Idril, the leader of Bloodscales, has heard fascinating news from one of her subordinates. The elven royalty is in the Cruxbel. Why is this fascinating for Idril?
"Those bastards will get the karma that has been building up. That is what our Bloodscales stand for. To balance the scales of karma." Idril said those words to her subordinates gathered there.
"Will we depart for slaughter?" One of the more fanatic members of the Bloodscales asked Idril.
And Idril answered "No. The security in the city is high and we can't handle the situation where we get caught. We must do this discreetly and with careful planning to defile those elven royals in the city."
One of the more rational members of the group said "But didn't our lord specifically say not to cause any trouble during the banquet week?"
Idril says "Indeed, but due to the pact that our races carry, we cannot enter the middle realm and interfere with how things go there. That is a "Law" that has been placed on our races by Fates. But why do the gods not use that power to force middle realmers to reform? Why let them continue to harm humanity.
They do not care for humanity. They love every other race, but humans can go suffer by the hands of other races as far as they care. Fates… Such cruel gods. This…"
After getting a little heated, Idril calms down and says "That is why I joined this group. To make bastards like those elves pay for their crimes against humanity. Those other gods can't be trusted. But our lord Perkele let us ravage and defile those worthless scum."
One of the members of the group says "And in time, we will accept our defilement for our deeds."
Idril says "Indeed. Eye for an eye. An endless cycle that cannot be stopped. It always brings out its dirty head somewhere in the world. That is why we will not try to stop it, but embrace it in karmic justice."
The rational member says "So. We must act discreetly this time, is what you are getting at, boss."
Idril says "Yes. We must do it as discreetly as possible, but make sure that the karma that is owed will be paid in full in their mortal life. It is gonna be tricky to pull off, but if we put our heads together, we can find a way to even do it behind gods' gazes."
The fanatical member whines "So we can't make a spectacle this time?! Boo! I vote we just find somewhere else to hunt the karma filled bastards!"
The rational member shouted "Calm yourself Quamos! This is a prime opportunity that we cannot let slip! We all want karma to be paid by everyone, even ourselves, but those two will become untouchable to us if we let this chance slip by!"
Quamos says "But why? You mean to go against our lord's ideals? Even if he himself said not to cause trouble, he won't mind if we go hunt some cult in some village like we usually do. Sure, we sometimes get a little overboard and kill innocents, but that is fine."
Idril says "How many times do I have to nail this to your head that we won't kill innocent people."
Quamos scoffs and says "I'll agree because it was one of the old boss' rules, but it was more of a suggestion than a rule."
Idril says "You can just go for a solo mission somewhere like you usually do. Just know that there won't be as big of a karmic payment than this one in a long while."
Quamos panics a little and says "W-w-wait wait… I want to join in too if they are THAT big of a fish. I love fishing, you see. Fishing was what my old pops did before I had to kill him."
Another member says "Yeah yeah. We all heard how he got drunk one night and raped some bitch in the village you lived so old boss saw your potential and gave you the opportunity to join us."
Then another member says "Yeah. The current boss has a far greater backstory. A fallen noble who avenged her family so hard that boss couldn't help but to rescue her from the gallows."
Then one of the more silent members blurted out "Didn't seem to impress our dear god Perkele though."
This made the whole place silent for a moment, but eventually Idril rose from her chair, grabbed the one who mocked her a moment ago by the collar of her shirt and says "This time I'll go personally so you are gonna bet your ass I'm gonna make sure to leave a grand mess when I'm done that even Perkele would be proud of."
The person who Idril was interrogating gets some courage and says "Well you better, or I'll quit this group and go find some other group."
Idril pushes the other person aside and says to the group "Let our scouts find where the elven royalty lives and we will take as many people there as there are people guarding those bastards. Are we clear!?"
Everyone at the cave shouts "Yes boss!"
Meanwhile Perkele was walking around the city, enjoying all the revelry there was to offer. And while he was eating cotton candy, he spotted Thews deep in thought while drinking at an open bar.
Perkele licks the sugar from his lips and is about to go talk to Thews, then he spots two poor looking children looking at his cotton candy with wide eyes. He looks at them, smiles sweetly, giving the children hope, then drops the cotton candy to the ground and steps on it on purpose. He gives an evil grin to the children who now look just sad.
Perkele leaves the children and sits next to Thews and orders a drink.
Thews asks "Why are you even ordering if you know you can't get drunk on this stuff?"
Perkele answers "If I said 'I like the taste' would that satisfy you?"
Thews says nothing for a while until Perkele gets his drink and starts jugging.
Thews says "So you are as shameless as your reputation holds."
Perkele is a bit surprised by that statement and says "Shameless? But I haven't done anything to you yet."
Thews gives a murderous aura at Perkele, which rings some bells in Perkele's head and says "Aah. You mom and pops from that time. I almost forgot. Listen…"
Perkele puts his hand around Thews' neck like they were buddies and says "While those people were one of mine, I didn't order that attack. Trust me, I'd like to take credit, but that was all on them. You have successfully punished them in whatever way you did back ages ago."
Perkele holds his own drink close to Thews' face and says "Don't come at me with those dead glares. Just enjoy the fun we have here. You don't get the opportunity to revel among the living too often, right? Just enjoy and drink to your heart's content until you pass out or throw up. That is the way of debauchery."
Then Perkele removes himself around Thews and sits back to drink the rest of his drink.
Thews says while holding his anger in check, "You dare… To not take accountability for your evils… I have, for a long time, come to terms with my evils. But you… You are an evil that I'd be willing to go back to my old ways to kill."
Perkele brushes what Thews says off and says "If you want an exchange with 'swords', then I'd be more than willing now that you are in the living world. But just so you know, I'd be willing to be a bottom for a change if it was with you. I don't often give that kind of privilege to people I have 'fun' with."
Thews' grip to his mug almost breaks the mug and Perkele continues "Though that being said, I won't let you be the top the whole time. I will be the top at least more than you if we are doing this."
Thews grip breaks the mug he was holding, which makes the bartender scurry a bit farther to clean other mugs among other patrons who move their seats further.
But not Perkele. Perkele just says "So… What place? What time?"
Thews rises up, grabs the back of Perkele's head and slams it to the counter, breaking it.
Perkele rises up, scrubs himself off and says "I take that as a no then."
Perkele begins to leave and Thews shouts "Where do you think you are going, you scum?! I'm not done with you!"
Perkele says as he leaves "I was told not to cause a ruckus, so I won't go further with whatever you are planning. If you want to let the Centipede out, then do so at the tournament the day after tomorrow. We'll have a chance to rumble without holding back there."
And before Perkele disappears behind the corner, he says "Oh and, you'll be paying the damages." While pointing at the broken bar counter. Then he scurries away.
The evening comes and Bloodscale scouts have determined the elven royalty's whereabouts when they leave the party tonight. The scouts go and tell their leader about what they know, and the plan has been set in stone when they will strike.
While others are at the Cruxbel castle partying, Sarah and Mercy are in the battling ring where Cruxbel Knights have their bouts.
Mercy asks Sarah "Are you sure about this? You know that I cannot be killed, but there is so much I can do for you if I go all out."
Sarah stretches and says "It is alright. I requested this and I'm thankful that you agreed to go through with it. I don't want either of us to hold back, so let's go all out from the start, okay?"
Mercy says "As you wish. You are in a unique position where I can't change your being with a snap of my finger. Both the fact that you aren't native to Lutah and your unique physiology are factors in this."
Sarah says "If you even dare to conclude our bout with that little trick, then I won't approve of you being the first wife. Only through battle can I approve or reject your ranking."
Mercy says "I understand. It is important for wives to settle who has the hierarchy. Saying there won't be one is almost impossible for that man."
Sarah says "That we can agree on. Are you ready?" Sarah takes a battle stand.
Mercy takes a deep breath and says "I haven't exercised in quite some time, so forgive me if this ends up in disappointment." Mercy also takes a battle stand.
Both stand there for a while. Waiting for the other to make the first move. Until something tries to attack Mercy from behind, which she deflects masterfully.
After gaining an opening that her summoned demon made for her, Sarah charges at Mercy and places the "Death Door's Call" onto her. It successfully lands and Mercy notices her own weakened state.
Mercy makes sure to dodge and not block the incoming fury of Sarah's attacks.
In terms of speed, Sarah got Mercy beat, but Mercy's reaction time and technique are on a higher level than Sarah's which makes both quite equal.
Mercy manages to land a counter hit on Sarah with countless deadly attacks, and Sarah was sent flying through the wall.
Still not finding a way to get her health back to comfortable levels, Mercy wonders what kind of techniques the outworlders have on their hands.
But Mercy did not drop down her guard, which was wise, since Sarah came in like a rocket with her third form.
With her third form, Sarah focuses her skill called "Poison Field" and traps Mercy in a cube that has those fields placed on falls of magical earth created by Sarah herself.
With that, Mercy experienced death multiple times.This is due to her not being able to die, but still her HP stays at 1. Dying and reviving many times through the poison damage from the toxic air created by the cube.
Sarah looms over and uses clairvoyance to look inside the cube to see Mercy die and die over and over again. She felt happiness as Mercy suffered many deaths by Sarah's own hand, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. Her inner raid boss was rising closer and closer to the surface through her elated emotions.
This continued for a while, until Sarah felt a hand touch her monstrous body. Sarah noticed what she was doing and stopped immediately after.
The cube disappeared, Mercy's "Death Door's Call" effect was removed and Sarah returned to her original form.
Sarah didn't need to look at who was touching her shoulder in that moment, for it was the one she has been fighting for for quite some time now.
Mercy just stood up and said "Saved by our husband, huh?"
Lud says "Future husband I should say."
Sarah stays silent and Mercy says to her "Don't look so down. You won our bout, fair and square. If you didn't want me to, I would have stayed in that state as long as this world existed. Which would have been kind of… fitting… end for me."
Sarah asks "How? How would it be fitting? I almost… Again…"
Lud reassured Sarah "You didn't threaten a whole city this time. That is a great upgrade in my opinion."
Mercy asks "This has been an issue before?"
Lud taps Sarah's back and says "Yeah. She has always been a handful. But I'd say we have been lucky that her curse of causing trouble hasn't cost us that much after we came to Lutah."
Sarah says "It… must be thanks to pops."
Lud turns Sarah to face him and says "Listen. You have done great. Your efforts have not been wasted. And…"
Sarah asks "And?"
Lud gets on her knees, grabs Sarah's hand and asks "Would you like to marry me?"
This stunned both women at the scene and Lud thought that he had messed up, so he asks "Did… did I do something wrong."
And then… Sarah began to cry. Inconsolably so. Mercy tried to calm her down, but Sarah wouldn't stop crying.
Whether those tears were from loneliness, happiness, longing, or anything in between stays a mystery for Sarah herself. But obviously, they were because of all three.
Li just had his back on the wall between him and the three lovebirds, listening just in case he needed to interfere.
You could argue that he let Mercy stew for a while to vent out his own emotions a little. He would of course deny this, but we all know the truth.
After the night had descended and people went to their lodgings, the Bloodscales would strike the Highgreens.
[Content warning]
The act of Bloodscales fulfilling the karmic payment of the Highgreens:
They rushed to the lodging where the Highgreens were staying. The guards at the entrance stood no chance. Their voices were muffled with magic born from angels "fixing" the religion millenia ago.
To mimic their lord, the rational one pulled metal stakes that heated up with magic. He fiendishly pierced one of the guard's right hand with that smoldering stake lengthwise. The guard who was bent down in an uncomfortable way was forced to hold their hand up as the stake pierced the hole between the two bones in their arm until the stake was landed to the ground. Placing the guard to stay in that horrid position for further mutilation.
The other's lungs were collapsed by Quamos, who ripped the guards chest open as if the armour wasn't there. The lungs' collapse was caused by Quamos ripping two of the ribs from the guard and stabbing the guard with them from the sides.
The first guard was made to twist their other arm, making the guard look like some sort of artpiece. The rational one had an artistic past you see. An artist, whose materials often contained live subjects.
The first one didn't die from this interaction and was left to stay in that uncomfortable position with the heated metal stakes placed all over their body to form some sort of artpiece. Their voice was gauged out with sheer force of the rational one's hand, and then healed, so that the first guard wouldn't die easily.
The second guard did die by the time the two motioned their comrades to raid the place. The second one, while dying as they grasped for air, did have their end much shorter than those who were the whole savage party's targets.
The group of six, including the rational one and Quamos, entered the place. The scouts had already deemed those who were even remotely deserving of karmic judgement, and those who were on the white list.
"No one ever stays in the white list." That is how Bloodscales saw things. But karma is only paid when the karma has built up. Not before, or their lord would not be pleased.
Idril entered the room of Highgreens quietly and silenced both of them with the same magic that the guards were earlier. Every Bloodscale was taught this specific magic just in case of discreet operations that sometimes came up. The first leader, the one before the previous one, was assassin by trade who destroyed the organisation they were raised by and ended up creating the Bloodscales.
Idril was the one who would make the Highgreens pay the karmic price. By herself. The others were in the other rooms fulfilling the Bloodscales purpose.
As Idril grabbed Moriamas by the hair, the man tried to scream, but made no sound. Idril threw Moriamas on the wall and nailed him to the wall by the hands and feet before he could fall to the ground.
Allmiere slept peacefully as Moriamas was terrified.
First, Idril heated up a crude knife and started dragging the knife lengthwise along the arms and legs of Moriamas. There was not much bleeding, as the heat of the knife stopped most of the bleeding in sheer moments.
Many cuts were made to Moriamas' limbs, a man who wanted to scream, but could not make a sound.
Many, many cuts later, as tears ran through Moriamas' face, Idril began to twist Moriamas' fingers and toes by the joint.
First came the right hand's index finger. One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
Then a middle finger. One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
The screams that only Idril could hear were intoxicating a little, but for Idril, it was still justice.
Ring finger. One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
Pinkie finger. One crack. Two crack. Three crack
Thumb. Only one. Then two.
Now for the left hand. This time starting with the thumb. One, and two.
Index finger. One… Two…
Three
The tears were plentiful on that spoiled man's face. Idril would feel a little sorry for the bastard, but inside she knew how the man in front of her made humans suffer. Maybe not directly, but he, at the very least, let it happen.
Middle finger. One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
Ring finger. Holding the ring that the man always wore. Didn't mean nothing in the end. It was all decoration anyway. One crack. Two crack. And for a spice, the left ringfinger's first joint was twisted by using the ring on it.
Pinkie finger was nothing new. One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
Now, for the toes. Idril felt disgusted to have to touch a filthy man's foot. But karmic justice was due.
One crack. Two crack.
One… Two… Three.
One… Two… Three.
One… Two… Three.
One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
The pinkie toe was a little tough one to manage, but with Perkele's blessing by their side, any of the Bloodscales could manage at least that much.
One crack. Two crack. Three crack.
One… Two… Three.
One… Two… Three.
One… Two… Three.
One… Two.
All the fingers and toes were done. Now for the third phase. Placing each twisted finger to a smoldering mold. But as they were now twisted, little… ingenuity had to be enforced.
Crack, crack, crack. First finger mold.
Crack crack crack. Second.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
Sixth
Seventh.
Idril began to worry if the smell would wake the madam up, but she looked to be sound asleep.
Eighth.
Ninth.
Tenth.
And now toes.
First.
Second.
Third.
Fourth.
Fifth.
Sixth.
Seventh.
Eighth.
Ninth.
Tenth.
Now the Moriamas was done for the time being. Now, it was the Allmiere turn.
Idril grabbed Allmiere by the leg and threw her to the wall. Same place, same method. Just upside down and facing the wall.
Of course Allmiere began to shout profanities. But no sound reached the outside. Only Idril could hear what Allmiere intended to say.
Idril placed tiny heated needles all over Allmiere's body using acupuncture techniques to maximize the pain each of Allmiere's nerves could feel.
Idril did have to rip Allmiere's clothes first, which made Idril see some sore spots on the madam's back.
Carefully, Idril placed those hot needles. One by one. Each to maximize the pain of the last one.
Dip.
Dip.
Dip.
.
.
.
Dip.
The tears of madam Allmiere were also plentiful long before Idril was done placing the last one.
A little earlier, Idril forcefully made Moriamas drink a concoction that causes diarrhea.
Madam Allmiere's face was right below Moriamas' ass. But not quite close enough.
Idril made Allmiere's face as close as she could to Moriamas's ass with a belt. And once Idril was satisfied, she sat on the bed and waited for Moriamas' load to come.
And some time after. it came. The King of Elves shat on the Queen's face. The smell was quite foul.
After letting her two victims be for a while, Idril injected Moriamas and Allmiere with something. She looked at the time and it was about the time the Bloodscales should leave.
And leave they did.
In the morning, the victims of Bloodscales were found. The first guard being the only one able to tell the tale.
Investigation was made by the best of Cruxbel castle. Even Mercy herself got involved. Of course, Lud didn't want to let the perpetrators go unpunished, so he asked Tear to come with her crew to get to the bottom of it all.
As Perkele was nowhere to be found at the time, most fingers were pointing at him. But as the gods went to find where Perkele was, Thews came to look at the scene and with the power of some of his swords, he was able to find the culprit and where they lived.
So the hunt was on. Thews himself being the forerunner to make sure the perpetrators would pay after finding out their connection to Perkele.
Eventually the group was captured. And once they were all in chains, Perkele was also found and brought to questioning.
The first thing Perkele did when he saw the Bloodscales was a very, very deep sigh as his hand was facepalming hard on his face.
"Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh"
Mercy asked "You wouldn't know anything about this incident, now would you?"
Perkele says, in a very, slow, manner, "I did… tell them… to not cause trouble… during… the week. I told SPECIFICALLY to NOT target anything in Cruxbel. YET…"
Perkele glared daggers at Idril and her subordinates. He walked closer to them, leaned a little and asked them "What SPECIFICALLY did you NOT understand?"
The very air began to twist with the power of defilement leaking out from Perkele's body. He was shaking in anger. The very trees, the earth and the clothes began to twist and turn in unnatural ways. Growing things that should not be there.
Idril pleaded "I… I only did it because I could not let the karma of those bastards slip us by! It was all sake for…"
Perkele said in a very cold tone "For… what?"
Idril was so terrified that she could not help but look down and not say a word.
Perkele straightened his back, facing Mercy and the crew, and said "If you would be so kind as to grant me the honor of punishing those who went against my orders, that would be most appreciated."
Thews says to Mercy "Don't let him do that. Whatever he would do to them, is fate worse than what any mortal should experience."
Mercy thinks for a moment and then asks Perkele, still facing his back on her, "And how would you punish your believers for this transgression?"
Perkele turned a little to look at Mercy and the crew with his left eye and say:
"I… Am… Furious."
Then he turns his back to Mercy's crew and says "Would that answer your question?"
Mercy, and everyone else there, knew what those three words coming from that man meant.
Mercy stays steadfast and says "I'll have to decline your request. They will judged by the law of Cruxbel. You'll have no say in the matter."
Perkele turns his head a little to Mercy and the crew and says "Would you please… reconsider."
Mercy says "My decision is final. If you do not step down now, then we will be having issues."
Perkele turns his body and head ever so slightly to make sure he gets a good look at Mercy with his left eye and places a deadly glare at her as he says "Do not forget who gave you that power, Eleanora."
Mercy stands firm and says "My answer remains the same."
Perkele glares at Mercy for a while, until he turns his back to face Mercy and the crew once again.
There is a moment of silence as Perkele seems to ponder, until he makes a deep sigh, claps his hands together, turns around and says all cheery "Well… can't help with that then. I'll back down for now."
He begins to walk away as he says "I'm glad that I could wash my hands clean of this case. It really, REALLY brightens my day."
But as he is leaving, with his back facing all the people there, he looks over his shoulder and says coldly "However. After this week ends, I make no promises how their fates will end. Alive…"
And with last words before he vanishes, Perkele says "Or otherwise."
Those words leave a chilling reminder of the savage god known as Perkele.