Saga was never religious. But they never were someone who was bothered by others beliefs. They had known people from pretty much every denomination of every mayor religion at some point, and more then a few self-styled Wiccans, Pagans and other folk. They never believed in a single god. They had often dreamed of the old gods, always been absorbed in their tales of daring adventure and petty squabbles. And here they stood, staring at a literal Goddess. A Goddess of Death at that.

“You have some for me.” The goddess spoke. Her voice was cold, but not emotionless or cruel. It was cold like her domain was. It was the coldness that came with knowledge of a inevitable, certain fate. All things died eventually. As such the voice of death must never waver. It must never invite doubt. It was a cold voice indeed.

“I do.” Saga answered and their voice had heat to spare. They had so many questions. And they had kept a lid on it becouse this world had been wonderous and terrifying and to much for one to take in while thinking about your own death. So they had kept a lid on it. That lid came off now, steam rising and fire churning into a fury.

“You want to know why you had to die.” That same cold voice said. It wasn't apologetic, but neither was dismissive. It just stated the facts.

“Yes.” The word came almost as a hiss. A growling noise trough gritted teeth. Sasha looked to Saga with concern, but the latter was staring holes into the Goddess. The goddess for her part seemed utterly unbothered. She was death, people had cursed and challened and hated her for what she was and what she brought since the first living thing first died.

“A mistake. A misstep and a grave one at that. ” She said and it was like throwing dynamite into a building on fire. Saga erupted.

“Who made a mistake? I gods damned died. Died! Was it you! Did you set that thing on me?!” They burst with anger, their entire body shook as they actually walked up to the goddess and got into her face. Or tried to, the Goddess's form was well over 7 feet tall. The act of clear angry defiance did not bother Death in the slightest. The notion she had sent a undead however, that was blasphemy. She raised a hand and Saga felt all the anger and most of their strength drain out of them.

"I understand your grief. I do not hold your anger against you. But know that to even imply I would ever allow such abominable things to defile my sacred mission is to invite Death herself at your doorstep." The voice held a different coldness to it now. The chill of a deep, damp grave.

{You have been afflicted with Shackles of Mortality. This is a Divine Ability. All your abilities have been locked. All your traits are neutralized.}

Saga blinked and staggered only for Sasha to catch them. However, as soon as they had calmed down, The affliction passed. Saga felt their strength return to them.

"I apologize. But you say that you had nothing to do with it?" Saga asked, more then a little terrified of this divine being.

“I did not. However, I was to late in discovering and dealing with it. For that I am sorry, Saga Ljungborg. Your death was not meant to be, and your life was stolen from you.” The Goddess voice became soft, almost apologetic. It was incredibly jarring for the two mortals, to hear a God sound so human, if only for a split moment.

“But, you're a god of death. You held your hand to save Sasha. I am sure you’ve done it before that to. Why not me?” Saga remembered how Sasha had been saved and given the same boon as Saga. There had to be something else that could have been done.

“In my world, I can sometimes stay my hand. In my realm, this realm, my Dominion over death is near absolute. But even so, there are rules we follow. Besides. your realm is not a realm of magic or gods. I can only save a soul there by bringing it somewhere so it can be reincarnated. And only then with some help from my sisters.” She said and Saga felt the last of their ire and rebellious despair drain away. This Goddess was bound to her task, and she took it seriously. She spoke the plain truth, as hard as it was to swallow.

“Your sisters?” Saga inquired. They had a inkling as to who had been invovled in their strange resurection.

“Growth and Life. They gave you the form you have now. Molded flesh to fit the soul.” Death explained. “I simply kept your worlds Death from claiming you while tying it to my own domain and world.”

“My death. Another god. But you said there were no gods. And that you didn’t have power.” Saga was right back to being confused and there was more questions then answers as soon as the Goddess answered anything.

“You have no gods of death in your world. In your world, you just have death. A cosmic constant, no personality, no mercy. It just is. I had to spend what little power I was allowed to keep it from claiming you.” The goddess said and pointed a finger into their chest. The finger slipped trough clothes and skin and all, as it felt as as if their soul had been just been poked.

“Why then? If it was a mistake, then why save me?.”

“As I said. You were not meant to die.” Deaths voice did not waver in the slightest.

“You took pity on me.” Saga frowned, looking disgusted with themselves for.

“If that is how you choose to view it. I am Death. I do not stay my hand out of pity for any living thing as my domain is that of a gentle embrace and rest. Why would I keep you alive out of pity?” The lady of death spoke as Saga realized the priestess channeling had started to go even paler. But at the same time they were so frustrated that they decided they had to press on.

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything and that's what I hate about this.” Saga exclaimed as those feelings of frustration began to set bakc in.

“Lady Moridia. Lady Death. If may ask a question?” Sasha stepped up next to Saga, putting a hand on their shoulder and gave them a warm smile.

“You may, Sasha Vladistok”

“You have given us both a boon. That indicates to me, that there are plans for us.”

“I have no designs for either of you. I will however make you both an offer.”

“A offer?" Sasha tilted her head. She wasn't sure she was ready to make a pact with a god.

“The undead are a threat to this world, more so then many if any other entity. Even now, half a continent festers and rots from it. And in the deepest reaches of the North, within the darkest of your woods, it is also growing and festering like a boil.”

“And your boon allows us the means to better fight the undead.” Sasha was starting to realize where this was headed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Indeed. My boon was given to you as are all those that I have saved. My offer this. Talk to my priestess, once she recovers from channeling my presence. Have her get my faithful to train you both. And after that, I hope you help them rid the north of this pestilence in my name.”

“I think I’m alright with that.” Saga said suddenly, having remained silent since Sasha first spoke up. “I don't much care for killing people. But undead things? Yeah. That is something I can do.”

“I agree with Saga. If we can help root out the undead, then I will gladly do so.”

“I am pleased that you see it as such." The goddess spoke before freezing in place for a second. When they came back, they smiled. "I must leave for my Domain demands my presence lest the dead become restless in my absence. I see potential in you both. Go with my blessing”

With that, the smoky, shining image of the goddess exploded in silvery light and black smoke that suddenly began to pour back into the elven High Priestess who convulsed and shook for a few seconds before suddenly, it was all gone. The two warriors stood, looking nervously towards the High Priestess who didn’t seem to breath.

“Is. Is she dead” Saga said, slowly approaching. Suddenly the woman's eyes snapped open and she coughed. She hacked and coughed for a few seconds before spitting out something black and phlegm-like. IT was so much of it that it was upsetting to Saga who backed away immediately.

“I think I accidently swallowed incense again.” Th high priestess groaned, mostly to herself. Sasha and Saga shared a confused look.

“Are you alright.” Saga asked, reaching out a hand for the lady. But she didn't even so much as look at it, she kept going trough some notes that had spilled out of the binder earlier.

“Yes. No. Well yes, technically I am.” She said as she audibly cracked her neck and back.

“Ok.” Saga was right back to being confused.

“But I also just swallowed incense. I might be poisoned.” The distracted young lady said, a little annoyed at Saga not having left yet.

“I see. If this is rude I apologize. But you are not exactly what I expected.”

“No? I’d like to see you stand on decorum after channeling a divine being. And after swallowing incense.” The High Priestess continued to cough and hack up more of the stuff.

“Your.. Goddess”

“Our goddess." She corrected them. "You are kind of marked. And you did just agree to hunt in her name.”

“Right. Our Goddess. She said you would help us?” The young berserker asked.

The high priestess got up to her feet, wobbling on their feet for as second before wiping the back of their hand against the black discoloration of her lips. “Ugh. I hate that. And yes. I have been given the task to help you both. But in particular you, Saga.”

“Me?”

“You have the affinity for death. That is something we have in common.” She said as she moved over to a small pot full of water. Saga was still a bit taken aback that she spoke in such a casual, relaxed manner. Especially after just having channeled the Goddess of Death. As she turned back to the two, she affixed a small smile as she led two out of champer back into the hall. The Priest from before was back and he bowed deeply to all three.

“My lady Agneta. I hope the communion was not to exhausting.”

“It was awful. I swallowed some of the incense during the ritual and now my mouth tate of ashe and rose petals.” The highpriestes said and made a face. The priest frowned at this revelation.

“Again?” He said, a bit of disbelief in his tone. “You realize you are supposed to blow on it, or did you inhale to close to it again.”

“I know I am supposed to blow away from me. Amin, you do well to realize I am your Head Priestess.”

“Yes Head Priestess.”

“Good. Now, these two have accepted to aid us and the Lady Death in the cleansing of the undead. As you can no doubt tell, they both possess the ladys boon. Inform the others, and make sure to inform those of our brethren outside of the Jarls border here in the north as well."

“Right away Lady Agneta.” The man bowed deeply again and scurried off at pace. Agneta crossed her arms as she looked to her two new allies.

“I have a few things to set up and a few people I need to instruct before I can start preparing you two for your task. I shall send a messenger when everything is in place.”

“Alright. We have somewhere to be, so we’ll wait for oyur word then.” Saga said, and almost went in for a handshake, but when the High Priestess barely moved, they changed their mind and bowed akwardly instead. Sasha did the same, but with a lot more finesse and then the two of them left. As they came out back into the massive main atrium of the building, Vetra stood waiting for them. She had switched into a marvelous and stunning dress all in green. It was not as heavy as the one she been wearing before, and much more richly embroidered in gold and reds. A pattern of thorns ran up both sides of it to the arms, which was heavily embroidered with similar vines. Her hair was pulled up and tied with what looked to be actual thorny vinebush vines. She gave them both a warm smile.

“How was it.” She asked, looking from one to another.

“Strange. She said my death was pretty much the resul of some great beings fuck up, pardon my language. But both me and Sasha seem to have her boon and she would like to help us use it, so that we may help her people in their hunting of the undead.”

“I am not surprised. Many of her armed, martially inclined followers ride out to places where the undead are particularly bad in order to root them out. Gothwald, the stalker that came along with us, is a very devoted follower of Lady Death.”

“I remember you said something about him coming along mostly to look into the undead in the region. Is that what he is doing now. Hunting undead things by himself.”

“I wager so. Stalkers roam vast distances, keeping dangerous things from reaching civilization. Those that venerate the lady above all else tend to focus on the undead.”

“That makes sense I suppose.

“We can talk about all of that later however, Olaf and his Father wishes to hold us all a small feast.”