Sharra is what I would consider a centerpiece of the story of Dark Lord. Her part in the story is one that gets slowly revealed through not just her own lore, but through the actions and stories of other characters as well, so you'll have to wait a few more weeks to understand her full significance to the world of Dark Lord. Her story takes place somewhat before the others and features last week's subject, Meredith, who rips Sharra, a succubus and demon, from her own realm into the world of Dark Lord to serve her nefarious purposes. Sharra, against her will, agrees. I really hope you're enjoying these stories so far and hope you continue to over the next several weeks. Thanks, as always, for your continued support. Cheers, Bobby Dillon Co-Founder, Dystopic Entertainment |
Torn from a realm she had called home, the demoness found herself in a strange Land, on her knees, a sharp pain tearing through her skull – she had heard of this realm before, had heard of those like her being bound to the service of demonologists and necromancers for dark ends but had never seen the Land itself. A woman hard as iron stood before her, eyes dark and malicious.
“I have summoned you to this realm via the Hell Rift below this Keep, succubus. You are bound to me.”
Sharra stood and tried to dash from the room.
“STOP!” the cold woman screamed. Sharra felt herself compelled to obey. Her mind tore at her limbs, as though screaming at herself to run, to get away from this woman, though she simply could not.
“You are bound to me, demoness,” the woman repeated, “there is nothing you can do about this until I’ve freed you personally. I will do so after, and not a minute before, you have completed your task. We will work together on this task, though we must do it discretely. Do you understand?”
Sharra stared at the woman, defiant.
“Answer,” the woman commanded.
“I do,” Sharra replied between gritted teeth.
“My name is Meredith. You serve me. Our goal is simple, though that does not mean it will be easy. We must be careful, we must be clandestine, we must not under any circumstances reveal our plans to anyone. Nod if you understand.”
Sharra felt herself nod.
“Would you know what I would have you do?”
Sharra shook her head, “I would kill you where you stand, witch.”
Meredith laughed aloud, cackling and cawing like a mad raven when suddenly she stopped. “Slit your own throat,” Meredith commanded.
Sharra fought with all her will, her arms trembling and shaking. Despite her efforts, her hand fell to the blade at her hip and drew the knife, haltingly. Slowly, slowly, the knife came to her throat, pressing the cool steel to her perfect gray-blue skin.
“Stop,” Meredith commanded.
Sharra threw the knife out the window, shattering the glass, screaming her rage and fear. “I WILL END YOU, WOMAN,” Sharra screamed, her eyes reddening and her face contorting with rage.
“Perhaps, demon,” Meredith said coolly. “Though not today, it would seem. Your target is this…thing – he can scarcely be called a man any longer. He is a fiend, a weak-willed husk of a man who preys on the souls of those weaker than him. He cannot help himself – he needs it as he needs oxygen.” Meredith swirled her hands aloft as an image of the shade, Hautus, came into being before them. “He is the right hand of the Dark Lord. You have heard of the Dark Lord, no doubt, even in your own realm. Nod if you have.”
Sharra nodded, slowly. “You would have me kill this shade?”
“Let me finish,” Meredith snapped. “Nothing so puerile. Our goal is the Dark Lord himself.”
Sharra’s heart stopped, ever so briefly, and she felt as though the room would close in on her any second. She attempted to run once more, to dive from the window, but before she could make it –
“Stop there, succubus,” Meredith cooed. “You see how serious this is. The truth is, I need you. Hautus will not let me near him – which is smart but inconvenient…but, he has shown a… propensity toward those such as yourself.
“I would have you seduce him, succubus. I would have you learn the secrets he has – all of them, so as not to miss any – and I would have you learn what he knows about the Dark Lord’s power. You will not speak of me, you will not reference me, you will not even think of me in his presence. This must be done naturally or it will arouse his considerable paranoia. You must make him need you the way he needs his fix. Only then will it be anywhere near what we could call ‘safe’ for you to bring this up to him. He is the key to the Dark Lord. If anyone knows how to kill him, it is Hautus. It is up to you to find out what he knows. Nod if you understand.”
Sharra nodded. She found herself slowly becoming intrigued by the task ahead of her.
“As I say, I need you. I will not let your service go unrewarded. If you would live here upon completion of our task, you will live well. Alternatively, should you wish to return to your realm I have… ways of making that happen for you. Let it not be said that Meredith is not generous,” the woman snorted haughtily, turning to leave.
“Before I do this…” Sharra began hesitantly. Meredith interrupted:
“You are in no position to make demands, demoness. You will do it because you cannot act otherwise while I hold the chains to your soul.”
“I will not survive without a source of… food.”
“Oh?” Meredith’s eyebrows raised inquisitively, her voice pitching up. “Just what have I brought upon this world, then? Dare I ask what this 'food' is you speak of?”
“I require demons...”
“Absolutely not.”
“…for sustenance.”
“Well... a succubus who feeds on other demons? Do succubi not feed on humans? You have plenty of food available to you here, have no fear.”
“It’s not enough.”
“Indeed? Quite an appetite you have then, demoness,” Meredith winked.
“This is the condition of my aid – not a demand, but making you aware of my needs.”
After a long pause Meredith responded. “Very well, you shall have what you need,” she said reluctantly. “You shall have limited and closely monitored access to the Hell Rifts. Pray you do not take advantage of my kindness in this. Now go. You have your assignment – go do it. Only the shade has the knowledge we need and we cannot allow him to keep it to himself. Go.”
So, Sharra went.
“I have summoned you to this realm via the Hell Rift below this Keep, succubus. You are bound to me.”
Sharra stood and tried to dash from the room.
“STOP!” the cold woman screamed. Sharra felt herself compelled to obey. Her mind tore at her limbs, as though screaming at herself to run, to get away from this woman, though she simply could not.
“You are bound to me, demoness,” the woman repeated, “there is nothing you can do about this until I’ve freed you personally. I will do so after, and not a minute before, you have completed your task. We will work together on this task, though we must do it discretely. Do you understand?”
Sharra stared at the woman, defiant.
“Answer,” the woman commanded.
“I do,” Sharra replied between gritted teeth.
“My name is Meredith. You serve me. Our goal is simple, though that does not mean it will be easy. We must be careful, we must be clandestine, we must not under any circumstances reveal our plans to anyone. Nod if you understand.”
Sharra felt herself nod.
“Would you know what I would have you do?”
Sharra shook her head, “I would kill you where you stand, witch.”
Meredith laughed aloud, cackling and cawing like a mad raven when suddenly she stopped. “Slit your own throat,” Meredith commanded.
Sharra fought with all her will, her arms trembling and shaking. Despite her efforts, her hand fell to the blade at her hip and drew the knife, haltingly. Slowly, slowly, the knife came to her throat, pressing the cool steel to her perfect gray-blue skin.
“Stop,” Meredith commanded.
Sharra threw the knife out the window, shattering the glass, screaming her rage and fear. “I WILL END YOU, WOMAN,” Sharra screamed, her eyes reddening and her face contorting with rage.
“Perhaps, demon,” Meredith said coolly. “Though not today, it would seem. Your target is this…thing – he can scarcely be called a man any longer. He is a fiend, a weak-willed husk of a man who preys on the souls of those weaker than him. He cannot help himself – he needs it as he needs oxygen.” Meredith swirled her hands aloft as an image of the shade, Hautus, came into being before them. “He is the right hand of the Dark Lord. You have heard of the Dark Lord, no doubt, even in your own realm. Nod if you have.”
Sharra nodded, slowly. “You would have me kill this shade?”
“Let me finish,” Meredith snapped. “Nothing so puerile. Our goal is the Dark Lord himself.”
Sharra’s heart stopped, ever so briefly, and she felt as though the room would close in on her any second. She attempted to run once more, to dive from the window, but before she could make it –
“Stop there, succubus,” Meredith cooed. “You see how serious this is. The truth is, I need you. Hautus will not let me near him – which is smart but inconvenient…but, he has shown a… propensity toward those such as yourself.
“I would have you seduce him, succubus. I would have you learn the secrets he has – all of them, so as not to miss any – and I would have you learn what he knows about the Dark Lord’s power. You will not speak of me, you will not reference me, you will not even think of me in his presence. This must be done naturally or it will arouse his considerable paranoia. You must make him need you the way he needs his fix. Only then will it be anywhere near what we could call ‘safe’ for you to bring this up to him. He is the key to the Dark Lord. If anyone knows how to kill him, it is Hautus. It is up to you to find out what he knows. Nod if you understand.”
Sharra nodded. She found herself slowly becoming intrigued by the task ahead of her.
“As I say, I need you. I will not let your service go unrewarded. If you would live here upon completion of our task, you will live well. Alternatively, should you wish to return to your realm I have… ways of making that happen for you. Let it not be said that Meredith is not generous,” the woman snorted haughtily, turning to leave.
“Before I do this…” Sharra began hesitantly. Meredith interrupted:
“You are in no position to make demands, demoness. You will do it because you cannot act otherwise while I hold the chains to your soul.”
“I will not survive without a source of… food.”
“Oh?” Meredith’s eyebrows raised inquisitively, her voice pitching up. “Just what have I brought upon this world, then? Dare I ask what this 'food' is you speak of?”
“I require demons...”
“Absolutely not.”
“…for sustenance.”
“Well... a succubus who feeds on other demons? Do succubi not feed on humans? You have plenty of food available to you here, have no fear.”
“It’s not enough.”
“Indeed? Quite an appetite you have then, demoness,” Meredith winked.
“This is the condition of my aid – not a demand, but making you aware of my needs.”
After a long pause Meredith responded. “Very well, you shall have what you need,” she said reluctantly. “You shall have limited and closely monitored access to the Hell Rifts. Pray you do not take advantage of my kindness in this. Now go. You have your assignment – go do it. Only the shade has the knowledge we need and we cannot allow him to keep it to himself. Go.”
So, Sharra went.