The Beast King

"The beastmen are wretched things. To turn away from the light of the gods and indulge in such vile debauchery... Sometimes I ask myself if they are even worth saving. Only by the endless mercy of the gods do we give their souls a second chance." - Paladin Haden Vice

Stiring from his sleep Itoum heard a soft voice muttering something. Sounded doctorly to him, bunch of medical mumbo jumbo. Another voice responded, this one much more harsh. Opening his eyes he saw two of those strange beastmen. They had no flesh to be seen on their bodies, only fur and the two of them had spiraling horns jutting from their foreheads. Confused he tried to get up only to be stopped by an intense pain in his abdomen.

"I wouldn't advise any movement just yet Mr.Griffin, you're quite injured and it will take a few days for you to recover." the white one in a white nurse's dress said. Turning his head in confusion he tried make sense of what she just said. Griffin? Injury? He couldn't remember what had happened. And just what the hell was a griffin?

"You're suffering from acute magical poison, a condition that only affects unicorns... usually." She added in an annoyed tone casting him a scrutinizing gaze. The other one, a dark pink woman seemed to share the sentiment. She had a more muscular build and her clothes were bulkier, as if they were hiding some form of protection. She must have been a local enforcer or something. "You've likely suffered temporary memory loss but I need you to tell me everything you know."

Trying to recall what had happened, a deep unease filled him as the pain of his exhaustion began to cry. It was clear to him what happened now. "We were facing a war of extinction. Our king pulled together all of our magic to transport our nation to a new world. I went to confirm our situation, and it seems King's plan worked." He explained. The pink guard seemed to dislike something about what he said. Thinking about his role it dawned on him. He had been asleep.

"How long was I out?"

The gaze of the two beastmen lessened with his question. "You've only been asleep for two days, you'll be feeling very tired for the next week or so as a result of your condition." The nurse said in a softer tone as the horn atop her head glowed with a soft blue and a cup of water approached him enveloped in the same aura. He took it in his hand and drank from it greedily.

"You mentioned a nation. Will they be looking for you?" The pink woman asked with an air of caution. She was worried about retaliation. Itoum groaned internally as he recalled what happened. It's only a matter of time before Kisliv come looking. That will cause a diplomatic schism. Hopefully his second in command comes first. The rambunctious young feather did hate roosting in the capital nest.

"I suppose that depends on who's coming. Kisliv is a bit of a bastard, but I should be able to smooth things out with him. If it's anybody else then there shouldn't be a problem." His explanation seeming to calm her, if only ever so slightly.

"So you came here why again?" The gaurdswoman asked once more. She was still cautious of him dispite his weakend state. It was his duty as a first contact to a new beastman race to try and give a good first impression.

"I've come seeking only conformation of our surroundings, and I can promise the king's kindness so long as you don't take arms against us."

It was a large thing to promise, King had died and Itoum didn't know who would be next in line, to say he could secure their future together may have been a lie. He wasn't even sure the Empire would survive without King. The bulk of their time being spent preparing for a war against the heavens, they didn't have much time to flesh out the intricacies of government. Itoum knew he would likely have to take control by force lest Kisliv do the same.

"Well if you've come with harmony in mind then I suppose I can let you off a little easy. Private Gentle Wind will watch over you for the day as I prepare my report." The gaurd said as she stretched and left the room. As she left he heard a third voice outside the room before a new beastman had walked in.

This one was wearing armor made of gold with rather extensive grooving into it. It's blacksmith seeming to treat it more like a work of art than a protective piece. And the woman who wore it was even more stunning. She had a coat of light pink with a beautiful muscular wings, the feathers the definition of alluring. Her hair done as if it belonged to a model, he was stuned at the new entry to the room and he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"Excuse me Mr.Griffin, we still have much to discuss." The nurse demanded, clearly not amused by his actions.

Prying his eyes from the beauty that stood before him he looked back to the nurse, who had narrowed her eyes once more. "I apologize, I've never seen a beast that shared even a ounce of the beauty she had." He replied with a wink in the woman's direction. Much to his shock she looked at him with furrowed brows as if he had insulted her. Did she not like compliments?

"If you think Ms. Wind is attractive then I suggest you refrain from calling her a beast sir." She stated while looking to her notebook, "Now, can you remember your name?"

Itoum was shocked. Beastmen were referred to as beasts without complaint, many even took it as a sign of strength. Was it considered to be offensive here. Looking from the beauty back to the nurse he knew he had to clear this up before it was too late, but he couldn't just ignore the nurse that healed him.

"My name is Itoum, The first general of the beast king and the comander of the Golden Feather company." He said with a respectful half-bow his pain preventing him from moving much further. Then turning to the woman he bowed once more. "My deepest apologies my lady, I was unaware that the term beast would cause you offense I would like the chance to ammend my mistake if you would allow it."

Ms. Wind seemed to lessen her anger at the statement though her wrath was quickly replaced with confusion. "I'll accept your apology, though I must know why you find that term to be something acceptable to say to a lady." Even her voice was angelic Itoum thought as she said so.

"My lady, I was unaware that any beastman clans found the term offensive. While we are all of the same creed, I neglected that our cultures are not shared. As for my apology." He began as he plucked one of his own feathers. Placing it in his palm he focused of his feelings. Thinking of how he never wanted such an angelic woman to face harm, he breathed magic into the feather. Dispite the pain it caused he knew she would love it. "Take may feather and intertwine it into your own, and it's magic will protect you from whatever foul thing whishes you harm."

Taking his gift in her hands he saw that it seemed to please Ms. Wind and he was rewarded with a kind smile and glistening soft blue eyes, his heart fluttered as he looked at her, all the pain of the last few years melted away.

"HOW DID YOU DO THAT!" The nurse screamed at him her eyes glued to the feather she snached it from Ms. Wind's hands and ran from the room screaming for someone named Arcane studies. He tried to stop the nurse but she was gone before he could rise. He felt a soft hand ease him back down onto the bed.

"You'll have to forgive her. Nurse Quick Fix gets like that sometimes." She laughed and the anger he felt faded. " I don't belive that I properly introduced myself. I'm private Gentle Wind and it's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Wind, I'm glad to have met someone as beautiful as you." His words made her blush heavily, he hoped this new world was peaceful. If he could finally settle down with a caring wife. If he could have that he would never ask for anything else.

"Do you really think I'm that pretty?" She asked softly seeming unsure of herself. Had no other male complemented her? Such an unjust world.

"I've never met a female with feathers as pristine as yours, you're eyes are-

"ITOUM HOW DID YOU DO THIS!?" Quick Fix screamed as herself and a new man entered the room. A brown coated beastman without a horn or wings. The nurse got right up into his face with a wild look in her eyes. She scrutinized him deeply as she bagan to speak. "How did you preform such a powerful spell without a horn? You don't have a focal point to access magic so how did you do it?"

Itoum sighed. He was powerful yes, but he never cared much for magic, instead honing his martial prowess. "I'm not really the best beast to ask when it comes to magic. I only understand the very basics." His explanation seemed to calm the mad nurse but it didn't stop her. The new man did however. He placed his hand on her shoulder and took the feather from her hand and gave it to Gentle Wind. The new man gave Itoum a reassuring look.

"Hello Mr. Itoum, I'm Doctor Helping Hooves and I would like to formally apologize for my colleagues behavior, your affliction has had us wracking our brains for the past few days, you're quite the unique case." He said extending his hand. Itoum took his hand and gave a firm handshake.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions and we will bring you something to eat after. I hope fruits and vegetables are acceptable, we don't have much in the ways of meat industries." Doctor Hooves said with a strained smile. Did they dislike carnivores?

"I do love a good apple or two." He said in a jovial tone clearly to the ease of the good doctor.

"Now on a scale of one to ten, with ten being excruciating and one being unnoticeable, how would you rate your current pain?"

"Two." He lied. He was in pain, exasperated by his gift earlier, but the sooner he returned to the capital the better. The doctor looked at him questioningly but moved on none the less.

"Ok. Well, Nurse Quick Fix said you were fighting a war before you came here. Do you have any previous injuries we should know about?"

"Nothing physical." His response was simple and made sense but the response seemed to utterly shock the doctor, though he made quick to hide his surprise.

"Nothing... physical you say? Is there magical damage we should know of?" The doctor asked unable to hide his concern, the two women in the room looked as if the had seen a ghost.

"It's nothing I won't recover from doctor." He reassued. In truth the attack had nearly killed him. He entered honorable melee with a human paladin some months back when the human broke the sanctity of the duel and used magic in an attempt to destroy his soul.

The doctor looked placid, his hands shaking. Were they truly unaware of the ways of human warfare? If they had never faced combatants which attacked the soul then that was a good omen. A world finally free of the tyrannical rule of the man-gods.

"Well, Mr. Itoum, that's very enlightening, thank you for awnsering my questions," he said standing up and walking to the door. "I'm going to fetch you something to eat, if you need anything just holler."

"Wait doctor, when will I be able to leave?" Itoum inquired. Doctor Hooves seemed to pause at that and thought it over.

"Well let's get you something to eat first, then you can speak with Captain Golden Morning about that."

Even with the reassurance of the doctor he couldn't help but feel unsettled. He hoped it wasn't Kisliv that came from him, but at the same time he was probably causing trouble down in the capital.

"So, you were in a war?" Wind asked from his side drawing him from his ponderance. She was a soldier or something of the like givin her armor, so it shouldn't have surprised him.

"Yeah, but it was quite.... gruesome, even as far as wars go." He explained. He really didn't want to scare the woman with tales of the war.

"I'm a pegasus, I can handle it!" She exclaimed pumping her fists in front of her. Both a beauty and a warrior. A woman after his own heart.

"How about I tell you how I first met the beast king. It started when an undead dragon attacked my hometown." The instant he said that her face lit up with interest. He smiled as he regaled the rest of the story.

In the middle of his story he was brought a meal and he thanked the doctor. Continuing his tale he smiled as Gentle Wind got completely absorbed by the story asking about how the dragon attacked and what brought it to life and all of that. He enjoyed talking to her. It made him want to stay here but he knew his duty was elsewhere.

As the captain walked in he knew that he had to leave. Mentioning it made lady Wind frown much to his displeasure.

"Are you sure you must go sir Itoum?" She asked gently grasping his hand. She smiled and it brought doubt into his mind. He was finally somewhere where he could find peace. He knew if he did that then all beastmen would suffer under Kisliv's cruel control. Kisliv did care about the beastmen, in his own strange demented way, but he list sight of what was truly important. Sighing he nodded.

"I pains me to leave you Lady Wind, but my countrymen need me."

"Gentle Wind, are you ready to draft a report?"

Gentle Wind nodded in conformation and the captain gave Itoum the good to go.

Leaving the hospital he looked at the happy town and smiled. He had hope for these new lands and new beastmen. Looking at Lady Wind fly off to the north he began to stretch his own wings and brace for the hell he was to face on the fly back. His body still ached from the magical backlash and he really didn't want to fly just yet, but it must be done and so it will be done.

Taking to the air he looked back on the happy little town. Smiling he flew back to the capital.. that is until he saw movement in the forest. Something was moving down there and it was making its way straight towards the town. Peering into the tree tops he looked for what it could be. Seeing a flash of silver through the leaves he felt panic. Flying to a clearing he waited. In just a few minutes he saw what he was looking for.

Paladin Haiden Vice, the man that stole his soul.