As the trio made their way away from Wilderplains, they came upon a dirt road. It was a recently made, but that isn't what caught their attention. A wagon was heading towards towards them, seemingly a farmer was making a trip somewhere. Elder Prime unfolded all four of his arms and charged the wagon. The horse reared up frightened by the metallic monster, the man looked up to see an amber eye staring into his soul.
"Stand down Prime." Called out Fog.
"This... Wait.... I know you. The one covered in in the pelt of the white bear."
"Clearly not. For I have no idea who you are old timer." Growled Atrocity, clearly unamused by this old man.
"Of course you wouldn't... I was a child when you and your friends stormed into the woods to save us... What was his name.... I-I can't remember, but I know for a moment, just because of him, he'd summoned a second sun!"
"Polaris... You mean the Great North Star Hero."
"Yes! My mother and I watched as you both save us!" Said the old man taking off his hood, revealing the mark of Harpy. Atrocity stepped back remembering it.
"This happened recently.... Your mother was...."
"Yes... I see now. You all haven't left that region before... have you?"
"We just made it out of there. Why?"
"Well...."
The old man explained a few things. His name was Mortimer the Artificer and shortly following Fog's deal, the Gods and Lesser Gods that hadn't been killed made a plan. They new either way, they would need to isolate both Stagnate and Polaris no matter who won. They created an anomaly around Wilderplains where time moved far slower on the inside. It had nearly been two centuries since anyone had seen anyone from Wilderplains.
Mortimer stopped talking as the three turned to Fog. His eyes were non-existent and a pitch black aura had overwhelming surrounded him.
"...TWO CENTURIES..... TWO FUCKING CENTURIES...."
Fog recomposed himself and looked to Mortimer. "Take us to the city, we will need supplies."
"You will need a disguise is you wish to get in. Put on this ring, it was a gift from an elf I rescued. "
Fog takes the ring and puts it on. As he adjusts the ring, his body seemingly had flesh once again. He looked as he did before his flesh peeled away after the explosion Polaris had created in order to stop his father the first time. "This will do nicely. Atrocity, Prime, make yourselves different. Mortimer, get this wagon moving. We must obtain supplies."
As the wagon rolled to the city gates, Fog got his first true look at the world the gods had built. Slaves in shackles and collars of iron, Guards extorting the citizens, the open trade of slaves of all kinds.... Fog went to stand up but Mortimer stuck out his arm and stopped him.
"Do that... and we all die, here and now."
"This is... Sickening... What have they done... to our home... his legacy..."
"Identification and Papers please." Said a guard looking at Mortimer.
Mortimer hands the guards the papers then explains these are new business partners, he's brought them here to register them. The Guards openly scoffed at Fog then thing got worse when they found Elder Prime.
"Mortimer, the hell are you doing with a piece of shit golem?"
"Well hey now, he doesn't look like much now, but I can fix him."
The Guards drag Elder Prime, who'd disguised himself as a damaged Golem, out of the wagon a throw him onto the street. "Bring the rod." Smirked the Guard. Elder Prime's Amber eye watched as Fog and Mortimer pleaded with the Guards, but old Mortimer was thrown to the ground. The Guard smiles, "You kind deserves everything and more you're about to have done to you." The Guard fires lightning into the rod and stabs it into Prime's neck. Elder Prime winces in pain, holding back his screeches and cries for help. Other guards beat on him with their shields as the three others watched in horror as Prime endured the Guards sadistic punishment.
"Remember Golem, your place in this world is as our slaves, disposable, replaceable and..." The Guard was cut off by Elder Prime grabbing his throat and crushing his windpipe. The lightning torture had caused his disguise to fail, revealing his true form. Elder Prime stood fully upright, the metallic veins and muscles splintering to create new ones."
"Many... Many of my kind, my friends... AND A TRUE HERO DIED TRYING TO SAVE YOU FROM THIS INSIDIOUS WORLD YOU CLING TO WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING. AND I AM SUPPOSED TO BE SLAVE TO A FRAIL CREATURE WHO CAN'T EVEN FIGHT BACK! GO ON STRIKE ME YOUR WRETCHED CREATURE. DO IT!"
"Easy now big guy." Called out another guard.
"No.... My friends... BURN THIS CITY TO ASH. Sir Carne, what say you?"
Fog dismounted the wagon helped Mortimer to his feet. However, before he could speak, one of the many slaves broke away from their master, and hopped up onto the fountain just beyond the gate.
"PLEASE LISTEN TO THE METAL MAN! SAVE US MISTER! PLEASE!"
Guards rushed towards the slave, her raccoon eyes looked pierced Fog's very soul. He clenched his fist and pointed to the slave. In a flash of red, several guards were dead and the raccoon girl now had the protection of Polar Carnage Atrocity.
"My former master, my FRIEND... Believed that being the hero and saving everyone was the correct path... Now I see that you all can't be saved. ELDER PRIME, ATROCITY.... DISMANTLE THIS CITY, LEAVE NOTHING BUT RUBBLE AND ASH.
The Guards to back to Elder Prime who promptly ripped several of their friends. "I thought you'd never ask." Elder Prime slapped several of the Guards and Slave Owners into blood mists. Atrocity ripped the throats out of anyone who dared stand in his way as the two ravaged the city. Fog turned to Mortimer who was shaking. "You may join us by my side, or join those fighting, Mortimer. Like I told Stagnate, just before I killed him.... The Age of Heroes and Gods.... IS OVER." Fog took of his ring and marched into the city. He grabbed a Guard and drained his life essence. He looked back to Mortimer as the city became engulfed in flames.
"Will you join me?" Asked Fog, extending his skeletal hand to the old man, who was trembling in fear.