Caradon Day 10 - Earth: March 4, 2020

A huge, domineering hunk of rock rises rapidly more than 2 1/2 km above a small quiet clump of houses and crafting shops. Iron-dome, the name of the inspiring mountain that towers above the sleepy village, is the location of a recently discovered iron mine where two miners toil within its depths.

A large miner with taut, powerful muscles turns toward his young apprentice. “This vein seems to be thinning out. I am going to move deeper into the mine to search for a more productive location.”

“Yes, sir!” Rupert responds. His apprenticeship will be over in three weeks, and he will not endanger his promotion with a snarky comment.

The beam from headlamp strapped around the head of the master miner illuminates a grotesque figure standing ten feet away. A bipedal creature with four arms and a oval shaped translucent head covered with nightmarish insects in constant motion over the surface of its glass like head walks calmly toward both miners. The master miner’s scream is cut short by an overpowering command resonating within the minds of both victims Stop moving, continue to breath, and open your mouth.>

The master miner struggles to disobey the command, yet he is helpless. The horrendous creature grabs two of the crab like insects with its hands as the creature continues to walk forward. The middle of the crabasect is encased in a see through crystal covering with an oversized brain taking up most of the mass of the crabasect’s body. A frayed tail of nerve ganglia flutters back and forth behind each crabasect. The creature plops one crabasect on the master miner’s tongue, the master miner screams within his own mind, and breathing heavily while hyperventilating from fear. The crabasect crawls along the tongue to the back of his mouth before he feels an incredibly sharp pain as the crabasect crawls through the new opening into the base of his cranial cavity. The crabasect positions itself; so that, the ganglia stab into the brain seeking out the amygdala. Once the connection is made his fear reaches an unbelievable intensity. He cannot see that the brain of the crabasect pulses with a red glow with each wave of pain, nor can he see the simultaneous pulse of red glow within the creatures brain. He is trapped with a hellish reality of fear.

The creature feels the pleasure of this fabulous meal as he places the other crabasect on the tongue of the frantic, wild eyed apprentice. As the implantation process begins again.

*****

Paul Entrobius, the envoy from Thudor for the village of Pickaton, could not believe even rock headed miners would name their village Pickaton. He was already anxious to find the leverage his lord needed to bring this hovel into the Kingdom; so that, he could leave for the grandieur of the Thud-un. He had not even arrived, and he could not wait to leave.

"Excuse me good woman! Can you point me to the location of the mayor?" he asked a woman crossing between a house and a blacksmith forge directly across from the house. The three soldiers accompanying him pull back on their reins as he stops to converse with the woman.

"See the largest hut there at the other end of the village. That is his home. He should be there." She replies before continuing her short journey.

Paul could not believe her rudeness, but he was in a hurry to complete his mission. One of the soldiers behind him glares at the woman hoping the envoy will punish the churlish wretch. Sadly, the envoy simply urged his forward to go meet with the mayor. He dismounts in front of the mayor's hut handing his reins to another soldier. "Your honor! May I enter to discuss a matter of state?" he calls loudly.

A gray haired, stern looking man opens the door. His disgust is evident as he stares at the envoy. "Who the hell are you? Where are you from? We are not fond of outsiders young man!" the man grumps.

"Excuse me. Are you the mayor?" Paul asks in a neutral voice despite his desire to rip out the man's spine for daring to address him in this manner.

"Yes, I am the Mayor. Answer my questions!" the angry Mayor shouts.

"I am Paul Entrobius, envoy from the Kingdom of Thudor. I am here to discuss how your village can benefit from a closer relationship with the Kingdom." he replies calmly in diplomatic voice.

"I do not trust you, and I fail to see what you can offer. I will give you one hour to make an offer that convinces me it is worth my time." The Mayor grumpily relents.