Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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The events of Barbarian Legends occur many years before the events of Barbarian Tales.
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CITY OF YELEDOR
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Seated on his imposing throne, Utkut brooded within a pentacle marked with the likeness of the Ever-Hungry, encircled by a double layer of potent protective symbols. He had summoned all the formidable defensive spells at his disposal to safeguard himself from the ominous forces threatening his fate. These runes offered protection against curses, diseases, misfortune, and a host of deadly spells, representing some of the most potent wards he had acquired in his extensive study of the dark arts. The fact that Utkut deemed it necessary to expend a considerable amount of his meticulously preserved mystical energy to invoke these defences underscored the severity of the situation he faced.
Utkut rested his head in his hands, tapping his temples with his fingers in a rhythmic pattern. Anxiety gripped him as he realized that things were veering off course. Events were slipping from his grasp, a sensation he could keenly perceive with his well-honed intuition. Forces were at play, driving circumstances beyond the realm of predictability, even for a goblin as astute as himself.
He couldn't quite fathom how it had all transpired. Initially, everything had proceeded smoothly. His agents relayed news of the black barge's demise, confirming that once again, his unwitting pawn, Girn the barbarian, had executed his bidding. Within days, the Council of Goblinkind had sanctioned an expansion of his invasion force, signalling the potential for a decisive triumph over the humans. But then...
But then some dreaded plague began to ravage his own ranks. The Underground became overwhelmed with afflicted and dying goblin warriors. Despite efforts to cremate the bodies swiftly, scores more succumbed to the illness. Even the elven slaves tasked with tending the funeral pyres fell victim. The plethora symptoms bore a striking resemblance to those that had plagued the humans on the surface before Leprous Foulbreath had been stopped. It was almost a sign that the Ever-Hungry had turned his gaze away from the great invasion force, and withdrawn his blessing from the army. Certainly some of the more superstitious warriors were starting to mutter such things, and none of Utkut's cleverly composed sermons had reassured them. They feared they would be the next victims of the plague. As a result, morale plummeted, a precarious state of affairs that Utkut knew all too well was not uncommon in goblin armies.
Despite his best efforts to root out dissenters who murmured disloyal and treasonous sentiments, assigning elite units of skullbashers to execute deserters immediately, and personally dispatching traitors with his most powerful spells, Utkut's endeavours had proven futile. The corruption had taken hold, and the army was steadily disintegrating. He felt powerless to halt the descent into chaos.
Utkut kicked one of the goblin bones at his feet. They were from the last messenger who had brought him bad news. It flew through the air and impacted on the curtain of spells surrounding the pentagram. Sparks flickered and smoke belched. The air smelled of ash and soot. Utkut's nose twitched in appreciation of the smell resulting from his powerful magic. He returned to his brooding.
Since news of the army's setbacks had reached Goblingard, no further reinforcements had arrived. Though it wasn't the vast horde of goblin warriors he had envisioned, Utkut believed it could suffice if he employed all his cunning and strategic foresight. Action needed to be taken promptly to salvage the situation while there remained an army capable of combat. Utkut was confident that he still commanded sufficient troops to overwhelm the human city through swift, savage, and surprise attacks. Even if the army dispersed afterward, his objective would be achieved: Yeledor would fall, and Utkut could report success to the Council of Goblinkind. It would then be the responsibility of his superiors to dispatch garrison troops to maintain control of the city. Should they fail to arrive in time, Utkut would not accept blame.
The more Utkut pondered it, the more sensible this plan appeared. He could still fulfil his mission and claim his portion of glory. Moreover, he could deflect responsibility for any subsequent events onto their rightful targets: his incompetent subordinates and the traitors who abandoned the army just before its anticipated victory.
He reviewed the forces under his control. He still had close to five thousand almost-healthy warriors drawn mostly from Clan Gur. He still had several teams of skullbashers and a cadre of Clan Dagger assassins, the shadow shivs. The various foolish adventures undertaken by their treacherous leaders had left him with only a token force from Clan Arx and Clan Pathos. Trolk Tul and his force of goblin-ogres, though, were still a formidable presence.
He understood that a straightforward frontal assault might not be the most effective strategy given the current situation. What he sought was a daring move that would ensure decisive and undeniable triumph. And he was confident he had a plan that could accomplish just that.
His spies reported that the humans' ruler, the King, was planning a masked ball soon, likely in an attempt to divert attention from the troubles they'd had. If the palace could be seized during the event, capturing all the human nobles inside, the defence in Yeledor would be left leaderless and vulnerable to the goblin assault. Combining the raid with the attack on the city would be even more advantageous. With the palace and the city both under goblin control, chaos and fear would reign. Perhaps, with the ruler in Utkut's grasp, the humans might even be persuaded to surrender, resulting in more slaves taken.
It would have to be done soon, if he was to have any hope of success, but at least here was a chance that he could snatch victory from the slavering jaws of defeat.
Before proceeding with his plan, Utkut faced another hurdle. He needed to disable the protective spells around him so he could exit his chamber and issue commands. With a resigned sigh, he began the incantations necessary to deactivate the spells and free himself from the confines of his pentagram.
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Girn cursed as he stepped in a midden heap. His mind had wandered and now there was shit stuck to his boot. He had been pondering all the events involving the goblins. The city of Yeledor had been under a curse, Girn thought. He had fought the greenskins in the sewers, the Full Tankard, the Office of Ingenuity, the Black Gardens of Zoaris, and on a barge in the middle of the river Yele. Now, finally, the city appeared to be rid of them. For two full weeks, Girn had not encountered them, or received a mysterious note warning him of the next goblin operation. Also, the exponentially expanding plague variants had disappeared from one day to the next. Girn suspected it was the result of him destroying that large cauldron that leprous goblin priest was brewing something foul in.
He remembered the words of Magister Rebus. The city had been indeed under siege, but it was a siege of a most unusual type. There were no siege towers. No weapons had been brought to bear except robbery and disease. There was no enemy which could be sought out and battled. Stealth was the foe here, and there was no sword with which it could be fought.
Girn's belly grumbled, and he hastened down Low Street. Ahead of him lay the Buxom Beauty, a house of pleasure he had visited before to enjoy the company of Cassie or Molly, or both. He entered and was instantly greeted by Molly.
"Girn! Welcome back! Are you here for a good time?" She winked a him and giggled.
"Maybe," he replied. "But I'd like to fill my stomach first."
Molly guided him to a table and arranged his meal. After a bowl of porridge and chicken stew, he washed everything down with two pints of ale. Girn looked around the room and caught the gaze of Molly. He gestured her over.
"Let me guess, you want a desert?" Molly asked, sliding next to him on the bench and tracing her hand across his muscled chest.
"Depends," Girn said, playing along. "What is there to offer?"
"Well," Molly whispered. "I can arrange something more exotic than usual."
"I like the sound of that," Girn smiled.
Molly returned after a couple of minutes. "Desert is ready to be served in your room."
Together they ascended the stairs and entered a room. On the bed were arrayed two women. One was a dark-skinned woman with well-rounded hips and breasts. The other had a bronze colour to her skin, shoulder length red hair and equally large tits. Girn looked at Molly and she smiled back. He was excited for this rendezvous orchestrated by her. She reached underneath his loincloth and softly stroked his shaft.
Tugging at his cock, Molly guided Girn to a chaise longue and both sat down. "Let the show begin," she said to the women. To Girn, she added, "Please enjoy the first part of your desert."