"Utgard"
"Ah, that one is a bag of crazy stuffed up a demon's ass." Brokkr says with disgust and hatred.
I raise a brow for his colourful language and remain silent so he may continue.
"10 demi-humans disappeared this month alone. Innocent men and women, who were doing their best to survive under the cruel torture of man. If I were a betting dwarf, then I know who I would bet for to be responsible."
"If demonic had a definition, it would be Utgard. His cruelty and depravity would make even Demons shudder. He tortures demi-humans in both mind and body. THAT BASTARD!!"
He grabs a hammer and flings it to the depths of his smithy.
"... I'm sorry. A little servant girl came to me one day and asked if I had seen her mother or father. She explained that they worked for Utgard and asked if I could help her find them. The clever little thing probably noticed how I wasn't harassed by the guards, and held out hope that I would help. And of course I did."
He sits on a stool and holds his head in his hands.
"I stormed into Utgard's mansion, with the little girl in hand, and demanded that I see her parents."
He looks up at me with a haunted look.
"Utgard laughed and led us to the courtyard where her parents were. They were strapped to pillars and had rats eating through their decomposing forms. They were missing their eyes, fingers, ears, and their jaws. They've been gone for days."
He clenches his fist and slams it into the anvil.
*BAM*
"He said that they were pests anyway and should be dealt with as such. I couldn't do anything. The "power" I wield only allows me to stay alive in this god forsaken place. The little girl...she died not a few hours later."
I stare at him.
"How?"
Tears flow from his eyes as he laughs
"Hahaha she jumped in front of a horse drawn carriage. There was nothing left to save."
He sits in silence for a while then looks to me.
"This place can go to hell for all I care, but Utgard...I want him to live in excruciating agony. I want him to feel all the pain that he has caused to others. Can you promise me that he will Thorgar?"
"I can promise to put him down in a most brutal fashion."
"Hmph. Good enough."
Midnight
A full moon glares at the world. No doubt disgusted by the atrocities committed. I do not blame it.
I heft my axe onto my shoulder and walk towards Utgard's mansion. My steps are silent as I approach. Centuries of combat having honed my bodily control down to each individual muscle.
There are no guards stationed at the gates or the front door. I realise now that he is an overconfident scum of the earth. Good.
Gently, I open the doors and see a truly diabolical scene. I see now why there were seemingly no guards. They were in here with every organ now outside of their bodies.
Guards, maids, butlers, slaves. They littered the floor with most of their bodies torn off by what looks to be an angry beast. The teeth marks do not match a vampires, and vampires aren't usually so...messy.
I make my way through the mansion and check for any living person. There were none.
Then I hear voices in the courtyard. One is gravelly and monstrous. The other is gentle and soothing.
"Father, you must *munch* help me kill that large man!! He *snap* humiliated me in front of the plebians just because I was beating on some useless *riiiiip* creature!!"
I spot a large creature reminiscent of a bear, but...wrong. So that's what it was.
"Now, now my boy. Focus on your meal first. Don't you know that it is bad manners to speak with a full mouth? We can always seek out that lowlife later tonight."
The "father" smiles at his child with undisguised parental affection.
"Haisss. Yes Father. I just--*sniff**sniff**sniiiiiiff* Heh...heheh...HAHAHA! THE FOOL ACTUALLY CAME HERE!"
"Yes my child. That is why you should finish your meal. It is rude to keep our guest waiting."
The older man's eyes then snap to my direction and his grin stretches and rips his skin until the corners of his lips go past and above the corner of his eyes.
"I'M GOING TO TEAR YOUR FLESH AND RIP YOU ASUNDER FOR HUMILIATING ME HUMAN!!"
The creature, a Werebear, lunges at me with supernatural force. It bounds from the ground and hurtles through the air towards me.
I keep my eyes on the older man.
His face suddenly blanches and he turns to his son.
"NO, WAIT MY CHILD!!"
The Werebear is confused but it is too late. With a forceful stomp of my foot, I explode towards the loathsome beast in the air.
I rear my fist back and deliver a titanic blow.
*CRACKOOOM* *SQUELCH*
The beast's head caves as its contents spill and splatter.
*THUD*
The father looks towards his son and his form twists and transforms.
"I WILL DEFILE YOUR CORPSE!!"
He completes his transition and his body becomes an amalgamation of what seem to be animals. I recognise him as a cursed one. Former humans who use curses to transmorgiphy their bodies into imitations of animals to gain unholy strength.
With a stretch, his arms elongate and turn into monstrous claws. He swings towards me with a vicious blow, craving my flesh.
I grab his wrist and pull him close. With a vice grip I lift him off the ground.
.
.
.
"Are you Utgard?"
My eyes intensify in power and I grip his throat tighter.
"AAAHHK. No... I'm...not."
He barely whispers out as he tries to move my hands. Alas, I overpower him.
"Then you are of no use creature. Goodbye."
I remove a silver long knife from my bag and swing my blade towards his head.
"WAIT PLEASE! WAAAAIIITTT!"
I stop my knife just a centimeter from his eye. I decide to listen to it.
"Speak"
"I know where Utgard is. He's torturing demi-humans as we speak. I'll tell you where he is if you swear to let me go."
Hearing his words almost made me snap his neck. Lucky for him, I control myself well.
"Hmph. Lead the way."
We enter a secret door and descend a long flight of stairs. The walk is silent and we arrive at the bottom quickly. There, an iron door stands.
"He is in there, warrior."
The cursed one moves to the side and leaves me to ponder my strategies.
I decide that the stealthy approach is not required and kick the door off its hinges.
*Bang*
My eyes focus and what I see is horrifying.
10 reverse crosses are erected and the demi-humans on them are slowly being drained of their blood.
The liquid drips down into grooves on the floor that direct it towards a large hole, where a woman can be seen floating in a pool of blood.
Eldritch runes float throughout the entire room, pulsing with an eerie crimson glow. By the hole's edge, sits a man of a rather large build. He turns to me and frowns.
"I didn't think I'd have any visitors tonight. Please, it isn't a good time right now. Elric? What are you doing back there?! Don't touch the runes!!!"
His eyes turn a blood red and he lunges behind me.
I turn to the now named Elric. The cursed one has been silent the entire trip and only now do I see what he was doing. He obliterates a rune and hurriedly casts a barrier that isolates the room.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!"
Utgard screams and strikes the barrier.
*Boomf*
The barrier, unfortunately, dispels the force of his blow.
"Why Elric? You know how much this means to me!!!"
"It isn't me you should blame Utgard. That man behind you wanted to kill you. Hehehe."
I frown as I feel that something is amiss. I do not have time to ponder, however, as Utgard whirls around and lashes out with a kick. I raise my forearm and block his blow
*BAM*
His leg stays on my arm and he pushes. No doubt hoping I would be unbalanced and sent flying
"WHY?!! What have I done to draw your ire?!!"
I grab his leg and swing him above my head. I then slam him into the ground and crater it.
"Gahhhhh!!"
He writhes in agony and I twist his leg to further his pain.
"Why? Look around you! These people are dead because of you. Your ritual is over vile creature!!"
He snarls and pushes of the ground while spinning. His legs bones snap and twist, and he uses his momentum to deliver a heavy blow to my face.
I am caught by surprise and let go of his leg. He rolls backwards and shoots bolts of dark magic towards me, as his leg rapidly realigns and heals itself.
I dodge to the side and hurl my axe with blinding speeds at Utgard. He reacts quickly and jumps to the ceiling. He crawls along the ceiling and leaps towards me claws and fangs ready.
I grip outwards as my Greataxe flies back into my hand and rips both his legs from his body.
*RIIIIP*
"AAAAARRRGGGHHH!!"
The force of my Greataxe on his legs force him into a spin, which I brutally stop with a push kick.
*BAM*
He sails across the room but I do not let up. I propel myself with tremendous force and slam bodily into him in the air.
He slams into the ground and before he can recover, I chop down with my axe and bury it into his chest.
"GURRK. Bluuurgh."
Blood spills forth from his mouth and he is too weak to fight any longer. He looks to me and begs.
"Please sir I don't know what I have done to deserve this fate, but leave my Talia out of it. She has done no wrong!"
I am unsure now if this is the same Utgard in the stories I have heard. Maybe it is an act. I must be sure. I lift him by his head and stare into his eyes.
"I heard you liked torturing demi-humans in both mind and body. That you relished in their suffering. What I see here, in this room, only solidifies this claim!"
His eyes widen and he looks...mortified?
"No. NO!! I have done no such thing! The people you see here today are all criminals of the highest order. I gave clear instructions that only those that would be put to death would arrive in this room."
He grits his teeth and props himself up by his elbows.
"My dear Talia...was murdered in the forest. They say it was a bear, but there are no bears in the forests of Kedan."
His eyes lose their vampiric glow, and his body slackens.
"Elric told me that I needed the blood of the living to conduct a ritual that would regenerate her body and bring her back to life."
I give him a look of pity.
"You poor fool. Made a pawn in the machinations of a coward."
I put him down and walk towards the blood pool. I stand by the edge and wave my hand over it. My runic tattoos faintly pulsing. I then turn to Utgard.
"How much do you know of this ritual?"
He looks to me. An expression of growing doubt on his face.
"I know that the life force from the blood pool will be absorbed into her body, thus granting her new life."
"...the blood of those that died unwillingly in agony, and hatred?"
.
.
.
"Did it not occur to you that her soul is gone?"
I ready my axe as Elric giggles in amusement.
"Hohoho, you're smart for one that looks so much like a brute. Poor Utgard. While you were holed up in here for years, I had fun using your name to commit delectably horrendous crimes. HAHAHAHA!"
He draws more runes in the air that make the others vibrate and spin.
"The Elder is displeased with your distraction. You were made soft by a demi-human. You allowed yourself to be shackled by vermin??!! HAHAHAHAHA, truly an amusing fetish!"
Utgard bares his fangs as he looks to Elric, trembling in rage.
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL HER VERMIN!! I TRUSTED YOU!!"
"Well so did the people who you were supposed to protect, but I guess we can't all be perfect ahahaha."
"Hmmmm. This conversation really brings back memories. She said the same thing as you. Your wife tasted oh so sweet when I ripped her body apart with my teeth. HAHAHAHAHOHOHOHO."
Utgard's face freezes. His anguished howls booming through the room.
"AAAAHHHHH NOOOOOO!! YOU BASTARD, IT WAS YOU!! I WILL PICK EACH INDIVIDUAL STRAND OF MUSCLE FROM YOUR BONES. YOUR EYES WILL BE MADE TO WATCH AS I FEAST ON YOUR STILL BEATING HEART!!"
Utgard's body rapidly withers as he looks to be channeling his life force into a spear of dark energy.
With a roar he tosses the spear with supernatural force.
*plop*
Yet the spear is simply absorbed into the barrier.
Elric's hands haven't stopped moving. The runes look to be gathering on top of the blood pool.
"HOHO, and what of you brute? Wou--"
I do not allow him to finish as I explode towards the barrier. With a brutal chop, my axe makes contact with the barrier.
*BOOOOM**CRAAaAaaAAAAACK*
The barrier cracks and buckles. 1 more hit should do. I look to Elric and he panics.
"Hold on, wait let me--"
"Silence."
*BOOOOM**SHATTER*
The barrier crumbles and I bury my axe into his left shoulder.
"AAAARRRRGGGHH!! WAAAAIITTT!!"
"No"
I grab his right shoulder and pull.
*RIIIIP* *Thud*
"AAAHHH HAHAHAHA IT'S TOO LATE. SHE HAS AWOKEN."
I stomp on his skull viciously. Splattering its contents on the floor.
I turn to the blood pool and see an elven woman climbing out of the pool with unnatural movements. Her body twists and crack as if it is unfamiliar.
Utgard crawls towards her and I stop from going further.
"That is not your wife. Whatever it is, it needs to be cut down. You might want to avert your eyes."
"WHAT?? STOP IT WARRIOR, THAT'S CLEARLY MY WIFE! SHE LOOKS AND SMILES THE SAME!! DON'T HURT HER!"
I lift him to his feet as he is sufficiently healed to at least stand.
"Look deep Vampire, there isn't a single thought in her eyes. Only a deep hunger and insanity."
He struggles in my grip.
"I refuse to believe that. Please. Just let me take care of her."
"I don't think she'll let you."
She disappears in an explosion of blood and I feel a presence behind me. She swings her claws and the back of my neck.
I lean forward and lash out backwards with my foot, sending her into a wall. I then look to Utgard.
"What would you give to have her back?"
He is confused.
"Wha-"
"ANSWER ME!! What would you give to have her back?"
"EVERYTHING!!" He bellows with all his strength.
Good.
Talia recovers and lunges at me again. With a sidestep and kick, I send her back into the pool. I stand by the edge of the pool and prepare myself.
"Do not resist Utgard. This will hurt."
Utgard gives me a look of pure determination and replies.
"I'm ready!"
With that. I shall conjure the runes of purification, resurgence, and fortification.
First, the rune of purification. I push the rune into the bodies of both Ulric and Talia, purging the negative effects of vampirism. I leave them both with the positives such as supernatural strength, speed, and regeneration.
Secondly, the rune of resurgence. The rune allows me to revitalise and gradually bring Talia's weak soul out. I slowly allow the rune to occupy her body, but she thrashes and resists.
Utgard comes to her side and whispers soft words into her ears and she visibly relaxes. It is working. Her soul has been drawn out.
Finally, the rune of fortification. This rune allows me to fortify an item or even an energy source, such as a soul. Due to the trauma her soul has experienced, I ensure it won't break as I put it back into her body.
I release a breath and look to the couple.
Talia stirs and sees Utgard.
"Is this a dream? Have you come to the afterlife with me my sweet"
"No my dear Lia, you have come back to me in life."
Utgard carries her out of the pool and sets her down gently. He turns to me and kneels.
"My life is now yours. Do with it as you wish. For bringing back my Lia, I pledge my life to you as I have said before."
"No."
"No?"
"I needed to see if you truly loved her. And I sensed it. A deep love in your soul. She is here now because you never gave up. Take pride in that."
He nods and looks to the demi-humans.
"The people on the crosses... I'll take them out of here and give them a burial. It's the least I can do.
"Hm. Good."
4 hours later
As I shovel the last clump of dirt onto the grave, I remember what Elric said.
I turn to Utgard next to me.
"Who is this elder?"
"The elder...is a powerful vampire and has the ear of the king. I don't know what you intend to do in this kingdom but know that I am thoroughly against that bastard."
"I am to have dinner with the King 2 days later. How are you willing to assist?"
"Though my reputation has dropped to an all time low because of the betrayer, I believe I still have loyal soldiers that are willing to surround the castle and prevent anyone from entering."
"Hm. Good."
I walk away and head back to Brokkr's forge.
I tell him of the Elder and to take extra precautions.
I head to the tavern and book a room.
With my mind still in turmoil from the dream earlier, I choose to meditate instead.
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END