It only took roughly fifteen minutes of us swimming upstream in order for us to arrive at a rather crudely made village based at the foot of the mountain where the river runs its course.
The area around here was turned into a marshland like swamp from the pooling of water with a portion of the village proper being slightly submerged within the muddy marsh waters.
I quickly was hoisted out from the river leaving me cold and shivering, however with my strong body Constitution I didn't need to fear getting a cold from spending such amount of time within those cold river waters, especially when the time of year was mid summer with the air being both hot and humid so the cool water was more refreshing than anything.
Though the humid air reeked of old dead mud, that swampy marshland smell you would have to get used to smelling less it makes you gag from the stench alone, but growing up on a farm made me more or less immune to the smell of it all.
However I had to hop from one patch of solid ground to the next lest my feet sink knee deep in the thick sludge like mud found all around this village.
But there was a path made from fallen logs haphazardly connected between the patches of relatively solid ground that made getting from the river and across most of the marsh to the main part of the village both simple and easy to cross, most likely these were used to keep their children safe when crossing between patches of solid land.
Unless monster eggs are grown within a hatchery they will open much earlier but in return said monsters will be nothing more than children and won't be able to produce the necessary materials for use until they naturally grow up within the time frame of either a few months to one to two years.
It's also why adventurers only hunt for monster eggs as after a monster hatches naturally its value drops significantly for any monster tamers to want to buy them with only some rich noble family's wanting child monsters to tame as they would like to have them as pets and possibly personal life long guards for them or their children.
So seeing several Rock Lizard children playing about wasn't all that surprising to see, but what was surprising to see and hear was the smoke coming out of the chimney of one building and the constant sound of clanging.
'A forge? These monsters were able to discover and implement forging without knowledge from any of the human races?!?!' I could help but shout internally in shock at what I was seeing.
Though mind you 'most' of the Rock Lizards were using some form of stone based weaponry, such as stone clubs, war hammers and stone gauntlets like the three that were leading me through the camp were using but several of the guards were using bronze and iron tipped spears along with shields that were mostly tightly woven and hardened wood were covered in a thin layer of bronze and iron as well.
'Late bronze to early Iron Age when it comes to their weapons but most still use stone weaponry meaning they must not have a large supply of ores to smelt and use.' I kept thinking to myself as my presence was being watched by the tribesmen here in the village.
[Chief, this is the Hobgoblin that wants to speak with you on his and his companion's behalf.] The lead Rock Lizard said as he and the other two pounded their fists across their chests in a salute like way while looking towards the massive building covered in the bones of various giant monsters, most of which must have originated from the sea.
*Thud Thud Thud*
I could hear the sounds of heavy footsteps slowly approaching us before I finally saw him as he exited what I believed to be his home for a lack of better words.
He stood well over 9ft tall, towering over all of his kind as he one handedly lifted up and hung over his shoulder a massive, sharp and iron made claymore as he looked down at me with his one good right eye.
His body was covered in scars from the many battles he had been in along with the missing left eye of his, his muscles flexed a rippled across his body showing how much strength was within him and as my eyes glowed I could see why he was naturally made the chief of this tribe.
*******
Name: Zar-Kroa
Title: High Chief of the Tribe
Grade: B++
Racial Traits: Aquatic Breathing, Rock Skin, Predetory Instincts
Inherit Traits: Leadership, Swordsman, Tactician, Overwhelming Endurance, Ironhide Skin
Godly Blessing: Blessed one of Nannlan
********
'A Godly blessing? That shouldn't be possible! And who is this Nannlan? Is this the god that the Rock Lizards Worship? Or is it a god that is known only here in the New World by these monsters?' I could help but sweat when I saw what was before me.
Not only was he a B++ Grade monster, nearly on the cusp of turning into an A Grade monster with the strength and power to contend with lesser Dragons single-handedly but he was also somehow received the blessing a of a God, something only people destined for greatness back in the old world would be blessed by a high priest of that god or even receiving the blessing from the god personally.
While I was looking at him and seeing his details he was scrutinizing me as he looked at me up and down before snorting.
[Tch, Hobgoblins, do you not know who you are standing before?] He asked me in a stern and somewhat condescending tone to his voice.
I knew I had to choose my words wisely with this one, but there's always one thing these types like to hear, "Of course! Of Course! You must be High Chief Zar-Krona! The one and true leader of your kind and not only that but are the Blessed one of Nannlan! It is an honor to finally meet one such as yourself!" I said to him showering him in praise, something most like to hear when said from another.
He snorted hearing that before sheathing his sword onto his back before crossing his arms and looking down at me, [You know of me? Then why did you enter my territory unannounced and not telling me or my people of your intentions?] He said while giving me a stern look with his one remaining good eye.
Hearing this makes me visibly sweat more than I was already do to this heat and humidity, but now I had to think fast.
I must do whatever I can to convince him and the Rock Lizards to allow us to move through their territory unimpeded.
*******
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