My Life As A Salamander

The very grounds I stood on were filled with the dead bodies of many creatures. Possibly the entire populace of the city I stood before.

As if they knew I saw them one after another dirt explosions rocked the air as bony, rotting hands reached from the earth. The dirt clinging to the bodies they dragged from the earth's embrace. Variety being an understatement for the creatures before me.

Animated armors, skeletons, zombies, creatures made of soul fire. The list went on.

As an army amassed before me I heard squeals and screams coming from the ship behind me.

Turning slowly I looked at Amanda who nodded and backed the ship away from the dock enough to ensure the passengers safety. As waves began stretching into tendrils that waved lazily in the air around the ship.

I turned back to the mȯȧning, groaning, and clanking crowd and cracked my knuckles.

"Showtime." I said as I began to glow. Not with any relic based power. Ominous yet pure energies surrounded my body. The energies I once used before. Necromancy.

I stretched out two of my hands as the power stretched out like a fine net before me. It wove through every undead armor, body, and soul present before I gave my command.

"Kneel!" I roared. And the board seemingly collapsed to the ground. Not kneeling. But prostrating and kowtowing deeply. Oddly enough I could tell every single thing before me feared me. No not fear. They were terrified of me.

I pointed at an animated armor at the head of the group. It's symbol showed it as one of the city guards. "You. Come here." I said loudly giving it a beckoning finger.

From the deck of the ship everyone could see the sea fall over the ground and me standing there in a seemingly unnafected manner.

"What is he doing?"

"Did he raise all these creatures?"

"Did he plan all this to kill us and add our bodies to the lot?"

The voices and questions continued. Even to the point Amanda hauled herself over the rail and swam to the dock.

"What is happening here?" She asked as she saw me seemingly talking with the armor.

I turned to her and patted the armors shoulder.

"Old Hector here was telling me about what the hell happened here."

"Old Hector? Don't tell me you named it and are just pretending to know it's name." She said putting her hands on her hɨps. "I got 70 passengers and a crew that need rest and shelter and you're here playing games!" She shouted as she stomped her foot.

The armor seemed to back off a little at her outburst as I just let out a sigh and shook my head.

I patted Hector's shoulder lightly before pointing at the hoard. "Please tell the others to make way and see about maybe cleaning up the place a bit. We need some grub and a place to stay." I said as I turned back to Amanda. .

Amanda have me a glare before seeing the monsters doing what I'd asked.

"You... What the hell type of God are you?" She asked in a low voice.

I gave a ċȯċky smirk before responding. "I'm the baddest one you'll ever meet. Or maybe the best if you stay on my good side."

I waved at the ship before Kyle came forward. "All clear to land. They're making room for us." I shouted. Kyle looked at the monsters before giving me a confused looks and then shrugging it off.

When the ship was landed the people began to really see the city. It was torn up and many buildings had been broken down. But the undead were getting cans of paint and wood planking. Some were even beginning to relay some stone pathways.

Now I didn't really have a problem with this. But everybody else did.

"How can you expect us to trust this thing? For all we know he could have planned this from the start!" A large heavy set man shouted at Amanda. Amanda nearly let out a sigh.

"We already know he isn't a threat or we wouldn't have made it this far. Or is it just your prejudice against dragonmen that has you on edge. Like how right now you look disgusted at me." She said with her hand on the end of her sword.

"We should kill him when we have the chance! Necromancers are bad for the public and for any healthy place! No child will be safe from his clutches! Every man, woman, and child here is at his whim if he turns that hoard against us!" He shouted into the crowd behind him. His brow was sweating with nerves and he obviously seemed to have other motives.

I merely shook my head as I turned back to what I was doing. These people couldn't scratch my left cheek if they had a grenade with nails wrapped around it. So they didn't bother me.

"And we should deal with it's friends too! The captain, that dwarf, and the elf while we're at it!" The fat man shouted.

Now that caught my interest. My hackles rose as I turned and walked slowly toward the crowd.

"It's coming! We should attack now! There's more of us after all!" He shouted and a loud cry was heard from behind him. They all turned toward me and charged.

The ground rumbled slightly from them running at me with their angry roars and shouts. But it was quickly cut short. When they got within 20 feet of me they suddenly sunk down to their necks in mud and tree roots.

Others saw the magic and stayed farther back before attempting to cast spells at me. The only thing is they never reached me. They fizzled out of existence when got within 4 feet of hitting me.

I glared at them as ice coated their lower halves and vines strapped their arms to keep them from casting. I began to scan the crowd of people and found the fat man standing at the back shouting orders but not doing anything.

I raised a beckoning finger at him as vines suddenly grabbed him from the ground and began to drag him screaming towards me. What? I have to give him a way to lose a little weight. Even if the way is painful. This was me being considerate.

He screamed louder as his clothes tore from his back and side. His hands clawing at the ground for traction. A way to stop him from getting closer to me. Though his efforts were in vain.

He soon found himself hanging in the air in a near crucified fashion. His arms stretched straight out to his side's. His rotund belly hanging down disgustingly as it jiggled unnaturally. He was pulled slightly in all directions keeping him from escaping.

I got closer to him till my face was only inches away.

"If you have fears. Good. I like my enemies to be afraid. I like them terrified of what I am. And you. You're just some fool who's prejudice and pride made him a target when you could have just stayed quiet. Now... I'm going to hurt you. Hurt you in such a way noone will ever forget.

"This is the first time I've ever cursed a person. So savor with satisfaction the fact that you are the first to be cursed by a newborn god." I said as my body shifted and changed.

My items began to appear one after another. The hammer and scroll. The spheres, crown, and dragons cry. All of them appeared within my hands as my body began to expand. The mob slowly backing off as their courage began to fail them. The man at the back reached for Val in desperation but was suddenly caught by shackles of water wrapping around him pinning him in place.

"Ye won't move without mah say so." Amanda said as she bowed low to me eyeing him from the side. Her killing intent was palpable and near visible as waves rippled through the air making the other people shiver as cold chills seeped down their spines.

I walked closer. Every step my body growing larger. Till I towered over the ship in the harbor. My massive body making the ground shake tremendously with every step. The mob began to flee to the houses. Ripping open the doors to get inside.

Meanwhile the undead held no fear of me. Somehow they already knew what I was as they continued to work as commanded.

I finally was close enough to the fat man to do something. I raised an index finger to make the earth move at my bidding. A pillar rising to the challenge. It rose as the man remained hanging by vines and roots. He began to scream and shout in terror as he realized he couldnt escape.

"P-please! I didn't know what I was doing! Please have mercy!? Oh powerful one! I was a fool! I was a swine! Please!?" He screamed as my face drew near.

"You were given one chance. I saved the vessel from the storm at sea. And with that you were already in my debt fat boy. You have no more say. But to take what karma deals you. And since she's currently busy. Your ȧss is mine." I growled deeply.

The earthen pillar pushed the man upward so he was flat on his back before me. The vines holding strong against his feeble efforts to get free.

The ground rumbled as though my voice was thunder. The forest seemed to shiver as power poured from my body overwhelming the man. His pants grew wet from urine as his mouth began to foam and he passed out.

I grinned a bit as I reached for my darker colored hand forward. "For your hatred of the races and the unjust treatment of a god. You are punished!" I said as I drew a small cut across the man's ċhėst. His red blood slowly oozing out across his expensive white shirt.

"For your crimes of mutiny and abuse of power! For the crime of stirring an innocent and afraid mob to anger! For the evil of being unkind! I curse you and your lineage!" I hummed making the air vibrate violently as the people below quivered in terror.

"You and your lineage shall no longer be pure. But corrupted and twisted beings. Unable to wield magics of any kind. For your hearts are cruel, evil, and selfish. And on the day one of you manages to figure out kindness, selflessness, and love unfeigned the next generation shall have hope. But my mark shall be born on you till then and through all time. Till eternities end!" I boomed as I cut my own hand and large black droplets fell upon his small body.

His entire body began to shake as my blood entered his system. Glowing red runes seared themselves across his flesh as a mismatched mix of scales and fur began to grow. His head twisted slightly as a rams horn grew awkwardly out of the left side by his temple. His teeth shifted as half turned sharp and the other half turned flat like a cows. One foot turned into a hoof while the other grew clawed toes at odd angles adding to the already existing toes. A tail burst from his back covered in bumps and spikes as his body began to writhe about.

I withdrew my hand to see my handiwork as the pillar descended back where it had been revealing to the people what I had done. The vines holding him snapped away leaving him free. Some gasped in horror as they covered their children's eyes. Others wretched on the spot. But it was done.

I could feel my power humming through this corrupted, altered, twisted thing. My mark embedded on it's body forever. I looked down at this thing that had once been a man and pointed.

"The only thing I shall give you for a reprieve. Is that your sanity remain. And that your lineage may learn from this horror that you have become." I said as a small dot of light exited my arm landing on his forehead before sinking in leaving a white spot between his furred and scaled brows.

"This is what happens to those who seek to give others horrors and nightmares for their leisure. Remember well mortals. I am Ignatious Soulsmith! The God of Balance!" I said loudly as a feeling enveloped my body. A peace of sorts you could say. Something that calmed my heart. Words formed in my mind in a whisper that escaped my throat in a roar.

"To the devout I give honor, wisdom, and power divine! To the blasphemer I give slavery, idiocy, and a curse." I said "You may believe in the other gods if you dėsɨrė. But I will prosper you in humility. Or cause you to crumble from greed. With me you may go hungry one day and feast the next. For all are equal before me. And none but the unworthy need be ashamed." As I spoke the people began to marvel at my presence. Every element seemed to create a light around me. Like a galaxy with me as its axis. Seemingly pulling them in.

"Be not afraid. For I am fear. Bring forth your courage for I am the roaring lion! Put forth your faith. For I am faithful. Break not your promises with me. For promises I will hold to my word. Even to the destruction of worlds. This I promise you.." I said as I spread my arms wide.