Silver stood on the port of Seaburn and oversaw the work done by the workers loading the three ships he was given for his expedition. And loads of soldiers were coming with him. Given that his conversations with the different seafaring traders revealed that pirates are common in a section on his upcoming travel, he prefers to be prepared…
And he was also not having a single minion on board for the simple fact: The danger of them sinking their own ship is way too high of a risk than the benefits of having easily to resurrect or replaceable worker/fighting force.
Not to mention aside from a one-way, one-time emergency exit, there is no reliable way to open a Nethergate connected to the tower to call replacements or reinforcements.
Silver looked at the captain of one of the ships and asked, "Do you think we are loading up enough?"
"Enough for a trip to this dessert and back without wolves." He simply replied. "Enough to scare off pirates? That depends how big, brave and/or stupid those throat cutters are. But by Neptunia, if there were a pirate crew big enough to endanger us, then we should have heard by now. Or at least stories of ships that don't manage to pass through there should be circulating by now."
"I see." nodded Silver and sighs while the captain slapped the lord on the back, "Thinking of your gal? Beautiful one. But all succubus is. Wonder how you got ya one without dying."
Silver gave a meek smile, "We had a history together as we were still children. That just came into fruition." Then took a breath, "And yeah… thinking of her again. Even if we haven't left port yet." And after shaking his head, "Well… on top of that comes also… what should I do if she is giving birth while I am away? How can I be the responsible father and husband I should be if-"
"You worry too much lad." Laughed the captain, "I know many sailors that weren't for the birth of their firstborns. But also you cannot risk her being on board of a ship with many men but only her as a woman. Not to mention births on high sea travels are not the safest thing. And perhaps ya are back before she does. It's still two months as you told me and the trip only takes two weeks."
Silver nodded to that, thinking there might really be a chance of him being back in time to see his child being born. "You're right. There is the chance." and looks back towards the ships, wondering if they could load up any faster.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Gnarl looked annoyed at the few Skeith gathered in front of him and the objects they had in between "You're late! I wanted this to be brought here over half a year ago. What took you so long?"
"It's-" began one of the Skeith nervously, "It's how we had to get it first. While it was arranged that we could take the objects in question with us… we underestimated the size and that slowed us down as it was heavier and in turn slowed our travel"
"Still half a year? What were you doing? Going by the sizes I doubt you had to walk the entire way here." Spat the Minion Master, causing the group to wince once again.
Then the leader gulps again, "Well… on our way back here… we happened to rest at the community our group came from… and there was a catch-up… then the winter came… and afterwards the spring greeting ritual…"
At this point Gnarl was facepalming. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and simply looked at the objects the Skeith had retrieved. A set of eleven black crystals. One of them larger than a Taumin, the rest slightly larger than a tall standing minion.
Each of those crystals were pulsing with a slight red light and thanks to those pulses, one with a good eye could see figures in them. The ones in the smaller crystals curled into balls, while the one in the big crystal was "standing" tall with some of the features being seen. Like a set of horns, a tail and some wings.
A smirk crossed Gnarls face, "Well. Took me nearly six millennia to find you again, but soon you have a master once again." Then turns around and frowns, "And hopefully this time it turns out better than with the last time we shared a master." Thought Gnarl and chuckled. "Though… given what our master is holding… it might turn interesting." Before he turns around to the Skeith, "I will deal with your incompetence later. Now get some taumins and I'll show you where to set up the crystals in a proper fashion for our Overlord!"
That caused the Skeith to straighten up and one of them runs to get some of the Taumin workers that are helping with heavy lifting in the tower. While Gnarl was starting to chuckle loudly as he imagined his little plans starting to unfold.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Loud screams filled the upper levels of Overlord Kuran's tower. Screams of a woman. Lehid's screams to be precise. She laid on her bed and the two midwives were alongside her, helping her with the source of her screams.
The pregnant Skeith woman was having her egg. Kuran stood on her side and his hand was clutched by the bird-like female, holding it tight and the Overlord was starting to wonder if he should free his hand and put his glove on or risk said hand being squashed like a tomato by the hand of his mistress.
He had expected more from this procedure than just screams. As he learned Lehid was having her labour, he was fully prepared for insults, scolds of him being at fault and full-blown hits. However, her pains are too great regarding the factors surrounding this… first of all, it is her first time doing it. Her body isn't used to handling that stress fully. Second according to the midwives Lehid is early. It was expected for the egg to stay in her for two more weeks. If not a full month.
And the third was… the egg is very large for a woman of her age.
Though one of the two midwives assumed that this size was also the reason why she was laying early… the body couldn't support carrying it anymore. Luckily, unlike with human babies, an early egg delivery is safe from the fourth month forward… the remaining two of the six-month carriage mostly add in additional nutrients into the egg for a stronger offspring.
According to experience two weeks early will result in earlier hatching but the child should be fine.
What was unsaid though, and that Kuran is only realizing now, is that in most cases, the child in question has two Skeith parents or at least one Skeith and one of a different avian race. Interracial relationships with children are for their kind rare due to their society. Even Raven admits he only recalls one other instance… and he was only eight back then. And that bird was the oldest Skeith they have at the moment.
The midwives spread Lehids legs further and told her to push repeatedly. While watching carefully the opening of the woman. Lehid screamed as she did as told, louder with each push and forced herself to breathe at a steady rate.
"You're doing well." assured Kuran to his mistress. "You can do it. I believe in you." And with a loud whimper, she was continuing, though Kuran had to wonder if he just heard a crack… his hand was numb for a while now.
"I can see the beginning, Lady Lehid." spoke one of the midwives, "Just a little more."
None of them knew anymore how long they had been here or how much time passed after those words… but finally, Lehid found the strength to make the final push and the entire egg left her body. The midwives held it carefully and cleaned it and placed it into the nest that stood next to her bed.
Smiling brightly, Kuran gave Lehid a kiss on her forehead, "You did it…"
"Our first egg…" whispered the tired Skeith and reached her hand out, stroking the surface of her treasure… the container of a new life.
The midwives said their goodbyes and retreated to their room. They would still remain here in the tower for some time longer to ensure the egg is doing fine and aid Lehid once their child was hatching.
The parents were looking at it once more. It was really quite large compared to what he heard from everybody regarding Skeith eggs and it was of a dark blue colour with grey spots dotted over it.
Though Lehid felt once more the tiredness of her endeavour and she looked and Kuran "Dear… can you… join me here?"
Kuran nodded and stroked her cheek. "I will." and then starts to undress. Originally he wanted to keep his underwear but she said, "Let's be fair. I am not wearing anything at all as well." And so he joined her in bed and snuggled with her while she went into the land of dreams soon after he pulled a blanket over the both of them… and to the disappointment of spying eyes who hoped to see some human on skeith action.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
"So Lehid laid the egg now." Mused Ahya in her species' tongue as she got the news from one of her followers and was curling her tail around her staff. "Took her long enough. Thanks to that, we lost two days. And we need him to finish this foolish business with the Skeith as soon as possible."
She looks at her staff that glowed thanks to a magical link towards another staff, "I trusssst you can do ssssomething regarding that delay?"
"Yes, my Mistress." said a voice on the other end of the line. "Once the Overlord conforms himself to continue the travels towards Kingbird, he will get "unexpected help" to reach the town faster. And I also got some people already there to prepare… but I am honest. What I could establish so far is only a drop in the barrel."
"I am aware that thisss was much to asssk in a ssshort amount of time."
"Not to mention that the Skeith are at unrest… something at the mountains is killing off the most dangerous beasts with mini fireballs if the state of the corpses are to be believed. The Wings are debating if they send the overlord as a "test" up to see if he is worth their time. I see it as it is." explains the voice, "A way to get rid of him and legally act against Lady Lehid."
Ahya narrowed her eyes. It is one thing to try to influence the politics of a different race. And hard enough that she wished the Overlord wouldn't bother to try to win over the Skeith. But having an unknown threat close by as well… that didn't sit right with her.
"Can you tell me anything about thissss "threat" that might be up there?" she asked.
"I am sorry, but all I can tell you is these odd killings started shortly after a star fell from the sky." Answered her contact
"Sssstar from the… a meteoroid?" She wondered but then rubs her chin. "No… that wouldn't exxxxplain it… otherwisssse the area would be desssstroyed. But come down then?" and she turns to her staff. "Try to find out what it issss. And alsssso the sssstar. Once you do contact me insssstantly."
"Of course my lady." replied the voice. "As you wish." and the contact ended.
The female naga put away her staff and slithered around in her room in thought… she is losing her patience slowly and gets more and more irritated by the wrenches thrown in her direction. Weighing her options she wondered if… well… that could work. If she is playing smart. But it has to be a very smart move or else she might lose important support.
Looking at the mirror she only smirked and thought, "Well… given who I am it might be not that hard." and smirks while hissing a little with her tongue.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Inside a pub, a red-haired woman in blue pants, a purple shirt that just covers her chest with white sleeves and a blue shoulder caldron sat on a chair and was eating her meal together with her beer. It was not an eventful day for her as far she could tell and was also expecting nothing.
So it came to her as a surprise as two men sat down next to her. Though as neither spoke or pulled something, she simply continued to eat. Though her green eyes noticed the emblem on one of the clips that held their ropes, they were… the sign of the Steadfast military.
So two of the fanatics that try to rise against the current ruler of the land. Figures. They never die out.
"If you two are asking to kill who I am thinking to kill… forget it." She said while taking a sip of her beer, "I am not so mad to think I could get past everything he might set up for his defense." And turned her attention back to her meal.
"But there is an opportunity." Said one of them. "He is travelling. Towards the Skeith territory." And gestures away from the table. "He won't be fully protected while he travels and since he has to rule and return every day through those gates…"
She understood what they meant and looked up. "So you want me to ambush him."
"No. We want to infiltrate the tower while he is away." Which confused her greatly. "And kill at the first opportunity."
She could see the sense in it but it is still a very big risk. "What is it worth for you that I am holding out my neck for the two of you?"
"Half the riches of the traitors." Told his companion, "Including any cost you might have."
Whistling the woman looks at them again. "Well, that is something." And then thought about it… and got an idea that would work well for her. "Now that I think about it… I will do it. Just tell me where to find you after the job is done." And grins, her mind made up regarding what she will do next. And how she will impress some people along the way.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Peeking into the room of her Aunt Lehid, Alexandra the little chicant was looking towards the bed with the sleeping forms of her daddy and aunty.
She wanted to come earlier, as Aunt Lehid had started to scream in pain but Aunt Isadel had stopped her, telling that Aunt Lehid was laying an egg. And that the little girl didn't have to worry.
The young Chicant was then convinced to play with her aunt until she got tired and was brought to bed… now she was awake and Aunt Isadel wasn't here. She was properly either talking with Grand-Aunt again or is seeing Ahya.
Slowly moving in the chicant moved slowly towards the bed and saw the nest next to it. Curious she moved over and felt it, careful as she knew how easy an egg could break. And with that size, she was sure she couldn't hold her unhatched sibling safely. Her feelers touch over the surface of the egg, mesmerized by its nice colours and the odd scent she is picking up. Is this the combined scent of aunt Lehid and daddy? Or was it for other reasons?
Her head turned again towards her daddy and her aunt. Now that this egg wasn't inside Aunt Lehid anymore, does it mean she can play with her again? She would like it. She loved the one time she was carried by her through the air. While not as high as Skeith could fly, it was fun. But now she let the two sleep… daddy because he seems to not want to be disturbed and Aunt Lehid… the young Chicant was told that laying an egg or giving birth by other species could be very tiresome.
Clicking a little her attention was back to the egg. She gave the egg a careful hug. "Hello little sibling… I hope to see you soon out of your egg." Looking over the surface she giggled. "And if those pretty colours show your colours, you will be a beautiful looking younger sibling! I really look forward to seeing you"
After turning around, she heads for the door and heads out. Once the door was closed she looked in wonder. "What should I do until daddy or Auntie Lehid are awake again?" and her feelers twitched upon that question.
Then she got an idea, and she would smile if her anatomy would allow it. Looking back at the door the girl giggled. "I bet Auntie Lehid will love it when I am done." And began to run. "But first I have to find Gnarly and make him get what I need from him. He is always so funny when he complains about me!" unaware that her line of thinking somehow made „Gnarly" shiver in his spine as he got the feeling that something dooming was approaching him… and had the urge to jump himself from the highest point of the tower.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
"Mommy! I am home!" sang a voice as within a hall a young creature appeared. Covered in blue-grey fur, the female with black shoulder-length hair and striking green eyes and black stripes on parts of her body waved her long tail with the bushy tail end with a grin. She wears body embracing leather armour and a collar that shows a particular symbol.
Thought what many would register first was that she was covered in blood, especially on her claws on the hands and feet.
"Welcome home Felney." smiles an older woman's voice and indeed a woman came out. She had goat legs covered in grey fur, the same colour as the fur of her arms. She had also goat horns on her head with white hair in between that runs down in a ponytail, just ending above her tail. The only piece of cloth she wore was a black swimsuit like piece that just covered small parts of her front. The stomach was free and bears a purple symbol like on her enormous breast. Moving to her daughter she pets her head. "Did you do like I told you?"
"I got everybody in that location that wanted to hurt daddy!" she grinned. "Not even one is still breathing." And whipped a little back and forth. "I even learned that they had a bigger baddy leading them and I went ahead and ripped him in pieces as well! Did I do good mommy?"
Smiling the demoness pets the teenage girl. "You did wonderful Felney. I bet your father will be proud once he learns all the good you did for him"
"When will I meet daddy?" purred Felney with a big smile. "You told me so much about him. I want to be in his arms. I want to meet my siblings for real." and grinned even wider.
"We will soon visit him. Once he finished a few things. And in the time it takes for him to be done, we will help him without him knowing." explains Felney's mother. Then she looks over her daughter's body. "But now how about you go and wash? You're full of blood. And we cannot have it on the carpets."
"Ok, mommy!" smiles Felney and disappeared in black smoke. Her mother crossed her arms with a smirk before turning around and moving into a room full of mirrors. Looking into one she watches Felney's father in his current activity.
Her smirk widened and she brought a finger to her cheek. "My my… what a strange thing. If I had known about your future when we met the first time… I think I would have made a different deal." And she grinned more. "Scratch that. I would have handled our first encounter completely different. You were such an impressionable child after all."
Turning to a different mirror that showed her daughter in the bath, playing in the water while some women are attending to her needs. "And our daughter would certainly have a few more siblings by now. She's so useful for me. And she will definitely be useful to you once you know her existence. A few full siblings wouldn't hurt for both of us." And she began to chuckle loudly as she imagined how things will turn out once she believes she can act.
Then she stroked the mirror of the male she was watching. "Once you have dealt with a few things, you will learn the truth. And then you will fulfil the contract we made so long ago."
Then she notices a woman at the door. Turning around she asks, "Did you find what I was asking for?"
"Yes, Master Terzian. We uncovered the books you were seeking. At the moment the best of us witches are working to decipher the contents. It won't be long until we can provide you with the information you seek."
"Make a few additional familiars. I want to ensure that the other projects are not falling behind at this point." Declared Terzian.
"Yes, master." The witch bowed.
"And ensure that Felney is enjoying her evening. She is again in an eager phase with fantasies about her future meeting with her creator and his children. I don't want to risk her trying to jump him again before it is time."
"I will give her some of the prisoners for her entertainment. Any wishes what I should do with the remains afterwards?" wondered the witch.
Terzian considered the question a little. "Do the usual stuff."
"As you wish." and the witch left her master. While Terzian looks back at the mirrors, checking on her projects while the largest one still showed the man she talked about, sleeping in a bed with somebody in his arm, obscured from view due to the position of view and the sleeping people.
Overlord: Kingdoms Rise
Scouts of the Overlord were reaching the castle of the late Lord MInus, having the banner of Overlord Kuran with them to mark them as officials sent on a mission. As they are reaching the gates, the leader of them shouts, "I am Markus Meriadus. I am officially sent by Overlord Kuran to deliver a message! Whoever you are, show yourself and state your names!"
The only answer he would get was from the wind as it blew and shifted what plants there were around, though the sound of the wind through the tall grass was wrong somehow. The castle appeared silent even with the sound of the wind whistling through it, but even that series and variety of sounds were wrong.
The eerie moment ended though when one man in the group near the side started freaking out, he was yelling something about his coin pouch being missing and his sword and various other little things he had for his uniform was missing.
Everybody turned to him in surprise as none of them had an idea of how that would be possible. Meriadus shakes his head on that and reaches for his pouch where he had the official scroll to prove his claims and the letter of the Overlord for whoever is taking this castle now… only to find out that they were missing as well. Including his arrows, money pouch and his ring. "What the hell?" and he heard that more and more of his group were shouting that they were starting to miss things on their bodies.
"That's impossible! Supernatural!" shouts then one of them. Here is no way that those things disappear like that!"
The grass rustled and screamed; later one of the men in the rear of the caravan was removed from his horse, he was fine though flat on the ground, the straps that held his saddle to the horse were slashed with not a mark on the horse.
Now the group was getting nervous and they moved around, forming a circle and trying to determine what this sudden disappearing act was causing. "I-I warn you! If you enrage the Overlord, he will come down crashing the mountain around you," warned Mariadus nervously.
Above on the wall of the abandoned castle was a figure in heavy black leather garb, a massive cast iron halberd in hand, a heavy cape on the figure caught the wind though its weight kept it from moving much.
The men below hadn't seen them yet, too focused on the unseen thefts and mischief that was happening around them unseen.
"Damn it! I am here on orders but what should I do when everything falls apart because of this madness!" shouts the leader of the scouts and the first of his men are fleeing. "Come back! Or you face trial once the minions have caught you! If you're lucky to survive the capture!"
"Look!" shouts another, pointing up and Mariadus looks up and gasps, seeing a person up there. "What the-?"
The figure on the wall of the castle cocked its head, a navy hat and silver featureless mask covering the person's head
The person pointed their massive halberd at the group's leader, then twisted their wrist to turn the halberd and from the very tall grass near 27 fox races rose and levelled weapons at the group.
"W-Who are you?" demands the leader of the scout and grit his teeth.
The mask the figure wore vibrated some as they spoke making the voice that came down from above distorted some.
"Should ask you this, this place belongs to my people now."
"This place was once the seat of the Family of Minus. After the death of the last Lord of Minus, it is now the property of the Overlord!" called the scout. "As such you're the trespassers on those lands. And as such our lord demands to know who you are!" though Maiadus was very unnerved by the discarded voice and was almost ready to run like his subordinates already did to a part.
The masked figure slowly tilts its head.
"Our lord demands to know who you are?" The figure parroted.
"You imply your lord is here amidst you OR you suggest to know the will of your lord and what he does or doesn't know."
The figure knelt down on the battlements of the castle as if to look at a bug as it looked down on the man. "And what if he knows we are here and sent you to die? Are you a disloyal pawn? Maybe this lord isn't real and you bluff…"
The myriad of ifs, ors and conjectures from the figure continued for several minutes, each proposition aimed to unsettle and distract or disorient the man and his men.
"I WILL SHOW YOU PROOF IF YOUR DEMONS HAVEN'T STOLEN MY BADGE AND A LETTER OF OVERLORD KURAN YUMA! I DEMAND THEIR RETURN SO I CAN SHOW YOU AND LET YOU KNOW IF WE DON'T RETURN HIS WRATH WILL FALL UPON YOU!" he rants, visibly unnerved by this… creature and prays to the gods that they smithe them… or at least that the Lord comes with his hordes of minions and cleanses this place. While some more of his man deserted during the rant of hers and his. At least he assumes it is a she from the curves.
The figure waved the items he spoke of in its hand high above. "This?"
One of the other fox races around the group likely swiped it and passed it to the person above.
"THEN YOU KNOW I AM TELLING THE TRUTH?" he shouts loudly and points his finger at her, though it is shaking from his unnerved state, showing more bravado as he actually had at this moment
The person looked at it and tossed it into one of the large braisers torches/fire pits that flanked the main gates bellow them
"Documents can be forged… and burned, and metal melts."
The person either didn't seem to care or was purposely aggravating the man now
"This.. this is not over yet!" and starts to ride off, seeing that it has no sense to talk with this one anymore. She will not believe him. Her death once the Overlord is charging the castle to free it from those who are inside without his permission.
As he rode away the figure watched till one of the fox races moved next to them.
"Humans, all so blind to the obvious."
The person loosened and removed the silver mask then looked down at the open doors of the castle.
"So lost in the confusion that they ignored the open gates and…" The person pulled the hat and hood, the hood that covered the rest of their head that the mask couldn't hide, back and down showing them to be a young noble female fennec fox.
She eyed them still as they became dots in the distance, none had seen her uncover herself, way too far by then.
The fox next to her knelt and agreed silently till she pulled them up
"I'm not my mother, stop doing that!"
She grumbled and turned. "Finish recon and resource collection."
The fox on the ground now standing asked.
"Why did you burn the document?"
"It was a boring read, something about meeting places and deals, I will send one of the others to scope the place, and see if I can… fill in for this castle's lord."
The rightful lord she mentioned was out cold from a sleeping toxin he was drugged with that morning.