Half-Breeds
3
Kakwatt's keep was a bizarre example of mad alien architecture. A massive, three sided pyramid of smooth cut stone was linked by massive arches to a large oval, which in turn was built into the side of the mountain. Doubtless, the mountain was honeycombed by tunnels and dwelling spaces. A few broken, burn remnants of a high wall were all that remained of the original property. Presumably the fleshwarper's laboratory had been destroyed in the battle that ended his life. There were likely no clues left to explain Kakwatt's origins or any other nightmare that had gone on within that madman's home. Everything was covered in an overgrowth of creeping vines and ivy, and odd flowers grew wild around the area. Yahiko examined a nearby flower. It was a hybrid, of course. His keen senses caught the sounds and smells of cattle, though he could not see them. Kakwatt was apparently a self-sufficient creature, despite his chaotic insanity.
Kakwatt pointed at the oval, "The Great Mother's home." So, it was a temple. Kakwatt motioned him to follow and headed without further word to the pyramid. He pushed one side of the pyramid, sliding it entirely back to reveal a gaping entrance. "The new house." He muttered softly. Inside were a series of winding steps leading down into the deep darkness. Fortunately, Yahiko had excellent darkvision. The steps were large, but not enough to hamper the smaller giant. "In the darkness dwells perfection. In the darkness." Kakwatt said as they went deeper and deeper into the earth. Yahiko began to wonder if the half-beholder was taking him into the underdark. "Why the darkness?" Yahiko asked, "Why not the light?" "Light should not shine on perfection. There is evil in the light. I was born in the light." From the back, Yahiko could see an unusually thick, prominent spine, doubtless to support the head. It was a clue, though he did not know how to understand it. One would easily conclude that it was to hold the large head of the beholder securely in place, perhaps due the natural buoyancy of the Spheres of Many Eyes. Of course, a beholder was not normally attached to a giant's body. He observed no stitches, no signs of surgery. Even the mauve coloration was consistent with the rest of the form. Perhaps the creature had been created through purely magical means. Or he could simply have been fused by some fell magic. He would likely never know.
Kakwatt took the bright stranger deeper into the darkness of perfection. Yahiko was watching him closely. His bright green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. He admired his perfection. He envied his form. All creatures envied the perfection embodied by The Great Mother. But he had helped him. Fixed his leg. So he was a friend. A friend deserved a feast.
Yahiko wondered about Kakwatt's mind, specifically, how many minds he had. The beholder was a bizarre creature from any standpoint, but their psychology was beyond belief. Each beholder had dual minds. The first, the Intuitive Mind, unconsciously dealt with reality as it was, then filtered out any information that might damage the beholder's personal beliefs of superiority and status as the living image of the Great Mother or otherwise cause it psychological distress before passing it on to the second, the Rational Mind, which was it's conscious, acting mind. Beholders mentally altered reality to suit their own personal beliefs and ideas. A fomorian, however, was simply a comparatively intelligent giant. If the unknown fleshwarper had added a fomorian mind to the already schizophrenic beholder minds. . . Gods only knew what would happen. Whatever his origin, this creature did not seem to be evil, merely detached from reality. He could function, care for himself and his cattle, worship his goddess. Perhaps he could be helped to recover some semblance of sanity, if he had ever possessed such. The architecture was unlike that of either race. Fomorians were not architects, usually lairing in mines or caverns. Beholders, on the other hand, were excellent architects, but they preferred the sphere and oval. The closest they came to pyramids was utilizing massive stalactites and stalagmites as dwellings. Where had this design come from?
Yahiko was telling him about a city of black stones where different races lived together peacefully. Even elves and drow. Kakwatt found it hard to believe. Kakwatt was curious about other lands, but he was happy within his own small kingdom. Perfect and alone. He needed nothing and no one. Still, it was good to have company that was not trying to kill him.
While Yahiko welcomed new forms of life and he admired the obvious skill that went into the creation of Kakwatt, he could not agree with the concept of fleshwarping. Twisting living beings, especially sentient beings, into bizarre new forms as either experiment or punishment was heinous. He thought of the tragedy of the drider, the shunned and other cursed souls. Fleshwarping could cause a being untold agony, destroy its mind, or even taint its soul. Sometimes overzealous members of The Unity would attempt to create a new form of life through biomancy, (necromancy was utterly forbidden as defiling the dead.), Though fleshwarping was also forbidden, a being created by either method would be welcomed with open arms by the religion. Its creator, however, might be cast out for his sin.
Kakwatt's home was sparse and clean. A few leather or fur rugs lay on the floor, and a niche carved into one of the walls and lined with furs clearly served as a bed. Several carved stone jars sat against the wall, holding, if his senses did not betray him, home-brewed wine and strong beer. A spear and a club lay beside the bed. A large spit rested atop a cold fire pit beside a large wooden table and chair. Yahiko had little doubt that the carving had been done by the half-beholder's Disintegration eye.
Kakwatt spread out a feast for his new friend, dried beef and venison and homemade wine from the wild berries that grew in his kingdom. Yahiko graciously accepted. Due to the fact that there was only one chair, they sat on floor, which suited Yahiko fine as that was the traditional eating arrangement in Kazakura. The wine was excellent, beholders were known for their appreciation of such drink, as it was one of the few things they could truly taste. Of course, Kakwatt was not technically a beholder and might have exceptional taste buds. Though it took quite a bit to intoxicate a beholder, oni could also drink with the best of them. Indeed, Yahiko had once drunk Keptolo under the table at a feast in The Obsidian City.
He realized that he stood little chance of converting Kakwatt but hoped that they could at least become friends. While his sect was important to him, the ideals were even more so. Peaceful coexistent and understanding among the multitudes of races. He knew that it was an impossible goal, but he would try to bring what unity he could to the universe.
To be continued. . .