Deep within a fortress, King Kain lounged on a throne carved from petrified bone, smoke curling around him like lazy serpents. Scantily clad figures draped themselves over the armrests, attending to his whims, their eyes vacant. The air hung thick with the cloying scent of exotic incense and spilled wine.
A warrior, clad in battered steel, stumbled into the chamber, panting, dropping to one knee. "My King! Forgive the intrusion, but Commander Dan—he has initiated the domain raid! Without awaiting your final command!"
Kain waved a dismissive hand, taking a slow drag from a jewel-encrusted pipe. A woman giggled softly beside him.
"Oh? Is that all?" His voice was a bored drawl, muffled by smoke. "Let him have his fun. Dan is invincible. He has never known defeat." A cruel smile touched his lips. "Save by my hand, of course. The raid will succeed precisely because he leads it. Now, leave us."
