TopG led his goblins around the outskirts of the battle. Pretending to launch volleys at the sailors- but he always targeted small groups where his attacks would be the least effective. It did not matter.

  The chieftain eventually emerged after the battle was all but won. Carrying a double edged war axe over his shoulder, smiling at all the carnage.

  Then he looked at the ship. It stood untouched, the goblins keeping at least five feet from the base of it. This irked him, so he approached. And asked;

  "Why no loot ship? Is best loot! Why no been loot!?" he yelled at his goblins chastisingly. They collectively winced and one sheepishly stepped forward; "G-great c-chieftain... Is big danger. Blue death protect!" he pointed at the ship.

  The chieftain split the goblin who spoke in half down the center in one powerful strike.

  "Don't care! GOOO!" he shouted angrily. The green ocean of bodies shuddered and launched themselves at the ship. They climbed the rope net that hung over the side.

  As soon as a goblin touched the ship a turquoise blur shot across the bow. This time it cut the net allowing it to fall with dozens of goblins to the sand below. It's glaive cleaved through limbs in a straight line. Some goblins were beheaded- others only lost their fingers. But in each single strike at least a dozen goblins were wounded. The sea creature cared little to make precise strikes, only to do as much damage as possible in one.

  The chieftain looked on dispassionately as the goblin bodies thudded to the beach. Groaning and crying out in pain.

  "Weak. Hooks!" He commanded. A group of goblins pushed through- nets and ropes hanging off their bodies. They swung their ropes, the hooks attached whirled through the air and latched onto the side.

  "Climb! Kill!", the goblins began climbing the ropes in single file but a repeat of the same thing happened again. The ropes cut and many goblins fell to the sand in pieces.

  The chieftain finally began to pick up a pattern. A singular powerful enemy protected the ship.

  He considered a moment. "Shaman goblins! Break! Here!" he took a hand axe from a goblin standing nearby and threw it into the base of the ship.

  A collection of goblins wearing feathers and bones appeared and knelt in front of the ship. They chanted in a strange language. Tribal and rhythmically. Charms that hung from their bodies began to bounce about and shake. Dream catchers, totems, little shrunken heads of dwarves and their other enemies.

  "Goomlok, Shokka shokka, Tauros! Goomlok!" they chanted.

  They clenched their hands and a fiery orange light engulfed their fists.

  "HOO!" they punched at the ship and blasts of energy flew out striking the bow. With a 'crash!' shards of wood flew out.

  Once the dust cleared it revealed a gaping hole in the ships lowest deck. Countless hammocks laid about tied to many beams. Sailors' belongings hung in sacks near the many bunks.

  The goblins smiled greedily.

  "Fight! Inside! Is better!", the chieftain commanded, putting his hands on his hips proudly. The goblins roared and charged with a renewed vigor.

  A stream of goblins poured into the opening. It was large enough for five to march in side by side.

  It wasn't long before their cries were heard. A battle invisible to the onlookers outside. The goblin chieftain 'harrumphed', unimpressed. It wasn't uncommon during his life to see enemies that killed goblins this effectively. But it was only a matter of time before they would tire and be overwhelmed.

  These losses were insignificant compared to the provisions on board. The weapons and wealth. The chieftain would send thousands if he must.

  He waited. And eventually the hole was sealed with goblin corpses and had to be cleared as they sent more in.

  ---

  "How can you be so sure this [Thief] of yours is telling the truth?", a young human woman asked. She was dressed in finery and guarded with two intimidating warriors. Despite her age, she was highly respected.

  Colypheus had met with some of the other heads of the thieves guild in Lostia to speak of the matters concerning other worlds. They were in an underground bar, small, used only in these meetings. Warded against any scrying abilities.

  The furniture was all that gave the room any personality as the walls were flat and featureless besides the occasional sconce.

  "She hadn't known about the rumors before, she only confirmed them to be true." he said plainly. He spoke with no emotion at these meetings.

  These meetings were like a game of poker, and he'd refused to show them his hand. At least completely.

  Another man, also human- spoke next. Another set of guards behind him. "Such lunacy. These 'players' make up such rumors as minstrels do- for profit."

  A dark skinned man with a towel over his head- as men of his culture often dressed- spoke in response; "If such things are lunacy, then are the Gods themselves lunacy? We live in a world of lunacy my friend. The tails these people weave- they are far too elaborate to be mere fantasy." he waved his finger dismissively.

  "Who needs to wonder? I bring proof." Colypheus said after hearing them squabble awhile longer. They looked to him confused.

  He produced a spherical object covered in a cloth. "A palantír?" they asked.

  "Yes. And it contains the memories of one of these 'players'. Observe." he placed it in the center of the table. It slotted into a metal stand he had placed beforehand.

  He removed the cloth. The tiny sphere played the memories back, but if one of them wanted to they could also place a hand on it to experience the memories genuinely.

  There were countless ways to test the validity of the players stories. But they were often expensive, but a palantír- that sort of evidence was priceless. Not to mention the artifact itself. The other heads of the thieves guild looked on enviously at the small glass bauble.

  Enthralled.

  The glass buildings stretching up to the sky- the flying vehicles and lights. Even Orrerya did not build so high. The feats of engineering were impressive. Then they saw the image of a nuclear blast on the palantír- which caused them to lean in.

  "Where do they come from?" the young woman asked. Her dark eyes reflected the mushroom cloud depicted in the glass orb.

  "A world named Earth.", Colypheus said after awhile. "They named their world after dirt?" the man with a turban said.

  After his question wasn't answered, he asked another; "Why are they here?"

  Colypheus leaned back and crossed his arms. "It's as you've heard them say. Many do not hide it, they are simply dismissed as insane. This world is an illusion, created by theirs as a game. They come here to do things they would not otherwise be able to do in their own worlds.."

  Each person around the table took on a hard look hearing this. Even the young woman was giving off an aura of stern fury and contemplation. They each possessed certain skills over the course of their criminal careers. And much of the experience was earned through rebelling against authority.

  This would not stand.

  "They're not all bad." a voice said. There was a small gasp as she realized she had said something. It was just a response she said to herself under her breath, but they heard her. Violet stood behind Colypheus alongside his sister Celph.

  "What? Speak up, girl." the dark man asked.

  Violet looked to Colypheus for permission, and he nodded. She stepped forward.

  And they each appraised her, coming to their own conclusions.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  She wore a dress a better-off commoner would wear, perhaps a merchants wife. She seemed so unnoticeable. So painfully average. It was she who had stolen an artifact such as a palantír?

  Violet realized she represented the players in this moment- as she had spent the most time with them. She only had to be honest.

  "They're fools. Cowardly, but fearless out of ignorance of true hardship. They're no different than pampered nobles, looking down on anyone not as wealthy as they are. They're childish- unreliable."

  The heads looked at each other cynically. "And they're not so bad?" the young woman asked incredulously.

  Violet let out an exasperated sigh. Then took a deep breath; "They're a lot like us."

  Colypheus observed the reactions of the other heads cautiously, trying not to be too obvious.

  Their was a hint of recognition of Violets words. Her description of them matched many of the heads before a healthy dose of reality hit them. It was hard not to empathize.

  After awhile Violet felt sudden inspiration as to what else to say; "The players I've met were all these things, but they also abided by a code not too dissimilar to ours. They had a guild even. An adventurers guild."

  The man with a punjab spoke; "Perhaps if these 'players' are amicable, we could negotiate for better conditions of this world? If their world created ours, surely that puts them above the gods?"

  The dark man scoffed; "Not the 'players' I know of. I've kept them alive because of these stories on the off chance there was some truth to them, as none of them had palantírs. But now that their existence is proven, I'll send for them. Chappi, could you?"

  One of his aids bowed- an asian woman with silk flowery clothing. Lavenders and pinks that hung loosely from her petite frame.

  She left.

  The dark man adjusted his collar and spoke;

  "The man we're about to see was captured while leading the largest troop of bandits I've ever seen. As your underling has stated Colypheus- we at the thieves guild have a code. As scrupulous as we can be, there are lines we simply will not cross. But not this man, this man had no qualms murdering and raping any trade route into Adun."

  Chappi returned into the room with a man in chains- a metal helmet had been enclosed over his head.

  He whimpered as Chappi dropped his beaten and bruised body to the ground. She stepped back- but made sure to keep an eye on the man. He was dressed in tattered linen pants and nothing else.

  "Remove his mask Chappi.", she bowed in response and produced a silver key. She unlocked the mask and removed it, stowing it under one arm.

  The man had a patchy 5 o'clock shadow and hair that had grown from being recently shaved. His eyes were full of cowardice and regret. Regret for having been caught.

  "Tell these people what you've told me." the dark man said.

  The bandit leader looked from him to the other heads.

  "You must believe me! I didn't know! I thought you were just machines, not living, feeling beings!" he pleaded and begged instantly. "Please let me at least see the sun again! Don't put me back in the hole!"

  "That's enough. Do you see? They created this world for their sick amusement. What kind of beings find joy in such things? Monsters. I say we capture every individuals claiming to be players. And do the following."

  He nodded to Chappi, who produced a thin needle eight inches long and stabbed the prisoner in the side of the throat to the other side. He gurgled and sputtered attempting to speak but being unable to.

  Blood spilled down his bare chest and he fell to the ground. Convulsing until he was dead.

  No one in the room flinched at the act, it was not the first time and would be far from the last a prisoner was executed in this room.

  The man with a punjab spoke again; "I understand your fury Desdan, by tartarus- I share it. But these players... If they've truly created our world, who knows what else they are capable of?"

  'Desdan' smirked; "If they were so powerful and mighty, then why did one just beg like a beaten dog?" he referenced to the lifeless body which was now being lifted and carried from the room.

  "They're trapped." Violet said then. They all looked to her- eager to hear more.

  She swallowed hard; "Somehow the artifacts they used to come here require their real bodies to be bedridden. And they are unable to remove them. They don't understand why."

  "Yet. Their magics may have failed this time, but it is no doubt greater than the gods themselves! We must endear ourselves to them!" the man in a punjab said.

  The young woman who had been seething quietly since the meeting had begun spoke next; "Why don't you throw yourself at Typhus's feet, Sepa?" he recoiled from the spiteful comment.

  She smiled angrily and looked to each person in the room- lingering on Violet.

  "...Would we disgrace ourselves out of fear? Would we be in the positions were are if we have before? To kowtow to the whims of some pompous buffoons simply because they were born into privilege? This is the epitome of our existence! They created us to entertain them! I say we do! So that if they ever return to the world they know what it is to play god, as the nobles we contend with do..." she was standing up by the end of her rant.

  There was a telling silence after that. Sepa tightened his turban and coughed. "I am unsure these people are solely evil. There are good and bad members of any people, I remind you, Ursula. Were we not all judged for being solely evil? Without nuance? This young woman has met with compassionate players! We could seek revenge on the whole of them for the actions of a few, but consider the consequences! Listen to your elders, child!"

  If he had ended his response before that last sentence, Ursula would not of been so infuriated.

  "Don't speak down to me old man! I own twice the property you do!"

  "And who is the one of privilege then?"

  Before the argument could escalate Colypheus slammed a hand down on the table. They quieted and looked towards him.

  He looked up at each of them from beneath his strong brow, shadowing his red eyes in the flickering orange light.

  "We will operate independently as we always have, those of you who want base revenge can take it. Of course. But I suggest that we only punish the guilty. Or risk breaking the code."

  After an awkward silence of maintaining his stare- Ursula nodded.

  "What is the purpose of this meeting, Colypheus? You've uncovered that our world is much smaller than we once believed. But is that all? I assume you did not share this information charitably?"

  Colypheus smiled coyly. "It goes without saying, Desdan. I do have a plan regarding the players, but it involves something else I've been planning for quite some time. I'd like to create a new settlement within Adun."

  They all looked to each other. "What?" Ursula asked.

  Colypheus chuckled; "Is it so ridiculous? Think of it, a land uncorrupted by nobles. Where people can choose their leaders. Leaders with merit, who've earned the right to lead. A town where people of all kinds can go and trade freely. In Adun. No other such place exists and there is a dire demand."

  Ursula looked to Sepa. "What?"

  "We'll leverage our connections to various merchants and trades. Running a city-state that abides by the law of the people. Who elect individuals who will lead their military force and uphold the law. Of course there's more nuance involved, but we can draft some sort of document that clarifies the trivialities."

  Desdan considered what Colypheus was saying, Ursula seemed confused as to why he would ever want this, and Sepa had a twinkle in his eyes.

  He slapped both hands on the table "A splendid idea! We could send players we find to this location! And then use their abilities to create a city that would rival Orrerya! One like what we saw in the palantir!"

  Desdan nodded. "We have grown to about what the nobles will tolerate in this city. But a new settlement? Such things are hardly tolerated either. Not without the kings expressed permission. And if such a place is created surely he will send his envoys to enforce his rule. Collect taxes from the people and such."

  "Yes, of course. And that's why we will force the king to accept our autonomy."

  They all looked at Colypheus like he was mad.

  "And how would we demand such a thing?" Ursula asked.

  "We capture noble houses, and hold them for ransom. We'll capture as many members of the royal families as we can. And for every year we are left to our own devices, we will release one. The only thing the king truly cares for are two things. His coin above all, and his blood."

  Desdan smiled; "Bold. You believe your organization has sufficient means to accomplish such a grand task? You'd have to capture them all at once, since when they discover our goal it will make it very difficult to accomplish."

  "I believe our organizations have the resources to pull it off. If we work together. Each of us will choose a noble family of royal lineage, and capture members. The more members we capture, the more time we'll have to prepare our new settlements defense. Build infrastructure and trade."

  Violet clenched her hands. It was a bold plan, but Colypheus was playing on their hatred of nobles. To imprison them and then use them as bargaining chips? It was an enticing idea.

  "Of course I'll give you some time to consider this. We'll meet again in a weeks time. Until then, consider the nuances of this. Players have revealed a deeper truth about our world. As Sepa says, it could be a tremendous advantage over the noble families- if we act quickly. To cultivate what these players know of this world and use it to one day usurp their rule."

  Desdan sighed; "I'll admit there's merit to the plan. Not that I'm overjoyed about these players. Will they attempt to shield their own from the law when the time comes? There is so much we don't know I suppose. But regardless if they're kept as prisoners or our citizens, we can extract powerful knowledge from them."

  Ursula smiled; "I can get my best interrogators on it! I had a few people claim to be players too!"

  Sepa seemed to agree with Ursula on this. Though he likely wouldn't implore them to share what they know through torture. He seemed to prefer using honey rather than vinegar to persuade people.

  "Then this meeting is concluded. You've given much for us to think about, Colypheus. Gods." Sepa shook his head. "Other worlds, within worlds. How far does it go I wonder... I must pray." he said rising from the table.

  "Yes, we've got much to consider." Desdan rose from the table, and one by one they left the room.

  Colypheus remained, with Violet and his sister. Celph walked over to the bar and poured liquor from an expensive looking bottle into some glasses.

  "Do you think they'll actually consider it?", she placed a glass on the table near Colypheus and began pouring another.

  "Enough of them will. Ursula and Desdan might hate the players too much, as they see so much of the nobles in them. But I suspect at least Sepa will agree to it. And if we work with them, we could buy the settlement at least 10 years. And we can go from there. Most of what we need to accomplish would be done inside of a single year, after all. The rest is only collateral to guranteed that first year..."

  "You're monologuing again." Celph chuckled, taking a drink. "Paah~ say Violet, you seemed pretty chummy with players. Do you think they know something that could challenge the kingdom?"

  Violet pushed her glass away, she wasn't in the mood for it.

  She thought back to what she saw at Malton estate. When she first met the Baba Yaga and her companion Sinatra. She thought about the ruthless Rose, the compassionate Theo and Carlton.

  "I wouldn't be surprised if they ended the world. If they created it, who says they can't destroy it? Not that I'm going to be here long anyways."

  Colypheus and Celph looked at her sympathetically. "Don't say that Violet, you know how much they need you. And plus, that quest right? You have a whole year of life! We can figure something out."

  Colypheus downed his drink and got up to leave. Then turned to Violet.

  "I will promise you one thing Violet, I will do everything in my power to save your life. You can count on that."

  He left.

  Celph nudged Violet on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's get back to planning the job on Malton estate. Who would you say the weakest family members are?"

  They got up and talked as they left. They spoke of future plans and what it all meant. Worlds within worlds. Beings that existed above the gods. Beings that were no less human than them.

  ---

  And a thousand miles south, Theo and his new companions took turns keeping watch while others slept.

  It was Theos turn to take watch, so he walked along the still lake. Occasionally skipping a tiny stone across it.

  "If there's a god out there, could you speak to me? What kind of offering would you want?" he prayed to no god in particular. As the Nymarion had advised him to do. To make offerings, to pray, to be open but not negative about it. It was difficult for him to do.

  "...I never asked for your help, you know. I would've wanted to be a [Mage] or something. But you made me a monster. Why? Who would do that?"

  He tossed the rock, making a new record of 3 skips.

  "If you did it for some important reason, I'd like to know..." he knelt down and saw his reflection. The brown eyes of Yosefs form looked up back at him. He still hasn't gotten used to seeing someone else in his reflection.

  But it was better than his changeling form.

  He looked at his hands. How much longer did he have before he reverted? He couldn't hold onto a form forever. Last time it lasted little over a week.

  A deadline he was fast approaching. He wagered he had two more days. Three if his level made his form last longer.

  He adjusted the coat he had pilfered from Vaz. It was cold in the cavern.

  "If the gods are so powerful, why can't they just show up and tell me what they want?" he tossed another rock across the still lake.

  After the second skip a hand splashed out of the water and clutched it. It's skin was light, almost yellow as it rose up. Glowing a soft blue color.

  It rose up until a body emerged wearing a skirt of leaves. A neckless of multicolored feathers. The androgynous form seemed young, in their early twenties or late teens. A gold band sat on top of their head.

  Theo felt his jaw drop. The figure walked across the water sending ripples across the still surface with every step.

  He stood in front of Theo now. Starring smiling.

  "Mortals usually bow at this point." they said.