Life within Vaal'kor continued under a strange balance of urgency and routine. Every kobold understood that Grash's army was coming within a month. No one knew the exact day, only that each sunrise brought them closer to war. The knowledge hung over the colony like a shadow, yet rather than sinking into fear, everyone worked harder than ever before.
The hunters ventured deeper into the Evergreen Forest, the gatherers returned with every edible root, herb and fruit they could find, while the builders expanded food storage chambers and reinforced the cave entrances. Every pair of hands in the colony remained occupied from dawn until nightfall because everyone understood the same truth. If the coming war dragged on, starvation could prove deadlier than the goblins themselves.
