"Gym, friend, have do you see where the town is headed? After so many raids on our village, we are suddenly okay with the goblins moving around freely here. I was fine with it at first but then they were getting ready to establish a base here. They're numbers are rapidly climbing and now they build a guard house so a group of them can always be in the village. They are planning to build a wall around the village to "Protect" us. You see, it is only a matter of time before they take over. They are simply setting up a foothold so they can take the entire village swiftly, when the time comes. How can I sit back and let them take my, our home. So I launched a preemptive strike to burn down their guard post. If they can't stay here for long periods of time, it'll be harder for them to take over and we'd have a chance to fight back."

"Aye, I won't deny there is some risk involved, yer right. But thin's change. People change. Yeh can't go around attackin' people yeh think might be a threat in the future, that makes yeh no better than a yellow-bellied bandit and they have no place in Camenose. I ain't tellin' yeh yeh have to be friends with them, I'm askin' yeh give them a chance. To make that change for a future together. And speakin' of that, perhaps we can work out an arrangement where we can train up some of our own folks to properly guard the town alongside the goblin. Make it a joint effort, and because you're so worried, somethin' to keep thin's in check. Though I doubt that it'll be necessary."

"But Gym, can you really say that we should risk the future of our home and our children? Do you not think the risk is too great for any thing good that might come from this? We are already training ourselves to fight back but at this rate, we can't handle them. The goblins have gained access to better weapons and armor (Studded Leather and Crossbows). Their leaders have grown exceedingly deadly. You fought them, you should know how deadly that Evans and his lieutenants can be. I can guarantee that they have gotten better at fighting since you last fought them. (Evans, Vlad, Sekai and Gonzales all have taken a level in a Player Class.) I know the good that can come from their cooperation but it is not worth gambling with our futures. We would drive them out of our soil if we could but with the villagers divided and their better training, we can't beat them in a head-to-head fight. That's why we are doing what we are doing. I hope you understand.

"As I said, I get it. I know its a risk. But I'm askin' for a chance here. Somebody, sometime and somewhere, needs to break this chain that has lasted for a very long time. And if yeh have the means to do good, than yeh have the imperative to do it. I did what I felt was right for Camenose. Yer doin' what yeh think is right, but I really believe that'll lead to ruin and sufferin' for Camenose that could have been avoided."

Gym's expression turned momentarily grim.

"Be wary of he who fights monsters, Jeremy, even self-perceived monsters. Lest yeh become one."

The goblins are getting stronger by the day. The only way to stop this is to go back to how things were. What will we do if we take the chance and it turns out to be a trap? We won't be able to stop the invasion then.

"What will we do if we chase them off and they decide to attack? Yeh said so yerself that they're stronger than ever, and last I checked, Camenose doesn't have the best record of repelling raids. I'd rather have them as potential allies then known enemies."

But if we disconnect them from our supplies they're attacks would be much less effective. If we drive them out, we'd be fighting them with the entire village instead of a small group of us. It would take them some time to go back, recoup and counter attack. We can repel them if all the villagers work together. Right now, we don't have everyone on our side so we have to resort to indirect attacks. We can't beat them like this but together...

"Right now, the goblins are a part of the village. Working together is all of us. Together for mutual prosperity. Yeh keep attackin' the goblins, which yeh don't have to do as yeh claim, and they will turn on Camenose. But work together and yeh just may be surprised."

How can you call them one of us after all the harm they have done in the past? How can you forgive them so easily? You of all people should know how devastating it is to lose your home and your family had to leave thanks to poverty. Poverty we wouldn't have if the goblins didn't raid our village every so often. How can you forgive them for that?

"I forgive because I believe its in Camenose's best interest. I'm not friends with the gobins, but I'm willin' to put my own personal grudges aside to try and make for a better tomorrow."

Can you trust the goblins to work for a better tomorrow instead of a one filled with pain?

"I believe the goblins don't want to live like they have, are willing to look for that tomorrow, and are willing to accept allies to help them there and go there with them."

I'm sorry, my friend. But I just can't trust them like you can. I just... don't want to risk total enslavement. The risk of a vicious battle, although great, is not a great as the risk of enslavement for me. I don't think we will see eye to eye on this.

"That is a shame, but I understand."