Wealth Mountain is an ancient structure in the far away, uninhabitable northeast. It's taller than any other peak, protected by an unfathomable monster, and apparently filled to the brim with precious goldatinum metal.
Four goblins, all of which ha...
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Thousands of dwarves marched out of Dalrek in four orderly lines: warriors on the two outside lines, civilians in the two middle lines. The four goblins stood at the front of the parade, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Drek and Stibs on the outside, Colb and 27 on the inside. In front of them, Sunbolt and Leader Glazeanvil led the charge. Behind the march, a beaten town sat empty and flooded.
Colb peered at the dwarves behind him, feeling a little claustrophobic. These walls of hair marched in perfect harmony, as if they'd practiced this walk a thousand times. Colb's feet ached as his toenails scratched across the rocky terrain.
"Welcome to the army, goblins," Leader Glazeanvil said. The shiny-armored dwarf looked powerful leading the charge, marching with the Goblish translator by his side. "What are your names?"
"Hmmm, I go by the name of Colb, yes? It's nice to meet you, Sunbolt and Leader Glazeanvil, yes?" Colb cheered. "These are Drek, 27, and Stibs."
"Rrghegh... why are you telling them our names?" Drek complained as he walked. "Introductions are waste of time."
"Oi, 'eems to be Drek, Colb, 'wenty-sevnn, and Stibs, eh?" Sunbot translated for Leader Glazeanvil. "Colb 'eems ta be de only un ta understand Dwarvish."
"Then I'll get down to the plan, Colb, and you can explain it to your teammates," Leader Glazeanvil continued. "We're going to march for most of the day, then make camp in a safe zone before the summer antlizard's territory. While the other five leaders tend to the civilians, I will lead the army – and you four – into what will become our battlefield."
Colb translated these words to his friends, sweating with alarm as he considered what he was saying.
"MmMMmmm, out of wonder, what is this summer antlizard?" 27 asked.
"Oi, 'eyre wondrin' what de summer ant'izard's like, eh?" Subolt translated.
"A fearsome beast," Leader Glazeanvil replied, sending a chill down Colb's spine with his sudden shift in his tone. "It's a giant monster with an armored body. A creature that spits lava from its very mouth. Each time we throw a spear or boomerang at its hide, our weapon simply melts from the blaze it emanates."
"That will not be problem for Yiklar-made weapons," 27 confidently replied as Colb translated the Dwarvish words. "Magic is not so easily destroyed, no it is not. AaAaaaaahhhh, but I still wonder – where did this monster come from? Has it plagued you for long time?"
"We believe the beast originated from the center of a volcano, in the mountain pass between Dalrek and Bellra," Leader Glazeanvil replied as Sunbolt translated 27's words. "Half a year ago, there was an eruption. A scout said she saw it – a horrible beast launching out of the volcano's lid. Next thing we knew, our land-path to Bellra had become a territorial creature's nesting site. Ever since, all trade and travel with Bellra have required boats from Forgar in the south – quite a roundabout route, but a necessary one with an invincible monster blocking our preferred path."
