"So it was in the time of myths, that a great plague descended upon the Palace of Man. The winds howled a terrible cry and the titans raged with bolts of thunder and fire - and sent their herald, a titanic tree that could walk - to pass judgement upon innocent men. So it was that the Gods quailed, and shook, and could not stand against the great Ent, for mighty was its power.

The land called for a hero, but none could be found. The people prayed for a guardian, but none answered. The people begged and burnt and wailed, for seven days and seven nights, until a lone beast stood before the mighty Ent.

"I do not wrath against you, beast, leave my path."

The great beast sat, half wild and half tame. Brown of chest, grey of snout, and onyx of ears.

"I do not have battle with your kind. Move."

The beast stayed still, waiting, his ears high and tail stiff behind him.

"Last I will speak - Move from my path, or suffer my wrath."

And only upon the threat did the great beast stand - and launch himself forward with the might of the gods own hammer. He leapt upon the Ent, though sorely outmatched, and battled with it - tugging at branch and taking mighty blows against his frame.
The beast twisted and snapped, cracking branches as the Ent swung, breaking ribs. The two fought in a widening circle of battle, which flattened the great forest and the hundred thousand allies of the Ent, who waited for opening. The claws of the beast sent up terrible rents in the earth, which built the great mountain range of Ourgedyi, and the blood spilled to become a great river mixed with the Sap of the Ent. 

The two battled, branches snapping and claws breaking, teeth gritting and splinters digging deep, but they wrestled and fought, and battled hard upon the face of the earth - that the Titans quailed and shrank back, their storms ending as the Gods began to Rally against the tyrants of eternity.

Still the beast struck and fought - guarding the den of his companions - and battled with vigor that the sun began to shine bright, to burn the tree and his leaf. It was a great battle, until all went silence with howl and a great snapping of bark and wood.

It took many days for the beast to drag the mighty Ent to the home of his companions, who had been cursed to not leave their home during the Titans storm. They wept upon sight of their great companion broken, but cheered his name as the beast brought the broken Ent to the house of Man, and laid it out in offering of his might. And with a breath, satisified, the beast lay his head upon his paws, closed his eyes, and gave a last breath.
But it was that the heavens had no Heroes inside of it for the Beast and his kin - the companions who risked everything for their bretheren and fought with valor that made heroes envious. So it was, that the Gods took the final breath of the great beast, and elevated him to the heavens - to ignite the heavens with a new star and make it a beacon to all heroes who were alone, and all beasts might sing to their young of.

So is the story of Tash - the guardian of heaven, the companion of Man, slayer of the Ent and champion of Dogs. So is the legend of why a Dog always brings a stick as but a toy, and Man shall always hae the compaion at his side.

Drink now to Tash, God of Beasts, Hero of Heaven, Companion of Man, and Champion of Eternal Loyalty. Remember him as your beast lays his head near your babe - and know as long as he lives, the Titans themselves will fear to harm your hearth.

Protests again. I sit, on the bus, staring out into the sea of faces - and listen to the anti war chants. I think there are a few prayers from the daughters of peace as well, calling upon the goddess to lend strength to the protest. I don't care. I light my pipe weed, and take a long drag to steady my nerves. Fucking hippies.

I look at my hand, then down to what is left of my right arm a stump with a yaun-ti graft on it, special gift of the surgeons of Saigon. A snakes limb, it isn't a hand, and can't hold a rifle, and can barely grab my dick when I need to let off some stress. I grunt, coughing. The pipe-weed is going to give me cancer. That's what the diviner said, anyway. Fuck 'em, he took an MM to the forehead and painted my gun red with his brain matter. 

Lucky bastard.

"END THE WAR! END THE WAR! END THE WAR!"

I want them to shut up. I glance out, the sea of grey and white moving against the armored, rune-marked chasis of the bus, just enough strength in the push to touch, but not enough to over-ride the antipathy marked into mithril.

Six warforged stand to form an honor guard for we wounded vets. I glance at 'Tet, a little bronx kobold who lost an eye and had part of his jaw rebuilt. He's uglier now, but has no shame. I bump fists with him and pat his back. I've got him, little fuck helped me out there.

Warforged. Feh. Protests about the 'mechs as well, I presumed. They were created, who cared what the 'bots thought and wanted? They didn't even have souls. But I respected the uniform it wore - and looked at the six that formed an honor guard - each pulling out the chamber-wand and preparing to deal with threats as required. Non-Lethal magic only. I wasn't a wizard I just used the tools given to me. I'd have dropped a few fireballs on the crowd.

I slithered forward, my snake tail dragging. I drew my hand down for my mithril knife, but remembered it was left on base. We were all disarmed before being released. I felt my fangs extend. I wanted to bite them.

"Liam?" 'Tet said. His small voice a squeak, but strong. He was stronger than I wanted to admit.

"Yes?" I hissed, gazing down at him. He never feared me, the grunt he was could stand up to a Lamia Ranger and not blink. 

"Relax. I've got your back."

I looked up. The doors opened, and the ward lowered. I would have to move to the life of a civilian now. Wounded, missing an arm with a useless snake tail, and hated for being a soldier when my country called.

Fucking hippies.

"I know." I said.

"Don't have to be scared. Come on, let's get a room, before we figure out what to do, alright?"

I nodded. Little fuck was right. I faced the crowd, and slithered out...