Horses slowed their pace, their hooves clattering against the rocky ground as they came to a stop. The king and his companions gazed up at a fort, its walls crumbling with age and neglect. Bloud unsheathed his greatsword as they approached.
Ghorin spoke up. “Your Majesty, this could well be a stronghold of flesh-peddlers. We must tread with due vigilance.”
Alexander nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the fort for any signs of movement. “Remain vigilant, all. We stand ignorant of the perils that may lurk yonder.”
As they approached the fort, they could see the remains of old cages and shackles scattered about. The air was thick with the stench of sweat and fear. Vasos and his men scouted ahead, his eyes sharp for any sign of trouble.
Dismounting from their steeds, they approached the entrance, their gazes falling upon slavers and slave soldiers patrolling the vicinity. Moving past the guards and into the fort, their eyes surveyed the immediate surroundings. The scene of people bargaining for slaves came into view, and the audible clinking of chains pervaded the air. A cruel punishment wall caught the king’s eye, a place where disobedient slaves left to waste away, caused his gaze to narrow in disdain.
“What are your impressions of this location, dear comrades? It appears to function as a bastion for these flesh-peddlers.”
Ghorin, the High General, responds with a grim tone, “Indeed, Your Majesty. It is a detestable abode, teeming with the most despicable villains,”
Old Croll, the Head Diplomat, said, “We ought not tarry in delivering our retaliation, Your Majesty. It would serve as a rightful act of retribution.”
He turned to his advisors and said, “How could my father have permitted this to persist? It is our duty to end this heinous operation once and for all, yet we must not launch our assault recklessly.”
##
As they made their way through the fort, they came across the slaves who were cleaning and maintaining the area. Their eyes were wide with fear, and their bodies were tense with apprehension. Alexander could see the terror on their faces.
Finally, they entered the great hall where the Slaver Master sat on a menacing black marble throne.
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Alexander approached the Slaver Master, his voice filled with authority. “What is your name?” he demanded.
The Slave Master sneered, refusing to answer. “Pray tell, stranger, why dost thou inquire? Art thou a customer seeking my wares, or perchance a thief coveting what is rightfully mine?”
“I ask, for I seek to know the name of the man who bears the responsibility for the anguish inflicted upon these enslaved individuals,” clarified the king with a firm resolve.
“Ha! And what, pray tell, dost thou plan to do in response?” the Slave Master sneered, a defiant glint in his eyes.
“I have every intention of halting this wretched practice and administer justice to those who have suffered,” said the king.
“Justice, you say? In these lands, it is an only strength that prevails. The mighty seize what they desire, while the feeble endure their plight. Your words hold no weight in my eyes,” sneered the Slave Master.
“Your arrogance disgusts me. These slaves are not mere commodities to be traded. They are human beings, deserving of dignity and respect,” admonished the king with a tone of righteous indignation.
“Dignity and worth, you say? These slaves are naught but mere commodities, and I shall exercise my authority over them as I see fit.”
“How can you debase these individuals, reducing them to mere objects to be bartered?” Alexander questioned, his voice dripping with revulsion. “They possess thoughts and emotions, just like you and I. They are human beings, deserving of recognition and empathy.”
The Slaver Master just laughed, clearly not moved by Alexander’s words, and waved them away.
The stench of misery and suffering pervaded the air within the slaver’s fort, causing Alexander’s stomach to churn in repulsion. The sight of shackled figures, their eyes devoid of hope, haunted his steps. He could not bear to remain within those wretched walls any longer, so he hastened to his departure, eager to escape the grim reality that had unfolded before his eyes.
##
“We must rally our forces and march forth to vanquish these despicable slavers, liberating the enslaved from their wretched plight,” the king said to his advisors.
Bloud nodded in agreement. “It is a noble and just cause, my liege. I pledge my unwavering loyalty and unwieldy sword to fight alongside you, battling for the emancipation of these oppressed souls.”
Alexander thanked him and turned to Vasos. “Have you gathered any information concerning the might of these slavers?”
Vasos nodded. “Me's already deep in the' innards, boss. They be a gatherin’ force o’ ‘bout 1600 men, mostly slaves, yer highness. We must devise a cunning strategy, for yer current forces ain’t enough to confront ‘em directly. But fret not, ye could invest 3,000 gold to recruit 1,000 slaves afore the assault, only to grant ‘em freedom once we triumph. We’ve discovered they are selling 161 slave soldiers who, for 805 gold, can lend their blades to bolster our attack. That would leave ‘bout 500 defenders holdin’ the fort.”
"The wisest plan ever devised. I am most pleased by thy goblin cunning, Vasos. Let us mark its location."