*Rustle Rustle*
Hearing a sound and feeling someone gently moving/shaking me, I mumble out "A few more minutes, If I am not at work I wanna sleep in". All of a sudden the shaking stops, content once more I bundle more into the blanket before hearing a voice.
"Well, in that case we are goin to divvy on up your share of dinner!" the voice, whom I now recognized as Beren starts his billowing deep and hearty laugh as he takes a drink of the Flagon he had prepared to hand me.
My eyes opened balefully, I replied: "Over my dead body you will!" Saying such I snatch the drink out of his hands before taking a deep draught, quaffing my thirst with what seemed to be the most comforting Stout I had tasted. Stunned I look over at him before asking "Where did you get this?! its delicious! Hell what is it?"
Grinning Beren replied "oh that? that's just Dwarven Stout, a staple drink among the Dwarven folk. Oh! by the way we made some kebabs while you were out, we didn't see the need to wake you as someone so small could hardly help set camp." Hearing such my curious face turned into a grimace, as I well knew I didn't know squat about historical camping.
As Beren handed me a Kebab, I started noticing the overlook of where we are, seeing in the distance a gloriously white walled city. my jaw dropped, I was so amazed that I almost dropped my kebab! Paling at the thought of losing such a gloriously delicious morsel, I quickly focused back on my food, as I was indeed hungry once more.
Having finished my food, I look around seeing seemingly carved stone walls a few meters high surrounding a couple buildings in the distance. "Hey Beren, what is that building over yonder?" I asked.
"Huh? where?" Turning about Beren quickly saw what it was I was pointing at. "Oh! those are once of the entrances to the Dwarven Mine beneath Ice mountain. It connects to Falador, or so I have been told... But sadly those tunnels and passages are only for use by dwarves, as even the leader of the White Knights would be denied entry should he ask or command". Chuckling at what seemed to be an inside joke, Beren looked over at me "To be quite honest it is probably best that we didn't have entry, as it let us rescue you. Likewise... the dark places of the earth is by no means uninhabited, and tis best to leave tunnel warfare to the dwarves." Saying such he motioned my over to sit down on a log next to the camp.
"Aesor, I have been meaning to ask of you the deity of whom you serve if there is one at all." Once more seeing a startled look on my face Beren sighs. "So its like that then... What do you know of Gods and the Like?"
Pausing a moment to clear my mind I spoke slowly but very carefully in order to not risk offending him, or rather the two guards who were taking almost stunned glances at me when they likely thought I wasn't looking. "To be perfectly honest..." I began "I... don't know." Almost ashamed I look away from him, gazing towards the setting sun.
Beren, sighing deeply once more slowly lifts himself up before walking towards what appeared to be a well used firepit ringed in stone bricks. As he starts whittling at a branch to make kindle for the fire he shoots an almost pitying look at me.
"If what you say is true... then you likely have never been blessed, or rather you have never been claimed by a god... as when born and during the coming of age ceremony most perform when sixteen, the god one serves is the one that will give unto you a blessing. This 'blessing' is both a boon and a... payment. The payment being that if ye should forsake your deity your blessing will forever be forfeit. Yet... if you are unclaimed then you will forever be limited in strength compared to others whom work as hard or train as hard as you.... The blessings which I know of are staple in all lands of men, save deserts of the Great Kharidian... I have heard talk from... sources that there are nomads there whom deny claim of any deity save their barbaric idols." saying this Beren scoffed looking almost annoyed.
"Yet regardless, they are... the outliers compared to the main denizens that inhabit this great world of ours. First and foremost in the hearts of men is the illustrious and most holy god of Order and Wisdom, my one and only Lord, his name be known amongst us as Saradomin. When born I was given his blessing, with it comes clearer mind, more logical my reasoning, as well as more in tune with my fellow man am I and those who follow him, as quarrels are much less likely to occur as we are all servants in his glorious name." Finishing his statement I could almost swear that his eyes had a bluish white shine in them, almost glowing in the dark.
"From Saradomin onwards things... get a tad more confusing and... less kind or worthwhile..." Beren stated with a slight frown. "Next comes the so-called god of the goblins and other animalistic creatures, this one is named Bandos or as the goblins refer to him the 'Big High War God'. The only reason why I mention him is that the few humans; as well as the few nasty creatures that follow him and are granted his blessing, tend to be able to go into a type of rage that makes them quite deadly to combat. This rage makes them into a bloodlust where they attack any and all living or moving things around them: including their own kind. Always, and I mean ALWAYS be wary of such creatures, as taking them all as weak will damn you beneath their blades."
Realizing that this was not the 'friendly' isekai that I had thought I would be I almost subconsciously swallowed my questions waiting for his next words.
Beren continued, "After Bandos comes the most disgusting of the gods; as well as the slime that stands directly opposite of our God. That scum's name is Zamorak. The scum is the god of chaos, tyranny, and destruction. Big words right?" Nodding my head in agreement Beren said calmly with an icy wrath to his voice, "While that may be so, Zamo-krap [Pun intended] has not bested our Lord in any way save fleeing from certain destruction, as the coward he is. His... 'blessing' if that's what you want to call it... is a tribute system one. basically the more innocent blood you spill in his name, the more favor you gain with demons and their ilk: the more 'power' you gain."
Surprised and slightly confused I ask "Wait isn't that just insane? How are Zamorak's followers not more influential then?"
Beren replied "Well that part is quite simple: you only have that power assuming you are in his FAVOR. and... considering the slime is a god of CHAOS... its not to farfetched to think of how often one falls out of favor" with the last part of his sentence Beren grins manically at me. "and when they fall... we good men make sure there is a pike, spear, or sword point waiting for them, and when we can: a short drop with an abrupt stop!" After saying such, the other two men who are listening in chuckle darkly.
"Now after Zamorak, there is one and only other God that is a kind, if misguided, deity who I have respect for. He is also... the only god left in this world whom somehow has power which... can persuade the rest of the mentioned gods away from Gielinor." with the fire now blazing, Beren sits back down next to me. "This god, to my knowledge and the agreement of many is the oldest god and likely the most kind, 'if a bit naïve' (he whispered). His name is Guthix. He was here before the others, and will always remain. His blessings make one more in tune with nature, and those who have his favor need not worry about beast, weather, nor food in the wilds of our world as nature shall both protect and provide for you." Beren finished with almost a soft sad smile.
Speaking softly Beren said "Yet his kindness... knows almost no bounds as he... cares not upon where one is from, nor what one stands for... as.. well... he ended the great God Wars after awakening from his slumber and... persuaded all gods to leave Gielinor by making the edicts of Guthix... His edicts state that so long as conflict exists or will exist between the gods: they are not to ever, and I mean EVER directly influence our world, as the damage wrought by their conflict almost tore the world asunder."
With an almost dreamy look on my face I muttered quietly (but not quietly enough apparently) "Guthix's blessing seems almost insanely the strongest..".
Glancing at me Beren spoke "Be that as it may, while many have his blessing, almost none have his favor... as it is believed that after ending the war of the Gods he drifted back into slumber, his might focused on both healing our damaged world, as well as containing the blight which is the ashen wilderness of North within set bounds." Nodding my head at his words, Beren continued: now seeing as the Blight has been contained for over five millennia: I would say he still is with us."
"Is there any other gods besides those?" I asked, still curious if the world was as he portrayed it.
Beren stopped for a moment before looking hard into my eyes "I will say this only once: for your sake. Those are the only that have influence enough to warrant your concern, yet more importantly those I just mentioned are the only ones you should mention you have knowledge of when we arrive in Falador on the morrow. Be aware that it is widely accepted blasphemous to even acknowledge any other than Saradomin or Guthix as gods, the others are seen as demonic entities, I say this in forewarning as there is naught that I may do should you open your mouth and prattle on with... such curiosity. Understood?"
Beren looked sternly at me until I nodded in agreement, nervous at what my experiences in Falador will be akin to. "Now if there be no further questions I believe it is time to bid you a fair night as we need to rise before the sun rises if we are to make it to Falador before dusk on the morrow."
Nodding to his words I move towards a small tent that they had been gracious enough to set for me before curling deeper into the blankets I already had draped around me. Slowly my thoughts faded away, thinking of what my new life had in store for me.
[Sorry for the Info-dump, but I needed to get some things clear from the get-go, mainly that this Gielinor is an AU compared to the proper game, as it will have a 'spin' on how I think the world would function as a real world rather than a game controlled and edited by Jagex. Likewise there will be... Tolkien-esque vibes here and there, such as the elves will be more like the elves of Middle Earth, and the Dwarves more like the Dwarves in Middle Earth and the Forgotten Realms. Dragons will also be boosted akin to said worlds, as it is.... they are wimpy as seen in game. There will be other minor changes but they will be fairly obvious and I will usually mention or clarify in the Author's note or here at the bottom of the page. Please comment any ideas or thoughts on what you think! I am open to suggestions!]