<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/GhiPE9D.jpg)</div><br/>Kieri smiled back at the big, woolly loxodon. Oh, the big ones were always cute when they were flustered. "Don't worry, just putting the offer on the table. You can leave it there or pick it up anytime you want. And as for building something, well... I'm not sure, actually. Let's go see."<br/><br/>Kieri put on her cloak and left her lair, Snuffles in tow. With him, she walked the streets of what she considered to be 'her' portion of the slums. It was a bit patchwork, of course, but mostly, the slums had divided in two. Those that wanted to better themselves and the city and those that had fallen to the Church of Aros. She had two purposes for this walk. The first, fairly minor, to show Snuffles around and introduce hum as a powerful ally to their cause. But the main reason for their tour was for Kieri to be counseled.  She was no great architect herself and so, she wanted Snuffles to know what problems really affected the residents of this section city and what could best be done to help them.<br/><br/>There were, of course, many problems. Buidings and streets in disrepair, lack of employment, medicine, security, food... even water. But there was one problem that seemed to lead to many, many others: the entire place was filthy. Even a goblin like Kieri could see that. And while other problems were difficult to deal with, this, it seemed, was something that was well within their reach. Water also, perhaps, but without some amount of cleanliness, that was a non-starter.<br/><br/>Subtly, Kieri led Snuffles to a larger space and started asking more about his ideas. Notions of channels through the center of the road or on the the sides, coverings for them, gratings... She didn't understand fully, of course, but the important thing was that Snuffles was talking. And that a crowd was slowly forming. She started addressing them as well as Snuffles. They asked questions and she answered them. With Snuffles's assistance, of course. And when things became more technical or detailed, she simply asked Snuffles to answer them directly. When they started asking Snuffles questions directly, she let herself fade into the background, simply making small prompts here and there. And when people started self-organizing, she knew that she was no longer needed. Snuffles would lead the project and everyone would join in as they could, never even realizing that a decision was made. Not helping on something like this, something that helped themselves and everyone else would quickly grow to become unthinkable. At least, with the correct prodding at the right places and times.<br/><br/>Goblin leadership truly was an art.<br/><br/>Of course, there were still a few details to see to so that it would not all fall apart or go in the wrong direction. Kieri went to stand next to a convenient shadow and started apparently talking to herself. The most important choice was whether to let their new project go through the areas under Mother Freya's influence. To Kieri, the choice was clear: they would plan for it and ask. Any answer would be to their benefit. A refusal would cast doubts to Mother Freya's care for the condition of the people of the district. And if they agreed, they would forever know what Kieri's people had done for them and to who they had to give their thanks.<br/><br/>When this business was also done, Kieri left, with no indication that anything had happened other than that the shadow suddenly seemed somewhat... emptier. She started walking the streets, enjoying the buzz of excitement as it overcame her. Some people had already started on work, too. It reminded her somewhat of goblin villages, a sort of chaotic order. Something being worked on partly, abandoned, then picked up by someone else later. Stones being left in random piles only to be taken away by someone to be used in some way. She had once heard some human liken it to an ant's nest. Kieri could see the resemblance, but it was... even more so. Especially now, with so many species working together. Big folk naturally gravitated towards doing things that required strength, small ones towards things where small hands and small bodies were an asset. But no one try to stop a group of goblins from hauling a heavy stone away or an ogre with a steady hand from making delicate, beautiful engravings.<br/><br/>Kieri was proud of these people that she considered to be her people. But something disquieted her. She wanted to raise people up, yes, and this seemed like it would be a wonderful way to do so. But it wasn't the only thing she wanted. She had said as much to her pact mate, Alwyn. Goblins, orc, ogres, even humans. She had said that wanted them all to rise together, but also that they should all remain themselves. She had said it, she had meant it. Was she truly living it? If so, then why was proud goblin chieftess hiding her body, hiding herself? Was this who she was?<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/6D60Uq7.jpg)<br/><br/>Kieri's cloak was tossed to some children sitting in the street. She wouldn't need it anymore. And as she walked the streets now, what she saw in people's eyes was first surprise, then as sense of... relaxation. They understood what it meant, what she was saying. And she knew that another second wave of changes would spread along the slums. People would work toward things getting better yes, but they also would remember to be who they are.<br/><br/>(Option B for Snuffles and Harmony for Kieri's second path.)