Into the Woods {Elthas, Closed}

[Elthas]

In a moment or two, the first Goblin lay dead on the ground. Elthas reacted quickly to slice the creature's throat. As he looked at The Goblin leader, the two hated enemies began to fight. Grass and shrubbery beneath Elthas' boots began to get stained with the black ichor of the fallen Goblins. Elthas engaged the leader. Somehow, the creature was able to keep up with Elthas' full speed burst. It was an older, skilled Goblin and it had power in it's eyes. Elthas noticed that and he thought back to what Nevin had said. Their magic and sorcery is born out of rape and misery and suffering... The thought sent chills down his spine. The Goblin and Elthas exchanged several parrying blows, and The Goblin held Elthas at bay for a moment.

"You have no idea what is going on do you?" The Goblin suddenly spoke attempting to throw Elthas off.

"I know enough...I know you are putting my people in danger and I must protect them." Elthas said defiantly.

"There is more going on than you realize here. Your friend had it correct...about the nature of our magic and power." The Goblin said. "You think you have the upper hand here. So confident you are, but you don't know the whole truth."

Elthas frowned as he parried another strike. He is messing with me...there is something I'm not seeing here... Elthas suddenly broke off the attack and jumped backwards disengaging the enemy. He looked at The Goblin. "What...do you want?" Elthas figured that The Goblin wanted something. As he stood there he clenched his daggers tightly, genuinely interested in what The Goblin was hiding at that point.

The Goblin smiled wickedly. "You're smarter than the others. But your friend has the right idea." The Goblin began. "We have been stealing your folks from Stonevale over time. Nobody notices someone missing here and there. The attack on your mine was a distraction, a preemptive strike." The Goblin continued. "We have an ulterior plan. Elf. Stonevale is just the beginning." The Goblin wave his hand and a small totem manifested in his hand. "Even now your people suffer a fate worse than death itself." The Goblin put his totem on the ground and challenged Elthas at that point. "If you want to know the truth come after me, Elf." The Goblin grinned and started to cackle. He then vanished into the shadows at that point, and left.

Elthas thought about everything he'd just learned. He looked at The Goblin's totem. Have they been growing in power this entire time? And I've been too stupid to see it? He couldn't loose sight of who he was over an ancient enemy. He knew at that point he needed to find Nevin. He turned around and saw Nevin quickly approaching. "Hey, there you are. Man...we have a huge problem right now." Elthas looked down at the glowing red totem that The Goblin placed there, it was an invitation to a much larger battle.

"Some of the Stonevale citizens were kidnapped by The Goblins...and nobody noticed that. We have to find our people." Elthas said, his anger was filling his heart, but he needed to think clearly on the matter before proceeding forward into a trap.