The Black Citadel

You wake not knowing what hour or even day it is. Your eyes are open and you try to draw in some light to make out your immediate surroundings…only a faint stream of light from under the door in front of you. You try to stand but…the sound of a heavy rusty chain. You sit in the darkness for hours until a hatch opens in the door and someone throws in some stale bread for you to eat…

You remain in the darkness for many days with only stale bread for nourishment. Smelly foul tasting water running down one wall has been the only thing to quench your thirst. Because of your weakened state, you can't summon enough power to invoke a spell to get out of here. The only sounds you've heard have been thumps and screams in the darkness. It's so cold and so dark and the hunger…the terrible hunger…

After a week the door finally opens. You are blind folded, re-chained and led out. You feel the presence of other forms chained with you in a line. Out you are all led, out of the dungeons, out of the Black Citadel, out to a noisy, crowded place. When your blind fold is finally removed you find yourself standing in a cage, in a line, with other dirty, ragged, wretched looking forms like yourself. Dark men with long dark beards first examine you all, then begin the bidding…

…and a slave you remain to these dark men for the remainder of your short life.
End Of Story