Tale of Two Demi-Gods

As soon as the gates closed behind them, Gaz and Lor placed their masks on. One of the rules demi-gods had to follow is to always wear their mask in the realm of mortals. A demi-god’s mask was very important to them, because rather than hiding their inner selves, demi-gods chose one emotion that best represents who they really are and carve it into their masks. Lor’s mask depicted confidence. It had a brave smile that looked ahead to the future. Yet the face also seemed to be unsatisfied and ambitious, as if it knew it could achieve greater. Gaz’s mask was one that showed a carefree merriment. But if one looked closely at the details, the mouth slightly curled up into an almost imperceptible snarl. The eyebrows were curved slightly downwards. The jolly looking mask seemed as though it was holding back great rage and anger. Once their masks were on, they put their heavy traveling cloaks on and raised their hoods. The brown cloaks covered the entire lengths of their body and made for both an intimidating and distinguishing look, letting all who passed know that they were demi-gods.
	Gaz and Lor set out on the well-traveled path to Onell, a small hamlet that was a part of the larger network covered by the Protectorate. The path walked by the two demi-gods was not nearly as magnificent as some of the paved roads that would lead people to the largest and most prosperous towns in the Protectorate, but the small dirt path was quaint. Gaz took a deep breath and smiled as he took in the familiar landscape. Surrounded by rolling hills covered in  short grass that swayed in the slight breeze, the road to Onell was a pleasant stroll. Gaz looked over at Lor, who was not nearly as comfortable outside the Gates of Thround. Lor had grown up most of his life within the Walls of Thround, like most demi-gods. Few demi-gods were permitted to leave the great walled city. Part of the reason that Gaz became a Mediator was just so that he could leave Thround from time to time. While Lor was from an illustrious family that was prestigious and wealthy, Gaz was the offspring of some unknown goddess and his father, a simple commoner. Even though Thround was supposed to be the home for all demi-gods, Gaz always felt that his true home was Onell. The town of Onell was closer to the outskirts of the Protectorate, however, so the journey would take two days on foot. After a days worth of uneventful walking, nightfall approached and Gaz and Lor set camp alongside the side of the road to Onell.
	“I have not seen my father in some time” Gaz said to Lor “I wonder how he is?”
	“As healthy as ever, I’m sure. That man is the only mortal I fear!” Lor replied.
	Gaz laughed, “I’m sure you are right. What about your father. Is he still ill?”
	Lor nodded, “Unfortunately, yes. We’ve never been close, but he is still my father. The physicians cannot figure out what is causing it. It is in the hands of the gods now.” The fire that had been slowly shrinking while the pair had been talking was reduced to smoldering sticks. The demi-gods laid within their cloaks and slept until sunrise. The two demi-gods began the rest of the journey to Onell after a breakfast of some bread and fruit. Upon walking most of the distance to Onell, the town started to come into view. A pillar of smoke rose in the distance, in the direction of the town. Lor looked towards Gaz. While Lor could not see Gaz’s face through his mask, he knew that Gaz was worried.
	“We need to get to Onell now!” Gaz exclaimed.
The two demi-gods began to run in the direction of the town. As they got closer, they could hear yells and screams coming from the townsfolk. Once they had almost reached the town, a terrified looking woman coming from the direction of the town was being chased by two rough men armed with axes. The woman, seeing the distinctive dress of demi-gods, ran straight towards Gaz and Lor.
	“Thank the gods, we’re saved! Our prayers have finally been answered. Please, the village is under attack!”
The two men following the fleeing woman saw the demi-gods and hesitated, unsure of what to do next. They turned around and called for their companions. A group of thirty men armed with swords and axes who were terrorizing part of the village began to move towards the two demi-gods facing down the brigands. The apparent leader, a grey and grizzled man with long unkempt hair and a gruesome scar marring his face, saw the two and yelled
“Demi-gods! But there are only two of them, and they are unarmed! Slaughter them!” The brigands all readied their weapons and charged at the demi-gods.
	“Fool! We do not use the weapons of man. We use only what was created by the gods” Lor exclaimed. Gaz and Lor slid into fighting stances. As the faster mortals approached, Lor launched a powerful side kick at the nearest brigand. The man’s ribs shattered as he fell into a crumpled heap. Lor threw volley upon volley of powerful punches at each enemy that approached. Each blow hit with the force of a battering ram. Gaz attacked a group of bigands attempting to flank them. He threw a punch at the nearest man’s head, shattering his skull. Another man swung his axe at Gaz. Gaz blocked the blow with his forearm and struck him with his palm at the center of the man’s body. The power of the blow reduced his bones to powder. As soon as the leader of the brigands realized that his men were being crushed effortlessly by the demi-gods, he began to run for the hills, fearing for his life. The cowardly actions of their leader sent the brigands into disarray, and they too began to flee. While Gaz and Lor could have easily given chase and slaughtered the rest of the brigands, they simply let them go. It was not the way of the demi-gods to kill a fleeing opponent. Gaz and Lor withdrew into their cloaks and nodded at the woman who thanked them profusely for saving her life. As the two approached the town, it was apparent that the brigands were frequent visitors of the town. Many of the thatch houses were ransacked and broken down, some were even collapsed and destroyed.  Townsfolk milled about the ruins, picking up their possessions and trying to scrape together what little they had in this world. Anger welled up inside of Gaz as he saw the simple village where he had spent his early childhood defiled by evil men. Lor put his hand on Gaz’s shoulder and said to him “We will make this right.”
 	As the two walked further into the town, the mortals looked upon them with a mixture of gratefulness and fear, avoiding them if at all possible. The two approached the mill house of Onell and entered. As Gaz walked through the doorway, he heard a yell and turned to see an older man bring down a crude club on his head. The club broke over Gaz’s head and he stumbled to the floor.
“Is that any way to greet your son?” Gaz grunted in pain.
“Perhaps you should knock next time! I thought you were one of those godless brigands you dolt!” Gaz’s father stretched out his hand and pulled Gaz up off the floor.
“I see that the brigands didn’t want to mess with you Gunther” Lor laughed.
“I don’t have anything of value here so meddling with me isn’t worth the headache” Gunther replied.
“I’ll say. A mortal would have died from that!” Gaz said while rubbing his head.
“A mortal would have knocked on the damn door. But it is nice to see you boys. What can I do for you?” Gunther was a sturdy man, a miller by trade. For a man in his fifties, Gunther was remarkable healthy and strong, although he would never admit that his age was catching up to him. Gunther was a very well respected man in the town, and the citizens of Onell would often come to him to settle disputes.
“We were sent by Thorund to deal with the Eternal Damned. I was wondering if we could stay the night here?” Gaz asked.
“Of course my son. You can stay here anytime you like.” Gunther replied.
Gaz and Lor removed their cloaks and masks. While removing one’s mask in front of a mortal was normally taboo for demi-gods, Gaz and even Lor felt comfortable enough around Gunther that they allowed themselves the comfort of being in the mill without their masks.
“Why did Thorund only send the two of you? And why haven’t they been answering the town’s prayers for help from the brigands? Those villains have been terrorizing this town for months. They had gotten so bold that they attacked even you two” Gunther asked.
“I do not know” Gaz said “but the Arbitrator has been acting strangely. Had he told me of your plight I would have been here as soon as I could. However, all is not well in Thorund either. Some of our brethren have been going missing recently and we do not know why. Also members of the Mediators have not returned from many of their assignments.”
“This is troubling news.” Gunther said “however you two are the best fighters the Mediators have to offer. I know that you will be able to deal with whatever trials you have ahead”.
Gaz and Lor were both tired from the walk from Thorund and decided to go to sleep early, knowing that they had a long road ahead of them. To reach the City of the Damned was nearly a month’s journey, and fraught with danger. Gunther had two beds made up and let the two demi-gods sleep. Secretly, he worried about if his son had gotten in over his head as he drifted off to sleep himself.