>>5493540Meanwhile, high amongst the mountains, the Bastard and The Pit-Guard are holding another council. The two males have been jockeying for position and status ever since their commanding officer—the Dragonborn—departed for Drow-lands, to attend and subvert some sort of… Social function. Neither is highly-born or of impressive station among the Reptilian Master Race, but the Dragonborn, or ‘Copper Dragon King’, has made it clear that this does not matter so much in the Bloodrise as it does under the watchful eye of the Serpent Priesthood back home. So it goes that each of them seeks to outdo the other in accomplishment and prestige, to earn favour that neither of them ‘deserve’ but merit of blood alone.
“The defensive fortifications and living-quarters are nearly complete,” the Bastard boasts. “The store-rooms have been outfitted with ample drainage, and I have instructed the Engineer to supervise the kobolds in building passages to maximize heat retention in winter and while still venting bad air.”
The mixed-and-clanless specimen, well-regarded among the Kobolds of Bloodrise, has taken to lording over his lesser reptilians.
“Thanks to MY dwarves,” the Pit-Guard growls. “The stores fill with food and trade-goods to keep the work going, and each and every room is furnished with the goods which the slaves’ labour mining gems and ore pay for.”
The Pit-Guard and his Apprentice, meanwhile, have put their skills in coercion and physical reprimand to use in wrangling the Bloodrise’s dwarven slaves, aided by the so-called ‘Duergar’ race-traitors.
“I suppose,” the Bastard admits. “But all those gems and all that ore is worthless if we do nothing but sit on it like a female on a clutch of dead eggs.”
“Without this influx of mineral wealth, the entire operation will collapse,” the Pit-Guard presses. “This is why we must PROTECT that mining operation.”
“Is this about the bugbears again?” the Bastard sighs. “They are savages. Nothing more. Don’t tell me you can’t repel a few disorganized barbarians.”
“I am TELLING you, they are NOT NORMAL,” the Pit-Guard retorts angrily. “They are… Changed. And they aren’t alone. There is something else haunting those places. Dwarves go missing without so much as a scream. I send the Hunter and his males looking, but they find nothing.”
“Maybe you ought to stop your slaves from running away in the first place,” the Bastard shoots back.
“Running to WHERE?!” the Pit-Guard demands. “There is nothing down there but darkness and half-excavated rock!”
“We of all races should know there is ALWAYS somewhere to hide and survive in the underdark,” the Bastard notes. “But you are correct, yes… WE should recapture them before they can spread word and reveal our Conspiracy.”
“No need.”
