Their team found the goblin village not by sight, but by smell—a pungent mix of rotting meat, smoke, and unwashed bodies. It was nestled in a natural cave complex partway up the gorge wall, a messy sprawl of crude hide tents and stolen goods piled around the entrance.
They had barely finished surveying the site from a hidden ledge when a sharp, guttural cry echoed off the stone. They'd been spotted. A sentry goblin, perched on a higher rock, pointed a bony finger and shrieked an alarm.
Instantly, the cave mouth swarmed with small, green-skinned figures. Dozens of them. They were scrawny but fast, armed with chipped swords, jagged spears, and crudely strung bows.
"Levy, shields!" Adam barked, hefting his massive, double-headed warhammer.
Levy didn't need to be told twice. She stepped forward, her gentle expression hardening into one of intense concentration. She raised her hands, palms outward. "Aqua Barrier: Dome!"
