Blood Is Thicker [prior to the Indian Wars] (tag: Enyo)
It had been a lovely town, he reflected as he watched the smoke roll up from one of the buildings on the eastern side. Dionysus was standing on the hillside just to the south, upwind of the smoke, watching with great pride as his maenads began making their way through the town. Whoever had started that first fire was brilliant, and would be rewarded. He'd just thought to teach the people here not to disrespect a god, a lesson best learned well before they ran into someone less pleasant than he was, but the fire changed that plan. Now, his mind turned toward razing the entire area. Then the forest could take over and it could be as new.
“Burn it!” he screamed, knowing his followers would hear him, wherever they were. “Burn it all!”
Yes, he would get rid of all of the man-made construction in the little valley, turn it all black. And when the first green of new growth popped through, it would be beautiful. He would help it grow. He'd make the vines overtake the foundations that would not be completely obliterated by the fire. Wood burned, stone did not. There would be so many vines, and they would be grape vines. It was only justified, given that this all came about because of their refusal to grow them.
Why would they do that? Why would they refuse the gift he was offering with such a generous spirit? Because they'd heard stories of drunkenness? That had been blown out of proportion and exaggerated, and he knew that some had claimed he'd sent them mad with his drink. That was untrue! Dionysus gritted his teeth, his face twisting in a grimace. He could send them mad, without ever having touched a drop of wine.
Yes, that would be justice as well. By the time the day was through, Dionysus would have several new followers from the town itself. Those that were touched with the madness but could retain enough of themselves to recognize the benefits Dionysus could provide. Those that were irrevocably insane rarely lasted past the first week, though they were welcome for the time they traveled with his thiasos. With that in mind, the wine god let his influence settle over the town like a lumpy blanket, thicker in some areas, almost non-existent in others.
His action took effect immediately, as evidenced by the new screams and extra activity in the town. Now this would be much more interesting. Dionysus grinned and strode down off the hill, eager to walk through the town as it was demolished for it's insolence. There would be fire, and there would be blood.