“Your Majesty, I have a report from group twenty-six.” The wraith rose from Vathec’s shadow as it spoke in a crackling whisper.
“The southwest road construction team.” Vathec recalled which group the shadowy undead was referencing. “What is it?” If the wraith was reporting to him directly rather than the supervising lich on site then this must be important.
“Two more hydras were disturbed by the construction and have been added to our forces.”
“I’m aware, I felt their presence as it joined my household. Well done, but that can’t be the sole reason you’ve come before me.” Vathec felt a touch of impatience. Lower undead had no sense of urgency in conversation.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. A group of reptilian humanoids approached us during the subjugation of the hydras, and prostrated themselves before us. They seem peaceful but are marginally slowing construction efforts. One of them appears to be a leader of some sort and begs an audience with Your Majesty.”
“The lizardmen?” Vathec knew of their small city in the southwestern corner of the swamp. “Arrange an escort for their leader and one attendant of his choosing. His audience is granted.”
The wraith melted back into Vathec’s shadow and the vampire king felt its presence recede out of the great hall of lord Gray’s newly built castle fortress.
This place was a testament to Archmagus Thornwhisper’s incredible magical power in this new world. Compared to the desiccated husk of their home world, this place was practically bursting with magical energy. It had taken the venerable lich less than a week to raise the great mesa upon which the castle sat, and another three days to transmute the black granite for its construction.
Defeated swamp giants raised as undead thralls by Vathec worked around the clock along with Thornwhisper’s subordinates to complete the majestic fortress with a level of efficiency that would never be believed by anyone native to this world. Now, five days later Vathec sat upon his small throne in the completed castle. He turned his gaze toward the two great and elaborate thrones beside him. They were empty now, but someday his mighty master and his chosen queen would sit there. Might Vathec be praised for his efforts? He smiled at the thought.
Vathec had prioritized the construction of this place for multiple reasons, the foremost being that he couldn’t bear the thought of his master seated in some pathetic mansion should he decide to visit. The second reason was that it aligned with his master’s orders. This castle would become an anchor of peaceful civilization. The swamp would be tamed, and become a veritable utopia. Nothing less would satisfy Vathec.
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Half a day’s march southwest of the castle, two lizardmen were being escorted by six high ranking skeleton knights in enchanted full plate armor.
One of the lizardmen had greenish-brown mottled skin and features reminiscent of a newt. It wore a hemp rope harness with dozens of clay bottles and pouches dangling from it. Its build was slight compared to the hulking iguana-like lizardman lumbering next to it. The larger of the two had thick black scales and tall spines running from the crown of its draconic head down its spine all the way to the base of its thick tail.
“They really ain’t be killin’ us...” The newt-like lizardman shaman marveled as its small black eyes darted around in amazement.
“Why’re you surprised, Scaleless?” The much larger lizardman grunted back. “Comin’ to greet the dead was your idea.”
“I be trustin’ the spirits.” The shaman said quietly. “That don’t make a friendly undead army less shockin’ though, does it?”
“Friendly’s one thing...” The big lizardman shook its head. “They be building these stone trails and huntin’ down trolls n’ hydras day and night. What’s it all for...?” The lizardman’s voice trailed off and his yellow eyes widened in growing horror.
They had come to the edge of the undead army’s operation. On either side of the road, thousands of monsters worked in silent unison. Goblins, trolls, giants, ogres, and even terrible hydras were all tirelessly taking down trees and hauling them away to the north. It was like watching a swarm of ants dismember a carcass, alien and unnerving.
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“All undead.” The shaman narrowed his eyes, noticing the fatal wounds and lifeless expressions.
As they drew closer to the center of the once wretched swamp, something beyond comprehension became apparent. The fetid mud and filthy water was being replaced by temperate dry land. The mossy cypress trees had been thinned drastically, allowing sunlight to shine brightly onto perfectly leveled dirt where countless tiny green sprouts were already poking through.
“Fear not, lizardmen.” A dry but feminine voice hailed them from a little further up the wide, stone road. “We do not intend to terraform your own habitat in this manner.”
The voice came from a black robed skeleton that exuded magical power so dense that the lizardmen had to force themselves to approach as though walking underwater.
“I am called Thornwhisper, a lowly attendant of His Majesty, Vathec under our great and merciful ruler, Lord Gray. It is my pleasure to escort you the remaining distance to His Majesty.” Without any incantation or gestures, a magic circle of glowing white appeared beneath each of the lizardmen and Thornwhisper.
The scenery blinked out of existence and was suddenly replaced by the interior of a great stone hall. The lizardmen gawked at the ceiling. It was so high as to be lost in the shadows cast by several polished bone chandeliers which were evenly spaced every few meters far above. Scaleless, the strongest shaman gulped when he noted the heavy chandeliers weren’t supported by anything and seemed to be levitating by magic. It was a small detail, but among those knowledgeable, an enormous flex of magical power.
As they lowered their gaze to look down the immense hall supported by rows of columns that would dwarf even the largest of cypress trees, they noticed the death knights standing silently in front of each great pillar. Even one of those legendary undead would hold its own against an entire tribe of lizardman warriors.
The two reptilian guests could find no words as they forced themselves forward a single step at a time. If approaching Thornwhisper was like walking upstream in a creek due to her dense power, then whatever was seated on that throne was the raging sea itself.
The lizardmen entered the brighter circle of light before the throne and found themselves compelled to kneel. It was no command or magical suggestion, it was an instinctive response to the presence before them. This being was a ruler among rulers. They kept their heads bowed and eyes tightly closed. A deep voice made them flinch.
“Raise your heads.” The king’s command made them snap their gaze up obediently. “I am Vathec, steward of this land by the decree of my lord and master. I shall attend to your concerns diligently so long as they do not conflict with my standing orders. Speak, good lizardmen.”
The guests stood in a mixture of fear and awe, and it took a moment for them to realize that they had been addressed.
“W-well you see, great one.” The hulking iguana began and cleared his throat. “I be Jibiru, the chieftain of the lizardmen tribes. I’m here to ask for mercy. We can’t be standing against you, and got nowhere to run. We’ll serve if we must. Huntin’ or fightin’ is the way of the lizardmen and we know the swamp better than anyone. I’m sure we could be of some use...”
The terrifying man suddenly stood up stiff and straight at Jibiru’s words. The lizardmen sucked in a breath in unison, expecting to be slaughtered then and there. They were more shocked to see the ruler of the undead army bend into a stiff ninety degree bow.
“I have neglected my orders, and caused unwarranted anxiety to your people in my failure to send proper communication.” The man apologized and stood back up. “Please forgive me and allow me to explain. Our mission is to purge the savage monsters from this place and create a safe and comfortable environment for beings of reason and benevolence such as yourselves. You shall not be harmed by me or my forces, nor shall you need fear any monster or beast of this land so long as my orders stand.”
The lizardmen took several seconds to process the unbelievable development and slowly looked to each other to make sure they had heard the same thing. They then dropped their heads to the floor in unison, fully prostrated.
“The lizardmen are at your command, great Vathec!” Jibiru announced fervently. “We’ve been dying off for the last few years, and our territory’s been shrinking as our god’s influence has been weakening. If you really be meanin’ to make the swamp safer for us, Jiburu and his tribes want to help.”
“Rise, honored guests.” Vathec’s benevolent tone still carried the weight of undeniable authority, and the lizardmen were on their feet in an instant. “You need not expose yourselves to danger, however I would like the most learned among you to be available to offer counsel should the need arise.”
The lizardmen were about to take their leave when a wraith rose from Vathec’s shadow.
“Your Majesty. A powerful being approaches from the south. Lady Thornwhisper has assessed it to carry a strength rating of over eight thousand. It will arrive here in-” The wraith’s report was overpowered by a booming thud from just beyond the great double doors of the great hall. “Right now.” The wraith amended its report to state the obvious.
The presence that suddenly filled the area was nearly as imposing as Vathec’s. The undead king leaned forward in anticipation. Thornwhisper possessed a unique ability, able to measure any creature based on the overall scale of its existential strength. It took account of many factors including magical power, physical strength, and even obscure things like rare or unique abilities. In terms of scale, an average mortal adventurer would carry a rating of around fifty to a few hundred. An adult dragon would typically be five hundred to a few thousand. Anything over ten thousand would be considered a legendary being, capable of destroying a country single handedly.
The double doors swung inward silently at a thought from Vathec.
“Tch.” A dissatisfied noise heralded the approaching thing. “I wanted to kick those open.” The being entered the hall and Vathec narrowed his eyes.
It was a humanoid, too large to be human and just too small to be an ogre. It had light greenish skin and dark hair with deep purple highlights. She was female, but her body was more muscular than most male warriors. She wore little in the way of clothing. A harness which secured two exotic glowing battle axes to her back barely covered her ample breasts. A wide girdle around her muscular waist secured a long loin cloth made of blue silk that dangled to between her knees. Two scabbards also hung from her waist and held over sized scimitars. The amount of weapons may have seemed excessive, if the woman didn’t also have four powerful arms which were now crossed confidently above and below her chest.
“He said I might find a strong undead, but a Vampire Lord?” She spoke up before Vathec could address her. “Oh well. I’m here to subjugate or exterminate you. Swear allegiance to Kutris the Worm or be wiped out.” She delivered the ultimatum casually.
“What is your name?” Vathec asked, a wide smile growing on his pale face.
“Vermillion. Third General of Kutris.” She gave a sarcastic curtsy as she identified herself. “So what will it be?”
“Sir Mallek.” Vathec called. Suddenly, a death knight appeared kneeling between the two gawking lizardmen. His size and aura dwarfed the other death knights in the hall. “Entertain our new guest.”