Thunder God's wrath
By dwarvenking
- 336 reads
Trouble was brewing again within the ever mighty Frankish Empire. Traders missing, cities pillaged, women being raped, men being killed. This would not be strange in a time of war, but during a prolonged time of peace, it raised a few questions. The ministers had no answers as to who, and for what reason, would attack their lands in such a manner. The throne hall of the Emperor echoed the voices of the noblemen’s furious conversations. The poor emperor Dagobert was getting more annoyed by the second, his mind entwisted by the conflicting opinions of his two advisors, speaking from either side of him. At one point, tired of the emptyheaded bullshit the noblemen spat at each other, he stood up and called for silence. In a long monologue, he acknowledged the direness of the situation and decided to take manners into his own hands. He would, from his own treasury, assemble an army and march to the troublesome land of Silesia to put an end to the cruelty being carried out on his Empire. He was met with a huge applause, being praised by all the present, as if he was some sort of God.
In the meanwhile, another village was being sacked by the Slavs. The years were not kind to them, poor weather conditions and infertile soil has prompted them to turn to a more… direct approach to living. They were doing what they had to survive. They pillaged, killed whosoever stood in their way, and took some into slavery to sell. Of course, without knowledge of Empires and kingdoms they believed in their ruler, Samo, and would follow him into fire, if need be. Legend has it that Samo is the son of Perun, the thunder god, and that he himself watches over Samo and would bring the entire Heavens down on Earth for him. Samo endorsed this tale, using the birthmark in the shape of thunder across his back as proof.
The Franks had finished recruiting and were ready to march on Silesia with the Emperor himself leading them. It took them days to reach the far province but they finally did. While marching through they witnessed what the Slavs had done. Burned villages, corpses left on the ground to rot, they were utterly ruthless in their wake. Another few days had passed and nothing but the heaviest rain fell, slowing the Frankish advance. Samo’s scouts gained intel about the Franks and Samo, confident and strong willed, decides to meet them in the open. By gaining victory in this battle Samo believed it would raise him into Godhood and he would finally enter Vyraj to reunite with his Father. His people were convinced that they will too enter the gates of Vyraj where the Gods will grant them each twelve virgins and an eternity of pleasure. These beliefs were the foundations of their morals and strength and with them they followed Samo into battle.
Samo and his army marched in the direction of the Franks, reaching the muddied meadow of Wogatisburg. There they met. An Emperor against a demigod. Samo, with a smile on his face, watched as the considerably larger Frankish army encircled them in a strategic manner. He yelled in a language foreign to the Franks, with his men cheering at every sentence. The storm was raging more and more as every minute passed. Samo waited. Tension only grew, the Emperor even shaking in his shiny armor. CHARGE!. The Emperor yelled. The ground shook as if an earthquake had hit. The heavy infantry were running and yelling their throats out. Samo and his men were patient and then it began. The forces clashed, the clinging of swords and bashing of armor accompanied by the screams and yells of dying men made a gruesome sight. Blood from the wounds and severed limbs and heads painted the muddy ground red. Thunders were striking all across, with the rain getting ever heavier. The Franks were gaining advantage by the second, enclosing the circle they had formed. Samo’s men were fighting with no fear of dying, but they almost knew the battle had been lost. Samo was losing morale fast, he was being defeated, if he died here it would be for nothing and his Godhood would not be gained. Seeing his men being slaughtered he dropped onto his knees, hopeless and weak. “Father, help me.” Were his only words. As soon as he said this the sky had split in two, the storm raged even harder with thunders even hitting the soldiers. From the split descended Perun, bringing forth his Wrath upon the enemies of his son. He swung his thunder hammer at the Emperor and squashed him, with the skies themselves coming down on his followers. Samo and his remaining men, witnessing what they did, took up their weapons and aided Perun in his destruction. One by one, the Frankish fell from the hands of a God.
The Slavs, even though a bit pyrrhic, were victorious. Upon the death of the last Frank, Perun extended his arm to Samo and took him into Vyraj, taking with them all the souls of the fallen. Those who lived were promised the same when their times come. Samo had risen to Godhood and became the god of war and protector of men.
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Comments
There's a feel of the old
There's a feel of the old sagas about this, especially in the first paragraph. There's a good contrast between the grandeur of the setting and down to earth language such as 'bullshit' which catches the reader's attention and makes them smile (well, this reader, anyway). It needs a bit of editing as some of the grammar falters a bit and the tenses slip. I also wondered about the use of 'Pyrrhic' - I know you can have a Pyrrhic victory, but I'm not sure people can be 'a bit Pyrrhic'.
A good tale, and your enthusiasm for the subject shines through.
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