Homesteading in a fantasy world

Before I could open my mouth, I was bombarded with multiple questions.

“Human, Rich, we are in desperate need of your help. Is it possible that you could assist us? Can you leave here and follow us back to our encampment.”

“Woah, Woah, there calm down and start from the beginning. What seems to be the problem.”

“We are in a desperate situation.”

I could see the chief collect himself and start again this time the crazed look in his eyes was gone.

“Rich I have a problem. Multiple tribes and encampments are seeking our extermination we are here to get some advice or perhaps we can convince you to join our fight.”

He looked at me expectantly, but they all waited as I thought upon the statement. Seems like they find themselves outnumbered and came to seek my help in any way that I could offer.

“Tell me more about what you are facing. What are the numbers? What is the situation there?”

To my surprise, the chief didn’t speak but a younger goblin that had a scar on his chest started to speak.

“We are facing three small encampments that number together around 1500 goblin fighters and multiple tribes that bring another 300 to 400 goblin fighters. They are being assembled at the closest encampment to us.”

“We currently have 400 but another 100 crafters and collectors that are capable of fighting at a higher level than any of their fighters. Our forces also have a lot more ability users. But even with our best estimates, we will be overrun. If we had you, we will have a chance.”

500 against 2000 doesn’t sound too bad but I’m guessing that they are thinking about a straight fight then I can see how it would be unwinnable especially if you can’t choose where you’re going to fight.

I can already think of a few plans that would help a lot, but the question is do I want to do this? It would mean weeks of me having to stay away from the farm and fight a foreign war.

There is always a possibility that when this friendly goblin tribe is killed off the others will continue expanding and I will run into the same problem as before.

I have never purposely sought out war and I do not know how to feel about doing it now. I could stay at the back and just advise and not join the flight but knowing myself I don’t think I could stay out of it. Do I really join in?

But I can also understand their point of view. They are protecting their homeland, but they need help. What would have happened to my homeland if there weren't people from other countries willing to help protect my land?

“What is the reason why they are attacking you?”

The chief swallowed and acted kind of nervously, so I was dreading the answer.

Chief, “You see Rich your advice for the scouting groups and the guerilla tactic worked beautifully. It was hard work, but our scouts and warriors were able to show superiority and we came to a tentative deal that they will not push any further north.”

“We also took your other advice about seeking other tribes and ask females and other male goblins to join us. And to our complete surprise, it worked really well. A lot of females wanted to join. Well, that's not true as every female wanted to join. The promise of a better and more fair life was something that they could not pass. We also got a lot of male goblins like that as well.”

“It all worked so well that we tried on an encampment next and that also went extremely well so we did it again with the next one. But there we ran into a problem. At first, we were careful and secretive but with every success, we let our guard down.”

“In the last encampment, few of the females wanted to become breeders to make their encampment stronger so they outed our infiltrators. We were able to get them out and some of the females and male goblins that wanted to join.”

“What we didn’t know was them somehow able to figure out that it was us that was responsible. Their investigation outed us to everyone else that we did the same to. Now all the encampments and tribes want their females back and my tribesmen dead.”

Rich, “You mentioned that they came willingly you did not force anyone to join you?”

Chief, “No, no, we didn’t. There was no need before their final encampment no one from the females declined and we only approached the males that the females suggested.”

Well shit I mean I can see their point of view. With them wanting their females back, I also would want them back. But you could count them as refugees seeking a better life. I guess it is a good enough reason to not dismiss the call to arms.

But now the question is if I joined do I do it just because it’s the right thing to do or will I be a mercenary that wants to gain something from this?

We have no agreements to protect each other and if I have to spend weeks there, I will not have time to build a smithy or expand the woolshed for the winter. It’s a difficult choice but I think I will need something in return.

Chief, “Rich are you good?”

“What yes, I’m good why do you ask?”

“You have stared at the fire for over 10 minutes now without saying anything.”

Oh, wow I really fell in this time. I can see negatives and positives in every choice. But one thing that I haven’t considered yet is this world and the system. War will give me huge opportunities to gain levels quickly. If I put that into the formula the choice becomes quite simple. I must join this fight.

“Well, there Chief. Let’s say that I join this fight not only as an advisor but as a fighter. This would be a huge time commitment for me, especially before winter.”

They all looked quite excited about my words, but the chief still looked nervous I could see him clear his throat again and start to speak.

“You see Rich we understand your worries, but we hope that we will be able to compensate you for your involvement. At first, we were having a hard time finding something that we think you would accept for your help. We think that hopefully, we have found at least something that you might be interested in.”

Two of the goblins that were holding bags step forward and started to take out pieces of rocks and giving them to me. I took the first rock offered.

“Oh, this contains copper with certain processes this rock can yield metal. Oh, and the next one here contains tin another soft metal. The next one is also tin. Where have you found this? While I appreciate the rocks this truly doesn’t contain too much of the metals I spoke of.”

Chief, “We found them in the mountains. There are big veins of them if you like one enough or even both we will be willing to harvest and bring them here for payment.”

Those could be really useful for some things and without the labour and the time to bring them here they might be quite useful for building and other items and of course raising skill levels. Another rock was handed to me it took me a bit to recognize what it was, but it was silver.

“This is silver a very prized metal in the human land even some of our money is made of it. You must be careful with this if people found out that you know its location, they might stop at nothing to get it.”

“This next rock however is even worse than silver. Men have sold their own mothers into slavery, killed their own brothers and thrown kingdoms into war to obtain what this rock represents. They would stop at nothing to process it. Gold is a metal that can make any man into a monster with an unending appetite.”

As I looked at the goblin's faces, I might have been a bit too ominous. I would love to keep this ore but it and the silver is a bit too dangerous to keep around, so I gave them back and pointed for them to put it back into the bag.

“I recommend that you take those rocks back to where you found them and somehow mask their presence so no one might stumble upon them. As for the others, I will accept them as payment as well as first rights to any loot we might gain in this war.”

Chief, “That is really good to hear it feels like a stone has been lifted off my heart but what about the amounts for the rocks? How much were you thinking?”

“I believe I will leave that up to you. You can think of the amount depending on how much help I can provide. Now, remember that my help doesn't mean that you have won as I cannot guarantee that.”

They expressed their understanding. After a bit more discussion about the situation they wanted me to start to follow them back, but I had to stop them there.

“I’m afraid I’m not ready to leave right away it will take me at least a day to get everything in order here and it will take some doing to get everything loaded up.”

Thinking about everything that I need I realized a great error that I have made in the training of my apprentices. One of the first things I should have taught them was trapping so they could catch rabbits without my help. Then they can get meat for my animals and themselves.

Hopefully, one day will be good enough. Some hard learning will also be good for them. All the weapons and arrows can be brought along easily enough thanks to the goblins. The problem was the ballista how would I get that into travelling form with my current manpower?