Morning came, bringing with it the smell of dew, and dirt and that body odor of goblins.
Sen Zu was sitting on an uneven tree stump, unshod, half-buttoning his shirt, being in a very bad state of hair and a good state of eye, both shining in the fashion of one who has slept precisely two hours in his life, and has enjoyed himself more than is good for him the previous evening.
Before him ten goblins stood in a wobbly line blinking up at him expectantly. Others were rubbing their armpits. One was tongue-washing a rock. One could be doing both.
Sen Zu clapped his hands. "Alright, listen up, my miniature green disasters. You have officially joined the Sen Zu Regime™. That means we're organized. We're efficient. We have drumroll names."
Rin, standing behind him with a clay cup of wild berry tea, squinted. "You're naming them?"
"Of course. What kind of chief doesn't name his minions? Names build identity. Identity builds morale. Morale builds empires."
"…I think you just made that up."
"Correct."
He pointed at the loudest goblin, who was currently shadow-boxing a bush.
"You. You're Uno. That means 'one.' Because you're first. Also because you look like you've only got one brain cell."
Uno puffed his chest. "UNO STRONG!"
"That's the spirit. Next." Sen Zu pointed down the line. "You with the rock and the weird math on the ground—you're Ni. You're the brains."
Ni nodded like he already knew.
The goblin adjusting a rat-pelt scarf? "Trois."
The one flexing a log like it was a twig? "Nne."
Paranoid leaf-hat guy? "Fünf."
Silent, stoic one? "Roku."
Wild, twitchy gremlin trying to tie his shoelaces to someone else's ears? "Sebun."
Goblin chewing on a stick with religious devotion? "Otto."
One doing weird finger symbols and mumbling prophecies? "Nueve."
And finally... The one who stood unnervingly still, staring at Sen Zu like a bodyguard with unresolved trauma? "Diez."
Sen Zu sat back, proud. "There. Names complete."
Rin blinked. "Those are just numbers."
"Numbers in style."
.........
The goblins, newly named and deeply confused by the concept of identity, immediately began squabbling over who was the strongest, smartest, or least likely to be stepped on.
Uno declared himself field commander.
Fünf suggested they form a union.
Sebun tried to race a chicken and lost.
Rin started taking notes.
Sen Zu just smiled and opened the Lord System menu with a thought.
[DING!]
[New Feature Unlocked: Loyalty Board]
.........
Loyalty Board – Subordinates
Uno: 65% – Thinks he's the boss but he is braindead
Ni: 60% – Quiet, but actually the shadow boss
Trois: 62% – Already fashioning a cape
Nne: 55% – Log has a name: Bashy
Fünf: 48% – Paranoia Level: Yes
Roku: 68% – Acting mysterious green monster.
Sebun: 50% – Wants to race the wind, Absolutely high. (out of his mind.)
Otto: 52% – Chewing noises intensify
Nueve: 59% – Mumbles prophecies, may be nonsense. Might also be high
Diez: 80% – Terrifyingly loyal
.........
Sen Zu grinned. "Perfect. My army of chaos has names and stats."
Rin leaned over his shoulder. "What happens if their loyalty drops to zero?"
He winked. "Then they betray me. But that won't happen."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm irresistible."
She looked away quickly, ears pink.
.........
Meanwhile... in the Trees
Far beyond the village, a shadow crouched among the branches. A man with a scar across his face watched the goblins dance around a half-built hut.
He chuckled to himself, blade resting across his shoulder.
.........