Thralls of a Dread Lord (1.57T)
Welcome to my weekly serial. This is a rough draft that I am working on, for your reading pleasure.
It is a fairly grim tale, so be warned.
Here is the first post from this series.
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Retaak watched as the illusion faded. The forms of Uyage, Uyaashie, Kuzat, and Albyursia melted into the demonic, grinning visage of Karniloth. They regarded each other silently. The ogre could feel his heart hammering in his chest and then slow as he accepted the severity of what he saw.
As big as a house, Karniloth’s mandibles could easily encircle the largest Ogre Bull, stuffing the mangled body into her cavernous maw to be devoured with ease. The chitinous plates that covered her body looked thick enough to turn all but the best weapons and while Retaak could see weak spots he would have to brave terrible jaws and scuttling legs to get to them.
But that was not what daunted him. Behind the powerful body, he saw the dark intelligence in those eyes, read a hate older than he could fathom. Karniloth could warp his mind with her illusions, who knew what else she could do.
The spider-demon smiled at him, lips parting over mandible and fang in a grotesque, but unmistakable gesture. “What is your name, Fellspawn?”
He voice was somewhat distorted by the fangs, but the Demon-spider’s voice was beautiful. Retaak hesitated, wondering at her game. Was she stalling while one of her children tried to attack him from behind? He sensed nothing. Wary, he decided to play along, if only to buy himself time.
“I am called Retaak,” he answered.
“You seem different than the Dread Lord’s usual pawns, Retaak-ogre,” said Karniloth. “What scheme of his brings you to my realm?”
“None of his,” said Retaak.
“Beware lying to me, little ogre,” said the Spider-demon. “I still have half a mind to eat you.”
“It is a scheme of Ushochhushi, the Dread Lord’s seneschal,” said Retaak. “I am his pawn in this.”
“Ahhhh,” said the Spider-demon. “The dabbler makes his moves. Yes, yes. I see now. But what of you, Retaak, are you a willing pawn?”
“No,” answered Retaak, bristling at the though of Ushochhushi with Albyursia. He did not know the elf woman well, but he liked her far better than the one who currently compelled him. “I was born free. One day I will again be free.”
“A Wildborn, and with so much pride,” she spoke. “Pride tastes wonderful, little Ogre, a perfect seasoning for such lovely meat.”
Retaak growled and hefted his blades, but the Spider did not move. Was she lulling him with another illusion? he did not think so.”
“Tell me Retaak, was it the elf that travels with you that Ushochhushi seeks?”
Retaak tried to respond, but magical compulsion kept the words from forming.
Karniloth cackled. “Of course it is. Fool Ushochhushi answers my question with his own compulsion. Tell me Retaak, do you know why he seeks her, what she is?”
“No.”
Karniloth laughed again, longer this time. Retaak could sense real mirth in the Spider-demon’s tone and it chilled him.
“Perfect, perfect,” the Spider-demon crooned. “Tell me Retaak, do you want to live?”
“I do,” said Retaak. “But I will not give up my friends to you, Karniloth.”
“No, I suspect not,” she answered. “But that is not the price, Wildborn. I have a gift for you, something as wild and dangerous as you are. Take it and I will let you leave. Reject my gift and you will know my rage.”
“What is your gift?”
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