Within a grand wooden hall, a banquet was being enjoyed by a few dozen individuals. Most of them had blonde hair, with fine purple tunics covering their pale skin.
Among them, two individuals stood out.
The first one was seated at the head of the table. He had short, dark blonde hair, with a very clean, square face. And unlike the expertly crafted leather tunics worn by many of the attendees, his chest was bare.
Many a scars, as well as exquisite tattoos, were buried deep within his chest hair.
This was Vadir.
“Kaleb, my good friend, let us toast in honour of our many years working together. Cheers!” shouted this man as he took a swig of his rotund skull cup, used exclusively for enjoying fermented abomination blood.
“And to many more to come. Cheers!” shouted a different man, this time from the other head of the table.
He had lustrous brown skin, covering him from his bald head to the toes sticking out his sandals. He too wore a tunic, though his was of a rare blue colour, making it even more valuable than the abomination leather used to dress most of the other attendees.
And, unlike all those present at this banquet, he climbed the ranks of the Todtec council through brains instead of brawn. Though the other members could not, in good conscience, be called idiots, they were not forced to struggle like he did. For they were never made to innovate for a slice of bread.
And that is why, today, after many years, he was sitting across from Vadir at the banquet table, and they didn’t.
For he became the Chief’s most trusted advisor, after Halein’s untimely death a few days ago.
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After the banquet, as the skies lost their light and turned into darker and darker tones of grey. Inside the throne room, which Vadir used exclusively for holding banquets, such as the one earlier today.
“So, Kaleb *hick*, what’d you wanna talk about?” said Vadir, with his legs on the table and his back slouched on his stone throne.
“We believe we have discovered a large metal deposit in the cave.”
“So?”
“So it might be in our best interests if we delay the cave-in.”
“No. *hick* I want that Tree under my command by the end of the year. Besides, *hick* you can mine it afterwards.”
Vadir then waved dismissively.
“With all due respect, I believe we might be unable to reopen the cave after the collapse.”
“Such is war *hick*. You win some, and uh… you lose some.” Vadir said, closing his eyes slowly.
“We believe some of that metal could be Dycom.”
Vadir’s eyes promptly snap open, his drunkenness seemingly vanishing from his face.
“Are you sure!?”
“I am 80% sure.” responded Kaleb.
“ Ha! The Goddess truly loves the Omoshiro tribe. To stop me in my tracks for a third time, there can be no other reason. But I do not bow before the deities!” he said as he stood up, straight as an arrow.
“Kaleb, how many men would we lose if we launched an assault on the settlement right now?”
“I believe at least double theirs, mainly due to that shaman’s runes.”
“How old is the shaman again?”
“Eighty seven.”
“Alright. We wait for him to drop dead, then we attack. Until then, take as many men as you need to excavate that Dycom. If you find a big enough chuck, I might just take over Ishpav, and then maybe even the world. *Mua-ha-ha* *Mua-ha-ha* ”
“...”
“Would it kill you if you joined in?” asks Vadir, seeing Kaleb staring at him without making a sound.
“I would rather not do that, sir.”
“Alright, alright. You’re dismissed.”
Kaleb then turned around, walking out of the throne room.
Vadir, meanwhile, grabs some more fermented blood from behind his throne, drinking till he passes out.
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Next morning.
“Vadir!” screamed a high pitched, shrill and hoarse voice.
“Huh..” Vadir groggily climbs up onto his throne, for he passed out next to it.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Do you know what time it is?” she says to him, uncaring of showing respect to the Grand Sorcerer.
“I got no clue princess.”
*Snort*
“What can I do for you?” asks Vadir, leaning on the backrest of his throne, with his eyes closed, and his brain rhythmically pounding inside his skull.
“You could get your ass to the funeral, for starters. It starts in ten minutes, don’t be late!” she says, walking away without waiting for a reply.
“Ah, the funeral.” he mutters to himself.
Vadir then looks around the throne room with alarm, yet he cannot find any more alcohol. And then a great sickness overcomes his abdomen, slowly rising through his throat, and shoots out the mouth.
“Gonna clean up later.”
He then stands up, and wobbly makes his way towards the centre of town.
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Next to the Todtec Tree of Life, gathered in an open plaza. A man, with dark grey hair, and a wrinkled face stands before a mighty crowd of hundreds. The only difference between him and them are his light green robes, and the wisdom of age hidden deep within his iris.
“Hello everybody, and thank you for taking time out of your day to come here. Today, we shall commemorate the spirit of those who have joined the Goddess’ legion. But before we start, as always, let the Feeding commence.”
As soon as he finishes saying so, a few dozen men start bringing in corpses of beasts. Big and small, of much variety and shape, yet only the most intact of corpses were being brought forth for the Feeding. This was of course done to show their devotion to the Goddess.
“Now, let us send our brethren to join Her. So that their spirits may defend Her from the wretched abominations of Seona, and that their flesh may nourish Her back to health.”
This time, only seven warriors come forth, six carrying a corpse on their back, and the seventh one carrying a bowl of flesh. Vadir was among the seven warriors, carrying the charred corpse of what seemed to be a woman on his back.
He was solemn, and walked with measured steps. Fitting for the leader of the Todtec tribe. None could tell from his appearance that he spends his nights drinking ‘till he can’t drink no more.
His sister, Hellena, was also there. She was carrying the bowl of flesh between her tiny hands, wherein the last remnants of Markus resided.
All seven were all solemn while carrying their duties, with not a hint of emotion breaking through their faces.
Some bodies were burnt beyond recognition, some were mangled until disfigurement, and the last fit perfectly inside of a soup bowl. All seven deceased were laid on top of the pile of beast corpses.
“Today, we both mourn and celebrate the following warriors: Gashnyl, Peradona, Komki, Markus, Efamel, Joeden, and last but not least, Halein. These brave individuals gave their lives in order to protect many of us, and they’ll no doubt become even more valiant warriors in the afterlife. May they aid in the Goddess’ recovery. Sannir!”
“Sannir!” echoed those gathered around the priest.
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“Vadir, get your shit together.” says Hellena after the funeral.
He, however, continues looking at the floor, as if oblivious to her presence.
“Just because mom died, it doesn’t mean you get to act like this. We need to avenge her. We need to avenge Markus, and Peradona, and everyone else too.”
“Foolish girl. There’s nothing to avenge. They’re in a better place now, fighting Seona’s minions and protecting the Goddess.”
“You know that’s a load of boarshit. Now get your sorry ass dressed, gather the warriors of the tribe, and cut down the Omoshiro bastard who did this!”
“We can’t attack them.”
“Why not!?”
“We’d lose too many men.”
“That didn’t stop you before.”
“That was different.”
“Yeah, you still had balls back then. It seems some beast must’ve sneaked in and stolen them in the night, then ran away to feed them to your Goddess.”
“You better watch your tongue!”
“Or what? You’ll strike me? Punish me? Sacrifice me to that Monster?”
“Don’t make me do it!”
Hellena takes a step forward, right up to Vadir’s face. He raises his hand, trembling, yet he doesn’t do anything.
*Snort*
“You’ve gone soft after dad died. And you’ve grown even more pathetic since. If you won’t do it, I will.”
She starts walking away.
“Wait, Hellena, don’t do it!”
With her back turned to him, she stops.
“I do not take advice from cowards.”
Then she continues.
Vadir was left alone, with nothing but his thoughts, and no alcohol to keep them at bay.
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In front of the town hall, where the Todtec council conducts their business.
“Listen up warriors! We shall strike the Omoshiro tribe tonight, and kill every single last heretic hiding behind those walls. Who is with me?!”
“Hu-Hu-Hoora!”
“Spread the word, and meet me by the southern gate in an hour’s time. Let us show our devotion to the Goddess, by cleansing these sinners!”
“Hu-Hu-Hoora!”
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“My chief, I believe we should do something about your sister.” says Kaleb.
“Let her be. If she succeeds, then that’s good for the tribe. And if she fails, then she’ll be taken down a peg, which would also be great for the tribe.”
“I believe we should at the very least minimise our losses. We do not want our warriors to pointlessly die with her.”
“Only the young and the foolish will join her night raid. That is no loss to us.”
“I see. Then let us bring a few more reinforcements to the cave, lest the Omoshiro tribe decides to retaliate.”
“I told you already, bring as many men as you need.”
“I shall go and prepare for tomorrow's excursion then.”
“Wait.”
“Yes, my liege?”
“Send old man Wisker to watch her, just in case.”
“It shall be done.”
“And get the brewery to send me another batch.”
“That, too, shall be done.”
“Alright, thanks Kaleb. You may be on your way.”
“Yes, my liege.” says Kaleb, as he turns around. An evil glint flashing within his eyes.