Power Rising (Ghreyskul)

Power Rising

Ghreyskul gave a dark sinister sneer, the closest thing a creature such as itself could muster resembling a smile. The Cyclopes skull would soon be his again. It may be a minor trinket but it was one that was stolen and he wished it returned. During the ...time the creature had worked for Sepheebion, the dark lich, Ghreyskul had gained much power as well as insight into that trinkets hidden powers. He had gained enough power that now it had carved out a small niche to create the foundation that would serve as a suitable lair to begin rising to great power. The problem with the mercenary group who had retrieved his golden skull would be easy enough to remedy once we removed that Infernal Champion from amongst them. They had made quick work of his last lair, and he knew well the new one would prove much more fatal if they dared trying to double cross him. Soon he could set his plans in motion, and begin his plans for domination.
A small creature coughed from the corner of the dark room and Ghreyskul turned to face it. Blindfolded the small goblin waited until it was bid to speak. “Ghreyskul, we have captured the one you spoke of, many of our tribe was slain in the eff…”
“I care not for your tribe, they are meant to serve and die as I see fit. Where is it? I wish to see it.” The goblin quickly turned and began moving down the hall.
“Here master, in the main chamber.”
Ghreyskul felt his blood begin to boil, the creature simply turned its back on him? He followed the wretch but before he came near the main chamber he could hear the sounds of the monster being held.
“Minstar, calm yourself.” Ghreyskul bellowed at the creature. It turned to face him, even tied and bound the creature was quite breath taking. A troll that stood as tall as the room and great bulging muscles straining against the ropes, blood frothing in its mouth from one of the goblins that had gotten a bit too close. Minstar was one of the most powerful trolls in the gorge of Havenswatch. It turned to face Ghreyskul with rage in its eyes, but once it saw the creature it faced, it quickly looked down and calmed itself.
“Very good, smart as you are strong. I have had you brought here to serve me.” He said, and the troll flexed in anger but did nothing else. “You will be one of the generals of my army, and it will be rewarding, as much for you, as for me.” The creature cocked its head and looked at Ghreyskul’s feet, and the goblin standing next to him. At some point, during the conversation the goblin had been changed into a stone statue, and Minstar knew if he resisted he would be next. It knew it had little choice, but perhaps serving such a powerful creature wasn’t so bad. Being changed to stone wasn’t so bad, except he had no protection from the pick axes while he was stone.
It smiled with the snakes on Ghreyskul’s head clearly in its peripherals. “Minstar see much be gained by working with Gorgon, Minstar accepts.”
Ghreyskul sneered its smile again and gave his orders to the creature before retreating to his chambers. It chuckled to itself again, the creature might be able to make the willing choice to accept the terms now, but soon it would not have such freedoms to choose. Soon no one would….

Ghreyskul looked about his new lair and sneered a smile, the place was a virtual stronghold that few could penetrate, yet his powers could still be used quite well. He slapped a nearby goblin and handed it a rolled parchment. “Deliver this to the Reevers... fighting company in Havenswatch. Do it now before you join my garden.” His eyes moved to the many stone statues in the cavern. The goblin, keeping its eyes to the ground gave a quick bow as it scurried off.
Ghreyskul needed more food for his small army, but the mountains offered little in the way of foraging, he looked about and quickly spotted Minstar the powerful troll. “Minestar, you oaf, I need you to go into the lowlands and collect food, I care not how you obtain it, but bring it back here. Take a few goblins with you, go now.” And with that the troll stumbled off with a sour look on its face.
The previous day a lizard man, Skexxie, had lost a very precious amulet in the forest while attempting to return it to the cavern. While the lizard man now stood in the garden with many other statues there was still the issue with the lost amulet. Ghreyskul looked about and ordering goblins around he saw one of his lieutenants, an Ogre named Bricks. “Bricks I have work for you” he watched as the ogre smiled its bloody maw in the general direction of its master.
“What shall I kill?” it said in a dark voice.
Ghreyskul smiled inside and watched as the creature knelt before him. “Kill anything that tries to stop you from your task, and that task is to find the Amulet of Confidence, lost in the Neblik woods near Havenswatch. Bring it to me, and you shall have not only a great reward, but a promotion in the ranks!”
The ogre rose and slammed a huge fist into its chest, “Bricks shall do as told” and with that turned and stomped away.
Ghreyskul smiled, it seemed things were going just as planned. He turned and went back to his hidden treasure vault to retrieve the information he had to the Reevers.