[Flashback] Slavery 101

[Almech]

Summer 91 509 AV

Almech awoke in his human body to a steady drip on his forehead from a stalagmite, he opened his eyes to blackness. The incessant dripping pounded the top of his head and he heard dripping everywhere else, echoing, distorting. It took several minutes before his eyes adjusted themselves, and it was what he thought, he was in the depths of a cave. It was halfway terrifying but they had to have kept him for some reason, so them kept him from being too scared. All that was on him mind right now was the slaughtering of his family before his very eyes. He layed there naked, in the fetal position trying to keep warm, he heard footsteps in the distance as they ricocheted off the walls of the cave.

A dark figure came out of the only opening leading out of the cavity of the cave he was in. He heard the same as before the high frequency beeps and squealing, ticking. It was an alien sort of sound like nothing he'd heard before the night he was captured. It's voice changed, finally speaking in a language he could actually understand "Ah, you're awake, I better not get any trouble from you" Almech just looked at him, this strange blue winged creature. It approached him and Almech could see something in it's hands, something else he'd never seen. They were shackles, and the creature was attempting to put them on Almech, he backed away, stumbling over large stones.

The creature tried to be more aggressive and just snap them on Almech, he'd smack them away onto the ground, this made the man angry. It pulled a whip from his belt and lashed it out at Almech striking him in the chest. Almech hunched over and screamed in pain, another lashing came laying his back open. He could feel the warm wetness of his blood being taken by gravity and run along his flesh. The creature sent one more whipping, opening up another area of Almech's back, he fell to the ground, the creature walked up to him and shackled the poor kelvic. It snapped around his neck, it was tight, cold, and heavy, a long chain was attached to it like a leash, the other end being held by his captor.

He forced Almech up, yanking on the chain, he slowly stood up, the winged monster lead hem out of the chamber. There were many more, walking about, making their weird noises looking at him with eyes that were as cold as ice. He was in pain and his heart was broken, he wasn't sure what to do, his family was gone, he was all alone, what was there to do? They came into another chamber, it was much smaller than the rest, there were tools on the ground in the middle. Almech looked at the creature and it spoke "Use these tools and make this room bigger" Almech couldn't help but speak "What are you? why me? why my family?". The creature grunted "We are the Zith, and you were intruding on our hunting grounds, so we made dinner of your family. You were spared because we'd killed enough to feed us, and we can make use of you here".

Almech sighed, and looked at the Zith with a fierceness, in response the man just placed his hand on his whip, Almech just kept staring at him. The creature was impatient, unraveling his whip, Almech turned around sharply, taking the lashing to his back. He winced at the pain, but his back was numb now, he could handle it, he picked up a pick axe and walked toward the outer edge wall of the room. He swung the pick hard, it was heavy, it smacked into the stone of the cave, barely piercing it knocking a small chip out of it, this was going to take a while. He swung it again harder and broke a few small pieces away, they crumbled and fell to the ground, he heard a noise. He turned around to see that there was now a large cart in the room.

The Zith spoke "You are to fill this cart everyday and dump it everyday, if you do not abide by these terms we will not feed you" Almech gulped, food was something burning in his mind at the moment. He started working at a fast pace swinging the axe with spirit now breaking several more small pieces from the wall. His body was getting warm as he swung again piercing into the rock, prying pieces from the wall, for several minutes he did this until he had a fairly large pile. He grabbed a shovel from the middle of the room, he scooped up of rock and dropped it into the cart. He continued this until the pile was gone and leaned his shovel against the cart, he whiped the sweat from his brow and picked the axe up again.

He swung it hard, knocking rock out of the wall, he was breathing heavily now, with no air flow, the dust had nowhere to go. It sat in the air, thickening it, making it harder and harder from him to breath. After a few more minutes he fell to his knees, soon afterwards he heard the crack of a whip and it slashed open his shoulder. He was losing alot of blood today, he spoke up in objection "I can't breath! blow the dust out of here or something!" he yelled, and so the Zith stood at the end of the room, flapped his wings and blew the dust out from the chamber "Get your bearings and get back to work slave!". Almech caught his breath, stood up, and got back to work, his body was aching, his stomach growling, he was weak and defeated.

He worked as fast as he could, the pick axe kept getting heavier and heavier, his arms and back were aching. He shoveled his next pile into the cart his captor gave him, now he blew dust out of the chamber for Almech when it got too intense. He continued hearing their odd language in the background echoing all across the cave, as if they were standing next to him. He could help but be angry, and that's what was fueling him, he was furiously pounding the pick axe into the rock, taking his frustration out of it. He did this for several hours, and had just finished filling the cart by the time the sun's light was beginning to shine through the cave.

He strapped himself to the cart and changed to his dog form, he was escorted by his guard to the cave entrance. Almech dumped the cart and brought it back to the room "N...Now can i have some food?", the Zith laughed "I told you everyday, OUR day is over when then sun's light begins illuminating the cave, you get no food today". Almech was furious, he growled and picked up his pick axe and charged at the Zith, but to no avail, the Zith dug it's claws into Almech's chest and swiped all the way across. Almech fell to the ground bleeding, his vision went blurry and slowly slipped away.

[Almech]

Fall 1 509

Almech woke up lying on the floor of what was apparently going to be "his room", again it took him a while for his eyes to adjust, but the caved was still a pit of darkness. He could barely see a few feet in front of his face, as if there was a black fog everywhere he looked. He felt his chest, there was a cloth covering it, somebody had bandaged him up "You're conscious already? you lost quite a bit of blood i was expecting you to be out for a few days" a deep female voice said. Almech turned over to see a female Zith sitting there, she was dipping rags into a bowl of water, the room wreaked with the smell of blood "You should save your strength, and don't get the wrong idea here. We want you strong so you can help build our nesting chamber". Almech rolled over and he winced in pain, feeling the woman wipe the dried blood from his back, the wounds were still pretty fresh. Almech slowly drifted back off to sleep listening to the sound of these creatures talking in their odd language, but he was getting used to it now.

Fall 3 509

Almech got up, his muscles incredibly sore and stiff, he'd worked harder than he thought he did, and the fact that he slept for 2 days and didn't move didn't help either. The woman who bandaged him came, tossed a clay bowl on the ground, it shattered into many fragment, Almech's nose picked up on something. There was food in the bowl, he quickly got down on his hands and knees, desperately licking up the slop given to him, he was starving. He used a piece of the clay bowl as a scooping device, pouring the disgusting grewl into his mouth, he didn't even take time to taste it, he just let it slide down his throat and into his stomach. The woman scoffed at his animalistic behavior she turned around and began walking away, Almech paid no attention, he had been desperately hungry and he was finally getting something in his belly. He finished most of it and licked up what was left, he didn't even mind the fact that he was in pain, he focused intently on his food, ignoring the pain.

He sat on his butt, leaning against one of the walls in a delirium, was this really happening? or was this all a dream? The sadness of it all was the fact that Almech was well aware that this was no dream, he couldn't just pinch himself and make everything better. He was taking deep breaths now, trying to calm himself, thinking about his mother and father, about the pack, and surprisingly the other young kelvics who ridiculed him for being so large, yes, he missed all of them. He kept his mind busy with anything that would keep him from thinking about the predicament he was in, his stomach growled, they didn't give him enough slop. He could smell his body odor prominently, the pungent smell of sweaty armpits and unwashed backside, he longed for a nice long dip in a stream or river. His world was shattered, he was a slave now, no one to love him or care for him at all for that matter, and he didn't mean someone who wanted him to stay alive to do hard labor, he had no one who genuinely cared about HIM.

Fall 40 509

Almech was healed enough and strong enough now to continue his work at full capacity, the woman who cared for his wounds had grown a little too talkative. She spoke too openly about his mother landing her a solid slap in the face from Almech. He had no idea his punishment would mean being forced to grip a red hot iron bar with them. The Zith had to allow for his long drawn out healing, which he could be halfway greatful about. He had later found out that the woman he'd slapped was their colony's elder, their most cherished and knowledgable family member. Strangely enough, this was the only Zith in the colony that treated him as something other than a slave. She was incredibly careful with helping heal his wounds and comforted Almech when his pain was at it's worse, he didn't know what to make of the woman. His time in their cave also allowed him to study their language, maybe it would prove helpful later. If he could eavesdrop on their conversations he may be able to make use of it in the future as the elder would often talk to herself when she mended his wounds.

Almech picked at the rock with his pick axe knocking rocks away, slowly the room was getting bigger. He took his time, he didn't know what they would have in store for him when he was done. There were a few more slaves now, over the last couple of weeks they'd brought more poor souls like himself into their cave. They all had essentially the same story he did, Almech was sure to note that, if he were free, to never set foot on these people's lands at night again, but that wasn't the only thing he learned about this colony. He was learning to obey orders, work himself down to the bone for unsatisfying meals, and to never insult his masters. They were a rather violent race, the Zith, they were true predators of the highest caliber, he thought sentient beings were nothing like wild animals, but he was sadly mistaken. He'd watch as his fellow slaves were whipped, beaten, and burned for their misdeeds, he tried telling them what he'd learned but like him they were desperate to leave this godforsaken place.

He picked at the rock, his arms growing warmer and more exhausted with every swing of the large mining tool, and shoveling the rubble into their wheeled cart wasn't a picnic either. Snap, snap, snap "AAAAAHHHH!!!!" echoed throughout the cave regularly, the new batch of slaves weren't nearly as obedient as Almech was, but Almech was tired of being in pain everyday. He'd rather his muscles be sore from overworking than having punishment inflicted upon him, he figured if all he did was spend his time being a rebel and being punished for it, they'd finally tire of him and kill him, but Almech had plans to escape, someday. The work seemed to be benefiting him as well, feeling himself become stronger everyday as the pick ax and cart become lighter and lighter as days went by. He never spoke, he just kept to himself, the other slaves would speak to him, but, it wasn't for conversation, it was their way of calming themselves, seeing Almech there quiet and collected in their chamber when work was done, when in reality Almech was deep in thought daily coming up with an escape plan.

Fall 41 509

Almech sat up against the wall of the slave chamber, the daily routine was now about as ridiculous as the work itself. Every morning the colony elder would enter their chamber, the bowl getting bigger every time slaves were added. Simply getting something to eat was a battle now, as the clay bowl would shatter on the floor, spilling their slop all over the ground. There was biting, scratching and fighting, each day someone else would have a full stomach while everyone else got the scraps. Almech being the senior slave decided to lay down the law, if he were to escape, he'd need help, if his fellows were too weak to fight, there would be no point in trying to escape at all. He spoke out against a large blue man, with chiseled muscles, a truly strong warrior "Do you really need that much food? look at these people slowly turning into skeletons, show some compassion!". The blue man looked up at Almech with resentment, he stood up puffing out his chest trying to be macho alpha male of the group.

The man walked up to Almech and got right in his face "And if i don't? what are you going to do about it?" Almech's face turned red with anger. Who did this guy think he was? why did HE get to eat so much? it wasn't fair, he was just causing more misery for everyone else. Almech stood up, towering over the blue man, he had never attempted to achieve alpha male status before, but it seemed today would be the day he did. Almech calmly spoke "I'll make sure you do", the blue man laughed and shoved Almech into the wall hard "Oh yeah? that's big talk coming from someone who's skinny as a tree limb" he said and then shoved Almech again. Almech bit his lip and blood trickled down his chin "Aww, what's the matter? tough guy act fail on you? are you going to cry?". Almech started growling and snarling as his instincts were kicking in, however it sounded rather odd coming from someone who appeared to be human as far as these people knew. The blue man began laughing hysterically "Oh! that's really scary! do you do that with everyone that makes you angry?".

The man was laughing hard, mocking Almech, and Almech had had enough of this man's mouth, he shifted into his dog form. The man was laughing with his eyes closed and Almech pounced on top of him, knocking him onto the ground. He put up his arms, trying to punch Almech, but instead Almech caught the man's arms in his jaws, biting down hard, the taste of his blood making him lust for more. Almech was a killer, no doubt about that, his father taught him to be a ferocious predator and warrior with no compassion for his opponents. His soft side came from his mother and all that she taught him about compassion, love, and morals. The blue man punched Almech with his free hand in the neck and side several times, this hurt. So Almech jumped back away from the blue man, without letting go, tearing his teeth away as he moved, ripping away at the blue man's flesh. He tried to get back up, but Almech wasn't done yet, he bit into the man's ankle, thrashing about with it in his mouth.

The blue man couldn't even kick Almech because of how fast he was thrashing from side to side. Every time the man kicked at Almech, he would no longer be in the blue man's path. Hearing the commotion in their slave chamber their warden came in, whip lashing. Almech quickly shifted back, expecting the worse as the warden's whip layed open his chest "Really? the day you're put back to work you do this?" Almech knew by now there was no point in explaining himself. He concentrated hard, thinking of the time he spent with family, attempting to block out the 3 whippings he'd just received in his chest. The elder soon came, and bandaged both Almech and the blue man, Almech spoke "Have I made my point?" he asked the blue man. The blue man just sat their as the elder dressed his wounds, with anger and defeat showing prominently from his eyes, Almech was calling the shots now. Perhaps in the future this blue man would prove himself to be useful during their escape.

[Almech]

Fall 60 509

Almech had spent the next few weeks healing, he had tried to keep working with his injuries but all he was doing was keeping them from healing, constantly reopening on him when he'd swing his heavy pick ax. He noticed after the incident with the blue man, the blue man had become more docile then before, Almech often watched him doing what seemed to be sulking over his injuries, perhaps this man was more devestated mentally than physcially. After having been made a fool of by a mere dog, he rarely spoke now and he waited for Almech to finish eating before he even attempted to get some nourishment. Almech felt this was also selfish and immature, this guy just irritated Almech all around "Oh jeez, grow up a little bit, i didn't say you weren't allowed to eat until i do, i said everyone should get an equal share, get over yourself" he said. The blue man pretended to not be listening to Almech even though he was, he slowly slinked over to the puddle of slop on the ground and ate, just as much as the others, which was fair.

It was time for work, Almech's wounds were healed enough to where swinging the pick ax didn't rip open his wounds on his chest, he entered the nesting chamber. It was quite a bit larger than it was last time he was here, but apprently it still wasn't big enough. There were 5 slaves working on expanding the nesting chamger now, which meant 5 carts to fill each day, atleast the rules were halfway fair and their work wasn't 'graded on a curve' otherwise there would've been problems. Some of the workers here were weak barely able to knock pebbles out of the walls of the chamber. These people were often whipped at predictable intervals with the warden screaming "Get back to work less you wish to lose your life!" accompanied by the 'whipee' screaming in agony. Almech felt bad for these people, but they and him would 'have theirs' soon enough, as the amount of slaves grew, Almech's plan was beginning to ripen, he kept his plan to himself for now, as he was still working out some of the kinks.

He swung his pick ax with a fiercness, the quicker he filled his cart and dumped it, the quicker he could get done, the quicker he could head back to the slave chamber and think about his plan. The ax wasn't heavy anymore, atleast to him, he could almost wield it with one hand with the same proficiency as both hands when he first started the vigorous work. The pick buried deep into the wall of the chamber, applying leverage, Almech broke several large pieces out of the wall, he was getting better at this, he swung again, breaking away several small pieces. He continued for a while, stopped, and wiped the sweat from his forehead, he took a drink of water from a large bowl left near the entrance of the chamber for the slaves to share. He watched the others for a moment then walked back to his place, picked up his ax and started picking away at the wall again, he would finish early today, filling his cart to the top with his rubble. He took it outside and dumped it, he headed back to his chamber, he'd earned himself a good long sleep today.

[Cantrip]

Did you want something? Almech: XP Award: Bodybuilding +2; Unarmed +1; Intimidation +1 Lores: Losing your Family; Enslaved by Zith; Zith Hierarchy Additional Notes: I’m afraid there’s not much to award, apart from lores. It was great to hear about slavery, and how it affected Almech. I was going to give mining, but I decided to comply with your desire for bodybuilding. Also, make sure that ‘I’ is in caps. That, and some other small stuff, seemed kind of lazy.