Neither be Goblyns of many words, and you know, Goblyns is not really putting much importance on family. After all, all Goblyn souls exist already. When mother have litter, dee looks and dee personality of those Goblyns is not similar to either parent, they is unrelated, in a way. If Goblyn respect parents or siblings, they be friends, if not, they not treat them any better because they “family.” But Neb is always gotten along well with his father.
Finally Bahltasar speak. “You probably not come back, Neb.” he say. Neb not answer. “But you is right.” He step in front of Neb, stopping him. “What do you need me to do?”
“Stand still,” say Neb. Bahltasar do. Neb pull knife and put it to Bahltasar’s forehead. He make one quick cut. Bahltasar reach up and feel where the blood be running, when Maglubiet’s slitted eye is cut into his skin. “Skribbit is strength of Goblyns, Maglubiyet be our unity. If I come back, I want all Goblyns ready to go to war again.” Bahltasar nod, and Neb smile at his father, before starting to walk again.
By the time night is fallen, Neb has reached dee Baron’s tower. It be dark and cold, with windows like yellow eyes running up dee sides. He sit and wait.
Three days pass. Goblyns is gathering in Ukek’s village, but there be no word from Neb. In dee tower, Baron is having great party. It late and he drunk. He stagger into little garderobe and start to take a piss. His head spin, so he put an arm on dee wall to steady himself. He hear his piss splash into moat far below him. Suddenly the noise stop. He have enough time to wonder about it before a shape explode out of dee hole. It be tall and lean, slick and dark, reeking of filth. Deep in its face, green eyes stare out at Baron, while an arm shoot out, grabbing Baron’s crotch. Baron open mouth in shock, then screams as other arm cuts. He staggering back, shrieking in pain, when another stab sinks ito dee soft, hollow spot at dee base of his neck, turning scream to gurgle. He fall backwards through door, and his guests are just into time to see a flash of motion as Neb leap down dee latrine shaft, skidding all dee way down to dee moat.
Next day, Goblyns is gathered around bonfire. Bahltasar is trying to convince them to stay, Ukek is saying it foolish to stay in large group. Neb not coming back, an dee Baron could come an destroy them all in one blow. As he sits down, Neb walk through crowd. He toss Baron’s balls on dee fire. “Baron not coming, Ukek. He dead, or he wish he is.” There be a hum in dee Goblyns. He point across fire at Ukek. “Stand up. Come here.” Eyes wide, Ukek do. Dee walk around bonfire seem to take an age for Ukek. When he finally arive, he realize that Neb be staring down at him, and he realize how tall Neb be.
One moment Neb be staring down at him. Next moment, there are thin fingers, squeezing Ukek’s throat with impossible strength. “Ukek. Listen to me. I am leader of dee Goblyns. Do you object?” Ukek’s eyes be like a fish’s. He shake his head no. Neb fling him back into dee mob. “Den find a weapon. We go to war!”
Baron’s town be in chaos. No one know how he has been attacked, an dee horror of it infect his people with fear. Already some be fleeing dee valley, saying it be trully cursed. By the time Goblyns begin to pour out of dee forest, they is running in panic. Goblyns raze and kill and feast on pinkies! They laugh, they burn with Goblyn fury again! They chase down those who try to flee, lethal green shadows flitting in dee forest, filling pinkie’s final moments with terror. Baron’s men lock tower and pour arrows and oil and rocks on attacking Goblyns, but they break door, rush in and slaughter them all, steel skin or no. Neb is finding Baron in his room, pale, still clutching life, bandages soaked red, covered in sweat, trying to lift a sword. Neb laugh and knock it away, then drag Baron to dee roof of tower. He hold him over his head an scream in triumph. Below, Goblyns hold bloody weapons high. Neb hurl Baron from his tower and laugh, smelling the sweet smell of blood an burning, an dee rekindled power of Nezzar.