"Author's Note: Story Artist and OverlorFanatic) I'm sorry that it feels that way and I hope that this chapter is a little closer to a proper chapter. Chapter length and story flow are something that I struggle with you don't want the chapters to be too long or too short but I'll try and be better about the chapter lengths from now on. AdventureSeekerZ) I was planning on having Obsidian poke the Slane Theocracy while Momonga played around with his Momon persona but I am thinking of having him do a little of both. Gabriel the Fallen Archangel) Demiurge is only looking at the nature of Momonga and Obsidian's races, both being very independent and superior to other veins of their type of undead. And thank you but most of my problems with the story can be summed up to short bursts of writer's block. Dinokiin) He may not have a major part right now but he will be appearing more often as the story picks up steam and, you know, gets out of Nazarick. Tiny Tina) Shelob and Carnán will be creatures of the new world where they are and what they will be doing is something I haven't figured out yet but I think it will be more of a minor role. If any of you feel like there is a major problem either in the plot or in the actual writing feel free to comment about it, while I can't promise that I'll fix it right away I will try. And remember I love hearing your thoughts on the story so even if you think I and my story suck I'll be happy to hear what you have to say.
As the Guardians began to speak amongst themselves the Orcs and Ologs of the Tenth Floor were busy. The Overlords of every tribe brought their best soldiers to be chosen for the first mission into the new land. Overlords Bruz the Chopper and Slann the Well-Learned of the Warmonger Tribe had a dozen defenders wearing their best armor, every inch of it being cleaned and polished until they were clean enough to be used in place of plates. Overlords Lurn the Tower and Az-Karmo the Pain Bringer of the Terror Tribe brought half a dozen assassins each wearing their knives, poisons, and armor with an ease that inspired little emotion except for fear. Overlords Zog the Eternal and Az-Gang the Stitch of the Mystic Tribe brought fourteen marksmen each one with a powerful crossbow ready to end any threats.
Overlord Mazu the Machine of the Machine Tribe brought four Ologs each one armored and wielding a maze big enough to crush a man into paste. Overlords Skak Blood Axe and Ar-Hissu the Gluttonous brought twenty savages to cut down Obsidian's enemies. Overlord Ur-Hekku the Beast of the Feral Tribe brought ten Uruks mounted on a large-scaled wolf creature called a caragor. Overlord Az-Bror of the Marauder Tribe brought twelve hunters each with a dozen spears. Overlord Bolg the Judge of the Outlaw Tribe brought forty warriors each ready to slay in their master's name. Overlord Mogg Black Blade assembled a force of thirty savages ready to be tested in battle and proven to be superior. To say that tensions were high would be an understatement.
With a literal war about to break out in front of the gates of Fort Empty only the will of a Nazgûl to save the day and more importantly Obsidian's scouting party. From the Terror Fort came a sputtering green fireball that seemed to change direction every few dozen feet ( every three to seven meters). After a few moments, the fireball landed in the middle of the orc gathering to reveal one of the Nine, Angmar the Witch King himself. Angmar was a ruler who in a time of great magical fear practiced spellcraft to give himself an edge in combat over his competition, after he was defeated by Obsidian he pledged his service in exchange for a piece of Obsidian's power. He was the first of the Nine and has chosen to forsake his name in favor of his title. He wore the battle crown he wore in life as his mask and he was shrouded in pitch black robes with silver gauntlets and greaves. At his side was a sword and a morning star, each was heavier than any mortal man could wield. He stood up with great effort and he swayed in place as he gave out a few weak gasps of pain as he fell over.
A Bruz and Mogg managed to catch the Witch King before he hit the ground, the weakness of one of the strongest of the Nazgûl was enough to defuse the situation for now. "You alright boss?" Bruz asked as he and Mogg helped the Witch King stand up, the Witch King's breaths sounded like wind blowing through a broken window.
"I am not, whatever happened to Lord Obsidian had a greater effect on us." The Witch King said as he raised his head to look at the ceiling of the Tenth Floor which had been enchanted to resemble the sky, currently it was midday and the false sun had just begun its descent. Mogg looked at the Witch King nervously.
"So you think that the master is being affected by this too?" Mogg asked after a few moments of silence, the only response he got was a nod of the Witch King's head. Every Orc and Olog in front of Fort Empty felt the fear that came with that answer and they all wondered the same question if this is what happened to the strongest of the Nine then how bad had it affected their master?
"Well, I think this is a lovely chance for us Orcs to prove our worth to the master," Bruz said with a smile in a desperate attempt to bring up morale.
"Bruz is right, while we heal from our wounds you all will need to work harder to fill the gap of responsibility." The Witch King spoke with a somewhat pleased tone as he pulled himself away from Bruz and Mogg and while he still took unease and shaky steps he was once more walking on his own. "The Tenth Floor gives us our strength back, the longer we stay here the quicker we shall heal." As the Witch King said this eight more sputtering fireballs came out of the other forts and landed near the Witch King. The other eight Nazgûl from left to right were Helm Hammerhand, Riya, Yukka, Isildur, Khamûl, Suladân, Etarial, and Talion.
Helm was a king who took good care of his people and was beloved by them, but a noble of a rival kingdom sought to marry his daughter. When Helm had refused the noble ambushed him and his daughter during a trip to another city resulting in Helm being left on his horse with nearly a dozen arrows in his chest and the memory of his daughter being taken being the one thing that kept his heart beating until Obsidian came to him. Obsidian offered Helm a ring with a dark red gem that would give him the power to get his revenge and save his daughter but warned that it would cost him his humanity and his morality. Helm took the ring without a second thought and lead his soldiers into the noble's manor where he found his now pregnant daughter, the noble, and a dozen guards defending them both. The noble tried to negotiate but Helm tried to crush his skull with the hammer that had served as Helm's weapon his entire life, Helm's daughter tried to stop her father but was too late to get him to stop his swing. Instead of killing the noble Helm slew his daughter and her child, overcome by grief and rage Helm slew everyone in the room friend and foe alike. The power of the ring transformed what should have been a fight into a slaughter and it was only through the intervention of Obsidian that Helm was able to stop his killing spree. Helm chose to follow Obsidian and now serves as the sixth to join the Nine, vowing to never allow himself to lose control of himself again.
Riya and her twin sister Yukka were the swords of their father who ruled an empire that stretched over most of the land. They were sent to face Obsidian and due to their unique fighting style and their faith in one another they were able to force Obsidian to retreat. They returned to report to their father and get their armor repaired for another fight with Obsidian, they, unfortunately, returned in time to witness the coup against their father by a group of greedy nobles. They had little choice but to flee in their dented and torn armor to survive, after many nights of failed attempts to come up with a plan to avenge their father's murder they sought out Obsidian for either power or a plan. After three days of looking, they found him again and he had a pair of gifts, two rings one with a bright green gem and the other with a dark blue gem. They took the rings and with Obsidian following them they stormed their old home and slew the traitorous nobles. With their father dead and their home in turmoil, they swore their loyalty to Obsidian becoming the fourth and fifth to join the Nine.
Isildur was a prince who fought with his father against a warlord who sought to conquer all lands and peoples. His father was slain during the fight and Isildur was badly injured, Obsidian found Isildur after the warlord left him to bleed to death. Obsidian offered Isildur a ring with a hazy orange gem and revenge, Isildur and Obsidian tracked the warlord, and Isildur wielding his father's broken blade slew the warlord and pledged to serve Obsidian becoming the third to join the Nine.
Khamûl was a warlord of a nomadic people who had become trapped by the strategy of an enemy general. With the safety of his tribe on the line, Khamûl demanded a duel to keep his people safe, the general agreed and defeated Khamûl before going back on his word and putting Khamûl's entire tribe to the sword before killing Khamûl. Obsidian went to the scene of the slaughter and slipped a ring with a bright yellow gem onto Khamûl's left-hand ring finger. Khamûl was brought back and with Obsidian's support, he found the general who had been awarded a new set of armor and a new manor for the destruction of Khamûl's tribe. Khamûl challenged the general to a duel once more and brutally mutilated him, Khamûl then severed the general's head and mounted it on a spear in front of the entrance to the new manor. After Khamûl achieved his revenge he pledged his loyalty to Obsidian and became the second to join the Nine.
Suladân was a noble who fought against the odds and despite his power and gained glory, he was completely loyal to his king. But the king who had grown to fear Suladân and his near-constant victories decided that he had grown too powerful and ordered his execution. In his cell, Suladân was approached by Obsidian who offered him a rind with a rosy pink gem, with little to lose Suladân took the ring and when he was face to face with the headsman Suladân escaped and slew his former king. After that Suladân swore his loyalty to a lord who would appreciate his efforts and became the seventh to join the Nine.
Etarial was an elven assassin in service to an elven queen, Etarial was tasked with destroying Obsidian, the eight lesser Nazgûl, and collecting their rings. She fought a guerrilla war against the Nazgûl for nearly a decade before Obsidian cornered her and offered her a ring with a light blue gem. She originally turned down the offer but weary from the near-decade of constant war she returned to her queen only to learn that she had been forgotten and cast aside. With bitterness, rage, and betrayal filling her heart Etarial returned to Obsidian and took the ring becoming the ninth to join the Nine.
Talion was exiled to become a captain of a distant fort after he murdered a noble who assaulted and tried to rape Talion's wife. The noble's family was not nearly as forgiving and pursued Talion and his family to the fort before amassing an army of mercenaries and bribed guards to lay siege to the fort. The fort stood for a week before the army broke through the walls and slaughtered the guards, citizens, and Talion's wife and son. With everyone in the fort dead, the family of the noble had Talion beheaded. It was only a few days later when Obsidian found Talion and slipped a ring with a light red gem onto his left-hand pointer finger. Together Talion and Obsidian traced the noble's family who was celebrating the death of Talion, to say that they were surprised by the uninvited duo would have been a major understatement. With his vengeance claimed Talion chose to follow Obsidian to ensure that the tragedy that befell him and his family would never happen again and thus Talion became the eighth to join the Nine.
"He is right, however, someone should keep an eye on Obsidian in the meantime to ensure that he is alright," Helm said in a calm and somewhat strained voice as he gestured to the Witch King, the orcs of the Feral tribe looked to him in worry just as the rest of the orcs from the other tribes looked to their Nazgûl.
"We need a plan to make sure that he doesn't die," Riya said with a confident tone as she stumbled from her spot to lean against the wall of Fort Empty with Yukka soon joining her twin.
"Mogg and Mazbug will be accompanying Obsidian on the scouting mission so we won't have to worry for now but perhaps we can have this sort of arrangement for future missions. A couple of orcs around him at all times outside of Nazarick should keep him safe enough for reinforcements to arrive." Isildur said with his arms behind his back as he slowly paced while speaking, each back and forth pass made Etarial frown and furrow her brow.
"Must you do that every time we have a serious discussion without Obsidian?" Etarial asked in annoyance as she watched Isildur make another two passes, her question simply brought a round of chuckles from all the Nine except her and Isildur.
"What are we going to do now?" Talion asked in a low voice that refused to betray his thoughts or emotions. The rest of the Nine looked at him with a somewhat lost expression on their faces and Talion took a moment to distract himself by musing on the extent of the influence their rings had on themselves, much like Obsidian all of the Nine had pale skin, and glowing eyes, however, each of the Nine's eyes glowed the color of the gems embedded into their rings. He blinked quickly as he cleared those thoughts from his head so he could focus on what he was going to say. "We are in what we assume to be a new world so now what do we do? There really isn't any reason to become invested in the politics of this world if there are even people here, to begin with, and we are for the most part unable to readapt to common life so blending in is no longer an option. So shall we just remain here, will we explore this world, will we raze it to the ground, will we conquer it? I would simply like some form of direction or even a basic idea of what the future will be like before we start running to it." Talion said in a matter-of-fact tone while staring at the Nine and occasionally glancing at the Orcs and Ologs.
"We don't know any more than you do Talion, but we will learn more as Lord Obsidian and Momonga learn of this supposed new world, for now, try to have faith brother." The Witch King said as he nodded his head while processing Talion's comment. "For now though we should focus on what we can do." The Witch King continued before turning to Mogg and for the next hour the Nine and the overlords debated on how many orcs would accompany Obsidian on his scouting mission and who they were all while the conversation that had just ended rattled around in everyone's heads.