Servant Girl (part 11)
A cozy fire crackles in the hearth
the portal fizzles out behind them
a servant girl stands near a magnificent window
great evergreens sway in the breeze
her trappings are trim
an eloquent sarong reveals her form
she holds a broom to her breast
a look of shock vanishes
"Who are you brave ones" she coaxes
"What brings you to our home."
the warlords doom reverberated
his fate spelt an end to our subjugation
Kiara moves in her direction
showing expressions of compassion
"The ancient taskmaster has been released
no more will he oppress or with death greet!"
a mask of concern falls away
suddenly the girl draws a wand
motions an ancient pattern
bright fusing lights begin
a transformation
she wails and cackles
becomes taller hair wild
glowing silver tinged vile
her clothes transformed to shamanic vestments
an aura of darkness pervades
her eyes light with a demonic flame
she shouts menacing
voice as from a great host rings
"No rescue shall attain my love for him remains
the one who resurrects and tames
master of the air and sea
below and above the great palisade
the writhing arms sinking below the molten scene
he who speaks life and death without strain
Zethynos!"
She continues cackling menacingly
waves her wand in madness
Artul's face grim and dense
draws a magic blade
it's deathly aura glows
twitching erratically with her anxiety
Kiara casts anti magic wards
the auras glimmering translucent
rune symbols of gold and silver
dancing auras
the harpy's visage darkens
her spells woven fracturing the universal ether
frost appears on the walls and edges
an icy sheen drawn together
she leaps onto a giant mattress
directs her wand at Artul
pools of ice form in an instant
he slips and begins to topple
Kiara steadies his arm
the ice forms beneath her grip
she slides and slips
a darkness develops
black wells growing from the floor boards
clawed bony hands emerge
their tattered clothing and ancient rings gleam
three skeleton champion kings
a horde of smaller beings emerge
spiders and crawling things clamber
they screech and attack
Kiara screams and sidesteps
catches her track
"Artul step back! They may be venomous!"
she casts a levitating spell and they glide above
the creatures squirm and climb
over gilded walls and marble columns
they stack and swarm
the magnificent bed stand and carved bedposts
they launch themselves
a giant furious swarm
Artul dives aside
glides into a wall and bangs his head
the witch cackles with glee
raises a wand and chants softly
shadows flow freely from its tip
Kiara calls a magic cipher
a brilliant orb of light grows and projects
the shadows scream and wither
spidery creatures swarm her
crawling into hair
covering her torso
biting and clawing her exposure
"Kiara steady yourself! Hold on to something!"
Artul draws his wand and waves it forward
a great howling wind leaps toward her
the creatures fly in all directions
are dashed against the walls
the skeleton kings clatter forward
cruel curved blades dripping poison
they clash
Artul parries and sweeps the leg
one falls in a jumble
he plunges his blade
a fiery localized shock wave emits from the wound
the creature flails and screeches
returns to a pile of ash
Kiara waves her wand high
a convex flame wall projects
she charges the remaining skeletons
blasting them with rending flame
they writhe and return to the earth
many of the crawling creepers are dispatched
the witch cackles
raises a totem at her neck
ice shards form and crystalize above her shoulders
leaping forth like pincers
they lunge aiming to pierce her
Artul's shield expunges
the witch shows a glimmer of fright
Kiara stands up to height
speaks an ancient word
then she is gone
there is a popping sound
she appears behind the dark lady
grabs her neck
holds up her blade
apprehends the viscous throat
the witch attempts a relocation mote
Artul at the ready dispels
a fizzle
Kiara holds the blade tight
growls menacingly
"You oh evil one cloaked and insane. Draw your power from manipulating. I am here and will remain. Tell us now your story or be sent to the void plane!"
The witch transforms again
back into the beautiful slave girl
torn clothing and dirt smeared face
cannot prevent her beauty
a look of fear vanishes
replaced by an alluring smile
her voice thick as honey
she tells a story.
(Link to the full poem here: )