Unfinished Dreams: LVIII
"No.. no.." Herod muttered, this.. This wasn't right.. Something was off.. He tried to thrash and move, confused about what was going on. The forest.. It was so far away yet so very close. "Vulity.. I can't reach it, I can't reach us. Where?.." He whispered again. He was standing at the edge of a forest. His forest, the location where he had once met his god. But something was wrong, Herod couldn't see it, but he felt it. He heard a crackling fire somewhere around him, a beating warmth that broke against his back.
'Behind you!' Vulity's voice screamed in terror, Herod spun on his heels at an instant like Vulity's voice had given him agency. The scorching hot flames engulfed his face with heat as hot as hellfire.
"No.." Herod whispered, he did not find his home town, instead sprawling before him was the city of Waterdeep, a vision he had seen once before. The city was ablaze with different colored fires in every direction. Herod saw soaring creatures above. Red, bat-like wings attached to humanoid bodies with long snouts and spiky tails. "Demons." Herod remarked. The last time he saw this vision there had only been purple winged spined covered demons. Not he saw creatures vile made of bone and steel with insect wings hurling pikes, there were small barbed creatures duel wielding axes as they tore into human flesh devouring everything around them.
At the center of town he glimpsed a familiar sight, two elven figures standing atop a hill of bodies piled so high he couldn't help but recoil from the sight. The hideous laughter echoed across Waterdeep just as it had before except now.. With the bannisters of every church burning the vision did not stop. It was at that moment the drow figure atop the bodies.. Turned. His psychotic purple eyes glared into Herod's soul he began elegantly walking down the mound, his cloak billowing behind him with a dagger poised on one hand. He had seen this drow before, over and over, its face broke out into a vicious grin sliding upward too far for any normal person. His face looked tight, and had the texture of oil; too smooth. Every fiber of Herod's being told him this.. Thing. Wasn't real. It wasn't even drow to him. His uncanny valley began to trigger what the hell was it? "Vulity.." Herod cursed, his body shivered like a naked child within a tundra despite the warmth of blazing shops.
"Why hello there." The drow began to chuckle. That hideous amusement, the one he heard from the forest when Puderis contacted him, the same laughter he heard the first time he encountered this vision. Herod was not in control of his actions. His mind.. Or this vision. "Its so nice to meet you.. Or.. formally meet you that is." The drow paused looking up at the sky. "Herod.. That's your name."
"What the fuck.." Herod shook, reaching his hand down for Vulity.
"Where are my manners?" The drow held a hand to his chest, chuckling lightly.
"We have yet to even be introduced! I.. am Ant'tran.. Auvryrret Naïlo. It's a pleasure to meet you Herod, Cervos Westwood." A cold breeze ran up his spine. He was stunned by his full name.. No one.. He hasn't told anyone. How? Herod twisted on his legs eying this 'Ant'tran' carefully
"How.. Do you know my name?" Herod growled. For once in this nightmare he felt in control, he took a step forward drawing Vulity, Herod leveled the blade against Ant'tran the drow creature. Ant'tran grinned even more, not that Herod thought that was even possible.
"Your name? That was simple.. Things to go over another time.. Boring really!" Ant'tran spun around seemingly admiring his work of Waterdeep. "What is interesting.." Ant'tran waved a hand; instantaneously an image of Puderis, the giant haloed stag appeared. "Such.. a minor god.. Why, why work for a weakling? When you could work for me?" Ant'tran turned, displaying his vicious smile. A creepy grin that felt less than real. "I assure you.. I'm much more powerful than that.. Thing you work for now. What's their name?" The drow paused, placing his left hand against his chin like he was contemplating a memory. "Ha! I don't even know.. They're so minute."
"What the hell do you want?" Herod growled, he pushed Vulity out further instantly behind him half of the city flourished, away from the burning wreckage into a lush forest, running water streamed behind him while birds chirped. The nightmare was at war with itself. His mind was at war with itself. He wanted to laugh in the creature's face, Herod did not dream very often but he did not want to make this a habit.
"You think you can control a dreamscape?" Ant'tran laughed waving his hand forcing the burning Waterdeep to return. "That's adorable."
"Glad you find it cute. Now piss off." He sounded angrier then he had before, Herod loved to make jokes, to stay casual but now.. Someone was interfering. He was unsure if it were pride or fear that fueled him, only that he was in grave danger but planned to fight back no matter what.
"Herod.. I could give you so much more power. Must we be hunter and prey?" Ant'tran slid the dagger in his hand down until he was only clutching the blade. The drow extended his hand offering the hilt to Herod. The spider's leg like handle sent shivers down Herod's spine but what was worse were the tremors he felt within his mind. A gripping sensation overtook his brain like a hand was squeezing the skull tighter and tighter, Herod's arm reached out almost in an attempt to take the hilt. "Why not work for me?"
'No! Don't it shall only cause your own doom!' Vulity warned, the runes of Herod's sword glowed before a three tailed fox spirit leapt off it dancing through the air. Herod resisted the urge to take the handle instead he swung his sword knocking the offering arm aside. Ant'tran's grind turned into a snarl.
"Keep out of it! You will shut your mouth!" Ant'tran hissed, his voice sounded more agitated now, Herod grinned. Could he cast spells in his dreams? He wasn't sure. "No matter.. I will have you.. One of these nights." Ant'tran smiled again, but this time softer like he was unsure. The corrupting sensation the knife had given him faded away. 'We don't have the advantage here.. Even in our own mind, Vulity what's the plan? Do we attack?' Herod weighed his options carefully.
"No." Herod responded shaking his head. "You won't. Like my blade said.. You're a thot. And you aren't getting to me." Ant'tran's eyes flared. The city around him began to combust in even more fire. "You offer nothing. Nothing I do not already have. Begone from my dreams!" Herod cried slamming his blade into the ground. The shockwave rippled like a sonic boom, the city extinguished its fires, and the sense of calm over took his body yet.. Nothing happened.
"You think you can dismiss me so easily?" The drow licked his teeth cackling into the burning summer sky. His face was twisted with bemusement and humour, like Herod's show of defiance only served to interest him. "You are prey. I AM the hunter! I may stay here as long as I wish, Westwood.. One of these nights you will see it my way. A victim of the grip, so scared to die you are already shaking.. Facing death. You have no clue the horrors that will come to this city.. Those demons above are not mine." The drow chuckled pointing at the sky.
"Then who's are they? What is this.. Ant'tran? I've had more visions of coming to this city than ever before in my life.. What are you?" Herod wrestled for control of the dreamscape, knowing it was his brain, his bed. He wondered how this thing was doing this.
"Ah.. such a delightful question, though I admit I may have to.. Disappoint.. You will not learn from me." Ant'tran picked up one of the bannisters on the ground turning over a mark of Moros, Herod only slightly recognized the symbol. "So many deities of death.. Can you believe the Ever'reyins ever thought themselves masters of it?" that of course got them all killed.." Herod frowned, was this man just telling stories for the sake of fear? He felt so on edge, unable to let his guard down less the temptation of the dagger return.
"What are these? These bannisters? Why have you done this?" Herod demanded trying to steer the conversation back to something he understood.
"Because I intend to embrace the void young warlock. I plan to reach out to it.. Exterminate the sparks you would.. Fall to your knees for." Ant'tran smiled a devilish grin. "So many questions.. So little answers for me, Come now. Let's be friends, Westwood." Herod shook his head waving his hands in the mark of a spell.
"Friends? No. I know what Puderis told me, you are nothing more than a disease a plague that will engulf this fucking town. And I wont let you, you fucking whore."
"I? A plague?" Ant'tran sounded offended. "If so.. Who are you to move against the plague? How do you smash the mountains? How do you blind the stars? You have no one Westwood.. You're alone.. No family.. No hope.. Your mother was a whore, you don't even know your own father.. But together.." The drow held out the knife again, a wild grin dancing on his lips. 'No.. no I'm not.. Alone.' He thought, snarling he clenched his eyes shut.
"I have people.. And I said, No. You will not do this to this city." Herod pointed all around him, eying the devilish fate he felt around him.
"Really? You will not take it? A fate of hell beseeches this town, and I am afraid Westwood.. You do not have the power to stop it."
"I have enough." Herod pulled Vulity from the ground, his fox entity still swimming in the air around him. "I am Herod Cervos Westwood, champion of Puderis; the trampler of whores, the scourge of prostitutes, the thot slayer. Wielder of Vulity the spirit of chastity, you are a trespasser in MY mind." Herod threw his head back and a battle of wills broke out; the town became overgrown with forest life until the creeping foliage overtook it Herod was in home territory. Now only a narrow sliver of Waterdeep remained beating behind the drow. "Now L-"
"LEAVE!" A force impacted the ground as a shadow overcast Herod in the silvery moonlight. Around him he saw four hefty hooves and a warm body above him. The deep voice bellowed echoing across walls which did not exist. Ant'tran didn't even flinch. Puderi's head bowed down, getting closer to the drow. "Leave.. Vile scum." His right hoof was raised about to strike downward. Ant'tran hissed and his figure turned walking away from the scene through the forest back towards the town the terrible laughter filled the air with screams from the burning city. The forest closed behind him. "Are you alright, Herod?" Puderis's voice was calm yet flat; he walked away stepping through the forest now no longer directly above Herod.
"I'm.. fine." Herod admitted. Though the experience had shaken him, he knew to take power back where he could. "What.. is that entity?" He looked up at the concerned face of Puderis, as concerned as he could look being a giant deer. "It said it came offering power.. The way he spoke.. The.. sensation that took my brain when he offered the dagger.. What is he?" Herod was still unsure if it was a he or an it.
"I.. do not yet know. I will visit the Lateracies and see what it has to say. Beware, I can smell the stench of death. An old dead god was in play with that.. Things creation. But it is as Vulity said, he is a corrupting Nihilistic power, wishing to plunge the world into an endless abyss though I believe he has not even gazed into this abyss. Stay strong my champion. There are more fights to come.. Right now you have a more pressing concern. Waterdeep. It is becoming overrun from the inside."
"A more pressing concern? In what?!" Herod protsted. "That.. Ant'tran he is powerful. What could be more important?"
"The lives of this city.. Waterdeep. It is becoming overrun. I can feel it. From within no less! Demons.. And devils.. Pacts.. Chains.. You saw it once before at the Lateracies.. This city will become overrun with hell itself. I believe.. Someone has made a pact with the arch devil. The king of hell." Herod swallowed his tongue and nodded. Despite how strong of a face he tried to put on for his friend and deity, he was scared shitless. He wasn't fighting petty whores or even criminals, there were no simple murderer's or one off cults. He was fighting demons.. And gods. 'Can I do this?' He asked himself.
'We have no choice.' Vulity answered him. Great.. That made him feel better.
"What must I do?" He knelt offering out his blade in commitment. He felt stupid just pushing the sword out for his god, but he wasnt sure how to act. This had to be the third time Puderis had arrived to his rescue, he was starting to feel embarrassed at that point.
"You are already on the right track.. I sense it, potential victory, but also.. Loss. beware who you trust Herod. You must prepare yourself." the dream slowly began to fade.. As the forest foliage swelled around him, Herod heeded his god's words.