David opens his eyes and it is pitch black, he can’t see anything and he doesn’t hear anything. He looks around but there is nothing. “Hello?” he yells but there isn’t a response. Just when he thinks he is going to be here forever, he sees something in the distance. It’s a small pinprick but it’s there and it’s getting closer. Then he recognizes what it is. It’s a tree and as it gets closer and closer he realizes. It’s a HUGE tree, easily the biggest tree David has ever seen.
Then it’s in front of him and it’s massive. It has to be at least a thousand feet high and David thinks it would take 50 men to reach all the way around it. Then David hears a voice in his head, “ Touch me David Wirt, touch me and know your destiny.” He reaches out his hand and places his palm on the tree and suddenly he is in a different place. He is in a field of beautiful wildflowers, there are small animals running around. Some he recognizes, rabbits, squirrels, mice, foxes, wolves, and bears. Others he doesn’t have names for small winged lizards that fly on dragonfly wings, things that look like otters run around on 6 legs. A shadow passes over him and he sees a large golden dragon. “A dragon, I have to run!” Then he hears the voice again, “Calm down David Wirt you are safe.”
David turns around and there is the humongous tree again. It’s leaves provide shade for animals of all different species to lay under it. He notices no animals are fighting. “ Under the Tree Father all animals are safe, if you bask in my presence then you shall do no harm.” That’s when he realizes, “You are the tree?” The voice laughs, “David I am much more than a tree, I am life, I am protection, but yes I am also a tree.” “W-what could you possibly want with me?” David replies. “I want you to become my champion David, why else would I bring you to my realm? “O-oh I’m not sure, I thought when I awakened I would just touch the stone and receive my class. “Well yes that is how it should work but not for champions of Gods, you’re a bit more special than that. You get to meet your patron and they get to offer you your class but you have the right to say no. I am not one to force a youngling into a class they do not want.” “WAIT YOU’RE A GOD?” David can’t believe it, right in front of him is a God, a literal God.
Of course he had heard of the Gods, Creek’s end had a temple after all. There was Rana, leader of the pantheon and the Goddess of life and light. She was said to be the first god and that she created the elves. Then there was Gorund, God of the earth and crafting, they say he sits in the bowels of the earth and crafts all day. It is said he created the dwarves and they honor him above all else, staying in their cities of the deep and being master craftsmen. They rarely leave their underground cities. Next came Ecard, God of the wind and knowledge. He has his own plane outside ours where he collects all information. He created the seekers, they hunt all knowledge and present it to Ecard as tribute. They are known to be almost single minded in this pursuit. Then there was Norn, God of Fire and War. He created the humans and instilled in them his fighting spirit. Humans are the most warlike of the races and that is due to Norn’s influence.
“How can you be a God? You don’t look like any of the Gods I’ve heard of.’ He asked the tree. “Do you claim to know all the Gods hm?” “Of course I do, my parents took me to the temple once a week to pray. There is Rana, Gorund, Ecard, and Norn.'' He said. “ You think there only four gods David? There are as many gods as there are stars in the sky. The 4 Gods you mentioned are only the latest to come into power on the planet, thus they are the strongest. They have not allowed information of the other Gods to spread. Gods get their power from their followers. Thus if they let information of other gods get out they would weaken and they do not want that.” David was at a loss, he had never heard of these other Gods and what the tree was saying is blasphemy. He knew if the old priest who worked at the temple heard what this tree was saying he would argue with it till he was red in the face.
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“Say I believe you, what do you want with me?” He asked the tree father. “ I would like you to become a druid and my champion David Wirt. You would become a champion of the Tree Father and gain a portion of my power. You will be the defender of the forest and all that live within it. I sense a new threat to all of the world and her forest’s and if it has it’s way it will snuff out all life and replace it with undeath.” David was stunned, he thought to himself “ Me? A God's champion?” But then he remembered. “ I’ve always wanted to be an adventurer, to be a hero. This is my opportunity. This is my calling.” David looked up at the Tree father, “Ok, I’ll do it. I’ll become a druid, I’ll become a druid, and I’ll become a hero.”
“Good," says the giant tree. “ I will now imbue you with part of my essence, I will warn you the process will hurt and for that I’m sorry.” David watched with rapt attention as a ball the size of his chest floated out of the tree. He could see inside it and it was filled with what looked like light. The light was glowing green and every few seconds he swore he could see a different shape in the light. At one moment it was a leaf, the next it was a beautiful flower unlike any David had seen before, then it was the towering oak tree next to him. Then as quick as it came out of the tree, it floated into David’s chest.
It felt like his heart had been replaced by an inferno, his veins were filled with a heat unlike he had ever felt. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest. He felt like his brain was going to melt and come out his ears and his mouth. But none of that happened. Slowly the fire weakened into a gentle heat that infused David’s body and his soul. It felt like a warm breeze blowing through his body. As he sat up he realized he had fallen down and bit his tongue. “The process is complete,” said the tree. “You are now my champion and the first Druid. Now it is time for you to return to your body and your village. I leave you with one message David. Be careful and wary of other Champions. They will feel my power on you just as you will feel their God's power on them.”
David was in awe, “ you mean I now have a part of your power in me? What does that make me?” The tree told him “ It makes you someone special, it makes you someone powerful, it makes you a hero. But it also makes you a target. You must be careful, I do not wish you to die due to my meddling but there will be some Champions out there that will not hesitate to attack and kill you due to you being my Champion. Gods are fickle and when they feel as though they are slighted they will not hesitate to end those that have annoyed them. I have made enemies of other Gods during my eons. If you ever need my help call out to me, use the power I have instilled you with and you may speak with me. Also David you must not tell anyone about meeting me. You must keep it a secret for your safety and mine.
David was in awe, “ thank you Tree Father, what can you tell me about this evil that you we’re talking about?” “ It is some kind of evil that was put to sleep millenia ago. I don't know much because it was before my time but I do know it was some kind of undead. It wished to destroy all life and become the new god of this world by turning every living thing into it’s undead thralls. You must not let it destroy the world. You must rise in strength and defeat this evil. I’m sorry to have drug you into this fight but the fate of the world is at stake. David looked up at the Tree and tells it “ I will not let you down and I will defeat this evil. “Thank you, Now I believe it’s time for you to wake up.” David watched a branch reach down and tap him on the forehead and he closed his eyes, when he opened them he was back in front of the Awakening crystal.