The rolling crimson clouds of chaos descended upon Eyota Etu without hesitation once Xunatar had settled a lovely, yet gruesome piece resembling a gargoyle onto the game space that represented the canyon. Despite it not being the first of many places he would claim against Naota, the demon king was certainly keen on observing what effects they truly had on the world. Their overseer gave them this extraordinary power yet there was an itching sensation behind his mind that there was there must have been a drawback of sorts.

One that was not as clear to him as he drew himself away from the game momentarily and came into the real world, albeit he felt the strong pull of the other realm against his form. He wouldn’t be able to stay around for very long. Pity, especially as he smelled the rising fears of the victims that claimed this place as their home. The unrelenting despair of nightmarish creatures that could only come from the wicked imagination that ran amuck when someone would let themselves fall prey to terrors. Overhead, he spotted the faint imagines of serpentine-like entities surging through the clouds, their spirit shattering shrieks able to be heard for miles while down below, all matter of beasts were about, ravishing anything they could get their fangs, claws, and pincers in.

But he had to give some of the inhabitants' credit for he observed them fighting and resisting the outworldly invaders. It brought forth a smile on his face as he watched a town take arms against the creatures, even if they were frightened. They realized how dire this situation was, and after the God’s latest incident with the Reaper, chances couldn’t be taken into merely riding this out. Oh no, he spotted those fighting with metal, with arrows, and magic fighting tooth and nail.

Of course, not anything that was against them was…alive. Great balls of fire reigned from the sky and bombarded a squadron of defenders and the town. Flames begun to overtake as the enemy’s approach drew nearer. Like a leaf bending to the will of the wind, he knew that eventually it would be swept away, perhaps not the first but certainly not the last.

Not as long as the game continued.

The barefoot deity slowly approached it, passing by the gruesome creatures crafted by his design. They paid him barely any mind and those that did were easily dispatched. Little time was wasted as he came to one of the buildings still intact- a tavern he presumed and went immediately to the bar. Unsurprisingly, there was hardly anyone there- perhaps a few that thought it would be a terrific place to hide.

Well, he continued on his goal until he reached the bar and pulled out a bottle of red wine and a glass and poured a drink. The patrons didn’t seem to understand just why was this man drinking, that was until he brought it up and gave a shy chuckle.

“A toast to the nightmare, friends. Let its fill this land with what it needs now.”

Caligo could smell the fear in the air, it was thick like smoke and clung to the ground. It would be a long time before it would be blown away. The scent was alluring to her, drawing her in like flies to meat, or bees to honey. She sensed that other animals near her were fleeing, running away from the danger they could all sense so strongly. She paid them no mind and continued to chase after the scent. Even humans were running away from whatever disaster had upon the town below. She flared her nostrils, in both excitement and concentration. She could see strange clouds forming over the buildings and creatures unlike any she had ever seen before. They resembled dragons in shape, but from their smell, or from their lack of smell, she knew that they were not mortal dragons. Witchcraft. She thought as she approached the village. She watched people, orcs, and other creatures attempt to fight against these strange creatures. 

As she got closer, she could see them better as they floated around the clouds. Odd creatures, definitely not of the natural world. They possessed parts from all different animals, fangs likes bears and wolves, claws like cats, and pincers like crabs and insects. Whatever they were, they attacked relentlessly, with no regard of self-preservation, where one would fall another would replace them. Fire in great masses accompanied these beasts and reigned terror on the ground forces, burning and destroying everything they touched. She slowed her pace and went towards the edge of the city, allowing her body to dissolve into the shadows of the nearby buildings. She was all but invisible now, a shadow inside a larger shadow. 

She crept along the wall, her hooves silent against the ground, not that it mattered with all the loud chaos occuring around her. The fear in the air caused her great excitement and she opened her jaws slightly, already tasting the fresh meat she would soon have. She flicked her split tongue in and out of her mouth, testing the air as well as licking her lips in anticipation. She noticed a tavern further down the line of buildings and perked her ears forward. Perhaps there would be several drunk patrons inside, just ready for the taking. Drunkards were her favorite, the alcohol in them always added a rich flavor to the meat.

She stepped over to the window and looked inside. Though she had no eyeballs, her sockets worked just fine for her to see the inside of the tavern. There were several people inside, likely hiding from the dragons above, and the occasional fireball. No matter. It was easy pickings for her now, they were like fish in a barrel. Once she blocked off the front door, they could only escape maybe one or two at a time out the back. And she was fast enough to catch them too if she felt like it. She walked past the window and nudged the door open with her skull. The patrons inside were staring at a pale man at the bar, quietly drinking a glass of wine. Very peculiar, as he was the only one in the place that didn't smell of fear. The people behind him though, they were another story. She would eat the pale man last if she could help it, wine makes the flesh rather bitter anyway. 

Oh, if only these peons knew what the bigger picture was. They were participants to a history in the making, yet they couldn’t see that. All they could see was the horrific things out there that wanted to maim and devour them. They were beyond understanding anything other than being consumed by fear, but Xunatar should have expected this from them. There was far too much credit gifted to those that never learned. Rolling his eyes, he feigned ignoring their presence while he savoured the wine. The growls deep closer and he could hear some of the patrons scramble further into corners, their breaths increasing with anxiety.

When would they be found?

How they would spend their remaining moments in this realm?

How will they die?

These thoughts and likely more swam around their minds. Xunatar didn’t need to be able to read minds; all it took was reading their facial expressions, body movements and the pulsing fright that grew louder in their pounding hearts. Such a marvelous tone to his ears as he leaned against the bar, his eyes skimming over them as if he was waiting for the next act to a play.

And he wasn’t disappointed.

In fact, he was downright in awe as something did manage to find its way into their shelter. Perhaps he was in awe in knowing that he would possibly see a gruesome show from this creature or perhaps its nature alongside its rather odd form was the stuff that fueled nightmares. He couldn’t say that he’s had seen a beast like this while awake, so perhaps the game had summoned it. Or perhaps he hadn’t looked hard enough to ever encounter one before. Either way, the god smiled at her confidently. “My, what a pretty steed you are.” The rest of the audience probably couldn’t grasp how much more of a eccentric character he was, but it was safe to say that he was beating expectations. It was a world driven mad, and it was spectacular. Still, he was a bit wary of the steed- what if she wasn’t conjured by the game itself?

What if she was the real deal?

Regardless, he poured himself another glass and decided to take a seat on a barstool. “Looking for a bit of fun, my friend?” Slowly his eyes roamed over to the patrons and then back to the soulless eyes of the most recent visitor.

Caligo paused and flicked an ear in the pale man's direction. Slowly she turned her head in his direction and stared at him. The man was sitting contently on the bar stool, staring back at her like the other patrons in the bar. She took a step in his direction and smiled at her. She cocked her head to the side in interest as he spoke to her. Her bones clicked quietly as she stepped toward him again, her hooves making the wooden floor creak. She flicked her bony tail and stopped in front of him. She saw the bartender step back and retreat to the far side of the building with the other guests.

Her nostrils flared as the man poured himself another glass of wine. She breathed hot air on his face as she took in his scent. He was wary, but he was not afraid of her like the other guests had been. She looked into his eyes, her head so close, she was almost daring him to touch her. 

A steed I was, a long time ago. She told him. Many years ago, a powerful angel named Lucifer raised an army of angels to fight against a great God. These angels exercised the gift of free will, given to them by their God, to choose evil over good. They believed themselves to be above Man and God, and so chose to rebel against both. Animals, like angels, were also given free will by God to choose. A small group of horses were discontent and unsatisfied serving as Man's beast of burden. They chose to side with the dark angels, who promised them great power and independence, and so they turned their back on Man. These horses became the mounts of the great dark angels. 

I was there at the War on Heaven. I led the charge against God's great army, as the mount of Lucifer, himself. The battle was long and hard, and ended in our defeat. We were thrust from Heaven with the angels. As punishment for our betrayal of Man, our corruption and evil and hatred warped our bodies, so that when we returned to Earth, we were unrecognizable. I was beautiful once, the most beautiful of all, which is why I was Lucifer's choice. When we fell from heaven, we were blessed by the angels to hunt Man and beast until we met our final Judgement together, in eternal damnation. 

She stopped speaking to him and instead focused on the small group of people pressed against the wall behind him. She flicked her tongue in and out of her mouth, and opened her jaws, showing off her large fangs. She raised her head, towering over the tallest of the men, a low hiss emitting from her throat as she grew closer. The people pressed themselves closer together and the smell of fear filled her nostrils. She stared at each of the men in turn, staring deep into their souls with her eyeless sockets. The creatures outside were a very good mirage by witchcraft, but they were not to be feared. They were not alive and they weren't real. She, on the other hand, was very much both.