username; scarlet_wolf
GG name; hephaestus
element; fire
How did they get those scars;
hephaestus's claws were careful as he gently pressed a piece of thin metal into place, the wires in his machine connecting nicely. the bird-like creature suddenly whirred to life, it's metallic head cocking to the side as it looked up at hephaestus. it's beady, glowing red eyes were fixated on the goblin gator, waiting for an order. hephaestus looked around wildly for a moment as if terrified of something, and turned back to the bird. "okay," he began, voice low and slightly breathless. "you're programmed with the castle's blueprints, so you know where everything is." the gg spoke as if he expected the bird to respond. "i need you to find his crown."
the metal bird's whirring intensified as it checked it's database for any information on said crown. the bird's mouth opened, and it exhaled in a robotic tone - "the king's crown. allows him to control his guard and the people of his city. forged by - hephaestus."
hephaestus nodded. "correct. when i created it - " his jaw tensed at this. hephaestus severely regretted making the crown for the king. "when i created it, i installed a block. for myself. the king cannot influence me. but he doesn't know that."
"but i need you to find the crown, and take it for me. you'll bring it back here, and then i'll melt it. if destroyed by something such as extreme heat, the effects of the crown should be reversed. the people that the king has enslaved will be free." the bird's eyes flashed green for a moment - a sign that he had heard and understood his orders. without hesitation, the bird lifted off, his metallic feathers beating at the air; his anatomy was similar to that of a hummingbird's, wings flapping with incredible speed.
+++
hephaestus had been wringing his hands together for the past hour, anxiety pulsing off of him in waves. "come on," he breathed,
nervousness evident in his words. suddenly, there was a voice from behind him - a slow, languid voice that drawled annoyingly on the end of his words.
"welllll, what do we have hereeee?" the king, griffith, spoke, sounding quited pleased with himself.
hephaestus whirled around, terror lighting up his features as he saw his metallic bird hanging from the king's hand, his crown still placed atop his head. "i see your little... plannnnn didn't work." griffith grinned, his teeth bright. "and i also see that you've tampered with my crownnn."
hephaestus shook his head wildly. "i don't know what you're talking about, my lord," his eyes flickered nervously to the two guards flanking the king. though he was larger than the average goblin gator, he didn't think that he would be able to fight two guards who,
of course, had weapons on them at all time. hephaestus had never really experienced physical conflict, and so therefore had no idea what he'd even do.
"oh, keep your excusesssss to yourself," griffith spoke sharply. "i know what you've doneeee. and i also know that you will no longer be my blacksmithhhh. you are hereby exiled from my lovelyyyy kingdom. guards! you may proceed to use force if he resistssss. here,
take your dumb birdddd." the king tossed the metallic avian device to hephaestus's feet, the machine letting out a weak whir.
it was busted up, it's head dented it.
with that, the two guards moved closer to the metalworker. the king followed them with barely contained glee at having caught his blacksmith in the act of treason.
panic radiated off of the gg as he clutched the metal bird close to his chest. the opposing goblin gators stepped closer, pushing hephaestus back towards the entryway. "come on, then," the one on the left hissed lowly, his eyes glazed and unfocused. hephaestus could tell that he was being controlled by the king.
hephaestus did as he was told, walking slowly, dragging his feet. as they reached the castle's gates, griffith paused, humming lowly.
"how abouttt," he suggested brightly. "we give the blacksmith a little something to remember usssss by? a bit of a souvenir, if you willll."
the guards caught on quickly - they moved closer to hephaestus, who cowered down against the gate, fear bright in his eyes. despite his large size, he was by no means strong in the physical sense of the word. one of the guards advanced on him, drawing his weapon - a wicked blade, about the length of hephaestus's forearm, gleaming in the harsh sunlight.
+++
eye and shoulder throbbing, hephaestus heard the loud clang! of the gate closing behind him. blood trickled from his eye and down his face, leaving a read streak behind. "goodbyeeee!" griffith drawled from the other side of the gate. "i hope you and your bird enjoy life on the outsideeee!"
hephaestus stumbled to his feet, tucking the metal bird in the crook of his arm. he began walking slowly, his right eye wide - if he opened the other, blood ran into it, stinging fiercely. he'd never been outside of the gates before - it was forbidden. but, now,
he was in exile, no longer a slave to the king.
+++
months later, hephaestus's wounds had mostly healed, all that remained being scars. he had taken up residence in an inactive volcano - at the center of the mountain there was a pool of magma, perfect for forging. though he'd always had a particular resilience to fire and heat, hephaestus never thought that it was to this degree - he could stick his entire hand into the lava and remove it unscathed.
he'd managed to scrounge up a few wares - he had a hammer, now, and was able to forge most of his other tools. his volcano harbored many machines - from the metallic bird that he'd fixed to a massive mechanical bull, hephaestus was keeping himself quite busy with his artifacts.
[ 983 words. ]
