Darkened Kingdom (Eddsworld)

Chapter 1: Kingdom Grounds

Soft footsteps splashed on the soaked ground, as someone cautiously approached the castle. Tord's ears flicked as he heard the frantic steps of someone seeking shelter from this horrid storm. As the lightning strikes the forest outside his castle filling the air with the sound of thunder. He sees a silhouette slowly entering the doors, as he enters Tord hides in the shadows not knowing what to think of his unexpected guest. The unknown figure dries himself off as he looks around his new surroundings, inside was a torn-down-looking building but strangely inviting all the same time. With large pillars of stone and a grand fireplace. Lit and warm. A comfortable-looking chair in front of it with a small book on the side table. Directly in front of him was an old wooden railing covered in some odd-looking vines, the figure shrugs to himself and mutters "guess this will have to do for tonight."

 Tord's ears flick again as he hears the soft voice of his guest, it was the first voice he had heard in ages. It was vaguely frightening to hear but made him curious enough to step into the light. Hearing something step along the platform above him the man looked up to see something similar to himself. Another monstrosity with striking red fur, and black smoke coming from his mouth.

Upon second glance, the guest notices that the black vines were coming from and wrapped around the legs and arms of the one standing above him on the mezzanine of the castle. He spoke with a commanding yet soft voice, "Welcome to my castle, little bird, may I ask the name of my guest?" as the man swallowed his surprise he spoke quietly, "it's Thomas, but Tom for short"

Tord gave him a soft smile, as he made his way down one of the spiral staircases, the vines draping down the banister as he walked to the ground floor. He walked over to Tom, holding his claw out for a formal greeting. With slight hesitation, he shook the other's claw. "And I am Tord, ruler, and king of this land" 

Tom softly nodded as the other king looked back and forth, "the storm doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, would you like me to show you around?" Tom perked up a bit but nodded once more, and with that the ruler lead him back up the stairs, his thorny vines seeming to start to wither and die. 

"what would you like to see first, Thomas? there's the grand dining hall, the library, bedrooms, garden but I'd suggest against that due to the storm outside." he softly spoke, rambling a bit, his voice was calm and low but had a bit of excitement in it. The other male thought then spoke. "The library sounds like a good place to start." his voice met the same tone as Tord's.

 He lead Tom to the library, he got to the door of it, it being a big wooden door that was rounded at the top, he pushed it open revealing the dusty old library behind it. Despite it being old and worn down, it had a comforting feel to it. There were thousands of books among the walls of it, along with multiple stories to it, and spiral staircases leading up to them. Tom walked up to one of the rolling ladders and cautiously climbed up a step or two of them to get a closer look at the books. Tord stood close to Tom on the ladder. "if you find anything you can take it back with you, I don't mind." Tom looked back at him, slightly surprised by his kindness, considering they had just met. "if you insist.." He looked back at the books, giving them a look over until one caught his eye, he climbed up another step on the ladder and grabbed it, getting back down onto his feet. 

Tom looked at the book he grabbed, it being an old history book about the kingdoms in the area. "I take it you don't know much about this place?" He looked over at the Male. Tom looked at him and gave a slight nod. "you see, I was originally sent here to find any survivors, other than that I've lived in my own kingdom my whole life to serve the king." he gave a sad look to the book as he held it, running a claw over the pages of the book.

Tord gave the other male a curious glance, wondering what he could mean by that. "so you came here to find some survivors?,, well.. i can tell you first hand, you're not gonna find any here, they've been gone for long.." 
Tom looked back at him from his view on the book he grabbed previously. "well, i'm talking to you am i not? and if i'm not mistaking you'd be considered a survivor? am i wrong?"
Tord let out an exhausted sigh, now looking at Thomas with a slightly cold gaze.
"i can't come with you, i'm terribly sorry to say.. but my dear, i will be imprisoned, and i'd much rather die in freedom then stuck in some sort of cage."
Tom, being a bit caught off guard by this kind strangers sudden cold gaze
"..if you don't mind my concern, but about why would you be imprisoned?"

Tord, looking down at himself at the vines attaching themselves to his hooves on the ground. he walked over a chair sitting comfortably close to the flame of the fireplace. as he walked over the vines that where forming under his hooves withered away. he took a seat, sighing a bit as he offered Tom the chair sitting closely to the other. the other male walked over carefully and took a seat next to him, hoping to get some information about to why this king of a fallen kingdom would be taken away being brought to a neighboring kingdom.

the king reclined into his chair, staring of into the fire for a bit as he got comfortable. "if you haven't noticed, which i'm sure you curios cat like you would have by now, i have the illness many don't like to speak of, at least not in these parts. it's called deaths grip.. it causes vines to grow onto it's victims arms legs and torso, as well as a black thick smoke come out of their mouths. it's known to have no cure, but due to my kingdom being mainly effected by it, other kingdoms think i may be the cause of it.." He sighed heavily, looking off into the fireplace.

Tom looked off into the fireplace as well, being silent, trying to process all that he had been told, thinking of the best possible way to respond to such knowledge 


"well,, how do you know they still think that for sure? if you don't mind me asking?" Tom seemed infested in the situation now, looking at the king with a curios look. Tord kept looking into the fire as to avoid eye contact. "i'm sure of it, i can't chance it either.. so once this storm is over feel free to return to your kingdom, i walk these grounds each day and i can assure you there is not a soul left here.."

Tom then went quiet, giving a slight nod as he watched the fire as well