Another short fiction I sent my players for our upcoming game.
Haltor stirred under the heavy fur blankets. The night which had begun warm and calm under a clear sky had since took a turn for the worse. The winds had been getting stronger making it impossible to sleep.
He threw the blankets off him roughly, sending them spilling onto the ground. The fire had died out earlier in the night and he yawned before grabbing his breeches and putting them on. Although hoping for more sleep after his long journey, Haltor would still do the job he'd come to do.
A loud crash in the distance froze him. It was as if a tree collapsed. Being a protector of the valley he knew that was impossible. They were ancient trees with strong deep roots. The wind would not knock one down.
Strapping on his leather gambeson and drawing his arming sword he rushed into the trees. He knew the woods and ran swiftly, his muscled legs moving him through the light brush with the grace of a panther.
The moon cast light enough for Haltor to see the tree from a safe distance. He stopped short, breathing steady and scanning the treeline. After seeing no movement he laughed to himself. The old tree must have been on it's last legs and fallen with the harsh winds. He walked over to the tree, setting his hand on the thick trunk. It was warm. He cursed himself for being careless, something did this.
His muscles froze as he heard heavy breathing behind him. It was a raspy sound as if struggling with the fresh evening air.
"Good evening Haltor," the voice was piercing, his very mind retching at the sound. He fell to his knees, hands on his head. His arming sword lay useless and forgotten by his side. "Yes, fall to your knees as all should before me."
"What...are...you?" Haltor's voice ended in a scream of pain as he turned to face the sound of the voice. It was indescribable. Tentacles reached to him from the trees, each as large as a human leg. He allowed his eyes to raise higher and screamed again when he saw a giant red eye staring at him from beneath a mound of rotten flesh and surrounded by thousands of sharp spikes. A tentacle reached out and touched him. There would be no escape, this would be the end of his life. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Yes, don't resist," the creature rasped. Although frozen with fear Haltor was awed at the unnatural sound of the voice. The tentacle wrapped itself around the back of his head and entered into his mouth, pushing itself into his stomach. "I need a new body, you will serve me as a vessel. Those who fled my wrath will learn to worship a true god."
The spikes near the creatures eye seemed to shape into something resembling a smile.
keep it up please......it's a pleasure to read it!
