Child of War (Tales of Autcrem)

Chapter six, A Religious Orc

Hensei's mind reeled on the words. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, form an orc no less.

"How," was he said.

"For he allows it. He welcomes all races into his kingdom." The orc named Dodd said with a smile.

"Religious fool," Hensei muttered. This orc was foolish, indeed Hensei began to think.

"Don't speak of things you do not understand, boy." He said, shaking his head. "Your own priests understand less of Gashear then this religious fool."

"What's the point of understanding something that isn't real!" Hensei shouted, suddenly enraged. "And if he is, then he can shove it like the rest of the gods."

"Why's that, boy."

"Thanking Gashear for what you gained with your own two hands. He didn't guide these rabbits to you or keep the rain clouds away! He didn't protect you on your journey! You did. You caught a rabbit looking for food. Nature gave you clear skies. You simply were lucky that you didn't' run into any humans. It had nothing to do with Gashear!" Hensei was breathing heavily.

"What you see as the works of the world, I see as the works of Gashear."

"Gashear! Like he's so high and mighty. There's many of them he isn't special. They all rule and screw their people over. Telling them what to do because they deserve your loyalty. Your faith! They deserve nothing. No one does. You gain what you can on your own. Look at the world around us! An endless war that they've left us to. Gashear let his people be slaughtered until we finally pushed you monsters back here with our own power! He answered no prays as children and women were slaughtered by monsters like you!" Hensei was fuming. He felt as if his body was boiling.

"It's hard to answer prays when no one's praying to you!" Dodd countered. He seemed equally angry, but it was different then Hensei. Hensei was filled with rage, but Dodd was filled with an angry, you feel when injustice has been done, righteous anger. His words forced Hensei to be silent. "It's hard to answer prays when no one's praying to you." He repeated, staring into the fire and letting his anger subside, "You say Gashear does not deserve our loyalty, our faith. You are wrong. You may say Gashear turned his back on us, but we are the ones who've turned away. How hard it must be for a father so loving, a father who loves children that are not even his own but can do nothing for they do not ask for it. They drift away, further and further, yet he can do nothing.

"Gashear did not leave you. He left so much for you, but you threw it all away. Turned what he left into horrible weapons of destruction. The legendary blades of Gashear. Hidden away for the world turned them into things of murder. He left teaching his very words for you. As time passed, you squandered his ways.

"He is far different from all the gods!" Dodd began to sound joyful. "He deserves the right to be the only one I believe in. All gods created a religion for their people. The elves must strive for perfection, the dwarves must create mighty works. Us orcs must be mighty warriors and show no mercy to our enemy. Ogres and Valkyries must seek an endless amount of knowledge. They must accomplish worldly things to gain a place away from this world.

"Let's not forget the forgotten ones abandoned by their gods. Wood elves are enslaved and band from their goddesses kingdom. Gnomes an offspring of dwarven magical experiments and considered like dirt by dwarves, even less by their so-called god. Yet you know who gave them salvation. Gave them a Kingdom they could reach. A being they could believe in? Gashear!

"Gashear did not create a religion for them to follow. No, he gave all living creatures a rule. Guidelines. To do what? To just be decent people. To show one another a little decency. Gashear did not want you to focus on worldly things to get into his kingdom for the world is not fair. No, he wanted something far simpler than religion. He wanted a relationship. A relationship with each and every person. That's what sets him so, so far above all other gods. For he just wants a relationship with you and me. He offers you a kingdom of salvation for you to believe in him. Follow his words. Love one another, love him. Just be decent people." Dodd sighed.