An eye for an eye?
Nov 13, 2009 16:14:31 GMT -5
Post by bob on Nov 13, 2009 16:14:31 GMT -5
The vampire thrall stands before the portcullis and looks up at the asymetrical tower that is the lair of the chaos lord, Horrificus.
He could easily scale the walls of the tower, but was given strict orders not to do so.
His master, El Duque Azul, had entrusted him with this delicate mission, which was good. Trust was good. Trust could be capitalized on someday. Perhaps someday he himself could be master rather than servant. Yes, perhaps.. , he thinks now as he is met at the gate by several Knights of the Hellbound Heart who bid him disarm. After leaving all weapons within the keep's barbican, he is allowed entry. The fools, he thinks. A vampire needs no weapons to be dangerous.
As he is led though the keep, he notes the sconces all have human eyes affixed to them. He had heard of Lord Horrificus' obsession, but is somewhat surprised to see its extent.
The maroon armored warriors lead him to a stairwell, and he proceeds up it. At each landing, he notes a pair of stony eyed dwarves standing guard, each cradling a large blunderbuss in his arms. The taint of chaos is obvious in their features and they wear similar liveries to the corrupted dwarves of Zarak Thull. Apparently not all of the dwarves of Hellfurnace had perished in the Imperial assault.
At the top of the staircase the dwarf guard is bolstered by a pair of beastly dragon ogres wielding great halberds. The vampire can hear the clicking of their talons on the stone floor. As he approaches, they cross their blades before him, but after instructed by a voice from within, both stand down to allow him entrance.
The hall of Lord Horrificus is flanked by pillars and more guardians, and the sigil of the chaos lord hangs throughout, as well as a plethora of more eyeballs, filling elegant bowls and goblets, or hanging from the pillars in chains like beads. At the end of the hall is a throne of skulls upon which sits the chaos lord. The vampire notes with little surprise that none of the skulls have eyesockets left empty.
Behind the throne lies what would appear to be the bloated carcass of some great creature were it not for the occasional heaving of its chest. The vampire's eyes take in the creature in less than a moment's time: the sores and pustules that riddle the pale slimy skin of the hippogriff; the puss oozing from one of its eyes. The way it sleeps contented like a dog at the feet of its master, despite its obviously greivous wounds. The vampire is aware of the legend that the beast had once belonged to his master. He wonders now if there is any truth to it.
At the chaos lord's left is a slight figure in a bloodstained apron. Its head is a pink bulbous mass of flicking tentacles.
So this is the elusive Dr. Shellendrak.
On the right of Lord Horrificus is a decapitated general whose pristine livery would almost make one believe he was an elector count. The general's head floats freely in the chamber and now addresses him.
"Greetings, vampire," the grating voice of the disembodied head intones with an obvious sneer. "I am told you wish to parlay with my lord Horrificus."
"With him, yes, not his underling."
"And what supposed are you, running errands for your blue duke?" laughs the decapitated warrior.
"El Duque Azul would not soil his reputation by being in the same chamber with your master."
"I'll soil my blade with your gizzard, bloodsucker!" cries the talking head, while five feet away the arm of his headless body reaches for the sword at its hip, but no sooner have the fingers closed upon the hilt than a gaunleted hand encloses about the wrist.
"Enough," intones Lord Horrificus in a gravelly and phlemy voice that still booms throughout the chamber. "What would your master have of me, vampire?"
"An alliance," says the vampire as he calmy strides past the gawking floating head and presents the bone tube before the seated chaos lord. "With himself and Munnin's Sons of Thunder to the east."
The lord motions and his headless general takes hold of the tube and removes the scroll from within. Breaking the wax seal stamped with the mark of the dragon that is the signet of El Duque Azul, he unfurls the scroll before the his master.
For a minute's time the vampire watches Lord Horrificus read the missive, his undead sight allowing him to witness the chaos lord's single baleful eye darting back and forth from within the darkness of his chainmail hood.
Finally he sits back in his throne once again.
"This proposed alliance interferes not with my plans for this land, and is satisfactory. I accept."
The vampire smiles, an evil feral grin which exposes all of his fangs.
"El Duque will be pleased."
So pleased he may increase his trust in me even further, after this success.
"His gift to me is also satisfactory," continues the chaos lord, "and is accepted as well."
The vampire blinks. The master did not mention any sort of gift.
"Gift?" he says now, noticing out of the corner of his eye the dragon ogres moving in to flank him, their arms full of silver chains. "What gift?"
Lord Horrificus leans forward once more while his headless aide-de-camp cackles with glee.
"He said I can have your eyes..."
(Story by Dr. C)
He could easily scale the walls of the tower, but was given strict orders not to do so.
His master, El Duque Azul, had entrusted him with this delicate mission, which was good. Trust was good. Trust could be capitalized on someday. Perhaps someday he himself could be master rather than servant. Yes, perhaps.. , he thinks now as he is met at the gate by several Knights of the Hellbound Heart who bid him disarm. After leaving all weapons within the keep's barbican, he is allowed entry. The fools, he thinks. A vampire needs no weapons to be dangerous.
As he is led though the keep, he notes the sconces all have human eyes affixed to them. He had heard of Lord Horrificus' obsession, but is somewhat surprised to see its extent.
The maroon armored warriors lead him to a stairwell, and he proceeds up it. At each landing, he notes a pair of stony eyed dwarves standing guard, each cradling a large blunderbuss in his arms. The taint of chaos is obvious in their features and they wear similar liveries to the corrupted dwarves of Zarak Thull. Apparently not all of the dwarves of Hellfurnace had perished in the Imperial assault.
At the top of the staircase the dwarf guard is bolstered by a pair of beastly dragon ogres wielding great halberds. The vampire can hear the clicking of their talons on the stone floor. As he approaches, they cross their blades before him, but after instructed by a voice from within, both stand down to allow him entrance.
The hall of Lord Horrificus is flanked by pillars and more guardians, and the sigil of the chaos lord hangs throughout, as well as a plethora of more eyeballs, filling elegant bowls and goblets, or hanging from the pillars in chains like beads. At the end of the hall is a throne of skulls upon which sits the chaos lord. The vampire notes with little surprise that none of the skulls have eyesockets left empty.
Behind the throne lies what would appear to be the bloated carcass of some great creature were it not for the occasional heaving of its chest. The vampire's eyes take in the creature in less than a moment's time: the sores and pustules that riddle the pale slimy skin of the hippogriff; the puss oozing from one of its eyes. The way it sleeps contented like a dog at the feet of its master, despite its obviously greivous wounds. The vampire is aware of the legend that the beast had once belonged to his master. He wonders now if there is any truth to it.
At the chaos lord's left is a slight figure in a bloodstained apron. Its head is a pink bulbous mass of flicking tentacles.
So this is the elusive Dr. Shellendrak.
On the right of Lord Horrificus is a decapitated general whose pristine livery would almost make one believe he was an elector count. The general's head floats freely in the chamber and now addresses him.
"Greetings, vampire," the grating voice of the disembodied head intones with an obvious sneer. "I am told you wish to parlay with my lord Horrificus."
"With him, yes, not his underling."
"And what supposed are you, running errands for your blue duke?" laughs the decapitated warrior.
"El Duque Azul would not soil his reputation by being in the same chamber with your master."
"I'll soil my blade with your gizzard, bloodsucker!" cries the talking head, while five feet away the arm of his headless body reaches for the sword at its hip, but no sooner have the fingers closed upon the hilt than a gaunleted hand encloses about the wrist.
"Enough," intones Lord Horrificus in a gravelly and phlemy voice that still booms throughout the chamber. "What would your master have of me, vampire?"
"An alliance," says the vampire as he calmy strides past the gawking floating head and presents the bone tube before the seated chaos lord. "With himself and Munnin's Sons of Thunder to the east."
The lord motions and his headless general takes hold of the tube and removes the scroll from within. Breaking the wax seal stamped with the mark of the dragon that is the signet of El Duque Azul, he unfurls the scroll before the his master.
For a minute's time the vampire watches Lord Horrificus read the missive, his undead sight allowing him to witness the chaos lord's single baleful eye darting back and forth from within the darkness of his chainmail hood.
Finally he sits back in his throne once again.
"This proposed alliance interferes not with my plans for this land, and is satisfactory. I accept."
The vampire smiles, an evil feral grin which exposes all of his fangs.
"El Duque will be pleased."
So pleased he may increase his trust in me even further, after this success.
"His gift to me is also satisfactory," continues the chaos lord, "and is accepted as well."
The vampire blinks. The master did not mention any sort of gift.
"Gift?" he says now, noticing out of the corner of his eye the dragon ogres moving in to flank him, their arms full of silver chains. "What gift?"
Lord Horrificus leans forward once more while his headless aide-de-camp cackles with glee.
"He said I can have your eyes..."
(Story by Dr. C)