Book of Mors: Summoned
Arc: Knowledge is Power
Chapter 20, Part 1: Demons of the Huntsmen
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Laying on a long, comfy-looking sofa, in what appeared to be a dim, windowless tavern, Mors began to stir. Groaning groggily, he started to open his eyes before clamping his hands to his head and scrunching them closed.
The cosy room was filled with light wooden bookcases and fabric sofas, littered amongst the wooden tables that would have made it very homely if it wasn't for the hundreds of skulls lining the walls. Along the right side of the room, there was a long bar, covered in used tankards and half eaten food.
"Dear Mother of God." Uttering a curse in his native language caused a few of waking demons to frown at the unknown language, but they soon shrugged it off, and either went back to sleep or started shuffling towards the exit.
Most looked like regular humans, in body shape at least, with a multitude of different horns, tails, skin colours and, as Mors found out the night before, personalities. They shared common traits that vaguely fit with his preconceptions. Like being boisterous, easy to anger and settled pretty much everything with violence or competition.
With his head on a nearby table, a large, green eyed demon that had spikes running down his back lifted his head and chuckled, though it was clear that he was suffering like Mors. "Not bad, kiddo. You came second place to Secoth, one of the most gluttonous greed demons that has ever stalked the earth. I'm surprised you didn't burst at the seams."
When he was finally sitting straight in his backless chair, he tentatively looked around, not moving his head too fast before letting out a sigh. "It always gets messy with newcomers. This is the second event this month. Guess most of us are going to be keeping a low profile today. Luckily the Captain has already left or she would have us running the spider caves.
Trying to block out the man's voice, Mors tried to piece together his fragmented memories. He remembered entering Kelora's demon hideout, which apparently any good self-respecting demon had, and was introduced to the demons that called the Huntsmen home.
Mors hated the thought of entering the underground den, mainly due to having a strong dislike for small, dark places, much preferring open ground, treetops or even better, the sky. It wasn't on the level of being claustrophobic, but it was enough to sour his mood greatly.
It had been an awkward introduction, so bad that one would struggle to point out who was more disinterested, the other demons or Mors. That was until the drinking started.
By his second tankard, Mors had a second wind, feeling less drained by his exertion and by his sixth, he was in the midst of a betting frenzy.
Kelora had retired to her room, a small door behind the bar, around the time the drinks got into the double digits, dragging a skinny male demon, who pathetically attempted to escape her clutches. Mors had, for some reason, found the scene hilarious before being told that he was lucky that he was still an imp as other females disappeared into different doors after 'acquiring' their targets.
The green eyed demon had introduced himself as Jack before informing Mors that unlike the stories, demonesses were much scarier than demons and if they were around about the same stage and strength, they were the ones in control. The hierarchy was based on strength but it seems the females were more vicious resulting in them taking control.
Mors recalled a tune from the recesses of his memory and attempted to sing a song he only partially remembered, the one about the female of the species always being deadlier than the male.
The remaining demonesses loved the song and tried to get Mors to repeat it but luckily Jack, and the angry glares of the male residents saved him.
"Urg... I sang," grumbled Mors as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Haha, that you did, kid. Let me tell you now, keep your day job," responded Jack, a mischievous smile appearing on his face. "Though if you want, I could introduce you to the earth elemental choir?"
Mors could hear his mocking tone and assumed that earth elementals were not good singers before letting out a weak laugh. Those were the only bits he could remember, the other bits were too fragmented. There was something to do with ice, a lot of it, as well as watching some fights break out but other than that, Mors was drawing a blank.
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"Wheres Kelora?" said Mors in a pained voice as he massaged his head, mentally deciding that he would never drink again.
"In the training room. The little missy that attacked you last night is getting her punishment." chuckled the demon. "Was entertaining though, I wish I could make people piss themselves with just a look."
"Huh? I didn't kill her?" Mors was surprised at his restraint. "Who was it anyway?"
"Hmm, another one of the newbies," Jack raised a bony hand to his chin. "Though you probably won't listen to me, be careful who you treat in that way, especially in here."
Mors was expecting Jack to say something about there always being a bigger fish, but his next words threw his addled mind through a loop.
"Trying to keep Delphinine, the masochistic succubus, away from you last night was a nightmare. I get it, with a heritage like yours, you see everyone as dirt beneath your feet, but please moderate your actions. You might have seen a bit of it last night but Demoness' are either into dominating or being submissive, sadistic or masochistic. The only way to keep off their radar is to be in the middle, neutral... uninteresting. Do yourself a favour and hook up with a nice species like humans or elves. Yes, there is a lot of unnecessary drama but at least your not worried about your life every time you mate... most of the time."
"Fucking hell, all you guys go on about is sex, fighting and trying to best each other. Don't you have something better to talk about?" Mors raised his head and looked at Jack, piecing together more memories of last night. "That Delphinine was a psycho, even when I fractured her arm for trying to touch my tail she wouldn't leave me alone. And what's with her crazy regenerative ability? I was faster than mine."
"She has had a lot of 'training'," shrugged Jack. "Bit of a double edged sword. She seems to like the pain but keeps getting resistant to it. As such, she needs to be more extreme which increased her regenerative abilities and... resistances."
"Is that how you gain and strengthen skills? And isn't that like a never ending cycle? Does that also mean that if you keep drinking you will get resistance to the alcohol?" asked Mors, deciding he was just lucky that the succubus got so drunk she disappeared into what Mors assumed to be the female toilets and after a long time, emerged and quickly left.
"Poison resistance, yes, though it won't repair the damage already done. Some species can get it quicker than others like dwarves where with others, like elves, acquiring the skill is pretty much unheard of.
Mors nodded, knowing that this four-week lull was the best opportunity to learn about the world. "Still, at least I will be able to get stronger before they force me into that crappy unofficial war Kelora was talking about."
A crooked smile appeared on his face. "Trial by fire... sounds like fun."
Mors sighed as he lowered his head. This was the first time in weeks that he could relax, even if he was in a room full of demons, it somehow felt safe. He was half tempted to go back to sleep, the warm, soft body next to hi-
Mors lept up, spinning the poor soul, who had been sharing the sofa, in the air before watching it land in a heap on the floor.
Stick-like, green limbs stuck out of a brown robe at awkward angles as the figure tried to untangle themselves and sit up. Eventually, with the help of Jack, they managed and looked at Mors in annoyance. "Demon! Why do you interrupt my sleep!"
Mors stared at the little, golden eyed demonic imp and sighed. "What do you think you're doing Beth?"
Beth, still sitting on the ground looked up at him. "Making sure the protector of my shinies isn't stolen while drunk. There are a lot of bad females here. Smell awful."
Beth smiled innocently, "Least you remember my name, unlike that other."
Jack laughed, apparently knowing something Mors didn't before slapping the demons back. "Just in case you forgot, you already lost this argument, and that was before you were singing terrible songs or had a rotten hangover. Give it up dragon boy; you have been claimed."
"Huh?" Mors' head was thumping, his throat was parched and now Jack was telling him that he had been claimed. That familiar rage started building up in the pit of his stomach.
Spotting the same facial expressions as the night before, Jack continued to laugh as he explained. "Relax, there is nothing sexual, romantic or even unique about it. She is a Demonic Goblin. Goblins love shiny things and hoard them and Dragons, sharing that love, have created a symbiotic relationship with them. Dragons protect the horde while goblins increase it. If anything, having already been claimed will make life easier for you with the other goblins. They won't bother you until they eliminate her."
Beth straightened her brown robes as she pouted, her green whip-like tail dancing behind her. "You wouldn't come to my shinies, and I couldn't let you protect other goblins, so I decided to stay. Stupid demon, throwing me on the floor when I was having such a good dream."
"Umm, is she even allowed in here?" asked Mors, remembering that only demons were allowed.
"Can't stop her, so we gave up. She has the same affinities as you, fire and darkness. Luckily she is too busy stealing to protect her stash, so people aren't too angry, but it is getting annoying. I heard the Captain gave up trying to capture her after the first week."
Mors stared in shock at the goblin. He had not tried out his new strength against Verz, but he somehow doubted he could get her to give up before stomping him into the floor.
"Its because I am too strong for you weaklings," smiled Beth, folding her arms across her chest. "You should feel honoured that I take your shinies." She then pointed at Mors. "Come, I will take you to our den. We need to stop the thief's from stealing back what is theirs."
Deciding to ignore her, Mors turned to Jack. "Wait, how do you know so much about me?"
Jack smiled "Ah, sorry I forgot. I am the demon physician and a bit of a book worm. Kelora has entrusted me to teach you about our kind as well as give you a physical before she starts her training regime."
"Speaking of that, we better get cracking before she finishes."Hooking his thumb over his shoulder, towards a large, battered wooden door, he smiled with excitement. "Come on, let's see what a draconic demon can do."