Breaker of Chains

[Authors note: Hello dear reader! I intend to write a rather long story that will continually be expanded. I have previously experienced that trying to write out all branches of a story leads to an exponential number of chapters being required and story progress grinding to a halt. In this one I will focus on one branch of the story and write around it until it is finished before picking up the next. Hopefully it will be a beautiful tree by the end of it all with plenty of different endings, but for now I am limited to two hands with only five fingers each and one barely functioning brain. I hope you will enjoy returning to this story again and again as it expands. Thank you for reading!]

When the world was created, its creator formed four beings to rule over it before disappearing. Galvan, Sheyla, Drumdra and Theik were their names. They loved the world and the creator, wandered endlessly across the beautiful planet until they had seen every nook and experienced every sensation. After greedily drinking in everything the creator had left them, they felt boredom for the first time. They lacked the power to create a new world so they wracked their brains trying to figure out a way to tickle some new excitement out of their dulled senses. Drumdra, the strongest and tallest of them, was the first to bring up worship. They all worshiped the creator, but they couldn't worship one another, as they were equals. The animals and plants, for all their fabulous virility and energy, were simply not capable of such a thing.

They agreed to think of a solution and meet again after 100 years had passed. That is when Sheyla presented the idea of creating new life. A new species to worship them, an intelligent species who could to many interesting things for them to follow from afar. Galvan and Theik were amazed and immediately began spinning grand ideas for their new followers. What they would look like, what their strengths were, what they desired. Only Drumdra objected, finding it immoral to create life only to worship them as gods. The others suggested the creator did essentially the same thing and that he was too worried, but Drumdra was enraged at the implication. He told them to meet again the next century and talk this madness out. When Drumdra met up with the others again, they were all smiles and giggles. He soon realised why. They had created sentient races.

Galvan created the humans. An adaptable race of ambitious creatures who worked well together. He gifted them the riverlands and plains where they had multiplied quickly and built towns, even cities. They built churches in Galvans honour and worshipped him in weekly ceremonies.

Sheyla created the elves. A graceful and agile race with an affinity for magic. She gifted them the forests and jungles where they formed into strong tribes specializing in different types of magic. Their whole way of life was in a way dedicated to Sheyla and using magic was often seen as a direct act of worship.

Theik created the dwarves. A strong and tough race of talented builders and craftsmen. He gifted them the mountains and caves, into which they dug themselves ever deeper. Their strongest fortresses and most beautiful creations were made as offerings and acts of worship. The act of creation, building and crafting itself was done in honour of Theik.

Drumdra was livid, cursing at his fellow gods as he felt they betrayed him. When he went to strike Galvan, who made a smug comment vaguely reminiscent of "Sucks to suck", the God of Men easily evaded the blow and sent Drumdra flying with a crushing headbutt. "Their love has made us strong, while you were left weak.", Galvan sneered, "You deliberate too much, you waste not only your, but our time." , when Drumdra moved to get up, Galvan kicked him back down, "You were always the weakest link. The dumbest of us, dead weight. And now more than ever you are pathetic, Drumdra.". There was venom and cruelty in his voice as he spoke those words. "Enough, Galvan, you might end up the first man to kill an immortal.", Sheyla sarcastically chuckled. Theik didn't even bother to interject.

Rage was boiling inside Drumdra. An ancient hatred that was not his own lit up like a wildfire started by the spark of his own fury. He slowly rose to his full height and looked at these gods, one after the other. "You will regret this day.", he growled, "You will regret what you did, what you created... by the end of this all of you will regret being immortal.". For a moment, fear took hold of the young gods, but it was quickly flushed out by their newfound confidence. Theik scoffed and turned away again. Sheyla laughed, "Wow, that was almost scary.". Galvan simply smiled, "What will you do? Fight us?".

Drumdra knew he couldn't win a fight with any of them, much less all of them. His voice still quaking with anger, he spoke up, "I offer you a pact. I will create my own race, morals be damned, and we will make an oath on the creator to not directly interfere with the world. We don't get to wander on the planet, only watch.". The young gods thought for but a moment before Galvan laughed again, "That is your plan? Our creations have a 100 year headstart and they receive our gifts, which are more powerful than anything you could offer them now.", he shook his head, "Disappointing, but I accept. You have sealed your fate as the weakest god for the rest of your immortal life. I agree to make the oath". Theik nodded and spoke for the first time, "Your race will never be able to catch up. I suppose your wager was made in anger, but I am not one stop you while making a mistake. I agree to make the oath.". Sheyla was the only one who hesitated for a moment but she agreed that the only way for Drumdra to catch up was for him to cleverly and directly take influence on the fate of the world. "I will make the oath.", she simply said.

Each of them raised a single finger to their own carotid artery as they all spoke a simple oath, "I swear in front of the creator, that I will not wander the planet to directly interact with the mortals.". They all instinctively knew that breaking the oath would mean their ****.