The Clash of Gods
Jan 22, 2016 20:08:29 GMT -6
Post by Janobii on Jan 22, 2016 20:08:29 GMT -6
Flames scorched the ruins of the once proud city. Salt coated the grounds to ensure no plants would ever grow in the fields again. Anger boiled within the soul of the only living survivor. His breath came short and sobs shook his body as he knelt in front of the burning building that was once his home. Tears trickled down his cheeks and his fingers clenched the dirt below him. He released another series of short breaths before letting out an angry cry. The young man slowly stood up, shaking from a mix of fury and dehydration. His teeth grit and his jaw set, the young man turned and walked to the ruins of the one large temple in the city. He looked upon the flaming ruins with hollow eyes as all the faces of the people he could not save flashed in front of his mind's eye. He dropped to one knee and closed his eyes.
"The Romans shall not be spared, Lord Baal. Your son shall bring their downfall, and Carthage will rise again."
***
Celebration rang throughout the streets of Rome. The citizens were drinking, dancing, and throwing praises to the gods. It was a most joyous time in the land, for it was the one-hundred year anniversary of the fall of the Roman's greatest advisory, Carthage. On this day, a century before, the great city has been burned to the ground by the General Scipio. Today, the entire Roman Empire celebrated his victory. While the city had long since been rebuilt and was becoming quite prosperous, it was under Roman control and no true Carthaginians had survived the war. A pleasing thought to all the Romans.
Cheers rise up from the crowds as a carriage was pulled through the crowd. Sitting in it was the great dictator, Julius Caesar, and his most respected general, Jacksonius Sloantus. The two were idols throughout the empire, known for no land able to stand up against them. How could they? None could stand up against the power of a demititan after all.
"General Jacksonius." Sloantus looked over to the dictator and caught him smiling at her. She allowed a small smile in return before they both dropped them for more formal expressions. "We have received word that an enemy has entered the festival. We suspect he is of Carthaginian blood. Pure." Sloantus paled considerably. A pure blooded Carthaginian descendant? Someone had survived? But how? Dictator Caesar placed his hand on Sloantus's shoulder and gave her a look of concern. "Does this worry you?" Sloantus quickly shook her head.
"No, my lord. It was just the thought that someone had survived. I saw only one explanation." Caesar nodded. He knew too. Divine intervention. "Is it possible the gods seek to destroy us? What could we have done, my lord?" Caesar frowned deeper and put a hand to his chin.
"It's possible, but I do not know what could have caused this. It's possible we have angered a god or goddess without realizing it. I will send someone to look into it." Caesar looked back up and saw the look of fear in Sloantus's eyes. "It's not because of you. I promise. You have brought our empire no harm. You fight for the gods, not against. They would never punish us for your existence. You have pleased them, General Jacksonius." Sloantus didn't seem convinced but she nodded in agreement nonetheless. She had always been worried ever since it had been suggested by one of the priests in Jupiter's temple that her very existence would bring the end to Rome. Caesar knew she had taken that to heart, even if she acted like she had blown it off. Such a thought terrified the strongest general in the Roman Empire. Caesar knew this and had vowed to prove that priest wrong.
The parade continued uninterrupted, fakes smiles plastered on the faces of the general and dictator. Neither was truly a fan of these events, but they found them necessary for the self-esteem of Rome. Whomever was trying to avenge Carthage had yet to show their face, not that anyone truly minded. It was a jubilant occasion for Rome and ill will was the furthest thing from everyone's mind. Well, except one person.
The ground suddenly began to shake and the carriage stopped. Screams erupted from the crowds as large thorn covered vines shot from cracks in the ground and wrapped around the carriage.
"Dictator!" Sloantus grabbed Caesar's hand and pulled the dictator from the carriage before the vines could crush them. Several soldiers ran up and Sloantus pushed Caesar to them. "Get the dictator to safety! His life is our priority!" The soldiers all saluted and were gone within an instant. Sloantus was about to follow when a laugh erupted from nearby. Sloantus scanned the surroundings and spotted a young man stepping from the crowd, holding his stomach as he laughed very hard.
"Oh how sweet. The loyal general protecting her dictator. If it only it were true." He flashed her a smile and began to laugh again. "Of course we both know it's something… more. A woman doesn't just do these things for loyalty, you know." Sloantus's ears burned a bright red at the accusations. There was nothing of the sort going on between she and her dictator! How dare this Carthaginian accuse her of such?
"You'll live to regret those false lies, Carthaginian. The gods do not appreciate such words that disgrace their chosen ruler," Sloantus retorted. The Carthaginian paused in his laughter and stared at Sloantus. His eyes narrowed then he cracked another sinister smile.
“What do you know about what the gods want? Your gods are merely figments of a fool’s imagination. The real gods are the ones that I, and I alone, worship. They granted me powers and made the sole survivor of the burning of Carthage.” This caught Sloantus off guard. Figments? Sole survivor? All impossibilities! How could she have these powers without them being real? And how could he have been the sole survivor?
“Your words just cause me to doubt you even more. It’s been a century since the day Carthage burned. You don’t look much older than I. How could you be the sole survivor if you are not dead?” Laughter erupted from the Carthaginian’s lips and he crept closer to Sloantus.
“Did you not see my power? I am blessed by the gods! I am immortal! Lord Baal was my father and I am his son! And I will carry out his will that Rome be destroyed!” The ground began to shake again and the vines released the carriage. They weaved up into the air, thorns gleaming in the sunlight before the vines dove down towards Sloantus. Sloantus froze for a second before her battle instincts kicked in. The demititan held out her hands towards the vines. The vines froze and quivered in air before turning towards the Carthaginian. This seemed to have caught him off guard but before he could react, the vines shot towards him and wrapped tightly around the young man. The vines lifted him high in the air and the life was slowly drained out of him. Sloantus stomped her foot against the ground and the earth lifted her up so she was face to face with the Carthaginian.
“Who has power now? I, the daughter of the titan Terra, am the one blessed. You are just a shame to your people. You should die and maybe, if Pluto is nice, he’ll reunite you with your true parents. There is no Lord Baal, only Terra.” The Carthaginian’s eyes flew open and he growled at Sloantus.
“Oh you of little faith, you are not the victor yet.” Slowly, before Sloantus’s very eyes, the Carthaginian turned to stone, thus shattered to dust. It gathered on the ground and reformed into the Carthaginian. He smiled at Sloantus. “I shall retreat for now, but this shall not be the last time we meet, daughter of Terra. You were learn to fear the name Lord Baal.” With that, he melted into the ground and the vines turned to ash. Sloantus lowered herself to the ground, confused but intrigued. This Carthaginian was a child of the gods as well it appeared. Indeed, it would not be the last time they would meet. Sloantus vowed that there. She needed to know more before she could squeeze the life out of him. Only after her knowledge thirst had been quenched could this man die.
"The Romans shall not be spared, Lord Baal. Your son shall bring their downfall, and Carthage will rise again."
***
Celebration rang throughout the streets of Rome. The citizens were drinking, dancing, and throwing praises to the gods. It was a most joyous time in the land, for it was the one-hundred year anniversary of the fall of the Roman's greatest advisory, Carthage. On this day, a century before, the great city has been burned to the ground by the General Scipio. Today, the entire Roman Empire celebrated his victory. While the city had long since been rebuilt and was becoming quite prosperous, it was under Roman control and no true Carthaginians had survived the war. A pleasing thought to all the Romans.
Cheers rise up from the crowds as a carriage was pulled through the crowd. Sitting in it was the great dictator, Julius Caesar, and his most respected general, Jacksonius Sloantus. The two were idols throughout the empire, known for no land able to stand up against them. How could they? None could stand up against the power of a demititan after all.
"General Jacksonius." Sloantus looked over to the dictator and caught him smiling at her. She allowed a small smile in return before they both dropped them for more formal expressions. "We have received word that an enemy has entered the festival. We suspect he is of Carthaginian blood. Pure." Sloantus paled considerably. A pure blooded Carthaginian descendant? Someone had survived? But how? Dictator Caesar placed his hand on Sloantus's shoulder and gave her a look of concern. "Does this worry you?" Sloantus quickly shook her head.
"No, my lord. It was just the thought that someone had survived. I saw only one explanation." Caesar nodded. He knew too. Divine intervention. "Is it possible the gods seek to destroy us? What could we have done, my lord?" Caesar frowned deeper and put a hand to his chin.
"It's possible, but I do not know what could have caused this. It's possible we have angered a god or goddess without realizing it. I will send someone to look into it." Caesar looked back up and saw the look of fear in Sloantus's eyes. "It's not because of you. I promise. You have brought our empire no harm. You fight for the gods, not against. They would never punish us for your existence. You have pleased them, General Jacksonius." Sloantus didn't seem convinced but she nodded in agreement nonetheless. She had always been worried ever since it had been suggested by one of the priests in Jupiter's temple that her very existence would bring the end to Rome. Caesar knew she had taken that to heart, even if she acted like she had blown it off. Such a thought terrified the strongest general in the Roman Empire. Caesar knew this and had vowed to prove that priest wrong.
The parade continued uninterrupted, fakes smiles plastered on the faces of the general and dictator. Neither was truly a fan of these events, but they found them necessary for the self-esteem of Rome. Whomever was trying to avenge Carthage had yet to show their face, not that anyone truly minded. It was a jubilant occasion for Rome and ill will was the furthest thing from everyone's mind. Well, except one person.
The ground suddenly began to shake and the carriage stopped. Screams erupted from the crowds as large thorn covered vines shot from cracks in the ground and wrapped around the carriage.
"Dictator!" Sloantus grabbed Caesar's hand and pulled the dictator from the carriage before the vines could crush them. Several soldiers ran up and Sloantus pushed Caesar to them. "Get the dictator to safety! His life is our priority!" The soldiers all saluted and were gone within an instant. Sloantus was about to follow when a laugh erupted from nearby. Sloantus scanned the surroundings and spotted a young man stepping from the crowd, holding his stomach as he laughed very hard.
"Oh how sweet. The loyal general protecting her dictator. If it only it were true." He flashed her a smile and began to laugh again. "Of course we both know it's something… more. A woman doesn't just do these things for loyalty, you know." Sloantus's ears burned a bright red at the accusations. There was nothing of the sort going on between she and her dictator! How dare this Carthaginian accuse her of such?
"You'll live to regret those false lies, Carthaginian. The gods do not appreciate such words that disgrace their chosen ruler," Sloantus retorted. The Carthaginian paused in his laughter and stared at Sloantus. His eyes narrowed then he cracked another sinister smile.
“What do you know about what the gods want? Your gods are merely figments of a fool’s imagination. The real gods are the ones that I, and I alone, worship. They granted me powers and made the sole survivor of the burning of Carthage.” This caught Sloantus off guard. Figments? Sole survivor? All impossibilities! How could she have these powers without them being real? And how could he have been the sole survivor?
“Your words just cause me to doubt you even more. It’s been a century since the day Carthage burned. You don’t look much older than I. How could you be the sole survivor if you are not dead?” Laughter erupted from the Carthaginian’s lips and he crept closer to Sloantus.
“Did you not see my power? I am blessed by the gods! I am immortal! Lord Baal was my father and I am his son! And I will carry out his will that Rome be destroyed!” The ground began to shake again and the vines released the carriage. They weaved up into the air, thorns gleaming in the sunlight before the vines dove down towards Sloantus. Sloantus froze for a second before her battle instincts kicked in. The demititan held out her hands towards the vines. The vines froze and quivered in air before turning towards the Carthaginian. This seemed to have caught him off guard but before he could react, the vines shot towards him and wrapped tightly around the young man. The vines lifted him high in the air and the life was slowly drained out of him. Sloantus stomped her foot against the ground and the earth lifted her up so she was face to face with the Carthaginian.
“Who has power now? I, the daughter of the titan Terra, am the one blessed. You are just a shame to your people. You should die and maybe, if Pluto is nice, he’ll reunite you with your true parents. There is no Lord Baal, only Terra.” The Carthaginian’s eyes flew open and he growled at Sloantus.
“Oh you of little faith, you are not the victor yet.” Slowly, before Sloantus’s very eyes, the Carthaginian turned to stone, thus shattered to dust. It gathered on the ground and reformed into the Carthaginian. He smiled at Sloantus. “I shall retreat for now, but this shall not be the last time we meet, daughter of Terra. You were learn to fear the name Lord Baal.” With that, he melted into the ground and the vines turned to ash. Sloantus lowered herself to the ground, confused but intrigued. This Carthaginian was a child of the gods as well it appeared. Indeed, it would not be the last time they would meet. Sloantus vowed that there. She needed to know more before she could squeeze the life out of him. Only after her knowledge thirst had been quenched could this man die.