The price of piety.
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Warning: This story is a graphic detailing of torture, while the words may not be 'bad' the story in a whole is not meant for younger folks. So please, if you are underage, or dont like reading nasty graphic stuffs… dont read this.
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The grind of the stone door being opened woke him from his exhaustion enduced sleep. He slowly lifted his head and looked towards the only door in the dark, and foul smelling room. It was her. The one person he always hated to see enter. She had her blades strapped to her sides this time though, so he had some hope of avoiding any pain.
"Your ssstink sssickensss me." she uttered.
He looked down at himself, his dried up blood had become caked on the floor, and most of his body. Parts of his scaly hide were actually begining to rot due to the poisons and venoms introduced into his system. He slowly began to speak, in his native draconic tongue.
"Forgive me…" was all he could muster the strength to say. She approached him with a look of disgust on her scaly face. She hated him with a passion. He was harder to break than any other she had ever encountered. His faith was steadfast, and no matter what she did, he would not answer her questions.
"My sssuperiorsss are angry Sssteelfin. Are you trying to make them angry?" He kept his eyes on the ground, trying to block out the pain, He did not mean to ignore her. A powerful blow to his head broke him from his distractions.
"Pay attention!" she screamed. Her voice cut his mind like a razor. "Are you trying to make -me- angry?, I do not think you are -that- stupid!"
He slowly raised his head to her, the blow having cut a new wound just above his right eye. "No..." he sighed, the blood slowly making its way into his eye, blinding it.
"I could kill you Sssteelfin. I really could." she hissed in his face.
"I know mistress." he hated saying that word, but it kept her ego from being bruised, and saved him from unneeded pain. "Then jussst ansswer my quessstionsss, and I promissse you a quick death."
He dropped his head sadly, he had been chained with his arms up over his head for over ten days now. The poisons quickly took his strength on the first day, so his full weight rested on his now butchered and gangrenous wrists. It had been a few days since he lost feeling in both his arms, now his neck and back were starting to become numb.
"Now... why-" His prayers to Tyr broke her sentence. This one act enfuriated her like nothing else. How dare this... this piece of filth ignore her. She quickly grabbed one of her kukri and plunged it hilt deep into his ribcage, and into his right lung.
A scream of pain echoed through the temple. "Don't you dare pray to him while I am talking to you!" she twisted the blade as she snarled at him. The pain racked his body, he could feel his lung fill with his own blood. "Do you think I enjoy doing thisss to you Sssteelfin?"
"DO YOU!?" She snapped.
He could not talk, quickly the desperate feeling of drowning overpowered the pain, he began to gasp for air. The snake sneered at him and pulled the blade out, making it worse.
"C-c-ant..." he gasped wildly as his lung collapsed. He tried tugging at the chains but his arms sat, unwilling to help. Slowly everything went dark...
-
Snow, Ice, Hobgoblins.
There was no welcoming committee for him as he made his way north towards Peltarch. The trip back from his home was mostly uneventful, Except for the encounters with the non-scalykind he had along the way, but he stopped counting those long ago.
He slowly trudged along the road letting his thoughts drift back to when he was in the warm fields of his home. It was good to see his friends and family after so long. But he knew he could not stay long. That dark cave where the evil city stood had too many secrets about his kind from Narfell. He had to find out what the books meant…
The bard girl...
The tower...
The well...
-
The moon shone over the hill where the Deadeye Watch stood. Steelfin watched towards the south, crossbow in hand.
In the last month many things had come to pass, he arrested a slew of wanted folk, some came peacefully, others had to be dragged to the jail. It was his duty. Tyr smiled upon him, at least that is what he believed. The capture of the umberlant priestess caused a huge stir in the war camp. Many people got angry, even some he considered friends. But what he could not figure out is why these people would defend an evil priest, and condemn him.
It was his duty. His orders where simple, Next time you see her, capture her. So he did.
A horn blew from the camp signaling the shift change, and finally time for some rest. Steelfin headed down into the camp, nodding to the passing Defenders.
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The sun shone on him, as it sat high in the sky. The warm spring breeze moved the flowers and grasses along the old fort as if they were dancing. Steelfin relaxed against the tree, watching the horizon lazily. Suddenly a pair of hands covered his eyes and a sweet soft voice spoke out in draconic.
"Guess who!"
The scent of lemons filled the air as he tilted his head in thought.
"Is it you Lord Tyr?" Steelfin replied in a jest.
"Dont be silly Steelfin!" she let her hands from his eyes and layed beside him on the grass, placing her head in his lap, looking up at him. "What are you doing here all alone?".
"Well..." he replied, looking down into her eyes. "I was waiting for someone I love very much."
"Oh? And who could that be?" she reached up putting a hand on the side of his face.
"I don't know... Ill tell you when they get here."
She narrowed her eyes and poked him playfully. "Funny one aren't you?" She sat up and looked him in the eyes.
"I love you..."
Thud
Steelfin awoke slowly after something had kicked him in the side. The sun was gone, as were the flowers and warm breeze. Everything was covered in snow, and a bitterly cold wind blew from the north.
"We're under attack! Grab your gear!" It was one of the defender sergeants.
Steelfin struggled to his feet and grabbed his crossbow. It seemed like his dreams would have to wait just a little longer. He rans towards the lines, seeing the enemy approach.
"I love you too Sunlight..." he muttered to himself as he loaded the weapon.
-
The snow fell quietly outside as he lay in his cot, his armor was carefully placed beside him in a neat pile. He knew the dreams were going to come again, and he had given up hoping they would leave. At first the dreams haunted him, made him doubt himself. Maybe if he had done something different she would still be by her side.
"I miss you…" he said to himself in draconic.
"A day does not go by that I do not yearn for your touch..." he sighed softly, the smell of roses filling the small dank room.
It was a clear night, and he had just slipped out the door. He was making his way to the tree they would always meet at. This time he brought a gift for her. He had gotten it earlier in town, spending what little coin had had to get it. The merchant was wary of him at first, but Jon put the mans concerns to rest, and even made the purchase for Steelfin.
He could see her waiting by the tree, just setting his eyes on her was a pure blessing. Surely none could exist that was as beautiful as she.
"What do you have there...?" She asked, noticing something in his hand.
"It is a gift for you love... I hope you like it.." He could smell her become nervous and happy. "But you have to close your eyes first!" he sat on the grass in front of her. With that she quickly put her hand to her face.
He took the rose and carefully let the petals caress her nose and traced it down her neck.
"Can you tell what it is?" he asked softly.
"Well," she said. "You are either very sad... or you brought me a rose..." she uncovered her eyes and smiled at him. "I hope you like it..."
She placed her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, whispering...
"Not as much as I love you..."
He snapped out of the daydream, finding himself alone in that inn room. The void in his heart ached when he would think of her. He turned on his side and pulled a small wooden rod from his pack that was covered in scratches. His eyes welling with tears. He ran his fingers along the markings slowly.
"I miss you so much...."
He slowly fell asleep holding the note she had given him so long ago. But no matter what he did, he could not get that ache in his chest to disappear.
-
Night had fallen over the compound, and all in the barracks had fallen asleep after a tough training day. All but Steel and Jon.
"You still up Steel…?" Jon slept on the bunk right above Steelfin.
"Yesss..." His voice had a metallic rasp to it when he spoke common, something that made him sound like a snake.
"So are you going, or just gonna stare at my butt all day?" Jon grinned to himself as he stared up at the wooden roof of the barracks. "N-not fun-funny." Steel replied in his poor and broken common. He had met Jon only a few months back, at first Jon's curiosity of the saurial was annoying, but the two because fast friends. He understood a little draconic, enough to get by when it came to Steelfin needing something that he could not ask for in common.
Steelfin turned his head and peered around the barracks, everyone was sleeping soundly, he slowly sat up, and got out of the bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. Steelfin was a rather imposing figure, he stood at about 6 feet tall, and was rather well built. His features were those similar to a dinosaur, with smooth glossy green and copper scales. Not dull rough or slimy ones like the Lizards. His eyes were a soft amber color and could easily see in the dark, and has a pronounced fin on his head. There were no uniforms that would fit him so he was given a rather simple loincloth.
"Shhh... You are so noisy. While you are off trying to get the girl, some of us are trying to -sleep-." Jon was peering over the side of the bed now at Steelfin, a huge grin on his face. "Try not to get caught eh? You know what would happen if they caught you up after hours..."
He nodded to Jon, Steelfin had convinced himself Tyr himself had brought her to him, and it might be bending the rules to go see her, but she was the only one who could relate to him in this place. He slowly crept towards the door, and opened it, slipping out.
It was a beautiful night, a cool breeze blew accross the grounds, and all the stars in the sky were visible. It was almost as if Selune herself had taken an interest in the two and was making sure he could find his way to her. He crept along the grounds, heading towards a large tree that dominated the landscape.
"Sunlight.... Are you here?" he called out softly, unsure if he had beaten her to their meeting spot. When no reply came he sighed in disappointment, the soft aroma of roses filling his vicinity.
"Do not be sad Steel..." a soft voice called from the other side of the tree.
"I will always be here waiting for you." Her voice filled him with both happiness and that feeling of butterflies one who has fallen madly is in love has come to know.
"Ive missed you..." he said to her, his scent changing from roses to honeysuckle and lemons. She reached out place her hand on the side of his face sending a shiver down his spine. "And I have missed you." They embraced each other beside the tree that night, keeping each other company, and falling even deeper in love.
Sir Rufias and Jon had begun bandaging her wounds, but no matter how many he applied and how great his skill, the wound the blade inflicted would not stop bleeding. Steelfin held her hand as she slowly bled away.
"Steel.... D-do you remember that night... by the tree..." she whispered softly, as if trying to hide it from the other two.
"Try not to talk Sunlight... save your strength..."
"I.... I told you I w-would always be waiting for you...." she squeezed his hand softly.
"P-please... dont talk Sunlight..." Steel had begun to cry, but tried to maintain his composure. Jon and Rufais looked at each other a moment, as they worked, They could not understand what was said, but they knew there was little they could do for her, they backed off and Steel cradled her in his arms.
"I.... will wait for you Steel... I promise..."
"Y-you wont have to... I wont let you go!" He cried out. "We will go back home... an-and we..." he slowly came to the realization that she no longer lived.
Her death came in the service of their god, in an ancient crypt that had long been forgotten. On return to the Temple they set her body to rest along side many others who died in Tyr's service. But after that day, Steelfin was not like he used to be. He became a recluse in himself.
-
(The following are a few stories of Steelfin's past, something I hoped for people to find out IG, buuut no one really asked soooo…)
Memories...
The altar...
Skulls...
Death...
She had to be his true love, at times she was all he could think about, during training he would catch glimpses of her, the only other saurial in the merciful sword. Odd that she would follow the path he did. She was younger, but only by a few years. In their youth they would play together, but that was so long ago. In a place where humans were the majority Steelfin and Sunlight kept each other company. She could speak common much better than Steelfin, so she would at times help him communicate with the others. They were not shunned by the other knights for what they were, but sometimes it felt they were more of a curiosity than just other squires.
They would sneak out at night and talk for hours, two old friends slowly became two lovers. Although they both held training in the utmost importance, they could not wait until night fell and they could find each other. Jon, one of Steelfin and Sunlight's closest friends had figured it out. At times he would tease Steelfin, but would always help the two find alone time.
It was one of their first missions, a weak demon had managed to take a crypt, Four were sent to dispatch it. Sir Rufias, and three squires, Steelfin, Sunlight and Jon.
The town near the crypt was glad to receive help from the four and quickly gave them directions to the crypt along with a few supplies. Getting to the crypt was easy. But once they entered things went sour...
"Come on Steelfin!, Were almost there!"
Steelfin looked behind him to see his best friend charge into the room, Without hesitation he followed. Before them they found a large altar, covered in blood and skulls. A large demon stood between them and it...
Sir Rufias was already in the room, his shining blade drawn. The demon spoke to him in a tongue the squires did not know. Rufias responded with a battle cry and charged the monstrosity. Jon, Steel and Sunlight charged in behind him.
It uttered a few words and unleashed a fireball that blew the knight into the wall. Then the demon turned to the charging squires, It tried to cast the spell again, but Jon's hammer struck him in the chest breaking his concentration. In one swift move the demon drew a wicked blade, Steel and Sunlight both swung at the demon, but it effortlessly ducked and weaved the inexperienced squires attacks.
In a fluid move the demon slashed his blade at Sunlight striking her in the midsection, Steel watched in disbelief as his love crumpled to the ground.
He sat watching the altar in the temple dedicated to Tyr in the city of Peltarch. It had been 20 or 30 years, but he re-lived that night in his dreams everyday without fail. It started the same way...
Her blood covered his hands, the smell of it strong in his nostrils, its metallic scent deadening his senses. Her beautiful eyes stared at him as he cradled her. His eyes welling up with tears.
"You will be okay!" he said to her in draconic.
"We will find a priest and you will be alright...."
The battle had ended moments before, as Sir Rufias struck the demon with his holy sword, ending its life once and for all. Jon stood silently over his two friends.
-
Steelfin's eyes fixed on the rat. It had grown fat now, he was easy prey for anything brave enough to approach him. The rat fed on Steelfin once a day. Atleast that is what he thought, it made it easy to keep track of time if he saw it that way. The rat would scamper right up to him, and feast on his calves and thighs. Steelfin was too weak to make any attempt to frighten it away.
He had already resigned himself to defeat, and would just watch as the rat ate its fill, then scampered away. Even though the rat caused him pain, it was the only being that was not tainted by evil in the temple. All the rat knew was that it was hungry, and this saurial was an easy meal.
This day was like any other. The rat sqeaked a hello to its meal, and approached him quickly, it did not waste any time in feeding, it just started to gnaw bits off his legs. Steelfin sat there quietly, watching the rat.
"Do I taste good?" He asked the rat. "I must… I guess." A few moments passed before the rat had its fill and scampered away. He watched it make its way into a dark corner of the room, before he lost track of it.
This had been the longest he had gone without being pushed to the brink of death. His few injuries had now gotten infected and smelled foul. His wrists were bleeding freely, the metallic smell deadening his scent capabilties. His blood was everywhere, the floor, the chains, and even the roof. Shis must have spent all her free time thinking of new ways to torture him.
The door scraped itself open and one of the temple guardians stepped through, a metal plate with some sort of gruel in his hand.
"I do not understand why you betrayed us." He said in a high pitched draconic. Steelfin listened to the words as if they were a melody played by the finest minstrel, The saurial spoke just as fluently as his kin from the dalelands did.
"Here. I was ordered to feed you this. Now we can do this two ways, you fight and I break your jaw, or you just eat. I know you are hungry."
Steelfin opened his mouth, and looked up at the guardian, He was not sure, but he felt like the evil saurial felt pity for his captive brother. With a sigh the guardian placed a small handful of the food in Steel's mouth.
The guardian smirked, "Pathetic..." he shook his head. "Look at you, begging like a child for this.... crap." Steelfin didnt care anymore, it was something to fill his stomach. He swallowed the gruel and opened his mouth again, as if asking for seconds. The guardian yet again took a small handful and went to place it in Steelfin's mouth.
"He hasss had enough."
It was her.
The guardian nodded and started to make his way out of the room, taking the plate with him. "Poor, poor little one." she cackled dryly. "Isss he hungry?" Steelfin nodded softly to her as he closed his mouth.
"Then clossse your eyesss... and open your mouth." She said, a wry grin forming on her face. He knew better. She had some foul trick up her sleeve. He turned his eyes away from her and looked to the corner where he had lost the rat.
"I wasss not asssking you to Sssteelfin. I wasss ordering you to." she growled those words at him in her sinister tone of voice. It was time for more pain.
He did as he was told, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth. A few moments of silence followed by the footsteps of her approaching, he wanted to open his eyes, but he knew better. She smeared something inside of his mouth, the foul taste instantly caused him to vomit the little food he had in his stomach.
"Aw... What isss wrong? I thought you paladin typesss liked to eat ssshite."
He dry heaved a few more time before he could reply. "Y-yes mistress... we do." She laughed loudly, proud of herself, while the temple guardian just shook his head and closed the door behind him as he left.
"Now... Sssteelfin." she walked back towards the altar, picking up a small thin bladed dagger. "Thossse magesss... The onesss who played with our collarsss... Who are they?"
He closed his eyes, and started to pray. "Tyr... grant me the strength to endure the acts of this evil that stands before me..." Shis's eyes narrowed and she made a beeline to the saurial, dagger in tow.
"Let thier ways not break my will, or have me fall from your gra-" She plunged the dagger into his left eye. His body failed him that instant, the pain racked his very soul, he could not even muster a scream.
"I warned you! Never -ever- pray to him infront of me!" she pulled the blade from his head, before she suddenly realized what she had. A vile grin formed on her face. Steelfin went into shock, everything dulled into a shade of grey.
"Well... One more eye and one hand, and you would be made into the likenesss of your god." she cackled. "Would you like that Sssteelfin? Woul-.."
Her voice drifted away into murmers, he felt as if the world was falling away from him. Shis kept speaking, but he could not hear her anymore. The only thing he felt was pain, a pain that could not be described by words.
'Death.' He thought to himself. 'Have I not served you well enough to grant me that one wish Tyr? Please... I beg of you... Pull me from this plane and take me to your side... please....'
As he slipped towards unconsciousness, he noticed the shaman approach from the corner of his good eye. She chanted for a few moments, and suddenly everything came back in a rush, including his vision.
"Now, now. No passing out on me Sssteelfin." Shis said through a wry grin.
-
"Come on Steelfin!, Were almost there!"
Steelfin looked behind him to see his best friend charge into the room, Without hesitation he followed. Before them they found a large altar, covered in blood and skulls. A large demon stood between them and it…
Whack
A violent blow woke him from his dream. "Wake up traitor." a voice muttered. He slowly opened his eyes, before him stood the shaman and Shis or as he knew her, Mistress.
"You did not think we were going to let you off that easssy did you?" Shis said.
He looked over his own body, all the wounds and rotting flesh were gone, he was once again healed. He had lost count of how many times she had pushed him to the brink of death, only to bring him back. He did not even try pulling at the chains. He knew they had already poisoned him again, so all his strength was gone. Before he could reply to her she spoke again.
"You did not anssswer my lassst quessstion from before Sssteelfin." she said as she idly twirled her kukri.
"What question Mistress?" he asked, careful to not sound insulting. "When I asssked you if you thought I enjoyed causssing you pain Sssteelfin." She spoke to him with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"You do mistress." he uttered quietly. A smal smile formed on her face. and she knelt down infront of him, inches from his face. "And doesss my little one like the pain I caussse him? Hm?"
"No mistress, he does not." he locked his eyes with hers, but quickly looked away, she showed no mercy on any acts of superiority from him. "Oh...? Little one, do you like ssseeing missstresss angry?" her smile had turned into a sneer, her hand slipping down to her blade.
"Of course not mistress...." his eyes followed her hand, he feared what she might do next. "Well obviousssly you do. You have not anssswered any of my quessstionsss." He frowned, he knew what was coming up. "The druidsss Sssteelfin, How many are there?"
His mind was dull, his heart ached. "I-..." he watched as she slowly began to unsheath her blade. "Sssteelfin... Do not make missstresss angry." she whispered to him.
"A dozen..." the words spilled out of him like ale from a dropped mug. Shis smiled at him. Oddly, this made Steelfin happy for a moment. "I think." he quickly added, almost content to see mistress smile.
Shis motioned for the shaman to bring her a wet rag. "Wasss that ssso hard little one?" He shook his head slowly. "If you do asss I sssay, you will be happy." He nodded to her once.
A few moments passed before the shaman placed the wet rag in Shis' hand, they muttered a few words to each other in a tongue Steelfin did not understand. Shis turned back to him and placed the rag on his face, wiping off some of the old blood from previous question sessions.
"You know... You would make an excellent temple guardian." she said softly to him, a near maternal tone to her voice. He said nothing, but let her wipe on his head, the cool wet rag felt good. She tossed the rag aside a few moments later. "Who leadsss them Sssteelfin?"
"Leads who mistress?" he asked, her tone changed suddenly, and she backhanded him across his snout.
"The druidsss Sssteelfin! Who leadsss them!" Her sudden outburst broke him from his surreal state, She only wanted him for his information. She didnt care what happened to him aslong as they got what they needed.
