Free NPCs by Drew Hayes

reunited with your wife’s.”
    Thistle felt a surge of power, one that rippled out from his god and seemed to pulse all around them. One thing you could say about gods: they always kept their promises. They were bound by them.
    “So, how do I do this?”
    “You just promise to serve me, and then you wake up,” Grumble explained.
    “I promise to serve you,” Thistle promptly replied.
    “Really? That’s it? I mean, I don’t get many of these, and I thought you’d put a little more theatricality into it,” Grumble, well, grumbled.
    Thistle choked back a sigh, which was the warning sign of a sarcastic retort. He was going to be working with this deity for some time; it would serve them both better to keep things civil.
    “Oh, mighty Grumble, god of minions and henchmen, overseer of them who keep the world running, yet remain overlooked, I pledge myself to your service, and swear to uphold your standards while glorifying your name.”
    “Much better,” Grumble said with a smile. “Welcome to my service, Thistle the Paladin.”
    * * *
    When the gnome re-entered the tent, flanked on either side by a bewildered human and a half-orc whose bandages were now removed, the goblins were a touch confused. When he jostled his way to the side of Gabrielle, moving others aside politely, but firmly, they grew concerned. It was only when he pressed his hands on her stomach and the dim glow of golden light began emanating from them that they put everything together. At their capture, the goblins had assumed these folks were searching for a quest, looking to become adventurers, yet not strong enough to actually go by the title. Once the light faded and Gabrielle’s eyes flickered open, there was no doubt left.
    In the battle, something had changed. One of them, at least, had become a true adventurer.
    * * *
    Despite the divine patch-job, it was several more hours before Gabrielle was cleared by the goblins’ medical team and allowed to join her friends. She found them at one of the few tables not destroyed in the previous evening’s chaos, eating a few bits of jerky and large amounts of fruit.
    “Pull up a seat,” Eric welcomed, motioning her over. “There wasn’t much meat that survived the fire, but a big gathering party rounded up plenty of apples and berries this afternoon.”
    Gabrielle nodded and sat down next to Eric. He looked different, somehow. It took a moment for her to realize that he’d yet to re-don his armor. How many years had it been since she’d seen him sans reflective protection? It seemed to have done him good; his back was straighter, and the usual pained expression was nowhere to be seen on his face.
    “Not to pester, but I wanted to make sure of something,” Thistle said as Gabrielle piled her plate full of various fruits. “I assume they didn’t send a runner this morning?”
    “Definitely not,” she confirmed. “After last night, they aren’t ready to take on a band of adventurers. They need time to rebuild and refortify. Besides, they said it didn’t seem right, keeping us after we helped them. As far as they’re concerned, we’re free to go.”
    “Good,” Thistle said, nodding his head. “I’d already chatted with them and gotten that story, but I just wanted to make sure they’d told you the same thing.”
    Gabrielle’s hand froze, a fistful of grapes suspended mid-way to her mouth.
    “Thistle, you don’t speak Gobleck.”
    “Correction: I didn’t speak Gobleck,” Thistle said. “Technically, I still don’t. Everything they say sounds to me like it’s being said in the Proper Kingdom Language. Presumably, they hear my responses in Proper as if I’d said them in Gobleck.”
    “That’s impossible,” Gabrielle pointed out.
    “Not really, it makes ample sense. Goblins are one of the most frequent races used as minions, and as such, they are devout worshippers of Grumble. It seems perfectly fitting that a paladin of Grumble should be able to speak with