Mok Firethief's Journal: A Goblin's Recollection

Mok somehow make it to Vulkwusten, despite dangers of Valenwood. He decided to try eat at tavern when Mok got lucky. He find someone who knew Mok as Gnarlus, who not have bad opinion of him, Alijham. He once was alchemist in Baandari, but left for some reason. It took Mok moment to recognize him, but Ali recognize Mok right away. He invited Mok to go to fight event, where he introduced him to others of town. They seem reluctant to talk to Mok, but then again Mok reluctant to talk to them too. Even though he around someone he know, Mok still can't bring self to talk to others. He not like them, and not know what talk about.

After one person beat up another person in fight, Mok went with Alijham to his clinic. Mok feel real sorry for people who get hurt, not because they hurt, but because of hike that they need make to top of tree to get healed. There long walk thru tavern, walk of shame really, then hike up roots, climb two ladders. Yikes. Mok want be extra careful during stay, he not want end up hurt. Mok not be able to make it to clinic he think.

Anyway, Alijham invited Mok to stay in Vulkwusten. It first hospitality he experience and it very much needed. After night Mok tell Alijham full story, about what happen to Mok involving Gnarlus. He seemed disgusted about how Sugar Claw treated Mok, even after learning truth. Mok unsure why, but others seemed agree with Alijham. Were they really not treating Mok fairly? Mok not sure, he simply not understand 'civilized' biggums thinking ways.

He said Mok welcomed stay for long as he want, and point anyone who have problem with it to him. Mok smiled, Mok actually smile. Alijham mentioned he getting married soon, so Mok wants get gift for him and love. Mok already have idea what get Alijham, but he not sure who other is. Alijham mention she like history, and not hold material stuff. That hard to figure out what to give gift for, but after searching through his stuff, Mok find old Music Box, brass and gold. It play song that tell story of Town in Auridon. While it not very Bosmer, Mok hope lack of wood in gift be good.

But of course, nothing ever go plan. Mok was down in tavern inspecting box, trying think of way to replace small broken cog. As Mok reached for Loupe though, crazy lady slammed her axe down on Mok's table, destroying box completely. She then picked Mok up and threaten to kill him. Mok's instinct kick in, and he summoned roots to tangle women.
Mok yelled out he invited, but woman not listen. She continued try kill Mok, despite roots. Next time Mok just going blind her. Either way, it happened be good thing in long run, lots of people run foward and defend Mok. "If he dangerous, he already be attacking." people call out. Mok suppose that true, but after crazy lady let go Mok and go away, Mok asked strange question by Khajiit. "What it like to be Goblin. Why do they attack random." it make Mok think actually.

Back in Goblin clan, Mok always taught that Biggums bad and want kill you. Mok always should attack first before he attacked, that what he taught. But why? Mok thought about it for while, and came up with possible answer.

Mok know goblin type of Mer, that obvious by pointy ears, and looking like small orc. That likely mean Goblins been around as long as other Mer. But Mok look at how they treat Goblins: Slaves. Dunmer and Altmer treat goblins slaves for long time. Imperial enjoy cut ears off goblins in Cyrodiil, orcs bully goblins. You look at that, is it wonder that goblins attack biggums. We denied everything because we considered weak in past. That why we attack Biggums... Probably. Mok not have proof other then what he see and what he know from Goblin Clan. Since then, Mok see opposite of story, Biggums who not hate goblins for no reason.

Mok going to head to Weeping Wind Cave to look for replacement parts for music box. Mok traded with goblins who live in cave before and they seem friendly, at least to Mok. They at least let Mok say something before they attack when Mok first encounter them. They sometimes have things they got in raids, not that Mok proud that.

Can things get worse?

Mok opened Merchant Stall in Vulkwusten, spent a lot drakes fixing it up everything, as stall was destroyed in attack on town. Got glass cases, shelving, shelter, hire someone put up the stands, everything need replacing. Mok had very good time the short time he open, but curse of Gnarlus strike again. Actually, Mok really think it just coincidence, but it seem like something Gnarlus do to look sad.

There was huge quake in Vulkwusten. Mok was in tavern at time, and when shaking first start Mok not notice until others mention it. He dropped to ground to prevent from falling, and quake started getting worse and worse. Bottles, shelves everything in tavern fall off shelves, but Mok knew he was in safest place, Giant Tree rooted down into ground, it not shake or risk falling. Mok watch outside and saw his stall fall pieces, everything crash down and destroyed. In middle of town, huge hole opened up. Mok wanted answers so he went to hole.

Crevice was deep, and the guards were strict not let anyone down who they not want down. Mok did still offer help in getting people down into crevice, he animate roots of nearby tree to reach down to bottom. Three people go down, and they said they find tunnel at bottom. It widen as it get deeper. It sound like tunnel system from Tree Roots. Mok wrote letter to Guards with theory, but he not hear anything of it. They probably concluded same thing.

Anyways, Mok managed salvage somethings from stall, but not much. Everything destroyed. Lucky Mok wares in his Haversack, but it still very disappointing. Mok going need spend earnings from this week Market to fix Stall. Hope Mok earn enough.

*The hand writing it messy compared to the rest of the journal, it looks as if Mok manually written this into the book rather then used it magic.*

This first time Mok ever sick and he hate it. Mok took fungus illness from Hlor so that she and baby would live. No one listen to Mok when he say Hlor sick. When Mok see it, he acted. He stopped progress on Hlor so she may live, but now Mok going through what she go through, except slowly. Mok feel body fighting back at fungus in him, he growing pale, and Mok voice is so raspy, book not able understand him. Mok hope Alijham able to find cure, but based off dead body that fungus come from, Mok going stay away from everyone.

Mok actually saved life today. He really saved life. Mok not able believe it, but it make him feel much better then when Mok sold everything at Woodhearth this week.

Alijham found dead body with new fungus in it yesterday, and instructed everyone in town to puff on Hookah that had cure to it. Mok has been helping Alijham for past week to develop it, and it work very good, with exception of hallucination effect from Hist Sap. Either way, side effect aside, it work great and Mok able to breath now. Alijham adjusted mixture to counteract Hist Sap, so it safe for everyone, if little gross.

While people were in line, there was Scaleback who was unable to breath. It looked as if fungus was block air thingy, and he unable to inhale the bong. Everyone trying to force the air into Thorn, but with blocked airway it was not working. Mok then remembered when he travel with Qa'han, he said that Scalebacks have two ways of breathing, thru mouth and nostrils, and thru gills when they submerged in water. Mok acted fast, talked Altmer into letting Mok take over, and even though he thought Mok was animal, he agree. After explaining Mok's plan to submerge Thorn in water to let him breath, he helped Mok lift him into back. Mok then poured the liquid Hist Sap cure into the water to allow it to flow into Thorn's gills. It worked too! He coughed up the fungus that was blocking his airway. Mok then administer the gas cure to him thru Galehorn, and Afer brought him over to the beds. Even though Mok not actual healer, he instructed Thorn to stay in clinic until Alijham or Lucrezia look at him. Hopefully he listen to Mok.

Mok is surprised, he being helpful in town. Even though there some who look down at Mok as being animal, there others who look to Mok for advice and help. He also come to town at perfect time, Mok unsure if Alijham would be able to handle fungus alone. He very capable, but this is taking toll on him, he seem frustrated about all this. Mok going to help as much as he can. He talked over with Alijham about ways to prevent this from happening, and we came up with plan to spread the gas cure over town to destroy the the spore, hence why Mok been working on crafting Galehorn.

Galehorn is Shaman Artifact, able to channel Nirn's Wind. It crafted by carving a wooden log into a shape of conch shell. It took nearly a day, but after a little testing it does work, leaves Mok rather winded though. If we put the gas cure into shell, Mok can channel wind into a powerful gust and spread it thru town. Mok also have plans on blowing the Horn into the tunnel itself where Fungus come from, but we need approval of town leaders before Mok descends. Alijham said that he willing to vouch for him.

On side note, Mok actually learned something about way that all Biggums think. As Mok was sick this week and helping Alijham, he was unable to set out and find stuff to find and fix for Market. Instead Mok had look into stuff that Gnar... Mok bring when he exiled from Sugar Claw Clan and Baandaari. He found a large collection of book towards bottom of pack, most with pictures of... ummmmm... what Mok assume is acts that Biggums use when they wish to mate to birth baby. One book in particular caused Mok the turn 50 Shades of Green, just looking at the pictures. Mok decided it was best for him to get rid of such books before they give Mok idea to try them himself...

And he sold out of EVERYTHING...

Seriously, Mok sold out of his entire collection. He even sell the Painting Stuff that was there to draw similar pictures (Gnarlus.... Mok was terrible drawer in past. He burned the stuff that he drew before with him on other people. Blegh.) Mok made nearly 500 drakes at market, the most Mok ever take home from market. He not sure what he going to do with these drakes though.

Mok going to try to get more of such books in future, but he rather not be known as goblin who sell sex pictures... unique as it is, it not really who Mok is. Next week he going try to get tools to sell at Market, similar to that which Mok uses to fix artifacts.

Redemption is long road, with first step being hardest. Not just for will to take first step, but for others to allow to take first step.

The fungus in Vulkwusten is gone thanks to Alijham, but everyone seem to think Mok is to thank for it. That is not true, it Alijham's cure, yes, Mok admit he helped, but he not the one who stopped it, Alijham is to thank for everything, Mok just used wind to spread cure to town. Mok certain Alijham and guards were capable of doing that alone, but Mok just offer quicker solution.

Still everyone seemed to thank Mok, even if Mok not feel successful. This maybe Mok's first step, but it didn't feel successful. Many people still died, even with Mok's effort to spread cure so everyone get it. The only one Mok really feel he help was the Scaleback, Thorn, and Dunmer Hlorielle. They would not survive if Mok not around, but while two lives may seem like redemption, it not feel like it after all things Gnarlus do.

It still start though, and Mok feel that is better then nothing. He should be glad that people trust Mok again, even if it not Sugar Claw Clan. Mok think it best to forget trying to rejoin with Sugar Claw, they refuse to believe Mok even after he help them. They to stubborn.

---

As side note, Mok need to find Lucrezia Nightblade. She not been around town lately, and after Thursday Market, Mok need to get restock in toys. Everyone seemed want plushies and toys, and they all fall in love with stuff Lucrezia make for Mok to sell. Mok know that she say not to worry about paying her, but if Lucrezia agrees to keep allowing Mok to sell toys, Mok going to pay her even if he forced shove it in her pack when she not looking. It least Mok can do.

Market earning:

It been while since Mok wrote in journal, and yet so little happen to Mok. Since fungus was destroyed, life been quiet. Sure, there still a lot of drama happening around Mok, but Mok been trying stay out of it, electing to stay to side.
In fact, Mok been trying to find reasons to leave town. He accepted job to advertise throughout Dominion about Harvest's End Festival. Getting out and doing stuff did Mok good, but... Mok not know really, he been feeling little empty. Spent... sure his stall doing extremely well, but when Mok think about it, he really not have any real friends. Every time Mok mean to talk to someone, he suddenly get shy, and slinks away in corner. He not able to bring himself to talk to people about... friend stuff. It always business.
Mok starting to think even though he surrounded by people, he still feeling lonely as ever...

((I see how it is, Enji isn't considered his friend. *Shuns*))
((Haha))