The morning that followed the assault on Bromidium Keep smelt of death and burning flesh. The king's knights had spent the night tirelessly piling the dead outside the walls in the dirt that, up until recently, covered the bodies of the deceased but now it would soak up the ashes of them instead.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi31w1PTUJ4
It was a task that some knights would have rather not been a part of as it was not customary to burn the flesh of the dead. Cremation was seen as disrespectful to the soul that had once resided within but after last night's events, those knights were eager to get the job underway.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4qtv36Pny
King Bradevere had sent out urgent notices to the other kings to meet with him in his halls. He needed them to see the madness that Varamont had wrought. They needed to see first-hand what Varamont was capable of and they needed to be ready for when the wizard inevitably came to end them for good.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJbJqvNHwt
The Queen of Bromidium Keep, Queen Lydia, was brushing her long red hair at her dressing table on the opposite wall of the bed. King Bradevere was dressing himself in his brown leather pants and a thick cotton shirt. He threw a thick surcoat over it and donned his winter cape around his shoulders. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDeAM4h5eo
"I am going to go see how things are coming along this morning, dear. If all goes well, we shall see the kings tonight." The king kissed his wife on her head, "I love you. We will stop this madness before it gets worse. I will not let our kingdom fall to ruin."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO77VtB2vdm
Lydia set her brush down on the table and stood to face her King, "I know you will do everything you can to keep us safe. I love you too." Her voice was soft and gentle as a spring breeze. They shared a loving kiss before parting.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghxeSOVs60
King Bradevere strode out of his bedchamber and stepped off down the hall to meet with his Knights Commander, Alexander. His footsteps echoed in the empty halls of Bromidium Keep as he drew closer to the doors that led out to the carnage that awaited him.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYzgESjc0v
Cold wind blew in rapidly passed his cape as he pushed the massive doors open and he stepped out into the winter sun. As he gazed around, he took in the state of his castle that he worked so hard to maintain.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLbL4k6hY0
A few minutes of watching his knights and his people going about the cleanup revealed to him one crucial point. They were all terrified. He had to do something to help the hearts of his people.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi7HHIQvm3
He had seen Alexander out on the battlements with a few other knights as they heaved the corpses off the wall and onto the ground outside. The battlements had been littered with the bodies of the abyssals and their dark blood stained the castle walls. "That is never going to come out." He muttered to himself.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH9YiX50ym
King Bradevere strolled past his knights at work on his way to the battlement stairs and as he climbed, Alexander approached him with a bow. "My liege, I hope your night was restful."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqHeimCDY8
The king responded kindly with a gentle hand resting on the pommel of his sword, "I have had better nights but it was enough. Tell me, Commander, how is the cleanup coming along? Have you found anything of interest catch your eye?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt06fjcnDrx
"Thankfully, my king, I can say there is noth-" Alexander was cut off when a knight on the ground called out to him.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaGaVymJ2o
"Commander!" He stood from his crouching position and backed away slowly, "You should come see this!"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpN3GSvl3r
King Bradevere and Alexander descended the steps briskly and ran over to where the knight stood with his eyes fixed on something within a crater. Without questioning the knight, they followed his gaze to the ground and inside the crater was a pitch black blob of darkness.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wpZ2kcI4C
"Is that what I think it is," Alexander said in shock.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFsx9VgrVd
"By all the good that remains in this plane, I sure hope it is not." King Bradevere was hoping against all hope that it was not the abyss. "But I fear it may be."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89ExDp7Ckb
The blob looked to be very slug-like in appearance and it writhed around as if searching for something. As if searching for a host. It was featureless and void of all light but it seemed to vaguely have sight to some extent. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQokFV8HFDl
"Nobody go near it. If it gets on you I'm not sure we can save you or what it will do." The king said quietly as if not wanting to anger it, "We know not yet what it is wanting or why it was left here." 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiAmUA8ENd
"What should we do with it?" Alexander questioned with a good sense of what the king would say next.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzJybJvhBb
"We need to capture it. We cannot let it infect anyone. I know not how to kill it nor do I think it can be killed. This is a golden opportunity to study the abyss up close without risk of death. We shall not squander this chance."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbQfo0fOS6
The knight, Sir Roderick, spoke then, "I shall fetch something to keep it in, my liege." He jogged briskly towards the cellar at the south end of the keep. He hoped he could find a glass jar among the wooden casks. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKA5yTwHFE
"Why is it still here, I wonder," the king said to no one in particular.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJDEHxxMPB
"If I could make a guess, my king," Alexander suggested.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdzds6Se2e
"Of course."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITXhhJJPVR
"I would say it was left here intentionally for us to collect and study. The reason I say that is because I don't think Varamont wants to kill us outright or he would have done so already."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwKGqmKK44
The king looked to his Knight Commander now, "Do you think he is testing us?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSxJUAv07J
"I believe he is toying with us. He wants to have fun in his sick and twisted way. He has convinced himself that he will win and enslave us in the end so he feels no pressure to take us seriously."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcKHie5Os7
"You make sound judgments, Alexander," the king nodded his agreement. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH77BmDZP5
Sir Roderick returned shortly after he had left with a sizable mason jar, big enough to fit the abyssal slug inside. He handed it to King Bradevere and stepped back to watch the slug, ready for it if it decided to jump on one of the men.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrepDH0kTiB
"Now the real question is, how do we get it inside?" the king jested.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kFEQeSHtb
"Very carefully," Alexander responded with a jest of his own.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsXv95aVKc
After gently lowering the mason jar into the crater using a cloth ribbon tied to it, Alexander gently tapped the slug with his sword to coax it into the jar without startling it. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz43w1wbuFA
The slug jumped at the touch of the sword at first but with enough patience, Alexander was able to get the abyssal slug completely inside. The king jumped into the crater with the lid and swiftly capped the jar before the slug had time to react.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczksnOKpJ7
King Bradevere lifted the jar up to his eye line and inspected it closely, "How vile," he said with disgust. Now that it was much closer to his eyes he could see it in more detail. Its body rippled under the surface of its skin, if one could describe the surface of the slug as skin.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7LmOM0XlV
The blackness of it was much darker than at first glance and within its void was a swirling dark purple. The slug must have realized it was trapped because it suddenly started jumping at the glass in the direction of the king.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuB3F572M2
He shot back in surprise as the slug tried desperately to get out of its glass prison. "Let's cover this little guy up, why don't we," he said as he wrapped the cloth that was still tied to the jar the rest of the way around. Darkness enveloped the slug and it calmed down some. "That's better."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugj4eEgyw3
The king climbed out of the crater with the jar in hand, "If you find any more of these, Alexander, do exactly what we did here and bring them to me, please. I am going to take this one and lock it away in a chest. I have the perfect one in mind."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUuTPoLqw6
"Without hesitation, my liege," Alexander responded. "Let us hope there are none more to find."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3HevJY8Gp
"Agreed," King Bradevere said with a head nod. He looked around for anything else that might require his attention as the Knight's Commander and Sir Roderick continued on with their duties.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbmfFqWsse
The king sauntered back into the keep as the large doors closed gently behind him, echoing in the grand entrance hall. He lifted the jar to take a curious look at the slug again. It's black form nestled in the bottom of the jar as if dormant and it took no notice of the cloth being pulled away some.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uMaP6kWi3
"Interesting," the king whispered to himself. He took a mental note of its behavior and continued to his study in the back of the keep.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7it80eDYGq
He gently pushed open the door to his study. The room was rectangular and it was lit by a window across the way, bathing it in natural light. To his left sat a long table along the wall and underneath it was a chest small enough to lift easily. To his right was a small hearth used to keep his study warm during the winter months. It was always tended to by one of his house subjects and was lit and burning warmly.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mim067Pqs
He knelt gently in front of the chest and lifted the lid. Very carefully so as to not disturb the calm demeanor of the abyssal slug, he placed the jar inside. The lid shut with a quiet thud and he slipped a lock through the latch and clicked it tight. He shoved the key into his belt pocket and strolled over to his desk.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaRc5s9XZy
He pulled a tobacco pipe from a desk drawer and walked to the fireplace. Upon the mantle were thin sticks he used to light his pipe. He dipped one end of a stick into the fireplace and set it alight. He brought the stick up to his pipe which hung out of his mouth and lit the packed tobacco. He inhaled deeply as the tobacco burned red. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOAVYsXxn9
He casually walked over to the window and stared out over his kingdom, or at least what his kingdom had become now since the night before. He thought of the coming meeting with the three kings. He thought of what to say and what a proper response to these new events would be.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V8htNuQI4
King Bradevere took a long drag off of his pipe and breathed out deeply, "I hope they arrive soon. We are running out of time."
A few more hours had passed by the time King John had arrived with the winter sun doing little to warm the bitter wind below. He rode into Bromidium Keep sitting atop Caspian, his pure white battle horse adorned in medium weight armor.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFeC2I2b0B
King Bradevere stood on the battlements watching King John as he approached, pipe hanging stiffly from his mouth. He opened and closed his lips quickly as he breathed in and out, puffing smoke into the air. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFL5C1jOU7
He nodded to King John then as their eyes met and made his way down the battlement stairs. His hands clasped behind his back as he strode down at a casual pace. The end of his cape gingerly touched each step as he descended.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtiCASy6vD
King John dismounted, patting Caspian on the neck as King Bradevere approached, "I am glad you could make it on such short notice."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiuM0TEliT
"Of course. I know you would not summon me if the need not be great."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa74cW0RbU
"I am sure you have questions," King Bradevere said. "I would much like the others to arrive before I explain but seeing as there is no estimated time of arrival, I shall do so."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaevH5Sjnqp
King Bradevere summarized to King John the events of the night before. How not only did abyssals attack but how Varamont had demonstrated his strengths in necromancy.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxORQkuefa
"It seems he is jesting with us," King John said. "His arrogance blinds him. He thinks we are without defenses."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpyNWepqtk
"He believes we are of no threat to his dominance." King Bradevere inhaled on his pipe for the thousandth time that afternoon. "Let us grab some ale while we wait for the others."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBJ42McQMW
It was not long after the two kings finished their pints when King Gullrock and King Viscount entered the Grand Hall of the keep. They had been escorted in by a knight upon their arrival.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzKhRFGyDc
King Viscount was a very large man but not in the way of obesity. He was a large muscular man that could probably lift a wagon with little effort. His sheer muscle mass generated as much heat as a furnace and because of that he wore a fraction of winter garments than the other kings.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLE2076uCu
The two arrival kings entered respectfully and King Viscount spoke with a bear-like voice, "Good afternoon, John, Bradevere." He regarded each one with a head nod and a hand of greeting.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF08aPtHEG
"It's good to see you again, Viscount," King John stated. "I was sorry to not see you at our last meeting. Have you sorted out your water situation?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFV8vNMPAf
"Indeed I have, but I believe that is not why we have been summoned. I take it from the carnage outside that we have matters to discuss." King Viscount was not much of a man for pleasantries as he preferred to get to the matter at hand.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPRjuL2zGA
King Bradevere nodded and offered the two kings a seat and some ale. They accepted both graciously and the meeting of the Four Kingdoms had begun.
A few hours passed as the four kings drank and went over the details of the night before. The revelation of Varamont's interference with the dead had all of the kings on edge. Varamont had planned to enslave all of life even if said slaves would be a mockery of it.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5WMZK5NMd
King Bradevere sighed as he remembered the slug that sat locked away in his study. He wished it had not existed and what that existence might mean scared him. How was it able to hold shape without a host? How was it even able to survive without a host? He feared the answers to these questions.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqEc4CQuJW
"I have also neglected to mention something else," King Bradevere looked to the curious eyes of the other kings. "Excuse me one moment while I retrieve it." He stood from the table, his chair dragging across the stone floor. His cape swayed as he walked from the room. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3SBpqpdcR
The kings began speaking more out of curiosity than anything else as to what King Bradevere had neglected to show them. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhBtWgGaxY
The king returned to the Grand Hall with the chest held in front of him, the lock facing the other kings. He walked slowly and carefully so as to not move the chest more than necessary.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBlFDUTDYW
He gently sat the chest down on the table in front of the kings and placed his hands on either side as he leaned forward. "Now, what lies within this chest I know nothing of. I know not what it signifies nor do I know by what means it exists. I bring this forth to you all now in hopes that we can figure out what to do with it."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrtNzQkzPZ
"Would you just open the bloody thing please, you're killing me," King Viscount jested almost seriously.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPQTcsRW3s
King Bradevere pulled the key out of his belt pouch and reached over the chest to unlock it. The lock dropped to the table with a solid thud as it released. He slowly lifted the chest lid open towards himself and the wrapped glass jar was revealed.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW04rktCLq
"What the hell is it?" King Gullrock questioned.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxSIoUioM1
King Bradevere reached in and removed the glass jar from the chest, placing it in front of it. He closed the chest lid, "Anyone want to remove the cloth?" 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma40XhQsWf
King Viscount spent no time in hesitation as he undid the cloth wrappings. The fire light from the Grand Hall shown into the glass jar and revealed the abyssal slug. Its pitch black fleshy figure slowly began to move as it was awoken from its slumber. "What in the blazes am I looking at right now?" 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFJwv4SVIF
Suddenly the abyssal slug was now no longer sitting dormant in the jar, it mashed its now-clearly visible teeth at the glass. The slug snarled and growled at the kings while they studied it in bewilderment.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjLuX0mVkL
"I believe this to be a physical embodiment of the abyss," King Bradevere stated with a speculative tone. He was unsure what to call it or what it even was. "One of my knights discovered it in the remains of what you see outside." The slug continued to lash out at its prison as the king spoke. "It did not reside within anything, it appeared to have been left intentionally. I am unsure what to make of it."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUXl8POccE
King John was the first to speak, "We should kill it. Who knows what its purpose is and we already have enough to deal with. We don't need anything more on our hands. I say we burn it and be rid of its foulness."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd8gYJOhKe
King Viscount and King Gullrock seemed to be in agreement but King Bradevere seemed to be hesitant about the unanimous decision. "What if this is a rare opportunity to study the abyss close up?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgLQg6dgxb
King John suddenly remembered Melganoth, "I know just the man for the job."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkVNJtpzXt
"And who would that be?" King Gullrock questioned whether anyone alive knew where to even begin with studying something so unknown.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82yLu1GeGw
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn7Bayzxvy
"Try me."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29CYRS5LqR
"His name is Melganoth and he is the last of the demon race. He was exposed to the abyss when the demons were enslaved and he now has abilities that none other possesses."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiwFrKGSEU
King Viscount shot up from his chair, "You expect me to trust this demon who has been in contact with the abyss with something like this?"144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsgZYX02j9
King John raised a hand as he attempted to calm his friend, "I assure you, Viscount, this demon is an ally. In fact he has already sniffed out a few of my men that had been in league with Varamont. He is a trusted friend of Evander as well. He is a good man and he has helped us in many ways already."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoCny5iVXz
King Viscount was not swayed in his mistrust but he seemed to ease some. He gave King John a look of hesitation, "I won't be so easily convinced, John."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjATjKcSQQ
"When have I ever lied to you?" He gave his old friend a raised eyebrow in question. When King Viscount remained silent he continued, "I trust him with my life."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPixoYZ0WT
King Viscount studied King John for a moment before replying, "Very well. We shall let your demon study the slug-looking creature. But I will be keeping an eye on him. I have nothing against demons but I do not trust the abyss."144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk0nLGhMCK
"Fair enough," King John said with raised hands. "Now let's get this crazy thing back in its box."
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The shadowed figure sat perched in the ceiling above the room of the Grand Hall of Bromidium Keep, watching the four kings discuss their plans that would not come to pass.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIa2cx80uV
A smile spread across his face in the shadow of his hood as King Bradevere shared his discovery of the planted abyss. They at first wanted to burn it and not leave anything to chance which angered the shadowed man some. That was until they decided to let the demon have a look at it. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXiBSOIzKA
His smile crept back over his face and his blackened eyes reflected the fire from the hearth below him. Everything was continuing as planned. The abyss would be taken to the demon.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIt1ZTbdJf
