Chapter 2
Sauron traversed many different locations yet perhaps this was the strangest one yet. Not due to its physical features, but more of its inhabitants- or lack thereof. Where he expected villages or cities of sentient races he found almost no people. He would occasionally come across burning towns but they were already devoid of any life.
From the remains he had unearthed information about the world he was currently in. As he feared it was not Arda. It was some insignificant speck called Remnant. He began to try and think of a better name to call this world once he had taken over it.
No, no. That's being a bit to hasty, he didn't even have most of his power back. Right now he needed to focus on survival and retrieving his ring. He could feel it out there, held hostage by some wretched worm's grip. This time he would have his priorities straight.
His thoughts were intruded by howling as a small pack of beowolves approached. Sauron did not overly react as he had already transformed several of them into his servants. The altered grim cam foreword and bowed, acknowledging his as their master.
It was hard to understand their primitive speech yet the dark lord could understand all that followed a similar mindset as he did. A few kilometers away was the ruins of a city, freshly turned to rubble. While it was no Barad-dûr, it would suit his needs for now. Besides, all fortresses needed a strong foundation. Preferably, one not tied to his own life.
After an uneventful few hours of travel he reached the outskirts of the ruined. He took his time traversing the rubble and turning any grim that crossed his path. It was while crossing what was once a park but was now no more distinguishable from any other part of the ruined city that he felt something. A tug at the back of his mind. An oddly familiar tug.
Extending his left hand into the a pulse of magic echoed through the region, disturbing dust and other particles along the way. It was then that the dark lord learned three important things. 1; some meters below him was another, still occupied city. 2; behind a proximity 25 meters of rock near the city was a chamber filled with, as of yet to home, unknown types of Grimm. And 3; in that chamber was a magical artifact from his world.
Sauron smiled, three birds with one stone. And with that chilling thought he stuck the ground creating a small crater and commanded his minions to begin digging. He would retrieve what once was his and clear his new domain of pesky vermin at the same time. In the meantime he began to weave complex magic capable of clouding the eyes of any who sought to look for him.
Yet he did not think to account for his previous detection spell. It continued all across the planet until it eventually reached someone who could detect it. Someone who had already placed up spells to hide them. They quickly moved to their computer. It was attached to a monitor, unlike most newer models which were projected mid air.
He scrolled through his contacts before finally finding the right one. After a few minutes the image of a man in green and with white hair appeared. "You rang, master?" The person asked, leaning back in their chair.
The caller grunted. "You would do well to remember the respect deserving of that title. I did not train you to sass me at crucial times. If wanted that I would have stayed back at- never mind. I'm afraid I detected something. It appears our work is not yet finished my apprentice."
The man in green clutched tightly to his cane and looked down at his white knuckles. He had feared this would happen. Not only did they still have to deal with Salem, now a new threat had appeared on the horizon. He turned again to his mentor. Where most people would see an old man, leaning on a staff he saw one of the most dangerous beings on Remnant. "Very well, Saruman. Let's begin."
Thank you to all who have commented and followed this story. I hope I continue to entertain you.
Arrivederci