Papa Legba vs Goroth and Zhal

Above the shattered skies of Bassoun, a rift widened—where chaos reigned and stars trembled.

Goroth, the Maw Without End, surged forth first. A colossal, hulking mass of gnashing teeth, blackened hide, and endless hunger, swallowing clouds and pieces of reality as it came.

From the flame-ripped edge of the rift, Zhal, The Beast That Dreams of Fire, followed—his body crowned in molten bone, a living inferno wrapped in the nightmares of burning worlds.

And standing at the threshold where gods met the void… Papa Legba, the keeper of all gates, waited with calm eyes and a crooked smile.

The Gatekeeper Stands

Clad in simple robes and crowned in shadowlight, Papa Legba raised his staff, tapping it once on the stone that floated beneath his feet.

"You come to devour. But you forget…" he said, voice steady, ancient. "Nothing passes without my permission."

Goroth howled, jaws gaping wide to consume even Papa's words. Zhal screamed fire from deep within his dreaming soul.

They surged forward.

War of Worlds

Papa Legba shifted—his body splitting into seven mirrored versions of himself, each guarding a different gate. He danced across invisible pathways, sealing rifts as fast as the Beast Gods tore them open.

Zhal's fire ripped across the sky, reshaping the battlefield into a burning nightmare. Yet Papa walked through flames untouched, muttering in forgotten tongues, carving sigils in midair.

Goroth lunged, swallowing planets, moons, pieces of time itself—but with a whispered phrase, Papa turned his hunger against itself. One of his mouths devoured another, until Goroth howled in pain and confusion.

The Trickster's Power

Papa didn't fight with strength. He fought with wisdom, language, and gate-magic—turning enemies into pathways, weaving their attacks into traps.

Zhal lunged with burning claws, but Papa opened a gate and redirected his flames into Goroth's gut.

Goroth tried to crush Papa, but fell through a gate of illusions and emerged falling upside down through the bones of a dead star.

The Gate Seals

Breathing heavily but still standing, Papa Legba raised both hands—and from the heavens, seven seals descended. The Gate of Binding closed first, then the Gate of Time, the Gate of Hunger, the Gate of Fire…

As Zhal roared and Goroth gnashed in desperation, Papa opened one last door beneath them both.

"To the place where unmakers sleep. Go."

A deafening silence followed.

Aftermath

The skies stilled. The stars returned.

Papa Legba stood alone, leaning on his staff.

He turned back toward the mortal world, smiling just slightly.

"Let's see how the children are doing…"