Grim walked towards the front of the entrance to The Unbound. Clad in a more regal version of the guards’ red and black, he cut an imposing figure in his heavy armor. A short sword was buckled to his hip. A spear was gripped firmly in his hand and clacked along with his steps. A flame glass helm obscured the face while allowing him to see as if he had no helm on. It also remained harder than most metals not reinforced with magic, so there was no drop in safety for the style choice.
Still he did not care for the outfit much, it made his head look like a lit candle. He felt as though it did not fit the station of bodyguard to the reigning Matron of The Unbound. It was Ember's will, however, so he would dutifully wear it. He did feel that she knew it was not to his liking and did it anyway. Most likely to hide his always stoic expression she often told him killed her fun loving mood.
He approached the front entrance and was greeted by a grand hall perfect for hundreds of people to mill about in. Pillars ran down its length that were each a subtly bubbling volcano. Magma slowly ran rivers down each of them giving off a red flickering light. With over a hundred pillars, it was as if one were inside a volcano palace.
Grim arrived at the main doors just as the ceremony was coming to a conclusion. The screaming coming from the skull was finally dying and Matron Ember had taken center stage. He gazed out upon the many factions and countless races that were gathered in the viewing area.
All of the major factions were represented here it seemed. Devils and the occasional Demon from The Deep were scattered throughout the crowd. Pirates and raiders from the Realm Sailors were clumped in their crews. Tech wizards and augmented from the A.A.A. could be seen. A few Chaos Walkers must be taking a break from their traveling. Wild Syndicate members rabble roused together. A very select few Chroniclers studiously copied down all they saw. There were even a few celestials in attendance with their devout followers.
The Unbound was a neutral area where all were free to enjoy the finer things, let loose and have fun with your companions, or make new ones. Sentients came from all realms that were linked to a main faction as long as they could acquire a passage coin for their group. Anyone, of any station, could acquire one, for the right price.
“But what makes people want to come here for such a steep price?” Grim had asked the first person he had awoken too, Matron Alyx. He had been training with her and some of the other matrons for close to three years at that point.
“Why? For the opportunity of greatness, the potential for patronage, or even the allure of a chance encounter that could change the very path you walk.” She had smiled at him, her midnight complexion had seemed to soften as she laughed before saying, “Our encounter with you was much the same, as you were destined to be a mindless flesh puppet for a celestial to be reborn into if we hadn’t found you when we did. The amount of people who would give up everything for the mere chance to remake their lives would astound you.”
He had pondered that while he was brutally trained in various life and death moments. Between the weapon training with Matron Xena, stealth exercises with Matron Alyx, scouting and survival techniques for different situations in varied climates with Matron Trixy. Even while he learnt the arts of a mage with Matron Echo, he pondered on the worth of a life. Was life equal? Could you even measure it? He had yet to find whether that was the case. As what was one life when there were countless scattered across the realms. Especially when living with undead and necromancers, life felt so cheap.
He had been viciously trained in the great battle arena that The Unbound hosted. Much to the enjoyment of the arena’s keeper, the ancient ooze Evangeline. She was able to make use of her experimental works of art. He called them hellscapes but never to her face, or mask as it were. He was pitted against other candidates of promise or factions to race to an objective or to duel each other. Other times he was forced to fight for the crowds entertainment against monsters of renown.
He felt as if he were one of the gladiators that traveled and fought in the arenas of the realms. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as fighting felt satisfying to him, but it felt as though he had no choice in the matter. He felt like there was no purpose but the training. Grim didn’t even know why he was being pushed to his limits with all this. They just kept telling him how lucky he was to receive such a blessing.
A shiver ran down his spine as he could only imagine what horrors they were getting him ready for. He still remembered one of his first sights. The two bodies in the middle of the lake. Following that he remembered the vastness above him filled with wondrous colors and the deep yearning within him to go to them. What was it his soul craved? Was it purpose or something else?
“Grim?” Matron Ember’s cool questioning tone interrupted his musings.
He stiffened reflexively as he realized that he had not been paying attention. Ember’s orange and red eyes appeared mildly amused, as well as annoyed, by his lack of attentiveness. She stood at the entrance to the greeting hall, athletic frame set with subtle authority.
“Yes, Matron Ember?” he replied hurriedly, mouth feeling a bit dry now.
"I know this is your first time being assigned to a Matron for guard duty but you can't be failing before you even start. I know you and I haven't had any time together, as the others are always teaching you, but please," her tone went from playful to hard, "be professional during the first part of our night today. We need to put on a strong, yet entertaining, appearance for these people."
Grim straightened and sharpened his stance to be able to intervene should things turn sour anytime during these next few hours. Xena’s training kicked in and he began to fall in behind her as she strutted down the hall towards The Unbound's true entrance.
Ember’s black and red straight dress captured the light in spectacular fashion as she strode between the magma pillars. It highlighted the harsh beauty of her human and imp heritage. Short horns, looking like a decorative headpiece, graced the brow of her slim face. The flames randomly popping up on her five foot figure, drew the eye to different spots on her as one would continue to look.
Grim didn’t expect to have to do anything drastic while up there. Arch Lich Maximus, The Unbound’s owner and emperor of the Unbound faction, had a reputation that kept most attendants in line. However, he did understand what Matron Ember meant by her words. A show of vigilance often deters a hidden knife.
As they both reached the doors that led to the inner areas of the establishment they turned right and moved up a set of stairs to where a throne of molten weapons sat. Matching the aesthetic of the entrance hall, Magma bubbled up and over the back of the chair, where it flowed into a pool around the base of the throne. The molten rivers then fell to the sides of the steps they were ascending and formed small lakes to the sides of the stairs.
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Contrary to the flames that engulfed the gathered masses outside, feeling like a lovers hug, this heat would intensify with each step one took. It would begin to feel as if one were trying to soak themselves in the lava itself. Grim’s armor and weapons were equipped with nullification magic that would leave him unaffected by such heat. His palms started to sweat a bit when he was told to stand immediately next to the lava pool, however. He was not of the opinion that he was completely resistant to the damage should he enter the magma.
Ember, on the other hand, appeared completely at ease with the heat. She stepped directly on top of the magma pit at the throne’s base. A casual wave of her hand had the lava that flowed over the throne to shift to the sides allowing her somewhere to sit. Not that Grim believed she couldn’t just sit right in that lava and be unaffected in the slightest.
She gave him a wink and mischievous smile while explaining the heat, “Just because I have to allow myself to be approachable to those that wish to enter the establishment doesn’t mean I have to make it easy.” She then crossed her tanned legs and assumed a pleased smile. She reached up and clapped twice.
Rising from each magma pillar, was a 10 foot tall knight in full plate armor. Each held a tower shield and short sword. From the small pools at the base of the throne rose four armed versions equipped with two tower shields, a longsword, and a 12 foot halberd.
Grim’s hearing picked up a bit of movement behind the throne. He turned quickly around and was met with a giant beast crawling from the pool of magma behind the throne. A large doglike creature with molten skin settled around behind her. It chuffed out appreciatively as she reached down to scratch its head gently. The Matron’s perfectly manicured nails coming away completely unblemished after contact with a molten dog.
I’m really not seeing the point in having someone like me guard someone like her, Grim thought to himself.
He dutifully faced forward anyways and began to carefully observe the people that were finally beginning to enter the grand hall. Everyone began to give exclamations and remarked on the splendor of the unique molten look everything had to it. A few began to break off from the main line of people so they could mingle to the side but the majority of beings began to move purposely towards the doorway leading to the rest of The Unbound.
Grim could tell which people were new and which were regulars here. The new people looked up intensely at the rules written above the door, while the regulars merely glanced up to assure they were still the same rules.
Above the door rested a black rock plaque with backlit letters in red.
Rules
1. THIS IS NEUTRAL GROUND TO ALL PATRONS
2. Be kind to Bob.
3. Respect the Staff.
4. All patrons' minions must be sentient to be allowed outside the arena. -We will test. -Special conditions can be allowed.
5. All patrons are equal and will be treated as such.
6. Disagreements may go to the Battle Arena. -Minion duels are preferred but not necessary.
7. No Turning the living unless they are willing and sign a contract/waiver.
8. No magic in the games unless explicitly stated beforehand. -Yes, this means Items as well.
9. There is no law here except the Owner’s and reigning Matron’s.
IF YOU CANNOT FOLLOW THESE RULES YOU WILL SERVE THEM ETERNALLY.
As patrons began to move through the area, each of the main factions sent a representative to wish the Unbound the best in these prosperous times. They all stayed on the first step after experiencing the temperature rise greatly when coming into contact with it. The Matron would smile politely at them and wish the same to them. The representatives would hurriedly make their way back to the throng of people after.
No one else approached her in the next hours, though a few desperate looking people seemed to look pleadingly up at her from the crowd. They seemed to shrink after looking at him and the other guardians at the base of the steps and continue forward. Grim made note of these people as they would most likely show up again when the Matron was out carousing in the crowds.
This high point of alertness began to wear on him. It felt like every bit of his attention was focusing on everything at once, no matter how slight a threat to his charge’s safety. He couldn’t help but feel that every move or jostle in line could be hiding a dagger or piece of magic ready to be thrown out. Every little movement was thought to have a deeper meaning.
Finally, the crowd began to lessen to a small stream. Ember gave a yawn as she stretched herself out as if a cat finally awakening after a nap. She looked over the gathered crowd and gave a satisfied nod.
“Alright Grim, let’s be gone from this formality.” A slight smile worked its way onto her lips as she rose with this statement. She waved to the crowd as a farewell. The wall behind her slid to the side while creating a walkway in the fountain of the magma and she turned and moved towards it. Grim followed her dutifully until the wall slid behind them to seamlessly connect with the entrance hall again.
“You’ve been summoned to the VIP booth Grim,” she revealed to him, her tone going serious. Matron Ember slowed her strides and turned her head to see what his reaction was. A flabbergasted Grim was all she was rewarded with.
“You don’t know what this is about?” she questioned him. It was clear she did not understand why such a lowly person would be called up to an important place.
“I-I have no idea Matron Ember,” he hurriedly assured her. He figured that as her assigned bodyguard it made sense for him to be there too.
“Hmph,” she exclaimed as she abruptly spun on heel and imperiously marched with the determination of a speed walker about to break out into an outright sprint.
“Shit!” Grim exclaimed as he raced to catch up with the deceptively quick woman. As he ran up he saw more and more heavily armored guardsmen. It came to the point where he didn’t understand why so many powerful people were in this establishment working. It certainly didn’t make sense as to why he needed to follow Ember to wherever she was supposed to go. All of these guards reeked of confidence, skill, and magical equipment.
He finally slowed up his jog as the empire’s master of festivities, Matron Ember, stopped in front of a closed off door that radiated death magic. Then, one of the most powerful, politically connected, a queen of the empire, bowed to her guard. Venom coated her next words and Grim felt himself pale and grow weak.
“The Reanimator of Life, Realmbreaker, Unifier of Races, Primordial Realmwalker, Limitless Lover, Decider of the Final End, and Emperor of the Unbound Maximus shall see you now.”