Some people’s messiah are other people’s average Joe.
As the light from the hole I flew through winked closed, I was left alone moving rapidly through space. All that remained were the light of distant stars. Sure enough, I could see the outline of giant oak patterned amongst the stars. I wasn’t freezing to death or suffering from explosive decompression so I got my fear under control and started looking around. Where I departed from was just an empty patch of space with no sign of the portal I went through, so I turned my gaze to the nearest object to me. One of the moons Is shone a soft golden hue in the darkness that surrounded it and when I studied its features closer, I realized that the rough broken terrain I was seeing was actually giant sprawling cities or maybe one continuous city. I was hard to see many details from this distance on its surface. I quickly looked around to see if the other moons I had seen were inhabited as I zipped past. I couldn’t figure out if the green misshapen one I was rapidly approaching had cities as its surface as it seemed to be made of smooth undulating hills and valleys.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” They weren’t hills and valleys, the entire moon was a single giant snake with its coils tightly wrapped around and through itself. As I sped past, I had to tighten my sphincter as an immense eye watched my passage. Not wanting to make eye contact with a planetoid sized space snake I looked towards the sun only to realize that it was a giant flaming bird with its wing fanned out around it forming a circle. I decided to keep my eyes on the planet below me to avoid causing any more mental meltdowns from unfathomable monsters.
I realized then I was moving at a crazy fast speed, as my contact with the planet’s atmosphere was approaching at a dangerous rate. Hoping I didn’t burn up on reentry but with nothing to stop it even if I wanted too, so I took in the view of the planet everyone had referred to as Fayoria. It looked nothing like Earth the land and water seemed to be divided 50/50. It didn’t have a southern ice cap and the northern one didn’t expand over the entire top and there seemed to be a lot of big independent continents like Australia. I was moving too fast for the rotation of the planet to reveal the other side of this world, so I had no idea what it held in store for me. With that I was rushing past sparse clouds headed for a large lake in the center of a continent. A dense forest covered the ground in a large C around it to the north, west, and south. The east had sparser coverage of woods broken by large expanses of grass and shrub. Mountains cut along the continent horizontally to both the north and south. A vast swamp coated the land farther west.
That was all I could make out before I landed to the southwest of the lake just outside a small village. One moment I was moving at supersonic speeds and the next I was stationary surrounded by people. I collapsed and vomited partially digested fruit as people cheered all around me. WTF why is everyone cheering. My body was still rebelling from the extreme shift in perspective as someone helped me to my feet. They were asking me something but I couldn’t understand the words. They kept speaking as I mumbled that I couldn’t understand them. Weirdly the more they spoke the clearer the words became and understanding was slowly creeping in.
“Who something something something represent?” asked a man dressed similarly to myself. He was in his mid-fifties or so and his once dark hair was speckled with grey. He had a well-tanned face with deeply etched laugh lines.
“Who represent?” I asked back trying to understand what he was saying. The words came out in the same unknown dialect he was speaking. An old woman well into her eighties marched right up to me and started to lift my shirt up.
“Whoa now. I’m a little dizzy from the trip but I’m not nearly drunk enough for that.” I quipped as I was finally regaining my equilibrium.
“You understand now, yes? Show these fools the mark so we can get on with it.” She impatiently gestured for me to lift my shirt. What mark? I had looked down at my chest in the forest glade when I had first awoken and didn’t have any marks on my chest, hell this body didn’t even have nipples of which I thought was pretty weird. The old lady was still glaring at me as I was pondering things, so I took off my shirt to show her.
“He is the Champion of Misaki!” she cheered as most of the closest watchers groaned in obvious disappointment. The ones outside of the circle of chest high stones seemed to cheer even louder. I looked down at my chest and sure enough I had a big black tattoo in the middle of it. It looked like an oak tree surrounded by an assortment of paw and hoof prints. Misaki must have put it there when she laid her hand on me and called me champion. Before I knew it, people were crowding around to shake my hand or give me a hug. Even the ones who seemed disappointed initially welcomed me warmly and I had no idea why.
While people were greeting me, the old woman stood right beside me with a smug joyous expression. Before long people were passing around skins filled with wine and it turned into an impromptu party. So many people were talking to me at the same time that I couldn’t focus on any one question so I just kept smiling until I could gather my thoughts. From the bits and pieces, I could pick up it was some kind of holiday and people gathered around the circle waiting for the chance of a champion appearing. It was an extremely rare occurrence for anything to happen but they still showed up hoping that they would win the lottery, I guess. As the greetings died down everyone started to move back to the village that was hidden behind the crowds. It was a small collection of stout well-crafted stone and wood two-story houses and hardpacked dirt streets. The old lady took advantage of the lull and introduce herself.
“I’m Adda. I am the village herbalist and it was my totem to Misaki that brought you here.” I didn’t know what to make of that statement so I said nothing as she continued. “The people are joyous because any champion brings with them the blessings of their patron. Once the mayor welcomes you into the village proper, you’ll see for yourself. She sent me a foretelling last night in a dream, she said you would come on Batal Day. She also said you would have many questions, but you have been very quiet.” I was trying to figure out where to put the strange orb Misaki had given me when Adda approached but I didn’t have any pockets so I settled for looping the excess from the drawstring holding my pants up around it and tucking it into my waistline.
“No offence ma’am, but I have so many questions that I don’t know where to start and where to finish. I have no idea of what I’m supposed to be doing here other than ‘acclimating’ myself. I’m fairly certain that you people are expecting more from me than I could even begin to do. So, let me warn you now that if you need a dragon slain or a princess rescued you need to call up Misaki and ask for a refund.” I was getting worried by everyone’s reaction to me like I was here to solve all of their problems.
“That is absurd why would we expect a single person to kill a dragon? It takes an army or at least a large group of high leveled adventurers to even kill a juvenile. Rescue a princess, from what and why would we ask you for this? You do realize this is a small village, right? What is a ‘refund’?” the old lady seemed baffled by my statement and remained silent until we and all of the villagers had gathered in the greenspace near the center of the thirty or forty homes that made up the community. The man who questioned me when I first appeared walked onto a raised platform set up and motioned for Adda and I to join him. “As the leader of this village, I Cyricus, do extend our welcome and give thanks to your patron for sending you to us. Do you accept our welcome and thanks?” the words he spoke seemed formal and full of importance.
Stolen story; please report.
“I Quinten, do accept your welcome and your thanks on behalf of Misaki.” I responded with the words the come naturally with the same sense of formality.
Congratulations as a member of this village you have received the blessing of Misaki. The Goddess of the Untamed Forest has sent you her champion as a sign of her favor.
Divine Boon: Blessing of Misaki
All forest resources are 100% more abundant
+20% to nature related skill gains
+10% to forest movement speed
“That why everyone was so excited. We have all heard stories of champions being summoned and the benefits they bring to a community but no one from here had any first or even second-hand knowledge of it. We only knew the rumors. That is what people were expecting from you.” Adda whispered to me as people cheered.
The crowd started to break apart as people went back to their homes to eat and drink to celebrate. All of the doors to every home were open and people were walking in and out freely grabbing a mug or a bite of food from their neighbors. A herd of village children roved about in packs laughing and screaming as they played their games. Adda walked me around and I tried to remember names and faces. Cyricus walked with us and between the two of the they tried to answer some of my questions.
“How often does this occur? A champion being summoned.”
“The last one I heard about was ten years or so ago a merchant came through Falaise, he told me of one appearing on Retsu Isle. Every village is built next to a Batal Circle and once a year people leave totems in their niches, in hopes of attracting their god’s attention. Most don’t actually believe they have a chance of a champion actually appearing but it makes for a fine excuse for a party nonetheless.” He responded with a smile. “I even placed my totem for Udall, the God of Prosperous Endeavors. Not that I’m disappointed with you, I mean. Misaki’s blessing will be a boon to our hunters, fishermen, and of course Adda here.”
“Why is it important for you Adda, what is an herbalist anyways? I like fresh herbs as much as anyone but, no offence, it seems that the other villagers treat you with a great deal of deference for someone who grows cooking supplies.”
Cyricus laughed as Addas face stormed over in consternation, “I grow and gather rare herbs and other plants from the forest for use as medicine and trade to the alchemists in the larger towns around us.” She defended herself.
“I’m sorry. I think I see my mistake.” She was like the town doctor, that explains her position. They didn’t have a whole lot to tell me about the cosmological issues I wondered about. They knew that they had souls and that reincarnation was a real thing. It was part of the standard doctrine of the pantheistic religion the celebrated. Unfortunately, the specifics were unknown to them but they were fascinated upon hearing my story.
“Do you know what Misaki wants me to do?”
“I don’t know specifically. She protects the natural side of the balance between nature and civilization. So, I expect that she will want you to do ‘quests’ to that effect. Whether its planting and preserving plant life, hunting wandering monsters that disrupt the natural order, or negotiating with settlements on her behalf to promote sustainable resource gathering. In the end it will come down to her needs and your capabilities.” Adda informed me. For the most part the questions they helped me with most were day to day topics I needed answered.
We wandered about the village as out talks continued and I was fascinated by the glimpse into people’s homes. They didn’t have much furniture, A long table and rough benches, a chest or two for storing grains, and a standing cupboard. Hams and sausages hung from the rafter alongside strings of garlic and onions and wicker baskets of fruit and vegetables. Almost every house we entered was just a single large room with a trapdoor leading to a small root cellar and a ladder leading up to a sleeping area upstairs. One thing that was universal was a niche that had at least one but usually several totems lovingly hand carved,sewn, or fired to represent their deities of choice. Behind the houses were small truck gardens and chicken coops, some also had a pigsty.
The majority of the people were farmers that tilled the fields that surrounded three sides of the village, with the fourth side being a wide shallow river. Of the rest they were lumberjacks, hunters, and fishermen. The village had very few trades people and most people were able to craft necessary things for themselves. One of the exceptions was metalwork, for that people turned to Evard, the village smith. He had a smithy set up near his house on the outskirts of town. Of average height and with an unruly mess of brown curls cropped atop his head. His boisterous personality was only matched by his massive arms.
“Welcome to my home champion.” He greeted us as we stepped into the small flagstone covered courtyard. Outside of the awning crowned smithy was a small shrine set up. Noticing my interest, he led me over to inspect it. The centerpiece was a wrought iron abstract sculpture of a man hammering away at an anvil. “The final task a journeyman is given by his master before he leaves to set up his own forge. You craft for yourself a totem to Imenar, the God of Smiths. My ability at the craft has grown over the years but this is my proudest creation. Come though save this talk for another day, let us go drink and eat. You must tell me how you came to be Misaki’s Champion.” We walked into his home as I embellished the tale.
As the day faded to dusk Adda approached me, “I’ll show you where you’re going to be staying.” I followed he out beyond the fields.
As we entered the tree line on a narrow path I asked, “Why do you live way out here? Why not closer to the others?”
“I was out here for years before Cyricus showed up with the first settlers five years ago.”
“You’ve lived out here in the woods on your own for years?” I asked incredulously.
“I never said I was alone; I have had Toc with me.” At the mention of his name a squirrel a squirrel leapt from a nearby branch neatly onto her shoulder. Larger than any squirrel I’d ever seen with a sleek grey coat and a bushy tail that faded into a reddish-brown color at its tip. He kept his eyes on me as he chittered excitedly. “Toc is my familiar. He watches over this part of the woods and keeps an eye out for dangers.”
Baffled at the idea of a woman and her pet squirrel living out in the frontier alone, I asked further about it. “How does a pet squirrel keep an eye on anything? How far is the nearest town besides the village?”
“Toc is much more than a simple pet. As for the closest settlement, Falaise is around thirty miles to the northeast. Don’t worry about my safety though I am a priestess of Misaki and can take care of any threats likely to appear around here.” Her home came into view after walking around a bend in the trail. It was a handsome whitewashed cottage that sprawled out in a single level with a thatched roof. All around was a well-groomed kitchen garden enclosed by a waist high fieldstone wall. She opened the wicker gate and motioned me to enter the yard before closing it. Toc ran off to perch on the eave of the house. The inside was clean but cluttered with odd knickknacks. There was much more furniture than I had seen in any of the other houses and all of it was covered in oddities. Cupboards and shelves filled with small wooden boxes and dried flowers and herbs. There was even a separate bed room on the far side of the house.
“I have a pallet and some clean bedding for you.” Indicating a mat made of bundled reeds and some folded wool blankets. “You can sleep here next to the fireplace. I know it’s been a long day but before you retire will you show me your status?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” I replied with confusion.
“What do you mean you don’t know what I mean? Just think menu. Have you never used your menu?”
As soon as I thought status, it appeared. It was too much for me, my life boiled down to a few numbers. “I will be happy to share it all in the morning but for now I just need to sleep.” She put an understanding hand on my shoulder and bid me good night.