Chapter 0 - Germination

Gradsk, central Kislev 
 
Ulrich shifted slightly to take his weight off his foot, which had fallen asleep. He leaned back onto his elbow as he grabbed another apple. Staring down on the town beneath the hillside they were lying on, he took a listless bite as he suddenly felt something hit his cheek. He grimaced and wiped his face in irritation. 'Flies? Not during winter in Kislev' he thought instinctively. Then he heard a giggle and looked to his side, where Alana lay.  

"I think you got something on your face," she said. Her right hand was raised, like a viper ready to strike. An apple seed lay on her thumb. She snipped it and this time it flew over his head.  

"Hey! I'll get you!" Ulrich laughed as he rolled away from her dramatically, showing her his back.  

He grabbed a fistful of snow beside him and shaped it into a ball. As he rolled back, facing Alana, he threw it. It hit her raised hand and dispersed into her face. She jumped up screeching, amused and in discomfort, shaking the little icicles off her thick winter coat.  

"You shall pay for your impudence!" She yelled in a jovial war scream as she kicked up snow towards Ulrich who was still lying on the ground.  

Ulrich felt the cold on his hands and face, the only places where his skin was exposed. It melted as it touched him, running down under his clothes, causing him to shiver. Ulrich sat up with a pout on his face. Alana laughed and sat down next to him.  
Together they looked down over the town of Gradsk. It was made up by a few hundred houses that were huddled together in a rough circle. Black smoke rose from every chimney in town, coiling and writhing together as it dispersed in the sky above them. There was barely any wind that day, which meant it was as tolerable as it would get in eastern Kislev during winter. Although it was noon, the sun was barely visible through the dense grey dusk in the higher atmosphere.  
"Mum's making deer stew again tonight. You want to come over for dinner?" Alana asked him as they watched the hustle and bustle of the townsfolk.  
 
Alana's family had a special recipe in which they cured their deer meat. The thought of it made Ulrichs mouth salivate.  

"I'd love to!" He responded. "I doubt there'll be any left for you though, if I come".  

Alana grimaced playfully. "Well, you're not invited then". Ulrich laughed at that and they returned back to silence.  
 
He could sit up here forever, huddled in his thick fur coat, watching the craftsmen, housewives and children run around below him. Well, sitting up here with Alana was what really enticed him, he supposed. He threw her a sideways glance, which she didn't notice. Just as Ulrich, she was wrapped in thick furs, clad in high leather hunting boots and wore a thick white scarf. Long blond hair fell out of the hood she had pulled over her head. A slight breeze played with the tips of her hair and uncovered her delicate face. Afraid that she would notice his stare, he turned his head forward again and watched the town. He had grown up here, although his family had come from Middenland. He was born in Middenheim, twenty summers ago, but could barely remember it. His memory painted pictures of narrow streets, framed by wooden multistoried houses. But he wasn't certain if those were his memories or if his imagination had drawn these images from the stories his parents had told him. After moving north, they had stood out somewhat as a family, not being true Kislevites, although Ulrich had grown up amongst the children of the north and had adopted their ways, his name would always mark him as a southerner. He didn't mind that though. It served as a great icebreaker for conversations when it came up and most Kislevites looked favorably on Middenlanders. 

"Penny for your thoughts" Alana said, looking over to him. 
 
He met her eyes and lost himself for a moment. Ice blue irises looked at him from a round face, that made her look cute and girlish. The creases around her wide eyes from squinting against the glare of the snow, gave away that she was his age though. A few freckles marked her face, which had strands of blond hair dancing in the slight breeze. She maintained eye contact as he sat still for a few seconds, looking at her. The ghost of a knowing smile played with her lips. 
 
"Just thinking back, I guess", he answered finally, fainting disinterest as he looked frontward again. 
 
"Do you regret that your family moved up here?" She asked him, reading his thoughts.  

"I do wonder what it feels like, not freezing your ass off half the year" he responded dryly. 

Alana chuckled quietly. "Well, you wouldn't have me if you stayed in Middenheim," she teased playfully.  

"You mean, no one would be throwing apple seeds in my face?" Ulrich responded. Alana gave him a playful look of offense.
  
"We should go somewhere. Travel, see different places," she said after a brief pause. 

Ulrich perked up. The thought of spending more time with Alana intrigued him. He didn't want to be obvious though, so he played it off.  

"Our parents being the only merchants in town, what do you think the chances are, we'll be allowed to leave?".  

"Well, we just need to find a good trading route and we might be able to convince them." 

Ulrich thought about that for a moment. Both their parents would travel across the old world for longer periods of time, acquire valuable goods and bring them to Kislev. It was lucrative, seeing how the harsh environments didn't allow Kislevites to produce a lot of goods of their own. But while the fathers went on their travels, it was the son’s and daughter's jobs to sell and trade the current stock locally. Their fathers had returned in the last few weeks, which had allowed them to enjoy life a bit more, going out and having fun together, as they were currently. Once the merchants moved out again, life would change and work would demand most of their time once more.  

"If you don't go with me, I'll just ask Vadim," Alana teased.  

Ulrich rolled his eyes at her. Vadim was a boy their age that relentlessly courted Alana. He wasn't sure how much she understood of Ulrich's feelings, but they loved teasing each other with Vadim.  

"Ask him then. You’ll have to stuff cotton in your ears every night of course..., when he starts singing to you. And you’ll need a bag of stones to throw at him, when he’ll hide in the bushes every time you change clothes."  
Alana gestured throwing up and Ulrich laughed heartily.  

"I'll ask father later," Ulrich responded to her initial question. This put a big smile on Alanas face. 

Ulrich had enjoyed dinner with the Migayovas, eating so many bowls of stew that he felt sick. He had lied in front of the hearth with the family, quietly chatting, when Alana brought up her idea of travelling with Ulrich. Alanas parents seemed critical at first. While they didn't disapprove of her and Ulrich spending time together, in fact Ulrich was pretty sure they would have loved to see them marry, they felt uncertain about the safety in the region. Alanas father had explained how the east and north of Kislev had seen increased activity by the barbarian tribes, attacking and looting the border villages. There was even talk about a large raiding party coming down from the wastes. This generally wasn't a huge concern for the heartland, but Kislev wasn't exactly safe at the best of times. Later, when Alana's parents had gone to bed, her and Ulrich still sat in front of the fire, talking quietly.  

"What about Middenheim?" Alana suggested. "It's close enough and there are safe routes on the way. You could explore your old home and we could be back in a few weeks, before father leaves again."  

Ulrich thought about that. He would have loved to rediscover his roots. But there was a problem with that idea.  

"What would you trade? My father will be way more unhappy with this than your father. If I can convince him, it will have to be based on the money I can make, nothing sentimental. I'll know what he'll say otherwise."  

He imitated his father's deep slurred voice with a heavy Middenheim accent. "You don’t reeaally want travel, son ... You wanna play games. If you go, you sell this goods and you make money. You can not just goof around. You think I’m rich, huh? To pay for you to go and fuck around while your family working hard. Go and marry a princess from Praag. Then you can do what you want."  

Alana giggled at that. "Charming. What if you just ask him, if you can go and buy merchandise for him?" She asked. "If you're honest with him and let him be the boss, maybe he'll help. Focus on the trade, not the traveling. I'm sure he'll know somewhere to go."  

Ulrich pondered upon that as he watched Alana. She was lying in front of him, staring into the fire and with no one around, he wasn't afraid to get caught staring at her. She had taken her thick winter furs off and was dressed in a yellow cotton dress. In typical kislevite fashion, it was not very revealing but he couldn't help wondering what her curves looked like under that dress as he looked at the silky-smooth skin of her legs. 

When Ulrich got home later that night, he tried what she had suggested. He couldn't help but be impressed by Alanas understanding of his father's character. Ulrich himself wasn't sure if it would work, but it did. Anton Hendel, the seasoned grey merchant that he was, always had more plans than he could realize. As it turned out, he wanted ores from a village to the east called Trudograd. It was nestled against the northern tip of the world edge mountains. The human inhabitants would frequently trade with the dwarfs from Karak Vlag. Considering the heavy dwarf presence in the area, Anton figured the area was plenty safe for the two. The highway they would travel on was well frequented with many traders from Kislev City and Praag. Ulrich couldn't sleep that night, imagining what it would be like traveling with Alana. He had admitted to himself that he had strong feelings towards her, although it had taken a while. He wasn't sure when it had started, since they had known each other since early childhood. He had never spoken to her about this, he was too afraid that she saw him as a sibling or a friend. On the other hand, the way she teased him always made him wonder. Ulrich was certain, if they spent weeks together travelling, whatever happened, he would know whether they were meant for each other or not by the end of it. It scared him, but also filled him with exhilaration. His thoughts drifted off again to Alana and how she lay in front of the fire. The subtle curve of her hips and butt through the yellow dress. He began wondering what her breasts looked like. Were they big, or small? Did she have large nipples? He felt himself harden and inertly laughed it his immaturity. Aroused but exhausted, he finally fell asleep. 

On the road  


Ulrich stared at the gravel under his feet. Small dust clouds blew up with every step. The creaking and groaning of the old oxcart behind him drove him crazy. He couldn't get away from it either, because he needed to stay with the ox. If he built up too much distance, the bovine would just stop. Ulrich secretly cursed his dad for giving him the oldest and slowest animal in the barn.  
Something small struck him on his neck. He reached the spot with his hand and turned around, to see Alana giggling on the back of the cart with an apple in her hand.  

"Very funny!" He murmured as he turned around again.  

"Ouh, poor child. Come on! We're having fun! Why are you being grumpy?" Ulrich wasn't really, so he played along. 

"Why would you concern yourself with such trivial matters, oh my divine princess? Are all your earthly desires fulfilled? Shall I fetch you wine or water? Shall I massage your feet? You must have an aching butt from sitting on the cart all day, you poor thing," he asked sarcastically, acting like a stiff court servant with a hand pressed against his back.  
Alana laughed and threw another seed at him, hitting him right on the forehead.  

"Yes, I shall have all that" She followed up pompously with her head held upwards in a royal manner.  

Ulrich laughed again and felt his energy returning. He was excited. It had been a few days since they left town, thankfully with the blessing of their families. Of course, it wasn't quite as romantic as Ulrich had imagined it at first. Walking for long hours of the day until his feet were swollen and every joint and bone in his body felt worn out. Sleeping under the open sky had sounded good, but the constant sounds of nature caused Ulrich to startle several times during the night. The wind also picked up when it got dark, chilling the young travelers to the bone. They had slept close to each other, which Ulrich had enjoyed, but his thoughts had wandered off to the sounds of the night. His brain had conjured images of wild beastmen and ratmen, though he knew they were far away and no threat. Still, he finally had some purpose, away from home. The adventure had him in his grips. His thoughts returned back to reality as Alana called out to him. 

"Hey! I think there is a waterfall up there!" Alana yelled out. 

Ulrich perked up. Sure enough, he could hear a monotonous thundering in the distance. 

"Let's go see!" 
 
He found an old path off the highway and lead the ox and cart down it. They walked into a dense forested area. Large pines hid dense brushwork underneath, but the path snaked through it without obstructions. Finally, a picturesque scene opened up before them. A shallow wide stream flowed past the bank they were standing on. Just upstream, the little river crashed down a small waterfall, which was framed by a circle of rocks.  

"It's beautiful" Alana said, jumping off the cart. "You should jump in, maybe you won't smell as bad after," Alana laughed.  

Ulrich self-consciously smelled himself and realized that he did indeed smell. He turned back to her and was startled to see that Alana had begun undressing herself. She had stepped out of her fur coats and had only a short underdress left. In a brief glimpse he saw her slightly muscled thighs stretching out from the cloth. Embarrassed, he turned around again.  

"Don't turn around, I'm naked," he heard her say in an unbothered tone. She passed behind him and he heard her step into the river, which was followed up by a short shriek.
"UGH-! S-s-shit-! C-c-cold!" She stuttered.  

Ulrich laughed. "And here I thought it was going to be boiling hot."

He felt a splash of freezing cold water on his back. Shivering, he turned around and looked at Alana who stood waist deep in the stream. She had her back to him, one arm folded in front of her chest, but was looking back at him grinning.  

"Smart ass. Come in, it's so refreshing."  

Ulrich began undressing uncomfortably. Once he had stripped down to nothing but his shorts, he slowly tip toed to the water's edge.  

"I'd take those off if I were you. They're not going to dry for hours and you'll freeze your balls off... Literally" he heard Alana say.  

Ulrich cursed quietly, feeling very uncomfortable, but he had to admit she was right. He couldn't change his mind either or she would know he was insecure about her seeing him naked. He turned his back to her and dropped his shorts before throwing them back up the bank to where his other clothes were. Covering his groin with his hands he turned around again, looking to where Alana was. She had begun swimming and didn't pay any attention to him. He pulled himself together and dove into the deep part of the stream. The freezing cold hit him and sent his body into shock. It felt like his heart stopped for a second but when his senses returned, he felt elation as his body adjusted to the icy water. They swam for a bit and relaxed, bathing in the weak warmth of the kislevite sun. Ulrich had found a rock on the far bank, feeling the water rush around his body as he lay, taking in the surroundings. He watched Alana as she swam back to the bank and began stepping towards the water's edge. With excitement he watched her beautiful feminine shape rising up out of the water. Her smooth back first, a long shallow valley where her spine was. A narrow waist as she took the final steps up the bank. Her full, silky cheeks made Ulrich blush. While she was delicate and slim, she had the typical kislevite softness to her, that hid the definition of muscle and the edge of bones but in Ulrichs mind it just made her even more feminine and desirable. He watched her firm round butt as she walked to her clothes. With guilt he stopped watching her and swam across the little pool, following her to the bank. With discomfort he felt that he had become hard and decided to lurk around in the water for a while longer.  

"Come on now, we don't have much sun left" He heard Alana yell from the bank.  

'Of course, now we're in a hurry' Ulrich thought. Trying not to look at Alanas naked figure from the back, as she was drying herself, Ulrich stepped out of the water. He was still hard but had most of it hidden beneath his hands. Alana had put her underdress and boots on as she turned around, facing him.  

"Apple?" She asked as she threw the fruit towards him.  

Instinctively he caught it, just to realize to his enormous embarrassment, how she had tricked him. The second he lifted his arms he felt the biting cold air around his dick and balls that had pulled away from the cold into the warmth of his body. As he looked over to her, he caught her gaze which had fallen between his legs. For a heartbeat they stood there, Ulrich wondering what would happen next. Then, he dropped the apple and covered himself up again as Alana laughed, slightly blushing and turned away.  

"Game on," Ulrich said, trying to break the discomfort of the situation but Alana just laughed again. It was quiet for a while between them after, although Ulrich wasn't sure whether it had to do with their exhaustion or the awkwardness of Alanas prank.  

Nightfall
 
Ulrich stared at the darkening sky. A new aurora had become visible the last few nights. Like stretching tendrils, a mist of purple light had stretched out from the northern horizon. Alana had spotted it one night and asked Ulrich what it was. He hadn't been able to give her a confident answer. But he remembered stories of the barbarians. The ravenous tribesmen of the north prayed to the gods, they called 'the four' and the colors of the sky were supposed to give an indication of their favor. Ulrich wasn't sure if this was true, it sounded to him like the mad raveling of forgotten religions. But while the auroras were beautiful, they gave the two travelers a weary feeling. Their usual chatting and teasing died down after dusk.  

Ulrich had counted the days and kept an eye on the milestones they passed. He had paid attention when his father had given him the exact directions and distances to Trudograd. If he wasn't mistaken, they were supposed to reach the town the following afternoon. While he had enjoyed travelling with Alana and being alone with her, he had not made any further advances. He also felt tired, exhausted and filthy and wanted nothing more than to sleep in the quiet peace of an inn, after feasting on soup and stew. He was torn out of his thoughts by Alana whispering.  

"Hey, can you hear that?". 
Ulrich stopped the ox and stood still for a second. He did hear something. There was a cracking and the indistinct sound of animals. Or humans? He couldn't tell. He stared forward into the dark, watching the old gravel trail that curved its way through the gentle hillside. A few trees and small forests blocked the view of the horizon.  

"I can. I think..." He answered her.  

"What do you think it is?" Alana asked.  

Ulrich thought he could hear a hint of concern edge through her voice.  

"I'm not sure, but let's get close enough so we know what it is and make camp" Ulrich said.  

Alana nodded and seemed contented with the suggestion as they started moving again. After they travelled for a few more minutes Ulrich felt like the noises became more distinct.  

"Let's make camp and tie the oxcart up. I'll head out on foot and see if I can find anything."  
This time Alana didn't seem so happy with his suggestion. 

"Let's just stay at the camp Ulrich. We haven't seen any travelers in ages and I'm sure whatever is going on won't be good. It never is out here."  
Ulrich scratched his chin, where a stubble had started to grow.  

"Well, if it's bad, shouldn't we turn around anyway?" 
Seeing uncertainty and discomfort on Alana's face he added: "Look, I won't be gone long, I just want to know whether it's safe to spend the night here. You don't want to stay up all night wondering if something bad is going to happen, do you?"  

Alana hesitantly nodded. "Please be quick, okay?"  

Ulrich felt a bit of pain at the thought of leaving her, but he knew it was for the best. 
While Ulrich wasn't sure what to expect as he followed the noises, his discomfort grew. He knew with certainty now that they originated from humans, or at least humanoids. He could not hear words, but the wailing and screaming was quite distinct. He just could not make out if someone was being slaughtered or celebrating. Or possibly both? The thought did not fill him with confidence. Finally, he crested a hilltop and looked down upon a spectacle the likes of which he had never seen before.  

In the valley below there had been a small township. At least, that was to be assumed, but all that was left was a collection of smoldering ruins. The burning coals and flames that danced through the night illuminated a horrible scene. Hundreds of hulking warriors stood in a disheveled manner around the houses. He knew they were warriors due to their large hulking forms and the glint of armor and weapons. Around them jumped and danced a multitude of purple creatures, unidentifiable to Ulrich. They were far away and it was dark, but Ulrich was pretty sure some of them walked on four legs, while others stood upright. There was something reptilian to their movement. Upon all this chaos, he also distinctly made out the shape of corpses. They were scattered all over the ground in fact. Now that he was closer, he was certain that he heard screams of pain and agony. They were intermixed with the yells of celebration. Singing, ecstatic shouting and the like. It all mixed into a cacophony of insanity. He raised his eyes to the horizon. The purple auroras now cloaked the entire night sky above him, but his eyes fixated on the rolling hills in the distance. Where the purple met the black outline of the land, he saw an orange glimmer. For as wide as he could see from the north to the east, the orange line stretched, brighter in some places, almost disappearing in others.  

Fires! Everything was on fire! Ulrich regained his senses and realized what he was looking at. Torches, burning cities. The debauchery before him must have been caused by a small scouting group of a massive army. He started shaking, trying to think clearly, but feeling the crippling fear almost overwhelm him.  

Alana! 

He crawled backwards off the crest and started sprinting towards where he had left her. After crossing a few more hills, he saw the outline of the road again. ‘There, somewhere in the... What was that?’ Ulrich saw the orange glow of fire through the trees. He cursed loudly, realizing that Alana must have made a fire. He began sprinting, as quickly as his legs let him, feeling the underbrush scratch and bruise him as he crashed into the forest but ignored it all. He had to reach her! They had to leave!  
Finally, he crashed through a few more bushes, as he saw Alana, with her back towards him, leaning over the fire. 

"ALANA!!" Ulrich screamed as he pushed savagely through the last bushes behind her.
  
Alana yelled in shock und Ulrich heard the clatter of something metal, that was dropped as she startled violently, turning to face him with eyes opened wide.  

"Oh god, Ulrich, you scared the shit out of me." She said, as the shock receded from her face.
  
"Alana, we've got to go! Something bad is going on here..." Ulrich spurted out as he started kicking dirt into the flames.  

"What do you..." The question died on her lips as they both heard the neighing of a horse. It was close.  

With a curse Ulrich grabbed Alana by the arm and dragged her into the thicket. They ducked and Ulrich felt with relief how the darkness swallowed them. Crouching low, they moved through the undergrowth as fast as they could.  After a little while, he saw a bit of elevated ground in front of them and they carefully snuck up the hillside. It was still heavily forested, so Ulrich felt like it was unlikely someone would spot them. They crawled around a moss-covered trunk and leaned against the moist cold wood, breathing heavily. 
Alana was pressed close to his side, clambering on to his arm.  

"I'm scared" she whispered and Ulrich felt her shaking beside him.  

He gestured her to be silent as he turned around to peak over the trunk. From where they were, he could see their camp. Another neighing through the trees! Then he saw the hulking shapes of two armored giants at the camp, where they had been just a minute before. The warriors circled around the fire, their heads searching the dark. Ulrich inhaled sharply, as one of them drew an axe and dropped it on the ox's neck. The pained bellow of the dying animal echoed through the woods for a moment, until the axeblade cut it short. Ulrich felt Alana startle and turn around to look what had caused the noise. He heard a silent whimper from her as she looked back at their camp and saw the decapitated ox. Just as he thought about what to do next, Alana gave off a deafening scream right next to his ear. As he moved his head to curse at her for making such noise, he felt a cold iron gauntlet on his neck. 
 
Captured 
 
Ulrich awoke bruised and in pain. The surface he lay on was bobbing up and down harshly. Memories flooded back into his mind quickly and he dared not open his eyes at first. After a few seconds though, curiosity took hold of him, and he squinted through barely opened eyelids. He felt like he would be safe, as long as no one knew he was awake... seeing how he wasn't dead yet.  
It was still dark. He was pretty sure he lay on his ox cart. Feeling the edges of the plywood around him he confirmed his theory. Carefully rolling on his side, he opened his eyes further. There was movement besides the cart... a horse... with a rider on it. He was tall and slim, covered in black and purple robes, that seemed impossibly clean. A black hood covered his head and concealed his face in shadows. He also made out the tall, muscled barbarian warriors marching besides him. Their scraggly hair was loose or tied in braids, as were their beards. Scarred and rough skin with bulging muscles were visible under their bronze and leather armor. Helmets, some with ivory horns, crowned their heads. 
He rolled to the other side. Alana! She lay motionless beside him. He touched her hand but felt no response. He rolled closer to her and whispered her name. Nothing. Her eyes were shut. He reached out with his hand and laid it on her chest. Beneath layers of fur, he thought he felt her breath.  

"You are awake..." A raspy voice croaked over from his left.  

The rider on the horse! He turned his head to look at the speaker.  

"What's going on?" Ulrich asked with less confidence than he intended. 

A chuckle echoed back out of the night.  
 
"The dark prince reaches out, boy. You've fallen into his loving embrace, it seems. What that entails, remains to be seen."  

Ulrich sat up now, confused. "Who is the dark prince?".  

There was no response. Like a siren, someone behind the cart began wailing. It sounded like a song, but also like the cries of someone who had lost everything. Cold shivers ran down Ulrich's spine. These must be the demons, all kislevite children heard so many stories of. 
Ulrich, the sleeping Alana and the odd precession followed the road northeast, that had led the two thus far, towards the purple horizon and the thousand small fires. As Ulrichs eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out the shapes of the purple creatures he had seen before. They came in many horrible sizes and shapes, most of them had scales, smooth purple skin or a mixture of the two. Claws, hoofs and reptilian eyes covered the creatures in seeming randomness. Some had breasts, like those of human women, others had tails and male genitalia. Some had fangs, others had human mouths. The longer Ulrich stared at them the more he felt his sanity slip at the impossibility of it all. He rolled on his back again and stared at the sky.  
Several times during their travel he tried striking up a conversation but failed. The singing and wailing came and went and he never fully made out where it came from or what ancient language the words belonged to. Then he felt Alana stir. With a dazed look she turned her head to both sides until her gaze locked with Ulrich's.  

"What's going on?" She asked quietly, more to him than anyone else.  

"What happened?" Before Ulrichs could figure out what to say, the cloaked rider spoke again.  

"Aaaah, look at you... You're exactly what I am searching for, you know? You're a gift, sweet one." Ulrich saw more fear building in her eyes. Alana looked down, too scared to engage in the conversation any further.  

"What, not curious?" The rider asked mockingly.  

"What's going to happen to me?" She asked in a quiet, fearful voice that almost broke Ulrich.  

"Many things, sweetheart. Many, many things. Things you can't imagine. Things you can imagine..." He chuckled again. Alana fell silent after that. She gripped Ulrichs hand for a long time, squeezing it hard.  
 
Trudograd  
 
They arrived in what must have been Trudograd a day or so later. At least Ulrich assumed it was Trudograd. He had never seen anything like it. For starters, it was still dark, even though Ulrich was certain a full day had passed since he had woken up. The purple haze illuminated everything to a degree, but there were moving, dancing shadows everywhere. Through burning ruins and rubble, they pulled up in a town square. Disemboweled bodies of humans and dwarfs were scattered everywhere, most of them naked and with missing limbs. Ulrich and Alana were silent and sat in shock, waiting like lambs before the slaughter. The cloaked rider nimbly jumped off his horse and gestured the two to get of the cart.  

"Have you heard of the Reveler, sweet one?" He asked Alana.  
She shook her head silently.  

"Have you ever felt real pleasure?" He asked, with a curious undertone. He didn’t give her time to answer. 

"Of course, you haven't... See, what you mortals don't understand, is the nature of your feelings. There is only pain and pleasure. It is the foundation for everything. And if you truly mean to feel anything, you have to experience both."  
Alana reddened visibly, but still looked at the ground. Ulrich started seeing the direction, the conversation was heading to and jumped up. 

"What's your plans, man?"  

An armored fist crashed into his abdomen, pushing all air out of him. Alana screamed and kneeled down beside him, touching his cheeks gently. He looked up at her, seeing tears flow down her cheeks.  

"Shit, Alana" He managed.  

"Tie him up!” the rider yelled to the warriors, as he circled around them.  

"So..., Alana, is that your name? Beautiful" The cloaked figure purred. 

"See, I need to keep morale up. The realms of humans require so many sacrifices for us. You can't imagine."  
He gestured at the litany of bodies around him.  

"Well, maybe you can. Sacrifice is food for my children. It's not just about how much you eat it is about the quality of the food. We ripped through this mortal filth in a day and my children are not satisfied."  

He turned to Alana and gestured her to stand up.  

"I need more like you. They could gorge on your innocence, sweet one."  

Alana began whimpering and tried backing away from him.  

"What are you going to do with me?" She asked again in a breaking voice.  

"Meee? Nothing sweetheart. I yearn for larger pleasures..."  
 
Ulrich had now been tied to the cart. He hadn't fought his captors, understanding the futility of his situation. He had hoped to undo the ropes, but his hands had been tied together and with growing fear he realized that whatever was coming would be out of his control. Alana stepped back, hiding behind him, clambering to his arm.  

"Tsss, get away from the boy" The rider said frustrated. One of the huge hulking warriors picked her up at the hips and carried her into the center of the circle of onlookers, as if she was a bundle of sticks.  

"Gorscenu!" The cloaked man yelled out.  

The thundering clank of metal boots sounded over the cobblestone square, as a tower of a man turned around the corner of a destroyed house. Or it had been a man, once upon a time. Like some of the other warriors, he was covered in massive plate armour. Gaps and cracks between the plate and chainmail revealed bright purple flesh underneath, that looked like it had grown into the metal. Weird shapes and tendrils moved and slithered around in the crevasses of his armour. The most glaring flaw on him made Ulrichs blood freeze in his veins. Where the other warriors had a large triangular piece of metal covering their groin, this warrior had no cover at all. Instead, where his purple thighs met, a huge trunk hung from between his legs. With a shiver Ulrich realized what it was... A horsecock. The angular crown glistened in disgusting wetness. Purple and pink veins danced and moved around underneath his skin. It didn't seem to obey to the rules of gravity and moved and swung around as if it had a will of its own.  
Gorscenu, if that was his name, stepped into the precession and strode towards the cowering, whimpering Alana.  

"Why are you scared?" A metal voice thundered out from underneath his massive horned helmet.  

"I will bring you pleasure." He reached out and touched the side of Alanas face. She shook and backed away from his touch.  

"Let me go, please!" She whimpered.  
 
Ulrich watched in shock and horror. He was frozen to the cart, watching powerlessly at the events unfolding. As he wondered, what kind of sacrifice would be performed here, he felt disgust and fear rise up in him. What were they going to do with her? This question was answered as two of the demonic reptiles gripped her arms and held her in place. Alana came alive as she screamed and writhed and shook. She fought against their iron grip with everything she had, but it was hopeless. The changed warrior grabbed her jaws and forced her mouth open as he poured the contents of a little flask down her throat. Ulrich watched as she relaxed and her posture softened. She looked over to him, seeing a grimace of pain and disgust well up on his face. In a trance she turned back, facing Gorscenu, the horse cocked warrior. 
Ulrich stood by, tearing at his constraints in a faint effort, as the demons began unclothing Alana. They were gentle now, no longer having to hold her tight. Whatever had been forced down her throat had made her passive. Her cheeks had reddened and her breathing was elevated visibly, as if in anticipation, but other than that she seemed surprisingly undisturbed.  
Her eyes told a different story though. Again and again, they found Ulrichs and they fluttered from utter horror to a soulless stare.  
The demonic slaves had pulled the furs off her shoulders now. One kneeled beside her, ceremoniously untying her boots as the other began unbuttoning her yellow dress. Ulrich realised how much he had wanted to see her naked. In a different context, not like this. Everything inside him screamed and yet he felt something else. A dark part inside him wanted to watch at what would happen. ‘It must be this place’, he thought. He watched as she stood there, lost, barefoot on the snow-covered cobblestones. Her face showing no expression, she lifted her hands as the yellow dress was lifted over her head. She seemed so peaceful, as if she was being undressed for a bath. 
All she wore now was her white underdress. It was short, revealing her smooth feminine thighs and the shapeliness of her legs. The roundness of her hips and narrow waist became visible underneath the flowing white gown. A swell indicated her breasts, but the cloth went up to her collarbone.  
Sweet Alana, how he had loved her. Was she gone now? Would a god intervene and save them?  
As he watched the laces being undone on her last piece of clothing, he felt sweat trickling down his body. There was something else in him now. Something that wanted to defile her innocence. Something that wanted to see and feel all her pain and pleasure.  
He watched entranced as the laces began opening. As soon as the knots were untied, they began loosening on their own by the weight of her chest. As her dress opened up from her belly button upwards, the round, circular swell of her cleavage pushed the lose laces fully apart. Underneath, the opening dress revealed a flat, smooth stomach. His erection built and felt like it was going to explode as he watched. Then, like the most beautiful gift he had ever seen, they pulled the dress from her shoulders. They revealed her perfect, full and soft round breasts. Young as Alana was, they maintained their shape firmly, with small nipples crowning the top. Ulrich’s eyes were fixated at the pointy dark red dots.  
The warrior stretched out one huge purple fleshed fist and grabbed Alana's right breast in a rough grip. Ulrich felt wetness drip out of him as he saw the flesh of her breast, pressed out between the warrior’s fingers. He began kneading it as a quiet moan arose from Alana. Ulrich couldn't quite pinpoint it, but he felt like there was a note of pleasure underlying it.  
Emotions warred within him, jealousy and murderous hatred being most dominant, but also sexual hunger, lust, and the need to release.  
The warrior began playing with both her breasts, squeezing the soft flesh and moving it delightedly.  Her dress still hung downwards from her waist and Ulrich felt himself longing, greedily, to see the final prize. As if the demons read his mind, they pulled her open dress down to her feet, allowing her to step out of it. Love, hate and arousal warred in Ulrich as he stared at her naked body. Her perfect full breasts hung above a slightly muscled, fit belly. Full thighs met in a perfect triangle. She had shaved herself between her legs, exposing perfect smooth skin. Her mound, clearly visible, throwing a shadow on her slit which was lined by thick, full lips, that fully enclosed the folds beneath.  
Ulrich saw her blush as her gaze fell between the warrior's legs. 
With one hand still squeezing her left breast, his other hand fell between her legs. He cupped her pussy, grabbing it hard and Alana began moving into his hand. Her dead eyes stared into nothing, but her voice was full of arousal. Ulrich watched as the warrior played with her.  
Then the warrior's enormous penis began stretching and building. It bridged the distance to Alana, who was still standing almost an arm length away from him. She whimpered in fear again now and took a half step back, almost tripping. The demons gently coerced her forward, letting her lean back and lifting her off the ground. The warrior stepped up to her as two further reptiles scuddled along and clambered to her legs, opening them up.  
Ulrich felt precum dripping out of him, as his gaze fell between Alanas legs. Her puffy red lips were dripping in wet arousal. The touched warrior placed himself between her legs, once again grabbing her breasts violently. His horse sized penis glid out from underneath a dark foreskin, revealing an impossible length. Without guidance it found her dripping quim. Alana now moaned in open arousal as the massive tip slithered up and down her slit. She thrust her hips towards it, pressing her aroused clit and lips against him.  
When Ulrich thought he would burst, he watched as the tip parted her lips. With a wet slurping sound, the warrior’s massive log began disappearing in her reddened vagina, which was opened up impossibly far already. Alana screamed and moaned as it kept gliding into her wetness. Inch by inch the wet shaft disappeared inside of her, widening her hole. 
Then he began thrusting into her, in and out, like a relentless machine. Her screams echoed from the walls of the surrounding buildings, every time he hit her deepest walls. Her breasts bounced violently up and down, oppositional to the rhythm of his thrusts. Her arousal and other fluids dripped out of her as he pressed in, further lubricating his thrusting punishment. Wet slurping noises rose out from between her legs, matching her screams and moans, creating the symphony of his orgy.  
Violent seizures gripped her, as the crashing waves of uncontrolled orgasms began hitting her body. Her legs spasmed, her eyes rolled back and she shook violently as the waves crashed over her. Her aroused sex squeezed in orgasmic contraction around the impossibly large cock inside of her, further building her orgasm until she lost herself in the eternal push and pull of climax after climax. 
Ulrich felt that it went on forever. Tears streamed down his face. Tears of anger, helplessness and shame more than anything. His lust warred with his love for Alana as he fought whatever this place gave birth to inside of him.  
Finally, the warrior froze for a second as his impossibly large member began pumping fluid into her. With giant gulps, load after load plunged into her cave, although the only visible indicator was the fluid that was squeezed out of her. Still gripped by seizures, her eyes rolled up, exposing only her whites. Ulrich was not sure if she was conscious or not. Groscenu seemed to have finished with her, as he retrieved his dripping penis out of her cave. With a wet splash, it slid out of her. Then the demons dropped the still shaking Alana to the cold ground, where she lay as she was, legs opened wide. Her pulsating pussy had taken up a deep red color, that contrasted with her smooth white skin and the snow around her. Still, she shook in pleasure...  

