Ray led Viola into the keep, and approached a small arena. In the middle of this arena was a large, wooden dais, with posts on each corner. In the middle was another one of the dead, a squirrel, paws bound behind him and resting on his knees. His face was beaten and bloodied, and he groaned lightly as the crowd in the arena stands jeered. Another figure began to approach the dais, an armored figure like Ray. However, this raccoon's armor was studded with spikes made of bone, and various pelts were stretched and stitched to the armor, giving it a disturbing visage.
Ray drew a breath. Even though his brother was wearing a helmet, Ray knew the disturbing armor and evil visage of his brother. "Jayce..."
Jayce approached the dais like it was a show; his arms were outstretched, and he looked around the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen," he bellowed, his voice not unlike a cold-steel dagger against stone. "We've gathered here, because of this individual!" He pointed accusingly at the kneeling squirrel. "This one, no more than five years in our lands, has been charged with attempting to open a portal between our world, and the lair of a necromancer!"
The crowd yelled in anger, loudly booing the accused.
Jayce relishing in the hatred, continued his tirade. "Now, those of you that have been with us for a while know the punishment for selling your dead kinsmen." He knelt in front of the squirrel, roughly gripped his chin, and brought the squirrels eyes to meet his own. "I...Jayce, Death-lord of these planes, condemn you to join the ranks of the Flayed!" The crowd went silent, as the squirrel suddenly began pleading for forgiveness, as Jayce tossed him aside. The massive armored raccoon stood, and lifted a paw.
At this gesture, Ray reached behind himself, and covered Viola's eyes, whispering. "Miss Viola, always remember. There are fates worse than death."
The sound of chains moving through the air broke the silence. The squirrel released a agonized scream, and a few moments later, a wicked sword was drawn. Jayce could be heard laughing, manically, as the sound of something being torn was barely hidden behind tortured cries of forgiveness. These noises lasted no more than a minute and a half, when the sound of chains retracting replaced the silence. Jayce could be heard shouting. "Bring him to the Punishment Cages, to join his new kinsmen." Four sets of feet could be heard walking onto the dais, and dragging something away.
After the passage to the Punishment Cages was closed, Ray moved his paw from Viola's eyes, and repeated himself. "There are fates worse than death."
Jayce sheathed his now-dirtied crooked blade, and started to head towards the Punishment Cages, when he spotted Ray. "Brother!" The crowd started to disperse, headed back to their un-lives.
((Sorry for the wall-post. I've been writing this encounter ever since Ray and Viola entered the land of the dead.))
Topic: Nagaram (Read 56596 times)