Galcaerrow Mines (Final Map)

Frustration ebbed over the face of the hobgoblin who glared down into a yellowed and frayed parchment set atop a pile of similar yellowing papyrus.

"The bones of one should know" Yellow eyes leered for another moment before shaking overtook the creature "Why is the answer not within the hollows!  The old marrow.  Tell me!"

Spinning, a bolt of embers wreathed in greasy ebon smoke streaked from his grasp to a hollow-eyed skeleton chained to a great stone carved pillar, striking with a explosive spark of orange and dark and sending yellowed bones clattering in concussive direction, trailed by grey smoke, until the quiet settled over the great cavern once more.

"Uh.."

The hobgoblin's head snapped to look over his shoulder, one wild, yellow eye peering back at a great shaggy brute in dark leathers and plates flanked by hunched and cowing creatures armed with jagged spears and equally jagged blades on their backs.

"W-we, uh.." the brute continued his intrusion "We lost 'nother hunting crew.  They ain't checked in fer a moon's crossing--"

The creature cut short as the hobgoblin draped in a traveler's robe strode towards him with murderous intent, backing the beast up against one of the pillars before hissing. "Do you think I need to be bothered with this petty bullshite, Ar'kor?

"I-I just.. It's the s-second we lost.." The brute stammered, a hand fumbling towards a blade at it's hip.  The fear in it's eyes suddenly edging towards a clever realization when fingers found and pulled the knife free from its sheath.

The hobgoblin didn't break his gaze to his underling, uttering a simple "Ir Tempos Flathaum" before a scream erupted from the Bugbear and the echo of metal clattering against the ground filled the stale air of the warren.

The Bugbear held it's smoldering hand with the other, stumbling, the pain nearly causing its knees to give out.  His blade lay glowing, smoking thin wisps from flesh left behind on the near molten metal.  It stared at the hobgoblin again, eyes nearly wild with fear.

"Do you know why I gave you the rank of Ar'kor?" The Hobgoblin asked as he calmly strode away, the eight goblins parting before him like waters before the bow of a boat.  "I made you Ar'kor so I wouldn't have to worry about the logistics of defending this miserable place as I tended to more important work."

The moaning and growling continued from the Bugbear, a mix of fury and agony bouncing back and forth within him, teeth bared at his master, who now leaned over the papers and tomes on the heavy table in the center of the chamber.

The hobgoblin sighed "I should have made the less capable of you into hollows." A clawed hand raising a small orb from its stand amidst the clutter and stared into by yellow, animal eyes for a moment "The dead are at least more quiet.  And certainly don't need to wander off and fall off of cliffs or get lost in the woods like arse-addled children when looking for food." His eyes flicking to the goblins "Do they?"

The diminutive creatures all cowered a little, backing away, looking among their number as if to find the one of them foolish enough to answer.

"My concerns are focused on breaching the forge, Ar'kor.  Your concerns should be mounting a search party if you are so concerned.  But deprive me of any more men and I'll be sure you are at the top of the list when I wither you all into something more malleable." his eyes flicking to the grumbling bugbear "Certainly more loyal."

The Ar'kor snorted, reaching to pick his blade up from the stone ground, but not before giving a few, quick test pats with his un-injured fingers.  He gave a curt bow to his master before shoving one of the goblins towards the exit, the miserable lot shuffling into the dark once more.  

There are answers in the dark.

In the death

In the bones

-T.J.

This is going to be the last map posted this month.  I did this over the weekend to largely keep my mind occupied.

I'm running a bit late this month on art.  My other 'job' is as a caregiver and upkeep on a property (for family, but it is still a full time gig).  While I won't go into any detail the past month has seen me get incredibly busy due to some of these family health issues.  Its meant that some days have been fully dedicated to getting things done on that end.

With that said, I am in the process of inking the 'birds and tea' image in preparation to be painted, and I've got a solid couple thumbnails done for the next person on the sketch list.

I'll be picking the next patron about mid Feb for their sketch.  Still working through some of the new patrons at that level, so if you haven't been tapped for a sketch yet, no worries!  You are on the list, it just takes time to get through them all.

Thanks again, folks.

-T.J.