Before Attack

Before Selene attacked Lemuria with her army...

Brother Tode, a 6' tall, hairless, morbidly obese, green humanoid with an enlarged skull, the king of the Deviants.

Tode sat on the throne next to his queen wife Vira, a red skinnier, normal female version of himself. They were a toad-like Deviant race that managed to take power.

His buffoon, Broop, crawled around in front of him, a small grey-toad funny-looking Deviant he kept around to amuse himself and his other privileged subordinates that were allowed in his presence, like Primer Minister Ragar, his brother, a yellow-toad Deviant, and other council members.

Whenever Tode moved (or was moved), Deviants stopped their activities to greet, and his cult was such that Deviants even swore by the "Head of Brother Tode". Tode rarely confided to anyone, but he considered Priest-Lord Ghaur his close ally, for all this was spearheaded by him. Ghaur even assisted the birth of Tode's son Ranar, when being delivered, sadly it killed his mother, his first wife before Vira.

However, things changed once they had to retreat from the surface, tensions grew between Tode and an unhappy Ghaur.

Ghaur, a 6'4" tall, yellow-eyed, blue skin, braided blue hair, large skull; no brows but strange flesh formations instead, and pointed ears. He was a Deviant from a line that was specifically bred by the Deviant priesthood over countless generations.

"Lord" Ghaur became the priest-lord of the Deviants. Although Deviant Lemuria was ruled by a monarch and a noble class, most of the power was exercised by the priests. Between their main functions, the priests "eradicated" Deviants with the most extreme features, dubbed Mutates, throwing them to flame pits in "Purity Time". They also perform the ascendancy rite to accept the rising of a new monarch - initially they only "authorized" the legitimate heir, but they could designate someone different as a new monarch.

Brother Tode glanced at Ghaur who was present within the throne room, still believing him to be an ally he could trust despite the change in Ghaur's demeanor.

"Ghaur, did you hear the recent good news, General Kro has begun the attack, our army is advancing as we speak, once the initial assault is over and we establish a foothold, I will lead the rest of us out to the surface where we belong, and with you by my side, we will once again take our rightful place among the stars," Tode said enthusiastically, hoping to cheer up his old friend.

"Sounds excellent your majesty, you will have my full support in taking the surface," Ghaur stoically replied.

Brother Tode felt good hearing that, even without his emotions. He was, however, starting to get reports of rebellious thoughts among the people and even a few priests.

"Trust me Ghaur, this is our time... On a side note, I've heard disturbing rumors of people speaking badly about my rule, a few priests preaching a different type of sermon, would you know anything about that." Tode asks narrowing his eyes at Ghaur, searching for any sort of reaction.

Ghaur unsurprised calmly answered,- "I have also heard such things, but our race has never been cohesive, there have always been many factions within our Deviant society, don't forget we still have an obligation to get rid of those disgusting Mutates that would weaken our great race's purity," he preached, completely avoiding the priest comment.

"Hm, I just don't wish any problems to occur, so close to our goal," said Tode meaningfully.

"Then if you'll excuse me your majesty, but I still have much to prepare for such a glorious moment," said Ghaur seeing the opportunity to leave. Giving a small head bow on his way out after Tode waves him off,- "See to it, it won't be long now.," said Tode confidently, having full faith in General Kro and his plans.

Watching him leave, Vira spoke,- "Are you sure we can still trust him? He's different than how he used to be around you."

Brother Tode dismissed her concerns,- "I've known him for a very long time, we've practically ruled together, and there's no way he'll jeopardize our return, it's what he wants more than anything."

Vira snorted,- "Anything?" She asks not believing it for a second, she never trusted those crazy priests, and Ghaur was the craziest of them all, their priest-lord.

Wishing to change the conversation Tode looked to his little brother, Primer Minister Ragar, asking,- "Where is my son Ranar? He should be here learning."

Vira hearing about the son that wasn't her's showed displeasure on her face, knowing Tode only brought him up so he wouldn't have to talk to her anymore.

Ragar answered,- "You know him, your highness, he's at the training pits practicing, he's always been very physical."

"And what of his studies?" Tode asked.

Ragar,- "He's very intelligent your majesty, as one would expect from your son, excelling at economics in particular, and he's already an excellent leader among the men thanks to his time spent in the pits, he will be a great ruler."

Tode laid back with a grin appreciating the praise,- "Good, so do you think he's ready to take charge here once I leave for the surface?" He asked.

Those who expected Ragar to be mad that another chance to rule was passed over would be sadly mistaken, Ragar like Ghaur wished for nothing more than to head back to the surface and was extremely happy to hear that Ranar would be taking his place as ruler of Lemuria once they left for the surface.

Ragar didn't hesitate to talk up Ranar, and praise Tode's wise decision,- "I think that's a brilliant idea, my King, it's just what he needs to further his studies and push him onto the path of being the ruler of all Deviants." Completely ignoring the fact of how much Ranar would hate not leading a force to the surface to do battle.

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Ghaur meanwhile was heading back down to the underground portion of the city that connected everything, where he met up with his people before taking a shuttle to his priest's building located on the other side of the city.

Lemuria's buildings could be seen resting on the seabed, but underneath it was all connected with an underground city since they were air breathers. Each of the high rising buildings that shot through and could be seen in the water above had its own purpose. Most of them having to do with the rich and Elite Deviants, but there were some for public use and gatherings as well as militarized zones. But the vast majority of Deviants lived in the underground city below.

Ghaur traveled up to his private office, his two guards Morjak and Gelt by his side as he took a seat calling for Karygmax over to discuss what to do next.

Morjak was a tall, big bald male with a beard just under and around his jaw, wearing a suit and glasses, and a pistol blaster strapped on his waist.

Gelt was an equally tall well built, dark-skinned male in a black shirt sleeve shirt, underneath a dark blue jacket, pants, and a pistol blaster strapped on his waist.

Karygmax, Ghaurs second in command who ran the church while he was away heeded his call as he stepped in wearing unusual priest attire, holding his mettle staff with a crystal fixed on top. A regular-looking man, wearing light blue robes, red gloves, and a pointed top headpiece with red stripes that fit snugly around his head with the connecting shoulder piece blending in with the robes.

Karygmax gave a head bow while holding on to his staff,- "My Lord," he stiffly said when he noticed Ghaur's unhappiness.

An irritated Ghaur clicked his fingers against the desk, letting him sweat it out while he thought about how to deal with the unpleasantness he received in the royal chamber.

Ghaur,- "Tell me Karyg, why did Tode hear rebellious talks among the priests, did I or did I not tell you to quietly spread discord, TELL ME WHY PRIESTS ARE BEING HEARD PREACHING REBELLIOUS SERMONS!" Ghaur yelled jumping up while slamming his hands on the desk, causing Karygmax to flinch.

Sweating bullets, Kargymax tried to explain, fiercely apologizing right off the bat, while bowing lower once again,- "I deeply apologize my lord, a few priests may have gotten a bit ahead of themselves, you know how enthusiastic some of them can be... Uh, but that's not an excuse, I take full responsibility, I'll see it doesn't happen again if you please allow me to continue your great work," he said keeping his head down, too afraid to look up.

Ghaur clicked his tongue,- "Tsk, you may rise, luckily that fat fool doesn't expect anything, not that he should with surface operations underway, remember we will only act should he fail, I owe him that much," he said muttering the last part.

Tode was a great leader who brought them many great changes and victories with his intelligence, but sadly he failed to calculate how truly outgunned they were against those with powers beyond what any of their technology could accomplish.

The deviants, unfortunately, had very few such individuals compared to their enemies, having to rely on tech to compete.

The Olympians though are what sealed their fate, when they took it upon themselves to indoctrinated the Eternals by way of treaty, making them their figureheads for the mortals to worship at their temples to keep the belief so they didn't have to do it themselves. And so they were forced to retreat from the surface to their underwater base in hopes of rebuilding in exile, lucky that the Olympians didn't see them as a threat to wipe out.

Karygmax,- "Certainly my lord, everything will be ready on your command."

Ghaur- "Good, I saw that they were setting up for another sacrifice down below, let's go see our people," he said walking around and out, followed by Karygmax, and his two guards Morjak and Gelt.

In the center of their priest building, in the underground portion, was a wide-open space for easy public access where they had a firey pit lit to throw the unwanted in. A group gathered around chanting and shouting at the disgusting Mutates, Deviants with the ugliest mutations that stuck out and deformed them from the perfect humanoid image they all craved.

Cheers erupted when Ghaur approached the podium set above the pit, looking down at all his people. Raising his hands, he shouted,- "Bring out the Defilers."

The chained grotesque Mutates were pushed out, closer to the pit. The lifeless eyes of those that experienced far too much showed nothing among the verbal and physical abuse, but there were those unlucky enough to have only been recently caught wailing and pleading for mercy.

Ghaur once again raised his hands to quiet the crowd as all eyes gathered on him.- "This is..." He was cut off as eruptions took place around the outside, shaking the area. Everyone looked around wondering what was going on before pointed vessels breached the walls above sending rubble and water below, causing a panic as people didn't know what was happening.

Ghaur's eyes widened looking up, just as he was pulled back by Morjak, saving him from a mettle slab that would have sent him tumbling into the fire below if not outright kill him.

"What is going on, someone, quickly find out what is going on!" Ghaur shouted trying to brush away his near-death experience.

Kargymax seeing his opportunity to enter his good graces, shouted out as he slammed his staff into the ground, lighting up his crystal with a bright yellow light,- "Attention! Attention! Now is not the time to panic, you and you come with me, the rest of you fall in, you are better than this!" He yelled only leaving once he received a nod from Ghaur who told him,- "Go find out what's going on." Giving one last bow before leaving.

Ghaur then looked out at his people with a sneer,- "You all should be better than this," he said causing many of the newer priests who panicked along with the public to feel disgraced,- "It seems we are under attack, prepare yourselves for battle, it's time to show this world the right path, gather your strength, my people, for if we don't' show them right path who will! Do no fear death, for death will only bring us closer to perfection!" He yelled leading them into a quick prayer.

Feeling his faithful back in control, he glanced at the Mutates who survived the falling rubble, and ordered,- "Throw them in, and arm yourselves."

Ghaur was done waiting for things to get better, their last refugee being attacked was the last straw, it was time to take things into his own hands.