The Drider support was congregated into a circle. Falnimam and a few lesser priestesses were in the center, performing a dance that was supposed to give the soldiers courage to fight. The soldiers then took up a chant to help the priestesses\u2019 dance. While it wasn\u2019t exactly magical, they all felt their courage rise to near supernatural proportions. Falnimam then went to the exact center and spoke. \u201cAges ago, when my family and I were supposedly \u2018cursed\u2019 with this form, we turned it around to make our shape a blessing! We had the courage to say to those who hated us for failing Drow Society that we learn better from them! Now, we hear those words again! They claim that whatever failures our people made is going to lead us to extinction! Those are the words of murderous dogs, dogs who would dare destroy our children\u2019s future, our way of life!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDEPTHS-SPAWN!\u201d shouted a soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, we go to battle to prove the enemy wrong! Our failures teach us to improve! Defeat for the Realm Trinity Empire! Victory for the Realms!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVICTORY FOR THE REALMS!\u201d cheered the soldiers. They then took up their positions, the priestesses setting their wands into their staffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGotta hand it to you,\u201d muttered Quenthem as he approached Falnimam, \u201cyou know how to work a crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery word I said was the truth,\u201d replied Falnimam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see why Melandra likes you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, there are other reasons, but you\u2019re not wrong.\u201d As she held her position, she got a whiff of something. \u201c\u2026Is someone baking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou smell that too, huh? You go ahead and investigate; I\u2019ll hold your place here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPositive. Leave it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well.\u201d Falnimam scuttled down the wall and followed her nose. \u201cThat smell\u2019s a little too savory. I thought we\u2019re going with rations only.\u201d She entered a kitchen outside the dungeon under the wall and found Melandra at the ovens. \u201cMelandra, what are you doing?!\u201d she yelped. \u201cI thought you were watching those prisoners from yesterday!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m doing better than that,\u201d replied Melandra. \u201cI\u2019m making them a pie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You\u2019re BAKING for them while we\u2019re preparing for a siege?! But we have a food shortage, even WITH the supplies we brought!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Okay, Mella, kindly explain yourself to your Priestess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have this theory that, if our prisoners believe we can out last a siege, they can convince the Trinnies to give up. All we have to do is feed them plenty of fresh baked goods and then let them escape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn purpose?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly! Because of their nature, they\u2019ll take the opportunity and give the information to the Trinnies and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see, the enemy will think the siege will be hopeless! However, there IS one thing missing.\u201d Falnimam pulled out an object from her bag. \u201cI heard they like the more pungent cheeses. If you REALLY want to impress them, put a little dab on top.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, we\u2019re trying to TRICK them, not POISON them!\u201d Melandra took the pie as it finished cooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know where you Modern Driders learned to cook, but you have no taste for old Drow cooking!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust follow my lead.\u201d The two Driders then approached a cell occupied by Reb Rojam, Melgem, and Jargoon! \u201cChow time, incarcerates!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat slop did you bring?\u201d grumbled Jargoon. Reb and Melgem looked a little more appreciative as they saw the pie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a specialty baked good with a little filling of a certain nut from the Mid-realm,\u201d teased Melandra. \u201cI believe you once said you missed it as you moaned your lot in life while here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPECAN PIE!\u201d cheered Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGIMME!\u201d urged Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNO! BE STRONG!\u201d roared Jargoon. \u201cWe don\u2019t accept charity from our jailors! Get ahold of yourselves!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFishy, our WEAKENED stomachs are PITIFULLY empty!\u201d argued Reb. \u201cWe\u2019ve had nothing but the most DREADFUL bread since we left the Over-realm last year!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, we\u2019ve got enough to outlast a prolonged siege,\u201d chuckled Melandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBesides, it looks tasty, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d urged Falnimam. Jargoon finally cracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOKAY! I GIVE UP! YES! GIVE US THE PIE! WE\u2019RE STARVING!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought so,\u201d remarked Melandra as he cut the pie into thirds. He then set the pieces onto a plate and handed them to each prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMm MM! I SO missed this!\u201d sighed Reb as they ate. \u201cAnd you can afford this while under a RUTHLESS siege?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBelieve it or not, yes,\u201d answered Falnimam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen the enemy\u2019s wasting its time,\u201d grunted Jargoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo kidding,\u201d agreed Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Boys, we need to discuss something,\u201d remarked Reb. \u201cSomething that will benefit the Realms AND our profits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh?\u201d asked Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d quizzed Jargoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to join Arsha.\u201d Everyone\u2019s eyes went wide at the revelation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Ex-Pirate Admiral say what?\u201d asked Melandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know we have a rather TROUBLED history,\u201d replied Reb, \u201cbut this war isn\u2019t doing the three of us ANY favors. Every time we try to treat with the Realm Trinity Empire, they try to kill us and frankly, I\u2019m DREADFULLY sick of it. I want to treat with Arsha. We have a common enemy AND I know their base of operations like the back of my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019ll have to consult with Arsha,\u201d answered Melandra. \u201cShe can give you her answer when she\u2019s made her decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s fair.\u201d The two Driders then left the dungeon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t trust her!\u201d hissed Falnimam. \u201cReb and Melgem are pirates at heart and Jargoon hates people that aren\u2019t Mega-sharks!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, but they\u2019re all on the run right now,\u201d answered Melandra. \u201cLook, I hate their guts as much as anyone else, but we need any advantage we can get. They said they repeatedly tried to treat with Dr. Borg, maybe they did so while sneaking onto Plunder Island Stronghold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you think she\u2019ll keep her end of the bargain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe did so after our first encounter, she\u2019ll keep her end if there\u2019s profit in it for her. I\u2019d say she\u2019s found talking with Dr. Borg a non-profitable venture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJargoon\u2019s also a rapist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You\u2019re right, that\u2019ll affect Arsha\u2019s decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs their team stands now, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d answered Arsha when Melandra posed his suggestion, \u201cbut Jargoon makes it too risky. If he weren\u2019t a factor, I\u2019d actually accept. Despite their reputation, Denstra told me that she only killed crewmates once a year and she\u2019s been in the pirate business for 38 years. No one else died by her hands, even when she ordered innocent people to be killed. Melgem never killed anyone. But, as I\u2019m sure you remember, Lieutenant, Jargoon perpetuated sex-slavery when he ruled the Trelfan Trench. I\u2019m sorry, but the answer is no.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI understand, Captain,\u201d replied Melandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arsha approached the dungeon and found the ex-pirates\u2019 cell. \u201cI hate to disappoint you all,\u201d she said, \u201cbut Jargoon makes it too dangerous. If it were just you, I\u2019d accept, but the Endeavor<\/em> would feel wildly uncomfortable with having a known rapist on board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re still calling me a rapist when they\u2019ve long asked for it?!\u201d roared Jargoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust because their religious beliefs said that they should wear no clothes does NOT mean they were asking for that kind of torment! I would have thought you\u2019d learn actual consent, but clearly not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, can Reb and I at least get a new cell? Separate from him?\u201d asked Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019d help me sleep BEAUTIFULLY at night,\u201d agreed Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow that, I see no problem with,\u201d answered Arsha. A guard then motioned for two of his colleagues to level their spears at Jargoon and keep him at bay as they transferred the Rojams to another cell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI CAN\u2019T TAKE IT ANYMORE!\u201d Jargoon reduced the guards\u2019 spears to splinters and burst through the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSTOP HIM!\u201d ordered the first guard as he and his fellows gave chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jargoon didn\u2019t stop his rampage. He barreled through the streets of Realmgate city and simply smashed through buildings, not caring for the potential loss of life. He then came to the wall and jumped up before he dug his claws into it. He then started climbing it! \u201cCome down from there!\u201d called a Guardsman. Jargoon paid no attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy people need me!\u201d he panted to himself. \u201cI must get to them! Our dominance depends on it!\u201d He made it to the top and sprinted towards the outer edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSTOP!\u201d ordered Quenthem. The Pixie then grabbed Jargoon\u2019s dorsal fin. \u201cYOU\u2019RE GOING BACK TO\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUNHAND ME, YOU WORTHLESS BUG!\u201d Jargoon then grabbed Quenthem, held him into the air, and bent him in a way that caused his spine to break! Jargoon then tossed the broken Pixie into his soldiers before he leapt over them and fell down the outside of the wall. He landed, albeit painfully, on his feet, then sprinted away from the city. That was when a knife from ahead flew towards him and buried itself into his skull. He stood for a few seconds before falling forward. Jargoon, the infamous King of the Mega-sharks, was dead. The soldiers on the wall tried to determine where the knife came from. They got their answer as a mass invisibility spell was undone. It was Yulduk and his army, but it got bigger, in more ways than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?!\u201d demanded Mordek as he arrived in flames. One of the soldiers just pointed to the enemy forces. His eyes went wide. \u201c\u2026No\u2026\u201d he whispered. While Yulduk\u2019s army was still composed of Revenants, Golems, and Robots, it had two new additions. The first, most obvious additions were giant, purple, winged serpents with arms like a human\u2019s and a tail for ground locomotion. Half of the serpents had a single horn on their snout and all of them had a set of horns on their scalps like Dalengor\u2019s. The other addition looked like Falnimam from the waist up, but they had humanoid legs instead of a spider body. \u201c\u2026Drows\u2026and Shadow Dragons!\u201d breathed Mordek.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Drider support was congregated into a circle. Falnimam and a few lesser priestesses were in the center, performing a dance that was supposed to give the soldiers courage to fight. The soldiers then took up a chant to help the priestesses\u2019 dance. While it wasn\u2019t exactly magical, they all felt their courage rise to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,237],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-3221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-4-trials-of-light-and-dark","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3223,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3221\/revisions\/3223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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