Trash: Interlude X Elders' Games (Patreon)

Interlude X

Elders’ Games

(Ankarah Carthwright)

(Dunamis Empire – Paraisthisi Castle)

A map of the world lay sprawled out on the table, old country borders and names long since erased from the history of the world depicted a world with far more color than one might expect. Gathered around the table were the elders, not the eldest, for here only one eldest truly resided and she was the defacto queen of the remains of the Dunamis Empire, but she was not to be disturbed. In her place stood Ankarah Carthwright, barely out of what many would consider to be her infancy stage. Yet, she was fast tracked, showing power and cunning that helped her evolve past her humble origins far faster and more ruthlessly than any of the Death Eaters, and Z-Rot infected herd that made up her batch.

Regarded by many as a generational talent, Ankarah Carthwright was specifically cultivated and groomed to be the heir apparent for her master. Given far more resources than should be allowed, Ankarah proved to already have. It was this unique mixture of ability, elder support, and the fact that it was her eldest who was now hosting this meeting that allowed her to be at this table with the representatives of the other elders.

While there were infighting and conflicts that inevitably arose from elders have their lands or resources get too close to one another, conflict was mostly avoided. Thanks in small parts to gatherings like this one. Where the sole purpose was to discuss expansionist ideals and activities. As Ankarah’s eldest was involved in the conquering of the Dunamis Empire, she retained the lion’s share of the rewards and resources, which was how Ankarah ultimately found herself under the guidance and control of her eldest.

Looking at the map, one that exposed hundreds of miles of yet unclaimed land, all with a towering university right in the middle, in a land whose name has been eroded by time. Only the first letter and a few trailing letters remained describing this old land, the way the ancients saw the region, “Swi*-#land”.

With a created and crafted white tower holding up the wester tip of the country, showing a famed university that sparked memories within Ankarah’s mind. Seeing the level of detail in the microstructure, it was clear that the marker was carved by hand in exquisite detail, and that the crafter had also visited the place firsthand. Just seeing the structure brought up memories of the before, micro memories of when she had not been converted, before she had come to her ultimate perfected form that she was now.

Seeing the structure, the other elders all seemed to have an odd reverence and fear of the place, however to Ankarah, it felt and looked like home.

“Now then,” Borain, the elder who Ankarah associated as a snob for vintage breeding and resource gathering began. His tone can be described as condescendingly aristocratic, but it was a fake aristocratic tone, as if someone was just playing a role. A role that all of the other elders seemed to allow, as they felt it made Borain seem unlearned, but that was ultimately the plan he wanted to gain from the others. They looked down on him, due to his obvious lack of acting skills, causing the others to lower their guard when dealing and interacting with him.

As the newcomer, Ankarah found that it was best for her to sit back and observe the antics of the other elders, which is how she noticed the mocking stares and the subtle laughs at Borain’s vocal inflections when they thought he wasn’t looking.

“I assume we need someone to help guide this meeting onto its proper procedure. I apologize darling, but would you mind if I help speed this along, as I have resources to collect and stock to barter for,” Borian faux-asked, turning his gaze to Ankarah. The implication was simple, let Borain take charge and guide us through this process as quickly and efficiently as possible, thereby giving up the power afforded to Ankarah by her and the eldest she represented playing host. A clear grab for power, and one that offered little in the way of strategic advantage at the moment if Ankarah objected. If she objected, then she would come across as petty, if she gave in, she would come across as weak, but at least she could play that towards understanding her role in this new society that she now found herself immersed in.

“Please go right ahead,” Ankarah replied, her voice dripping with as much honied affection as she could offer.

“Well then, I guess I shall call this meeting to order. Leo, Natasha, and Kiren, you are well aware of the tasks before us and what is at stake, but for the sake of our newcomer here I will break it down so there is no confusion later on.”

As Borain spoke, Ankarah felt a wave of annoyance wash over her, but oddly enough the emotion was not hers. Well not hers alone, as she too felt some revulsion, but this was part of the link provided to her by her eldest Saffron, who now used Ankarah’s eyes and mind to interact with the world around her. From their seamless connection, Ankarah could feel Saffron’s emotional state, and realized that her viewing the world through Ankarah’s eyes was not an indictment on Ankarah, but rather a curiosity for how others would dare treat Saffron’s elder when they thought no one was looking. Knowing that Saffron was there, watching the meetings made Ankarah feel oddly relaxed. In her past, she would have hated this very type of connection, but the bond between and eldest and an awakened like her was indescribable. The way they both had their own thoughts, but all ultimately boiled down to one common thread, survival of Saffron and her lineage at all cost. This was great, as Ankarah was now a direct figurehead of this lineage, meaning that everything she did to help Saffron, ultimately helped herself.

Ankarah could also feel the faint tug and connection tethering Saffron to dozens of other elders all over the world. These connections helped prove that while Ankarah was important, she was and could be replaced if she fell short, more motivation to do better and succeed, which is why she now focused on what was said, and what was being said.

“Now that we have stabilized the livestock and living conditions for our livestock in the Dunamis Empire,” Borain began, pointing to a spot on the map that was north and to the west of the ivory university, to a spot that was clearly labeled Orle—something, a location that was marked by a small black castle signifying their current location. “We now have the task of figuring out two things.”

Pausing for a moment Borain held up two fingers as if to emphasize his point, “first we need to see who will want to contribute resources to an invasion. Then second, we need to figure out where we will invade.”

As he counted off the two tasks, he pointed on the map to two territories that had different markers on them. One clearly had a slightly taller dark castle next to a word seeming to say Lyon. While the other was a longer route down and around, that went to a place called St. Ent<something> the rest was illegible due to constant wear over time.

“First, I will point out the fact that this is a strict resource per resource investigation. Our scouts have gone to check out the resistances from both, and should return with noted metrics on resources required to quarantine and secure both locations. By a vote of hands, whose eldest here does not want to assign resources to annexing either territory?” Borain asked, holding up his hand slightly to try to induce someone to raise their hand and thereby abstain from the rest of the meeting.

At this, Ankarah felt her eldest physically take control of her body and all but prevent her from even moving a finger. Forcing her arms and hands to remain steadily by her side, a fact that instantly frightened Ankrarah, as she realized she had no autonomy at all. That the mental hold over her by her eldest was unavoidable. Just feeling her hold her in such a state made Ankarah feel utterly small and weak. While Ankarah had not intended to raise her hand and abstain, the fact that her eldest could take over her body seemingly at will caused her to be afraid. Though that fear was quickly eroded by soothing mental images that Saffron sent to sooth the fear that was building within her. And as if she was then unable to protest, she felt her anxiety and fear dissolve, as she was forced to focus on what Borain said and did next.

“Good, now that we all know we will have the support of the eldests, then let us focus on the next course of action of choosing where to strike at next, as that will determine how many resources we need to provide in order to achieve optimal efficiency. The targets for our next expansion efforts are either the southern border region of Nostrylvania,” Borain stated and pointed to the spot on the map clearly identified as Lyon.

“Or we take a slightly longer detour and secure the southern border country of <Garbled> Empire.” Hearing the words being spoken, Ankarah’s mind went blank, ringing with an odd detachment as if her mind was not able to process the word being spoken. A word she knew, as it described her homeland, well her former homeland, back when she was still living, back when she—

“Ahh!” Ankarah let out a moan, as blood began pouring down her nose as she tried to comprehend the word that had just spoken, one denoting a place she knew intimately, but was now gone from her mind. Feeling for the spot where the word went, it felt like those thoughts had been somehow stripped from Ankarah’s mind, forcefully removed. Only to now cause pain as her mind instinctively knew of the location, just thinking about it, Ankarah could see and recall images of locations and past mortal memories, but the place itself and its meaning were gone from her mind.

While Ankarah fought through her mental pain, one that seemed to momentarily break her connection to her eldest, Saffron. The others continued like nothing had happened, for nothing had happened, as the pain, the bleeding nose, everything was all pain in Ankarah’s mind. Her body didn’t even produce blood, at least not the way she thought, meaning she couldn’t have a nosebleed.

“I’m being told, why not both?” The only other female, Natasha asked.

“Then we have it, who else wishes to begin annexing both territories at once?” Borain asked, and like that Ankarah felt naked and alone. Her connection to her eldest was still broken, thanks to the mental pain she had felt a moment ago, meaning she now had to be a deciding factor in whether her eldest would vote to invade both territories at once.

“Well, how does your eldest vote?” Borain asked, and like that, Ankarah found herself forced to make the toughest decision of her undead life. One where it meant having to possibly invade her homeland and provide resources that her eldest might not be willing to provide at all. Yet, something about her homeland called to her, beckoned her. Realizing this might be one of the few times when she can understand how or why her mind seemed to be shattered from her awakening, she hesitantly held up her right hand, same as the others.

Then she spoke her first true lie of her unlife, “we vote in agreement.”