Author's Notes: All characters presented below are 18 or over.
Forewarning to my readers, this story may be categorized "Fantasy" but contains a significant theme of non-consent.
Mandate is a one-off story of six human brothers who have been raised and live for "the hunt" the fabled battle mandated to them by the gods. Their story begins with little understanding of who they are besides the god's favorite killing machines. And progresses to them finding another tribe of different, yet similar creatures from which they claim a new kind of victory...
Thanks to Tx Tall Tales for his extensive guides on submissions here, that I hope I am following correctly. This is my very first story on Literotica and I am excited to hear any feedback you may have.
Also thanks to Rusryoznail for guidance as to my first submission!
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Mandate
The power, the feeling, the energy conveyed across the wooden shaft of the spear. It was like no other pleasure known to him as it felled his enemy, its tip buried in their scales as he held out his bare arm with strength. Gritting his teeth, eyes wide with the thrill of it he watched the glossy yellow eyes of the beast dim beneath him, the shouts and hollers of his comrades indicating that he was not the only one bathing in the exquisite pleasure of the kill. All around him the scaled beasts lay oozing of their strange fluids, their body' essence littering their spears as a half dozen men bellowed out their exuberance.
"To the gods see our triumph!" The man with the form of a hunter called out above him to the sky. His spear slithered out the bipedal lizard-man whose own armor was ripped, axe broken, and expression blank in its defeat. Holding it high he pointed it towards the sky, towards the mezzanine of the gods that floated hundreds of feet above them. This silver veranda always observed their triumphs, ever since they were released into this land from the warmth of their nursery.
The silver object sat silent, no acknowledgement of their victory over the other tribe. The six men whose chests were wide with strength, bodies covered in tunics, wrappings on their feet, and grizzled scruff on their faces all looked to each other perplexed by the god's silence on this matter. Had they displeased them with their sport? Did this hunt not acknowledge their god's righteous mandate.
"The gods see not our victory today." One man, tanned skin with many scars grumbled as he thrust his spear into the dirt with frustration.
Similar frustration, resentment towards the silence erupted amongst them, all seeking answers to why the gods withheld their approval of this event. All of that until a single gurgling gasp interrupted them, a single lizard-man alive despite the bleeding wound in his chest.
"Brother... this one lives... we have yet to fulfill our mandate." A tall man took up his spear once more and walked towards the yet alive foe. Standing above him, tall and strong in victory, the lizardman could only basque in his opponents visage during the last moments of its life.
"Human!" It coughed, spitting out bile as it looked down the shaft of the man's spear about to fell him.
"You look... similar." Its forked tongue flicked as its eyes traversed the man's form. From the dangling member beneath his tunic, to his broad chest the yellowed eyes lingered.
"Similar? You... beasts look similar to me. I however am Jason, these are my brothers, each with their own name." The man retorted, spitting his disgust with the notion of similarity.
"Beast... ha-ha-aggghh." The lizardman beneath him scoffed. "I am no beast, I am.. Deltian." His webbed fingers found on his scaled chest a branding, the symbols seen beneath his claws "DELTIAN-0173".
The man above him touched his forearm where a brand also existed, but these symbols shown as "HUMAN-M 0024". A look of curiosity took him for a moment as he contemplated what was being said to him.
"Brother... end this." Another man came from behind, perplexed as to what might take so long to end the life of a foe.
"Jeremiah, this beast knows of the symbols..." Jason took the tip of his spear and brushed away the claw of the weakened beast, showing his brother the symbols branded on the scales.
"The gods have given you a mandate as well?" The man looked down with a cruel contempt for the dying beast.
"Ha.... ha..." the Deltian continued to cough bile. "Do you not know language?" Its yellow eyes mocked them. "They're words... HUMAN!... aaaggghh." The spear tip pressed slowly into the beast's shoulder as the man above him grew in anger.
"Why do you call me that?!" Jason gnashed his teeth as he twisted the shaft.
"Aaggghhhh... human! You... the words!!!" He tried to touch his brand once more. Showing the words on which their names came from.
"You know not... of your origin?" The Deltian's eyes unlike that of the mans were filled with pity. Of course the men did not understand what he said, they had no knowledge of how or why they were in this place, a vast wilderness devoid of anything but the hunt. From early ages they were kept in what they were told was the nursery, where the gods cared for them till they were ready for the glorious hunt, where they prepared them for this great struggle. Of course there was twelve then... their other brothers passing to glory.
"Its words are only meant to confuse brother, kill it!" Another man grasped Jason's shoulder firmly.
The beast cackled one final time as he looked towards the silver veranda, eyes glossing over.