by Strangler » Wed Nov 12, 2025 12:13 pm
The lanky trolloc stared up at a horse tied to a nearby tree. He knelt over the rider’s body and daydreamed of what it would be like to have one. The pukes were simple creatures, but they were clever. They had many shiny things and wondrous weapons. Somehow they rode those animals and kept pace with his brethren, nearly. The masters who led them rode similar beasts, but those were angry and dangerous. The Strangler liked them.
He stood and walked slowly toward the horse, which screamed and bucked, eyes rolling as he came near. He stopped and knelt, just out of reach of its kicking hooves. Maybe it only needed time to get used to him. His eyes roamed the animal’s majestic white coat freckled with black specks. It smelled of sweat and leather and humans. Its former rider’s severed hand hung limply from the reins across its neck. He cocked his head and glanced toward his brethren, who were looting and butchering similar corpses.
A Fade entered the battlefield and immediately noticed the curious trolloc squatting near the terrified horse. Something like amusement twisted his eyeless face. Like every trolloc in the field, Strangler felt his presence and stood, nervous and respectful.
“You like the horse, Strangler?” the master hissed.
The lanky trolloc nodded.
“Then please the Great Lord, and maybe you will have one too.” The Strangler stared, his eyes dancing as he tried to find the courage to speak. “How?” he asked.
The eyeless thing smiled a terrible smile. “Destroy his enemies.”
The Strangler smiled.
The lanky trolloc stared up at a horse tied to a nearby tree. He knelt over the rider’s body and daydreamed of what it would be like to have one. The pukes were simple creatures, but they were clever. They had many shiny things and wondrous weapons. Somehow they rode those animals and kept pace with his brethren, nearly. The masters who led them rode similar beasts, but those were angry and dangerous. The Strangler liked them.
He stood and walked slowly toward the horse, which screamed and bucked, eyes rolling as he came near. He stopped and knelt, just out of reach of its kicking hooves. Maybe it only needed time to get used to him. His eyes roamed the animal’s majestic white coat freckled with black specks. It smelled of sweat and leather and humans. Its former rider’s severed hand hung limply from the reins across its neck. He cocked his head and glanced toward his brethren, who were looting and butchering similar corpses.
A Fade entered the battlefield and immediately noticed the curious trolloc squatting near the terrified horse. Something like amusement twisted his eyeless face. Like every trolloc in the field, Strangler felt his presence and stood, nervous and respectful.
“You like the horse, Strangler?” the master hissed.
The lanky trolloc nodded.
“Then please the Great Lord, and maybe you will have one too.” The Strangler stared, his eyes dancing as he tried to find the courage to speak. “How?” he asked.
The eyeless thing smiled a terrible smile. “Destroy his enemies.”
The Strangler smiled.