A work in progress….
BEGINNINGS: I never knew my parents, not a single memory of a kind face or loving voice. Old Helga says I should thank the gods that she found me that cold winter morning in the burned out ruins of my people’s lodge. It was the heat from the smoldering timbers that kept me alive through the night, so she says.
Old Helga is Anu-Terric, a nomadic people of the Averist mountain range. She is a shamanic spirit warrior, and it was on the ninth hour of the ninth day of her vision that a great blue sky horse led her to find me.
Now that I have come of age, old Helga prepares to send me on my first vision quest to search for answers from the God of my people. We’re sitting upon the ground inside Helga’s dwelling. For days she gathered strange herbs and roots, now the potion that will take me through the vale is ready. Helga hands me a wooden cup filled with a thick ash gray liquid, “Drink it quickly, all of it!” she whispers. I bring it to my lips, it smells bitter sweet, I throw my head back and I drink. Choking on the last swallow, my eyes blur, my body grows light, I’m spinning. I am no more.
QUEST: “Helga, it didn’t work!” I groan as I roll onto my knees. I shield my eyes, why is the room so bright? As my eyes adjust, I find myself in a meadow surrounded by trees and in the distance I hear a roar unlike any I’ve heard before.
“You may want to find a weapon.” I quickly turn to find an odd looking being sitting cross legged and floating several feet off the ground. His clothing is unusual, not like mine. He has shiny glass discs over his eyes, dark short cropped hair, and in his hand he holds a small box.
“Who are you, and where is Helga?” I shout, trying to sound brave.
“Weapon first,” he says as he points over my shoulder at the tree line. I glance back, to my surprise a huge rabbit covered in lint and dust comes crashing out of the woods.
I grab a large stone and a dead tree branch from off the ground, and crouch low in preparation for the attack. With regret, I battle the rabid rabbit to its death. Bruised, battered, and bleeding I stand over the body of the dusty beast and notice 38 gold coins in the bloody muck.
“Well done! I think you will do. Be healed!” says the floating man. My wounds disappear and I feel… wonderful.
“Who are you?” I demand.
The stranger sighs, “Too many questions. Here, drink this!”
Eyeing the yellowish liquid suspiciously, I ask “What is it?”
“We call it beer, it settles the nerves and calms the brain.” Says the man with a smile. Well, I am very thirsty and I drink.
“Hahaha, so your name is Drazzof, and you’re a god?” I can’t stop grinning. “And you want me to kill monsters, then take their gold which I will use to build you a golden temple!” Why can’t I stop grinning, I feel odd inside.
“Exactly,” replies Drazzof, “Over that ridge is the city of Godville, that is where you will start. Take this book and document your activities. I will check in on you from time to time, and help you when I’m able!”
“Mmm… before I leave on this journey of great importance,” I chuckle, “Would you happen to have any more of that drink you called beer?”
“Hah, you like it, good! Drink beer only, you’ll find things much easier here.” Drazzof nods wisely. A beep beep sound comes from the strange little box in his hand. ” Oh, I can’t be late, gotta go!” Drazzof fades away.
SPLIT: As I walk up the ridge, I take a deep drink from the jug that Drazzof left me. Mmm, beer good. Huh, who said that? More beer. My hand brings the jug to my mouth and I drink. I feel a tearing deep in my soul. Then I sense it, I am he and he is me! He controls my actions. I see, I hear, I know his thoughts, and I am trapped. Even now he begins to hum a tune that Helga taught us. Oh God, he’s chasing a yellow and purple buttfry to Godville!
In the distance we see the city, and it is the largest we have ever seen. Many people are coming and going through the massive gates. Sentries stand at both sides of the entrance, watching the proceedings with bored expressions upon their faces. As we approach the citizenry appear quite normal, except… then we see several oddities that are quite unsettling. A young woman walks past us, backwards, in her hands she has a dried up fish and a paper plate. On her head she wears a wreath of daisies, and on her body a bulky orange vest. She gives us a foolish grin “My name is Elisa. I’m going to be Godville’s greatest heroine, and bring my Goddess much glory.”
We follow the backward walking Elisa through the stone arches, bunny hopping!
this section is an idea for the story
AWAKENED: “Child, wake up!” growls Helga as she gently slaps my face. I struggle to open my eyes, I feel so weak. I find myself lying on the floor of Helga’s tent, I’m covered in animal furs, a small fire crackles near by. My eyes focus to find the old woman’s concerned gaze. “Foolish boy, you stayed too long”
Pets: Behemoth (fire fox) – decreased. Baloo (fire fox) – decreased.
Toto (sundog) – deceased
A work in progress….