>>5686262“No. It cannot last, Superior One. We must cut down our numbers or find a way to restock our supplies within he next few months. Trade and barter, further raiding or expansion down into the valleys against the humans, or something else…”
“We will find a way,” the Throat-singer insists, confidence verging on madness in his eyes. “We are the champions of this world!”
“Yesss,” you agree, though with a bit more measured enthusiasm.
“We could cull the slaves,” the Pit-guard suggests. “That will carve away two hundred useless eaters. These Beardless Ones are not even good labour, not… After what was done to them. We have enough ‘voluntary’ dwarven workers now.”
That is another subject that had been on your mind: these cowering wretches with their shaven faces and shame-reddened eyes, unlike even the slaves you had lorded over before in this place.
“Ah, the rebels,” Karz Throat-singer says, with a tight-lipped smile. “Those who refused to accept the New World Order, who tried to stage uprisings or breakaway factions even after their settlements were captured and integrated. I took a page from humans, with that one—these big, proud, bearded bastards who fancied themselves soldiers. Shaved them clean… Above and below.”
“Wait,” you ask, “what?”
The Duergar bard grins widely at that, a darkness in his eyes, and gestures with two finegrs in a scissor-like motion: ‘snipping’ the air.
“No beards,” he explains, “and no balls.”
You remember Olu the Archer telling you of this practice, among the humans of the Southland, primarily reserved for harem-guardians. Something similar happens in the deep caverns where the Serpent Priests dwell and hold court, with their Degenerates. You remember the Appointed Successor’s empty expressions and stunted souls.
“No work ethic anymore, either,” the Pit-guard. “Broken beyond usefulness as anything except simple domestic servants. Muscle growth is limited, energy is limited… Terrible for mining, or fighting. They’re useless.”
“They AREN’T useless,” Karz insists. “Theya re an EXAMPLE. They are a WARNING. They remind the others what awaits them if they rise against us—against YOU, Master! They are NECESSARY.”
You wonder how much of this ‘necessity’ might mask a sadistic revenge fantasy for the effete young outsider turned dictator… But you simply move on for now. One more thing to consider.
