I know this isn't an "RP" game, but from time to time (If I last long enough that is)I will post small stories for the nation I'm playing. I do this for the same reason I play music : it is as much for the audience's enjoyment as it is for my own creative outlet. So while I write this solely for the pleasure of writing, I also hope some people will actually enjoy it.
Deep within the effluvium mists of the swamps of C'tis there is a valley; a valley filled with the ancient and crumbling ziggurats of entombed Lizard Kings. All is still in this Valley of Death, no wind stirs it's reed-filled wrens. Even the constant droning of insects and other swamplife seems muted here. The only person - and don't ever make the mistake of calling him that to his face - that can be seen in this early morning backdrop is Shagruh'Kahn, Lizard Captain of the first regiment. Despite his heavy plate curaiss, he sluices through the stagnant pools with ease. A falchion hangs heavily from his side, his shield slung over his left shoulder tapping a soft *rap* on his armored back. He was a large lizardman, even by C'tis standards. He stalked towards one of the ziggurats,his yellow eyes intent on his destination. There tomb of Ignokt.
While not as majestically big as other tombs in the valley, this one was no less important. More than five centuries before, Ignokt had ruled a cult of Sauromancers that became the most powerful cult C'tis had seen. So powerful in fact that many of the entombed kings in this valley kept Ignokt around as their most trusted advisor. Ignokt was privy to all kingdom affairs and his success was seen as a very direct threat to the preistly sect that usually acted in advisory roles for the king. In deed, many viewed Ignokt as being the true king, since so often his ideas became Kingdom decrees. Despite many attempts on his life, Ignokt sat at the side of four successions of kings, his presence often the only constant in the fratricide that followed the oft untimely death of one ruler or another. But as he aged, Ignokt realized his power would soon cease with his death and so began preparations to return once his mortal shell ceased its functions of living. That was two hundred years ago. And that was why Shagru'Kahn came here now.
Shagru'Kahn was not surprised to see the tomb door opened nor was he surprised to see Khre'el-abubal inside. The king-priest was kneeling in the water that, even in here, seemed to cover all the surface of the kingdom. Many saw this as a good omen and fervently prayed for the spread of swampland to cover the earth. Khre'el-abubal seemed entranced before the sarcophagus at which he knelt, his purple robes swaying gently with his body as he chanted meditatively. Shagru'Kahn paused in the tomb doorway, absent-mindedly snatching up a foot long reptile that had scurried within his reach. He tore it's small body in two between his poweful jaws and swallowed the morsel in one gulp. For the first time, Khre'el-abubal took notice of the captains presence.
"It is almost time," the king-priest croaked dryly over his shoulder. Shagru'Kahn grunted in reply.
"But there are many who will not be pleased by this occurence," Khre'el-abubal continued. "The surrounding nations will attempt to stop his return."
Shagru'Kahn spat in contempt.
"Let them try. I've slain more numbers of their kind than I can remember. Their bodies will be swallowed by the waters of C'tis, decaying within her pools, giving it more life."
The captain thought of those surrounding 'peoples'- and he used that term very loosely - as a nuisance at the very least, as vermin meant for destruction at the very best. Just thinking of those 'humans' with their soft, pink flesh and their crunchable, sweet-marrow filled bones-
Shagru'Kahn stuffed the last half of swamp reptile into his now salivating gullet and swallowed once.
"He will come again," he stated further,"And when he does, I've no doubt that he willreward those who faithfully attended him before his revival."
Khre'el-abubal nodded and very nearly smiled, as near as his reptilian features would allow anyway.
"Yesss," he said softly, trailing his 's',"There is no doubt that his return is imminent. No doubt at all."