Chapter 7 - Getting what we need
Quote: “devouring a sentient being is the ultimate portrayal of superiority” - Kyros Thorns
Eskara (Tiefling) - POV
“You’re a dick you know that right?” Eskara said while breathing heavily her new self imposed master had honored her with carrying ALL the pelts the goblins Cadres had worked hard on acquiring.
Kyros simply smirked “i’ve been called worse you should thank me if would have not returned within a fourth night they would have presumed me dead and had their way with you by now”
Eskara simply spit on the ground in disgust “oh yes thank oh great fucking master if you had not carved this rune of obedience on me you would be dining in hell by now and i know a few friends there who would love to have a taste of you”
Kyros turned his head slightly and pulled on the chain to her slave collar making her almost lose her footing “oh now that’s interesting so you are a devil tiefling how glorious maybe i’ll sell you off once we get into town to some nice brothel who would love to have a taste of you most likely quite literally i’m afraid”
Eskara shuddered at the thought of being sold to a brothel she’d heard horror stories of how Drow brothels offer specials that include you fucking the prostitute while you are devouring them at the same time. Eskara quickly repressed that thought “you mentioned a town what are you bartering for?”
Kyros answered sarcastically “unfortunately goblin ingenuity only takes you so far and there are items i need before my real work can begin”
Eskara raised an eyebrow at that “what kind of work?”
Kyros simply turned around and gave her a wicked smile and continued to walk
KYROS POV:
1 day later:
Kyros and Eskara had been walking almost all night except for a few rests so Eskara could catch her breath but he had kept the breaks intentionally short so she would be tired and slow if there was any chance of her breaking her bond of servitude.
Kyros had learned the Rune of forced servitude from a Duergar Slaver who he had afterwards skinned alive and served to the slaves he kept in his kennel. after that he had sold of the slaves to the Duergar slavers rivals for a tidy profit.
Kyros finally came to the edge of the fungal forest and he could see the first marks of Drow civilization in the shape of a crucified corpse of some humanoid creature. Upon further investigation it was apparently a large ork and to Kyros surprise it was not a corpse at all the creature was still breathing somehow. but he seemed badly wounded and the ork had lost a lot of blood from his time being crucified.
very interesting kyros silently brooded the implications of this discovery.
Kyros had planned on buying an orc slave for his future experiments but this specimen could work aswell, it was too badly hurt in it’s current form but a healing spells did exist that could bring the creature back from near death.
unfortunately Kyros this was beyond his capability he could stop the bleeding and he would probably survive but this would delay him severely from his time schedule.
He looked over at Eskara “it seems like this one is still breathing you wouldn’t happen to know any healing spells would you?”
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Eskara sighed “if i did could you set me free? That savage orc is a much better packmule then myself”
Kyros fully turned himself to face her “hmm interesting the you are proposing is arguably in your favor i admit but i’ll humor you with a compromise i will set you free but i would have you stay in my company. I am in the need of competent followers and a tiefling is not something you come across everyday. As such swear your loyalty upon whatever patron deity you tieflings worship and i’ll accept”
Eskara looked at him for a good long while weighing all her options, she did not like Kyros but he had ambition and this was her first time visiting the underdark and so far it had not gone according to plan she looked at him again with renewed vigor “only one more condition that brute looking at the orc will carry these fucking pelts”
Kyros smiled “done now swear it”
After swearing her oath of fealty to kyros upon her patron god Asmodeus she proceeded to use her extensive medical knowledge in cohertion with her advanced healing spells to sufficiently bring the ork back to a semblance of his former self.
“Wake him” kyros demanded
Eskara shrugged her shoulders and slapped the ork across the face
The orc started to mumble something in orkish before slowly opening his eyes
He looked upon Kyros and Eskara before lunging towards Kyros before realising that he was still nailed to the cross and screamed out in pain as his hands and feet that are nailed to the cross once again start to bleed.
The orc struggles against his restraints and screams in orcish
“My My seems like we have a wild one here indeed” Kyros hears something behind him as something in the underbrush cracks under someone's footstep he glances to see that it’s not Eskara but she is looking away, trying to ignore the Orcs screaming
A voice calls out at Kyros “stay where you are scum” Kyros identifies it as a female drow as he senses 8 other in behind the female. A drow hunting cadre “damn” seems like the orcs screaming has drawn unwanted attention
Kyros turns around slowly towards the voice and speaks “don't do anything you will regret”
A low chuckle comes from the underbrush as 8 other drow step forward they are all carrying repeater crossbows and on their hip is a drow sabers in their scabbards.
“Cooky are we i’ll teach you a lesson and soon you will be begging for mercy poor little man”
Kyros simply smirk “oh i don't think so” and with a quick glance and a nod in Eskaras direction Kyros leaps into the air with supernatural speed dodging arrows and Drawing his swords mid flight.
Kyros lands within arm length of the first drow hunter as the hunter quickly drops his Repeater crossbow and draws his sword they both engage. Kyros quickly shows himself the better swordsman but the other soon also started to join in on the fight.
Soon Kyros was starting to lose ground as he was fighting 5 opponents at the same time the other 3 were engaging Eskara and she was holding her own and was pressing them hard with her flaming fists.
Kyros parried, dodged then countered blocking several swords at once and tricking his opponents into getting in each others. But it wouldn’t work for long as he could see them spacing themselves around to surround him. He finally parried a blow and with a fast counter cut the drow’s sword hand making him drop it Kyros quickly followed it up with a quick slash to the throat dropping the opponent.
Kyros luck turned sour as the female drow leader used her comrades death to her advantage and attacked Kyros overextended flank hitting a glancing blow to his ribs. Kyros grimaced in pain but his concentration remained intact. A roar came up from behind Kyros distracting one of the drow long enough for Kyros to impale him through the heart. Afterwards Kyros shot a quick glance towards Eskara she had dispatched one of her opponents and was grabbing one of the drows heads in the palm of her hand scorching his face to the bone.
But before Kyros could put his attention to the roar the angry and formerly crucified ork smashed the cross he was previously impaled on into one of kyroses assailants breaking his spine and caving his left side in two.
Kyros did not know if the Orc was on his side or not so he quickly maneuvered away from the orc and splitting the remaining hunters attentions between Kyros and the Orc.
Kyros pressed the attack on one the drow that had split of to deal with him Kyros started to spin his blades in random directions, confusing his opponent who did not know where the next strike would come from and eventually he made the mistake of parrying the wrong blade and did not see the other coming down on his exposed neck cutting his head clean off.
The orc was a terrifying opponent to witness it had crushed another Drow beneath his massive Cross and was now facing the Drow female he eventually finished the fight when he unexpectedly threw his cross towards her she dodged it.
But the Orc followed up his attack by seizing her by the throat and swordhand he snapped her sword hand like a twig and lifted her up to eye level and spoke in a rough under-common dialect “I am Bazzor of the knights of the dark flame and i the end” before crushing her windpipe.
Eskara and Kyros quickly finished off the last Drow before standing before Bazzor who was standing by the females drows corpse looking into the distance.
Bazzor turned towards Kyros “I am Bazzor Knight of the dark flame you have saved my life as such i owe an unrepayable blood debt to you as such i swear an oath of loyalty and fealty to you” Bazzor then kneeled before Kyros
Kyros simply smiled with his trademark wicked grin “I accept”