The people of my mind. Ch.3 The shaman
Thanks again reader for going along with me through this little endeavor. I'm trying to get all of these characters in to the order that they arrived so that the ones that have waited the longest could get to go first. This one however is a bit harder to place, his initial genesis would put him here, third. The universe where a version of me would interact with him wouldn't occur until years later. Also, this character already has had a drawing of him made so he's not entirely stuck into the void. I guess that's what a shaman in though; not all the way in, not all the way out.
This particular shaman is of a gruff and grumpy sort. His birth name was lost to him being a product of, short of a more apt term, cataclysmic times. Over time, and through deeds he earned different names and titles, but chose his own as simple Zakkar Druegan, shaman. Not many outside of close friends used his name at all, just shaman. The name he chose, as some would say, didn't fit his species. As a Kerran, or cat-like being, I don't suppose one would have that particular name come to mind if you saw a 2 meter tall tiger wearing animal skins and seemingly talking to the air in harsh tones. Maybe something that sounded a lot like growling. At least, nothing like that came to my mind when he walked strait up to me and without any introduction told me that I was in need of training and that none of this would be happening if certain people could have called in favors while they were still alive.
Without another word he made a circle in the dirt with his foot, summoned a spirit creature... I think it was an elk (spirit creatures are translucent so unless you know what's being summoned beforehand its pretty much a guess) , threw me on it with almost no effort, and smacked it so that it ran off with me still on the thing. It ran on like that for what seemed hours, forests didn't slow it down, nor did streams or rocks. I certainly couldn't stop it and I know I was bound to this stupid thing anyway until it got to wherever we were going.
It did come to a stop though, in this ruined villa. The spirit creature stopped inside of a circle drawn in the dirt and then sank back into the earth, leaving me there to look around aimlessly at wherever I just been taken too. The place was old, run down, and maybe the sight of a battle of some sort. I walked out around the courtyard to the main gate-ish area, where there was most of a sign that said "Headquarters and Shops of the Mit-" the rest was obliterated by some sort of blast marks.
"Don't worry about that stuff." the shaman gruffed "It doesn't mean much now."
"How did you...?"
"Magic, remember. I have a binding spell here that'll take me here when I need to go. Unfortunately, I don't remember how to unbind myself from this place." he shrugged as he circled around in front and led me back toward the villa's burned out main entrance.
"...but why not-?"
"Spells good for only one, so you got the Stag express to go from one spot to another. I drew out point B weeks ago," he pointed out to the spot where the spirit creature disappeared with giant clawed paw, "do you know how antsy that Elk was getting to go from point a to b. Constantly in my ear, "When can I go? When can I go? How about we just take this guy? How about this one? Ooo, she looks like a mage." It was infuriating." He scowled.
"So, why am I-?"
"Like I said, some dead people, namely your ancestors, got in contact with one of the few people that the can right now, namely me, to see if you can be trained in some sort of the mystical arts." he said, looking down at me while having a tone of contempt in his voice.
"Ah,-"
"Normally I would have just tuned them out," looking back up and sauntering ahead a bit while he rambled, "no point getting involved with meddling ghosts, they always forget that the hidden treasures they promise to you have been plundered years ago. Your great grandfather on your mothers side though, he reminded me of all the favors I still owed him, and since he was a mystic too..." he stopped at the battered threshold of this place and aimlessly looked up, "He's sure to be a pain in my ass until the end of time. Even after I'm dead, if I don't turn you into something useful, he will torment my spirit and nag me until the sun itself burns the sky into eternal darkness."
"but ho-?"
"He's been watching you. He's been watching his whole lineage. So far, he's convinced that you are the only one that has any aptitude for his "TRADITIONAL" line of work." He looked back down at me and put that giant paw on top of my head. "I'll do what I have to do and figure out if your ready and able for this kind of thing... starting tomorrow. This place is a mess on the outside but the inside is better than the 50 sheckle a week inn I was staying at while looking for you." Plenty of rooms to choose from downstairs, I wouldn't risk sleeping in the upper floors, and be mindful of the workshops in the basement. Most of the workbenches still have magical energy or imbuements that could be unstable after all this time." I'll go rustle up some food while you settle in to your new abode.
Ok reader, this might be a good place to stop for today. Thank you.