Purple Pumpkin.

[Archanex Jotham]

(This is the return thread with Archanex. It is meant to explain where he's ICly been for a long time, and what he's been doing. Open to one or two others, if you guys show interest. Otherwise, I will wing this one as a Solo. The title is meant to be silly, but this thread will not be silly at all.)

Winding along the treacherous roads carved through The Windlacer mountain range, the wind howled ceaselessly. A single bird, a hawk, traveled its way across the wind, searching the earth below for it's next meal. A bird of pray, the creature was simply following it's natural instinct to feed. However, fate had another plan. A gleam to it's east caught the bird's sharp eyes and he turned his neck just in time to see it whistling right at him.

The object appeared to be metal, but the bird did not want to get hit by it. He wanted no parts of it. Altering his course, the hawk flew upwards in an evasive fashion as he attempted to dodge the attack. The arrow, with it's sharp tip, arched towards the hawk and seemed to move as the hawk moved. Desperate, the hawk attempted to out maneuver the arrow, but could not. The hunter below would not be denied the meal he also sought. Dog eat dog. That was the very nature of things on Althanas. The fittest, and the smartest survived, the chaff was swept under the fucking rug. When the tip of the arrow pierced the chest cavity of the hawk, he screeched in horror and began to fall at an alarming rate. As the hawk died, the creature saw the visage of it's killer. A hideous green man, small in comparison to most humanoids, but not as small as Hobbit. The hawk saw his killer and let out an agonized cry all the way to the ground.

When he landed, thoughts of the world he would leave behind filled his troubled, frightened mind. The goblins' hunting party surrounded the hawk and they all looked down upon him. The hawk's vision faded to darkness, but the last thing he saw astonished him. Living amongst the goblins and their hunting party was a tall man! The man had red hair and wore strange clothing. That was also red. The hawk saw the glimpse of the man for a brief moment before darkness settled in and it died.

***

"Just like that." Said the voice, gruff, impossibly old.

The sound was clearly that of a man that spoke. There were several individuals in the cave at that point. A simple campfire was lit in the middle of the chamber, smoke rising from the cooked meal of a hawk that had been caught earlier. A single, tall human, was surrounded by a group of goblins that were uncharacteristically not hostile. The man's eyes glowed with a mysterious force. The power of his people. One of the goblins, somewhat larger and stockier than the rest of the gathered, was also dressed elegantly. He wore the attire of a chieftain, or leader. Many bones of the fallen were worn as jewelery by the goblin at large, but the decor of the chieftain was even more elegant. Frightening. Alien. The chieftain also wore a grand headdress, decorated with bones.

"Master." The chieftain said. "Overmage." The chieftain added. "You have taught us many things since you have left the lands of your ancestors and chosen to side with us. You ask for nothing in return. You refuse things in return." The chieftain rubbed his chin in thought. "You have given freely to us. There must be something you want as reward, or prize?" The chieftain asked.

There was a pause. The tall man who lived with the goblins looked at his newly found allies, and sighed after a moment. He leaned against a wizard's staff, gnarled and twisted, but still in great shape. The "Overmage" studied the chieftain for a long moment. As if he were peering deep into the soul of the goblin. "I understand it is your way to pay those who have done you a favor." The Overmage, teacher, friend, instructor, said carefully. "Your people, have always lived with open hostility from the tribes of Men." Jotham closed his eyes. He continued to speak. "It is my duty to help cease the negative relations, repair the chasm and rift that our people have with one another. You are not savages. I have seen the great good you are capable of doing, as a whole. But my kind have always acted out of ignorance and suspicion. Fear of the unknown. I have come to Althanas to help rectify this fear. Reverse it if I can and turn it into a blissful harmony. Because what is coming in the future, is too terrifying to face all alone...without those we would call brothers."

The goblins gathered around The Overmage's person listened carefully to what he had to say. All of the goblins had learned to respect the old teacher. He was wise, wise in ways that their chieftain was not. The chieftain looked up towards Jotham for a moment. "So you will accept a small gift from us?" He asked with a tone of hope in his voice.

Jotham nodded. "What you freely offer, I will of course accept. I will not take, but I am here to freely give as well. The knowledge of my people, the people foretold in your scriptures and prophecies." Jotham had not slept in weeks...there was too much work that needed doing. I have helped mold the spirit of these people into something that can be used as a razor sharp weapon. Though selfish of me in some ways, it was necessary. The Humes of Scara Brae need these kin on their side for what is coming...the tragedy that is destined to occur if I don't stop it in time. Is it my destiny to be cursed to observe and do nothing about what is to come? I wonder? "But first, we should eat dinner. And enjoy this bountiful harvest that we have discovered." Jotham said.

"Yes! The hour of dinner is upon us. As you have shown us how to carefully prepare the food we hunt, we shall share these meals together." The chieftain looked towards one of the finer women of his tribe. "Felsa." The chieftain said. "Be certain that our friend's bed is warm." She nodded and walked towards Jotham.

She bowed her head towards him.

"I shall await your company in your bed chamber my lord." She said carefully.

Jotham had fallen in love with the goblins in his care. A mate was offered to him, so he would not insult his companions. He would of course accept. Jotham feasted with his companions until they had all had their fill. He grabbed some of the food for Felsa, and retired to his bed chamber. Felsa awaited dutifully for him. She looked up at him with eager eyes. Jotham sat down in the chamber, a bed was readied for him. He leaned his wizard's staff against one of the walls and looked at Felsa.

"Felsa." Jotham said. "Come forth." He added.

The two kissed deeply, and deep down, Jotham wondered if goblins could breed an Overmage a child.

[Archanex Jotham]

The next day...

Speaking to the chieftain of the goblins was always an interesting act. Jotham, for all of his good will, still required a lot of patience when dealing with the chieftain. The issue was, the chieftain was a violent, temperamental individual, but those qualities were just. The goblins, as a lot, had always been mistreated by the races of civilized men. Jotham was the first one in a long time to step forward and present a more diplomatic solution. His patience was tested with each passing day, as he spent more and more time with the goblins. However, he knew he could not give up. I have come too far. To give up now...I am far too close to achieve what history will remember me for. He thought as he watched the chieftain violently tear apart their latest kill. It was a boar that had traversed too close to their scouting party, and had unfortunately, become lunch. It's tusks were now displayed as trophies. I hope I do not live to regret this. I am educating them, teaching them to be more civilized in a lot of ways. But not making them forsake their traditions. It is a long, hard road... Jotham leaned against his staff, his body slightly hunched forward.

It was a Monday afternoon, wind came in from the east of The Windlacer mountain range. Jotham had already lost track of time, he rarely kept track of it those days. When he was ready to, he would think more like a civilized man should. For now, he was a goblin, and he had to think like a goblin, act like a goblin, and fuck like a goblin. It is the only way that they will accept me as one of them. I have to become one of them... The thought wasn't entirely unpleasant. Living amongst the goblins, he had learned quite a bit of himself and what he was capable of doing. He had learned to trust a group of people that man considered more beast than an actual species.

Then it hit him.

I enjoy being around them. I enjoy living as one with them. He thought as he looked at his companions eating their meal.

"Will you not eat with us, Brother Archanex?" The chieftain asked. It was a small hunting party of goblins that escorting the chieftain around, despite his skill level.

"I shall." Jotham responded. "I was merely thinking."

"You think too much." The chieftain responded. "But that's also what is good about you too." The chieftain looked at Jotham, and invited The Overmage to be seated.

Jotham obliged and sat next to him. The other goblins were carefully observing Jotham's action. Most of the goblins trusted him by then, but a few still considered Jotham an outsider. There is still a lot of work to be done before they all trust me. Before I can take the next logical step... "There is a plan in place, chieftain. I am not here because of some mercy mission, or some diplomatic bullshit." Jotham shook his head. He was rarely harsh, but he needed to be with the chieftain. For the chieftain to really understand his purpose. "I intend to correct the sins of the past."

"So let me get this straight." They had all discussed the plan that Jotham was considering at least a month prior. The goblins nearly ran him off their "land" right then and there. However, the chieftain had stayed their hand. "You are going to take us to see that bitch, the queen of Scara Brae, and make us offer a treatise?" The chieftain took a succulent bite of the boar's leg.

"I know that your people have never gotten along traditionally speaking. However, there is always time for moving forward, and a time to put childish things behind us." Jotham closed his eyes, fires were in his thoughts. A blazing inferno that did not give him peace of mind despite his best intention. "What I am asking is for, is both of your tribes to lay down your swords, and prepare yourselves to conquer a greater threat. A threat that is imminently approaching." Jotham felt tired, he rarely slept. The night before was spent getting better acquainted with Felsa. His new mate...

"We know of The Traveller. The one who wanders the star ocean." Jotham observed as the chieftain suddenly appeared deep in thought. Despite his violent nature, the chieftain was actually very intelligent. All goblins were clever, it was only men who assumed them fools. How wrong they were. "You are not the first who speaks of this individual to us. Our seers are well aware of the shadow that looms."

"Good." Jotham ate some of the cooked boar. Jotham had showed them how to properly prepare their meals to avoid disease and infection. "I see that you know what I say is true..."

"I don't entirely believe you, old man." The chieftain said. "However, you have been a good ally so far. I think you have your own reasons for helping us, but whatever they are, I assume they are for the benefit of all." The chieftain sighed. "If only there were more like you who thought with their hearts, and their minds. For the greater good of all."

Jotham nodded. "As I said earlier, there is a plan. The union between the two tribes must be seen to fruition for this plan to work. It must be done correctly, or I fear a great disaster may come to pass." Jotham was always frank with the chieftain about what he knew. Of course, I cannot reveal all of the details. The reason that the traveller will come was because I fucked up...long ago. Now I have a chance to save this world from a disaster. Time is always against us. That is why I know I must do this...because...I am the only one who cares enough... Jotham though to himself as he ate alongside the chieftain.

"May I ask you something, old man?" The chieftain asked.

"Of course." Jotham took careful bites of the juicy meat. It was prepared very well, to almost a grill.

"You're like the traveller are you not?" The chieftain suddenly asked.

"In some ways. We both hail from the same realm..." Jotham turned to look at the chieftain. "There some reason you ask?"

"I want to know more about what we are going to be facing." The chieftain said, then he sighed. "I do not have faith in The Queen's capacity to assist us with what is needed." The chieftain looked at Jotham. "You have no idea what that bitch has put us through. Hunting my people down like animals, slaughtering us like animals." The chieftain shook his head. "Only reason, I'm going along with this plan is because we know about The Traveller too."

"I am seeking redemption." Jotham suddenly said. "I made a mistake in the past, and The Traveller was a result of that mistake..." Jotham thought back to a different time. A different place, a place where things should have worked out for the benefit of all. Instead...

"Don't think about such matters." The chieftain said. "It is unhealthy when you worry." He smiled, it was a sincere gesture. "We can do something about The Traveller now. With OR without that bitch's help." The chieftain shook his head. "I still think you're chasing fool's gold."

"Perhaps." Jotham said. He heard the sounds of the past in his mind. His past, one of many possible pasts and one of many possible futures. "But I must try..." Jotham looked at the chieftain with a serious expression.

"We're going along with your plan, old man. For now." The chieftain said. "But the moment things get dicey, I want you, it's all over with." The chieftain said.

"I know, I am well aware. Just give me time to prepare and we will take care of the rest together." Jotham said.

"I hope so." The chieftain responded. "For your sake." The chieftain pointed his slab of meat towards Jotham. "If she even looks at us the wrong way. So help me..."

"You don't have to stress it. I know you don't like her..." Jotham said in response.

[Archanex Jotham]

Jotham was writing a letter that evening.

Who was the letter for? The Queen of Scara Brae. He sat in his chamber within the main den of the goblins, little more than a complicated series of caves. The main chamber was decorated very well with various trophies found in the wild lands of Scara Brae. Jotham had taught the goblins how to effectively hunt, and how to utilize their kills so that not a single body part was wasted. Jotham had taught them many other useful traits, such as farming and other necessary aspects of wilderness survival. Up until that point, the goblins of Scara Brae did not have any formal agricultural system. Jotham had taught them that. He taught them education, and the means for them to become more presentable in the eyes of men.

Of course, many habits died hard. Despite their tailormanship, they still made clothing that reflected their brutal and harsh culture. Jotham did not attempt to change that, he actually admired it. He taught the smartest and brightest, further secrets of the ancient Arkanos Arts. And soon, there were mages amongst them to rival the finest of Radasanth's Sorcerers. Jotham carefully wrote the letter he worked on. He had a carrier pigeon he had acquired some time earlier, and he used the carrier pigeon to quickly get the letter sent to Scara Brae. Jotham was a member of The Hedge Magi, and the project of reforming the goblins was one of their top secret ideas. He had not sent a letter to the hedge magi in months.

The hour had arrived.

On the next day, Jotham would take the entire goblin society in exodus to the heart of Scara Brae with terms of treatise. There, he hoped he would make history by combining the two societies together for the first time. Jotham watched the pigeon fly off in the direction of Scara Brae. He looked at Felsa for a moment or two, as she stood behind his person.

"That was the letter to your superiors was it not?" Felsa asked.

"Something like that. I am making sure that everything is done correctly and that they prepare the audience for The Queen." Jotham felt tired, he had not felt so tired in such a long time.

"My lord, you seem tired." Felsa said. She looked up at Jotham with genuine worry in her eyes. "You have not been sleeping well, you should come back to bed with me." She said softly.

"I just had to get that letter done is all, Felsa." Jotham said carefully. He did not want to insult his mate. He was still thinking like a proper goblin should. "Once I receive word of the meeting we shall march to Scara Brae..." Jotham said. That last part would be the trickiest of the whole ordeal.

Jotham closed his eyes and thought of the brighter tomorrow. It would take some time for him to receive word back from the hedge magi. Then, he would have to ready the entire goblin community to march. March with terms of peace with the people of Scara Brae. It had taken some convincing, but the goblins of Scara Brae had come a long way. Jotham looked towards Felsa and smiled at her. "I am very proud of the work we have been able to complete together." Jotham said casually. "I was right about our people." Jotham said carefully. He sincerely thought of himself as a fellow goblin by the point, though he knew he was not one.

"We just needed a guiding hand." Felsa said in response with a smile of her own. "You have become that guiding hand."

"Together we will complete many great works." Jotham said. Then he looked behind Felsa, the chieftain was standing there.

"Ah. There you are, old man." The Chieftain said. "Did you get it completed?"

There was a nervous tension in the air.

"I did." Jotham responded. "Took the better part of last night, and well into today. But I got it all done. Properly as well. We wait now for the hedge magi to respond."

"You always think like that, don't you?" The chieftain rubbed his beard. "All right, old man. You have approximately a week. Then the whole thing gets called off. Am I clear?" The chieftain said.

"Just a week?" Jotham asked. He knew that the chieftain and his finest warriors and druids were being very patient with Jotham. "All right. As soon as the carrier bird returns, I will tell you. In the meantime, we must prepare for what is coming."

"I am telling you, old man. She cannot be trusted." The chieftain chuckled and then turned away, his eyes were clearly deep in thought.

"There is good in her still." Jotham said in response. "We just need to find proper incentive to lay down swords with them." Jotham was thinking like a goblin and not even realizing it.

"You mean lay down swords against your people?" The chieftain asked in response. "Make no mistake, old man, you are not exactly one of us. You are one of them. The moment we sense danger, we shall scatter and take as many of them with us as we can." The chieftain said. "Even you."

"You don't have to threaten me with bravado." Jotham said casually. "I am here because I want to be, and I want to help. Helping our people, will help them as well." Jotham said. "They might not see it right away, but it is necessary for the greater good."

"We shall see." The chieftain said. Then walked back into the depths of the cavern.

Jotham sighed. It was difficult dealing with the chieftain at times. Felsa never left his side during the entire confrontation.

"Felsa..." Jotham said carefully as he looked at her. "You did not have to stand by my side."

She held his hand. "You might not think so, but I have sincerely grown to love you. I believe that you are sincerely here to help us." Felsa said. "He is old and set in his ways. The Humes have caused us a great deal of pain in that past."

"There is good in them." Jotham said and smiled. "I am certain that this will work out for the better of all. There is time to do the great work." Jotham said carefully. He smiled at her, and sat down on the ground so he could hug her close to him. She stood at five feet in height, and he was considerably taller than she was. He held her close and they kissed softly.