Legends of Amacia: Mysteries of Tiamat
The Emperor

Down in Argentina deep beneathAconcagua in the Black Fortress within the Amacian underworld, the Emperor saton his throne looking down at a man who knelt before him. “What news do youhave you for me, Kronos?” he hissed.

“My liege, the hunt continuesfor the rebels,” Kronos informed after rising from his knees and approachingthe throne. “They attempted to retake Solomon’s Passage several times, but weeasily repulsed their attacks and slaughtered the combatants in each instance.Your plan proceeds without any hindrance and our operatives on the outside arepresently trying to eliminate the threat from out there; however, it seems thatso far, they have been unsuccessful in capturing this Beowulf and his friends.Steps have been taken though to get some results in trying to replace Beowulf.”

The Emperorgazed harshly at his adviser with displeasure showing on his face. “They hadbetter replace him or I will personally eat their souls. Beowulf is a greaterthreat to us than any of you can imagine. Now go! Leave me!” he barked.

“As youcommand, my Lord Emperor,” Kronos said, bowing and backing away. He walked awayand the Throne room doors clanged as he left.

The Emperorsat on his throne and his countenance fell as he considered the news. “Guards!”he barked and the Captain of the Guards appeared immediately from the shadowsof the throne room.

“Yes, myLord Emperor,” the Captain said.

“How manyof the rebels have you in the dungeon?” the Emperor asked.

“We havethirty, sir,” the Captain informed.

“Bring themhere and tear them to pieces one at a time in front of me while their comradeswatch,” the Emperor barked. “Better yet, make them choose who will die first.”

TheCaptain’s stomach turned at the order, but he immediately answered, “At once,my Lord Emperor.” He disappeared and within minutes, the guards drove thirtypeople into the throne room in chains, forcing the prisoners to their kneesbefore the Emperor.

“Killthem,” the Emperor ordered and the Captain tried to do as the Emperor wanted…toget them to turn on one another and deliver one up to be first. No onecooperated. They knelt there like lambs before the butcher, not opening theirmouths. After a couple a minutes of savage beatings by the guards, the Emperorbecame enraged and rose from his throne. “You won’t choose? Then I’ll choosefor you!” he snarled. “You; bring him here!” he ordered the guards referring toone of the prisoners near the middle of the line. They unshackled and draggedthe man to the foot of the dais, quickly standing back. The man looked up atthe Emperor fearlessly. The Emperor immediately noticed it, which enraged himfurther. “You have any last words before you die, insect?” he snarled savagely.

“Your daysare numbered, your most un-royal majesty. You may kill this body but you can’ttouch my soul. It’s in the hands of the Ancient of Days,” the man affirmed.

The Emperorbellowed in rage and glared at the man, pointing at the prisoner with hisout-stretched hand. The man began to float off the floor and swelled. Theprisoner cried out in excruciating pain as he swelled like a balloon. “MercifulAncient of Days, receive my spirit!” he cried out just before the Emperorclenched his fist, which caused the prisoner to explode into dozens of gory chunks.Blood, gore, and entrails sprayed all over the other prisoners and the guards.

“Feed themto the taroks one at a time while their friends watch. Now get them out of mysight!” the Emperor barked viciously. As an afterthought he barked, “And getsomeone in here to clean up this mess!”

“Yes, myLord Emperor,” the Captain of the Guards promptly replied as the prisoners werebrutally driven away. After they were out of the Emperor’s sight, the Captainsighed heavily and thought, I wish he wouldn’t do that. The guards tookthe prisoners to the tarok’s lair where they were summarily executed by a giantreptile resembling a T-rex.