The Python Kings wrote:Wood smoke wafted through the large yurt as snow and freezing rain fell through the open hole in it's ceiling. The chieftains of the Python King lands sat opposite the Khmer Lords, warily fingering their weapons. No gunpowder weapons would be found on either side. These were primitive warriors who utilized knives, swords, hammers, indeed anything that would kill or maim their enemy.
In the center of the room was a rectangular fire-pit that served as both a cook-stove and for warmth throughout the yurt. The smell of roasting meat and bread filled the room. The serving wenches moved among the warriors with plates of food, suffering, perhaps enjoying, the grabbing and pinching of their bodies by the men. At length, near the end of the feast, a Khmer Lord stood and addressed the gathering.
"My lords, I wish to welcome our friends of the Python territories. We have heard they are mighty warriors. We can see that this is true. I am Tuaz Kehr, Lord of Angkor. With me are the other six lords of the empire. We represent the High King, Ghengku Myr. Our wish is simple: how do we come together as friends and allies to push our borders north and west, enlarging both our presence and our wealth?"
From a corner of the fire-pit, partially hidden in shadows, came a voice. "It is with equal welcome that we meet with you, Lord Kehr. For too long we have mutually seen each other as opponents. Fighting each other is stupid. Neither side ever gains much, if anything. All we do is weaken our people and our lands until the next time we fight. We need to turn our fighting ways against weaker and more...pliant...lands." The speaker rose off her pillow and fixed her gaze on the Khmer.
"You are no doubt surprised to see a woman in the midst of these Python Lords. I am called Kalmya, chief of the tribe of Kal. Each of us here command over 200 warriors, both men and women. It is believed that the Pythons and the Khmer can, together, engage in a plan of battle and conquest that will enrich us both. To the north is relatively easy prey. The so-called Orient is largely a desert habitat where peasant farmers live in large oasis-like domains. Wandering, landless soldiers who left their lords and kingdoms prowl the wastes. The problem is the border of the Orient with the Hollow Lands wherein lies the power of the Empire of Rus. Their King, Ricar, has engaged the help of the city-states ruled by ferocious woman-warriors. He has supplied them with modern weaponry, and so they are able to hold their borders against all comers. The Pythons and the Khmer are fierce fighters, but we cannot hold forth against bullets and bombs. We need another plan for our goals to be met."
Tuaz Kehr looked long at the chieftain. "What do you propose, Kalmya? As you say, north would seem to be the best initial move. But we would gain little. It is the western portion of our lands that we need to push through to the Indus territory. It is mountainous with stone forts guarding the passes. They do not have much in the way of guns and the like, but they have the advantage of seeing us coming miles away."
Kalmya smiled. "So, would not the answer be that we will need to secure stronger, more modern allies to help us?"
Tuaz narrowed his eyes. "And who would these allies be, Kalmya?"
Her hand on her heart, Kalmya said, "My Lord Python. Allow me to worry about that. There are forces in this part of the world that we know little of, except that they are mighty in both war and conjuring. They command essences in the spirit-world, and their only payment is souls. Every enemy body we get for them enhances our chances of conquest."
"Bah! Ghosts, ghouls, witches! It is not the way of the Khmer warrior to use such filthy practices! We would rather perish than stoop so low!"
Kalmya was tempted to let just that thing happen, but this response was expected. "My Lord Python. Surely you would have no qualms about us using them to our advantage, would you? If you think about it, you risk nothing and we do our part. No spirit will bother you or your people. Just back us up and your reward will be immense. Gold, silver, jewels, vast territorial gain. And the beginning of the end of that accursed king of Rus!"
From the back of the room came an over-large man, hairless, wearing just a colorful waist-tunic, a five-foot long battle hammer clutched in one of his hands. "These things you speak of we already have. We Goths are the servant-partners of the Aegyptoz kingdoms in the far south of this world. I am Trezz, of the Slagg Clan, son of Stacc, grandson of the mighty Thenme, conqueror of the Middle Nile Regions. The Kings of the Nile deal with us as the prime military force of the Nile Kingdoms of the Aegyptozians, they who reign west to the Liban lands and south to the ancient borderlands of the Acheroniis, whose mighty, sorcerous city of Xuchotl still stands in the black jungles of Kush. What we require is simple: slaves to build our great cities and slaves to breed our offspring. My tribal chieftains want to know if this is available to us should we join in the battles with the Indus swine and the Rus."
Kalmya had heard of these semi-human barbarians of the mysterious southern jungle-kingdoms. And she had of course heard of Acheron, that demonic, sorcerous empire that ruled the world for centuries in eons past. She also had heard that remnants of this empire were still alive and functioning in the far, far south of Afriq, near the very tip of the dark jungles of Chutluum, the kingdom that had seaports that sent ships east and west to unknown lands.
"Tezz of the Slagg Clan! What forces do you bring to the fight?"
The Goth stared for a long moment. "Woman, we have the backing and support of over half of the Aegyptoz warlords. Some 6,000 warriors. And we have another five hundred merchants that will carry the prisoners back to our lands for processing. We are fully self-contained, able to do the work necessary for victory."
Kalmya glanced over to the Khmer Lords, who had a look of distatse on their faces, but nonetheless nodded silently in agreement. The Python Lords swayed back and forth in anticipation of widespread mass death and destruction. "Very well, Trezz of Slagg. Your offer of aid is accepted. When we have all the plans for battle settled, you will be notified."
Trezz spoke. "Woman, our forces are presently headed this way. In fourteen days we will make camp at the bottom of the Himalyam Pass called Kalkii. There will be no problems with the Indus fortresses in that area. They will be eliminated before your plans are finished. This will be the way our combined forces will enter into the Indus lands, and it will be the way our captured slaves will leave." He looked around for a couple of seconds, then without a word turned and exited the building.
