Silence followed Vargis' declaration.
Chief Guram leaned forward on his throne as the bones beneath him creak under his weight.
"Then report, scout."
Vargis nodded.
"We believed the trembling to be two factions within Durim forest contesting for territory, as unlikely and as bold as it would be to contest the centre of the forest, it was the likeliest scenario."
His father Farkas, "Indeed. That was the likeliest scenario, although it would be an affront to all the other monster races."
Vargis nodded once more, "However, we found it to not be the case. This trembling was not caused by a beast, nor was it the result of a conflict. We surveyed the area on our way, we found no tracks leading toward the centre, no migration, and no evidence of a territorial struggle between monsters."
Farkas' expression tightened slightly.
"Then what caused it?"
Vargis looked toward the Chief, his head still low.
"A building."
Silence returned once more, although less dignified as doubts started to form.
The chief's deep voice broke it.
"Are you playing with me, boy? You're father should've taught you better than to tell jokes whilst making a report." Guram said, his voice carrying a weight and presence that a normal goblin would crumble to.
Vargis' head lowers further. Sweat forming on his face.
"No... no, my Chief I am not joking, I wouldn't do such a thing."
Chieftain Guram frowned.
Farkas gave his input, "But like you say... there are no tracks, no movements in the area. How did it get there without leaving a single trace?"
Sweat started to form as his Father questioned him.
"We don't know. But when we arrived at the centre, we found an odd, human-like structure-
Farkas raised a brow, "Humans? In Durim Forest? They had forsaken the monster races after the actions of the Great Golgorath. What are they doing in the forest?"
Wraith spoke his voice quieter than the others, his voice sounded like it was linked directly to the minds of those in the room, so he didn't have to speak any louder.
"A human building is not a problem. I am more alarmed by their method of getting there..."
Vargis looked to the spellcaster, "Honourable Wraith, there's another thing you must know of..." he gulped, "The reason we couldn't investigate the building directly, was due to what we assume to be a wide range defensive spell that completely encased the entire building and its surroundings, it was alarmingly sturdy, I doubt anyone besides the Chieftain would be able to break it."
Although he couldn't see Wraith's expression, he didn't have to know he was concerned as his dark purple aura leaked out of him. Not only him, but Chieftain Guram and Advisor Farkas were taken aback.
"Preposterous. You're story is getting more unlikely the more I hear it..." He said before lowering his head in thought. "However, that does explain the high mana concentration toward the centre that first appeared with the trembling. A wide range defensive spell that's impeccably sturdy, seems I may need to investigate this."
"I had thought it to be the conflict, but it's lingering presence bothers me." He finished.
Guram interjected, "If this bothers even Wraith, it cannot be a simple matter. Tell me Vargis, is there anything else you need to inform us of?"
Vargis hesitates, "Y-yes my Chief. To confirm prior suspicions of human involvement, there were indeed two human individuals present, and since we couldn't encroach the mana dome, we conversed."
Chieftain Guram leaned back into the throne, tapping his large hand on the armrest.
"Interesting, and what did they have to say about taking seat at the heart of Durim Forest?"
Vargis sighs with an uneasy expression. "If you've thought what I've said thus far has been preposterous, then what I'm about to say may sound like nonsense, however I trust you to realize the opportunity here."
Guram grunts, "Out with it."
"The humans I encountered seem to be setting up store. I believe they are merchants."
All three figures looked at Vargis, bewildered.
"Vargis... Is what you say true?" Guram asked.
Farkas frowned, "That doesn't make sense! The only humans who frequent Durim Forest are powerful adventurers sent by the human guilds. They'd have no customers, not to mention they are surrounded by hordes of monsters at every angle. They sound like fools."
Wraith agreed, "Yes Farkas you are correct, but fools or not they are bold, and disturbingly so. I suspect there's a deeper reason to all of this."
Vargis breathed, "Yes Chief this information is correct, I swear on my own honor, I wouldn't dare to deceive you."
He continued, "The humans were adamant they knew what they were doing, and even said something I also find hard to believe. They care not for race, they say they are above petty things like exclusion of monster races. They invited us, my Chief. They invited the goblins to trade."
Guram's fist slammed down on the throne, the aftershock sending tremors through the ground. "You've gone too far, Vargis!"
Vargis shook with his head held low, visible shaken, "M-my Chief I swear. What I say is the truth."
Guram stood, the bones beneath him creaking as they decompress.
"It can't be Vargis!" He roared. "It cannot be the truth! Not after the atrocities monster kind has dealt to the humans. No human would honour another human supplying the monsters! They'd be going against their entire race!"
Everyone flinched at their Chieftain's outburst.
Vargis lowered his head till his eyes met the floor beneath his feet. Even kneeling, he felt queasy from the intent directed toward him from Guram.
Farkas stepped up, his tone calm.
"Chief. Please."
Guram's gaze snapped toward him.
"Protecting your blood. And how do you intend to do so?"
Despite the taunt, Farkas didn't flinch, he simply bowed, bringing his arm to his chest.
"We are listening to a report. Let the boy finish it, then we can judge his words."
For a long moment, Guram stared at Farkas.
He then exhaled through his nose and sat back down on the throne.
"Fine." His grip tightened around the bone armrest. "Continue."
Farkas turned to Vargis.
"Vargis. Do you understand exactly why humans have forsook monsters?"
Vargis swallowed.
"I... I know of Golgorath's March," He said, "It's a common folk tale, when the Forest Giant of the Elven Glades united the tribes and marched against mankind."
Farkas scoffed. "That's the children's version."
Vargis looked up to his Father, cocking his head slightly.
Farkas seemed as indifferent as ever, but his voice had lost some its softness.
"Golgorath..." He sighed. "He wasn't always the monster he was depicted as. That's the first thing you must understand. By all accounts, he was a blessed man. Strong, yes. Proud, most certainly. But not cruel, not at first."
The fire pit crackled, the fat dripping from the Great Hog, hissing loudly as an attendant turned it on the spit.
"The humans crossed our northern border much more before the March." He frowned. "All they did was take. Land, timber, slaves of all kind - goblins, beastkin, ogres, even the graceful elves weren't spared. To them, if it was owned by monsters, it was there for the taking. We weren't people in their eyes, merely beasts with brains."
Vargis' jaw tightened.
This was the first time he'd heard of it in this light.
For as long as he'd lived, Vargis has barely had to deal with humans. But it seems his predecessors weren't so lucky.
"But that alone wasn't enough to unite Durim?" Vargis gathered.
"No," Farkas said, "It certainly wasn't. But then..."
His eyes darkened.
"They took his daughter."
Guram grumbled, his eyes closed as he heard that.
Farkas continued. "His only child. Blood of the Elven Glades. Monster royalty, if such a thing exists. At the time, no one knew what had become of her. It was the Free Cities of Ildar and the southern Sultanate of Ottohan, they wanted a weapon that could stand against Golgorath. So they took his child, enslaved her, trained her, and broke what was left until she no longer remembered whose daughter she really was."
Vargis said nothing.
"When Golgorath called, the races answered. For if they were willing to take even the Princess of the Glades, there's no telling who they would go after next. Not all the races responded. That's never the case. But enough did. Goblins, orcs, ogres, even the dark elves who were bitter enemies with the Glades, picked up the call."
Farkas turned toward the fire. "Some marched for revenge, others for justice, but most because for the first time in history, they had someone strong enough to make the humans tremble before monsters."
He sighed deeply.
"At first, it was a just cause."
That sentence landed strangely.
"They liberated slave unions. Tore down human forts surrounding Durim. And dismantled the Free Cities of Ildar before the world could even react. Many called it a revolution. Perhaps it was."
His voice hardened.
"Then... Golgorath laid eyes on what had become of his daughter."
Vargis felt the hall grow cold.
"She was alive." Farkas confirmed, "If you could call it that. For whatever the humans had done to her, they had left nothing but a husk for Golgorath to bring home. Only a mindless, rabid killer wearing her skin."
Vargis' throat felt dry.
"He... had to kill her?" He asked.
Farkas merely looked down at him.
The silence was all the answer he needed.
"After that," Farkas said, "The March changed."
"It was no longer about freedom, or liberation. No longer about punishing the culprit nations. Golgorath's grief changed to a different colour, far darker than anyone anticipated. Villages were razed that had never sent a soldier forth. Towns surrendered and were still put to torch. The Sultanate suffered worse than death. He enslaved their kin like they did his own, raised them on poles, marched them before his armies, and used them as shields."
Vargis was speechless, looking down with his mouth agape.
Farkas' voice lowered further.
"That, is the part children are not taught."
The hall wore solemn expressions.
"The monster races did not all follow till the end. Some turned away, others tried to stop him. The rest... they betrayed him, as they slowly realised that the grace of Golgorath was no more."
Guram gritted his teeth, "But it was far too late to reconcile."
Farkas nodded.
"You are right, my Chief. Irreparable damage was dealt to human kind. To them, it did not matter who marched of will, who marched by force, who marched then fled, they didn't even care for those who took Golgorath down alongside them. They remembered only that the monsters came, the monsters butchered, and their cities burned."
He looked back at Vargis.
"So understand what you are claiming. If these humans have invited us to trade, then they are doing much more than simply building a store. They are crossing a line most humans would rather die than tread."
Vargis was stunned silent.
For never in his wildest dreams was there such a dark history from the children's tale he was told as a kid.
But that didn't answer the question making waves inside his mind.
"Then... what do we do about this?" He asked.
Guram sat silent, tapping his throne in contemplation.
"One thing's for certain. We do not attack." He said at last.
Wraith's hood nodded.
"Especially while I have not assessed the magic they possess. It could prove a catastrophe to our tribe if it's at the level I suspect."
Guram looked to Wraith, solemnly.
"What we need more than anything is to understand what we're dealing with. And I fear you are the only one capable of discerning such. Can you handle this, Wraith?"
The robed mage stood, the darkness masking his face sat eerily quiet.
He spoke a grave tone. "If Vargis cannot appraise their magic, I am the only one who will be able to. Admittedly, it may even be beyond me... but if that's the case it's even more imperative I investigate."
Farkas nodded.
"Indeed. If it turns out even you can't make sense of it, then this is a force we are not equipped to deal with."
Guram grunted. "Take no warriors. No threats. No foolish pride. Take something worth trading and learn what they truly desire."
Guram's gaze returned to Vargis.
"You have done well bringing this to me."
"Thank you my Chief." Said Vargis.
He continued, "I need you to return to the humans with Wraith."
Vargis looked unsure.
Guram smirked, his sharp teeth showing.
"Do not let the truth of Golgorath's march inhibit your judgement, Vargis. For if the worst comes to worse..."
His grin widened.
"It'll just be an excuse for me to let off some steam."