Sci Fi & Fantasy / The Demon Lord
The Demon Lord Saga
Book 1
-ch1-
The Demon Lord stood upon the battlements of his fortress and sighed. Below him, massive armies with a stunning variety of demons, devils, succubae, incubi, and the like clashing for his amusement. This is getting old, he thought, and sighed again. He brushed imaginary dust from his armor and turned his attention back to the battle. His side was winning. Again.
He looked to the side and saw his love, a vision of infernal beauty if there ever was one. He smiled at her and subconsciously slid the armor plates back from his face. His wife strode confidently up to him and brushed her lips against his. She ran her fingertips across the bone in his wing and asked, “ Does something trouble you, my Dark Lord?” Her voice trilled like a many-stringed instrument, though no musical composition could come close to rivaling the multi-toned and mellifluous sound of her speaking.
Searching her face, he replied,” I tire of all this.” He waved a hand over the wall and indicated the thousands of millions of demons rending each other to shreds for his sole entertainment. ” Yes, armies clash and strength is tried, but we do not play for conquest, but for amusement. For fun.” He frowned.” My father was once the Lord Master of Nine Hells, and expanding into others. Then came the uprising and my father and the rest of my race were slain, and I am sent to this forgotten corner of a lesser hell, sealed off from all but my family and generals, for what? Safety. I have only my general’s strength to test mine, and we grow stagnant. We need new challenges, new foes, new conquests. I cannot stay here for another eternity.”
“Would you have me summon your general’s for conference?” her sultry voice played through his ears.
“No,” he responded with a shake of his head and a dismissive gesture,” Let them have their fun, for now. But tell them their master broods, and there shall be no more infighting. I must think.” With that, he kissed his wife, and turning and stretching his wings, flew off toward his dragon’s cave. Exis returned to watching the battle, thinking on what her lord had said.
His domain ran the full length and breadth of this corner of hell, but was closed off so that not even tremorsense could detect it. He had been here billions of years, building power and knowledge, and finding, in these last centuries, boredom. Brought here as a child, he had no memory of the Black Empire of his father, only the stories told by his mother. He longed for those days, wished he had been born earlier. He flew from his castle, towards the cave that housed his oldest friend. Landing on the lip of the cave that almost dwarfed his castle, he entered the yawning abyss.
Walking and brooding for many miles, not noticing the desiccating stench, he finally entered a cavern that would encase his castle. With room to spare for one or two of his general’s castle’s as well. Lying on the floor in the center of the room, dripping acid from jaws shaped into a malicious grin, was an immense black dragon. It was over two hundred feet long from snout to tail-tip, and far older than he, maybe older than his father’s empire. His mother had told him that dragon was his father’s finest war-mount, and that not even his father had known how old it was. It had also refused to participate in the games, believing it’s strength too great to be wasted. The Demon Lord agreed.
Stopping about thirty paces from the giant monster’s snout, he called out,” Sh’al’a’zeel, Deathbringer, Destroyer, Awake!” The dragon opened one eye and cast it about it’s bedchamber. Upon seeing the Demon Lord, he shook his head and raised it up on a long, sinuous neck and grinned down at him.” And what does my Lord require from me this fine day in hell?” the dragon growled with mock servility.
“To listen, and, if possible, understand and advise.” Sh’al’a’zeel lowered his head to his paws and raised the ridge of bone that was his brow,” I am all aquiver with anticipation, my Lord.” The Demon Lord cocked his own bone eyebrow and chuckled. ”You have ever been my confessor, Sh’al’a’zeel, and know me better than general, wife, or mother.”
“Only because I am the only being that can enter your ‘impenetrable fortress’ of a mind unnoticed, but please, do continue.” The dragon said haughtily.
The Demon Lord put a hand encased in armor that was his flesh to his ancient eyes and, rubbing them, said, “I am faced with a dilemma.”
“Has a general challenged you? Shall I make an example of him?”
“No, no. This is a personal dilemma.”
“Please tell me. Before I explode with excitement.”
“You are not helping.” the Demon Lord sighed, exasperated.
“Whatever do you mean?” the dragon asked, affecting a look of innocence that, had it not been attached to a two hundred foot long acid spitting flying lizard, would have been comical.
“Never mind. Just listen.” The dragon, feigning interest, placed it’s head on it’s paws, perked it’s ears, and opened his eyes wide. The Demon Lord sighed. “Does this not get old?”
“I am old.” the dragon rumbled, “Far older than you or even this plane we inhabit.”
“Despite that, do you not bore? Do you not long to feel the winds of a real world beneath your wings? Do you not long to once again strike fear in the heart of every living being that hears your name? Or, are you content to while away the millennia asleep, while your legend fades into obscurity, and eventually, from memory?”
“I have dreamt of such things, yes.”
“I am weary of this life. The constant slaughter does not amuse, and I wish for something more. In my mind, I see miles of beings from different planes, all shapes and sizes, all bowing to me. I see you, ripping cattle and sentients to pieces, melting fields and towns, even castles. I see all planes worshipping me as supreme god.”
“Quite an ambition you have, my lord.”
“Quite. But tell me, can we? Are we able?”
Sh’al’a’zeel thought for a moment and sighed. “It will take time, my lord. This will not happen overnight. Also, you know not what you will have to deal with when leaving this plane.” The Demon Lord frowned. “However, you and I are incredibly powerful, as are your generals, so a few planes to start should be simple enough.”
“Perhaps. You are correct though. Not knowing what is out there is a danger, but cannot you see other planes?”
“When I’ve a mood, yes.”
“I will go to confer with my generals. If you would be so kind, find me a lower plane to take. Not a hell, a real world, but also a sure thing. We shall find an underdeveloped world in which to test our strength.”
“I will do as my Lord commands.” Sh’al’a’zeel bowed his gargantuan head.
The Demon Lord smiled, really smiled, for the first time in ages. He turned and, spreading his wings, flew with all speed up the cavern.
He had a conference to begin.
Ch2
Sh’al’a’zeel watched the Demon Lord depart, grinning to himself. I was wondering when he would tire of the scenery here, the dragon thought. He closed his eyes and sent his mind spinning across planar gulfs. He saw simple planes where the inhabitants scratched in the dirt like savages, highly advanced planes where men wore giant metal suits of immense power. Hours slipped by, Sh’al’a’zeel cradled planes with his mind like babes in arms, then casually discarded them like refuse. Old and young worlds were considered and rejected as he searched for a place that fit his ‘master’s’ vague standards.
And then, very subtly, like a measure of sweet music just tugging at consciousness, a psychic tendril appeared in his mind, questing. He smiled. Apparently we have been found out, he thought. Whatever had sent the tendril did not realize that he knew it was there. Time for some fun. He directed it down back alleys in his mind, letting it quest, playing games, giving no real useful information. After a while, he got bored of playing with his new friend, and sent his own mind out, tracing the tendril to the source. But his was no quiet questing, or subtle invasion. This was the psychic equivalent of an air raid, or a rape. Tossing the creatures mind out from his, he cracked the mental defenses and ravaged the interior of this beings mind.
Taking all the information he wanted, he soon discovered that this was not some mortal, but a god. This god’s planes of domination were far from the Demon Lord’s, and his intended quarry. The god was completely taken aback by this ravishment. It could throw up no defense that the dragon could not tear down in an instant. His only recourse was to bargain for his sanity.
“Great One, Great One!” he cried, “Please…”
Sh’al’a’zeel turned the full countenance of his immense mind full on the god. “Please what, godling? You have attempted an invasion of my mind, I am merely taking what is rightfully mine for fending off your, ‘attack’. You have no right to entreat me, for anything.”
“I know this,” said the god, grateful for a break in the attack, “I apologize for my intrusion, but I have not felt a mind so great in all my ages of godhood. I was merely investigating, and, now that I know, I am all servility. I have no hope to stand against you, so I shall serve you, if you would have me.”
The dragon laughed, a great booming cacophony in the god’s mind. “You try to glean information from my mind secretly, and when found, you become servile. I must admit, it was fun, shuffling you down the back alleys of my mind. Did you find anything useful?”
“I learned enough. I am obligated to deliver a warning.”
Sh’al’a’zeel laughed again, a horrible sound. “ A warning? You would presume to warn me, who is older than many planes, the destroyer of entire races, and their gods?”
“Indeed master. I would not presume had I not read your intentions. You seek a world for your master to conquer. In doing this, you threaten to upset the Cosmic Balance. It will surely bring it’s own reprisals.”
“I am old, godling, far older than you can comprehend. I fear no reprisals from my ‘master’, for I will outlive him. I fear no reprisals from your ‘Balance’, for I know the world is Chaos and naught can save it.”
“In that case, most powerful one, I would ask that you leave certain planes of the multiverse under their own domination. There are struggles being enacted on certain planes that must come to fruition. In return, I will guide you to weak or godless planes that will be easy fodder.”
“And if you would explain why I should not start by making my lord the new god of your territory, oh subservient one?”
“As I said, there are certain battles which must take place. My planes are part of this. To act on planes I warn you away from is to call up a power greater than I, you, or your master can comprehend. A power that created the multiverse and will end you should you defy it.”
“Very well then. Tell me, where shall I lead my master?”
The god led down corridors in space and time, to a plane of pristine, untouched beauty, inhabited by men and other, less readily identifiable creatures. Forest swept away to the horizons, met a yellow-blue sky with a pink sun. No cities, but small family groups. This world would fall with almost no struggle.
“After your master has taken this plane, call on me again. I will show you the other uncontested planes. These have gods, but they are either very new or very old, and will not put up much fight.”
“I thank you, godling, and will agree to leave your realm in peace. I will call on you again.” He flung the god’s conciousness back down through the planes. He came back to his body with a start. He thought of what the dragon had told him and shuddered. What new doom has been unleashed upon the multiverse?
Across the aeons, Sh’al’a’zeel cradled the rainforest world and laughed boomingly across it. On the plane, all creatures, human and otherwise, stopped their activities and turned to the sky, listening with trepidation to the crashing laughter that came from nowhere.
Ch3
As the Demon Lord sped away from the dragon’s caverns, he thought about how he would get to a new plane. He knew not how to plane shift, though doubtless there was a way. I shall have my scribes check the library when I return, he thought, there are many books there, and one is bound to guard the secret.
He mentally contacted his generals and gave them instructions to stop all infighting at once and meet at his palace in one month. Landing on the battlements and drawing his wings over his shoulders like a cloak, the Demon Lord made for his library, where thousands of infernal tomes were guarded by his scribe-devils. One slunk over, ruby-red eyes gleaming out from it’s cowl, and asked, “What does my Lord and master require from us?”
“I require a method of transporting myself and others to other planes. Check the books, summon gods, devils, baatezuu, just have it ready in one month.”
“Yes my master. I believe I saw a similar spell in one of the older grimoires in my studies.”
The devil bowed. The Demon Lord nodded curtly, turned on his heel and strode out of the library. Watching his master from the depths of his hood, the scribe-devil smiled. So, he thought, the game is on.
The Demon Lord walked away, no doubt in his mind that the scribes would find a way. He traveled down winding corridors, up stairs, down ramps, and at one point, flew over a great rift in the ground. Eventually, he came to a great hall, about 50 yards long, filled with pools of lava. This was his wife’s relaxation chambers. He found her near the back, where the hotter pools were. The thick curtain of steam parted for a moment and she saw him approaching. She rose to welcome him, lava running off of her perfect body. He embraced her, wrapping his wings about them and looked into her eyes, which mirrored the color of the lava.
They stood thus, staring at each other, for a few moments. Finally, the Demon Lord said, “You would follow me anywhere?”
“You are my lover, husband, and king. I would follow you.” she responded, slightly surprised at her lord’s behavior.
He told her of his conversation with Sh’al’a’zeel and his orders to his scribes.
“So you intend to make war on another plane, my dear?”
“Aye, but…something confounds me.”
“Let us retire to the pool, and you can tell me of it.” she offered. They sank into the lava , him leaning back against the side of the pool, her leaning on his chest, tracing the whorls and spikes and scales of his armor with her fingers. “Now, what is it that…’confounds’ you?”
“Well, in my years I have heard that there are two great forces which do battle in the multiverse.”
“And these are?”
“Chaos and Law. Not to be confused with evil and good, for both have their heroes and villains.”
“But why should this cause you any confusion?”
“Because there is another power, greater than Law or Chaos. The Balance. If one faction begins to tip the balance too far, it rights itself. I worry that if I make my war, The Balance will act, and I will be no more.”
“But surely, with your armies, your dragon, your own powers, and myself, we can resist any attack. Your fears are groundless darling.”
“Perhaps you are correct. Anyway, the only way to know is to go ahead, so we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.”
“Now that that’s settled, let us celebrate your new venture. Come, husband, and allow me to ease your troubled mind.” The guards, seeing their lord and lady engaged, and being a polite and discreet sort of devil, decided to retreat to the kitchen and give their monarchs some privacy.
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Kosax sat in his throne of skulls, thinking dark thoughts. The tedium of life here was beginning to take it’s toll. Endless war, strife, but no satisfaction, for all knew it was ‘just a game’. Strength has been built, he thought, the time has come to test it. He fingered the hilt of one of his rapiers and wondered how best to broach this subject to his lord. It had been almost one month since his lord had given the order to stop all fighting and await his pleasure. Kosax knew that there could be a thousand and one reasons that his lord had called off the battles. He had been engaged with G’or’log in a battle of the ages, and had been close to showing that fool why he was the Demon Lord’s right hand general .It had almost been glorious, he had been standing on the battlefield, wielding his twin rapiers, laughing with the mad battle-lust, slaying demon after demon, when the call had came from his lord to cease fire. After that, for an entire month, he had been considering ways to get his lord to leave this place and make an actual war. His main problem was not knowing how to get out of hell. He supposed that excavation would lead to the rest of this level of hell, but he knew that they could do better.
As he considered this problem, a shrunken, emaciated demon flew into his opulent hall in a haste not known in this hell. “Lord Kosax,” it began, fluttering a few inches off of the floor,” Our master requires your presence at his palace.”
Kosax turned his wolfish head to regard the creature, showing his fangs in a grin expressing only pure hunger, “Did my lord specify as to why?”
“He did not,” the homunculus responded, “But even now my brothers are informing our master’s other generals. He plans some sort of campaign.” The creature shrugged, “Perhaps some new game? I know not, I am merely a messenger.”
“Then be gone.” Kosax waved him away with a blue-furred paw, ” Tell our master that I shall be along directly.”
The homunculus bowed and sped away over the floor, out the door, and over fields of flame to come to his master’s portcullis. Kosax watched it go and, as he did, he could not remove, nor stop the growth of the grin that spread across his canine features. The grin kept spreading until it threatened to engulf his head. Finally, it broke, and maniacal laughter erupted from his gut. Clean laughter, hearty laughter, the kind of laughter that only comes from a much welcome break in the monotony of life. The laughter went rolling down the hall, throughout his palace, and echoed across most of the land his master had given him. Still laughing, he signaled for his chariot to be made ready, and, guffawing like a sociopath, he rode towards his master’s palace.
Ch4
Sh’al’a’zeel sat perched on top of his lord’s palace, informing him when the generals arrived. Kosax rode in first, his ruby and ebony chariot reflecting the light of his wheels, made of fire. The dragon raised an eyebrow ridge at Kosax’s maniacal laughter as he whipped the two nightmares that pulled the chariot. G’or’log came next, carried in a litter of bones and black cloth, supported by four succubi. Then K’ar’lakk, his litter made entirely of precious metals and jewels. One by one, the Demon Lord’s generals arrived at his palace, dressed in their finest war-gear.
The Demon Lord paced his spacious war-room, pondering old manuscripts and his father’s maps. His generals left their transports in the courtyard and made their way to where their lord awaits. Kosax was the first to make his way to the room and, clapping his lord on his armored shoulder, said, “It’s about damn time you got tired of this endless farce. Ahh, I long for a time when my sword shall bite, when my claws will once again rend mortal flesh. I may not know, but I believe I can guess your plans, and I am in full support. We shall make your name feared throughout the Nine Hells.”
The Demon Lord willed back his facial armor, shook his friend’s hand, grinned, and said, “I plan to leave the Nine Hells as they are, Kosax. I tire, as you say, of this underworld, and plan greater conquests than the Nine Hells, or even the Fifteen Planes. However, I will tell no more until the rest arrive.”
“Very well,” Kosax responded amiably, “I shall relish the suspense then.” And, with that, he took his customary seat at his lord’s right hand. Interlocking his clawed fingers behind his wolf-like head, he began to hum a jaunty little tune, possibly from his own plane. The Demon Lord knew that Kosax was alien to this plane, but he had not been able to divine or discover what plane he had come from. All Kosax would say was, (and this only after a marathon drinking bout with his master) that he had been involved in a great struggle, had fought passionately for a truly noble cause, failed, been sentenced as a traitor, and banished to this plane. All of the stress, he assured his master, had driven him quite insane. As such, neither the Demon Lord nor Sh’al’a’zeel was able to penetrate the depths of his mind. But this was the way Kosax liked it. No one could read his mind, not even himself.
The rest of his generals arrived and took their places at the intricately carved table, made from a single bone of a creature now extinct on all but very few planes, and none , cosmically speaking, near here. The Demon Lord sat at the head of the table, Kosax to his right, G’or’log to the right of Kosax, and so on around the table until at the left of the Demon Lord sat his wife, smiling at the splendor of his general’s armor. The Demon Lord stood and spread his hands on the table, “I thank you for attending, my lords,” he began evenly, “I have a matter of some importance to discuss with you.” He looked around, his eyes passing over all the assembled demons, finally resting on Kosax, not a demon, but perhaps the most dangerous one of them all.
“Like most of you, I grow tired of this constant warring against each other, testing strength, growing stagnant. Like you, I hunger for the soil of other lands. My Blade yearns for mortal blood.” This said with a meaningful look at Kosax. He swept his arms up and spread his wings. “I dream of great conquests, of all races, man or beast, of all planes bowing to me, with you six heading my armies, and my wife ruling at my side. I have spoken with the Deathbringer, Sh’al’a’zeel, and we have made many plans. Already I have summoned your armies and they mass outside my palace as we speak. Between Sh’al’a’zeel and myself we have been able to construct a map of the first plane that shall fall to our might.”
“It shall not be easy, shall it?” Kosax asked, sounding disappointed, “I long for a true fight.”
“It shall.” The Demon Lord grinned, “This is merely an exploratory journey, to gauge what we are up against. If we plan to conquer the multiverse, then we shall have to plan accordingly. We cannot make rash actions.”
“M’lud,” G’or’log said, “What if we succeed?”
“How do you mean ‘if’, G’or’log?”
“As you say, we have no idea what our armies may meet. Nor any idea how to get there, nor if they have the means to summon aid from other planes. I am merely trying to cover all bases, M’lud.”
“Fear not,” The Demon Lord said, “As I said, Sh’al’a’zeel and I have scouted ahead using quite powerful divining methods, and have every confidence in our minimal effort in taking this plane. As you can see from the map, the inhabitants of this plane live in small family groups, living with the land, but their technology is slightly advanced over their living conditions, but they should offer little to no resistance. These humans have no governing body, no army, no unifying force, no enemies except the more voracious creatures, and are mostly peaceful. I am confident if we arrive with a sufficient display of strength, they should bow to us.”
He slid his bone armor back onto his face and grinned, showing his pointed teeth. Seven other demonic grins answered his. The plan was set, the players here, and the game is on.
Ch5
You shall pay, thought Korut. He took a tranquilizer arrow from his quiver and knocked it. The beast was maybe thirty yards away, all claws, muscle, and black fur. At ten feet tall, this giant could rip Korut to shreds before he could blink. The tree he was in would be no protection, no matter how high he went. The beast would simply knock down the tree and eat him. Luckily, it had not seen him yet, so the tranq might take effect before it sighted him. He drew back on the string, bringing the arrow’s fletching to his ear. Sighting along the shaft, he aimed just below the creature’s armpit, and let fly. The beast roared and began crashing into trees, seeking the source of it’s pain. Finally, it’s four eyes sighted Korut, and, squinting, roaring it’s outrage, ran and crashed into Korut’s tree.
He flung the bow as far away as possible, not wanting to damage such a valuable piece of old technology, and as the tree fell and monster recovered, Korut leaped towards the beast’s head and drew his long, curved knives. Landing on the creature’s head, though head and shoulders were one, he took out the top left eye and stabbed the other knife between it’s shoulder blades. Screaming insensate agony, the monster brought it’s claws up, grabbed Korut, and flung him across the forest floor, to bounce off a tree and land in a tangle of briars. He was up in an instant, shaking the disorientation from his head and searching for the creature. It didn’t take him long, after it had thrown him, it was running at his briar patch, screaming it’s fury. With all his strength he flung the blade at the monster. It caught the creature centerpoint of it’s four eyes, stopping it cold. It grunted in confusion, sniffed, and looked around as if it had lost sight of him. It reached a powerful claw up to it’s face, made a noise that, in some circles, could be called a sigh, and fell facedown in the underbrush.
Finally, he thought, took the damn tranq long enough. He walked over to inspect the body, finally feeling where the tree had hit his back. He was hoping that he hadn’t killed it yet. Korut wanted this beast to suffer. For the death of his daughter, it would take this creature months to die. Reaching the massive body, he realized the thing was no longer breathing. Damn. His vengeance stolen by his own hand, he began to inspect the creature. Ten feet tall, no head, but a mouth slit filled with six-inch razor sharp teeth below the eyes. Well, it was not a total loss. The monster’s hide was exceptionally thick, and could possibly be used as armor, while the teeth and claws could be new weapons. As he was inspecting it, smoke began to rise from the body. He backed away quickly, for the fumes smelled horribly.
As he watched in confusion and not a little horror, the body started to, well, dissolve. It burned itself away until only his knife and arrow remained on the ground, with no sign that there had been a ten foot tall death machine attached to them. Warily, he bent down and gathered his weapons, shaking his head. Looking for his bow, finally finding it sitting atop a bush, he tried to figure out what that creature was, where it had come from, and where it’s body had gone to. He shrugged and decided it was best to let it go. No use worrying about what he would never know. He peered through the tree canopy, seeking the sun. Finding it, he divined the direction he would take to get home, and set out.
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Finally he arrived at his home, in which lived his entire family, father mother, children, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. It was about fifty yards long, with a rounded roof, and curtains with various charms to ward off evil and bring good luck over the entrance. Pushing the curtains aside, he entered the common room, where his wife was cooking and his father was sitting singing and playing a six-stringed instrument of his own creation. His father played a sad song, one Korut had never heard before. He realized with a start that it was a mourning song for his daughter. Sitting on the bench next to his wife, he sighed and put his arm around her, hugging slightly. There were tears in her eyes. All the family was destitute with loss. She had only seen six summers. It was not right. Or Fair. Korut thought thoughts like, why? I should have been there, and he railed against any god that would allow that to happen to such a young girl.
His father finished the song and looked meaningfully at him. “I am sorry, my son. Were you able to find the monster?”
“I would not be here if I had not, father.”
“And it is dead?” his wife asked.
“It is, though I tried not to kill it.”
“Why?” she asked, horrified.
“I would have killed that creature over the course of several months. Our daughter is avenged, but my vengeance was stolen by my own hand.”
Strusk entered from the bedrooms. “Praise be the goddess, he came back alive.” Strusk breathed a deep sigh of relief. “I’ll not ask about the hunt, for your presence indicates it went well. Brother, were you able to capture it?”
“No.” Korut responded.
“And the body? Will you have a new cloak and knives?”
“I shall not.” Korut looked up at his mountain of a brother, seven feet tall, pure muscle, a giant of a man.
“Too heavy for you to drag back, eh?”
“No. It is gone.”
“Gone?” Strusk blinked in confusion. “What do you mean gone?”
“That is what I said, brother. I killed the beast, and the body just, “ he made a motion with his fingers, “disappeared.”
Their father spoke up, “I have not seen the like of that creature before. I cannot fathom where it came from. Unless,” He looked at his sons in fear, “unless it was not native to our world.” Korut’s father had seen much in his many summers, and had great experience. In his younger years, he had been a great warrior and explorer, and had fought with just about every monster on this plane. If he had not seen that monster before it had snatched Korut’s daughter, maybe it was from another world.
Korut almost laughed as he listened, “Doubtless there is some part of the world where those monsters roam, and this one just wandered into human lands. We were just unlucky enough to be the first humans it found.”
Strusk patted his gigantic mace and said, “Well, Skullcracker and I’ll go on patrol tomorrow and make sure that no more of those things have ‘wandered’ this far.”
“I’ll come with you.” said a voice from the doorway. Strusk turned and saw their cousin, Sidha, holding the curtain up with one hand. She had her bolo hanging from her hip tasset. After what had happened to Korut’s daughter, all the warriors in the family had never been seen without their weapons. “It wouldn’t be a good idea for you to go out alone, especially if there are more of those creatures out there.”
“Take care of yourselves,” Korut said, “Those monsters are very vicious. Don’t use tranquilizers, either those things are immune or it takes to damn long to work.”
“Don’t worry,” Strusk patted the steel spiked head of his large mace, “Skullcracker don’t tranquilize, or stun. We should have no problems,” He looked up at Sidha for confirmation, who had walked over to the circle, “Right?”
“Right.” she said with an air of finality, stretching the leather thong of her bolo between her hands.
“Actually,” Strusk mused, “There have been a fair amount of odd occurrences lately. First this monster out of nowhere, and then that weird altar out in the forest. It might be a good idea to make a trip to some of the other families and see if anything strange has been going on elsewhere.”
Korut looked up at his brother in alarm, “What altar?”
“I’ve never seen it’s like before,” Strusk explained, “It was all in black stone, with angles to make the mind twist. It seemed to be melded with a tree, but the rock passed through the wood at places.”
“Like the tree had grown around the stone?” Sidha asked.
“No, the rock passed through the trunk without the tree making space. It must have appeared only recently, for I cannot remember ever seeing it before. I can’t imagine what dark god would require a shrine that so exuded an aura of menace.”
Korut’s wife looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I am afraid, husband. I fear for us, our children…” she trailed off as she remembered their daughter.
“I fear that this age will not be kind as well.” He hugged her tightly. As he held his love, he wondered if their daughter was not the lucky one.
Ch6
“How long before I can manifest myself in the other world?” The Demon Lord asked Sh’al’a’zeel.
“All of the altars must be placed so that your powers do not diminish when traveling across the planar gulfs. You are able to go there now, but some of your powers may not function.”
“And after all the altars are placed?”
“Your powers will increase slightly with every plane we take, however we will have to subjugate the native peoples of the plane to ensure that they will not destroy the altars.”
“How do you suggest we do this. I could send an army. Kosax could have this plane under his heel within a weeks time.”
“Precisely, my lord. Under Kosax’s heel. I do not trust that wolf-man, and neither should you. I fear that he has plans that may not coincide with yours. His mind is unreadable. I cannot fathom him. He is dangerous.”
“That is precisely why I keep him around.” The dragon looked at him quizzically. “If I did not keep a tight reign on him, then he might actually stand against me. And Kosax is a powerful being. I do not need him against me.”
“You are wise, as always, lord.” the dragon inclined his head. “So how will you do it?”
“I believe I will wait until the altars are in place. Then I shall go to the plane myself and decide from there.”
“A good plan, master. You do not want to take this plane too soon.”
The Demon Lord raised an eyebrow ridge. “Do you mock me, dragon?”
“Never, lord. I merely speak truth. If you take this plane too soon, then move onto the next, something is sure to notice and take action. We cannot risk reprisals. Not yet.”
“Hmm. And the Kartuu? How are the four we sent to erect the altars?”
“Three are fine. They roam the land, killing indiscriminately, sowing fear and confusion. After they have erected the altars, of course.”
“And the fourth?”
“It has been returned to this plane.”
“Something killed it?”
“Someone, lord.”
“Hmm.” The Demon Lord stroked his chin. “He who can kill a Kartuu would be a valuable asset. We should find him.”
“Do you hope to draw him over to your side, master? Taking his plane and slaughtering his family are wonderful ways to demonstrate how fit for leadership you are.”
“He will join. There will be no other choice.”
………………………………............................................................................................................................
Kosax waited in the antechamber of his master’s hall. He was dressed in his finest war-gear, armor of ebony and bone, with his rapiers by his side. He leaned against the wall and thought of all the different kinds of death that would shortly be taking place at his hand. He knew that the plane they were to take first would be little trouble, but he would relish the slaughter all the same. It had been too long since he had slain a mortal. He raised his head as he heard footsteps approaching. Looking down the hallway, he saw his lord’s wife approach on the arm of G’or’log. That pig-faced fool, Kosax thought, he has no right to be a general in our master’s armies. He has no proper understanding of the joys of slaughter. He preferred to sit back and let the army do the killing. He did not understand that a general’s place is in front of his troops, not behind. How can one lead if one is in the back? Kosax had never understood that behavior. How can you not want to be down in front, the first on the battlefield and the last off it? The first to shed blood, and never have yours shed. Kosax hated G’or’log for this, and would strangle the pig-faced demon with his own claws if given half the chance. He bowed at the waist as they approached, saying, “M’lady, G’or’log. How are we this day?”
Her eyes appraising him, Exis responded, “Fine, Kosax. I was just explaining to G’or’log here what my husband had told me last night. The altars are almost set up, and it is almost time for us to investigate this plane. The transportation is scheduled for tomorrow. We are all expected to travel with my husband to catch first sight of our new world.”
“Surely it will be a glorious sight, m’lady. And you, G’or’log, will you be joining us? Or do you intend to watch the battle from your castle?” Kosax loved to needle that fat pig.
“No, I shall be joining you. I am most interested in this other world, having only known this one. Near as I can remember, you, Kosax, are the only one of us that has experience on other worlds.”
Kosax bristled at the jab. All knew that he was not truly a demon, and the other generals took pains to make sure that he never forgot that. Perhaps that was why he attempted to distinguish himself in battle, to prove to his master that he was worth any number of demons. “Experience I may have, but not in taking entire worlds, brother. Mere skirmishes, nothing more. Though I actually do the fighting when I start a battle. As far back as I can recall, I have never seen you on the field of honor. Do you fear my blades? You should not. All know it is ‘just a game’. None are permanently destroyed. You have nothing to fear.”
G’or’log’s eyes widened in anger. He began to sputter, and finally turned on his heel and walked away. Kosax chuckled. “You certainly have a way with words, general.” Exis said.
“G’or’log is an easy target. There is no challenge to him. He is also the one general of my lord’s armies that I have never met in single combat. I believe he is afraid of battle. Doesn’t want to mess up his pretty face.”
Exis laughed, her full voice echoing down the hall after G’or’log. “Truly you are my husband’s most valuable general, Kosax.”
“Has my lord discussed how this plane is to be taken?”
“He has not, and I must admit a certain confusion on that point myself.”
“From what I have heard, they have no capitol, or government. How shall we subjugate savages? I have suggested we merely arrive in force and slay them all, but my lord wishes to wait until he sees this plane for himself. I only hope that there will be battle soon.”
“I am sure that you will feel your blade bite flesh soon enough, Kosax. From what I understand, though, the battles will be short, almost nonexistent.”
“Then I shall have to take my fill where I can. Do you know where your husband is? I have been waiting for several hours to speak with him.”
“I believe he is conferring with Sh’al’a’zeel. He should be back soon.”
“Then I shall continue my waiting. It is our monthly drinking night tonight, and I could use some liquor.”
“I shall inform the wine master that you will be calling on him soon.”
“Thank you, m’lady.” He bowed as she turned and left. He watched her leave, eyeing the sway of her hips, the curve of her wings, small in comparison to her husband’s. Our lord is a very lucky demon, Kosax thought, to have such a devil at his side. He sat back down on the waiting bench, thinking of all the things he would like to do to Exis. This was a very dangerous form of thought, as most of the Demon Lord’s posse could read minds. Kosax had no fear though, he was too insane for mind-reading. He laced his claws behind his head and began to hum a tune from his native world. He did not discuss his past life with anyone. As far as he saw it, they had no right or need to know. He missed Minx, but if given the chance, he would decline to return. This life suited his new disposition. Being with the conquerors, not the resistance. Kosax would choose the side most likely to win. He valued his lord’s friendship, but if a more powerful demon came along, he would not think twice about slaying his old master. Kosax was an opportunist. He stopped humming as he heard more footsteps down the hallway. Looking down, he saw that it was his master with one of his aides.
“And all the preparations are made? My armies are ready?” The Demon Lord was asking the homunculus that flapped along at his side.
“They are, my lord. All we await is your word.”
“Good. You are dismissed, then. I will call on you when I am ready.”
“Thank you, master.” The homunculus made a mockery of a bow and flew off down the corridor.
“Ahh, Kosax. Are you ready for war?”
The wolfish head looked up at his master and grinned. “I am. And are you ready, my lord, for our drinking night? We must celebrate your new venture.”
“I have been looking forward to it. A dose of alcohol would do me good now. Come, let us retire to our old drinking room.” Kosax stood and motioned for his master to lead the way. They walked into the throne room and crossed it to back behind the throne. It was an impressive number, all black stone and jewels, with spikes jutting out at all angles. They came to the wall behind the throne. The Demon Lord pressed a panel in the wall and a portion of it slid back, revealing a new hallway. They continued down this, until they came to a room lit by torches in sconces along the wall. It was not a large room, about twenty feet square, with a table and two chairs sitting in the center. On the table was a bottle of fine brandy, two cups, and a lit candle.
The Demon Lord sat down and Kosax picked up the bottle. He uncorked it with one claw, sniffed it, sighed, and poured two glasses. The Demon Lord took up his cup, swirling the brandy a little before taking a sip. “Ahh, I do love fine alcohol, don’t you, Kosax?”
“Most definitely, Lord. Where did this bottle originate?”
The Demon Lord grabbed the bottle and inspected it for a moment. “I believe that this particular bottle was apart of my father’s cabinet. Unfortunately not all could be saved. The uprising came to quick. This was saved by my mother, I believe.”
“A stalwart demoness if there ever was one, master.” Kosax poured his own glass. “If you don’t mind my asking, my lord, how did the uprising come about? I was under the impression that your father was the most powerful demon of his time. How did the lower devils, even a horde, destroy him?”
The Demon Lord eyed his friend suspiciously. “I only know what my mother has told me. I was only a wee devil back then. But, if you desire to hear the story, I suppose I could rouse my memory.”
“Please do,” Kosax asked, “As you know, I was only transported here after all that was already through, and have no knowledge of what came before. No one is willing to speak of it. It is almost as if they are afraid. But I am very much interested in hearing the tale.”
“Well,” the Demon Lord started, “What I know is not much, but I will start where my mother did when I was first told this story. My father, as you know, was a mighty demon king, ruling over Nine of Twenty Hells, and moving out into others. His empire was the largest of his day, and he ruled it well. This was back when there were more of my race. With their help he was able to subjugate these planes. They were very powerful demons, and had control of other, less strong devil races. My people roamed the streets freely, and other demons cringed when they rode by. We were once numerous enough to control all these planes without the help of the other demons. Then the resistance formed. It was an alliance of races with the intention of wiping my race off of the face of hell. Into this intense political atmosphere I was born. My father began to go a little mad, introducing more restrictive laws and patrols. He was concerned for the safety, not only of his child and wife, but of his race. This in the end was his downfall, as it only put the more numerous, less powerful races on the side of the resistance. It happened simultaneously on all their planes. All the lesser devils rose up and, through sheer numbers, killed their oppressors. On that night, my father was sitting in his library, thinking dark thoughts. His lieutenant and right hand demon ran into the library, bleeding from a dozen wounds. He told my father of the attack and advised him to get his family and as many of his retainers out as possible. He died there on the floor of the library. As my father dropped his body a fireball spell entered the large central window. It struck one of the bookcases and began a domino effect all about the library. My father ran out the door and immediately went to the nursery, where he knew my mother and I would be. He told her about the uprising and insisted that she get out of the castle. She gathered me up and mentally called all retainers that were still loyal, including five wizard devils and ten or so warriors, and several scribes and nursemaids, along with a hundred or so soldiers. She called them to meet out back of the castle, but most of the soldiers didn’t make it. In the end only thirty or so demons, including my father, mother and myself were left, running through the wilderness with a massive army of demons behind us. My father spoke with the wizards and gave them instructions to run to a cave that led to a forgotten corner of this hell. Once through the tunnel, they were to seal it by any means necessary. To seal it even so tremor sense could not detect the end of the cavern. There they were to care for my mother and I, and make sure that his legacy and our race survived, even in one demon. All this was done on the run. They kept up their flight, with the mob drawing closer every minute. To give them time to escape, my father told them to run ahead, and he would stay behind and fend off the army.”
“By himself?” Kosax was incredulous.
“My father was a sorcerer and warrior of no mean skills. Well able to take on an army of humans, but the demons were too much for him. My mother looked back and saw him leap into the crowd, swinging his magical blade and rending with his free claws. Because my father was a purebreed, his facial armor could not retract. He must have cut a fearsome figure in his final moments. I wish I could have seen it. The last thing my mother saw of him was a flight about ten feet above the crowd, who had stopped to destroy him, recognizing one of their oppressors. He flew up above them and unleashed, with the help of his sword, the most powerful spell known to my kind. It completely eliminated the army, along with my father. My mother turned and ran, not looking back any more. Finally, the scribes guided them to the place my father had spoken of. The cave was massive. Over a thousand feet long, leading to the place that has been your home and battlefield, and my ’kingdom’. They traversed the cavern and, between the five of them, the wizards managed to seal the cave all the way back to the entrance. I imagine that there is no sign of the cave having been there, for there was no expedition mounted to discover our whereabouts. Or if there was I don’t know of it. Anyway, my mother began to set up my future kingdom, acting as regent until I came of age. She had help brought in from other planes through the wizards, and had the castles erected. One day Sh’al’a’zeel appeared on the field and demanded to be apart of the new kingdom. My mother demanded to know where he had been in the attack, and why he had not saved my father. Sh’al’a’zeel responded that no amount of help could have saved him, and he knew that I had a greater destiny than my father. He demanded to be here to help me. My mother raged, but relented. Sh’al’a’zeel dug out his own home, and has resided there ever since. I came of age and began ruling my ’kingdom’. This was many, many years ago. Billions, if I remember right. It has been so long, and immortality is a curse I would not wish on my worst enemy.”
“I shall drink to that.” Kosax agreed, and did, taking all his drink in one gulp, then poured himself another. “That was one of the conditions of my personal damnation. I am to live forever, with the knowledge of what I have done festering in my corrupted brain. Perhaps that is why I seek battle so avidly. I try to die, but know that I cannot. It is hopeless. I am a creature doomed to live.”
The Demon Lord sympathized with his friend, and told him so. They were both quite drunk by this time, having consumed the bottle and sent for another. “We must succeed in this venture, Kosax. I cannot stand the thought of shaming my father’s memory, and I wish to outdo him on every level. My mother has told me that my sorcerous abilities almost match his, and my skill with a blade is already his equal, but I wish to have my own multi-planar empire. I wish my holdings to go beyond hell, into many a real world, with actual inhabitants that will fear and respect me. Worship me.”
“This is quite the ambition, my master. However, with time, we shall accomplish it. With my expertise and your forces, with your generals and the love of Exys, we shall conquer. We shall crush them as excrement beneath our boot heels.” Kosax took the bottle and drank of it.
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This 167 word review has not been unlocked.
I think you did a pretty good job, you actually did not seem to be such a beginner.
You may want to add quotations around your character’s thoughts, it would help the reader a lot.
I found it a little weird that the dragon is at the service of the demon lord. I mean, he sounds so powerful, with all kinds of abilities and powers, why would he not want to be free? He could escape without a doubt.
You did a good job describing the dragon but otherwise, I think you need to add a little bit more dscriptions to make your world more vivid to the reader. Add features to your demon, of the environment. That would help the reader imagine better. You created this world so may as well have fun with it right?
You story and world are original but I find myself a little bit bored. Maybe if you add descriptions this will help, or speed up a little bit with the action.
I am able to scope Korut’s personality a little bit better, and of course I guees because he is no demon, I like him better.
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