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Chuck used to be well known and well loved. He was technically a chained god, but really he's just a character loved by so many that he truly came to life. Chained gods are made by faith, after all.
He was a clown, but not a fully traditional one. He wore the same outfit, but his personality wasn't as goofy. People always said he acted like a lovable uncle, which he took as a compliment.
As a god, he did still have power. He chose to possess those dressing up as him, making their performance truly accurate. All he wanted to do was provide entertainment, he loved the joy of a crowd he could interact with.
Despite the amount of power he held from the faith, he still stuck with just possession. No forcing the audience to laugh, it was all natural. Chuck just stockpiled all that extra energy.
But now… it's been so long since anyone has dressed up as him. He has a physical form, but now its chain has grown ever tighter, trapping his physical body in this abandoned circus.
It isn't a physical chain obviously, more of a spiritual one. He can't leave this place, he just gets a sharp pain in the core of his soul if he tries. He's stuck alone.
He hates this feeling. Chuck had the top, he was loved by billions, but just because time passed he has to lose it? He rejects that idea. Waiting is the only solution, eventually he'll gain even a small crowd again.
Most chained gods probably have shrines and worship, but he only has this tent. The only thing keeping his godhood is his stockpile of energy, but even that will run out eventually. He'll die without more faith.
His clothes become discolored by time, even getting ripped from the rusted metal in the circus when he explores. The people will still love him though, right? He just needs the public eye on him again.
…
Zoe stands outside this abandoned park. Her friends had all gone to that abandoned lab without her, so she's going to this place without them. That way they're even.
She walks in, looking around. This place is old enough that all the fabric has become desaturated and that most of the structures have collapsed. She has to climb over a lot of rubble, piles of it fill the paths.
"At least I don't have to search collapsed things." This circus is the size of an amusement park, that would've taken ages to do. It wouldn't have been fun at that point.
The other three had found a cool monster where they went, she wants to find something cool here. They gave her a device they made, apparently it can detect high energy, which that Titan guy was full of. Doesn't hurt to bring it.
In the distance Zoe can see one structure that's still standing. It's a large circus tent, desaturated red and yellow stripes running down it. The tent is still torn in parts, but its frame is still intact.
She approaches it. The outside looks as abandoned as everything else, but the device she brought is dimly glowing yellow. "That's weird." She points it away and it stops, but pointing it back at it makes it glow again. "Well now I have to go in there, don't I?" Zoe sighs before stepping forward, walking through the opening into the tent.
The inside is dark, only lit by sunlight shining through the rips and tears in the fabric. The place isn't as dusty as she expected, being pretty tidy. Almost like someone lives here. She heads to the stage in the center.
The stage is layered, going up and getting smaller layer by layer until it gets to the top. A clown steps out of the shadows on the top, startling her. He looked normal at a glance, but something's off about this clown.
Desaturated and torn clothing, flaky face paint, and sharp teeth making him look monstrous. His hair is a matted black mess as well. The device glows a bit brighter, the light turning orange. "Who the hell are you?!"
The clown looks down at her, grinning wildly. "A person! Oh how wonderful, I haven't seen someone in so long. I'm Chuck the clown, at your service!" His voice is slightly distorted, sounding strained.
She steps back. "Why are you here?" That makes him frown. "Oh, I'm trapped here. Physically can't leave, like a mime in an invisible box! But if you can get people to come here, I can have a crowd again! Would you do that for a clown like me?"
Zoe takes another few steps away. "I don't know, you might be trapped here for a reason." Chuck growls out of annoyance. "My glory was stolen from me by time! It's getting so very frustrating!" He looks at her stepping back. "You're trying to leave? No, no, no… you can't, not yet. Let's play a game."
He crouches down, staring at her. The device in her head starts glowing a bright red, beeping. She watches the clown grow and change as she keeps stepping back, unable to look away. His nails become sharp claws, his lips peel back to show his misshapen teeth and gums, and his eyes go black.
Chuck leaps down, creating a cloud of dust at his feet as he towers over her. His voice goes from slightly distorted to horribly distorted. "Let's play Tag!" She turns around and starts sprinting away, hearing loud footsteps crashing behind her.
Laughter echoes out. "I'VE STILL GOT TALENT, DON'T YOU SEE?! The people will still love me!" Zoe feels her heart pounding as she climbs over some rubble, accidentally cutting her arm on something in it. No time to be worried. "He can't leave, I just need to get out… this isn't a fair fight."
"ISN'T THIS GREAT?! We're running, jumping, having so much fun! Shouldn't everyone experience this?!" She slams her body through a locked door. "This gives me some advantage, I doubt he could fit in here."
A fist gets slammed into the wall, leaving a dent. "Looks like hiding isn't an option, shit!" She crawls under the rubble that fills the room, eventually getting to the other door just as she hears the wall cave in. Zoe takes the chance to go out, trying to regain her breath while she can.
The exit is a decent distance away, so after she's recovered she bolts towards it. The footsteps catch up, stomping behind her. "Why try to leave?! Go another way, then we can play longer!"
She speeds up, ignoring the stress on her legs. "I'm not trying to play with you, you're terrifying!" Chuck roars with rage. "Shut up! You WILL play my game, you have no choice!"
A whole snack stand gets thrown above her, crashing into the exit to block it. "Damnit!" Zoe quickly turns to the left, following the path near the perimeter wall. She can't go on much longer, her legs aren't strong enough. This'll teach her not to miss leg day, if she survives.
"GET BACK HERE! Is my convincing not effective enough?! I have balloon animals, games, everything you could ask for! In return all I want is faith!" She just leans forward, trying to go faster. She can see another exit, it's just a matter of getting to it.
Zoe gets closer and closer, gasping for air. She can hear Chuck pick something up. "I won't let you leave yet, I need to live my legacy again, stay with me longer!"
She dives forward, landing in the grass as a loud crash echoes out behind her. She flips around and sits up, seeing a pile of rubble blocking the entrance. "I AM A GOD OF LAUGHTER AND JOY, I DESERVE MY AUDIENCE AGAIN!" She watches the clown slam his fists into the air above the perimeter like it's a wall.
Wait… "A God?" She pulls out her phone, calling Dave. "Hey Dave, you're the one who has the obscure knowledge, right? Any idea on how to deal with a practically rabid God?"
There's a pause before Dave responds with a deep sigh. "I'll have you explain once you get back, but yes I do know that. You need what's called chain runes. They can be made easily, I'll send the list of them all. Get home safely."
"Bye Dave, and thanks." She hangs up, looking at her messages. She gets sent the list quickly, looking at it. Some kill deities, others just incapacitate them. "As much as he seems harmless personality wise, I don't think he realizes how dangerous he is. I should seal him, maybe we could help him."
Zoe tears off part of her shirt, using a pen to write the rune on the fabric. She has to go over it a few times before it starts glowing blue. The rune can't be covered by her hand or else it won't work.
She holds it, climbing up the rubble outside to look over the perimeter at the weeping clown. She definitely doesn't want to kill him now, he looks devastated, tears running down his face as he lays on the ground. "Hey, Chuck." He roars, jumping up and slamming against the air.
"I'm not trying to hurt you. Do you want out of this circus?" He nods slowly. "This place is lonely, I… I just want my glory again." She holds out the rune. "Touch this and I'll help you." He reluctantly taps it with his claw, getting sucked up in it.
It changes from a piece of fabric to a red clown nose with the rune. She smiles at it. "I hope we can help you." She squeezes it and it honks once. Zoe chuckles before walking home.