Chapter III - Ultimatum Of Mercy

Six days passed, and six more members were dead. Gruesomely their bodies were displayed in extravagant manners. Killer Pete was disemboweled and his entrails decorated the alley he was discovered, hanging by the neck by his intestines. Roguish Sam was found, his head chopped off, and hanging from the crucifix in church, and where his head should've been was a pumpkin, that was carved into a monstrous jack-o-lantern. Awful Mckin was still alive when he was found, but died shortly after; he was skinned from head to toe, and his skin was used to make clothes for his fleshless body.

Terrible Greg was murdered in such a bizarre manner, no one in the guild believed it, apparently he was force fed cow manure till it leaked out of all his orifices. Frightful Jack was found eaten alive by pigs, after he was tied with licorice and smothered in honey inside their pen. And recently a member of the inner guild-sect, Devilish Mortimer who was found burned alive in front of the guildhall, along with a note posted at their door.

Dear whoever this may concern,

I assume you have witnessed what I have done to members of your wicked fellowship. As I possess no truly wicked heart, I hereby pardon the rest of your ranks from further retribution. That is of course if you follow the following concessions before sundown tonight.

You leave the town Gallowpines forever, disrobe from your guild robes, take no valuables or currency with you. And swear off evil doing for as long as you live.

You donate all your ill gotten fortunes to the town treasury before you leave.

Leave the inner circle of your guild to their fates. They are not apart of this clemency, even if they wish to be, they shall either commit righteous suicide, or await my retribution. Anyone who aids them or leaves town forsaking by first two conditions will meet similar fates.

I pray you amend your wicked ways and seek a life with honesty and saintly deeds.

Sincerely, Heir to Sage de Sang's legacy.

The note was read aloud in front of the members of the guild, by that guild's branch leader Iago Santamos. Crumbling the paper in his large hands, he dropped it into the fire of a brazier and turned to his fellow guildmates.

"Men we fear not this angel who brings such dire cautions. For we are all bloodsworn to the path of Red. May our souls never kneel to any divinity, for we have given our lineage to the almighty Nain Rouge!" Speaking his words as righteously as a sermon he held his arms over his guildmates, and was angered by their lack of enthusiasm. "Anyone who dares, leaves this guild, or considers this pitiful offer, shall be put to the red iron." A threat that wasn't made lightly, as in the past days, those caught trying to leave were put to death by a bone melting, hot, rod of iron.

Still many of the guild were frightened, never had they faced such brutality unless it was coming from themselves. Taking the guild's blood vow meant they forsake the lesser virtues of man, and took upon the vices admired by their living god Nain. However some primordial fear wrestled with their faith, and fear won out, as in a mass, the members of the lesser Red Guild dispersed, except for the inner circle, and more devout members. Raiding the vaults they gathered armfuls of lucre and donated them to town, discarding their robes, and promptly leaving town.

Those caught in their flight were as promised put to the red iron, which burnt out their eyes, burned off their genitals, and finally pressed deep in their hearts. Bodies of their disgraced members were flugin the streets, to show the Red Guild's resolve. Despite this show of loyalty the members were still haunted by the note, and the promise of their inevitable destruction. Night seemed to approach faster than usually, as if the even time was set against them. In a hurry they blocked all the doors, double boarded the windows and shut themselves into the inner sanctum of their guildhall, behind large stone doors that were barred by a beam of wood.

Together Iago, the inner guild-sect, and those loyal members prayed in the large cave-like room, painted red with the blood of their oath to the guild. Encircling a large pit of crimson flame, they prayed for an audience with their god, singing hymns of ill intent to the infidels. In unison they prayed to Nain Rouge. "Oh king of the Red Wood, we seek thy guidance, turn your frightful gaze upon us, we beg hold to the sacred pact, and aid us in serving your glory." Again and again they prayed, until an impish figure emerged from the fire. Dressed in black and red fineries, he was Nain Rouge, a diminutive deity, who appeared before them as if he were a hellish Santa Clause.

"Fear death my little dreadlings, fear more what comes after." Nain spoke through teeth rotted to the marrow that leaked through his fat lipped jaws. Sounding both jolly and ear splittingly shrill, the red dwarf walked up to Iago. "Do you believe in yourself? You believe in me, when you have vaults full of gold, scrumptious food in your bellies, and every depravity fulfilled. You are believers of convenience."

A cold insult that showed the flighty disinterest he showed his followers, as he turned his back on Iago. Mocking pretending as if he is a cold traveller warming himself by a warm fire.

"Please, we have sworn our lives, and very souls to your service, we pray for salvation-" a boisterous cackle cut off Iago's pleas.

"Salvation is a sharp knife to your throat, I spit upon you." with that the hateful imp shot a glob of black and red mucus in Iago's eye. It burned horrible and made it bleed quickly. "Shall you burn in hellfire, you ungracious frauds." and with that final insult, Nain Rouge, jumped into the fire and vanished into the flames, which died out, leaving the chamber in utter blackness.