Goblin Teeth: A Monster Party LitRPG

Elyndris had never been so mentally exhausted. She had spent an entire day casting spell after spell. She found that she had depleted large sections of the village of mana and had to move locations three times.

But she was inching towards her goal. Fifty damage-dealing spells in a row without harming anyone. Why? Because it was a feat, and any free ability, no matter how useless, was a good thing.

Her spell casting time has been bumped up to twenty-five minutes by now. Even with her drive to grow and become more powerful, she did need to rest.

Occasionally, Ivory meandered by and gave a few pointers or techniques. This helped more than Elyndris would admit. It was good to avoid bad habits.

Anath and Hunter were both focusing on homely things. Healing, crafting, and talking. It was a waste of time, in Elyndris's point of view.

So, rather than bothering them, she decided to find a soft place in the forest to lie down for a bit. Not long. Just enough time to recover.

A nice mound of dirt and moss suited her nicely.

She settled into it like a dragon settling into her hoard. Elyndris was much larger than she was used to, but still was smaller than she felt. She should be huge. A monster dominating the landscape. One that could shake the foundations of the world with a roar. But, she was no larger than a common dog. Eventually, she would reach her true size. Once she cured herself of this unwarranted curse.

Her consciousness began to drift off, allowing her to enter a state of torpor. Not true rest, just a stillness of the mind.

This was interrupted by movement. Her senses were refined to the state that she could feel the world around her by sensing the vibrations in the earth. So any movement nearby was detected.

Something was sneaking up on her.

It was small. That is to say, about her size, and she stepped lightly. But it was also clumsy and shook with fear. A goblin.

Elyndris woke fully, but did not move. Her jowls quivered, and saliva began to pool at the edge of her mouth. This was a good time for a snack.

Though even Elyndris was bound to rules, like Klaw, she followed a certain honor system. It was simple; if it talks first, talk. If it tries to eat you, eat it first. This rule, along with her power of speech, was her most powerful asset. It was what allowed her to befriend Anath and join the goblins' party. She attributed her quick growth to this rule.

So she would wait and see what they did.

Eventually, she got bored with waiting. It did not take long.

Slinking out of her nest, Elyndris half-slithered, half-skulked towards the direction the goblin ran. Soon, she found them.

A group of seven goblinoids stood around a dead fawn.

"You do it." One of the goblins said.

"No, you!" Another hissed.

A goblin pointed to a plain-looking goblin, "Gliby is boss, she should do it."

That one, Gliby, shook her head frantically, "Gliby is forgettable. The beast won't remember."

Elyndris felt no danger from this group. So, she slithered closer. The goblins were too focused on their argument to notice her join them.

Maybe she had spent too much time with Daggat, but Elyndris felt like a bit of mischief. "What are we talking about?" She asked, innocently.

"We're trying to decide who is going to give the offering to the beast." One said.

"Which… Beast?" Elyndris said. The goblins looked at her. She showed them her teeth.

As one, they screeched and scattered. Elyndris chuckled and then bound after one at random.

Her hunt was frantic, but quick. Elyndris tore through the forest, throwing aside branches and logs with her tentacles. The goblin was quick, as goblins tended to be. It almost outpaced her. But, only four seconds into their chase, it leaped over a log… then stuck fast to some of Anath's leftover webbing.

Elyndris slowed, then plopped towards it with awkward steps. Her form was not suited to walking.

It hung upside down, tangled in three different webs. She could see where it cut into the skin, drawing blood.

The goblin began to cry, "Pleeeease don't eat me."

Elyndris sneered, "Why wouldn't I? With a display like that, you would hardly be worth saving."

It sniffed, "Please?"

"Tell me what you were planning. In detail."

The goblin nodded, "We wanted to impress the boss by taming you!"

Elyndris slapped the goblin with a tentacle, "TAME?!"

"Befriend!" it wailed, "I misspoke! Misspoke!"

"Why? Is it that your group is so pitiful that it can only challenge us from within? Is that your goal? To worm your way in and stab us when we sleep?"

"I… don't know."

Elyndris tensed as she felt another goblin approach. She would keep it in mind, but not give away that she knew its presence."What? You don't know your own plan?"

"I'm just trying to get my next meal, you know? Glibby thought it was a good idea."

"Who is Glibby? Your boss?"

"… sort of?"

"Well, not much of a leader. A proper leader would come and face me directly. Is she a coward?"

The goblin hiding in the brush stumbled forward, "Glibby is not a coward!"

Elyndris turned on the goblin, "Then where is she?!" She roared.

The goblin stumbled back, and her ears went flat, "Glibby is… right here. Eh-ah… ahh,,, I. I am Glibby." She struggled her way past the word "I".

"Oh," Elyndris said, disappointed.

"I know. Glibby is not very impressive."

Elyndris shoved a tentacle in her direction, "Who do you call back to? One of the other bosses?"

"We got separated. We call to no one."

"Wait, you are alone?"

"Yes."

"Just the six of you?"

"There are a few more, but yes."

Elyndris thought of this for a moment, then burst out laughing, "I took you for cowards! But you challenge me with only a few? Bravery bordering on stupidity. You are fortunate that I am not able to smite you all with my mighty spells, or you would be dust."

"Glibby did not challenge you! We wanted to calm you."

"Why?"

"To impress Daggat."

"Bah! What use is Daggat to you?"

"Umm… is he not the leader?"

"He is, I concede. He was fortunate to meet me as a worm."

The hanging goblin spoke up, "Can I come down?"

Elyndris slapped him again, "No." She turned her attention back towards Glibby, "So what if he is the leader. What is it you want?"

Glibby straightened. Elyndris could feel the strain on her face; she could see that whatever Glibby was working to say was fueled by desperation. "We are… small. In size and number. We need a strong leader to keep us alive and to thrive! Daggat is the strongest there is."

"Daggat? The strongest? HAHAHA! You must be blind as well as small."

Glibby's pose shifted, and his fists came to her sides, "He is!"

"Is not."

"Is too! I've seen it!"

"And I live with him. Spent most of my life with him. Klaw is stronger. Anath is stronger. HUNTER is stronger. Not to mention myself."

"Glibby does not know your names. But the armored phantom protects HIM. The spider kills for HIM. Even you went to his side and followed his words. I have seen it."

Elyndris considered the goblin for a moment. She was being awfully stupid. The only thing that has kept her alive so far is the novelty. "What is strength? To a goblin, I mean."

"Strength is command! Too call upon the horde and direct it. To plan good plans and know how to twist the world to your will!" Glibby was getting riled up again, "He commands the world directly. Spears fly for him, and even his foes listen to him speak."

"You… uh, are quite the fanatic, aren't you?"

Glibby crossed her arms, "Glibby does not know what that word means."

"Your plan then was to give me a snack in hopes that I would like you and then introduce you to Daggat?"

"More or less."

"Well, it wouldn't have worked. You can't meet Daggat."

Glibby's ears fell, and her voice wobbled as she spoke, "Why not?"

"Because we don't deal with the weak."

Tears formed in her eyes, "Why nooooot?"

Elyndris thought for a moment, "What level are you? And your companions."

"I am fifteen. Others are thirteen."

Elyndris nodded, "Tell you what. You've impressed me. Maybe we can work something out."

Glibby's face lit up, "Yes! Tell Glibby what to do, and we will do it. Then we can have a strong boss!"

Elyndris chuckled, "Sure. Go out into the forest. Seek a spirit beast. It will call to you. If you find one suitable, then I will introduce you. But, do not slay it yourself."

The goblin nodded vigorously, "Okay! Glibby will do that. We will be quick, you will see."

Then she dashed off into the woods.

That should keep the goblins occupied for a while. They would probably get killed.

"Ummm…" the hanging goblin intoned.

"I'm not going to get you down. Just so you know."

The goblin nodded, "That's fair…"

—

When Anath first discovered her webbing, she didn't consider it tangling up. Let alone bundling up to the size of a skull and sticking her hands together. The previous day, Klaw tried to work with her to incorporate the stuff into her combat style. It did not go well. They got everywhere and stuck to everything. When reinforced with her strength essence, they were reeeaaally hard to break.

Right now, she wasn't even trying to work on her fighting, and it STILL got tangled up.

She yanked and pulled, struggling to free herself. Her rage was just a moment from being unleashed before Hunter bounded out of a collection of buildings, excited. He spotted her, then ran to her, showing her a large, round piece of metal.

"Anath! Look! Look!" He held it out to her. It was a four-foot-wide disk of iron. Bits of dirt, rust, and other more colorful things covered it. But the look of pure joy on his face was infectious.

Anath giggled, "What is it?"

"An ogre stone!" He said with a smile.

"It's iron, though?"

"That's just what they are called. Oh, are you stuck?"

She scowled at the ball of webs in her hands. "I was trying to make something."

"What?"

"Anything! What's the point of having silk if I can't make a dress or something? It just gets jumbled up."

"Here, careful," he summoned his torch, then held it out for her.

Anath carefully held the wad of web to the flame. It weakened, and she was able to pull it apart. The rest she wiped off onto her trousers.

"Thanks. What is the stone?"

"Every ogre family has one. You put it over a fire for a long time, then you can cook a LOT on it. Stone cakes, eggs, meats… Are you hungry? I'm hungry all of a sudden."

"You want to cook… on that?"

"Well, I'll scrub it first. Scrub it REALLY good. Then I've got to oil it, I think. Then it will be good! My brother showed me how once."

"What's it even doing here? Where did you find it?"

"I was visiting Holly, and I saw it leaning against a wall. The ladies said I could have it! They are nice. You should say hi."

"Who are they?"

"Old ladies. They wanted to talk to you."

"Oh?"

"They said, 'Tell that pretty girl to come visit us.' I don't think they meant Elyndris."

Anath giggled, "I think Elyndris is very pretty."

He gave her quick directions to the home, then they parted ways. Hunter was eager to scrub the stone. It was nice seeing him excited over something. He smiled a lot, but rarely did his eyes light up like that.

The house was old and well-lived-in. It sagged into the earth around it. But it was colorful. Covered in rugs and cloth. Some were stained with blood, others shredded by malicious goblins. But mostly intact. Smoke sifted through the thatch roof.

This was the right place, right? Anath carefully knocked on the door.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Come in," croaked an elderly voice.

She gently pushed open the door. "Hello?"

The room was crowded with spools of threads, half-finished projects, knick-knacks, and old women. There were three of them. Each sat in chairs that were completely enveloped by their gowns.

"Well," One of them spat, she had a large nose, "What do you want?"

"Umm…?" Anath didn't know how to react to that.

"Oh, leave the girly alone," another said, this one had teeth, "We called her, remember?"

"Can I help you with something?" Anath asked. She was beginning to feel the room close in on her, and she inched out of the door.

"Come in, sit, sit." The third said, This one still had black locks in her hair, "You're letting the warm out."

Anath thought it was silly to be nervous talking to a few old women. She had just fought a war! So, she stepped in and closed the door behind her.

The room was hot and stuffy. A small fire burned in one side of the room.

"So, what do you need?" The large-nosed woman asked.

"I… don't need anything?"

"No, no. See, we weaved this." She flapped a cloth at Anath. A spider was sewn into the design.

"Okay?" Anath wasn't sure what was going on.

The toothed one smiled at her, "It's a skill, dear. We can sometimes weave a sign when we can help. Know any other spiders?"

The third shifted a stool towards Anath, "Sit, sit. What has been troubling you?"

Anath sat down, then really took in her surroundings. The shirts, trousers, and socks hanging from lines. A spinning wheel in the back. "Oh!"

The three women simultaneously said, "Hmm?"

"Well, I've been trying to work with my webs. To make something."

"What are you trying to make, dear?" The toothed one asked.

"Anything. I… only really know how to kill things. I thought it would be nice to make something, instead of just… You know." Then she hurriedly added, "Not that I don't enjoy killing!"

The long-nosed one coughed and gave Anath a worried look, "Well… It's good to strive for other things."

"Show us this web, then."

Anath grabbed two sticks that were lying nearby, used for crochet, she thought. Then spun a crude web between them.

The three ladies oohed over the silk as she handed it over. They muttered amongst themselves, prodded it, and generally tested it.

Finally, the toothed one smiled at her, "We can help you make something VERY nice, we think."

Anath

True Name: Anathema
Soul: Monster/Mortal

Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
Full Growth Bonus: +2 skill points
Genbloom: Arachne [ +4 Dex, +4 Cha; Standard Size, Integrated Spinnerets, Extra Limbs; Standard Size]

Base size: Standard [Largest Size: Human]

Monster Level: 9
Berserker Level: 9 [+3 Str, Dex Con, -1 Int, Wil, Cha; Berserker's rage, Great Vitality]

Attributes (0/6)(Base Growth, +5; Devotion, +1):
Strength: 12 (Base 8; Class/Genesis +3; Growth +1)
Dexterity: 15 (Base 8; Class/Genesis, +7)
Constitution: 13 (Base 8; Class/Genesis +3; Growth, +2)
Intelligence: 10 (Base 8; Class/Genesis -1; Growth +2; Devotion +1)
Will: 7 (Base 8; Class/Genesis -1)
Charm: 11 (Base 8; Class/Genesis +3)

Feats:
True Angel - Encounter a true angel. Reward: Skill choice unlocks.
System Knowledge - Discover the system. Reward: System Aptitude skill.
Vile Concoction - Willing drink a diseased brew. Reward: Disease Resistance.
Devotion [layered feats] - Offer a prayers to Sahrzuel, Ithrenial, Mythraziel, Vaelion, and Zenthaviel. Reward: Experience gain, +2 skill points, +1 random ability, +1 growth point, +1 biotrait.
Overwhelming Power - Artificially raise strength by 20 points. Reward: Strength Core.
Mighty Alacrity - Raise Dexterity base to 15. Reward: Improved Balance Biotrait.
Recursion - Be affected by a recursive effect. Reward: Infinite Limiter.

Skills(0/12) (Mortal level, +8; Devotion, +2; Human, +2):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1 SP SPENT =1
Natural Skill Boosts: Survival (1) SP SPENT =1
Savage Legs: 1 (Natural Skill: Savagery) SP SPENT = 1
[Synergy]Berserker's Spirit: 1
--[Synergy]Warrior's Spirit: 2 [Perk: Extra Uses] SP SPENT = 1
----Burst of Strength: (Ability Skill: Strength 5) 1 SP SPENT = 1
----Burst of Alacrity: (Ability Skill: Dexterity 5) 1 SP SPENT = 1
----Burst of Vitality: (Ability Skill: Constitution 5) 1 SP SPENT = 1
--Berserker's Rage: 1 [Source: Berserker]
Purge Poison: 1 SP SPENT = 1
Great Vitality: 2 [Source: Berserker] (Perk: Great Recovery) SP SPENT = 1
Blood Rhythm: 1 SP SPENT = 1
Charged Slash: 1 (Natural Skill: Swordsmanship) SP SPENT = 1
Enhanced Harvest: 1 (Natural Skill: Survival) SP SPENT = 1
Infinite Limiter

Notable Natural Skills:
Survival: Apprentice
Savagery: Apprentice
Swordsmanship: Apprentice

Biotraits [0/9](Monster Level +8; Devotion, +1):

Regenisis:
Arachne; BP SPENT = 1

Inherited Biotraits:
Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant]
[Structural] Multi-eye [Source]
--Night Vision BP SPENT = 1
Integrated Spinnerets [Source: Arachne] (Mutations: Enhanced Production, Reinforced Webs) BP SPENT = 2
[Structural] Extra Limbs (Arachnid) [Source: Variant]
[Structural] Extra Limbs (Arachnid) [Source: Variant
[Structural] Extra Limbs (Humanoid) [Source: Arachne]

Standard Biotraits:
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction] BP SPENT = 1
[Modifier]Hardened Chitin [Affects: Arachnid limbs, exoskeleton] BP SPENT = 1
Exoskeleton BP SPENT = 1
Multidextrous BP SPENT = 1

Core Biotraits:
Core: Strength [Source: Overwhelming Strength]
Infuse Essence [Mutations: Quick Infusion(Boon)] BP SPENT = 1

Notable Gear:
Blade of the Dessert Flower

Other:
Variant: Arachnid Traits

Elyndris

True Name: Elyndris

Soul: Monster

Genseed: Larva [ 1 Str, 1 Dex, 1 Con, 1 Int, 1 Wil, 1 Cha; minuscule Size]
— Full Growth Bonus: +1 to all attributes, +6 growth points, +1 biotrait

Base size: Small [Largest Size: Larva; Mighty Strength; Great Bulk]

Monster Level: 15

Attributes 11 (0/12) (Base growth, +5; Larva, +6; Devotion, +1):
Strength: 17 (Genesis, +2; growth +6; Devotion +1, Dual-Physiology +3)
Dexterity: 7 (Genesis, +2; growth +5)
Constitution: 16 (Genesis, +2; growth +5, Dual-Physiology +3)
Intelligence: 7 (Genesis, +2; growth +5)
Will: 7 (Genesis, +2; growth, +5)
Charm: 7 (Genesis, +2; growth, +5)

Feats:
True Angel - Encounter a true angel. Reward: Skill choice unlocks.
System Knowledge - Discover the system. Reward: System Aptitude skill.
Vile Concoction - Willingly drink a diseased brew. Reward: Disease Resistance.
Devotion [layered feats] - Offer a prayer to Sahrzuel, Ithrenial, Mythraziel, Vaelion, and Zenthaviel. Reward: Experience gain, +2 skill points, +1 random ability, +1 growth point, +1 biotrait.
Blasphemy - Blaspheme the angels. Reward: A curse upon you.
Mighty Intellect - Raise Intelligence base to 15. Reward: +1 Skill point.
Mighty Strength - Raise Strength base to 15. Reward: Size increase
Fledgling Mage - Successfully cast a spell. Reward: Spellcraft skill.
Mighty Constitution - Raise Constitution base to 15. Reward: Disease Resistance biotrait.
Recursion - Be affected by a recursive effect. Reward: Infinite Limiter.

Skills (0/3) (Mortal Levels, +0; Devotion, +2; Mighty Intellect, +1):
Burst of Strength: 1 (Ability Skill: Strength 5)
Pounce: 1
Construct Capacity: 1
Spellcraft: 1 [Source: Fledgling Mage]
Infinite Limiter

Biotraits (0/16)(Monster Level +14; Devotion +1; Larva +1):
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction, Mighty Constitution; Mutations: Rot Resistance]
Metamorphosis [Mutations: Swift Change, Extra Form, Rebirth; Apex Reached]
Enhanced Touch [Mutations: Tremor Sense (Boon)]
[Structural] Complex organs
[Structural] Limbs (Legs)
[Structural] Limbs (Tentacles)
[Synergy] Dual-Physiology
— Redundant Organs
— Muscle Helix
Great Bulk
[Structural] Jaws
[Synergy] Energy Distributing Flesh [Mutations: Energy Transference]
— Force Distributing Flesh
— Heat Resistant Skin
Predator Bark

Other:
Biotrait Potions Used: 1/5

Curse: Ungenesis

Hunter

True Name: Hunter
Soul: Mortal/Monster

Genseed: Ogre [ 8 Str, 2 Dex, 6 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Ogre's curse; Standard Size]
—Full Growth Bonus: Size Increase, Ogres Curse
Genbranch: Oni [+2 Str, Con, Wil; Spellbrand; Gorger; Large size]

Base Size: Huge [Largest Size: Oni, Mighty Strength]

Hearth Tender Level: 12 [+1 Str, +1 Con, +4 Wil; Invoke Torch, Hearth Fire]
Monster Level: 6 [Source: Ichor of the Beast]

Attributes (0/6) (Growth, +5; Devotion, +1):
Strength: 16 (Base 13; Class/Genesis +3)
Dexterity: 7 (Base 7; Class/Genesis +0)
Constitution: 15 (Base 11; Genesis +3; Devotion, +1)
Intelligence: 9 (Base 7; Class/Genesis +0, Growth +2)
Will: 17 (Base 8; Class/Genesis +6; Growth +3)
Charm: 8 (Base 8; Class/Genesis +0)

Feats:
System Knowledge - Discover the system. Reward: System Aptitude skill.
Devotion [layered feats] - Offer a prayers to Sahrzuel, Ithrenial, Mythraziel, Vaelion, and Zenthaviel. Reward: Experience gain, +2 skill points, +1 random ability, +1 growth point, +1 biotrait.
Vile Concoction - Willing drink a diseased brew. Reward: Disease Resistance.
Slayer - Slay an unnatural creature with a sacred attack. Reward: Bounty Hunter
Unshakable Will - Raise Will base to 15. Reward: Fearless skill
Gluttonous Feast - Devour ten appropriate large meals in one day. Reward: Hunger Core
Mighty Constitution - Raise Constitution base to 15. Reward: Disease Resistance biotrait
Mighty Strength [Pending] - Raise Strength base to 15. Reward: Size increase
Aura Master - Obtain two different sources of an aura. Reward: Condense Aura
Fledgling Mage - Successfully cast a spell. Reward: Spellcraft skill.
Recursion - Be affected by a recursive effect. Reward: Infinite Limiter.

Skills (0/14) (Class Level +11, Devotion +2, Potion +1 ):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Invoke Torch: 2 [Source: Hearth Tender; Perks: Mighty Torch] SP SPENT = 1
Hearth Fire: 2 [Source: Hearth Tender; Perks: Healing Warmth] SP SPENT = 1
Sacred Flame: 5 [Perks: Debilitating Warmth, Shared Will, Unwanted Guests, Skill Mastered] SP SPENT = 5
Encompassing Warmth: 1 SP SPENT = 1
Brilliant Bash: 2 [Perks: Hearth Flame] SP SPENT = 2
Bounty Hunter: 1 [Source: Slayer]
Seek: 1 (Ability Skill: Will 10) SP SPENT = 1
Fearless: 1 [Source: Unshakeable Will]
Peaceful Presence: 1 SP SPENT = 1
Condense Aura: 1 [Source: Aura Master]
Enhanced Recovery [Natural Skill: Healing] (Perks: Split Focus) SP SPENT = 2

Notable Natural Skills:
Healing: Apprentice
Cooking: Apprentice

Biotraits (0/6) (Monster Level +5; Devotion, +1):

Inherited Biotraits:
Gorger [Source: Oni; Mutations: Soul Food ] BP SPENT = 1
Spellbrand (Dance of Wind and Flame) [Source: Oni]

Standard Biotraits:
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction; Mutations: Rot Resistance, Plague Resistance] BP SPENT = 1

Core Biotraits:
Core: Hunger [Source: Gluttonous Feast]
Devour Essence [Mutations: Selective Hunger (Boon), Deep Draw, Quick Digestion; Apex Reached] BP SPENT = 4

Other:
Curse: Ogre Curse
Boot of Rashail, level 2