Lord of Beasts

[Perkins 115]

"That Traitor! I gave him a chance and he repaid me like this!?" 

 

 A massive man shouted in fury in his hall of wood and stone. Krug, the mighty King of the Desert, strongest of the Four, betrayed by the Stranger who he accepted into his tribe. Standing taller than any man, with dark skin, kissed by the scorching Sun and golden eyes, akin to the vast yellow of the dunes. He spoke out to his people, warriors in appearance much like him, hardened by their environment. 

 

"Iblees will pay! Gather the Warbands, summon my Generals! He will forsake the day he crossed with Krug, son of the Divine!" 

 

         [Krug, Pharaoh of the Desert, before his transformation.] 

 

Warhorns blew across the tribal lands, as Ancient armies gathered for the War to Shadow all Wars. Krug atop his chariot and adorned in his bronze armor, leading the marching of thousands of his war-ready kin, men and women at their physical peak, eager to fight. Each warrior, skilled fighter and hunter, bearing scars from past confrontations, adorned in Gear of bronze, hardened leather, spears , axes and all sorts of unique khopesh blades. For days the army marched unhindered, consuming only the food and water required to keep them going, never overfeeding them to get lazy or comfortable, or under feeding them, to get them weak, giving them such so they would be in their best fighting shape. 

 

[The warriors of Krug ready to fight.]

 

Eventually, the army reached an open battlefield, an army of Demons and Undead facing the Sons of Krug, vastly outnumbering them, Iblees standing in the middle, then shouting taunting phrases to Krug and his warriors:

 

"You could have been the Lieutenant of my Armies, Krug! We could have created the perfect world together, brought peace and Order to this land! Under our boots we would rule as Kings! Instead you are kept back by your 'Honour' and ethics!" 

 

Krug pointed his Golden Axe to the enemy hordes, not wasting the chance to charge while Iblees was talking. His army, with cold expression and killer determination rushed forth to meet the Demon-ilk Inferi and Lesser Daemonica that followed Iblees, spears piercing against corrupted flesh, while the Vanguard of Krug, along with him, slowly cleaved a bloody path to Iblees. Krug on his chariot trampled many of the Undead and Demonic Apostates, while a single swoop of his Divine Axe could easily kill a dozen combatants with ease. Unfortunately, Krug's successful charge was halted, for Iblees Wraith Bodyguard, which were no men, but untouched, like the wind, easily cut down Krug's horses, forcing his chariot low and sending him on the ground. Despite the strength of their army, Krug's Forces were completely swarmed by the foul Legions of Iblees and getting cut down. Then, warhorns sounded from the distance, familiar sounds to Krug. 

 

"Brother! You do not stand alone!" 

 

Horen had arrived, and with him brought the armies of his Empire. Oren's Kin were equipped with fine gladius swords, tower shields and uniforms that matched eachother, aurum and bronze breastplates shining under the sun. Then showed up Urguan, with his Mountain kin, short yet stout, build like bricks, adorned in their finest gear of slayersteel. From the forests sounded the horns of Malin, his armies equipped with light leather and wooden pieces, yet they were famed to be the finest marksmen and archers one could hope for. 

 

Now, with all the Four Brothers united, Horen, Malin and Urguan joined Krug, as the Descendant armies easily swept and broke the Corrupted Ibleesian Hordes. As his brothers fought to break the Hordes, Krug decided to face Iblees, who was now in his view. With his armor battered and beaten, Krug dropped all his heavy Equipment, bar a loincloth and his Divine Axe, swiftly dashing to Iblees and striking at him. Three times he slashed, first ruining Iblees wings, second cutting his tail and the third missing, yet five times Iblees retaliated and clawed, scarring Krug and bruising his body. Iblees loomed over the Descendant, about to strike him for good, yet Krug still drew breath:

 

"As long as me and my kin live! We will never bow down or kneel to anyone!" 

 

Krug roared and with a sideways swing, cut open Iblees belly, forcing him on the ground, defeated, yet in the process spilling his Daemonic and Acidic blood all over proud Krug. 

 

[The First Battle that shaped the world.]

 

The battle was over, the Descendants had won and the Four Brothers united infront of Iblees weakened frame, ready to finish him off, yet with a dying breath, he cursed them all and to Krug bellowed the worst words:

 

"Lord Krug, you are strong…  that strength will then be turned against you. May your kin all become heartless and ugly, fuelled by their lust for war." 

 

Krug, changed by the Blood of the Daemon, had been scarred, his skin turned green and eyes red, while mighty tusks jutted out of his lower jaw. His brothers stared at him in dread, Malin even backing up in disgust: 

 

"Monster! You have been corrupted like them, Krug! We must mercy-kill you!" 

 

"Malin! Don't be foolish! He is still our brother!" 

 

Urguan cried out to the Elf-Lord, Krug slowly turning to face his brothers, anger in his eyes. 

 

"You speak of me as if I am not the one who saved you all! I killed Iblees! I am the Chosen Champion of our Father! I-" 

 

Krug briefly noticed his Image from Iblees pool of blood, such a horrific sight. Truly he had become an ugly monster, just like the Daemon cursed. 

 

[Krug, after the transformation.]

 

Krug did not speak further, he simply looked at his brothers and then walked off. Horen tried to halt him, talk to him, to his beloved brother, placing a hand to Krug's shoulder, yet he shrugged it and moved off. Spotting the remnants of his army, he found a wild mess, for they had all turned into Beasts much like him, once proud warriors, now looking like the Demons they faced against. Krug found them taunting and shouting at the other Descendants, some even punching and beating them. He tried to rile them up, yet in their anger, they wouldn't obey or hear his words, as such he punched the largest one among them to the ground and easily gained back his warriors attention. 

 

"We are marching home! To the Desert! We must make sure our people are safe…" 

 

His warriors obliged to the whims of the strongest leader and soon followed after him in the long march home. During their trip, Krug and his Warband faced many issues, unlike before. The warriors would get angry quickly, some even fighting eachother in the middle of the march, causing trouble to the rest. Each day they required to fight, least a boiling rage would grow inside them, until some erupted into wild bouts of violence and clobbered those closest to them. With strength and determination, Krug kept them in line, until they reached back to their Kingdom, yet what they saw was a terrible sight: Disaster, for the curse had changed everyone, even the civilians, elderly, children, adults, all were violent beasts, fighting, killing and murdering what they saw, buildings broken down and cracked while those that tried to keep order and peace were ignored. Krug had much work to do, now he, a Lord of Beasts. 

 

Edited February 9, 2022 by Perkins