Overlord: Raise of Darkness Chapter 3 Tax
Story by XSDStitch on SoFurry
After taking control of Direscar, its time to spread out.
Just how?
The Dark Overlord sat in his office room and his fingers tripled over the surface of his table. Thanks to the wood provided by the people of Direscar, the minions were able to patch up all holes of the tower and craft a set of simple furniture for the overlord to use.
Thought he was anything but happy right now… while the wood came in a steady rate and the first minions were outfitted with iron armory, here was only one good news within two weeks. TWO DAMM WEEKS!
And growled. While he said himself they had to take things slow to not draw any attention from heroes or whoever had interest to wipe them out, he had thought they could have at least found one of the other hives, an artifact or a town or village to take. Or at least get anything to rebuild the tower properly. But NOT only-
"Masta! Masta!" called a minion as it rushed in, only to be impaled by a thrown spear of the Dark Overlord. He had always told these idiots that he wants that they knock on the door and ask for permission to enter before coming into his office.
He heard a knock and heard Gnarls voice "My liege! I have important news"
The Overlord eyes the door for a moment and decides that killing one minion was enough for now to get steam off "Get in!" told the Overlord "And let some more in to clean up the mess"
The door opens and four more minions came in. Gnarl, two browns and a blue… that is the only good news he got within the two weeks: They have found a few of the blues. While not their entire hive, the people of Direscar had found six of them at a nearby river and brought them to the overlord. Now with the live restoring faction of the minions, the overlord now took his frustrations or bad mood out on the minions, since as long the bodies were intact, the blues could bring them back to live.
The two browns pulled the spear out of their fellow minion and brought it back to their master while the blue went to revive the minion. The Dark Overlord wondered if this neat feature is the reason that none of them EVER learns not to annoy the Overlord to a point where he kills them.
Well… another news is that a few of his experiments could start… as soon he got the necessary tools. And if the Overlord has to stay honest: Here was even one more news but if it is good, bad or just there is hard to decide: As the minions had cleaned up with the help of the wood they found that one more minion had survived the destruction of the previous Overlord: The Jester Quaver.
From the moment he was discovered the Overlord learned that other minions disliked Quaver. With a good reason: Terrible "amusing" poems to his honor, bad singing voice, terrible jokes and a decent cook… one has to wonder why he kept the job.
And what frustrated the Overlord a lot was that he also has a knack for avoiding death, no matter how much the Overlord puts effort when Quaver annoys him. Well… at least he is completely loyal in difference with the former jester, according to Gnarl.
Speaking of this stone old Minion.
"What news do you bring me Gnarl! I hope good ones as I have a VERY bad mood now!" warns the Overlord, playing with his spear.
"We… we have located one of the minion hives" told Gnarl
Raising an eyebrow the Overlord asks "One of the Minion hives? Which of them?"
"The red one! A mercenary have arrived earlier in Direscar and stated that the browns reminded him of the "Red Devils that Duchess Ancret." Of course I have investigated on Duchess Ancret. She is the local Duchess and originally holds the power over Direscar. Her home is the Conford Mansion from where she rules over three more cities and nearly a dozen other villages… I have sent some minions to get more information from these places."
"I hope for you that the information from the send minions are far better than this blubberish from the blues" told the Overlord, eying the single blue that was with them in the room… upon arrival they had intensively interviewed the blues… only to find out these guys had not a single clue where the hive was…. The only thing they found out that it was in a lab located by a lake and that they got washed out by accident. Problem: The river they had been found on originates from a lake and ends in a lake… so they could have showed up from any direction and given the distance, the Dark Overlord couldn't have just moves and checked both lakes… it wasn't the time so he had to wait until he could effort the time without restrictions.
"Don't worry my league" told Gnarl "I send off the most potent Minions we have available right now. They are… smarter enough to remember important information long enough to tell them to me. And I just have to get smart of what they remembered"
The Dark Overlord sighs and leans back; seriously asking himself how the previous overlords handled the matter of lacking intelligence of the Minions… after all each of them had ruled quite a territory according to Gnarl. Well… except for the one eaten by a large ferret. But this was one of the stranger deaths as far he could learn.
Nodding to this bit of information he raises up "Your responsibility if this information gathering goes wrong"
"Of course my liege" told Gnarl and the Overlord called for his armor… he intends to get some fresh air, and hunt for a few extra life force. Not to mention that he has enough of eating snails every evening. Once he could afford it, he would hire a cock that wouldn't poison him.
Two days later, the Overlord was studying a up to date map of the region as somebody knocked on the door
"Who is it?" asks the Overlord and Gnarl came in "Milord. Somebody from Direscar came and requests an Audience from you. Looking like those fat members of the dammed former Glory Empire if you ask me. And brought several Soldiers with him."
"And you let them in?" asks the Overlord with a raised eye and Gnarl shock his head "of course not my liege. They are waiting back in Direscar… and they brought along a number of reds"
"Reds? In this case we should claim them and thank for saving us the trouble of getting them." told the Overlord and Gnarl told "Yes sir! But one of the guards we left in the town reported that a dozen Minions await for orders… together with six times the minions hand worth of enemies. Also 24"
"Get the troops ready" told the Overlord. "Sends enough to deal with the soldiers on my signal and free the reds."
"As you wish my liege" told the old Minion with an evil chuckle while the other minions brought in his armor and put it on their master.
Once the Overlord was fully dressed, he went down, seeing that Gnarl was busy getting the other minions ready for combat. Taking a good dozen of them, the Overlord proceeds to travel to Direscar.
On the other side he steps out of the Nether Portal with the minions at his side. In the corner of his eyes, he saw that from the Minion gates placed throughout the town during the last two weeks, are every expendable minion is climbing out but remains in the shadows like he explicit ordered it.
And while he never saw the Glorious Empire, after all it was destroyed by the forth Overlord and he was number six, but the man in front of the soldiers was a very fat man, only reaching to his chest and clothed in a roman style toga. And wear ruby-encrusted collars and gem-encrusted bracelets, also golden tiaras, golden collars and golden beads.
The Overlord rolled his eyes at this man and also saw signs of his apparent age… look like this guy is at least old enough to have been part of the former empire. Only leaves the question what this guy wants here. As he is with the reds, which are jumping happily upon seeing the Overlord, recognizing him as their new master, it was clear he came from the Duchess or at least has connections with her... The Overlord had assumed they were in cages or something like that but they are just wearing collars. So… cutting the lines were the simplest thing to make them behave like they should. And if he plays the cards right he might even make these soldiers do that for him.
Looking down at the fat man, he asks "I heard you want to speak with me. State what you want so I can decide if you are even worth my limited time."
"How dare you to talk with me like that" told the fat man "I am Marcus Varius Traianus! The Tax Collector of her Duchess Ancret! And I am here to collect the taxes of this town."
"Tell me Trail anus" began the Overlord, misspelling the name on purpose "Why should we pay you any taxes as your duchess didn't even lift a finger as the town was in great need because of bandits?"
"You weren't able to pay your taxes! But now word has reached us that you have the money to buy things, we came here to collect what you owe us!" told the fat tax collector. "Pay them and we make sure no bandit won't ever harm you again!"
Looking around, the Overlord saw that the townspeople have gathered once word was out that the Overlord had entered the town.
Deciding to use them for his plan, he continues "And how much are you demanding from us? And who tells us that you won't easily break your word, leaving the town despite the duty of protecting the people!"
"You have the word of the duchess! And your Tax Value is 600 000 000 gold, 400 000 sheep, 450 000 iron plates and three warehouses of crop!"
The Overlord had nearly lost his composure at these ridicules numbers. Alone the gold value was times higher than the amount he poured in to get the economy running. Not to mention here was no way that the amount of sheep and iron plates could have been reached within the few weeks after getting rid of the bandits. And the crop… for that he lacks better knowledge but he was also sure that the town COULDN'T have gathered THAT much. And if this amount of overtaxing runs through the entire kingdom… then taking over this place sounds easier than thought… all he needs is getting a large amount of gold to cover the time between taking over and the tax incomes paying the running costs… if he couldn't simply cut some of these costs.
However on the hindsight… the thought that just because the people were getting starting their economy running again makes him laugh. And he laughs loud and heartily before being joined by the minions and then the townspeople. After a good amount of laugh the Overlord asks "People of Direscar! Here stands a man, demanding that we pay him a tax value that is so high, it would bankrupt you so far that the town would cease to exist! And demands it just weeks after I freed you from the bandits! Tell me! Should I pay this fool the money, the sheep and the iron, only to have to turn to you to get it back OR do you prefer to pay what I demand and kick this degraded, fat idiot out of the town?"
"Why should we pay tax for somebody who cannot protect us?" asks one of the people.
Another calls "Yeah! As we were in need what did the duchess does? Nothing! I say we refuse to pay this ridicules tax!"
"Out with the fat man! I bet most of the money lands in his stomach and jewelry!" called a third and more and more of the townspeople agreed that they would do anything BUT pay up the demands of the tax collector.
Making a gesture towards the people the Overlord states to Traianus "You see! The people don't recognize your demands, or your power. They have chosen me to be their ruler! Concede defeat and leave, never come back!"
"You are such a fool for believing that I would just go! If you don't pay, then I am authorized to remove the town from the maps! Guards! Release the devils so they burn a few houses! That will make them wise up!"
The guards let go of the reds and they happily began to storm off. The people had feared they would start attack, as they really look like red devils but instead they went to join the Overlords side.
The overlord raised his arm to give the browns a signal and they began to swarm in, surrounding the tax collector and his small troop. The soldiers looked around nervously towards the army surrounding them.
The Overlord steps forward to Traianus and he told "Leave now my town and never dare to come back ever again!"
"NEVER!" shouts Traianus "Guards! Rip him apart!"
And the guards look even more nervous, outright scared. The overlord eyed them and weights his options and told "I give you three choices! Fight and die, drop your weapon and run or join my forces! I pay 100 gold per week and 300 more when you switch now"
This offer made the soldiers think. One hundred gold was much more than the average guard would earn in a MONTH! And now here was somebody offering this at a weekly base plus three times the amount if they join him now.
The Overlord reads the faces of the guards and knew one thing: He won this round, no matter what the soldiers did. He could have left out the generous offer but showing this kind of kindness would bring more sympathy and word would speak, making it much easier to claim the other towns and in complete the kingdom. And if he plays well, quite a number of other places, one of them his former home. And in the long run he also might find willing helpers to take down the ones he once called friends.
Oh and Gnarl was informed of this plan and had two orders: one that a few minions intercept in secret a couple of guards that decide to run away for interrogation and killing, while those who switch over... To have a few... Accidents to underline the state of the tower and make people more eager to get that matter fixed. Because he plans to let the people enter the tower to claim their first bunch of gold.
Traianus on the other hand just laughs at the offer of the Dark Overlord "Do you think that such a speech and handful goblins would sway the guards of her duchess Ancret into submission! Guards! Kill this fool and claim everything until their taxes are paid!"
And the guards burst into action. Of all the guards, only five rushed to attack the Overlord, but due the masses of minions, they were taken out quickly. The others claimed they were not paid well enough for this shit and some began to run away while the rest dropped their weapons as a better payment was the far better option, thus encouraging the switch.
Grinning under his helmet, the Overlord asked the tax collector "You were saying?"
The fat man gulps and looks nervously "I... I was just joking! Of course the town needs some time to recover... I... I talk with the duchess. I am sure she gives more time"
Rolling his eyes at the empty head of this guy he slams his weapon down at the feet of the smaller man, making him whelp loudly "Listen up Tai Anus! The town now longer listens to your duchess. It is under new leadership! And if her type of ruling make others suffer as well, then I will come and take over, so people have a better life! In fact once I get some time, I will come and reclaim what belongs to me! The hive of the red minions! Tell that to her! Understood!"
The man just nods and squeaked a weak yes before the overlord turns to the minions "Kick him out of the city! And free him from everything he doesn't need to get back to his duchess!"
That was something the minions didn't need to be told twice. Grabbing the tax collector, they pulled him towards the nearest gate. And by the time the minions hurled Marcus Varius Traianus out of the town, he was covering his crotch and runs away while the two minions that kicked him out, examinants themselves... One wearing the jewelry of the tax collector and the other his toga...
The overlord on the other hand had just returned to the tower with the guards that had switched sides. As they walked down the halls towards his throne, one of the old statues broke from its place, falls down and crushed some of the man. The other stared in horror, especially as the minions gathered the released life force and brought them to the Overlord.
The minion master Gnarl only told "We are sorry my liege! We knew that this statue was about to break away soon but we didn't manage to get at it in time to secure it."
"I am also a bit at fault Gnarl! I should have warned our guests about the state of the tower. It isn't what it used to be and lacking the right materials and tolls slows down the repairs considerable."
"It is alright my liege" told one of the surviving men "Accidents can happen..."
"Still, we should better hurry or else we run at risk of more of these."
The soldiers nodded and they hurried to get their money and got out as fast as possible. Gnarl and the Overlord looked at each other for a moment before the two starts laughing and the Overlord states "Nice timing with this ugly statue! I was close to remove it myself but this works well as well! And these fools now believe that the tower is in a much more ruined state than it is"
"Indeed my liege! None of these idiots did bother to check or they would have seen that the statue was hit by a pickaxe to make it fall! And now they are spreading the word of its state and the fools of Direscar will try to ensure that their great lord isn't dying from a tragic accident!"
"Speaking of the guards... How many did we capture?" Wondered the dark overlord.
Gnarl turns to his master "We managed to grab five of them. The others were either too fast or somebody would have seen us doing the act."
The overlords nodded. Five were a bit less when he hoped but more than enough to get the information he wanted.
"Their weapons and uniforms are secured?" Asks the Overlord and Gnarl nodded, knowing what the Overlord is planning. Doing acts that look good in the eyes of the subjects may help making a foundation of loyalty but doing acts of evil isn't what the overlord is about. And acts of evil are what the overlord has in mind...
"Very well! Get them ready. I want the information I need as fast as possible!" Told the Overlord, wondering in his mind how much he could get out of these guards. While Gnarl told him how stupid the people are and has firsthand experience of this, he questioned himself if these man were stupid enough to fall for what he has in mind.
Down in the netherworld half of the tower, the five captured guards are hanging above the abyss together with blocks of rocks next to them the ropes are connected to the pillars of this section of the tower and a few of the retrieved reds were standing next to them.
"You have lied to us!" Called one of them "You said we were free to run!"
"I said you can run but I never said that I won't try and catch you!" Told the Overlord "And now we play a game. I ask a series of questions. Answer honestly and I release you. Don't do it... Then one of the ropes get burn. And either one of you or a boulder falls down."
"I rather die than telling you anything!" Challenged one of them while the other hissed "Shut up! I don't want to die here."
"Ask your questions" told a third but let us go. We do whatever you want"
The Dark Overlord has to admit... It feels good to do that. And he. Began to question them. He wanted to know how many tax collectors are working for the duchess, what they knew about the security of her mansion, the preferable routes of the tax collectors and the names of said tax collectors. The soldiers were more than eager to tell, especially as they got proof of how serious the dark overlord was... As they tried to lie or avoid answering, three ropes were burned. Result: two boulders and one guard less were hanging now.
Once the overlord got everything he wanted to know he ordered the minions "Bring them into the dungeons! We release them once we have confirmed that they were telling the truth!"
As the minions carried out this order, the Overlord called to Gnarl that he has to send out minions for two duties: Verify the obtained information as good as the minions were able to do so and to get the minions dressed up… he plans to go out to carry out the plan. And also to ask when the crane would finally came. The Tower needs more clean up from the larger boulders.
Here is Evil to do!