From the doorway of a crumbling stone temple deep in the heart of the jungle, Kweeg screeched and shook his bone staff as the last half dozen members of his tribe disappeared into the undergrowth. Barely over three feet tall, Kweeg was short even for a goblin. His wrinkly green skin sagged and his puss-yellow eyes looked near to bugging out of his head.
Abandoning their shaman was wrong and Kweeg would be certain to call a curse down on the fools’ heads. Of course that would work better if he could actually use magic. Despite endless prayers in front of the monstrous statue in the heart of the temple, no power had seen fit to answer.
He suspected that, along with the miserable hunting in the area, was what prompted the last of the holdouts to abandon him.
With a sad shake of his head, Kweeg retreated to his temple. Somewhere inside a stone came crashing down. The temple was in worse shape than the tribe if that were possible.
The entry hall ended in a huge cathedral at the center of which was a statue of a demon. At least Kweeg assumed it was a demon from the fang-filled mouth, bat wings, and huge gut. The belt of skulls also argued against an angel.
He knelt in front of the statue and touched his head to the stone. “Why won’t you speak to me, Master? Is my poor soul of no value to you?”
Another rumble and Kweeg feared he might end up buried alive. Instead a voice so deep and powerful it made his bones ache said, “I hear you, little goblin. I hear and grant your wish. My name is Balthis and you will serve as my agent in the world. Touch your statue and receive my gift.”
Kweeg, enraptured to finally hear the voice of his master, hastened to lay his hands on the statue’s feet.
Power and purpose filled him. He knew now what Balthis required and he would do anything to see the task complete.