Gods of a Different Kind

horrors of the Past

This chapter is going to have ritualistic sacrifice. And murder... and... other stuff that could be scary so... warning? It also has a lot of crappy one liners, jokes, and puns. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Also this is more linear then the other pasts of the characters, so should be easier to understand.

        "You have not been a god for long, in fact scarcely a century. You have many years ahead of you, so it is best to put the past behind you, or it will destroy you. Although the curse does not help your case."

        ***

        "Please don't go, I need you..."

        "I'm sorry Marian, but I have a job to do, the streets are full of criminals and lowlifes. Either I go or my superiors will stop sending in those silver coins. Anyway, Jeffrey is going to end up getting the squad killed... idiot barely knows the hilt of a sword from the, I quote 'pointy end'"

        "Every time you go out that door I fear I'll never see you again..."

        "Don't worry baby, I'm too suborn too die. I've been stabbed, impaled, sliced, you name it... Damn I'm more or less a veteran of the guard"

        "And all of that happened while you were on patrol. I swear if you don't come back the gates of Infernum will not stop me."

        "Ha, I know. Suppose I should make sure I come back so the gods wont have a reason to be pissed. I doubt breaking into the underworld would call for much celebration."

        "Please be careful..."

        "Don't worry I'l-"

        "No really, no unnecessary risks just to catch some lowlife. I mean it..."

        "Your wish is my command." he said with a snicker, bowing low out the door. "Your majesty"

        "The sarcasm dripping from your mouth is revolting, now get out of my sight" she smiled as he pretended to trip out the door, she then proceeded with the menial labor of cleaning house. Even with her husband always risking his life, she was in a way, content. There is a certain pride in knowing your lover protects those who cannot protect themselves.

        She could not help thinking "All men are idiots, and I married their King."

        ***

        "Jeffrey... put that down before you hurt yourself."

        Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

        "Bahh, put down my weapon? I hope you know I come from a greatly estab-"

        "Yeah yeah, blah blah, I am superior to you, you dirty peasant. Let me rephrase it... I Do Not Give Two Shits about your family, I don't care if your Fatas' own son. What I say goes, and if you do not put that weapon down I will personally hang you up by your balls and turn you into a Feriae ornament. Now please... put it down..."

        Jeffrey put the weapon down, rather clumsily at that. He nearly sliced off his own foot. How such an idiot got into the guard is astonishing. Although if one were to think about it, it is not surprising. The streets were going to hell, crime ran rampart. Nobles volunteered their sons so their families would get some honor... idiots don't even put their kids through training. Just send them down and hope for the best. Jeffrey was one of these cases... Even worse he was put second in command with no experience in weapons, tactics, or how to talk to anyone of a social standing without shitting himself.

         Skills vital to a guard.

        "Alright team, there was a domestic disturbance down by the aqueduct. Pacia, Jaco, Grven, and Cervin you handle that. Jeffrey, Brice, Dylen, and myself shall handle the murder case by the docks. Vecia, Feldan, and the recruits stay here in case anyone else comes by. Once you handle the disturbance patrol the area. In two hours return for further orders, Silvia will give you your next orders while I handle the murder. Alright everyone get prepared.

        ***

        The guard captain began putting on his honorary armor, a gift from the queen herself for such good work at keeping the streets free from crime for three years, it was the safest the city had been in over a hundred years, well at least until the neighborhood cult decided to get involved in crime. Made from the highest quality skymetal, metal light enough to keep you quick on your feet, yet strong enough to stop a rampaging Hydra. It was similar to civilian clothing, so he could go unnoticed in a crowd.

         He then proceeded to put on his near trademarked fedora that the queen was nice enough to have armored for him. It was quite different from the heavy, iron plate mail of the regular guards. Although calling it 'plate mail' was misleading as the armor was often mismatched and scavenged from whatever could be found, as iron was worth near its weight in gold. But that never stopped the queen from having the guards wearing only that instead of the much cheaper, and nearly as durable bronze armor. The queen is too prideful to stoop to such 'barbaric' alloys.

        Lastly the captain put his spear on his back, and knife at his belt. The spear was different from most due to it being made completely out of metal, mainly iron but the blade was skymetal. To say that it was worth its weight in gold would be wrong, it is worth ten times its weight in gold, if you added another ten pounds to it. Partly due to gold being in abundance. The knife was basic, made of iron with a silver handle, inlaid with a single topaz at the pommel. Mainly decorative, but could kill as well as the next weapon, perhaps even more so with who welded it.

        ***

        "Poor man..." The captain said as he examined the body.

        "Keep the area secured, Don't want any passerbyers to see this." The guards then proceeded to block off both ends of the alley.

        "Three stab wounds to the area around the heart..." The captain said while removing the bloodied shirt of the victim. "looks like the heart was purposely avoided... hmmm... wounds in the place of the three main Coronary arterys. Cause of death, suffocation from three to four minutes due to oxygenated blood not being pumped... painful, victim got to look into their killers eyes before death. Poor bastard. No money or valuables taken. So someone killing for fun? Not a pleasant thought."

        "Brice identity of victim..."

        "Male, Caucasian, age twenty-three to early thirties. Homeless, fit, would have had to been taken by surprise due to lack of resistance. Name, known to be called 'Squeaky'. Family, unknown. Likely picked out due to chances of not being missed, body would have gone unnoticed for days if children hadn't regularly visited this man. Founded by Tyler and Viven Choftein."

        "could this have been a random act of violence?"

        "Possible, but unlikely. Victim was likely chosen from other plausible victims. Homeless, no family, unlikely to be noticed gone. Killer must not have known of the children."

        "Possible motive?"

        "Markings show signs of ritualistic sacrifice, along with way victim was killed very likely. Local cult may be responsible, seems they worship a god of wind called Licens. Little is known of him."

        "Have the surrounding buildings been explored?"

        "No, no one has entered these buildings for years, likely unstable from lack of upkeep."

        "Well then, looks like we should get started on that aye? Brice your with me, everyone else keep this area secured, don't let anyone mess with the body."

        ***

        "Well... suppose we should start with the monastery."

        The monastery was in disrepair, loose floorboards, collapsing beams, enough dust to kill a maid.

        "What was worshiped here?"

        "The god Fata, was prosperous until Licens became known, suspecting hidden war between the two religions as many people were reported dead in region."

        "Are we sure this place is abandoned?"

        "No one has been seen entering for many months, although there is still the possibility that they don't use the front door."

        "Well lets get searching, shame Fata's monastery hasn't been taken care of..."

        ***

        "Found something, come."

        "What did you find Brice?"

        "Trapdoor, hidden beneath pile of wood. Looks like it was used often due to disturbed dust."

        "Brice go get a guard or two, tell them I called for them. Need to be prepared for what might be down there."

        ***

        "Should have known Jeffrey would have volunteered..." the captain said while making contact with palm to face. "Well, Brice you guard the trapdoor I'll go down with Jeffrey."

        "Jeffrey I swear to Fata if you mess this up I will personably hit you so hard you will be shitting out of your mouth. Do you understand?"

        "I am not stupid Captain. I have after all been educated by the best minds money can-"

        "Rule number one, no talking. Rule number two, don't touch anything. Rule number three, don't be so Fata damn annoying. Rule number four, Don't die. I don't want to end up with a mountain of paperwork and your asshole father blabbing to the queen about how 'inept' I am at 'allowing' you to die. If that happens I will follow to the underworld and rip your damn throat out. Intelligere?"

        "Understood... but if I get-"

        "Rule number one?"

        "Shut up?"

        "Good job... now please shut the fuck up."

        The captain was normally not so hostile to his troops, but Jeffrey was different. He was not a guard, the only reason he got in was because of his father. This type of man would never make it in the guard, how he hasn't died already is surprising. And when he dies the captain will be the one blamed when it is his own damn fault he sent his boy to do a mans job. Pathetic, nobles care not for the common people. They only send the kids down to 'discipline' them. Because they are too damn lazy to do it themselves. Worst part is you can't discipline them, due to them being a spoon fed noble. If you did they would blab to their fathers then the captain would end up with even more paperwork... you can never win with these nobles.

        ***

        The light clink of metal on stone echoed throughout the cavern, the captain and Jeffrey had discovered that the trapdoor led off into a long underground hallway.

        "Smells like shi-"

        "Shut... up and no it doesn't"

        Jeffrey huffed at the interruption from the captain, but stayed quite none the less.

        "Why do you never agree with me?"

        "If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong."

        "So ummm... Do you support the queens ideals with the war?"

        "I personally think she is an idiot. Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity."

        "I could tell her you know..."

        "Yes I am sure she would believe a dumbass like yourself who barely knows one end of a sword from another instead of a well honored guard that is famous for stopping crime. So go on ahead"

         The captain continued "You know let me give you some advice that will help you out in life... Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."

        "Anymore smartass advice oh wise captain?"

        "In fact yes, I do. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

"That doesn't seem very relevant..."

"It doesn't have to be, I'm awesome.  Problem?"

...

        "We have been walking for ages... my feet hurt..."

        "Quite"

        "I am getting tired of your ton-"

        "Quite I heard something..."

        "It is probably a rat, now stop interrupting me or-"

        "I Said Be Quite" the captain put extra force behind it, secretly saying 'if you say one more thing I will murder you'.

        Jeffrey didn't take the hint.

        "HEY YOU OUT THERE YOU'RE A RAT RIGHT?" The shuffling of feet came from the shadowy corners, the captain put his back to Jeffrey and took the spear from his back.

        "Your a real piece of work you know that right? You shout out in an underground cavern where we do not know if the simple echo will collapse the entire area" the captain continued preaching to the idiot 'guard'.

        "Then you disobey a direct order. While also being a complete and total dumbass and alerting any person, monster, or predator, to our location. Even worse, you decide to do this when I said I heard something, as we are now being surrounded by an unknown amount of hostiles."

        "Erhh how do you know they are hostile?"

        "If they were friendly they would have said so, the only people who would be down here are likely murderous cultists, and from the sound of feet there are likely at least ten of them. So I hope you are real fucking happy, because there is little to no chance you will live."

        Jeffrey started hyperventilating, when the human brain is put into situations it cannot comprehend the brain shuts down, panics, and will often make the situation worse then it already is.

        "I hate you Jeffrey. If we survive this I will make sure you never touch a weapon ever again".

        Jeffrey fumbled for the mace at his side, the normal weapon of the guard. Everyone could hear him shaking in his armor.

        Many battle crys surrounded the two guards, with a ferocity that would rival the military a group of men charged from the darkness.

        The captain quickly dispatched one of the quicker cultists, while just barely dodging out of the way of a cutlass.

        "JEFFREY DO A BARREL ROLL" The captain didn't like Jeffrey, but that doesn't mean he wants him dead. For once in his life Jeffrey followed orders.

        Jeffrey rolled in the direction of the captain, scarcely avoiding a jab from a bronze spear. The captain protected his fellow from any further attacks by positioning his spear so that any who got close enough to them would have to dodge it.

        The captain seeing Jeffrey coming to his feet, charged at the cultists. They were surprised by the ferocity of a single man. He attacked them like a trapped animal, perilously deflecting fatal attacks while delivering them himself.

        "Help me!"

        The captain was distracted just enough for a cultist with an ax to knock the spear out of his hand. He caught the shaft of the ax mild swing, and delivered a furry of punches to the cultists abdomen. With a kick he removed the ax from the others possession, and gave it back to him in the place of his skull.

        Looking over at the former area of Jeffrey the captain noticed he was not there, in fact he was no where to be seen.

        "JEFFREY" He shouted, while back stepping away from the pair of cultists that were left.

        Looking around the captain noticed that Jeffrey was being attacked by a rather large cultist, who looked more wolf then man. Jeffrey was barely holding his own, if you describe holding his own in the loosest possible way.

        The captain couldn't get to Jeffrey with the two cultist blocking his way, they knew this as they slowly began inching towards him, with dagger and sword at the ready.

        The captain drew his knife just in time to deflect a jab at his stomach from the knife wielder, he dodged many more attacks before seeing an opening. Grabbing onto the attackers shoulder he twisted his arm, causing him to drop the blade. The captain then shoved the cultist in the general direction of his fellow. His friend wasn't able to react in time and impaled him. With a kick the captain sent the survivor onto his back, drew his knife, and slit his throat in one fluid motion.

        With the death of the ones who blocked his way he saw the wolf like man on top of Jeffrey, quite literally, tearing him apart.

        The captain lunged for his spear, then with deadly accuracy, sent the spear into the wolf mans spine. The beast slumped over dead, the captain rushed over to survey if Jeffrey was alive.

        "Get this asshole off of me..." he gasped, seems Jeffrey can take a beating. Shoving the carcass off of Jeffrey, and then roughly pulling him, up the captain said, "I fucking hate you."

        "Sorry... Wont happen again..."

        "I surely hope not, doesn't look like you will live through another ambush. We need to head back to the others, I don't want to be stuck down here with someone who can barely resist cutting himself with a blunt object. Fata must love stupid people, he made SO many."

        ***

        "Damnit Jeffrey what did you do?"

        "I-I don't know I was just walking then this rope came down and I pulled it and-"

        "Why the fucking fuck did you pull a Fata damn rope for no fucking Fata damned reason? See what you fucking did? You somehow managed to make this a thousand times worse, you collapsed the only way we could get back. I do not care how much your father is going to complain or how much paper work I'll have to do, you are never going to guard again as long as I am alive. I swear you could find a way to fuck up anything..."

        "It is not my fault you dragged us down into this dark dreary, hole. Why you-"

        "I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you and let me stop you right there... I did not ask for you to be a guard, I did not ask for you and your smart ass to come down here, I did not ask for you to shout out to a group of cultists, I did not ask you to pull a damn rope that would trap us down here with murderers. So please, SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

        With anger in his heart, Jeffrey pulled the mace from around his waist. With fire in his eyes he stepped perilously towards the captain.

        "Boy you have no idea the amount of shit you have just walked into, put that down before I break your hand."

        Jeffrey swung his mace in an overhanded swing, the captain caught his wrist just in time. Then with the strength of a hammer, he kneed Jeffrey in the jaw with his metal tipped knee. The snap of his jaw sounded throughout the cavern, the amount of pain Jeffrey must be feeling must be enormous.

        "I warned you boy..." The captain said as he pulled Jeffrey over his shoulders, and threw him onto a wooden beam. Cracking wood was all that could be heard as Jeffrey landed.

        " you know, Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go. You are one of those Jeffrey. Now stay here boy, I'll be back for you later." The captain tied up Jeffrey, he would fully recover in a few minutes. No cultists would be able to get to him since this place is just a single long hallway. As they would have to come through him first.

        Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

        ***

        "Well this just keeps getting better and better" The captain, surveying the one room he had come across. There were a large number of cages, some of them filled with body parts, monsters, weapons, and sometimes all of them. The captain nearly threw up when a man like being ripped into an arm.

        "What are you doing?" The captain could not help but scream at the mans cannibalistic nature.

        The man slowly stood up onto his hind legs, then slowly looked over his shoulder into the captains eyes. All that could be seen are two completely black eyes, with bloodshot pupils, surrounded by a sea of white, the Iris. The more monster then  man looked at the rusty bars that separated him from his meal, with slow, deliberate movements, the man snapped the bars in half. Seems when faced with fresh meat it is given initiative to escape.

        The man still took slow steps towards its prize, perhaps crippled in some way or seeing no reason to move quickly.

        "Stay back!" The shout did nothing to slow down the monsters advances.

        With a roar the captain impaled the man straight through the cheat. It seemed unfazed by having its organs torn apart. The captain quickly removed the spear, and instead stabbed the beast right through the head.

        At first it looked as if it had been killed, as it had slumped to the ground, but a green like pus began covering the wounds. Within seconds the beasts previous wounds disappeared, as if they were never there.

        The captain realizing it could not kill the beast drew his eyes upon the monsters brethren. The captain ran over to a cage and sent his spear into the lock of the cage housing a humanoid lizard. The lizard stepped out hesitantly, locked eyes with the captain, bowed, then walked towards him with his right scaly hand out in a sign of a handshake.

        To say the captain was surprised that this beast was intelligent would be an understatement. His mind churned out every curse he had ever heard, enough to make a sailor blush. It is not everyday a humanoid lizard wants to shake your hand. The lizard man was mainly green, with stripes of blue, red, and yellow. With a purple diamond shape at the base of his skull.

        The man was still getting steadily closer, but with the way it was going they had at least a minute before they had to worry. The lizard tried to talk, but all that came out were barbaric hisses and screeches.

        "Can you understand me? The lizard nodded. The captain would assume he had been drugged if he knew he hadn't eaten or drank lately.

        "Will you help me?" The lizard nodded, almost hesitantly. Likely it doesn't want to throw away the new life it has been given.

        "Are any of the others intelligent?" The lizard shook his head, seems the captain got lucky with the one he freed.

        "Can you kill this thing?" The lizard nodded, and motioned towards the captains knife. The captain gave it over without hesitation. He could tell the reptile meant him no harm.

        The lizard then did the strangest thing, he spat on the blade. The metal almost sizzled from the large amount of toxins that must be present. It then ran over and stabbed the being a single time, in the gut. At first it seemed nothing happened, but then it began shaking uncontrollably. With a single death cry it slumped over, finally dead.

        "DAMN NATURE YOU SCARY"

        ***

        "So... were you always a lizard?" It nodded. "Too bad you can't tell me about your life, seems interesting..."

        The Reptile looked into the captains eyes that said 'you have no fucking idea'

        "So do you have a name?"

        All that came from the reptile were the same hisses and screeches.

        "Well HISCRIKKALLVABLAHBLAH is real hard to pronounce so I'll just call you... Greatness." The lizard nodded approval.

        "Well lets find a way to end these cultist. You up for it Greatness?"

        ***

        Greatness motioned for the captain to stop by holding up his right scaly hand. The lizard crouched low to the ground and snuck forward. Greatness came back with in the minute.

        "How many" whispered the captain.

        Greatness held up all of his fingers, closed them and opened them again several times...

        "I am going to assume a fuckton. Correct?" Greatness nodded. Greatness then held up a single finger.

        "Ummmm... what?" Greatness tried to elaborate but ultimately failed. Seems charades is not one of the captains talents.

        "You know what, fuck it. I am going to assume that something very deadly is ahead and it will likely kill us both, correct?" A nod came from the lizard man.

        "Don't want to keep them waiting then ehh?"

        The lizard man and captain came upon an alter of some kind, with many cultists in gray robes on. On the alter was the body of a dead woman, looked like she had been killed much the same way as the hobo. Over her holding a gold dagger was a shirtless man, with white pants that appeared to be quite baggy. Covered with the blood of his victim.

        "Next" The man said, while roughly pushing the body off of the stone table. The captain and Greatness were grabbed roughly from behind by a large number of cultists. How they managed to sneak past Greatness' enhanced hearing and the captains instincts was impressive.

        "Thought you could sneak up on me ehh? You can't sneak up on the god of wind, I am the master of sneaking. Notice how you didn't hear my friends? They have been blessed."

        "Oh I will have some fun with you guard. You have been a large pain in my ass with you killing off my followers." The god said to the captain

        "Well" he said, with a devilish smirk. "Looks like you just got......"

Without warning a pair of black sunglasses came into existance.

"....WINDED. AWW YEAH."

He then punched the captain in the gut, knocking the breath out of him.

        "That is the single worst one... liner... I have ever heard." The captain said through pained gasps. The anger in the gods eyes was worth the punch to the jaw. "Ahh I know you, I'll send a present to your wife. Maybe I'll hook her up when your dead" Anger fueled the captain but he refused to be goaded by the god.

        "Looks like my pet has gotten free..." Greatness did not like being called a pet, as he hissed at him.

        "What are you going to do ehh?" Greatness answered with a face full of his toxic spit, seems either The god of Wind was stupid, didn't know about his spit, or both. Either way it gave them just enough breathing room to break free from their captors. As they seemed a bit distracted by their god wallowing in pain.

        Greatness sent the knife into the skull of a cultist, only to spit in the face of one closing in. The captain knew little about how well Greatness could fight but judging by how well he was doing he could take care of himself.

        With a barbaric roar the captain roughly grabbed hold of a nearby cultist, then literal threw him into a gathering crowd of cultists. DAMN. The captain momentary distracted was grabbed from behind, he kicked and flailed and managed to nail several cultists in the head. But it took some help from Greatness to unleash his captors iron hold. It took Greatness literally ripping out the cultist's eyes with his claws to get him to let go.

        Finally having enough time to remove the spear from his back the captain noticed the god was gone. With wild eyes he saw him stumbling along a hidden staircase. With immense strength he sent the spear into the gods back. He lurched forward but kept moving none the less.

        Disregarding his own safety the captain rushed through the mob of cultist separating him from the god. He emerged through the other end with a few new scars to add to his collection. Greatness quickly followed suit without the cultists so much as touching him. Seems being animalistic gives you heightened reflexes as well.

        They both left the mob in the dust as they pursued the god.

        ***

        It did not take them long to find the god of wind, from the toxins going through his body to the spear in his back, he was forced to crawl pitifully across the ground. Greatness and the captain locked eyes. Seems they would finally kill this 'man'.

        The captain wretched the spear from the gods back and flipped him over. He was met by crazy eyes. The captain did not know of curses...

        "Licet illis tu amor spirant eorum ultimum spiritus"

        ...

        'Even though you love them, they breathe their last breath'

        With untold amounts of rage the spear was sent through the gods head. With the previous gods power at his disposal he rushed out a side door and entered into the gods bed chambers. Not bothering to look for a door he leaped out the window. Paying no attention to the glass that entered his skin. Greatness looked on in awe, and pity at what the man had gained and lost.

        ***

        "No... not you..." The captain now named Licens said through tear filled eyes. "Why you?" He held his wives now dead corpse in his hands... nothing is worth loosing the love of his life...