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(Story by Koviell Sashermasock)

Before I went to the surface, I was living in the Underworld. The world below is full of mysteries, dangers and races unknown to the surfacers. Like most of the kobolds who choose to go to the surface, we wanted a better life, adventures and/or flee our society. Since the last war against The Gray Ones, our leaders, sorcerers and priests left us to our new tyrants. They forced us to work in mines longer than before, to gather material for an unknown project they have. The "lucky" ones like me had to work in the library, sorting the books they consider profane to put the ones they brought instead, written in their language. 5 years after the event, this is where the story begins…
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I'm working in the library. Translating books from draconian to Gray tongue wasn't a fun task to do. I didn't take long to learn the language of the invaders. They're harsh and brutish against us, but more "tolerant" for the ones who learned their language. Gray tongue is actually pretty close to draconian, but with words from different origins, probably a cultural thing. This is a day, like any other since the Gray Ones invaded Kapazu, our city.

"Another pile done here. You're doing well. Here's another." Said the Gray One watching over us in the library in his language before dropping another pile of book on my desk.

What's good when working in the library is that there watcher don't whip us and rarely yell at all. The ones working in the mines don't have it easy. They're constantly whipped and if they're too slow, they're thrown in the holes. Sad sad for them.

"Hey! You're not there to slumber, worm. Get back to work!" the Gray One said to me before hitting my desk with his fist.

"Yip!"

It was a pain.

After a day of work, they let us rest for about 6 hours before they send us back to work. Some barely have the time to eat. This is sad, but our life now.

The ones who aren't working in the mines or the library were either working in the nursery or working as guards against wandering monsters around. One of my friends was working as a guard. His name is Kynishitli Skakkol, but everyone was calling him Arkum, I don't remember why. Strong, skilled and smart, everything to make a good soldier. Every time he goes on a round, I fear that he doesn't come back. It never happened, yet.

"Day over, go home and get some sleep." The Gray One watching over us said be he left the place.

Everyone sighed.

It was time to get back to my shack, grab what's left from my meal and get some sleep.

During the night, I went out to get to the restroom. After that, I took a look outside. Strange, Why is there so much lights now? And then there was an explosion. The ground started to shake and a shack far away just melted in flames. What's happening?

"Are you okay Soala?"

"Hum? It's you? For how long you were there. Did you see..."

"Yeah, I saw it. I was there not long ago." Said Arkum before getting out of his hide spot.

"What happened to you? You're hurt."

"Yeah. I was on my round tonight. The gray ones following us killed my team, but I did manage to knock out one of them before running away. There is a Gray Ones army there, they want to burn up the city, with us inside!" He said.

He had a wound on his belly. I don't fear for him, but he does need healing.

"Let's put a bandage on this, and I'll patch you up later. How do we get out of this mess then?"

"I found a way out, we just need to follow this road and search for the hole hidden there.” He said while I was applying the bandage.

"An escape tunnel? I'll need to get dressed up before leaving."

"Go quickly, we don't have must time left." He said while looking at the fire spreading on the city.

I went to pick my clothes and get dressed up. I had a backpack somewhere and I dropped a few things in it. I might need my slingshot too. After that I got back to Arkum and we runned to the hidden hole, leaving behind Kapazu and the remaining citizens...