Brothers Goblin - Chapter 9

Chapter 8 - Okeah's Anger

Chapter 9
Change of Faith

Once Frizzle finished his story, the priestess looked upon him with pity. "You three have the worst luck...", she commented. The goblins nodded gravely. "So... umm... wut yous do?", Slazzle inquired. "I am a priestess of Okeah, god of the sea, ruler of storms.", she replied proudly. "Oooh wow! I just priest of Zeeks... Not really good wun though.", Slazzle informed her. "Oh? Why is that?", she asked. "Well, I not likes hurting meself. Hurtin' others fun, but not self. Not many job perks eithers. I gota cut self, tie self up which real hard, an Zeeks want weird rituals. I not likes...", Slazzle whispered. Sensing an opportunity to further her own faith, the priestess smiled wryly and asked, "What do you like then?" "Pirate! I likes bein' a pirate! Arrr!", Slazzle squeeked. "Ah, many pirates worship Okeah as well. Perhaps with a change of faith, your luck would improve.", she hinted. "Ya really think so?", Slazzle gasped, getting rather excited. The priestess nodded. "Okies, but umm... wut I gota do? Do I just talks to him?" "Here, take my hand.", the priestess spoke in a gentle voice. Frizzle and Frazzle looked on curiously as Slazzle took the priestesses hand. They both began to pray quietly. Frizzle and Frazzle blinked as the sea became dead calm. Bubbles from the depths floated up off the port side of their small boat. Suddenly, water slowly began to rise from the water in a giant column. It took the shape of a large humanoid head. "I am Okeah, god of the seas, harbinger of destruction, traveler of the depths, master of the winds. I have heard your prayers little one. Repent for your crimes against my faithful and be judged.", a loud voice echoed. Slazzle dropped to his knees and began to worship. "Oh mighty one, I be at yous mercy. I sorries I got your priestess. It was accident. I not wants to hurt her. Please forgive, pretty please! I see you mighty, I want worship you an be pirate. I spread faith to others, I promise.", Slazzle begged. The giant head blew a cool breeze over Slazzle, causing him to shiver a bit, as well as glow. "You speak truth little one. Your heart is genuine. I accept your apology. You shall be one of my faithful. You will return to your former home, and gather more who are willing to follow. I have much work for you to do. The priestess shall guide and train you. Now go! And do not fail me, lest you feel my wrath once more!", the voice commanded. "Yes master! Yes sir!", whispered Slazzle as he continued to worship. Frizzle and Frazzle just held onto each other, trembling. The priestess nodded and whispered, "As you command master." The head slowly sank into the water as the glow around Slazzle faded. Suddenly, the small boat slowly began to float in an unknown direction. Slazzle sat up, and looked over at Frizzle and Frazzle, with a harsh look in his eyes. "We believe! We believe! We follow!", they stammered fearfully. "Good.", Slazzle smiled. "There is much I must teach you before we reach shore.", the priestess informed Slazzle. For the rest of their journey, she tutored him in the magics of Okeah.

The next day the sound of seagulls awoke the wayward travelers as the small boat thumped against the shore. They happily crawled out to survey their surroundings. They were standing at the edge of a thick forest, with a high rocky cliff to one side. Carved out into the cliff was a deep, dark cave. "Oooh lets go looky!", shouted Frazzle as he ran ahead. "Wait! Might be dangerous! Wait!", called Frizzle as he quickly ran after his brother. Slazzle and the priestess sighed as they followed close behind. Once at the mouth of the cave, Slazzle cast a spell to illuminate the way in front of them. The cave was rather deep, with a river running out from it. However, the winds blew from the sea into the cave. "Hmm... we could sail up river, an float back down. This might be good place for new pirate hideout. We gots lota wood nearby ta build ship an make good hideout.", commented Slazzle. "But we needs more for work or we be real old when we done...", Frazzle pointed out. Slazzle grinned and replied, "Just leaves that ta me. You two get workin, I go get help. Slazzle and the priestess disappeared into the forest, leaving Frizzle and Frazzle to their work. First, they fashioned crude axes from stones, vines, and small logs laying upon the forest floor. Then they felled many trees, using some to roll others near the cave. Slowly, they erected a couple lookout towers, and a small raft to float supplies in and out of
the cave.

A few days later, Slazzle and the Priestess returned with several more goblins, and even a few halflings. "Who these?", Frazzle inquired. "These old friends. They not really like king much.", grinned Slazzle. Frizzle recognized a few of the goblins, all had been exiled by the king. Some were carpenters, smiths, soldiers, etc. They joined in the efforts and soon they had built a formidable base. Work began slowly on their pirate ship. Such a craft required a lot of time to plan and build. "Hmm.. we still need more helps.", sighed Frizzle. "Yes, we go get others from cave that wana leave.", decreed Slazzle. Frizzle and Frazzle looked up at Slazzle in disbelief. "Make war on old home?", Frizzle whispered in a stunned voice as he remembered how formidable the defenses were, as well as being unsure of how many others would follow. Slazzle grinned widely and replied, "Yes. Okeah will helps us." With a wave of his arms, several air and water elementals appeared. All of the goblins cheered, grabbed their weapons, and they all marched through the wood towards Silverwood, towards their old home.

Once they arrived, several goblins shouted for everyone to man their battle stations. Others just dropped their weapons and greeted them. Soon however, each side began to organize and fierce fighting broke out. The elementals clearly outmatched the goblins in the cave, as several were thrown against the rock wall, loosing consciousness. The fighting continued as they journeyed deeper. Quarrels were flying, war cries were shouted, and death screams echoed throughout the deep dark cave. However, the King's faithful oracles had seen the coming battle, and they were prepared with a surprise of their own. The Duke and his elite guard stepped forth from a nearby corridor and smiled wryly at the goblins. Frizzle and Frazzle both looked stunned. "Charge!", the Duke cried as he and his men rushed. One of the guards began slashing as though he enjoyed being splattered in his enemies blood. Slashing low, he aimed to cut Frizzle down quickly. The agile little goblin jumped, missing a deathblow that would have surely sent him to visit Jaev, the Soul Forger in purgatory. Frazzle saw his brother in danger, and quickly his blood began to boil. "ARRRGGG!!!", he screamed as he pounced upon the guards back. The guard squirmed and contorted, trying to throw the little goblin off. But Frazzle held fast, and climbed up the man's back to his head. With a fierce look in his eyes, Frazzle pulled out his club and started beating the man in the head. "Who's yor daddy!", Frazzle cackled as the man's eardrums burst under the incessant clanging of wood against metal. The guard cried out and toppled over. Soon the goblins enveloped him, jabbing, stabbing, and even biting the man. The Duke Flanked Frazzle as he jumped from the man's falling body, bashing him hard with his shield. Frazzle went sailing off into the darkness, hitting the cave wall with a hard thump. Frizzle screamed a spell in anger with all of his breath at the Duke. A bright searing light flashed as a fireball erupted from his fingers, incinerating the Duke instantly. The smell of charred flesh filled the cave. The other guards were horrified. They turned and fled. However, the priestess grabbed the last one before he could get away and pulled him to the ground. The goblins quickly climbed on top of him and bound him with rope. They all shouted in victory as they carried him from the cave. Slazzle and Frizzle ran over to their fallen brother. Aside from a nasty bruise upon his back, and quite winded from his anger, he was ok. They all marched victoriously towards their hideout, with their new prisoner carried high above them. Helplessly, the frightened guard murmured, choking on the dirty sackcloth they had shoved into his mouth. It was a great day indeed for the goblin pirates. More numbers in their crew, and their first prisoner. Slazzle walked with Frizzle and Frazzle at the front, proudly. "You two be my trusted Lieutenants. You both gots promotion.", declared Slazzle. "Hooray!", Frizzle and Frazzle shouted triumphantly. For the time being, it seemed all three had found what they were looking for. Slazzle had finally grasped his leadership skills and used them to accomplish something. Frizzle and Frazzle finally found someone who understood them, as well as strong enough to provide the leadership they needed to flourish. All three had found their purpose in Arkon. But this wasn't the end. Oh no, it was just the beginning.....

Chapter 10 - Stand Your Ground