The Question 3D Render, Digital Artwork by Hexdrake

! REPORT

The Question

3D Render by Hexdrake

This is a render I did a while back that turned out badly due to inexpirience with lighting. Hopefully, this version is a bit better. I am also including the accompanying story, which explains the title -

Stephen entered the hastily constructed lodge with trepidation. The Sorceress rarely summoned her soldiers to speak with her and it was well known that sometimes they didn’t return the same from such meetings. Through his heroics on the field (against his former king's personal guard) King Talgus had been captured.

The Sorceress watched him with her unsettling Arkati eyes while one of her demon bodyguards – naked and armed only with a spear – visibly tensed. Far more disturbing was the sight of his former king – now naked and obviously out of his mind – crouched at the base of the throne and gibbering to himself. Stephen reflexively bowed as it seemed the right thing to do at the time. He looked up into those luminous eyes; one could easily lose themselves in those eyes and be ecstatic while doing so.

When she spoke, her voice seemed clear and pure like a bubbling brook, but Stephen was wary and knew the danger he was in.

“Welcome Stephen to my new command post. Word has reached me of your heroics on the battlefield that allowed me to catch this rather slippery eel.”

The king moaned and then giggled at this.

“Should you think me some madwoman bent on conquering the world, let me put those fears to rest. This king crossed the lines of acceptable behavior and I have held him accountable for his actions. Two decades ago, I was just out of apprenticeship as a summoner amongst my people. We Arkati are more skilled with magic than most, but we have to work on honing those skills like anyone else. In my case, I found the binding of otherworldly beings against their will…distasteful. So, I left the cities of ice of my homeland and headed south to meet a Khaltira, a sorceress I exchanged regular letters with.

When I went to meet her in Lavistan, I discovered she had died, but that she had left me a message. She was advisor to King Talgus and had recommended me for the position. I immediately went to the castle, a thousand thoughts running through my head…a sorceress of my experience level becoming an advisor was practically unheard of, but there was the opportunity. A brief interview with the castellan and a few other advisors and the position was mine.

Looking back now, I see the many warning signs that I had missed at the time. The unsaid meaning within Khatira’s missives, the look upon the castellan’s face when he interviewed me, Khaltia’s sudden death just before my arrival.

I had plenty of time to mull over my mistakes in Talgus’ private dungeon. For two years I endured his attentions, cursed magic-dulling bracers forced upon me so that I had only to choices – serve at his whim or die. I chose the former and used the large amounts of time that I was not attending to the king’s needs to practice shapeshifting. Although my people do have a talent for that type of magic, it is frowned upon as being primal and beneath us. Given the circumstances, however, I thought it prudent to at least try to escape.

When I finally managed to shift into a form too small for the bracers, the magic broke. I could have stayed and likely killed him then, but I would then be guaranteed a quick death and they would just use magic to resurrect him. I escaped and vowed to return and provide him the same lavish attention he provided me and to ensure that no one will ever be subject to his whims again.

I have achieved my goal. My armies will be disbanded, my servants released, the bindings on the fiends and elementals broken so that they can return to whence they came. Every person who has served me loyally will be given 25 gold crowns – enough to live on for a decade if invested wisely. The otherworldly creatures will be given recompense for their service, although Balthazar here has said he much prefers serving me than returning to the Hells so he will remain.

Which brings me to the man who made this all possible, Stephen William Pridefall. You will be given your choice of rewards – I have honed my magic and there are few material things that are beyond my grasp. I have watched you from afar, but I knew that I had little time for social relations while pursuing King Talgus here.”

When the Sorceress looked away from him Stephen wasn’t sure how to take what she then asked. “I was wondering…are you free for dinner tonight?