So We Met In A Tavern.

Amaterasu's Monster

Swooping over Mirkwood, a ragged and malnourished winged tiefling surveys the town with dark red eyes, seeing his destination, he lands akwardly and stumbled, spilling onto the cobblestone street. His long black and matted hair covers his face as he slowly struggles to stand.

Arlius gingerly hobbles towards the farriers stable, his hoven feet have never been trimmed in his life, and the lack of outdoor privileges prevented him from wearing down his hooves naturally.

The gnarled and overgrown keratin made it extremely difficult for him to walk upright and without assistance, and only the use of his wings allowed him to travel so far from his swampy prison.

"Oh dear!" A woman says, looking at his predicament running from the open door at her shop.

She moves to him quickly, allowing an arm to wrap around her shoulders.

"Please,.. follow me!" Ignoring his smell, the fresh blood that covers his neck and chest, and his badly tattered clothing.

Arlius gratefully allows her assistance as she leads him to a small stool. "Sit and stretch your legs out."

Almost crawling, he does as directed.
"I've no gold to exchange for your services." He says ashamed.

Despite his appearance, the Tiefling seemed educated and well-spoken.

"I can't leave you in this condition," she answers. "I'll do it for free, or if you insist, I can find work here for you.

Kindness... a first real gem... gratefulness washes over Arlius as he looked to her.

"Your kindness is cherished." He affirms, smiling at her while watching her collect her tools.

"So, what happened?" She asked.

Her words cut thru his mind as he replayed the events in the last 12 hours or so and the years leading up to them.

He had just escaped from the Blood witch Amaterasu... the woman who had raised him. More accurately speaking, she designed his existence.

Witches, of course, utilize minions such as giants and undead zombies to exact their evil biddings, but Arlius was being groomed for a different purpose, but one he was not privy to.

His mother served only one purpose, to be the incubater to birth the pallet of what Amaterasu had planned as her work of art. Once born, then weened from her breast, she was killed and discarded like so much useless rubbish. Her name?....one of many details Amaterasu kept from him to feed his anger he suspected she didnt actually know it...nor cared.

His father was a demon, summoned to rape and impregnate his mother, specifically to provide the Tiefling traits that he possessed. His wings were essential. She had told him that much, at least. She was very happy upon his birth at the sight of them, and after a few dozen attempts and failures, she finally had something more than a sweet treat to eat and to discard another unless virgin that she can paid for or captured.

Once old enough, Arlius spent his days chained to a stump that had grown thru the floor of the witches hut. She kept him prisoner. This was his life, and for twenty and two years, the only ones he ever spoke to were Amaterasu, and the woman currently kneeling before him trimming his hooves.

This woman who diligently worked to better his life had already shown more compassion than Amaterasu ever did.

His childhood was void of any normal upbringing....never a game to play, a sweet treat to be had, or a tender touch from a loving parent.

This isn't to say that Amaterasu avoided touching Arlius. In fact, as he matured, she had noticed that he was well endowed. She'd come to him on occasion when his urges were uncontrollable. She'd mock him at times, destroying his confidence or rape him other times.