The lights swirled into view as Boshak regained consciousness. A rapping on his chamber door had pulled him out of the astral planes, and back to his room atop the Dark Citadel. Making his way to the door the Slime was annoyed “Who dares disturb my meditations? I left explicit Instructions to not be bothered” he snarled as the door opened to reveal the cowering form of Jelgon, his most loyal servant who stammered a bit before answering “s..s..sorry Master I told the Baron you was in here learning all that Magic stuff, but he said it was of the umtoast importance to summon you” . Boshak was disgusted at the idiocy of his minion “It’s utmost importance you simpering fool” he spat at Jelgon before adding “tell the Baron I’ll be on my way with haste” as he slammed the door in Jelgon’s face.
Boshak took his villainous form before leaving the room, and as he walked down the halls of the Citadel he ruminated on his situation. Twelve years they’d been here…twelve years since the inhabitants of Slime City had declared him a criminal …twelve years since he and his minions had to hide away. The Baron had been a good host, and the two of them had created a lot of evil in the years they’d been together. Boshak had learned a great deal of magic from Dracktholme’s Psychromagi since arriving at the Citadel. Things had been great until about a year ago when the Baron’s long-lost love had managed to communicate through the powerful spells imprisoning her inside the North, and as she laid her plans out over time Boshak came to distrust her. Jalldoon was to be his and the Baron’s, not this Witch’s who suddenly appeared and gained complete control of Dracktholme’s mind. Lost in thought as he made his way to the observatory he barely noticed the scattering Shocktroopers running around preparing for something. As he entered the observatory he was greeted by Baron Dracktholme “Ahh Master Boshak thank you for joining us. I hate to interrupt your studies, but the Covenant of Crowns has called an emergency meeting which I must attend. Something is happening, and I thought you’d like to accompany me to keep an eye on what those simpering Slimes are up to these days” his metallic voice reverberated through the speaker on his helmet as he gestured towards a chair which Boshak pulled aside as he sat. A smile crossed the evil Slime’s face ” Of course my liege, any excuse to spy on our enemies is welcome” Boshak said twirling a hydro spanner in his fingers absentmindedly. As the two lords of evil discussed their plan for the meeting a crackle of light sparked in the Magic Mirror Dracktholme had acquired from some foolish mage. Dracktholme perked up as he waved his hand over the mirror “My Love, what is it?” He asked as the shadowed form of the Witch herself appeared on the mirror’s face “Baron, I have found a way to send one of my devoted servants out from this place into the wider world, and you must attend to him” the Evil witch hissed. Dracktholme looked at Boshak “Dearest love, I’ve been called to an emergency Covenant meeting, and as you know if I do not attend it will make great trouble for me as well as arouse suspicions… if you’ve found a way out love why not use it yourself? Then we may finally be together once again” he asked the shimmering form in the mirror. The Magic Mirror flickered a bit as the Witch answered “The crack I’ve discovered in the magic barrier locking us here is only big enough for one to pass through, and as soon as we use it the gods will know and immediately shut it up tight. I have promised my servants of the Kung-Los Empire freedom from this place, and plenty of blood to satisfy their lust for war. No, I must stay until all my soldiers can cross over with me, but I’m sending Captain Kandross, their leader, and my most trusted of minions to help you acquire the items needed to free me from this place.” She said before adding ” Attend your meeting as we need your connections with the Covenant for our future plans my love. This crack will deposit Kandross in the Vallorian Jungle…send one of your minions to retrieve him.” With this, the mirror flashed back to its normal reflective surface.
The Baron turned towards Boshak ” Send your most capable servant to the Jungle to retrieve this Captain Kandross, and make sure you stress how important he is to us” he said as he flicked his wrist calling over the two Shocktroopers standing at the door “Accompany Master Boshak, and do whatever he asks of you” with this he waived the Slime and Shocktroopers away. Boshak hated the Witch, she had ensnared the Baron’s mind with the singular vision of reuniting with his love, but her evil was strong and would likely help with taking over the planet even if it meant sharing the spoils of war. As he made his way down to the dungeons flanked by the two Shocktroopers he silently practiced spells in his head, a trick he had learned that not only helped expand his ever-growing arsenal of Magic but also relaxed him. As he opened the gate to the dungeons he saw General Skale looking quite pleased torturing some hapless villager. Boshak let him continue for a moment before speaking “Ah General, how does the day find you, my friend?” Skale looked up as he put his flail down “The day finds me rather well Master, and what may this humble Slime do for his lord on this fine day?” He asked walking away from the villager who assuredly enjoyed the respite from the pain inflicted on him by the evil Slime. Boshak clapped his hand on Skale’s back as he spoke ” That Witch who holds the Baron’s heart is sending one of her soldiers through a crack in the magic barrier locking them in the north, but Dracktholme and I must attend a Covenant meeting on Crown Isle. I need you to take these Shocktroopers and two Doom Buggies to retrieve him from the Vallorian Jungle.” With this the Skull adorning Skale’s body twisted into a horrific grin “Anything for you Master” the Slime said before turning back towards the villager, and with a wicked crack of his flail ended the poor soul’s suffering once and for all. As Boshak made his way to his room to prepare for the journey to Crown Isle he was unsure what this new servant of the Witch would bring, but he was sure at the very least it would mean trouble for the bleeding heart heroes he so despised.
The portal crackled around him as Kandross stepped out of the hole in the solid rock he had been magically pushed through, and as the portal closed behind him he knew the “Gods” were watching. Let them watch he thought, they wouldn’t be able to stop him…no one could except this damn Planet. They’d been trapped here for over a hundred standard years. Stuck in the pyramid they had made their new home. For a long time, the Kung-Los army had no idea where they were or why…until she had shown up. The Witch just appeared one day, and after an altercation with a few of the soldiers, it became apparent that her powers were immense. After speaking with her she enlightened them to their situation and shared her goal of breaking out of the Asylum the Gods had stuck them in. Kandross had pledged the allegiance of the entire Kung-Los army to his new Queen. Now she was on the verge of accomplishing their goals. Her minions on the Planet were close to acquiring the items needed to smash the magic barriers keeping them penned in.
Kandross had been lost in thought until the snapping of branches brought him back to reality, and as the docile Brontopotamus appeared Kandross felt the rumble of his stomach. After a good meal, he was covered in the blood of his feast so a bath was in order. As he removed his armor he could feel the hot sun on his milky almost translucent skin, and it felt good. He submerged himself in the river flowing nearby which left a trail of blood floating downstream in his wake. As he exited the water he lounged on a rock letting the sun warm and dry him. This Planet wasn’t so bad he thought, and it was certainly better than the cold emptiness of space the Kung-Los had become accustomed to in their generations-long war against the Kahnians, only landing on planets to strike at their enemies’ bases and cities. If his Queen was correct, this world would crumple under the might of his soldiers with ease…once they were freed that is.
Finally dry, Kandross put his armor back on, picked up his weapons, and started making his way out of the Jungle. Before long he heard the sound of engines moving towards him, and not knowing what to expect he concealed himself behind a tree as two strange four-wheeled vehicles came into view, and as they passed he recognized the armor of the Shocktroopers his Queen had so often spoken of. Kandross called out to them with the phrase the Witch had taught him “Hail Dracktholme!” His bellow caused them to stop and reverse back to where he was standing. The Slime perched on the back of the lead vehicle looked him up and down “You Kandross?” the skull-faced Slime asked him. Kandross was familiar with Slimes due to the Witch and her tales of Jalldoon, and he knew a faction of them were in league with Baron Dracktholme so he wasn’t terribly surprised to have a Slime be in his welcome party. Kandross replied to the Slime ” That I am, and I assume you work for Baron Dracktholme then?” He asked keeping his grip on his weapons just in case. The Slime hopped off the back of the vehicle and extended a hand-like portion of his body “I work for Master Boshak, but yes we are in league with the Baron. I’m General Skale, and we’ve been sent to retrieve you Captain” he said as Kandross shook his hand. Skale looked at Kandross and then the Doom Buggies “Well looks like you may be a bit too big to fit in one of these so I’m not sure how we can get you back to the Citadel quickly” he said scratching his head. Kandross smiled showing his wicked rows of teeth “No fear there I’ve got it under control” he said as his tail flipped up hitting a button on his back that fired the thrusters of his jet pack leaving him floating a few feet above the ground. With Kandross flying behind they made their way back towards the Dark Citadel.
Boshak’s thoughts were far away as the clouds of Jalldoon flew by the porthole of Dracktholme’s Sky Yacht. As he absentmindedly clinked the ice in his empty glass the Shocktrooper assigned to the bar cart rushed over and refilled the glass with chilled Glowberry Brandy. Taking a long sip, the Slime winced at the crackle of static coming from the loudspeaker as the captain made his announcement “Prepare for landing at Crown Isle” The static resumed before the channel was closed. Dracktholme approached Boshak’s seat ” Ok, let’s go over this once more….even with my position if I’m caught harboring a known criminal I’ll be jailed… So what are you to do?” The Baron asked swishing his cape over his shoulder. Boshak’s face furrowed ” We’ve gone over it a dozen times, but if it will calm your worries…. I take the form of a jewel and affix myself to your amulet, I watch and listen, and I don’t do anything else until we’re safely back in the air again. Could you please relax a bit? I know the stakes here” the Slime said with obvious annoyance in his voice.
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