Daetek

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game” – Randy Pausch

Death sat tapping one finger on his chair in irritation as he watched the newest members of Briaria fall spectacularly in battle.   For people who’d had to fight tooth and nail to remain among the living they clearly hadn’t been prepared for the reality of the gods arena, and the dimension of war.   They would learn though. No one could die in Briaria.  Everyone would simply wake up after a certain amount of time in a spawn location and start again for eternity.  This was also considered the most high security prison as the only entrance and exits required divine intervention.   He’d expected more from them, but they hadn’t stood a chance. 

The new recruits would also have to be kept far away from the proving grounds.  His bati, and a few others being released from the supermax prison known as “Earth” by the locals would become confused if they met anyone they knew while becoming stronger in their new lives. This shouldn’t be a problem though as the new denizens of Briaria were stationed on the other side of the dimension, and Briaria was vast.

“Why do we watch these new recruits?  I thought we were finalizing the proving grounds as an addon to the Schools of Light?  It will be an interesting experiment pitting my creatures against the students from the Schools of Light in progressively harder battles. This loot concept, I question its usefulness. Explain to me again why my monsters should give things to their killers upon death?”

“It is a way to make those who triumph stronger, and reward them for their efforts.   The goal of the proving grounds is to improve the students abilities, and provide them with rewards that will carry over to the Realms of Light as they complete tasks, and move through stronger areas,” sighed Death looking pointedly at the documents on the table detailing everything that had been approved by the schools and protecting gods of the schools.  “We have been over this Daetek.”

“Yes, Yes,” he smirked as glanced at his friend, “and by students you mean your bati?   By rewards I assume you mean provide advantages and gifts that you don’t have to admit to providing if she completes specific tasks?  Do not take me for a fool, I know it was you who destroyed the suppression core on the supermax after they refused to acknowledge the bid of release for your bati. Very few could have taken out a planets prison grid like that.”

Death turned from the scrying screens and looked at Datek silently for a moment.   Saying such things out loud could cause him quite a few problems as the consequences for his actions would not affect him, but they would become quite harsh for his bati.  It was not the first time he wondered if Daetek needed to silenced. “Have I ever once indicated any of these things?”

Pausing Daetek looked at Death for the first time with some trepidation. “You have not. Nor would you.  I have no intention of mentioning outside this room myself, but we both know the truth.  The sanctimonious Angelus ignored your requests. I think we both remember your reaction to that slight.  How is the rebuilding of your west wing going by the way? I heard you are adding a room for your bati.  Will you finally claim her in a way she remembers?”

“Why the prattle Daetek, what is it you want?”

“I want to understand why a prime god has taken interest in a mortal creature.  Enough interest to adopt it no less.  You do not even participate in the intrigues of the gods, and I am simply curious what about this mortal female has enamored you enough parent and protect it.  I am not so blind that I have not noticed the parenting books you have obtained from that planet lining your library walls, or that you have been moving events around quietly for something for the last few cycles.”  Daetek mused quietly to himself for a while.  He needed to determine what the best course of action forward should be.  “Perhaps I should adopt it as well.  If it is that interesting imagine the intrigue. I also read in a few of those books that a child needs two parents, and you are just one. I will not take on a female form to be the mother, but I could be an uncle. That is like an extended parent, yes?  If she gets into as much trouble as you have talked about then two might be better at any rate.”

Daetek smiled and gingerly stepped back from the prime.  He was pushing his luck and he knew it, but everything that had been going on for the last five cycles had just boggled his mind. This small female creature was exceptionally important to his friend, and by proxy very interesting to him.   One day he would be allowed to meet her in person and perhaps it would answer some of the questions.  Right now the creature appeared mostly worthless, but must hold some value that Daetek couldn’t fathom.  It was odd that one of the prime gods place so much effort into any one thing, even if they had decided to adopt it. Daetek nodded to himself.   He would claim her as his balani, a protected extended female members of  his family.   It would not only allow him to meet her without angering Death, but it would allow him more freedoms than Death allowed himself. 

 Death sighed again realizing that stopping Daeteks antics would be futile, and he didn’t have so many friends that killing them every time they irritated him was a good practice. “Create her a familiar that will protect her with its life.  I have heard she would like a creature, a cute pet, make it happen.”

A cute pet?  Daetek was truly confused now.   Gods were not beings to be making pets for children, and yet here he was being ordered to make a pet for a child. “Shall you be gifting her a death guard of her own then? They are exceptional in many ways, and can grow in power.  This would make them ideal in practice, though too iconic in appearance.  Is there anything, appearance wise, that you believe she would be drawn to? That would be truly impressive protection, and possibly a fantastic pet.” Daetek couldn’t keep the snark out of his voice as the thought of making a pet for a child was ludicrous.  He was a monster creator, not a pet creator, and what the hell was cute anyway?!

Death turned away from the scrying windows again and looked thoughtful.  “Yes, that is a good idea.  I shall send my best one to protect her with its life. It has survived three raids on my domain, and has developed the most compared to its fellows.  It will need fur to make it cute. I heard her speaking when I was looking in, and she definitely believes things with fur are cute.  Its eyes should not glow red all the time.  I shall call it now. I think white fur would be appropriate for a minion of Death do you not agree?”

An enormous monster arrived shortly after Deaths proclamation. Its shoulders and upper torso were covered in black armor that gleamed in the dim light.  It had deadly pointed black horns twisting around his head, and a muscular figure that still managed toward skeletal thin. A deadly scythe was held in one hand and a shamanistic mantle made of bones, fur and feathers covered its shoulders displaying its status as an accomplished death guard. Its face was covered in a skull of some type of long toothed predator, and Its glowing red eyes peered out menacingly. Black claws extended off its long fingers as it placed one hand over its chest and bowed to its master awaiting orders. These creatures were feared in every realm as the most fearsome of opponents. Death did not create many creatures of power, but when he didn’t play around. He had errored in multiple ways with his bati. This he would get right!  “When I have looked in on her she has shown favoritism to dogs.  I believe something in that range would be appropriate.”

Dumbfounded Daetek altered the death guard’s structure to include the form of a giant male white wolf with sky blue eyes. He also provided it with the ability to change back into his true form with all weapons and armor. The death guard’s mantle remained around his neck as a collar giving him a shamanistic appearance.  Giant teeth and hard claws finished off the appearance giving him the ability to fight in both forms.  The gods studied the giant wolf determining if any alterations needed to be made. Neither of them had ever attempted to make something or given much thought to cute before. The wolf had thick white fur, wasn’t skeletal and didn’t ooze, much to Daetek’s disappointment,  therefore Death and Daetek agreed that it fit the definition they knew of cute.  They had debated giving the addition of venom, but Death had vetoed the idea as Alice wouldn’t be immune.

“What about spikes along his back?  It would allow him more protection when fighting.  We could put gems on them.  Do people in the Realms of Light not believe gems are pretty?”

“Hmm,” Death considered the idea.  It wasn’t bad, and people did fight bloody battles of the shiny things. “I think not. She likes hugging furry things. I think it would impede her ability to do so, and its ability to fit in tight spaces as needed. I think this is fine. I believe she will indeed believe he is cute. I have watched her and she seems to think creatures with fur are cute.”

Daetek shrugged and placed two silvery hoop earrings in the wolfs lower left ear with rubies running along their outside for flare. He enjoyed giving his creations jewelry. It made them unique, and other creatures covet what his creatures had.  These earrings could not be stolen though.  They were quite literally part of the wolf, and gave him a unique appearance.  The wolf was now a little less bland.  They would show up in his left horn when he changed back marking him as one of Daeteks creatures as well as Deaths.  What would the other gods think of this madness?

“Now death guard serve me without fail. You now belong to my bati, Alice Dragon. It is your duty to protect her and follow her commands. Unless it is absolutely necessary do not show her your warrior form. It may concern her, and more importantly those around her. To others you will simply be her faithful familiar. I am entrusting to you the being most precious to me. Do not fail.”

The wolf bowed on his front legs and then stood waiting for additional orders, or a location to find his new master. The change had also changed his mind.  He could think clearer, and knew that this post was an honor. He would protect his new master and protect her with his life.