Puppet of Erlik

The golden hind was placed at the gravity ship harbor. They headed down where the main market was. The streets were buzzing with people, mainly sassan. But elves, phoenicians, and even some dokkaebi could be seen in the masses.

The City of Babylus was magnificent its towering walls and massive gates made Rufus and his companions feel small in comparison. According to some sources, the city housed eight million imhabitants. Up above flew the flying fortress of Perizad, indicating the god had arrived in the city as well.

Yosef's eyes were drawn to a peculiar Sassan vendor selling a range of oddities, from tiny altars to fragrant incense. However, what really caught his eye was a beautiful wooden puppet.

"Look at this beauty," Yosef exclaimed as he examined the puppet closely. It was a bit larger than a human baby and had wooden wings and lifelike eyes.

"It is the puppet of Erlik. The daughter of Arslan and ruler of the demised lands. You believe you might end up in the forced lands yourself," the old stall owner said, smiling creepily and grinding his hands together.

"I've been a slave before and visited the land of demise. It was fun for a while, but the work benefits were a bit lacking," Yosef quipped.

Joan inspected the puppet closely and commented, "It's uglier than a predator bird's ass. Looks like a child born from incest."

"Shhh," the sassan vendor hushed. "Erlik does not tolerate insults to her creations. She rules over the damned and those to be punished, with their souls bound to these dolls and forced to do all kinds of things for the entertainment of the...peculiar god with...unique tastes."

"Sounds like a delightful person," Joan sarcastically retorted.

"Sounds like another psychopathic woman I know," Yosef added.

The vendor continued, undeterred, trying to sell the puppet, "Erlik willingly became the ruler of the dead. Sassans who angered the gods are forced to become playthings of Erlik and do as they are told, forever."

Yosef's felt weirded out. "So this one here. It has a soul inside it?" he asked.

The vendor shook his head. "Oh no. Sometimes the puppets of Erlik wash up on our shores, but when they enter a certain threshold, the souls are dragged out of the puppet and placed into a new one. This here is just a vessel, but still, it was built by a god."

Yosef furrowed his brow. "Then why sell it?" he asked.

The vendor smiled, thinking he was close to getting a deal done, "So people have the chance to pray to it. Erlik is more likely to hear the prayers that way. You might be granted only a short stay in the afterlife, like those who are forced there. Erlik has the mind of a child, so she enjoys those who have played with her and made her laugh. If you play with this doll here, you might just have to be in the demised lands for only a decade."

"Don't listen to that moron!" a group of Sassans chimed in, interrupting the conversation.

"This geezer is just trying to swindle your cash. You're not a Sassan, so there's no need to fret over ending up in the demised lands. And even if you were, the one who hauls people off to Erlik is on his way out," one of the Sassans stated.

The Sassan gave the shop clerk a forceful kick, sending him tumbling down.

"This slimeball doesn't have a clue. The only gods worth worshipping in this realm are the ones of the gardens. The rest can grovel to Xerxes for mercy. Although, soon the gods of the fields will be no more," another Sassan added.

"Oh, Xerxes. We have something for his devotees as well. The great and wise Xerxes is sure to hear your prayers when you offer them before this magnificent mural," the old shop clerk countered, revealing a small fragment of a wall embellished with the visage of a Sassan deity.

"Then what the hell is that?" one of the Sassans pointed their stick at a small statue portraying a winged creature ascending into the sky.

"Who do you think that's supposed to represent?" the Sassan smirked, already knowing the answer.

"Um..."

"You blasphemous creep!" the Sassan barked, slamming his wooden cane against the shop clerk's head, drawing blood.

"How dare you peddle the likeness of our almighty god near Arslan! You goat humper!" the Sassan screeched, pouncing on the frail old man.

The scene was chaotic as the group of Sassans attacked the shop clerk. But amidst the violent turmoil, Yosef had an idea. He quickly connected the threads he used to control his puppets to the hand of one of the assailants and gave it a tug. The Sassan was caught off guard and ended up hitting his own friend.

The Sassans were bewildered. "How in the holy fuck are you swinging your hands!?" one of them exclaimed.

"I... I don't know. It felt like my hand was pulled by something," the confused Sassan replied.

To their surprise, the other Sassan was also yanked by invisible threads and ended up hitting his own ally. Meanwhile, the shop clerk made a run for it.

The Sassans turned their attention to Yosef, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "It must have been that pale ant creep who was talking to the shop clerk earlier," one of them growled as he grabbed his cane, ready to strike Yosef.

But before they could lay a hand on him, Joan stepped in with her sword and pointed it at the Sassan. "Though how much I would love to see someone slapping this idiot here, I can't allow it as I think what he did was the right thing. For once," she said with a hint of amusement in her voice.

The Sassans looked furious. "Tch. Humans. Always ready to draw weapons. The cursed, warmongering race you all are. And never will you change," one of them spat.

Joan didn't flinch. "All the more reason for you to scram," she retorted, her eyes fixed on the Sassans.