Deep within his obsidian fortress, the demon Nganuz had awakened and his mood was not a pleasant one. Sat atop a throne of bronze, his pointed ears twitched as he listened to discouraging reports from his goblin army. Every few moments, his talons would rap impatiently on the rests of his throne, and his temper would rise another couple of notches. Either side of his great throne stood two statues of bronze warriors, stolen relics from fallen civilizations.
Finally, he leaned forward and fixed the prostrate goblin with two glowing silver eyes. A reptilian tongue flickered over razor sharp fangs, and he hissed softly.
“Answer me this,” he finally spoke, his deep voice reverberating through the skulls of his servants. “You were given one task before I slept. To secure my domains, and expand them. Instead, you have lost land to the humans, numerous forces to the elves, and finally you tell me my southern fortress was undermined by dwarves and dropped into a chasm?”
The goblin warchief stuttered momentarily, seeking desperately for some good news with which to appease his master. After a moment, he stopped, and lowered his head in shame. “I have failed you sire.”
Nganuz rose from his throne in one fluid movement and landed mere inches from the goblin’s face. The goblin stared deep into the demon’s silver stare, and could see his own terrified visage reflected back at him. “Yes,” Nganuz replied. “You have failed me. I hope your replacement will achieve more.”
He stepped backwards, and the goblin felt a strange sensation in his stomach. Looking down with confusion, he saw five razor sharp claws slowly being withdrawn from his torso, coated in a thick layer of blood. The demon lifted his talon, and his long forked tongue licked at the miasmic coating. Understanding came moments later to the goblin, a mere second before he fell to the stone floor.
A servant stepped forward, head bowed low to the floor, unwilling to meet the eyes of the demon.
“Should I clear the remains from your presence old one?” the goblin asked.
Nganuz shook his pointed skull. “I have not eaten in a year. I will dispose of it myself.” He paused at the thought. Goblin meat was hardly pleasant fare even to a demon. “Find me some more meat from the prison stock, and bring it to my chambers, I have a desire to feast.” He paused once again. “And find me a new goblin warchief.”
“As you wish.” The servant stepped backwards, and was again lost to the shadows.
Nganuz turned, and for a moment froze stock still, deep in thought. Finally, he nodded to himself.
“I will need messengers to spread the news of my awakening,” he soliloquised. “But where would I find them?”
Moments later, he lifted his head, and his eyes fell upon the two bronze statues either side of the throne.
“Yes,” he hissed. “That will do nicely.”
He stepped forward and withdrew from his cloak a small canopic vase, which seemed to glow with an inner light. He lowered it to the floor delicately and stroked its exterior with a surprisingly delicate touch.
“Awaken, my child. It is time for you to go to work.”
The vase vibrated gently on the stone floor, and the seal on the lid sprang backwards with a sudden snap. The lid flew back, and a burst of flame sprang forth from the depths of the jar. The fire rose with acrid smoke and the stench of sulphur, forming a roughly humanoid shape. Within moments, a being of living fire blazed in front of Nganuz, filling the chamber with a blinding light. Within the flames, two eyes burned like suns, and were fixed on the great demon before it.
Nganuz pointed a slender claw towards one of the bronze statues. “Wear your armour with pride. Go forth, and spread the word of my awakening.”
The fire demon span in the air scattering sparkles of light, as the dust around it burst into flame. It rushed forward, and enveloped the statue within a corona of blinding light. Finally, and abruptly, the light vanished, plunging the chamber back into the semi-darkness of torchlight. The demon had vanished.
Seconds later, a faint yellow glow arose in the eyes of the bronze statue. With a metallic creak, the head turned slowly to survey the room. The statue stepped ponderously forward, a little unsteady as the piloting demon found its way within the bronze shell. The stone tiles under its metal feet split and cracked as the weight of the statue fell upon them. Gaining confidence, the golem reached slowly over its shoulder, and withdrew a heavy bronze sword. It creaked again with the sound of stretching metal, as the bronze figurine finally stood to attention before Nganuz.
“Go forth, my bronze colossus,” the demon ordered.
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Topic: The Captain's Log- Spiritwood (Read 61715 times)