A loud boom awoke the obese orc from his food induced slumber. He looked around to see if anyone was in his room. However, it was rather difficult to see past his round ball of pudge. He tried to sit up, but he really did not want to move. He could still feel that his dinner hadn't digested yet and if moved too much, he’d make himself sick. Instead, he tried for a different approach.

“Uh… hello?” Gublox called out. No answer. “Anyone there?” Still no answer. He really, REALLY did not want to move from his bed. He hoped that it was just some kind of animal that snuck. He shrugged and went back under his ridiculously small covers and prepared for sleep to take hold of him yet again. Only for the loud boom to come yet again! Now Gublox was wide awake. That was definitely not the sound of an animal. That sounded like an explosion. Shrugging to himself, he shuffled sluggishly out of bed and put on his forearm armor and something decent, namely his loincloth and undergarments. He sauntered through the rocky caverns of his home and peered into his father's room… only to find that he wasn't there. Strange. He's usually in bed by now. Did the feast really go on for that long. The repetition of the loud boom followed by a deafening crash said otherwise. Gublox made a mad dash to the exit of his cave home, only to find it suddenly illuminating. He paused to see that has cave had mystic crystals budding out and they seemed to be glowing. Scratch that, they were glowing! So much so that it looked like daybreak inside the caverns of his home. Having not gotten used to bright light yet, Gublox made his way out the cavern and slowly took stock of his village. His heart dropped upon seeing it slowly being torn asunder by a freak storm! Pillars waved back and forth, loose articles of clothes and tools were flying about, and even rocks were no match for the ever-increasing winds.

“A hurricane?” Gublox asked to himself. How? There weren't any signs of one all day. His tribe lived near the ocean for ages. Surely there would have been some kind of a sign. Wait… his tribe! Where were they?! Hopefully near higher ground. He looked to the ocean and saw that the waves were getting massive. Very soon, they would crash into the village. He shook his head as he tried to stifle that thought. He needed to find his father. He’d know what to do! At least, that's what he told himself.

The rain beat down on his rotund body as he raced as fast as he could to the cliffs. It was the highest point of the village. Surely he’d have to he there! As he got closer and closer and the storm got rougher and rougher, he noticed the familiar glow from his caverns. Mystic crystals again? How did he live his entire life in the village and not know that his home was a gold mine of mystic crystals? He then stopped to notice that the light source was different from the crystals in the cavern. It looked more like the light was bouncing off the surrounding trees and rocks rather than coming from them. But that's impossible, he thought. Unless the light source was directly below him. He looked down and, to his shock, he saw that the normally black tattoos on his body were glowing like a luminescent rainbow!

“What the hell?!” Gublox yelped incredulously, unsure of what to make of this development. His tattoos never glowed before. Was the ink made of mystic crystal or something? He wiped at it with the water drenching his body, but it refused to come off. Was the glow coming straight from his body? He had so many questions and no one to answer them! Wait a minute… yes he did! His father, the chieftain! He then remembered that he had to find him and the rest of the villagers. He ignored the strange glow on his body for now and continued his trek towards the cliffs.

After a few moments, he managed to make his way to the highest cliff near the village. He stopped briefly to catch his breath, mentally cursing himself at how out of shape he was despite his hunter’s prowess. He looked up to see not just his father, but a majority of his village were sitting near the edge of the cliff. Puzzled beyond belief, he rushed over and called out to them.

“Father!” Gublox cried, waving his hands to get his attention. The chieftain and the other orcs turned to greet their unwitting sacrifice. “Father, everyone, what are you all doing here?! We have to get to shelter!”

“Don't worry for us, young man,” an elder orc woman reassured, leading him by his shoulder to what appeared to be an inscription on the barren ground. Gublox turned about to examine his surroundings, wondering what exactly was happening.

“My son,” the chieftain said, walking towards the rotund orc. “I've been waiting for you.”

“What the hell do ya mean?!” Gublox asked, still demanding an explanation regarding their strange behaviour. Just then, Gublox found that he couldn't breathe. His breath quickly left his body, his meaty legs buckled under their weight, and his overhanging stomach suddenly felt like a bag of rocks as he found himself too heavy to keep himself upright. “Da…” Gublox tried in vain to call for help, but they went silent as he found himself at the mercy of his own weight. It was only then that he realized that the inscription on the ground was glowing along with his tattoos! He slowly lifted his head to meet his father's gaze, only to find a look of sorrow and regret on his face.

“Sorry,” he began, stroking his son's chubby cheeks. “I wish I had time to explain it to you. But I had a good reason not to tell you. Don't worry, I hear that the goddess is merciful.” Gublox's eyes widened in shock. What was he talking about? Explain what? Goddess of what? None of this made sense! He tried to scream again, but he was too winded to even speak. He watched helplessly as his father left him to his fate. “We'll take care of things here. Now be a good boy, Gublox of the Ttubbutt Clan…”

“Father… stop! Come back…” Gublox cried out to his chieftain and father with the last ounce of breath he had before nearly collapsing to the ground. The roar of thunder and the waves kept him conscious as he looked to the cliff and saw the skies clearing to reveal a brilliant blue moon. Then everything stopped. The wind, the thunder, the waves, everything. Gublox sat there in awe. Did a miracle occur? He then heard the chants of his clan from behind and his father utter some strange words.

“Goddess of the Ocean! We offer unto you this proud member of our clan! Take it, and be at peace!” As soon as Gublox heard that, his heart dropped like a brick. Could it be true? His father, sacrificing his own son? Then as if to confirm his suspicions, a giant wall of glowing blue water arose from the sea and stood silent in front of the clan. A set of eyes gleamed from the waves, as if to stare down at the obese orc. Gublox tried to move, but his body was pinned down by his own weight. Or rather, his weight multiplied by two, maybe more. He tried his damnest to get his bearings, his legs screaming in agony and his muscle working harder than they ever had in their lives. Slowly but surely, he found himself upright if a little hunched over due to exhaustion. He stared straight into the eyes of the water beast, not daring to look back. The eyes in the waves narrowed, earning a cocked eyebrow from Gublox.

“Such courage…” said a disembodied voice, causing everyone to wonder about in near panic. Gublox, funny enough, was the first to figure out that it was from the watery monstrosity before him. Then, after a long silence, it spoke again. “It is needed elsewhere…”

“Else… where…?” Gublox gasped, still out of breath. Before he could ask, the wave split in two and surrounded the rotund orc. Gublox tried to run, but the moment he moved he lost balance, damning him to the torrent of water that soon encased him and dragged him down into the watery deep below. Gublox could barely turn around to see his father and clanmates, who all looked away in sadness.

As Gublox struggled amidst the waters, he found himself surrounded by another current of water. This one, a pure white. It almost resembled a snake as it slithered around him. It then towered above him and transformed into a dragon! Gublox nearly screamed in fear, quickly remembering that he was under water. If he opened his mouth, he would drown. As he struggled against the waves trying to determine his next move, he felt a burning sensation from his belly. He looked down to see that his tattoos were still glowing! He tried to figure out some meaning behind all this until he heard that voice again.

“The weapon in your heart…” it spoke in urgency. “Give it shape, and use it!” Gublox sat there dumbfounded for a moment, only to then realize what the voice was saying. Concentrating with all his might, he quickly pictured an axe. His axe. The axe his father gave him. And as soon as he did, it materialized in his hands. He stared at his axe in a mixture of shock and awe, but he didn't have time to worry about the details now. He quickly turned his focus back on the beast and charged towards it. As it attempted to bite down on the obese orc, Gublox leapt high, evading it's fangs with such dexterity that it out make the most athletic of orcs blush. He landed squarely on it's back and run up to the head, readying his axe for a killing blow. With one final jump and a mighty battle cry, Gublox drove his axe into the beast's neck. However, rather than blood, water sprayed from the wound as it writhed in agony. Gublox would have shouted in victory, only to find himself caught in a vortex caused by the rapid release of water and beast's dying body degrading into pure energy. Then suddenly, Gublox found his body being pulled downward once again. The light of the decaying beast slowly made it's way to the massive tattoo on Gublox's belly, merging with it and causing the orc no small amount of pain. As light faded from his sight, with the only light source coming from his body, Gublox found himself screaming. This had to be one hell of a nightmare. It was happening way too fast! His clan offering him as a sacrifice? Him fighting a water beast and then being dragged into the depths of the ocean? This was the perfect time for him to wake up. He’d be in his room, safe and sound, drenched in sweat and his body shivering. He would then remark that this would be the last time he’d stuff himself silly before bed and then greet his clan and his father before having a big, hearty breakfast.

But this wasn't a dream. This was reality. And he was drowning in the depths of it…