Rise (War Witch Book 1) (95 page)

Few depictions still exist of this God, for knowledge of him was stricken from existence. It has survived among the Black Shield alone, and of him, they have some few works that show him. The most prominent is of a Wolf God, dressed in Black armor that pours smoke from the number of hits he’s taken and still stands, as he strides across the battlefield in victory. One other shows him in the black armor as well, but seated upon an ebony throne.

His symbol is the Black Shield. He has no priests, and wants them not. He cares only for his Dark Knights and their secret agenda to undo all that he himself once did. He thirsts for vengeance, but first seeks to destroy the works he once created, and in so doing, weaken the World against his eventual return. His ultimate goal is the undoing of creation, and returning everything to the Void.

Neither a High God, nor a Demon God, Zarak works on his own, but does still occasionally Bless the Black Shield Knight that pleases him enough. It’s unknown how he has come to hold the power, but he can eradicate the Blessings of a Demon God and place his own upon the chosen. He has made no friends among the Demon Gods for this, and doesn’t really care.

The Divine Gift he gives is called
Null
. When activated, it negates the use of other Divine Gifts, both High and Demon in origin. In the face of a Blessed of Zarak, any Blessed is weaker, for they have lost the use of their greatest weapon, their Divine Gift.

He gives no Divine Mark, for his agents already carry it, a tattoo of a black shield they receive upon joining the order.

Brin'Rey

The Snow Leopard Goddess of ice, cold, and divine retribution.

Once an Earth Goddess, and sister of Zastra, Brin'Rey grew angry with Grannax after the expulsion of Ker Zet and her brood to the Low World, feeling that the traitorous Black Bitch and her children should’ve been destroyed out right. Their arguments grew so venomous as to become legend, and to this day, the old saying survives, 'striking at the sun'.

Seeing that Grannax wouldn’t hear her, and Isel would back her husband despite similar feelings, Brin'Rey came to believe the High Gods weak, and walked away from Heaven, vanishing with the rise of Everdawn. What became of her is unknown, even now, though it’s rumored she lives among the Giants of the Ice Mountains, a rumor that’s never been confirmed.

No depiction has ever been made of Brin'Rey, for she left the Gods behind before the Sacred Order of the Tiger was ever formed. Likewise, she has no priesthood, adding even more mystery to the already unknowable Goddess.

Alas, she also has no symbol, and gives no Divine Mark to those she Blesses, though what little has been learned of her shows that she still adheres to her belief that evil must be purged without mercy, for she only Blesses those who’ve been grievously wronged, putting in their hands the ability to seek retribution. Sadly, she now counts the High Gods as being little different than the Demon Gods.

It’s been suggested that she’s something of a vigilante Goddess, which strikes closer to home than many think.

The Divine Gift she gives those she Blesses is
Ice
, the ability to turn whatever they lay their hand on to pure and fragile ice. Sadly, the Blessing is also a death sentence, as each use of the Gift saps a year of life from the Blessed, until they, too, turn into a beautiful, and fragile, ice sculpture.

Not surprisingly, her Blessed are only rumored, and few can truthfully claim to have ever encountered one.

Phannus

Son of Ker Zet, God of the insatiable.

Born a great golden wyrm with a thousand heads, Phannus' first act was an attempt to devour his mother, and all his siblings. Unable to control him, Ker Zet cast him aside, and the thousand-headed beast found his way into the Shadow Realms, where he wandered for a great time, his existence unknown even to Grannax.

It’s believed that when he returned in the Second Age, he sparked the Mage Wars, warping Sorcerers with desire for more. Never satisfied, Phannus constantly seeks to devour all he can find, to someday swallow whole the High Gods, and all of creation, daring to believe he can devour the Void itself.

Only one depiction was ever made of Phannus, crafted shortly before the devout priest who painted it attempted to eat himself. It shows the God as a mighty golden wyrm with a thousand heads. In essence, as he is. No other priesthood has ever risen up since then, and as such, he has neither symbol, nor Divine Mark.

Those he does Bless have a horrific Gift, for it is called
Devour
, and it’s as it sounds. His Blessed can eat anything, and make it part of themselves. The one Blessed he has been known to touch was defeated by a band of heroes after he ate a stone wall, and became as tough as it. When used on people, the Blessed gain all their memories, knowledge, skills, and the ability to even adopt their appearance, meaning the true number of his Blessed is impossible to know.

Kirianna

Daughter of Ker Zet, often called the Angel of Hell, but also known as the Suffering One. Goddess of mourning.

The last daughter of Ker Zet, Kirianna's first instinct was to flee her mother and siblings, for she found their very existence repulsive. Beautiful as her mother once was, but clearly the rightful daughter of Grannax, Kirianna inherited nothing from her mother save her good looks.

Repulsed by her siblings, and disgusted by her mother, Kirianna fled them, and sought sanctuary among the High Gods. Isel's rage was still fresh, however, and Kirianna was rebuffed. Unwanted in Heaven, and wanting no part of Hell, she vanished without a trace, hidden from all, and forgotten.

Rumor has it, however, that she walks the Middle World, disguised as a mortal woman. Likewise, it is known she only reveals herself to those who are weary of the eternal war between the Gods, and seek to lay down their weapons.

Strangely, a single depiction of the Goddess was found among Cynthanis' personal effects after he disappeared, and many wonder if he knew the Goddess. It shows her as a tall and staggeringly beautiful woman with snow-white hair and massive wings of white feathers.

What is known about the Goddess is that she seeks to end the suffering of all she meets. Her own pain matters not, for everywhere she looks, she sees only more suffering brought about by the war between Heaven and Hell, and wishes only to wipe away all tears with love.

With neither priesthood, nor symbol, it’s been recently learned that she does give a Divine Mark, or at least, it’s suspected to be connected to her. Across the back of those she Blessed can be found tattooed wings, spreading across the shoulder blades, from shoulder-to-shoulder. Or it could just be a random coincidence. No one really knows.

Her Divine Gift, however, is impossible to ignore.
Ease the Pain
is a powerful Gift that allows her Blessed to take others’ suffering from them, easing that which burdens their soul, allowing them to leave behind their sorrow and know joy once again. Sadly, the Blessed must carry that pain as their own forever after. Her Blessed are often very martially skilled, but will only fight to save innocents, or themselves, from those who will not see reason.

It’s worth noting that Kirianna is hated by Ker Zet and all her brood, for she gives her Blessed the ability to take away all they seek to do. It’s equally worth noting that Altimar has become very vocal about welcoming the Goddess into the pantheon of Heaven, for her Blessed are well-known for their perpetual smile, eternal optimism, and rather randy natures.

The list of people I owe thanks to for helping put this novel in front of your eyes is massive. I could never properly address each of them the way they deserve. There are some, though, that I feel deserve being singled out.

Sheri Williams, fellow author, and project manager, who held my hand through this entire experience, and without whom, I would be lost.

Wendy Garfinkle, author and editor, who made this book read so much better, and is the undisputed Queen of the Turtle People.

Amalia Chitulescu, the most gifted artist I have ever met, who designed the amazing cover, bringing my creation to life in a way I never dreamed possible.

Majanka Verstraete, the amazing proofreader, who keeps you from seeing that I am a terrible typist. I will be forever in her debt.

Most of all, to Storm DeVille, my girlfriend of twenty years. Not just for helping shape this novel, and the world it lives in, but for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. I would be no one without you.

Vox Machina!

Cain S. Latrani is a purely fictional person, existing only in the mind of his creator, where he dates super models, drives expensive cars, is tall, buff and staggeringly handsome.

The bastard.

To find out more, visit:

www.
cainslatrani.wordpress.com

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