Goblin village

As Adam entered the dreamverse, he found himself standing atop a small, obsidian-like altar emitting a faint hum. This was his temporary binding stone, an object that tethered him to this world and allowed him to return even after death. He was completely naked, having nothing on his entire body due to his recent demise.

*You have lost 3400 dream coins due to your death*

*You have lost [Newbie Spear (Tier 0)]*

*You have lost [Newbie Light Helmet (Tier 0)]*

*You have lost…*

A series of system messages appeared before him, the text stark and foreboding against the vibrant backdrop of the dreamverse. The message detailed the penalties of his recent death, and as Adam skimmed through the information, he couldn't help but wince at the loss. He had lost a significant amount of dream coins and the entire contents of his inventory, including a substantial chunk of materials he had gained from his hunts with Lancer.

Adam stood there for a moment, looking up at the sky, lost in his thoughts and ignoring the breeze on his naked form. He was here to avenge Lancer, and although he wasn't sure when Lancer had transformed from just another drone into someone he genuinely cared about, his death hit him harder than he expected.

Clenching his fists, he decided to set his jaw and focus on the task at hand. Dwelling on his losses would do him no good. With a renewed sense of purpose, he grabbed some clothes from a small chest next to the altar. He hadn't died for a while, so the clothes felt a bit awkward since he had outgrown them slightly.

Now clothed, he hurried toward the hive, which was bustling with activity. Numerous units were congregating in the staging grounds.

The hive was a cacophony of sounds: drones chattering, biomass bubbling in the vats, and the distant clang of weapons being forged. The air was thick with the acrid smell of the vats, which mingled with the earthy scent of the hive's organic structure. A palpable sense of urgency pervaded the atmosphere, as the hive's activity had ramped up considerably since Adam's last visit.

Adam observed some units with severe injuries being healed in biomass vats, and drones were taking wounded humanoids into the hive, ready to be converted into fresh troops. Other units stood around waiting for their units and missions to be assigned before heading off to the war, either walking or carried by flying hive beasts.

'Seems like the war is picking up in intensity,' Adam thought. 'Great, it's going to mean that Zara and the General are too busy to pay attention to my arrival.' As he approached the entrance of the hive, he felt a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach—a mix of anticipation and dread. He knew the hive held something that would make avenging Lancer easier, but he also knew it would be challenging to hide his activities.

He couldn't afford to waste too much time, not even for a moment could he take a break. He needed to quickly get what he needed from the hive. He noticed a small satchel on a table outside in the staging grounds, which he promptly snatched for his use, placing it in his [inventory].

Adam entered the parasite birthing chambers, taking a more circuitous route to ensure he wasn't seen entering. His eyes scanned the room for any sign of what he was looking for. He knew what he sought was hidden here, and he was determined to find it, regardless of the cost.

'Where are you…' As he searched, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of urgency. Time was of the essence. If someone entered the room and saw what he was doing, he would be in serious trouble. He needed to locate what he wanted quickly to achieve his goal.

'There!' At last, after what felt like an eternity, he found what he was looking for. He took out the satchel he had stolen earlier from his [inventory] and collected something from the room before exiting, ensuring that no one saw him leave. He kept the small satchel concealed within his clothes, making sure it wasn't obviously poking out.

With a triumphant smile, he set about replacing the gear he had lost due to his death. It was a shame about the crafting material, but it wasn't as though he had been doing anything with them since he would just drop them off with the hive crafters.

Moving with a newfound sense of purpose, Adam carefully selected new novice equipment, ensuring that each piece was perfectly suited to his needs. He knew that he couldn't afford to make any mistakes, not with the stakes this high.

As he finished equipping himself, he couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. He swiped away the messages informing him of his equipped items. Now, he was ready for the rest of his plans.

With his preparations complete, Adam made his way through the hive, careful to avoid any unnecessary encounters. He knew that Zara and the General were somewhere within the hive, and he had no desire to cross paths with them – not yet, at least.

Instead, he kept his head down and focused on his mission, moving swiftly and silently through the labyrinthine corridors.

Once safely outside the hive, Adam made his way toward the forest, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew that the goblins' village lay somewhere within the dense forest, and he was determined to gather as much information as possible before making his move.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, he quickly located a goblin hunting party, their raucous laughter and crude language echoing through the trees. He observed them from a distance as they successfully hunted down a beast for food, their crude weapons and brutal tactics making short work of the unfortunate creature.

Adam followed the goblin hunting party as they carried their prize back to the village, careful to stay hidden among the undergrowth. He was doing his absolute best to be stealthy, and he knew that remaining undetected was crucial to the success of his mission. He didn't have any skills to aid his stealth, so he maintained his distance.

'I can't let them identify me or it will make the next steps so much harder.' Luckily, the goblins were more focused on bantering with each other and heading back to their village than on their surroundings.

As he approached the village, Adam found a suitable vantage point and settled in to watch the goblins as they went about their daily routines. Before doing anything else, he opened his [Map] and marked the location of the goblin village, ensuring that he would always be able to locate it.

He observed the goblins coming and going, noting the number of goblin hunting parties and the different fortifications that protected the village. He saw wooden palisades surrounding the perimeter, with watchtowers manned by goblin archers at regular intervals. There were also crude, but effective, traps scattered throughout the village's entrance – a clear indication that the goblins were well-prepared for any potential threats.

In addition to the wooden palisades and watchtowers, the goblin village boasted a series of hidden pitfall traps designed to ensnare unwary intruders. These pits were filled with sharpened stakes, making escape a painful and potentially lethal endeavor. Another line of defense was a series of tripwire-triggered snares that would entangle and immobilize any would-be attackers.

"I need to note the placement of these traps on my map so I can remember them for later." As the hours passed, Adam carefully documented the information he had gathered, mentally noting the strengths and weaknesses of the goblin village. He knew that this information would prove invaluable in the coming battles, and he was determined to leave nothing to chance.

One aspect of the goblin village he paid particular attention to was the non-combatants. He could see that the goblins all had tasks, with women taking care of the children and crafting, while the elderly helped out where they could. He observed some of the young playing by the river and noted that only a few goblins were there to protect them from wildlife in case of an attack.

He watched as goblin patrols moved in and out of the village, their crude armor clanking as they walked around, laughing and joking with each other in a completely undisciplined manner. He observed the village's layout, taking note of the various buildings and structures that dotted the landscape – their small thatched huts, what seemed to be a temple, and the largest building in the village, which was most likely Skab's abode.

"These guys are completely undisciplined; they have barely any sense of organization," he frowned, annoyed by how undisciplined these goblins were when Adam was raised in a militaristic hive. He was taught its values and couldn't help but judge the goblins. Drones would never stop whatever they were doing to squat and take a dump on the side of the streets. These goblins were absolutely filthy.

"This is going to be easier than I thought," he sneered.

As it started to get dark, Adam continued his vigil, the shadows growing longer and the village's fires casting a warm glow over the scene. He knew that he couldn't stay hidden forever, but he also knew that he couldn't afford to leave without gathering all the information he needed.

Adam spied a single goblin with a half-bitten left ear and a shifty look about it. He observed the goblin and its behavior, noticing a specific pattern. The goblin would go to a particular spot every few hours and always go alone. Usually, other goblins would not leave the village without another goblin accompanying them. They found safety in numbers, and the more goblins there were, the more courageous they became.

So, a single goblin leaving the village stood out like a sore thumb.

'What's that guy up to? Hmm, he might be a good target,' Adam thought.

Finally, after hours of careful observation and meticulous note-taking, Adam felt that he had learned all he could about the goblin village with sight alone. He had a clear understanding of the village's defenses, its inhabitants, and its daily routines – information that would be crucial in planning his next moves.

It was time for Adam to move to the next part of his plan. He retreated from his vantage point, slipping away into the darkness of the forest. He moved confidently, already aware that there would be no patrols in the area. He found the spot that the shifty goblin frequented.

He hid in the area and waited expectantly for his quarry to enter the spot. "He should be here in like 20 minutes. I'll wait at most 30 minutes; if he doesn't appear, then I'm going to have to find another goblin."