Vaid Empire: Mother of Tentacles

Vaid Empire: Mother of Tentaclesis a prequel toVaid Empire: Conquest, though acts as a complete stand-alone. No prior knowledge regarding the previous series is required.

Long before the rise of The Vaid Empire, far on the other side of Ayphieal, a young woman finds a deeper purpose beyond her own survival when she is captured and offered to an ancient monstrosity.

Ancient entities conspire to achieve hidden schemes while tentacles spread across the land in this strange and mysterious prequel.

New chapters and artwork are released every month for free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access on the official Vaid Empire Website. The Series focuses heavily on worldbuilding, story, and characters.

***

Unknown Date.

Unknown Location.

"The Artist grows to fill his prison."

Synaalag's thoughts echoed as he listened to his mother's voice. In her quiet moments, she liked to sing to her child. With no ears with which to hear, he sensed the vibrations through the fabric of reality. He offered a song of his own.

"The Red Vessel's malice touches a black wall. They pray to their god, knowing they'll fall."

His silent voice tickled her mind. Horrid words while she sang of pleasant things instead. He savored her song, the soothing words uniquely human, an artwork of creation. A royal hand caressed the outside of his living prison. With no eyes with which to see, he saw all. His mother sat upon the balcony that wrapped around the colossal white pyramid of her birthplace. She watched the city below with a hand resting upon her pregnant swell, oblivious to his words.

"Weep, weep for the Cavaries."

40th of Silla, 766 BVE.

Sanctuary of The Mother.

The time had come. On this day, the doom of Aslyd would march.

Aifa raised her hand, and a horde gathered at her fingertips. For days she had summoned them, luring every living seedling spread throughout the jungle to join her side. From miles all around they came. They flowed like a black river through the tunnel, flooding the cave with a sea of writhing tentacles.

One seedling could impregnate multiple women if it was swift enough to survive the jungle. As she looked out at the swarm assembling at her feet from atop a tall rock, she couldn't make out one seedling from another. They nearly seemed to be a single dark mass wiggling and squirming, driven by a single instinct, ready to serve a single purpose. The Mother of Tentacles stood above them all. Her grasp held the mental reins of hundreds of ravenous creatures, her kin, her slimy descendants, her exponentially growing horde.

Today, the birth of their homeland would begin.

"Seek Synaalag."

Aifa stepped down into the black sea. Thousands of tentacles reached to serve, carrying her forth atop the swarm. Mental commands urged them to bring her across the cave, joining Vaecath as the great beast sat like an island in the darkness. Colossal tentacles lifted her to sit atop his mass, holding her legs tightly as she gripped a raised tendril for support. The black spear rested in her other hand, lifting high into the air as she shouted for them to depart.

Commanding from atop the eldest beast, she gazed out at the vast cave that had been her home. The seedlings poured around Vaecath as they rushed towards the tunnel.

Peering at the empty cage, having ordered the bodies of Wair and Kifi to be left outside to be consumed by the jungle, she scowled. No longer were the remaining women docile and obedient. Left unrestrained, they fought to escape. Left ungagged, they shouted curses at the murderer of their father and sister. It'd be a simple thing to kill them, yet the sight of dried blood beside the cage stayed her hand. Instead, telling herself that it was foolish to waste useful wombs, evenErimi's,she instructed four seedlings to remain and guard them, keeping them each tightly bound and pregnant.

She eyed the sleeping mat where Darmi had slept. There was nothing left here but ghosts and memories. Aifa doubted she'd ever return. Either they'd destroy Aslyd and build a new sanctuary atop the ruins, or she'd die.

With a bitter sneer, she left the sanctuary behind forever.

50th of Silla, 766 BVE.

The Holy City of Aslyd.

Rain beat down upon the black stone of the magnificent walls of Aslyd. An ancient guardian, the structure held back the chaos of the jungle, defending the holy city against the horrors of the outside world. For eternity it had been promised to stand, yet eternity seemed to be at an end as Audir stood atop the grand gates.

Enduring the warm rain pounding against his crimson skin, he was a statue in the faint light of the morning. Clouds blocked the sun, as if the world was closing its eyes upon the first city.

Never did he leave the wall but to briefly sleep and eat. After the seeker Aifa had spared had scurried in from the jungle, kneeling before him to tell of the deaths of his men and the coming swarm, Audir stood with his golden spear, a silent warrior prepared to meet his end.

For several days, the citizens had been restricted to their homes in the wake of the warning, though life could not be halted for long. Already merchants had returned to their stands in the market, and life resumed for many. Even now Cavaries hurried through the streets, reluctantly enduring the rainy morning as they went about their business in the heart of the city, though never were they allowed to approach the walls unless necessary.

Life would not continue for those under Audir's command, however. The most experienced warriors of Aslyd lined the walls, suffering and wet, yet silent all the same. The first army the world had ever seen stood ready to defend their city. The width of the wall only permitted two rows of warriors and one row of slaves to support their masters. The rest waited behind the wall below, row upon row of men lined up to guard the streets and houses behind. A wide gap separated them from the wall, a deserted street that ran along the perimeter of their defenses.

Keeping his daughters close at his side, Audir watched Rafi whisper into Pirmi's ear with a grave expression. Spears stood tall in every hand, ready to meet whatever horrors crept from the trees.

Only the priestesses broke the silence as they chanted prayers along the empty street at the base of the wall. Behind and below, Audir heard Gima begging The Creator to keep their defenses strong and their spears sharp.

"The men are weary, father. Perhaps if you allowed them a day of rest, they'd-" Pirmi began to say quietly, only to be interrupted when a man burst from the trees far below.

"They're coming! They're coming!" the man shouted. A scout, he pointed into the jungle behind, panting. "Let me in! Quickly!"

Every spear came forth to point towards the trees. With despair, the man pounded against the colossal gates as they stood immovable and firm. A moment later, a second scout came forth further down the wall, then a third, leaving the vast width of the approaching swarm bare to see. The time had come.

Audir's single eye glanced back at the army waiting down below, a silent command. A horn rang out through the rain as men at the rear rushed to begin the evacuations. Messengers quickly departed to prepare their secondary defenses in the market, their last hope should Audir's men fall.

There was a moment of calm before the storm. The beating hearts of the warriors along the wall could nearly be felt as they waited, hearing nothing but the wind and rain as the scouts huddled together outside. The first man pressed his head against the gates. Forsaken, they sank to their knees to utter a silent prayer to The Creator.

Audir's eye flicked to glance at the trembling of Rafi's hands upon her weapon. He felt his own tighten.

The cracking of branches rang out like thunder below. As lightning erupted through the sky, the light illuminated the wet ground, and the anticipation of hundreds of men fell to horror at the sight of countless black tentacles erupting from the jungle. Like a squirming wave they came forth, crashing against the gates, swallowing the scouts beneath their hunger and malice.

"So comes our doom," Audir said to himself, feeling his first smile in days creep across his face. Raising his fist, a shout brought down their first volley. Spears were hurled at once, slamming into the writhing swarm pooling at the base of the walls. The slaves at their backs rushed to shove replacement weapons into empty hands, and spear after spear was plunged into slimy flesh.

His escaped Holy Mother had yet to show herself, yet he knew she'd come.

Far below, The Holy City of Aslyd loomed before Aifa, the greatest and oldest civilization in the world, yet she'd be its end. As she ripped from the trees atop Vaecath, she beheld all she sought to destroy. A mere captured slave had been brought before the gates all those years ago. Now, The Mistress of The Apocalypse led her horde against their might.

Surrounded by seedlings, Vaecath lumbered towards the black stone walls, flanked by the trio. The swarm stretched out through the trees around the gargantuan beast, the product of countless Cavari wombs. Colossal tentacles lifted to protect his mistress from hurled spears as the creatures frantically gathered against the base of the structure looming ahead, scurrying over each other mindlessly.

A spray of dark blood splashed across Aifa's features as she looked up, seeing a spear protruding from a thick tentacle above her. Gritting her teeth, she raised her own black spear, leading the swarm forth. Tentacles gripped the orange and blue vines coating the walls at her mental command, beginning to hoist themselves upward. The gates were impenetrable. Instead, she'd ascend, rising as her hate carried her up the wall.

She'd see them bleed. She'd replay every drop of her own and Darmi's blood that had been spilled in this horrid world with the deaths of hundreds. Warriors would fall. Wombs would weep. She'd seize the city in her grasp and tear it all down, rebuilding it anew.

Audir watched as their doom began to climb. Still creatures continued to pour from the jungle. Every creature that fell to a spear was consumed beneath the rising swarm as it was swiftly replaced.

As their supply of spears ran low, the warriors kept what they had, holding back their weapons until the horde was within reach. Stabbing down into the horrid black sea bubbling up the wall, they fought to push the enemy back down with every thrust.

Vaecath's massive tentacle reached up, slamming down atop the wall before any other. Cavari roars rang out as the nearest men stabbed the black appendage with a savage ferocity, only to scream as a second tentacle wrapped around an ankle and yanked one of the men down. He tumbled into the writhing swarm below, consumed.

Up and up, Aifa's hate carried her forth. A tentacle batted aside the spear of the nearest man, and she wetted her own weapon in Cavari blood as she drove it through the warrior's undefended chest. Drinking in the sight of his death, feeling tears gathering in her furious eyes, she loosed a vicious roar. There was no going back. Her war would end here. She would not stop until the city was dead.

As Vaecath pulled his colossal form up onto the top of the wall, she peered at the vast city below as warriors cried out. Buildings of black stone filled the land protected within the comforting hold of the walls, a hold she had shattered. For the second time in her life, she beheld the first city in the world as it waited for her wrath.

Audir watched as warriors were swept from the wall by colossal tentacles. Hearing their deaths as they crashed to the ground below, he finally gave the order. "Back! NOW!"

The men knew their duty. Every other man along the wall retreated to descend to safety while the others remained to guard their backs and slow the swarm's advance. As seedlings reached the top one by one, they were met with the desperate weapons of dead men.

None ran from their end. Those that retreated joined the waiting army below, as if forging a second wall with their bodies at Audir's command. Spears pointed outward. Stronger than stone, the wall of men was made of their hope, their bravery, theirfear. Behind, they could hear the terror of citizens fleeing through the streets. Ahead, they saw the ravenous beasts pulling themselves onto the top of the wall, meeting the spears that remained with writhing black tentacles. They stood ready to face the coming horde.

Audir marched swiftly to Gima's side as she ordered the other priestesses to flee to the central ziggurat, grabbing her arm. "Go with them."

"I will do no such thing! I will remain to pray until-"

"Go. Now," he cut her off, his cold eyes permitting no argument. "Tell The Knowledge Holder what's happened here. Tell him the walls you so worship have failed." He shoved her hard in the direction of the city's center, making her stumble. "Tell him we're all going to die."

Glancing back at The High Seeker's faint smile, she watched as seedlings began to break through the men atop the wall. Her blood ran cold. "So be it."

As the head priestess ran, he heard the screams of dying men fall silent as they were snuffed out, replaced only by the horrid sounds of countless slimy tendrils falling over the wall.

"Go," he said to his daughters as he turned around. Behind him, they watched the great beast slide from the top of the wall, nearly feeling the ground rumble as it crashed into the muddy street below. Protected in its colossal appendages, Aifa's commanding roar echoed in the distance as the army hurled spears to slow their advance. "Accompany the head priestess.Hurry."

Golden tentacles tore a man in two at the base of the wall as Pirmi met her father with defiant eyes. "NO. Our place is here, fighting at your side!"

"Look at them. Behold!" He drove his spear into the ground and seized her arms tightly. There wasn't time to argue. "There will be no victory here. You know the city is doomed."

Peering back, his daughters watched in horror as Vaecath rose to his full height, hoisting Aifa high above the ground. With her black spear raised, she drove the swarm forth through the rain and flying spears.

"Return to the central ziggurat. Protect that fool Mauron and his family if you can, thoughflee. Flee as far as you may run," he commanded firmly, though knew there was little chance of escape. "I will not tell you a second time."

They had mere seconds before the swarm would reach them across the wide street. As Pirmi stood frozen with indecision, Rafi wrapped her arms around him with tears rolling down her cheeks. "As you wish, father. We wanted to be brave. Forgive our failure."

"You'll fail me if you fall," he said, breaking from her embrace, knowing he'd never feel it again. His grim expression offered no hint of his silent agony, though they must live. "Go.Now."

Making her choice, Pirmi stepped to press her forehead to his, closing her eyes. "All I am, my strength, my skill, comes from you, father." It was a quick touch, pulling away an instant later to straighten proudly. Even in retreat, she'd be the warrior he made. "Die well."

He offered no goodbye as he turned around, pulling his golden spear from the dirt. The sound of his daughters forcing their way through the lines of men behind battered against his resolve, yet he held firm.

Audir had done what he could to save the city, though he was far from finished. His purpose had failed, though another steadied his hand. Flanked by his men, he readied his weapon as the swarm approached. He'd fight to give his daughters a fighting chance.

Gritting his teeth, he braced himself a moment before the first horrid creatures crashed against them, driving his spear deep into the mass of black tentacles with the ferocity of a dead man.

***

"They're here!" Gima announced as she burst into the throne room. "The wall has fallen! They're in the city!"

Atop the black throne of Aslyd, Mauron sat calmly in silence. With his crimson skin visibly pale, he stared emptily into space, not seeing her.

Audir's daughters arrived a moment behind, freezing in place at the grim sight of their ruler. Disturbed, though determined, Gima crossed the chamber and climbed the low dais. Only when she dared to grab the armrests of the stone seat did he seem to notice her. "Mauron," the name was a firm whisper. "The city suffers. You're needed."

"Ah." He appeared like a statue, a husk. The smallest hint of life returned to his eyes as he regarded the young women waiting below with recognition. "Twins of Audir, bring my daughter Sarui to me. Quickly."

They bowed dutifully before hurrying off.

Only when they were gone did he offer Gima his attention with an eerie calmness, steepling his fingers. "Do your priestesses still live?"

The sound of his voice was hollow, though she nodded frantically. "Yes, yes. They've gathered outside, awaiting your command."

His face was a calm mask of stone as he nodded slowly. "Send them to the nearest buildings. Gather any that are willing to leave their homes and bring them into the safety of the ziggurat." It wouldn't matter. Audir had put a spear into the hand of every man capable of holding one, yet it'd make no difference. The helpless could hide, yet there would be no escape.

"It shall be done," she said as she retreated from the chamber with urgency, only to turn around sharply. "What of you? Where are your guards?"

"Let it be known that you served The Creator well, Gima. Hold to that knowledge." Without answering her second question, Mauron rose from his throne as if he was in a daze. He answered the first as he made his way towards a corridor leading deeper into the structure as if he was a walking corpse. "I must tend to my family."

He didn't care to see her go. Drifting through the building, he slowly found his way upward. Mauron was little more than a phantom as he walked through the tight corridors he had known for the majority of his life. His hopes, his dreams, his memories echoed through his home, the place he had strived to lead his people to prosperity. Now they'd all be destroyed. Now his life had ended.

The oblivious laughter of his three young daughters rang through the highest hall. He didn't stop as he passed the door to their sleeping chamber, open just enough to hear inside. Instead, he wandered up the spiral staircase at the end leading up to his own chamber.

Memories tried to prod at him as he entered, yet he saw nothing but the four thin cups that rested upon the long countertop dividing the room. Exactly where he had left them, always ready, he placed them atop a small serving tray. Finding a ceremonial dagger in its proper place upon a shelf, he tied the sash that held it around his waist and left all other worldly possessions behind.

Descending the stairs with heavy, slow steps, he returned to the door of his daughters' chamber. Lingering in the hall, he gazed down at the purple liquid filling each cup.

The world was gone, yet he heard them giggle.

"Daddy!" they greeted him as he found the strength to enter.

With his last act as a father, he closed the door behind him.

***

Aifa remembered their bloodthirsty grins long ago when she had been led into the city for the first time. Judging grins had regarded a savage woman, little more than a potential sacrifice to the great abomination beneath their city. Long had they believed themselves safe. For their entire lives they had been untouchable. Now, as she heard the pain of dying men and the screams of citizens fleeing through the streets ahead, shetouchedthem.