259 The Day is My Enemy (1/2)
Recommended song, The Prodigy - The Day Is My Enemy
Captain Joseph, Commanding Officer of the Third Marine Battalion, sat facing several of the locally remaining prominent men of Orwell's Point. The local merchants and community leaders glared uneasily at their opposite counterparts made up of ex-slaves who glared back with equal resentment and malice.
”Thank you all for making your time out of your busy schedules to meet me here,” Joseph politely greeted the people. ”Now before we start, I-”
”Wait, my lord!” One of the merchants cut in before Joseph could finish speaking. ”Why are we here with those... sla-, second rate citizens?”
”Second rate?” The ex-slaves contingent cried out indignantly. ”What makes you so superior? Money?”
The merchant smirked and made a mock helpless gesture, ”See, my lord, this uneducated sla... people... will only impair what plans you have, my lord!”
”What?” The ex-slaves where more riled up by the comments and the trap the merchant had forced them into. ”You stinkin-”
”ENOUGH!” Joseph banged the table with his palm. ”I called you here not to have you act like bickering housewife shopping in a damn market!”
Both sides immediately quiet down, while the locals hid grins behind their hands and smirked at the ex-slaves who fumed angrily, glaring fiercely back.
Joseph gave out a long sigh and addressed both parties. ”I want both sides to stop all manner of aggression right now!”
Both parties silently shook their heads inside, knowing that there is no way it is possible of what Joseph was asking of them.
”We have cultists running amok in the city and that is just the least of our problems heading towards us!” Joseph simply said. ”And I am not talking about the army the Empire is sending over to retake take this place, but this...”
He switched on the display on the wall behind him and the gathered people gasped in surprise at the images that were shown. ”What is that amazing artifact?” Some of the merchants stared at the lifelike and vibrant images shown on the screen.”
”Now if I can have your attention on the screen,” Joseph carried on ignoring the amazed cries and questions. ”This just happened several hours ago at a city not too far from here, about two five day weeks distance of travel away.”
The locals and the ex-slaves watched as a giant snake rampaged over a city, seeing it snatch tiny figures with flailing hands with its massive mouth from the ground.
”How is that possible?” The gathered locals and ex-slaves mumbled in unbelieving tones among themselves.
”We recorded this calamity from the air with... magic...” Joseph explained. ”You all have seen our flying machines, that was how we found out that, that city was attacked by such a creature.”
”Now, it is highly possible, this creature will come to target us next,” Joseph said. ”When that happens, anyone still remaining behind these walls will end up very much like that city's inhabitants.”
Both sides were shocked by the words of Joseph. ”This the reason why I gathered all of you here to make plans on how to save as many people as possible should the situation comes to that point!”
”Look, I am not telling you all to bury your grievances in a day or two, I know its hard after so long of resentment between the two sides,” Joseph added. ”But I would like you all to set aside that for the good of your own people.”
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Sin City
The gathering tribes and clans of Oerkins grew larger and larger as more and more Oerkins responded to the summons with all haste. The Great Serpent after feasting its fill had hidden among the rubble of the ruined city, awaiting the Sun to set before it moves out to hunt to sate its ever growing appetite.
The Oerkins were restless as they waited impatiently for more of their brethren to join them while the Shamans and Elders prepped spells and magic formations to defeat the Great Serpent.
The other merchants and slaves loitering around the outskirts had pulled back further and set up camp, most of the masterless slaves being forcefully assimilated into the folds of the merchants.
Others seeking freedom braved the endless plains and set off with barely any supplies and disappeared away from the sight of the city.
”We wait no longer!” The Elder Shaman declared to the rest of the Oerkin Elders. ”It will be dark soon!”
”But our brethren have not all joined us!” One of the Elders replied. ”Not enough warriors!”
”The Thing is strongest without the light!” The Shaman snapped. ”We must act... NOW!”
The rest of the Oerkin Council looked at each and before nodded. ”So be it! It will be a glorious day to die!”
The Elders and Chiefians left to prepare their warriors for war while the Shamans gathered together. ”Eldest... our powers will be useless against that Thing!”
”We can't summon any warriors to our aid either,” The Shamans said. ”That Thing has eaten their souls! We can't call them back to fight for us!”
The Eldest Shaman shook wrinkled head and said. ”We must call upon the aid of our forefathers!”
The rest of the Shamans looked at each other in surprise, ”But Eldest! We can't defile their eternal rest!”
”Now is not the time for such customs!” The Eldest berated the rest. ”Only with their strength, may we win!”