《Of Life and Light》Chapter 5 [Sarah]
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Karastak stood tall in his Human guise with a grin upon his features, and raised up his arms to quell the noise all others were making. Though the orcs who were now being forcefully shoved or dragged before himself cried or shat their loins, all others ceased in their words and tones. "You have all brought to my person wonderful new additions to our more humble village in the last sennight. For this, I am truly grateful for your efforts, especially when our world was stolen from us by unknown personages."
His voice rumbled over them with the sound of milling thunderclouds who threatened rain, which shook their entirety with every syllable. However, they could also feel the bitterness of the Fallen God before them, who lost everything recently, and could only grumble along with the thunder. "To you before us," an illusory clawed, right hand was extended towards the Orcs before him, but quickly reverted back into a more Human one. It was as though he were beseeching them for some reason, but such a thing was banished upon the next sent of words, "You will either join us, or become sport for our more... adventurous folk."
Grins were noted amongst the crowd, as each of their foreheads reveled an upside down black star in its centre. Of which they took up their weapons with great joy, as several males, along with a couple of females clutching their children, dashed towards the exit. "Give them until nightfall," called out a grinning Karastak, "and then begin the hunt.
"Those who bring back their heads will be granted into the Undying, whilst those who do not will have to wait until the next Hunt." This statement granted many with renewed joy, as the monstrous cries thundered around them all. Of which was so great in volume, it caused one of the more burnt houses to collapse, throwing into the air soot and ash.
"Now then," the grinning Fallen God took on a more stern look, as his bright gaze turned towards the remaining Orcs before him, "You did not run. So I assume you desire to become a part of our new... family?" Many grins reappeared within the crowd, or grew broader at the beings before them. For they knew what it entailed to become a part of their group, and the Madness that drove them onwards.
As to the Orcs themselves? Well, even the males were cowering at the sight of so many crazed individuals, as all others huddled together to form a tight ring which protected the remaining offspring they had.
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Well, almost all of them.
For a single male had crawled out from underneath their legs, smelling of urine and fecal matter, and stood up slowly to face Karastak with a terrified, but indignant look etched upon his features. "Leave Papa and Mama alone," it shouted as loud as it could as snot ran down its tusked mouth and chin.
"It seems you have your first contestant, My Lord God," grumbled a bored Brutus, of whom had his primary clawed hands behind his metallic skull as this was spoken.
"Indeed," came a rumbling response as the Human guised Fallen God quickly snatched up a now squirming and biting child with his right hand as his voice thundered over the crowd once more, "This is what awaits those who become one of us." Raising his left index finger, which was imbued with energy the colour of Chaos, he scrawled an upside down star in the centre of the child who was wailing with pain. Whereas he, himself, intoned the spell, "Alteration: Memories".
Whereupon three streaks of lightning, the colour of his Madness, ran down his arm and into the mind and body of the one in his grasp. There, it sank into the male child, rewriting everything within its mind so that the creature looked up to himself as their God, among other things. However, he was not allowed to worship this being before him, nor remember the pain of what had occurred just moments before.
Soon enough, though, the spell was completed, and the child was laid upon the ground with great delicacy. To which startled the other Orcs, confusing them as to what had happened, but before a word could be spoken, the body twitched awake and screamed a joyous scream. As such, this caused the remaining to jump in startlement, and took a single step back as they noted the child's eyes as he turned towards them.
For within such orbs was love for the God behind him, and enmity for those before him. "Mother, Father," his voice no longer guttural as one would expect from an Orc, "join us."
"Yes," drawled Karastak, who squatted down to pat the child's head slowly, "You should join us. Though, don't worry yourselves too much. If you were to die, then no one would-"
Before he was even able to speak, a rather large Orc with dark green skin rushed out from the centre with bright orange eyes. Of which intended harm upon the Human behind the child, but soon found himself staring up at the now laughing being in the faded blue robe. As well as hearing a loud thump, as the enraged creature's body fell upon the packed earth in front of his slowly greying eyes, and lifeless eyes.
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As to what had happened? Well, Brutus, seeing his God was being attacked, rushed by him in order to decapitate the Orc. However, he failed to note the blood of such a creature, and where it fell. Of which splashed upon the child and Karastak, who grimaced as the liquid slowly ran away from that which was now offended by such a thing's presence until it pooled upon the ground. Whereas the other simply blinked, looked down upon himself, then stared at the rapidly cooling body with a frown and muttered, "Stupid Father," before lightly kicking the left shoulder.
"Line them up," barked Sia, who turned her gaze upon Brutus with what was supposed to be a glare, but the other simply shrugged and resumed his bored stance once more.
Whereas the illusory Human simply shook his head slowly whilst the "townspeople" forced the remaining Orcs to stand and be accounted for by their leader. Of whom went to each of them, demanding that they submit. When one of them denied him, they were immediately disemboweled and forced the others to watch as their relative, friend, cousin, or what have you slowly die before their very eyes. "This is what awaits you," he growled at them, pointing to the corpse of a rapidly cooling body of a female, "."
Upon intoning such a spell, did the body twitch then spasm greatly as its innards pulled themselves back inside, the flesh knit slowly, and warmth return to that which was cold. Whereupon the female's eyes fluttered open as she gasped, but was then dragged away by a grinning male who was looking upon her being with eyes full of wanting. To which she noted such a thing, and screamed for help, but none would come, even as she was dragged from sight.
"Your females will follow suit," rumbled the voice of Karastak, of whom held no remorse for his actions, "The males may end up with our females, or butchered by Brutus. Perhaps even both."
"Wh-what o-o-of th-the chil-chil-," began one of the remaining female Orcs, but couldn't continue due to her fear trying to choke her very essence free of her body.
"The children?" his grin stretched his illusory lips once more, "They will join us regardless of what you decide on." Once such words were spoken, the crowd surged forward, snatching up the remaining children, who numbered as eight, and deposited only six before himself. As to what became of the other two will not be recorded, as such things are better left unspoken.
These six which stood before him were then subjected to the same treatment as the original. Each with an eloquence to their speech, and an upside down star upon their brow. "Go play with the others," the illusory Human pointed to a group of Kin who were waving at the newest additions to come join their persons in play.
"As for the rest of you," his attention turned back to the adult Orcs who quivered under his gaze, "It appears that my village is full." Upon so saying, Karastak sat down upon the lesser thrown, and raised his right hand just as his left held up his own head. Afterwards came a snap of his fingers, resulting in the crowd surging forwards in order to grab the remaining captives to do who knows what to their bodies and minds.
However, this was not the end, as he motioned Sia and Brutus to lean in closer to his person. Upon doing so, he whispered slowly, "Someone has been using Divine Magicks."
"Do you require us to conduct a search for them, My Lord God?" muttered Sia as Brutus shook with excitement at the prospect of hunting down something strong.
"No need," he waved his right hand, then pointed it in the direction of where he sensed the magicks cast, "It came from that direction, and it is doubtful that they have left."
"Which means?" Brutus practically demanded, as he wanted to know what his God desired of such a prize.
"They are watching this place, and are no doubt spies for some unknown force. So I want you, Brutus, to lead some of the Undying in their capture," the other mentally frowned at this, but brightened considerably when the next words sank into his mind, "Bring them back alive, and we shall all enjoy their screams as you torture their bodies throughout the night."
"Yes, My Lord God," chuckled Brutus as the lights within his eye sockets flared into being, casting an azure glow upon the world before him.
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