Vaid Empire: Mother of Tentacles
is a prequel to
Vaid Empire: Conquest
, though acts as a complete stand-alone. No prior knowledge regarding the previous series is required.
Long before the rise of The Vaid Empire, far on the other side of Ayphieal, a young woman finds a deeper purpose beyond her own survival when she is captured and offered to an ancient monstrosity.
Ancient entities conspire to achieve hidden schemes while tentacles spread across the land in this strange and mysterious prequel.
New chapters and artwork are released every month for free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access on the official Vaid Empire Website. The Series focuses heavily on worldbuilding, story, and characters.
***
Unknown Date.
Unknown Location.
"
Creation is a necessary agony.
"
The living walls of Synaalag's prison reacted to each of his squirming movements, hearing his mother's muffled giggles.
"
The Red Vessel, the first. The Silver Womb, the last. An artist emerges, a creation made a God.
"
12th of Onis, 768 BVE.
First Continent, Deep Jungle.
Step after step after step, ever dreading the end of their journey. The oppressively thick humidity sent water trickling down Aifa's red skin as the group cut through the jungle. If her hands weren't tied behind her back, she would've hacked the guards down with their own blades long ago.
It'd be a simple thing to slip away into the dense vegetation, yet her tight collar removed any hope of that. Instead, she was forced to trudge along in a strict line with her fellow captives, gagged, with a rope linking collar to collar.
One of six women, the others appeared much like her. Their red skin glistened in the sunlight pouring through the vibrant orange leaves, though truthfully, she knew very little about any of them. She scolded herself for falling in with their tribe no more than a moon ago, for she should've known their capture was inevitable. Never would she repeat that mistake. Better to hunt alone than to die together.
Turning her head, she received a smirk from the guard to her right, making no attempt to conceal his glances. Unease seeped into her as he studied her body, as bare as his own. Like all members of her species, a Cavari, his eyes were a single color, as if solid orbs, matching the deep bioluminescent blue that accented their bodies. Thin blue claws, faintly glowing blue tongues and sexual organs, only their white hair provided a different shade, itself tipped with natural blue highlights. She scowled at the man as his thin tail swayed with excitement. The rope digging into her wrists and forearms reminded her of her place, restraining her rage.
"Ah, this one has fire in her eyes," the guard said, stepping closer. "Let's hope she isn't chosen, for it'd be a shame to see an end to such...
passion
."
She winced as he lightly tugged on one of the small bronze rings piercing her blue nipples, flaring her fury further. "
Cut me loose, and we'll see if you dare touch me again,"
she thought to herself.
"Silence," the man at the head of the group commanded, evidently the leader of the raiding party. "Save your words for when we're safe behind walls, else you'll be replaced before the next excursion."
The other guards appeared fully alert, their bristled antennae twitching at every sound and scent. Never did they utter a word, their spears and swords ready to strike whatever fowl creatures sprang forth from the vibrantly colored vegetation. Twice a guard had fallen prey to an attack, snatched away into the overgrown jungle. Their screams echoed into the distance, lost forever.
Hardly an hour seemed to go by without some beast trying their luck upon the group. Aifa had nearly grown eager for each ambush, hoping one of the abominations would tear through the guards and allow her to escape.
The women had all heard whispers of what may await them, of course. After all, what free tribe didn't occasionally hear tales of the great holy city deep in the jungle? Or worse yet, the terrible creature that lurked below? Aifa shuttered with a chill despite the heat.
A tug of the collar at her neck made her red cheeks darken further as someone stumbled, pulling the rope. She felt her rage rising, bound like an animal.
As the minutes passed, she found herself glancing down. The woman in front of her walked with swaying hips, drawing her attention to her rump.
That
had been one of the few benefits of joining a tribe. What had this particular woman's name been? She couldn't quite remember. They had spent a night or two together, but then, hadn't they all?
Her hopes were dashed each time the guards cut down a monstrous predator or avoided the grasp of plants whose beautiful colors were merely a lure. The jungle flared an instinct to hide and find shelter from the beasts, yet every step she took, a far deeper fear slowly crept into the pit of her stomach. They approached their doom.
Finally, when the captives were splattered in mud and the guards were drenched in blood of various shades, they emerged from the thick tree line. The vegetation fell away, and beyond lay the source of her misgivings.
Eyes opening wide in awe, Aifa looked upon their destination. A wall of black stone towered before them, overgrown in vines of blue and orange. The guards urged them forwards, their leader granting a signal to the men atop the wall. The gate began to open, its massive hinges squeaking as it swung to consume them.
Stumbling as if in a daze, she was granted a far more impressive sight through the now gaping entrance. A colossal city stretched out before her, a sight she had never before seen. Each black stone structure easily dwarfed the crude huts and caves she had dwelled inside all her relatively short life.
"Welcome to The Holy City of Aslyd, holy offerings," the guard to her right chuckled, though no introduction was required.
Awestruck, she followed along as they entered the city. Its walls were large enough to hold back even the most grotesque and powerful of the monstrosities her people were forced to flee from, ever on the move. The people of Aslyd would never need to run nor cower.
A booming horn echoed overhead as the guards hurried to seal the gates behind them, as if signifying their arrival. The crowded streets began to part, making room as they were led forwards.
Men, women, children, all went about their day, moving like a bizarre swarming sea. Never had Aifa witnessed a group larger than a dozen Cavaries. She quickly felt overwhelmed as their countless blue eyes peered at her group. Despite the looming walls, her instincts to flee increased tenfold. In the jungle, such a large number of Cavaries would surely bring attention from beasts.
Stepped ziggurats dotted the city among an ocean of dark buildings, yet there was no question as to where they were being led. Far in the distance, a colossal central ziggurat dwarfed all others.
As they walked, Aifa studied the passing structures with fascinated eyes. Artful depictions were etched into the walls of nearly every building, each containing variations of what appeared to be many writhing, grasping tentacles. Stories spoken in hushed terror amongst even the most distant tribes left her no doubt as to their purpose.
"
The Mother approaches.
"
She turned her head, seeking the source of a deep voice that echoed powerfully around her, though she found nothing but the curious faces of the loud crowds. Any could have spoken it, yet it'd felt so close, so clear, so...
odd
, it nearly felt as though it had come from within.
People began to reach out towards the women, only to be forcefully pushed back and beaten by the guards. Some began to chant. Others merely chuckled with bloodthirsty grins.
Aifa grimaced with each step towards the massive black ziggurat, despising her building fear. Even when sneaking through the underbrush to avoid predators, she had never felt such dread, making her scowl at her newfound weakness. She could see a massive brazier burning atop the ziggurat's flat peak, a beacon that only coaxed her misgivings further.
A consuming sense of insignificance swept over her as they reached the base of the ziggurat, peering up at its pyramidal shape. She peered up as they were led towards a side entrance, wondering if she'd ever see the sky again.
