The whistling of a song bird carries over the treetops. Drops of water from a light morning rain dances off the leaves and scatters amongst the dew covered blades of grass. My eyes are coaxed open by a cool breeze, and while I often like to sleep outside when the opportunity arises, this isn't like last Saturday. The feeling is totally different from back home. A pain makes itself known across the front of my head and it becomes all too clear what happened.
Memories pulsed with the headache, flashes of reminiscence in between jolts of pain. . Images of skyscrapers and cars. People in all types of clothes follow their mindless routines, crossing roads when the light is green, paying unreasonable prices for coffee. The mind-numbing repetitiveness of checking the stock market. The unrelenting quest to be well informed of the daily changes of global events. Wars and loss, trying to escape the bad things in the world with the help of a little chemical. What felt like years of experience, feelings and knowledge is shot into my head. Sweat drips down my brow, splashing against my hand as I look up at a small greyish squirrel. At first it was a normal sighting but upon another look it had two tails.
"Shit… I totally died." Getting up and stretching with a groan, my surroundings made any other conclusion less than likely. This is not Earth, or at least anywhere I know in it. Unfamiliar songs come from strangely colored birds. As the wind blew across the glade in front of me, flecks of purple were visible on the flowing ombré emerald grass. Looking down at the grass that touched me were purple tips on the emerald blades.
I shift slightly to get a bit more stable on wobbly legs as two new objects catch my eye. A backpack and a spear lay propped up against an oak tree next to me, with a quick investigation of the former’s contents revealing some welcome necessities. We have what seems like an old style water skin, the weight making me feel it should be good for a day or two. The food inside consisted of two dense loafs of hardtack and around ten pieces of jerky, with a gamey smell reminding me of venison. There was also a knife with a grayish bone styled handle, the blade looks roughly like 5 inches, razor sharp and well kept. Lastly, a bag with coins that I don't recognize, 2 silver coins and roughly 30 bronze coins all seem brand new yet the style is definitely ancient. It really does have some good weight.
Taking the backpack over my shoulders and grabbing up the spear, which was uncharacteristically light for its size. The length from the bottom of the ash wood staff to the tip of the blade was roughly a head or so taller than myself and the weight of it seemed to have quite some heft. The spearhead glistened in the sunlight, some sort of dull bronze. It feels fairly sturdy in my hands, inspiring some confidence should some rogue hog or bandit come at me. Speaking of keeping me safe, some kind of leather or hide armor was fastened on my torso.. Taking quick stock of the rest of my body, I noted the well-fitting leather greaves and vambraces. Under the armor I have on a wool tunic that felt somewhat itchy on my skin. It's of a nice white color but seems to have mud staining parts of it. The sandals on my feet are in a good shape as well, with the straps and tacks looking like they won’t break any time soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sticks crunch under my soles and the sun beats heavily down on my neck. With a sigh, I decided to take a moment to regain much needed stamina from walking through thicket and brush. I honestly couldn’t tell how much time has elapsed since I awoke in these woods. Walking in a randomly picked direction by throwing a small stick in the air, I came across the tell-tale signs of a road, horse shoe prints indenting the worn dirt path. The hope for a proper patted road has all but crumbled upon arriving here. Yes this very much is a road, but it is just a common footpath like you'd find in a park or something. No real engineering going on here, just a machete and a shovel so it would seem.
I decided to snack on some of the jerky as I continued my walk down this lonely road through an overgrown forest. Within a few minutes however, I started to hear the pitter patters of a horse's gallop. It didn't seem like the rider was in a rush but it became clear there were several of them. Best just keep my mouth shut and eyes off of them. The last thing I want to do is piss off some knight or something.
Quickly deciding to hum a tune that came to mind, the Riders approached and in a show of kindness they slowed their trot to a respectful passing speed.
"How goes it traveler," a woman's voice sounded out from behind, it was a happy and light hearted tone. "It truly is a lovely day is it not Miss?" I replied, turning around to be greeted with the smiles of two kind looking folks. The woman that greeted me is on the left. The rippling muscles of the massive mount forced me to twist my neck further upward, gracing me with a vision of an awe-inspiring valkyrie upon the back of the sturdy white warhorse. Her hair is let down and flowing in the wind. She had tanned skin as well as a few freckles dusting her cheeks. Her shapely, yet toned figure only further impressed her beauty in my mind.. She was geared in similar armor but instead of leather it seemed to be bronze, while her horse had a lovely embroidered saddle. A sword and shield hung on its left, while more saddlebags lined the steed’s rear with camping supplies and other gear. The lady did not seem a day over 20, a soft face with lovely velvet black hair, she adjusted herself in the saddle, and gaze looking to her right led my attention to her partner.
Her traveling companion beside her was a man who looked twice her age, probably her father. The man’s imposing figure filled the saddle, his visage somewhat intimidating, though eased with the goofy smile under his finely kept silver beard with streaks of the same velvet black amongst it. Sunkissed skin, his face also had similar freckles. He was slightly more equipped than the lady, boasting a full iron chestplate and chainmail beneath matching his silvered hair. A regal helmet with golden inlays hung at his waist, and a sky blue cloak resting on his shoulders and back. Like Atlas, this man was in perfect shape. No matter how you look at it, war was his life’s trade. He looked like an old grizzled veteran.
Both looked at each other, seeming to be communicating something unsaid. They, just like myself, eyed me up and down, it didn't feel like there were any hostilities behind the action. Just want to be sure that I wouldn't be any type of threat to them. The moment seemed to have gone on for an eternity, suddenly the old man on his mount moved closer.
The old man nodded at me. "Indeed it is lad, would you mind if we joined you till the next village. Even though you seem like a young man who can handle himself I believe it would be safer with the three of us." As he finishes he hops down off of his Black steed, giving her a few pats, he leads her slightly behind him. The girl does the same moving behind the man.
I nodded with a smile, "Yeah, I think I'd like that. Anyways I would love to introduce myself, but I don't believe I remember my name," I laughed, while rubbing the back of my head. I know I'm not from this world, yet while I remember a few things, I feel like I don't know who I am. It's an… off putting feeling.
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The girl tilts her head, taking in my situation. Giving three quick nods, a smile flashed across her lips. Looking back at her companion looking for his approval to approach me. Receiving a nod from the veteran, she takes two elongated strides towards me coming to a jumping halt. Her hands on her hips.
"Well, Mister Footman, that is unfortunate, So I hope you don't mind me calling you as such," the girl said. "Not at all. Please feel free to call me what comes to your mind. Maybe that might help me find my own." The Veteran extended his hand, “Please, call me John and this is my beautiful daughter Alice. It's a pleasure, Lad."
Gripping his hand, "Likewise. If I may, could I bother you both with a few questions?" Patting my back John let out a hearty laugh, "Hah, I'm sure you have a few questions seeing as you don't even know your own name lad!"
Well, first things first, "Where abouts are we currently?"
Taking out a map from her saddle bag, Alice hands it to her father.
"Thank you dear. Here lad, look." John traces his finger down a penciled path that goes between what looks like a bunch of trees that should make up a forest. "This is a road that leads from an Imperial settlement called Westwell to a frontier village of Ash-Hedge,” his finger trailed to an area marked by pastures and cattle, with an area further east indicating a massive body of water that went beyond the map’s bounds. The road to the village also branched south, once again going to some unknown place beyond the folded edge. There was however a forest to the north of Ash-Hedge marked as the ‘Wisp Woods’, as well as a large Imperial Highway to the west that crossed the map vertically.
"So I, I can assume we are heading towards Ash-Hedge currently?" I asked, hoping that my sense of direction was accurate.
"That we are lad, most folks don't tend to head towards the frontier unless they have a reason,” he explained, “Do you remember yours, lad?”
"Not at all," I replied with a half-hearted chuckle. "I woke up in the woods a few hours ago with this pack and this spear, and here we are making merry."
"So, you really don't remember anything, do you Footman?" Alice says as she tilts her head.
"Nothing at all Ms. Alice."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Talking with John and Alice over the course of the next few hours of travel, I've learned quite a bit about this world. The quick and short of things are the following. This world has various names from its differing cultures but the area that we are in just calls it Earth. There are many different races as you would find in a dnd game. Everything from beasties like Dragonborn and Animal Folk to Elves and Dwarfs. Humans are the most common among them, seeming to have no real special talents in anything but being more of a jack-of-all-trades type of deal. Curiously, all of the races are blessed by a specific god. The Beast Folk are blessed by the God of physical skills, the Elves are blessed by the God of Longevity, the Dwarfs are blessed by the Goddess of Arts, and Humans are blessed by the Goddess of Luck. The pantheon of Gods are pretty in depth too, being akin to the Greek pantheon from my memory. Though, while the races have these initial blessings they truly don't give much of anything. Like Elves aren't really like the whole fantasy thing where they live for centuries, but on average they do live longer than the rest. It seems they live up to and around hundred and thirty or so, though the majority will die close to their nineties. Most people would pick a God to pray to and if they are pious enough they might get a blessing from that God. Here's another cool thing. Magic exists. It seems most people can use it too, but it's like a muscle that you'll need to train. It can also be dangerous if you over train it though.
The sun was beginning to fall behind the trees as we came upon a clearing. "Well boys, I think it's just about time we set up camp. Mr. Footman, could I bother you with finding us some firewood while me and father set up tents?" Alice said as she started to tie up her horse.
"Yeah no worries, leave it to me."
"Thank you lad, we'll set up a tent for you too."
Waving as I walk into the woods, picking up sticks as I go, I start to feel like I'm being watched. "Fuck… if something happens I'm about a 3 minute sprint back to the clearing" thinking to myself. The crack of sticks to my left grabs my attention. Dropping the wood I've picked up so far, and bringing my spear up to bare just in time to stop the pouce of a red, starving wolf. Feeling the blade of my spear pierce and rip apart the flesh of the monstrous beast, I jump back preparing myself for another dreadful attack. Whimpers cry out from the injured beast, sharp howls cry out from the abyss as others are alerted to me. It seems like there could be another five or six of them out there. Thrusting my spear again into the furry chest of the injured canine, I had thwarted the wolf. Just as I did, a burning pain has found its way into my back. Just then an inky wetness was felt, for I had been wounded badly . "Shit… fuck… shit" I recited, spinning around slashing at the second wolf that gashed my back but with luck, my spear had found its mark. Yelps and shrieks from the wolf, no longer being able to take more than a few steps, fell dead from the attack. My vision starts to fade as blood loss starts to take effect. The sound of the other beast seems to come from all directions, maybe they are waiting for an opening or some type of weakness to make their move. My vision narrows, letting out a cough I steel myself for the undeniable outcome of this fight. Preparing myself for the next attack, I lower myself into a defensive position.
"Footman! Where are you!?!" Alice's screams bring me back to reality.
"Here!" is all I seemed to have the strength to muster. Hearing Alice sprint through the woods it seems the additional forces were too much for this pack to handle. What was left of the wolves took off in the opposite direction to which Alice was coming from. Leaning on my spear, breathing heavily. This is definitely not my earth any more.
"Oh my God, Footman are you okay?" Alice grabs on to me holding me up.
"Wolves… not… okay… ha…", I labored as my breaths became more ragged. Limping with the help of Alice, we started back towards the camp.
"No joke, you're beat up pretty badly,” she groans gently picking me up, "You fought well, Footman. Let's get you back to Dad, he can heal you up."
Limping back to camp, pain only gets worse as the excitement wears off. John bolts up grabbing under my other arm. "Seems like the dogs don't like you much lad." He lets out a hearty laugh but there were undertones of worry found in it.
Gently they placed me down next to the fire. John removes his gloves and stretches out his hands. A warm green glow emits from his hand and the pain on my back fades quickly.
"Holy shit, that feels nice John." I say
"I bet Lad.", he pats my back. "It'll scar up but it's healed up now. Stay here. I'll go get those wolves and we'll cook 'em up good, enjoy all that hard work."
John heads out into the woods and Alice finds a seat next to me. "Um Footman, how are you feeling?" she says, just trying to make small talk.
"Won't lie Alice, still hurt but wow that just happened. I mean back where I came from , the worst thing that could attack you is some Karen, hahaaa." Just after saying that I thought the same as Alice.
"What's a Karen?"
"Hmmm", thinking of a way for it to make sense, "Don't worry about it."
John drags both of the hairy body's from the woods with rope and strings them up into a tree. After expertly butchering them he crafts together a smoking rack and over the next hour or so, he fills it up with the meat of the wolves. While he did this Alice threw together a few ingredients to make a stew. She takes a few potatoes and dices them up into one inch cubes. Taking a handful of wild carrots she cuts them up and throws them into a bowl. Then garlic and some salt as well. She takes a few pounds of wolf meat and cooks them in the pot first making sure to brown it well on all sides. Pouring some milk into the pot and a tad of water she adds the veggies and covers the pot. The smell from that pot is heavenly.
The fire crackles and owls hoot. I dig through my pack looking for anything I might have overlooked. Taking out the different things in the bag. My eyes land on something that I absolutely looked over earlier. Taking a small light blue ocarina, thinking to myself, "I've always wanted one of these." Taking it to my lips I blew into it. Taking a few tries I played an E minor scale then tried my hand at a tune. As I played it the name of it came to thought. Frère Jacques. That's what this is called. When did I learn this?
"My my, Footman. Should I call you Mr. Musician from now on?" Alice jested. "What is that flute called? I haven't seen one for them before."
"It's called an Ocarina. I've always wanted one of these."
"It sounds lovely, Footman. Please play more. I think this will go great with the stew and the wine."
I tried my hand at making other tunes. By no means would I make it as a musician but it was fun playing it. Taking a bowl of stew and a swig of wine from the skin we laughed and talked well into the night. After some time a yawn found its way into the conversation. Wishing each of my new companions a good night I take to the tent that was set up for me.