Prologue: The Bloody Siege
(Diablo II: Lord of Destruction)
Karrath, 120 miles from Harrogath,
The atmosphere inside the city were merry and riotous, celebrating the gathering of the Barbarian elders. Everyone gathered around a platform and applauded when the dancers from Aranoch came. These dancers wore the glittering, transparent silken garment. Their body was gyrating with calculated and seductive movement that made the men's blood boiled. The warriors around the platform started to join them. Then one of them took a dancer and carried her away from the crowd. The people cheered them, while the festive continued.
At the secluded place, both of them kissed each other passionately. Then she pushed him away and smiled before opening the door behind her.
"Wait me, I won't be long." The dancer entered the room and went to the mirror. After finished her make up, then she saw a small, greenish creature stood on the table. The creature's limbs were wiry, while it has an old man's face and long ears.
The girl called. "Hi,cutey! What are you doing here?" The creature screeched and watched her warily. Instead afraid, the dancer went closer and called.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you…" She patted the creature gently. At first, it refused the gesture, but then relented and allowed the girl to hug it closer to her chest. Even, its face started to blush.
"I will make you as my pet. What do you think?" The creature purred in response. She didn't realize that she were watched. Those glowing, red eyes watched her with hunger…
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At the city wall, the watchmen grudgingly continued their patrol. Yet, they couldn't afford to fall asleep now. Thinking that he saw something, the watchman called his fellow.
"Hey, did we invite another tribe to come tonight?"
Gruffly, his friend answered. "No, this is very late…why did you ask that?"
The guard didn't answer; he merely pointed to outside. They saw the torchlights outside glowed eerily. The black and brown banners with unidentified runes flew upon the night skies. Not only that, they also saw the catapults lined against the city. Suddenly, the war machines launched a volley of projectiles and it fell into the city. At the same time, the unearthly scream was heard and the gate shook violently.
Alarmed, the watchman shouted. "We're under attack! Sound the warning, Baal has arrived here!" He was unable to continue as the fiery projectile fell upon him. The sound of bell was sounded around the city. The party abruptly ended and everyone ran in panic. The warriors went to their position, ready for an attack. Then another warrior went to the room where he'd left the dancer. As he opened the door, he was about to say.
"Darling, we should move right…" His words were cut short by the horrible sight in front of him. The room was filled with small creatures, but they were not the one who make his heart frozen in fear. Those creatures circled the mangled body of the dancer girl. The green one carried her severed head that still dripping with blood. The girl's face showed a mixture of fear and agony, just before her death. The large demon imp smiled fiendishly, and then gestured toward the terrified warrior. More imps appeared from beneath the disemboweled abdomen of the dancer, some of them still ate the entrails. The warrior barely screamed when those creatures swarmed on him like a pack of wolves to their prey…
-##-
While the defenders were trying hard to push the demons outside, they were not realize that the city were infiltrated by foes. The imps went toward the gates and opened the door in orded to allowed their fellow demons inside. Soon enough, the defenders were overwhelmed and Karrath was burned…
-##-
Far from the burning city, a great wain stood silently on top of the hill. Baal, Lord of Destruction watched his army with amusement. His lips formed a twisted smile as he looked upon the destruction of Karrath. The yellow Soulstone dangled beneath his chin. The fires made the heavens alight with blood-red color. His minions had broken the gate and started to slaughter the people inside. The catapults were ceaselessly throwing their magic-loaded projectiles into the city. Baal's smile became wider when he saw someone hit by poison-laden projectiles. The unfortunate victim screamed as his flesh and bone melted. His scream mixed with shrieks, jeers and laugh inside the city.
Beside Baal, a young woman stood. Her raven hair fell to her back, her skin almost like the snows around them and the eyes looked like doe's eyes. The woman's lips were colored faint pink. Her posture was slim, yet almost child-like. She wore a skimpy garment that almost revealed her breast cleavage. Yet, that's the end of her similarities with other human. The huge, fleshy brown wings protruded out from her shoulder blade, while the red horns sprouted from her head. When she lifted her hands, a set of long claws appeared from her fingers. Then the demoness purred playfully to the last Prime Evil.
"Master, could I keep some prisoners for my playmates? Please…" Baal hugged and patted her hairs, while saying,
"Of course, my dear Demonia. Let's see what Dargash have after he finished." As they speak, another creature came and knelt with respect. It looked like a minotaur, yet larger in stature. A moon-like scar crossed its left eyes and it also wore a heavy armor. Demonia licked the old demon's ear and neck lustfully. Lord of Destruction returned the favor by groping the demoness' breast and body. Then the bull-like creature reported.
"My Lord, Karrath doesn't pose a danger to us anymore! The city has been sacked and razed as you ordered!"
Baal asked. "Is there any survivor there, Dargash? Demonia would like to have them as her playmates…" The Chaos Lord was silent for a moment, before he answered nervously.
"No, my Lord…there's no survivor there. Lister and I had them slaughtered as you ordered…" Like a spoiled girl, Demonia pouted.
"You're lying again, Master! It is the fortieth city that you promised for me…" To soothe the demoness, the aged demon said.
"I'm very sorry, my dear…sometimes Dargash and the others were…too zealous to carry my orders," Then he continued. "I promise that I'm going to spare Harrogath only for you, my dear…this is my promise!" Demonia wiped her tears, while saying.
"I believe you, Master…now would you excuse me for a while? I have to tell my Stygian friends about the development…I won't be long." After kissed him, the Succubus left Baal alone with Dargash and flew toward west.
Then Baal asked his general. "Have you found those elders?"
The Moon Lord replied, "Yes, all but one refused to tell us how to enter Mount Arreat…so I ordered those who refused to be executed…as you have instructed, my Lord." The demon nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent, bring the lone survivor to my camp. I like to have a little talk with him…" From the darkness, four Minions appeared and started to carry the wain. Then Dargash asked his Lord again.
"My Lord, what about the warriors who had defeated Lord Diablo and Mephisto?" This time, Baal turned with a dark face.
"If they are really coming here, I'll make sure to give them a welcome greeting that they never forget in their life, even to their deaths…I believe that they will follow the sign that we planted here…" After saying that, he and Dargash vanished with a blink of eye. The only witness was a burning city and…the warrior's decapitated head that already impaled upon a spear inside.
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Author's Note: Thanks for reading the prologue of 'The Bear and The Wolf'. The event was set before Siege on Harrogath. I have to make the separate story, since Act V is quite short and to differentiate with the previous one. BTW, I decided to change the rating from G to PG-17, due to some scenes. What do you think about my latestcharacters? Wait for the arrival of our heroes at the besieged city of Harrogath and Myrrick's unpleasant confrontation with his past in 'Black Wolf and Red Bear'
P.S. :I decided to edit and update this fanfic for the readers. Hope you enjoy it.
