Splintered lands EP3

Goblins tended to either be extremely communal or extremely solitary in choosing where to live. Laaz belonged in the latter group, having made his home in a cave on a steep mountain, yet he entertained visitors more often than one would think. He had his ways of getting people past the mountain’s hazards, after all.

Today, Laaz was playing a card game with a human visitor, or a visitor that was ostensibly human at any rate. He sniffed as he set a card down on the table. “Your turn, Reseller of Souls.”

The dark-haired human in front of him rolled his eyes. “It’s just a card game. No need to use my epithet every single time.”

“Fine. Kora, your turn.” Laaz scratched his stumpy nose with a long finger.

“Very well!” Kora set a card in front of Laaz's. “I play Neutral Jelly Potion and deactivate your Eldritch Enclosure trap.”

Laaz chuckled, a vaguely pig-like noise. “You wouldn’t think a simple potion could deactivate a trap set by a dark force, but this game was designed with unusual applications in mind.”

Kora leaned on one hand, a sly grin on his face. “I must say, I do enjoy your business model. Create enchanted with magical functions, whether in conjuration, upgrading, or a direct effect, and then have the empty cards become collectibles after being used? I’m surprised you don’t have a legion of mad collectors hounding you.”

“That’s because I’m discreet,” Laaz said, drawing a card from his deck. “No one knows that I’m behind the cards or the game that sprung up around them. Frankly, considering who I share a family with, that’s probably for the best.”

“Cros, right?” Kora didn’t even hesitate, and he chuckled when Laaz took his turn to roll his eyes.

“Yes, him. That buffoon really has us deep in it now. It was one thing when he claimed he was going to make himself the next big thing in engineering, but none of us figured he’d have it in him to create war machines.” Laaz sighed heavily and shook his head. “That idiot. Nonsense like this is why I don’t bother reading his letters or storing his machines anymore.”

“To be fair, I certainly understand complicated family relationships,” Kora said. “When you’re literally a cousin of the gods, anything can happen, you know?”

Laaz made a noncommittal noise and shrugged. “If your reputation didn’t precede you, I’d still say you were making that up. This really is some strange world we live in, where our gods are alive and well and enjoying their time on the heavenly plane and sometimes show up for kicks and giggles.”

Kora shrugged right back. “I’d say splintering the land was a decent compromise for having gods that actually do something.”

“True, but it sure makes getting around a pain for anyone who can’t planewalk or teleport like you can,” Laaz muttered. “Those folks with the airships are making a killing now, for sure. I’m sure they’re richer than actual royalty at this point.”

“Wouldn’t it be interesting if, perhaps, the heads of the airship companies became the new royalty?” Kora asked.

“Call me a stickler for tradition, but I think we should leave the ruling to the statesmen and the people born to rule,” Laaz replied. “I have a feeling that, knowing you, you’ve got a scheme up your sleeve regarding this.”

“I might, I might not. We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?” Kora grinned. “You still need to play a card, by the way.”

“Fine. Heaven knows there’s no way to rein you in, after all,” Laaz said.

The card game continued from there, and the conversation trailed off...

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Missed EP1 and EP2? Go read back to follow the story.
Splintered Lands EP1
Splintered Lands EP2

Liked or even loved EP than follow me I have handles of short stories mostly Dystopian and Also a Novel I am currently working on up to chapter 6 at the moment.

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