>>5320406You settle your gaze upon Agno, his eyes bugged out, his breathing ragged, his talons flexed for battle but his legs jelly.
“MOST of us. Some of us… Have clearly gotten IDEAS that need to be addressed. And this being a ceremony to the God of Glory, we will settle it by ritual…”
You turn back to the crowd. “BY TRIAL OF COMBAT!”
A scattered cheer goes up, while other kobolds lower their heads in shame and deference. None objects or defies you.
A short while later, the two of you are stripped of your clothing by female kobolds—or, in your case, tissue and the Novice, once more emerged from her work-space.
“You’re going to BRAWL with a KOBOLD?” she asks, incredulously.
“Yes,” you reply solemnly. “An example must be made.”
“We could just show the kobolds the eggs which remain intact,” she says.
“And Glowie?” you ask.
The Novice shrugs, but you actually had an idea of your own. Once Tessu has left the two of you, you voice it aloud:
“You’ve been experimenting on her, Fleshweaving. The blue blood and venomous bite… Those are the result. And one egg… Was damaged, returning from the tunnels below.”
The Novice blinks, and rattles quietly.
“Clever, for a heat-addled ape-hybrid,” she says, the highest praise you can expect. “Will you be so clever after the head trauma?”
“Please,” you scoff. “Agno, he is a KOBOLD. This is a formality.”
