Homesteading in a fantasy world

I had some time, so I didn’t hurry that much. I got up and prepared some food. As I went outside, I noticed I can see better in the dark.

I’m guessing that the new trait of vampires senses helped me, but a few moments later as I wished to see even better, everything cleared up and I could see everything better. I’m guessing that the changing eyes kicked in to help my low light vision.

This made doing the chores this early a lot easier and also getting geared up for the ambush. I used my regular foresting gear for what I had in mind. More armor would not be the best, and my armor was not in the best of condition.

I was only dealing with five goblins. Even if they are a lot better than the usual ones, if it turned into a fight, it should be manageable.

Since my best short bow was out of commission, I had to use the second best, but it was now shooting more like a children’s training bow than actually shooting the weapon.

They had made quite a lot of progress, but it will still take them hours to get here, so I set off towards them. As I lower the bridge this time, I was not anxious to leave it down thanks to owners land ability that was constantly running.

I will have to be careful about owners land. I cannot get too reliant on it otherwise if I have to leave my lands I would be handcuffed and I will have a lot more difficult time getting used to not having it.

Planning an ambush using it was simple. I just had to figure out where they will pass through and find a tree that will give sufficient cover while still leaving an opening for an attack.

I had to change position twice before they were close enough, and I was in the correct position. Turns out the hardest thing wasn’t setting up an ambush it was how to start the ambush.

Do I shoot an arrow close to them? Do I yell something? This problem was occupying my mind so much that they made it to the correct position and all I could think to say was.

“Halt, who goes on my land?”

Their reactions were immediate, all turned around. It seemed that the leader was a goblin in the middle, a bit taller and he looked slimmer, with its body proportions being better than the other ones but still easily identified as a goblin.

The big goblin that was leading the attack on my bridge looked more like a green version of a big human.

He was also the fastest to react and I think the only one that actually understood what I was trying to do. He quickly spoke something in goblin and everyone lowered their weapons. I did the same in kind and jump down to be on their level.

“Greetings human, I the leader of the goblins here. My name is Stebs Soot.”

“Greetings to you as well, Goblin. I own this land and my name is Rich Dirt.”

There was silence for a little while after our statements of the first greeting. I was waiting for him to break the silence and the eventually he did.

“I am here to discuss peace. Is this something you are interested in?”

I tried to speak as plainly as I could. His understanding of common was at a child level.

“That depends on what this peace will cost me.”

The goblin leader I could see was thinking over what to say. This next line will probably determine how the negotiations will go.

“I want knowledge, but not for peace. Peace, you will have no matter what. What do you want for knowledge?”

Oh, this one is smart and honest to some extent. If I said no, there would be peace, I believe him in that, but it will be more like Cold War, both sides still needing to put a lot of resources into building up an arsenal bigger than the other one.

I’m quite sure that they will win with numbers the race to build up, even with the numbers they have left.

But what would I want in return? I am not in any need for anything for my survival. But for the betterment of my farm and my skills, I would need some resources. Metal, especially iron, would be on top of that list.

“If I know the knowledge, I might be able to give it to you, but that will depend on what kind of knowledge. As for something in return, how do you get your metal armor pieces?”

Just in case, I pointed towards the goblins that were wearing them. They did not seem to like that, some of them tried to cover the pieces I was pointing at.

“Iron Armor too hard to get to give for knowledge will cost too many lives. We go on a trial of iron that is a week's journey from here. Very dangerous place where old armor and weapons can be found. 1 in 10 goblins that take the trial come back.”

Oh, I so want to know more about that place, but this wouldn't be a priority especially if it was such a dangerous place, and it seems that this trial of iron was of great important to them, so I didn’t want to push more towards it currently.

“What about hides and horn? Resources from hunting.”

“That can be done what amount need.”

I could see the struggled with the last part of the sentence. He needed to substitute some words to make it understandable.

“Not large amount, good strong more important to me. What kind of knowledge would you be interested in first?”

“Getting stronger will be harder to, this can be done. I want knowledge how to get a class.”

Well shit, I don’t know how to get a class when you do not have an option to pick one. Well, maybe I do. There are classes for many species like elves, dwarfs and so on, but if the horror stories from my childhood are true, even animals, if they evolve enough, can get a class.

In the stories they needed to evolve many times by killing and eating children before they can have a class and really need it for something they want but I’m guessing there is some truth to that, but I am pretty certain he already knows all that.

“To help you, I would need to be able to explain it’s better than we speak now. I plan on cutting down lots of trees. During that time, I’d like someone to teach me goblin language so I could better understand you and explain better to you.”

I could see him thinking hard and hopefully he accepts. This accomplishes two things, one I learn about goblin society and their language and two if the negotiations breakdown because I can’t deliver, I would still have weeks of no hostilities while getting a huge amount of lumber to prepare for winter and for all the building I want to do.

“No hide or horn for this and goblins I sent, you will teach them common as well. I will be there as much as I can. Is this acceptable?”

Clever one wanting to get common in return it would probably help them 100 times more than me, but I still think that it can be acceptable.

“Agreed.” I put my hand forward for a shake that he returns.

“Agreed, I will go back and bring the goblins that will teach you and you will teach in a few days. Is this acceptable?”

“Yes, that is acceptable.” As I finish saying that, I nodded and turned around and start to go back, not watching over my shoulder, so I will seem more confident.

Now I have the time I need to get the lumber and prepare if hostilities start again, but with him leading it would be hard to win even with the numbers they have currently.

If hostilities start again, my first goal should be to kill him. Can’t have someone so smart against me. I like the typical goblin archetype better, the stupid and angry a lot easier to fight against.

Halfway back I ran into the wolf. She looked worried for a moment but seamed to relax when she saw me. When she got near, she looked confused and looked at my hand.

“Aaa goblin smell we will see them more, but hopefully not as enemies.”

She looked way too cute when she was confused, but hopefully there will be no problem with her and the goblins. The bull will enjoy the coming weeks, but I will really need to name them. When I get back, it will be the first thing I do first the bull and then the wolf. With the rest, I will wait.