Thralls of a Dread Lord (1.60T)
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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“What kind of spider bit you?” asked Kuzat.
“Little one,” said Uyaashie. “Red markings, like a skull… Heard a woman laugh when it happened… used an antidote… so stupid.”
“Hush,” said Kuzat. “That antidote saved your life, Uyaashie. The Red are are the most poisonous.”
Uyaashie smiled weakly and collapsed into a stupor. Retaak looked to Kuzat. asking “Will I harm her if I carry her?”
“I think not, Retaak,” said Kuzat, motioning the Ogre to speak with him a few paces away from the convalescing Hob. “She will not last more than a few hours I’m afraid. The Red spiders are Karniloth’s enforcers; nothing I have heard of can cure their bite.”
Retaak looked at Uyaashie. Already he could see that the poison was spreading, blackening her veins.
“One problem at a time,” he growled, setting aside his fear for his companion. “I assume sucking the poison out is not an option?”
“Not even a hardy Orc or Troll would survive tasting it,” said Kuzat, looking tired.
“I will not give up on brave Uyaashie,” said Retaak, turning back to Uyaashie’s form and gently picking her up. “Lead us to the others, perhaps they know something that we do not. Uyage is woodwise beyond even you, friend Kuzat.”
“Yes, she is,” said Kuzat, though he did not sound convinced.
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Stunted trees crowned the hills at the edge of Karniloth’s desolation, their twisted branches bearing few leaves and yet the wood showed no signs of rot or withering.
Uyaashie shuddered and groaned in Retaak’s arms. He could smell death on her, but he pressed on in the hopes that Uyage or Albyursia might have some answer.
Kuzat was silent beside him, no doubt blaming himself for her looming death. The goblin man was fond of Uyaashie and her tricks, he could tell.
Retaak plodded ahead, taking care not to jostle Uyaashie, who groaned frequently. He could smell vomit and blood and sweat coming from her, as well as a sharp scent that could only be the toxin.
Soon enough the trees grew taller and straighter and far more green. The miasma of the Desolation seemed to lift from them. Retaak felt his spirits ease as he saw the site where they were supposed to meet the others only to have them fall when he saw no sign of them.
“She’s nearby,” said Kuzat. “Uyage would never wait where you expect to find her.”
Retaak nodded, hoping that his friend was right. He ran to the sheltered clearing and slowly lowered Uyaashie to the ground. She looked even worse now, and his heart tightened to see her like this. He tried to get the Hob woman to drink some water, but most of it simply ran down her chin.
“What happened to her?” asked Uyage from behind him. Retaak had not been aware of her approach.
“Poison,” said Kuzat.
“And a deadly one at that,” interrupted Albyursia. “I can save her, but I will need my magic. Take the collar off if you want her to live.”
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