A bright morning greeted Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana as they continued their journey towards the goblin camp in the Mosswood Forest. They had been on several missions together, and their team's cohesion was increasingly solid. Aria, with her new Gauntlets of Dexterity, felt even more agile in her movements. Sylvia, an elf with a talent for plant magic, carried a Treant leather bag filled with various seeds, pollen, and magical plant extracts. Sylvana, a beastmaster, walked gracefully accompanied by her two loyal companions: a large bird of prey named Zephyr who flew high above them, watching from the air, and a large yet gentle forest wolf named Brush who walked at her side.
After trekking for several hours, the damp scent of earth and the distinct smell of moss grew stronger, indicating they were close to their target goblin camp. The sounds of grunts and small squeals became increasingly clear among the trees.
"According to the map we got from the Mission Hall, the goblin camp is in a small valley beyond this hill," Aria said, pointing towards a slope thickly covered with bushes.
Sylvia nodded, her hand already ready to touch the ground, sensing the life energy beneath. "I feel their presence. There are many small creatures gathered there, and a faint magical aura."
Sylvana stopped them, gesturing for caution. Zephyr flapped his wings slowly in the air, awaiting commands. Brush sniffed the ground, feeling the vibrations beneath his paws. "I sense a presence... not just ordinary goblins. There's a stronger, darker aura. And I also sense the presence of several animals forced into obedience, not moving freely."
"Strange how?" Aria asked warily.
"I sense a presence... not just ordinary goblins. There's a stronger, darker aura. And I also sense the presence of several animals forced into obedience, not moving freely."
Hearing this, Aria and Sylvia exchanged glances. The goblin camp clearing mission they had taken might not be as simple as they had anticipated.
"We need to scout first," Sylvia said, taking out some thorny vine seeds from her bag. "I can grow thorny vines to help us move without making noise."
With the help of the vines that quickly sprouted and grew beneath their feet, Aria and Sylvia carefully moved up the hillside, while Brush followed with quiet yet steady steps from behind, and Zephyr continued to watch from the air. Upon reaching the summit, they hid behind large rocks and observed the valley below.
The scene in the valley matched the map's description, but several things put them on alert. About twenty goblins were visible scurrying around makeshift tents. Some carried spears and wooden shields, while others held simple bows. In the center of the camp stood a larger tent, and in front of it sat a goblin much larger than the others, adorned with bone ornaments and a tattered fur cloak. This was the goblin chieftain.
However, what drew their attention the most were two distinct goblin figures. One, standing beside the chieftain, held a wooden staff with a faint green glow emanating from its tip. He occasionally uttered words in the goblin tongue that sounded like incantations. The other was seen overseeing several small forest wolves chained near a tent. The wolves looked restless and frightened.
"Just as I sensed," Sylvana whispered, her eyes fixed on the wolves. "There's a beastmaster among them. He must be using magic to force those wolves into obedience."
"And the other one is clearly a goblin shaman," Sylvia chimed in, her eyes studying the green aura around the goblin's staff. "Plant magic might be effective against him, but we need to be careful of his spells."
Aria nodded, thinking quickly. "We can't attack head-on. We need a solid plan. Sylvana, can you try to communicate with the wolves through Brush? Maybe we can get their help or at least distract the beastmaster."
Sylvana nodded. She reached out and touched Brush's thick fur, channeling her thoughts through their bond. Brush rumbled softly, then turned his attention towards the chained wolves, sending waves of calm and hope through their animal instincts. Zephyr above them also let out a soft cry, trying to soothe the frightened animals from the air.
After a few moments, Sylvana withdrew her hand from Brush. "They are frightened and distressed, just as I sensed before. But Brush managed to calm some of their fear. They sense there's hope. I can feel a slight rebellion in their minds, but they are still hesitant."
"Then we need to neutralize that beastmaster quickly," Aria said. "Sylvia, can you create a diversion on the other side of the camp to distract some of the goblins?"
Sylvia nodded. She planted several seeds in the ground near them and recited a spell. In an instant, several tall thorny plants shot up, creating a barrier and a rustling sound loud enough to draw the attention of some goblins on the opposite side of where the beastmaster stood.
"Sylvia and I will move to take out the shaman and the beastmaster first," Sylvia continued. "Sylvana, stay here with Brush and Zephyr. Observe the situation and be ready to assist if needed. If there's an opportunity, free those wolves. Brush's presence might give them the courage to act."
Carefully, Aria and Sylvia began to descend into the valley, using the rocks and bushes as cover. Brush followed them with steady steps, while Zephyr flew low above, providing aerial surveillance. They tried to approach the shaman and the beastmaster goblin without being detected.
The goblin shaman appeared to be chanting, his staff occasionally pointed at the ground, causing some nearby wild plants to wither and die. The beastmaster goblin stood near the chained wolves, occasionally whipping them with a thin chain, making the animals whimper in pain.
When they were close enough, Aria signaled to Sylvia. They prepared to strike simultaneously. Aria drew her twin swords, ready for close combat. Sylvia gathered plant magic energy in her hands, ready to unleash a debilitating attack.
Suddenly, one of the chained wolves howled loudly and tugged at its chain, drawing the attention of the beastmaster goblin. The goblin turned around angrily and kicked the wolf harshly.
"Silence, you stupid beast!" he snarled in goblin tongue.
As the beastmaster's attention was diverted, Aria and Sylvia seized the opportunity. Aria sprinted towards the beastmaster, while Sylvia directed her attack at the goblin shaman.
Sring!
Aria's sword slashed through the chains binding the wolves. The animals were startled but quickly realized their freedom. Aria then swung her sword at the beastmaster goblin, who had just noticed her approach. The goblin shrieked and tried to dodge, but Aria was too fast.
Meanwhile, Sylvia launched several sharp plant thorns that rapidly sprouted from the ground towards the goblin shaman. The thorns moved swiftly and were difficult to evade. The goblin shaman was caught off guard and tried to shield himself with his staff, but the thorns pierced through his robes and wounded him.
With the beastmaster neutralized and the goblin shaman injured, the situation in the camp immediately shifted. The newly freed wolves, sensing Brush's presence and Zephyr's cries from above, showed a flicker of courage and began to growl at the goblins.
The goblin chieftain roared in anger at the unfolding chaos. He raised his large club and charged towards Aria, followed by several armed goblins.
"You will pay for this intrusion!" he bellowed.
"Sylvana, now!" Aria yelled, preparing to face the chieftain.
From their hiding spot, Sylvana gave clear mental commands to Brush and Zephyr. Brush roared loudly and charged forward, intercepting the goblins trying to flank Aria. His large size and strength surprised the goblins, who stumbled back in fear. Zephyr swooped down from the air, his sharp talons slashing at several goblins attempting to flee.
Meanwhile, Sylvana focused her thoughts on the freed wolves. With the beastmaster gone, their bond became stronger. She sent waves of courage and simple commands to protect their new allies. The wolves, with newfound bravery, howled and pounced on the remaining goblins.
The battle raged with intense ferocity. Aria fought fiercely against the large and powerful goblin chieftain, dodging his club swings while seeking an opening to strike. Sylvia used her plant magic to ensnare and incapacitate other goblins, creating thorny vines that bound their legs or poisonous flowers that released a debilitating scent. Sylvana, with the aid of Brush, Zephyr, and the freed wolves now fighting at their side, managed to isolate and defeat the goblins swiftly.
The goblin chieftain, increasingly cornered by Aria's attacks and the relentless assault of the wild animals, became even more brutal and unpredictable. He pulled out a strange black stone from beneath his bone ornaments, the same stone Sylvana had sensed with a dark aura. The stone began to glow with a faint red light, and a dark power enveloped the chieftain's body, making him grow larger and stronger.
"Aria, be careful! He's using dark magic!" Sylvia warned.
Aria felt the shift in the chieftain's power. She had to end this quickly. With full focus, she channeled wind and lightning energy into her twin swords. Sparks of lightning danced across the surface of the wind crystals, ready for a final strike.
With swift and coordinated movements, Aria evaded the chieftain's increasingly sluggish club swings due to his enlarged form. She leaped forward and thrust both her swords simultaneously into the weak point in the giant goblin's chest. Lightning energy surged through the chieftain's body, causing a deafening shriek of pain before he finally collapsed to the ground in a cloud of dust.
With the chieftain fallen, the remaining goblins quickly surrendered or fled into the forest. The goblin camp fell silent once more, leaving only the sound of Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana's heavy breathing, along with Brush's triumphant growl and Zephyr's proud cry. The freed wolves licked Sylvana's and Brush's hands, showing their gratitude.
"We did it... again," Sylvana said, stroking Brush's fur with a relieved smile. Zephyr landed on her shoulder, chirping softly.
Sylvia nodded, though her face showed exhaustion. "That beastmaster and goblin shaman... that's not typical for a low-level goblin camp."
Aria cleaned her swords. "We need to report this to the academy. There might be something bigger behind this." She looked towards the animals now gathered around them. "And it looks like we've gained some new allies."
After securing the camp and collecting evidence for their mission report, Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana, accompanied by Brush, Zephyr, and the newly freed wolves who now followed them faithfully, began their journey back to Nytharia Academy. This mission had given them more than just Hero Points; they had gained valuable experience, new allies, and a hint of a potentially larger threat lurking beyond the academy walls.