As expected, humans were so very short-sighted and short-minded.
“Swear by geas that this will be the case, and you will have your couppence just as you spelled it out.” I boomed to the gathered summit.
The gathered town elders paled slightly as my violet eyes continued to rest upon them in turn. “What is wrong? I Jyelell, swear that one million mamono will be brought here, alive. They will willingly allow themselves to be executed by one million more to satisfy the blood you claim that is yet unpaid, and you will allow your village, and by proxy; all the lands surrounding it to be mamono friendly.”
The ignorant fool who proposed the stupid notion was about to speak when another, older man clasped a hand to his mouth.
“You simpleton! Be silent!” He hissed to the arrogant young fool.
I spread my arms to the gathered summit that included many nations and even representatives from the Order.
“Let it be known to all that are gathered here. My mamono nation willingly accepts and gladly takes on the charge and responsibility of unpaid human blood.” I turned and pointed my finger to the gathered village elders. “And yet- when so costly a demand was made of me, not only did I accept- but did so without hesitation.” I spread my wings to an aggressive pose and used my magic to enhance my voice to thunder and echo.
“Let it be known then, that humans allied with the principles of the Order only make vague promises, threats, and seek only to kill and dominate- even when the offer for peace is given...no matter the price.”'
The younger man stood, as well as all of the other village leaders except for the wiser old man. They shouted me down, hurled obscenities and shook their fists.
I shook my head and held out a contract. “Gentlemen, and ladies….your words are worthless unless they are put to the test. If you were so bold to put this requirement upon me, then surely you can be bold enough to sign this geas?”
One by one, they all signed except the old man. He turned to deathly silent crowd.
“You fool. You are all fools.” He hissed to the gathered. “I could hold out. I could save this village single handedly and by proxy; the nation on which it stands.” He exhaled and looked older, and completely defeated. “But life would forever be intolerable afterwards, and no one would ever know the full extent of what I was trying to dissuade you all from doing.” He shook his head.
“But I won’t be a part of this. You doom yourselves with this. How can there be peace with so much blood spilt and lives claimed? You think this Lilim came here unprepared and unaware of this requirement?” He shook his head. “I resign my position as village elder.” He turned to me and gave me a lethal stare that made me feel uncomfortable. “You have a unanimous agreement without me.”
I smiled and laughed. “We shall return within two weeks.” I turned to the representatives of the Order.
“Our border dispute is over. The town and now nation of Accreton belongs to the Mamono Empire”
(one week later)
The village people and several Order representatives milled about as two million of my own gathered before the village elders. We essentially surrounded the entire village with our numbers and people were already frantically searching for a way to stop what was about to happen.
“One million Succubi!” I shouted to those gathered at the square. I looked up to the growing storm, bristling with lightning and shouted. “One million to die this day for peace!, at the hands of one million more!” I pointed to the gathered Village Elders, noticing the wisest of them was gone. “Stand forth, fool! We await your signal!”
“W-wait a second.” The man stammered. “W-we need to look at-”
“If you break this geas, you forfeit anyway! Will you have blood or not?”
“Fine! Do it!” The fool screamed, his face so pale that one would think it was a patch of nonexistance.
I rose to the air and released my magic.
A flash of lightning and thunder sounded and a eerie, macabre sound of metal sliding over flesh sounded, followed by the sound of liquid trickling and spilling to the ground….such a small sound ringing clear, amplified by the sheer numbers of sacrifice.
I looked upon the village elders and smiled, bringing forth my spiritual, magical, and even my lifeforce to bear for my next few actions. “Now! Declare this village and nation to the mamono empire! Swear fealty to me!”
The village elders lit with magical light, as did every person in the village….as one they bowed and swore fealty to me.
“My sisters!” I screamed to the remaining million that still lived. “Lend me your strength.”
As one, the remaining million rose their hands to me, my entourage of Liches rose into the air and assisted my spell.
“It’s been a long time since we seen an above-ground undead kingdom rise.” One of them remarked as she helped me with my spell.
I took a breath and nodded. “Indeed. I wonder what foolishness the dim humans believed….thinking this would be a permanent solution...of all places….they thought this would work?”
I released my spell as a lighting bolt struck my body and split into a million more, hitting the million who died for this chance of peace.
My mind went blank and my lich entourage quickly came forth and kept me from falling.
I smiled as I heard the village people scream and wail as all my slain sisters rose, barely worse for the wear. Some of them even declaring it to have been a fun exercise.
I looked upon the fool as he and the rest cowered before me.
“You tricked me!” He screamed, his face pale. “You knew it would turn out like this!”
I nodded and sneered. “This is the lands of the Mamono where demonic energy, magic, and spiritual energy exists. What did you expect?”