[To Throw a Spanner in the Loom of Fate] The Dawning of Hope

Gabe got up and took a quick final slurp of tea he had ordered, before moving ahead to intercept the villagers. "Keep back! Don't charge them, pick off any that get past me!" Not that he expected any to, he thought amused. No one needed to die today, except the Fae if he/she was foolish.


He balanced the Sky-Cutter in his hand, and then let it soar free. Worse than a boomerang, it seemed to intelligently slash across a rank of hobgoblins, and near-instantaneously turn and buzz-saw another row, and so on, as if it had taken a flight of its own guided by his Essence.


They weren't getting close at all.
 
Step by bloody step the goblins pushed and died. Till they built a wall of their dead around the villiage. A mound to your glory and their blood thirst. Still step by bloody step they gained ground. Pinning you, distracting you, till with a roar the monster struck.


Wings dripping blood maw filled with teeth. The being would remind you of a dragon of Europe except it's misshapen body. Extra arms, an extra tail. All it thirst for was your blood.
 
“The only thing to be used up will be your story!” Jacquelyn spun the blade around, and its hum became music with its beat marked by the spats of metal attempting to challenge her. A quick beat sang with the adrenaline in her blood goading her on to increase the tempo. The faster they went, the more she twisted, blurring her movements with the cut of her robes and finally it was her turn. Out went her blade, hungry and testing. Wearing a suit of blades, which way would reach the fae’s transient flesh best? Any creature set to destroy those weaker would pay.
 
Parry after parry can be frustrating in the extreme as your blade glances off the dancing blades of his cloak. Still you manage to land glancing blow after blow. Slowly getting worn down but his story does not end there. With a gesture the blades lash out. A hurricane of sharp edges all seeking the nimble females blood.
 
She didn’t need to dodge them, no, all that Jacquelyn ever need do was trust in her blade formed of her own golden essence. Her anima did not leak, not in front of the audience she intended to save, but sparks from her blade blocking the rain of metal left motes dancing in the air. They with the flashes of silver off his swords and armor cacooned the two combatants until Jacquelyn decided to rise above. Channeling essence made invisible by her will, Jacquelyn used the fall of the fae’s swords as steps to take a higher position. There she found an opening in the swirling attack, and she slide through the storm, using gravity as her friend and an assist to the heavy blows she would deliver. Glancing blows were frustrating, but she could down an enemy through those. That mountain of a man came close to such a fate, and he stood steadier than this being who only borrowed form.
 
Gabe barely avoided the snapping jaws and sickening breath, rolling to the side and catching the sky-cutter though it be slick with goblin blood. He came up and regarded the misshapen Wyld dragon. Too many arms, not enough legs. Conserving his motes so that only the personal kind could come out and not blow into an anima, he leveled keen-aimed throws, each toss severing tendons and weakening legs of the beast.


The Twilight stepped past lunging claws and bites, and the weight of the Wyld thing shuddered and swayed on legs clearly unable to support itself now. Its neck reared back, but that was what Gabe wanted. Time for some Lewis Carroll... "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"


A final throw with his will behind it - and the Wyld dragon was functionally decapitated, head messily breaking off to the group.
 
The great beast collapses even as you notice a shadow passing over you. Looking up you see four more of the beasts circling and looking to attack you now. The first dives down with the next following close behind. A breath as the things breath great gouts of flame along the ground aiming to kill you at range.
 
"I am a descendant of the gods, wielder of the metal and ground. Your chaotic stories will help you not, drakes of Wyld!"


Gabe took another breath and then focused the last of his concealable Essence into one powerful use. He bent towards the ground and spun his arm, unleashing a massive tornado of copied sky-cutters eminating from his central point filling the air and sending gouts of dust and dirt and stones skyward as well. This had better be the last of them.


"Meet... the epilogue... now!!!"


Great cries of the dragons told him they had. "The end." The villager were looking utterly astounded at him. Gabe turned and chose a name. "I am Earth-Boned Ogoun, and I came with Wind-Borne Erzulie to help you all. Would you like a better life?"
 
The dragons fall. The blade falls. A flash of energy as the last of the fae beings fall to the ground. The Lord falls to his knees a look of horror on his cooling face as his blades collapse on him.


"But, I was supposed to be an epic villia ...."


As his dying breath ends.


Even as the last of the fae drop the villagers look on with wonder and a touch of fear. The villiger elder walks out. "My lord and Lady what do you require of us. We are just humble peasants. We have no luxuries to offer you."
 
A second after the fae’s body hit the ground, Jacquelyn scanned the surrounding area. Any goblins that hadn’t fallen to Gabe’s weapons must have thought better than sticking around the village while the two Solars were about. If there were any who survived, may the show of their lord and five wyld-dragons burn in their memories forever, never to hunt on Creation again. The light of her blade retracted with a clean snkt and Jacquelyn replaced her weapon with the care any weapon master used.


She bent and pulled at one of the blades in the fae’s armor. As actual armor, it was crappy, but as a resource to melt down and reform, it might serve a better purpose. Was there any poetic meaning to such an act that’d make it a good spell component? Or, useful in artifact making? She let the piece fall back amongst its fellows with a chink and joined Gabe in time to hear his final pronouncement.


There went the plans to relocate a little further down the river, unless the elder suddenly decided they must leave. Unlikely with his carte blanche almost reward offer, so here is where they’d stay. She looked at the village once more, actively judging it, the surrounding land peeking out around buildings studied on their sturdiness, the health of the inhabitants and the reactions they poured towards their unexpected saviors. He said they had no luxuries, and Jacquelyn believed it. The village was sound, solid enough to secure their existence when untroubled, but no strong enough to deny those who’d wipe them out.


“We do not ask for luxuries.” She cut her hand through the air, “We have come to offer them; though they are not gold, gems or any material good. What Ogoun said is true, we come to offer a better life, through teaching and learning.”


“All that we require is that you listen so we may together –for we are no tyrants, no spoiled princes and will work alongside the most humble- bring forth wonders and a way of life all with treasure! If you accept us and all that we know, we will forge a future brighter than any gem!” Jacquelyn, now Erzulie, opened her arms to gesture to the whole village, “What say all of you? Fate placed Ogoun and I here to save you from the fae, but this choice is yours for it will be work, and it will change the face of this village for all times. Think on it, if you need to, and we shall hope for a positive answer.”
 
The look of shining hope on his face touches you. You are invited in for a meal and tea. Once there he sits and answers any questions you might have.


The town with the second look your eyes can see potential. There is a large hill close by that a windmill can be built. You remember from your flight that the river is almost perfect to make a hydro dam with. Looking about it has good soil and there is mountains not to far from here.
 
A wave of relief washed over Jacquelyn. No matter what type of friction they encountered, they could always say that they’d give the village a choice, and so many plans were forming in her head. All those daydreams since she was a child, those silly mental exercises of world building, now had meaning. She’d take from history and fantasy the best, and with the help of Gabe and all these people, shape it so it stood, free and independent. It was exciting, so exciting she almost wished to get started now, right with the building and the teaching and talking to everyone.


But.


The best of plans were thought out, spoken, communicated and proceeded with calm. She could let everyone see her joy and excitement at the agreement. She earnestly wished for this to succeed and everyone to reap the benefits of this long project.


First, once in for tea and she’d taken a few sips, Ezulie reintroduced herself and Ogoun –hee, it made a cute echo and balance, and stretched out her hand, “Before we continue, pray, tell me, what is your name? The name of each and every one who is here. I may not remember them well, but I want to know who my partners in this great venture are.”


She’d greet them simply with well mets, compliments and encouragement, making sure to do a variation on the handshake with as many as she could. Instead of grasping the hand, she’d hold the forearm; the old Renaissance greeting and way to check for hidden blades. Jacquelyn feared none of them and expected no treachery, but if she could make this a habit within the village, they’d constantly, unconsciously, check for blades. A slender but important piece of self-defense normalized. Gabe too, she’d have to train, but she didn’t think he’d mind.


Then came business, such as it was on this day. She asked about the resources, who were friendly to the village, who was not, whether traders came through and if so, at what times. The new Ogoun did too, being the clever Twilight he was, and Jacquelyn made note to ask him later what he knew of the different groups mentioned. Scattered amongst the questions, Jacquelyn dropped hints of her plans, so the people didn’t feel interrogated. If traders came in the fall, the village must be presentable, and perhaps, have new things to present as wares. At the very least, Jacquelyn would use any traders as a way to spread basic ideas far and wide.


Once the duo had exhausted their questions, Jacquelyn took a long sip of tea and turned to the elder and others with bright eyes, “The first step will have to be lessons. So many ideas crowd my mind, so many things I hope to accomplish, and I don’t know which I can accurately describe without first beginning to teach. We too, will need to learn things, walk among you and learn everything we can.


“For example, I know I want to build a windmill and a dam, to harness the power of the wind and water, to make work easier for the miller and the farmer, and thus us all. Yet, we do not know even the basics of woodwork or stonework. I see that these are sound buildings, and think someone in this village does?”


She stilled and pondered, before remembering how basic some ideas she’d need to explain were, “When I say we will teach, I mean everyone, from the young to the old. Farming and the day-to-day work still needs to be done, and during that time, Ogoun and I can learn or teach the youngsters, but say, in the evening, I want to begin as quickly as we may. Reading, writing, basic things to form a healthy base for all that we will do from now on.


“Ah, of course, if you have any questions, ask them. It is only fair after all the questions we asked you.” Jacquelyn smiled, cheer and excitement embedded in every gesture and every word she spoke. Tonight was for bonding and dreaming. Let their ideas shine through and win over the village, for tomorrow would start the hard work of realizing it all.
 
There attention is fixated on you as you greet them. As your ideas poor forth they have to wonder. What fate gave them this gift, which god did they please to be sent emissaries like this. Ones who will allow them to grow and foster.
 
"Ah, but I have had cause to pick up stonework and metal work, actually. Forgive me for not reminding you." 'Ogoun' stated smoothly, and smiling. "But not all things will be so grand. There are some other things, simple to do that will yield immeasurable benefits to your health, safety and more. Of course, I talk too much. Please, ask away."
 
"My lord and lady if you will give us safety and prosperity then we are yours to command. It is not our place to question the divine."
 
Gabe shook his head, but understandingly, they were so used to simply obedience, strong over the weak. "No, you misunderstand. If not now, soon enough, you will question. You must. What we will teach you is not just something to be learned by rote. These are things that one day, you must be able to do yourselves, to stand on your own feet, or your descendants. And improve on them, when one day we are gone. But I understand it's not a familiar concept. But I know you will understand in time."
 
"We will try my lord. Still let us feast you today and tomorrow we may begin." As food and drink is brought in. The future calls to you and those you have chosen.
 
Well, Gabe reflected, things seemed to be going reasonably well. Teaching was going several hours of the day, but he and Jackie had made lots of time for other activities. The construction of the watermill had been considerably pressing along with the windmills if they wanted to get mining going, and sanitation had been an also must.


A good place for humility too, making sanitary ditches along with the villagers had a salutary effect for modesty.


And the mining, too. Copper and iron deposits were present, and thankfully a good deal at the surface. Granted, Gabe would switch to underground mining if and as soon as reasonable, but for now, open-pit mines would work, and could be restored afterward. And he explained everything as best he could in thorough details, expecting questions and answering them, so that the miners and others learned and understood for themselves, slowly but surely.
 
Putting her arms behind her head and clasping her hands high above her head, Jacquelyn stretched so her entire spine elongated just a bit. A position more for enjoyment than actual work. It was hard, this new life and there were times when she just wanted to return to her soft bed at home and the minor annoyances of a flaky internet. This life, though, was doing things, great things. She wasn’t fond of these early mornings, but she knew that as soon as she marched into the town square an entire cadre of people waited for their martial training. It was a nice start to the morning; teaching a group used to being trampled upon how to defend themselves.


Jacquelyn regarded the buildings she passed in the predawn light. A lot had changed in what was sometimes a short time and other times an eternity. Over on the hill, the windmill was making good progress, numerous small buildings were erected; a place for teaching and experimentation, a rudimentary hospital so no doctor had to maintain such strict cleanliness in their own home, homes for some including the two ‘godblooded’ and it seemed the bathhouse was already puffing steam out its chimney. Many would have to be remade as soon as time and resources allowed, but the thought of introducing indoor plumbing already brought a smile to the solar’s face.


For now it was a baffling mix of so many other lessons. Societal norms were rearranged to allow anyone to receive any job they had the skill and motivation for, regardless of sex, gender or social status at the same time she drilled soldiers in weaponry and group tactics. Revolutions in medicine and mining sat next to agriculture, art and social justice. Fitting amongst this was learning what the people here had to teach them by joining one or another construction crew! So much was happening, so many different areas expanding, so quickly Jacquelyn was baffled at how they could keep it all straight. It was almost a blessing in disguise that building took as long as it did.


Giving everyone a stable change when even their relationships with the gods shifted was a good idea. Placing miniature shrines dedicated to appropriate gods in each of the new public buildings probably helped with that as well. Reminding a village still uncertain about taking command of their own lives to pray gave them a sense of the familiar. Any added bonuses from funneling extra prayers wouldn’t hurt and if it didn’t happen, well, the discussion between the local river god, some elementals and herself had gone well! As soon as Gabe mastered more masonry and mining, plans for the dam would proceed, and so much would spill forth from that.


Of course, that was almost every step in this amazing process. It was what crowded their days, made her get up early and return to bed exhausted. It was good work.
 
Gabe peered more closely at the plans for the dam, and wondered if they'd be able to combine this with all work they'd had so far. Only so many hours in a day. Only so many people as well. The other towns in the area were starting to take note now, anxious to learn from the 'godblooded' warrior-sages as well.


Gabe made a note that when he met with their emissaries, to suggest they help with the other projects in this town, as so to gain experience with what was being made and learned. A more educated workforce would help when they would inevitably help the others - and they could be sure that they would benefit, like their neighbors.


Still, the dam was a big enough endeavor. A gravity dam had been his decision. The simple design and the fact that it was the primary world example had convinced him to make that the basic form for now. Unfortunately, they would still need more earth and stone to get started. A sizable amount.


It was late, anyway. Luna hung in the sky and glimmered in the night. He hoped Aileen was doing well.
 
As what to others seem as wonders roll out the river league looks on. When you sell your first shipment of spears with tempered steel heads Lookshy sends negotiators to speak with you. Iron weapons that can keep points and you can make them by job lot. Such a thing will help protect the borders from the fae. The sanitation books bring the scholars in as much as the weapons bring the military in.


When the grand dam project starts Lookshy looks to get into a preferred bargaining position and sends some of it's engineers to both learn who you are doing such a massive project and it's sorcerers to aid in it's construction. The weird looks when the two god blooded appear the next day with massive and highly advanced devices. Spools of wire so thin they can't understand how it didn't break. And strange looking weapons. To sleek for fire wands as well as to long but obviously not magitech weapons.


The village quickly became something valuable. Or at least the starts of such. The River God accepting the shifting and change to his river means that the earth elementals can dig the new channel and seal up the old river to allow safe construction. Another god wandered in to help. He introduced himself as Bob, god of large industrial construction.


Even as the massive construction is going on Lookshy sends observers and offers a military adviser to assist in getting your village up to the requirements for the rivers league. They seem interested in what you will do with time yet do not seem ready to fully commit themselves to your growth.
 
The genie was coming out of the bottle. Gabe knew. These things would spread, and Creation would improve for it. Hopefully. And as he stood with Karal Raileyan, the Dragon-Blooded military officer on loan from Lookshy, he pondered a little question.


I wonder if the Exalted know they are being lessened? To be honest, it was necessary. For too long the world existed as the playground of the Exalted, and darker powers, the RPG books of course pointed out, and the world inevitably crumbled for it. True, the Exaltation was a game-changer, no matter what, a gap not completely fill-able.


But hell, it could be narrowed a bit. And Gabe knew the true secret was not in the rifles or the sanitation, or computers even. Mortals, the everyday folk had to take charge of their lives. One day, the people they guided could and would stand without them - and let the Realm tremble at such a concept.


But that would be a long time coming. Raileyan was still inspecting the rifle in his hands and the town ahead. Gabe decided to proffer the question. "So, what do you think?"
 
"Impressive, we might have to use this material concrete for the aid of Lookshy. It is impressively sturdy." Even as he watches the work going on.
 
As Ogoun built the dam and aimed the workers building the bones of their new home, Jacquelyn set to create the flesh and orchestrate the skin. Metal and stone fitted with wood interiors and the fine detail art to praise gods, elementals and the spirit of community. She'd promised a place of luxury to the river god, and resting places for the elementals, and Jacquelyn would deliver.


All around, of course, the continuing work inside the village, her half-home, half-lab were she experimented and then taught the next wave of workers. It was the only reason they could go at the pace they did: continuous teaching and sending out the newly educated to apply their lessons. All of them would be needed as they continued on.


Pushing the door to her abode open, Jacquelyn smiled at her somewhat-expected guest. She was still skittish about a dragon-blooded trained in the Realm, no matter what the circumstances, but the devotion to learning could be used if her earnest desire to help was faked. "How far have you gotten in the organizing the next book?"


The young dragon blooded also came with the helpful social skills to handle their neighbors supernatural and not, and most important in this instance, was a devoted fan to the book on sanitation Jacquelyn wrote earlier in the year. It was making producing the sequel much easier, a boon when medicine kept shifting and expanding.


Every time another field expanded, medicine needed to as well as workers found new and interesting way to injure themselves. It made being friendly with wood elementals more important- their domain contained some of the best medicinal plants. Fortunately, she'd already taken the steps to prove reforestation would actually happen, and she'd taken every step to recycle from old buildings.


That itself was very novel, and Jacquelyn made record of all that could be reused and how whenever she could. It could be something of a companion book to the one on sanitation, and the one of medicinal treatment she was currently compiling. If it wasn't too tongue in cheek, she'd have named the collection 'the good deed series'. Alas, she'd probably have to name it something like 'Treatises on Well-Being Within a Community', which was basically the same thing, but more respectable.
 
The smiling women nods as she finishes the last touches. "Yes ma'am. I've also got a letter from the village neighboring us. They found a bunch of coal in a cave near them. If you pledge to protect them they will be glad to share their bounty to the chosen."
 
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