Far in the south-west in the kingdom I once again returned to the two villages that stood at the edge of civilization. Bellaruse and Nova Bellumis: both villages with populations who shunned outsiders and now were forced to live together out of necessity. One had a population who constantly struggled with the unknown of the wilderness, with the other having recently escaped the horrors of necromancy. There tucked inside the Teforh Forest they stood as proof that while one can't always choose their lot in life adaptation is always possible.
Coexistence is not always easy however. Sometimes there needs to be a helping hand from higher powers, in this case being a literal goddess in me. After all the village Nova Bellumis was populated by almost entirely werewolves, something that would certainly strike fear into the hearts of any normal person. Even with the tragic past that they had it was true that they posed a possible threat to the entire kingdom.
In my eyes however they weren't that big of a threat, though I was a goddess and feared pretty much nothing. Perhaps it was that rightfully aloof perspective that gave me the ability to look past the initial reality of their curse and see the people underneath. These cursed people weren't inherently evil. They were just as desperate to survive as anyone else and took great lengths to prevent conflict with others in fact. This made me respect them and want to help them integrate into wider society.
This fine day I was once again at the village to help them with two things. First I needed to mediate a disagreement over firewood they were having with their neighbors. Second I would help them understand what exactly worship of me meant, as they had been long apart from any type of religion for a very long time. Both things I didn't mind doing, its just it had taken a while to get the time in order to do it.
Right now I was sitting inside the main longhouse of the village alongside the head warrior Markku. As a people that respected strength so greatly it made sense that this powerful man would be so deeply involved with dealing with outside forces such as me and the humans both. He may be haughty and prone to looking down on the weak, but he was a good man underneath which was proven through his deeds. His devotion to me was also genuine, perhaps only because of my great might. Regardless it proved he could be respectful even when humbled which is a positive trait.
The two of us were with the primary members of the council of elders. They were a man in his sixties named Eledue and a woman in her fifties named Judit. The council of was a group of four old people that ran the village for the most part, though these two were the most important members. As such they were the ones that were here in this meeting while the other two dealt with issues in the village.
I sat on one side of the large table with the two elders across from me. Markku stood to the side to be between us. All of them were in their human forms at the moment. We were still in the middle of discussing religion and I had just finished going over the define features of one and the basic kinds.
“So that would make my religion polytheistic I suppose.” I said. “Since there's me and my father above me.”
Eledue was sitting there listening intently, his hands on top of each other on the table. His while hair and beard weren't just for show of his age as he was pretty wise as well.
“What if other goddesses rise again as well?” He asked. “They would expect to be worshiped, perhaps even instead of you. Wouldn't that lead to fighting?”
I sat back in my chair and put my hands behind my head in a relaxed pose.
“Yeah I'm not too worried about that.” I replied. “Even if there are other goddesses around eventually I'm sure I can figure out a peaceful solution. In the religions of my world there were plenty of wars between gods sure but I'm going to be preventing that in this world.”
The two elders looked at each other in wordless concern. It wasn't that they didn't believe me its just that they clearly wondered if I could really pull it off. Maybe they second guessed their choice to throw their lot in with me, not that they had much choice in the situation. Surely other goddesses would arise in the future and it would then be the choice between them and the devil they knew. I may be a kind goddess but that was no guarantee.
My own lofty goals of world peace and getting along with other goddesses was a source of worry for me too. Though I professed to be able to pull it off it was something that would surely be difficult, if not totally impossible. Honestly this was a topic I tried my best to not think about too much as it was a pretty scary one. Assuming goddesses could die in this world just like the myths from my world it was a real possibility my time as a goddess could be brought to an end.
These were worries for another day however. For now it was my job to instill confidence and peace within the hearts of my worshipers. My father would surely help me through the times ahead regardless how difficult they might be, something that gave even me hope for the future. These humans didn't need to worry about things that were so high over their heads. Knowledge is a curse, and who's curse is greater than the one who knows of the divine?
Judit was the one who spoke next. She's an empathetic old woman, perhaps in part due to the loss of her husband.
“What manner of ritual and practices do you expect us to uphold?” She asked. “Before you said none at all, but surely that can't be the case?”
I slid my arms down and put my hands into my lap again while still leaning back. This was something I thought about sometimes and my answer to them would be the same as the one I gave other humans.
“Well you are expected to pray to me often.” I said swinging my feet over the floor. “I mean there's all kinds of things you could be doing: sacrifices, rituals, and preaching of doctrine. None of those are really that important to me though. Well besides that last one I suppose.”
Eledue noticed me pause for several moments and spoke up again.
“What sort of doctrine would you have us follow goddess?”
I could see the look on their faces were ones of genuine curiosity and only slightly nervous. It seemed at this point that they trusted me pretty implicitly. Though there was always that fear of the unknown being made known.
As I replied I stopped swinging my legs under the chair and sat up straight again. I then lifted my hands up onto the table.
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“This is what I tell everyone else as well.” I started. “But as you get to know me what I say now will become obvious then.”
Then I pulled out a large stone tablet from my pocket dimension and put it on the table. It was about two feet long and one foot across, pretty thin, and etched with writing in the language everyone here seemed to speak. On it was information such as the classical commandments and various explanations into what they meant.
“There is a series of commandments I expect my worshipers to follow.” I explained. “Though they really are just the ones my father gives out. Think of them as laws of the universe that by following naturally brings about good things in the world, while ignoring them brings about evil.” I slid the tablet across the table to them. “Here is a stone with them written in it so you'll always remember.”
While they reached out and took the tablet to read it I sat up straighter in my chair. Sure the ten commandments were pretty classic and boring, modified as my versions may be, but they really were the simplest way you could put morality. When it comes to people, especially the masses, simpler was always better. The golden rule was also included here as it really was just the golden rule.
“As you can see here these things are all pretty basic.” I continued. “The most important of all of them however is whats known as 'The Golden Rule.' Which simply states to treat others in the manner you want to be treated. That alone does wonders when interacting with other people doesn't it?”
After the two elders read the tablet Judit was the one to speak first. She seemed to be deeply moved by this tablet and it seemed all her fears had been washed away by its contents.
“Truly you and your father are wise goddess.” She said with tears even forming in her eyes. “This golden rule especially. It's so simple and yet so many of us ignore it completely.” She looked over to me fervently. “Thank you goddess for sharing this with us.”
Eledue nodded in agreement and did a sitting bow in my direction.
“Yes thank you goddess. Having these does indeed help us get to know you better. It seems our putting faith in you when we had no place else to go was the right choice. We shall spread these tenants of your faith and ensure everyone remembers them.”
Their reactions were kind of making me feel awkward and I had to focus to keep myself from blushing. I still did a little as I sat back in my chair, my hands returning to my lap.
“Yeah good.” I said slightly shyly. My gaze then drifted to Markku and I got the idea to shift topics before this got more awkward. “Anyway with my religion settled for now the other thing I came to help you with was that thing with the firewood. Tell me more about that.”
The change of subject had already helped me feel more at ease and my posture improved as a result. Practical problems had always been easier for me to help others deal with over esoteric ones. They had a pretty good idea what religions were now and what I expected from them in regards to mine. That was good enough for the moment and we could move on to address the brewing hostilities with the other village.
Markku was now finally going to speak. He was the one who usually handled conflicts with outside forces after all and as such was knowledgeable about foreign affairs. Normally he explained these things to the elders, had them give their decision, and then acted on it. Having a goddess added to the mix was just another step in the process as far as he was concerned and this sort of conversation was something he was used to.
The elders and I all turned to him as we expected him to explain things. None of us thought him interjecting at this point as overstepping his bounds. This was his role and he had so respectfully remained quietly sitting there until now.
First Markku cleared his throat and sat up taller in his chair. It was clear that being in his human form was awkward for him, likely because he spent so much time in a werewolf body.
“Ahem... Yes.” He began. “As you all know our neighbors in the village of Bellaruse don't take kindly to us being here. Even though our goddess has negotiated our cohabitation its understandable that they harbor animosity against us still, especially considering our curse.”
All three of them looked at me for a moment expecting me to speak. I didn't say anything however and just leaned back in my chair, putting my hands behind my head again.
This was signal enough for Markku to continue, which he did.
“The need for firewood is an important one, especially since winter is upon us. However with two villages now occupying very close territories the available trees must be shared between us. After all we all know not to take too much from the forest.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Our neighbors believe we should have a limited allotment of firewood, say our fur coats protect us from the cold so why should we need firewood at all? They demand to impose restrictions on us with terms they set. This is obviously not acceptable and we must show them we are not to be ruled by the likes of them.” He then paused and looked at his elders. “I assume I shall be our representative once again.”
Judit nodded and held her hands in her lap.
“Yes Markku, and thank you for again being our hands in these kind of matters.”
I dropped my hands and sat forward, my hands resting on my thighs.
“I think I'll actually join you Markku.” I said much to everyone's surprise. In response I raised my left hand and waved it in the air. “Yeah I know. I'm not trying to make you rely on me or anything. I just think since I set you two villages up like this its important for me to be involved in at least some disputes. If resentment festers it would only lead to really bad things.”
Eledue bows his head and the other two follow suit.
“Thank you goddess.” He said respectfully. “We greatly appreciate your continued support in these matters. We truly do want to live in peace with our neighbors. Though we haven't had much contact with humans in a very long time it is through your help we were finally able to rejoin the world as a whole.”
As they raised their heads Judit added in her piece.
“I think its wonderful to be back involved in the wider world again.” She said with hope in her voice. “We've been hidden away for so long. Now that we can interact with others with your protection goddess we can finally grow as a people again.”
It was true that isolation led to stagnation, something no person really wanted. Having an entire population isolated for as long as these people had would surely have caused major problems if it had kept going too much longer. Not to mention their complete self reliance and lack of any allies in times of great need. Now they'd be able to get assistance from others when they really needed it, at least that was my hope. They would be part of a larger community once again at last.
I nodded my head and stood up from my chair, my child body making me almost disappear under the table. My presence in the room didn't diminish however.
“You're welcome of course.” I replied with a smile. “Everyone deserves to have a place in the world.” I then turned to Markku and nodded at him. “Now I'll let you prepare for the trip over to Bellaruse. In the meantime I'll be walking around the village some. Just let me know when you're ready to go.”
Markku stood up from his chair and bowed deeply to me.
“Of course goddess! I'll not keep you waiting.”
I then turned to the two elders.
“It was nice seeing you two again. Be safe now alright?”
Both of them also stood and bowed to me. Eledue then spoke.
“Yes goddess. Thank you for having such mercy and kindness towards us.”
“You're welcome.” I replied with a smile. “See ya!”
With my partings said I turned and walked towards the door of the long house and out into the village beyond. I'd have a nice walk around the village to clear my head before my next meeting, this time with the humans of the village next over.
These sorts of diplomatic conversations were still something that gave me anxiety but I was slowly getting more used to them at least. Being in such a position of power helped greatly with my negotiations, though when other goddesses started showing up that wouldn't be something I could rely on. Thus it was great practice to do as many of these kind of meetings I could. The more practice I had the better I'd be at meditating, even if I never truly was comfortable with it. This was a major aspect of being in charge over people after all, even if not every ruler did the same. Being a ruler meant being a leader and I'd show the world what a kind ruler could truly be.