Steven Burke - The Dark Tide

The creatures, which had not been seen in the middle lands of Tuwa for centuries, had four powerfully built legs. Both sets of legs were well adapted for digging or mining. The extra-long hair made it easier for them to move through the earth. What were not immediately visible to the naked eye were the razor sharp needles it used for defense that were shorter than the hair. If they feel threatened, they will roll up into a ball and try to steam roll its assailant. When they get into this position, the metallic spikes protrude from their skin and act as a weapon. If they get cornered they will launch their needles at their enemies. They also emit a musky scent when they feel threatened. There was no way to avoid this particular defensive measure.

“Drugars…I have called you here to request your help in surprising your neighbors nestled in Mount Ennis. I am offering you an opportunity to get retribution on those who have hunted and killed your kind over the centuries” Kana said boldly. There was a soft rustling of quills in reply to this grand offer. It was clear that they were willing to do whatever this fallen guardian wanted so long as they get the chance to repay the dwarves for senseless killings of so many of their kind. They had been hunted as pests or for fun. The musky smell they emitted when they felt they were threatened was one of the most popular reasons for hunting them down.

“We will do whatever you want Kana so long as you keep your promise” replied the head drugar Dorax. He was nearly four feet tall and had a sleek jet black coat of hair. His eyes had an unusual silver hue to them. The drugars cannot speak, but they have superior telepathic abilities that assist them with their mining activities. Many dwarves take their lack of speech to mean that they are lesser creatures or even giant rodents. This misperception is at the heart of the rift between the two groups. The dwarves viewed them as smelly oversized rodents and the drugars thought the dwarves were ruthless bearded nuisances.

“Dorax…I am surprised that you even asked me that. I will keep my end of the bargain…you will have plenty of dwarves to feast on. All I ask in return is that you begin digging along the eastern canyon walls. From there I want you to continue all the way to Mount Ennis. These tunnels need to be high and wide enough for several armies to fit in with their war machines.” The drugars were not carnivores and would only eat dwarves because of their extreme hatred toward the above land hole diggers.

“It will take us some time to make it all the way to Ennis, so we will get started now. How many tunnels do you want?” They were eager to join Kana without thought of what her plans were. They did not care for above landers’ politics or wars. They merely saw this as an opportunity to get revenge on the dwarves without the interference from the men of Nairi. For as long as anyone could remember there was an agreement between the dwarves of Ennis and the men of Nairi to assist one another in controlling the drugar population.

“I want two dozen…I will leave you to your work then.” Kana turned her back on the sea of furry beasts to look at Ryo once more. The twenty thousand plus army of hairy diggers made their way to the eastern walls and began their projects. The ground shook violently as they went about their work.

“You trust those earth loving beasts? They never remain loyal to anyone outside their own kind. What makes you think they will stay true to you?” asked Ryo suspiciously. He eyed the tasty treats as the clay laden dirt began to fly. His instincts wanted him to snatch up a few of them.

“I thought you would have caught on by now…intimidation and brute force is not the only way of persuading others to do my bidding. I find that servants are more faithful when you give them proper incentives. They will do what we want them to because they benefit from the arrangement.” She knew that these beasts were only doing her bidding because she had removed the threat of Nairi. They did not care at all about her war or what the above landers were doing.

“I see that you have thought your strategy through…what is our next move then?” He was feeling more confident in his counterpart. The rift between them was mending quicker than he had anticipated.

“I need to you visit the battlefield in southern Landen. Go to south gate and try to bolster orc ranks as well as the high elves. If the number of griffins is half of what it was at the beginning then you will need to procure more recruits. The aerial attacks will give us the edge we need to crush those fiends along the cliffs.” They knew that the eagles to the north never ventured to the south and would not get involved in the fight there. They may engage them at some point; however, they were confident that they would not attack there.

“Finally…we agree on something.” As Ryo said this, he took off into the air that was now filled with dust. As the beast flew over the eastern edge of the canyon walls there was the slightest movement along the precipice. After the dragon had cleared Nairi, all was still on the plains above the canyon lands. The dust made it difficult to see as far and would help to hide what was taking place at her temple.

I wonder what that was on the plains. It was big enough to be seen clearly from a great distance even with the dust. Well…it is gone now…whatever it was. I have more pressing matters to attend to. Kana turned her attention to the drugars who were digging madly at the base of the canyon walls. She smiled at their eagerness to reach the dwarves. She lingered for a few moments longer while she watched their feverish pace. Her black wings appeared and she flew slowly toward her new home. This new temple was going to be the center of Tuwa…the place where she would rule over everything and everyone. She dove from her place in the dusty sky and flew through the temple entrance.

***

King Nognili sat at a table next to his beautiful throne eating his way through a wild boar. He was humming lightly as he greedily ate his meal and drank his fair share of elven wine. An outsider may have been taken aback by this care free scene considering the fact that war was all around him. There were several servants waiting on their king while he gorged himself. They looked away in disgust at their leader’s insistence that all was well in the world. King Edric lacked severely in table manners which only added to their revulsion. His beard was stained with juices and blood from his meal.

The doors to the king’s underground throne room burst open sending the massive wrought iron doors banging into the hall’s stone walls. The sound reverberated loudly as the king turned slowly in his chair to see who had disturbed his meal. The stout figure of General Chad stood silhouetted in the doorway as he labored to catch his breath. King Edric gave his general a quizzical look as he impatiently waited for the abrupt disturbance to be explained. There was food mingled with the blood in his long beard.

“King Nognili…I have news…” panted General Chad. He walked quickly over to where Edric was seated at a beautifully carved stone table. He did not hide his revulsion at the manner of his monarch.

“How can I help you general?” asked the king shortly. He did not bother to hide his irritation at the intrusion. He finally started to clean himself up since his appetite was likely to be ruined with more drivel from his general. He was not altogether pleased with his general’s war mongering and his insistence that he involve his army in the war at large.

“Sorry for the interruption, but I thought it would be good for you to know that someone has drained the water from Nairi.” He could not hide his disdain for his king’s lack of action during these dangerous times. He made sure not to be polite in order to throw off the monarch. He had to find a way to get the dwarven king to act…even if it meant the end of his career or his freedom.