But fear not, we haven't forgotten our previous promise; another story from the up and coming Behind The Throne enchantments supplement for HoF:
No
Good Deed Goes Unpunished
King
Harlgrif was but the shadow of the man he was two seasons ago. The
terrible poison of the foreigners had taken its toll on him and his
household, eating away at his body, reducing him to a feeble old man
as weak as a milk drinker. His finest warriors, his strongest
advisors, they all suffered as he had. How foolish had he been? How
could he have let the rat faced merchant trick him so?
The
snake had never smoked his own herb, he had realised too late into
the addiction. When he tried to stop, he could not. It made him weak
of mind as well as body. The last of his cursed stock was dwindling
and rationing had been in force for weeks. It had been disastrous
when they tried to give up the smoke. His own son had died; two
others perished when their hearts gave out, the rest were driven
almost to madness before the King ordered them to ration the herb to
all that needed it.
And
now, when his worst fears were about to become reality – the last
of the herb literally up in smoke, the foreigners’ army are at his
Hold, demanding access to the mountain pass.
Their
spokesman stood before him now, as the King slumped in his chair.
“In
addition to the unfettered access to the pass, we require the use of
your Clan Hold as a staging point to advance towards the west. We
shall build a fort in the middle of the Hold, the walls of the Hold
itself acting as an added line of defence.”
Harlgrif
did not like this man, reading from a list of demands like he was
already defeated. He had yet to lift his axe to the invaders, and
already they treat him like a defeated foe! His blood boiled, his
rage momentarily giving him energy enough to ignore the terrible
affliction plaguing his body. He rose, crashing aside a table beside
him for refreshments.
“I
am King of this Clan! This Hold! This Pass!” He bellowed, “We are
the Karthi! We do not bow to demands from foreign milk drinkers!”
To
his credit, the foreigner actually looked impressed at the King’s
outburst. “Your majesty, these are not demands, but requests in
good faith. We have coin to pay for these valuable services you can
offer us.”
“We
have no use for Imperial coins! What fool would trade his own
currency for worthless metal from another land?”
“The
coastal holds accept our coin, as do several other lands we have
encountered on our march through these lands. But if it is not coin
you desire, we have other…luxuries.”
The
King blinked. His energy spent he nearly collapsed into his chair. An
aide rushed to attend him but the King waved him off in annoyance.
“Go on…” he urged.
“I
can’t help but notice a certain affliction, prevalent in your good
peoples…”
“You
speak of the poison brought to my Hold by one of your
peoples. A snake disguised as a merchant.”
“Yes,
your grace, a most foul act by an unscrupulous individual. We have
methods of weening the addicted off such poisons, advanced herbalism
and medical techniques. If you agree to our terms I can arrange for
our apothecaries to begin treating and teaching this aid to you
immediately.”
“For
such aid, I will only grant you access to our mountain pass. I will
not side with the Empire in this…invasion.”
“Exploration,
your grace,” corrected the spokesman, “we bring the riches and
culture of a vast Empire to these lands, no more. Perhaps, though, I
can sway you to accept my whole request…”
“The
only thing that would convince me to side with you in this war,
for that is what it is to be should you pass beyond this mountain, is
if you find me the snake that did this to me. His death at my hands
would restore my honour. Nothing less shall I agree to.”
“Your
Majesty…the knave is indeed known to us, he is our prisoner even
now, a criminal of the basest of crimes. Lieutenant Horten, bring
forth your charge!”
An
armoured soldier in the Empire’s livery advanced from the gathering
of foreigners in the hall. The Lieutenant shoved a battered and
beaten man before him, who stumbled and fell. The swollen and
disfigured face of Finix looked up at the King.
Once
more the King was on his feet, ailment forgotten. He looked at Finix
with a hatred he had never known before.
“You
shall have your fort, Imperial, you shall have access to my pass and
men for your war…”
The
Imperials withdrew from the Karthi hall. Still the King stared at the
broken man before him, seething.
“What
say you, dog? How shall you die?”
A
small gasping moan was all Finix managed, but his mouth opened long
enough for all to see his broken teeth, the blistered stump where a
hot knife had cut out his tongue.
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