Tarkin Vanor

He looked over the reports from the village of Koleman and the troubles that had been plaguing its logging camps. Frankly, he needed the lumber for rebuilding the city, and the last two years had been... trying in several respects. Lumber camp after lumber camp going missing, abandoning the woods, sometimes at a great distance apart? Truth be told, as he looked to the west, he was more than willing to accept that it may have been the result of horrors from the waste that were coming in through the woods. As it is, the forest had been growing darker, stranger and somehow less welcoming.

Any who walked under its branches reported the same thing, a growing sense of malice and distain, even as there were reports of elves being seen once more in the wood. Truth be told, that was one of the reasons why he had been so instant on the lumber harvesting, to try and find and destroy any of the great trees. As they should have all been spiked by the orks. Or by the things from the wastes. Leaving the alpine forests open and easy for logging and being put to good and proper use in expanding civilization.

Of course, there were good sides to the many annoying things seeping from the wood these days. The fact of the matter was, that so long as his people did not enter into the woods, then whatever was in there was seemingly content to stay there. A part of him burned as he looked over the map, of the area that was defying humanities claim to the region. There were other sources of lumber... but that particularly forest held secrets, things that even the orks did not fully know or see when they waged war in the area. Things that the plague may have changed.

And then there was a knock at his door, followed swiftly by Gideon entering, his face grim. "News from the scouts." From way he looked, well, there was bad news afoot. "The newest elf that was seen in the Wormwood? Apparently he has some means of controlling the dragons." Now, that posed a worrying answer to how they were able to brutally evict the vast majority of the trolls and ogres that had moved into the woods. "Which would be bad enough, but at least a few rumors have reached Ashcolmb that this... Elder Lord is binding them with a orb of jade and emerald."

That made Tarkin groan, looking over the map of his holdings. "The courage's will be... difficult." Hopefully, most of them could be directed right into the woods, even if most of them would likely not make it. While it had apparently been growing just fine, once you passed the edges of the wood, it was a place of endless twilight, of mists and fogs that hid everything and shifting undergrowth. Just how radically it changed in but a year. From a source of lumber, to a source of headaches. Still, it was time. "We will have to relocate Koleman."

He tapped the map, shifting the village to the south and east. "It will cost too much to try and salvage it, not unless we can get palatines to investigate. And for all that they are shining shields of righteousness... they are not suited for the deep woods. We can get the lumber from Greenvale." No matter that it stuck in his craw, but... they could not afford to reinforce Koleman's current location, not and maintain the defences against the wastes. And the army and palatines were busy elsewhere. And a nobles courage?

Not enough to attract one without making compromises. So, he would do what he could, even as it burned. But better to see it moved than overrun when the things in the wood decide to come out.

Devil Wyrm

One of the things that I picked up as the blood coated me and I battered forest drakes into compliance, as I extracted vows of vassalage from them, binding their draconic essences to mine, was a mortal mask. To be sure, it reduced parts of my combat effectiveness, but that was not the reason why. Considering how I could have any of my elves bend over and flutter their eyes before I took them, I could honestly say that it was not even for sexual reasons. Rather, it was because it would allow me to act a part and for a narrative to be set. Many, who may object to a dragon ruling over humanoids, binding them neath a scaled tyrants hand? Had no such issues with a humanoid binding both into bondage. Tribalism really, even if I did not ponder it too deeply.

That and it would allow me to infiltrate the mortal settlements, to take on other shapes, to have more than one identity. Which between that and the seductresses, the lovely visions of temptation that they were? Truth be told, it make gleaning information fairly easy. But... the bulk of my focus was never on the humans, not quite yet. They would be dealt with in time, but there was a priceless asset that could be sized inside of the forest. Forest drakes. Feral, savage and powerful enough that a degree of caution was wise. And yet they were dragon enough to succumb to the Rite of Challenge, the magic sinking into their minds as I dueled them, dragon to dragon.

Claws and fangs and flaming breath, as we snarled and snapped at each other, as acid was not as useful against the other. I was small, on the verge of growth but not quite there, even as they towered over me, out massed me dozens of times over. But I was quick, I was clever... and my jaws ended on their throats one after the other, rear claws on their spines as the deeds flowed into me, as I swelled with achievement. Which actually, as we hunted as a pack, as a rampage through the wood...

Trolls, ogres and the like? How swift they were to fall, to to be purged. Ork bands hunting in the woods? Torn apart and devoured, screaming and fighting, but devoured all the same. It was a good time to hunt... and I will admit that there were instances of... discipline, as the drakes snapped at and tried to eat MY elves, who had come to tend to them, to heal the injuries taken. Just some light slaps and beatings to remind them that they, and the elves, were MINE. Also, that healers were valuable and would allow them to hunt stronger meals.

It was the second that won them over truthfully, along with the fact that I would be imbuing some of them directly with my essence. It was not something to take lightly, but with all of them bound, by vassalage and contract? It was also, a chance to hopefully make them... more than they were. Something much more dangerous in the long run. Something my elven beauties seemed to appreciate, as I recovered on a throne of living wood, feeling the lairs of the others blooming on the edges of my senses, expanding the reach of the taint into the woods.

Something that was good to consider at times, as I leaned forward, lips catching lips, the warm folds of a cunt wrapped around my cock, two more sets of lips sucking each ball, tongues tracing the wrinkles of the sack as hands moved, massaging and teasing. It was good to be the lord, as they whispered to me of what the rest of the coven was up to, as they studied and trained... and would make ready. After all, while I was greatly weakened, I still had stamina, I still had skill, and I would do my best not to disappoint these three beauties.

Bones-Crunch-Like-Leaves

The master had delivered on his promises, something that was pleasing. Power that sang in their blood, that linked and bound them to him through the roots of the forest, it was pleasing to her. She was not sure why she and the others were required to use the gifts given to take on the shape of... elves? Yes, elves. They were prey, their flesh sweet and rich. But, their master required it, and so as the seasons passed and more of the pack joined the ranks of those the master empowered, there was... consideration.

Some would draw more on the essence, more like their master. Others on the raw, brute strength it would offer them. Others tasted the magic in their blood and found it good. Her own sang with the woodlands, even as her draconic power tempered it, changed it. For she could hear her master, and knew what he desired, as she dreamed. Pleasing dreams, of grand and ancient trees, of prey that walked and was hunted, of all the wood becoming a single great nest, for the mightiest of dragons.

She crooned, as she dreamed of the great canopy that would rust and devour metal, leaving wood growing in its place.