>>5520995>>5520592>>5520383>>5520372You look down upon your fallen foe in divine judgement—your right, as sovereign knight of this realm, or so you reckon. He was no great martial opponent, not like the Blackmantle captain, the human berserker, or any of the great monsters whom you slew... But you have to admit, Hapo the Necromancer gave you a true challenge. It wasn’t a test of arms, but of faith, mettle, strategy, and leadership. Your forces cheer, morale higher than it ever has been, and you know that you ow it (at least is part) to the dead little Reptilian before you—a creature of humble origins who, just like you, rose to ascend beyond those beginnings to become a true champion of the Dark Gods.
“Only one of us could rule,” you speak aloud, in case his spirit can hear you. “You fought well. May the Serpent Ascendant—or the Master whom you served—give you the magnificent afterlife which you have earned.”
The ghostly wraiths vanish with their master’s passing, and the living dead surrender limply to mundane decay once more. Your divine glow fades, your sword simmers down to the dull glow of a waxing-but-weak moon…
“But you are not yet done.”
You look up with some startlement at the source of the voice, and see… A creature. An avatar, envoy, or demigod, you suspect. The one eye at the centre of the creature’s body—torso and head as one—stares at you with a shadow of its father-god’s presence. It has legs, arms, even dragon-like wings… But it has no mouth—the voice is in your head, a psychic-mystic presence in your own skull.
“You are of the Wisest One,” you greet it cautiously.
“Yes,” it confirms. “I am a Nothic. I was sent to observe the war between you and his other chosen mortal. How it was resolved.. And what comes next.”
The inside of your braincase itches in an indescribable way. The eldritch gaze of the speaker holds you fixed. You don’t (can’t?) turn around—you can sense the others hovering behind you in their masses, watching with pensive unease You wave them off, lest they strike and foolishly damn you all. With all our willpower, you drag your eyes way from that singular orb… And gaze down upon the impaled, blood-sullied form of the mysterious female.
