ARRGhh!!!
A gurgling scream tore through the dingy dungeon,
The subject from whom the scream erupted hung limp, chains wrapped around his lanky arms, his feet dangling just a few inches from the blood slick floor.
"Water...p..please."
"You want water?"
A voice mocks, its dark silhouette lazily coming forth in a femenine saunter, her high heels clattering against the stone flloor.
She extends her hand, grabbing the man by his chin and wags her index finger before his face.
"No, little Rain...Not until you agree to my terms."
The figure singsongs, a gleeful grin stretching from ear to ear.
"But we can't have you dying out on us now, can we?"
She reaches for a skin bag and weans the hanging figure.
Hungry gulping ensue, only to abruptly halt and spit out, The guy violently retches, dark veins coiling from his mouth down to his neck.
The bout of gurgles and choking coughs rent the air, coupled with mirthful chuckles in the background.
"Had your fill so soon?" The silhouette mocks, its voice laced with gleeful sarcasm.
The chains rattle as the silhouette suddenly shoves the wheezing fellow.
"So stubborn, huh?"
"You will cave in....eventually."
She whispers, extending her clawed fingers and dipping them in a murky green vial, rubbing the goey sludge between them fingers.
"Ahh, how I love your stubborn will," she exhales, poking the fellow.
"More fun for me!" an excited coo slips her lips as her hands extend and swipe.
Shik!
ARRRGHHH!
Shik!
Tormented screams of pain rents the air, dark veins coiling across the entirety of the hanging naked figure.
"You will give in," The silhouette mumbles, its voice almost a melodic singsong.
Argh!
The screams of agony and occasional gleeful chuckles ensue, lasting hours on end.
...
"Stop! Stop! I agree, please stop..."
The hanging figure whimpers, rivulets of crimson rushing down his naked body.
"Splendid!"
The silhouette claps once, wipes away her bloodied hands and urns to leave.
"Begin the branding process. My work here is done."
***
A shimmer spreads across the hall, a purple portal pulsating at its far end.
An old figure stands before the fully packed hall, his back turned to the portal.
"All hail the seeker!"
He shouts
"All hail the seeker!"
"Today marks the return of our lord Malakath!"
"All hail lord Malakath!"
"All hail the Pale king!"
"Finally, the legacy of primals will be in our hands!"
"The rising of the tethered is nigh!"
"Oh hail the lord!"
"All hail lord Malakath!"
"All hail the era of the Tethered!"
A series of pious chants echo within the halls, albeit a bit ominous and deranged.
"Bring forth the volunteers!"
At his command, a dozen of youths are dragged in, forming a single file, chains clinking in their wake.
"Blessed and fortunate you are!" The priest begins,
"To serve as the vessel of our lord Malakath!"
He shouts in crazed piety, spit raining from his mouth.
As for the voluteers?
Their figures walked with a resigned gait, shoulders slumped, their eyes vacant and hollow--- an aloof and resigned demeanor clinging onto them.
"You've shown great potential! Come forth and receive your last blessings."
The head priest shouts, unsheathing an obsidian dagger as he moves to the kneeling youths.
Argh!
He carves out a rune into their foreheads,
"May his Primal gaze be with you"
Chants slowly and gradually rise, increasing in tempo as the head priest carves runes upon the temples of the 'volunteers'
"It is done!"
He yells, his fingers laces with a scarlet smudge- obsidian dagger raised high.
The chants reach a cresendo- abrupt silence reign the halls.
The dark priest reaches for an extended goblet, weaning its contents to the kneeling figures.
He raises his hands high with every wean, showcasing the sacred relic.
The priest stops, clears his throat and declares,
"A daunting task awaits!"
He presses, gesturing at the line of forced 'volunteers' and enforcers 'protecting' them.
"These brave souls are settled on threading a perilous path,"
He looks around, waiting for the pious chants of the crowd* to quiet down.
"You will be pricked by the thorny brambles along the way, your feet will blight and swell."
He continues,
"Doubts will creep in, your faith will be tried and tested."
He raises his hands, fingers tightening into fists,
"But you will prevail! The lord's gaze is upon you."
"The fate of our lord lies in your hands, Soon, he shall join us"
"Failure is not an option! Don't cower beneath the trial, We children of the pale lord have no fear nor doubts."
"For now, brave the horrors of the trials, knowing that great rewards await when you return victorious."
Mighty roars and chants acompany his every word, the congregation twisted and danced, sending tremors through the hallowed halls, in a great display of piety.
A proud smile worms across the cult priest's lips, his eyes sweeping across the fully packed hall, finding pleasure in the display.
"All hail the Pale King!" He shouts, turning to face the entourage tasked with overseeing the return of their lord.
His face scrunches in contempt when he locks onto the pitiful state of the 'voluteers' , matyrs that will serve as the vessel of the returning king.
"Make way to the portal!"
The enforcers erupt into a flurry of activity, dressing the half naked volunteers in somewhat decent garments.
Each matyr gets a linen tunic, a pair of brown leather pants, ankle high boots and a grey robe to cover it all up.
Some semblace of decency returns to the defiled and anguished youths, who absentmindly snuggled close as the cold was finally kept at bay.
They waddle towards the portal, tight and heavy shackles restraining their movements.
On arrival, their bounded limbs are released--- shackles clink as they drop off.
They are herded towards the pulsating portal in a single file, an enforcer at each of their sides--- hands resting against the hilts of their sheathed blades.
The shouts and chants reach a cresendo, transforming into a crazed racour.
"All hail the Pale king"
"All hail lord Malakath!"
The portal shimmers and pulsates with waves as the single line of 'volunteers' and enforcers walk in tandem.
The loud chants slowly fade behind them.
[You are worthy of challenging the path of the Primal]
[...]
[An insignia has been detected]
[...]