Tori came to with a start, bolting up from where she lay, she was immediately blinded by the bright golden light of the midday sun. As her vision cleared, she was startled by her surroundings. Gone were the shadows of the canopy, and the thick undergrowth of the woods, instead she found herself sitting in a field of rolling golden hills on the edge of a forest. In the distance she could see herds of many different creatures. Bison, aurochs, deer, and other herding creatures dotted the land as far as the eye could see.
As she stood, a sudden rumbling in the earth caught her attention. Looking to find its scores, she was taken aback as a herd of horses, easily a hundred strong, came thundering out of the woods. They surged across the fields as one, and for a moment fear gripped Tori when they turned in her direction, but then she noticed that the lead horse was being ridden. The thundering hoof falls of the herd grew louder as they approached, but to Tori's relief they seemed to be slowing down, and as they came to a stop she was able to get a better look at the rider.
She was a tall, well built, woman of generous curves. Her golden hair seemed to shine like the sun as it cascaded down her back. The flowing green and gold toga that she wore left her right breast bare, and a gleaming white spear was clutched in her right hand. She guided her mount forward with neither reins nor stirrups, and when she spoke her voice was music. "Hello, Victoria, I was wondering when I would have an opportunity to speak with you."
"How do you know my name?" Tori said, cautiously reaching for her sword only to find it, and her bow, missing.
"I know more than your name, after all, I did have a hand in your making."
"What is that supposed to mean, who are you!" Tori demanded.
"I am Epona. Bringer of bounty to the world, and caretaker of every creature that walks on four hooves," the woman replied.
"Epona?" Tori couldn't believe her ears. "The handmaiden of Demeter?"
"The same. Though my days as a servant came to an end with the passing of the old gods," she said, somberly.
"What do you wan with me? Wait, am I dreaming?" asked Tori as she struggled to take in the majesty of the woman before her.
"No, I am speaking directly to your mind now, and I have come to you with a purpose." Epona's tone deepened to a command. "This world has been corrupted. Yet still it is not beyond saving."
"If you're looking for a clergy, I'm afraid I was never a very pious woman," Tori began.
"I have priestesses, and lay worshipers," the goddess spoke. "What I need is a person to bring my edicts to those who have forgotten them. A person to remind the people of this world that not all the gods have forsaken them. A person to purge the land of those who would despoil it further. What I am looking for... is a vassal."
"A vassal?" Tori blinked. "You want me to serve as your vassal?"
"You knew the world before it's fall, and you've seen what awaits it should nothing be done to heal it's wounds."
Though she wanted to argue, Tori knew truth when she heard it. Since the 'Fuckening', as many had come to sarcastically call it, the world had only fallen further into corruption as people hid behind walls and in secluded villages. Maybe it was time to take the fight to the enemy. "What do you need me to do?" Tori asked.
"You may begin by slaying the daemon that has taken residence near the village you now dwell in."
"How? The last time the rangers tangled with one of those things, it took ten men to bring it down," said Tori, recalling the last time she had encountered one of the horrible things.
"You already have all the tools you need to fell the creature. Just remember; a woman's bounty will draw it out, and when the battle is joined I will aid you."
With her final words, the world around the goddess seemed to fade away, and Tori found herself sinking back into reality. Coming to with a start, she found herself sitting on a bed surrounded by her friends and companions. Casting a long look around the room at each of them, she said, "Larek, Reiya, we have work to do."
As she stood, a sudden rumbling in the earth caught her attention. Looking to find its scores, she was taken aback as a herd of horses, easily a hundred strong, came thundering out of the woods. They surged across the fields as one, and for a moment fear gripped Tori when they turned in her direction, but then she noticed that the lead horse was being ridden. The thundering hoof falls of the herd grew louder as they approached, but to Tori's relief they seemed to be slowing down, and as they came to a stop she was able to get a better look at the rider.
She was a tall, well built, woman of generous curves. Her golden hair seemed to shine like the sun as it cascaded down her back. The flowing green and gold toga that she wore left her right breast bare, and a gleaming white spear was clutched in her right hand. She guided her mount forward with neither reins nor stirrups, and when she spoke her voice was music. "Hello, Victoria, I was wondering when I would have an opportunity to speak with you."
"How do you know my name?" Tori said, cautiously reaching for her sword only to find it, and her bow, missing.
"I know more than your name, after all, I did have a hand in your making."
"What is that supposed to mean, who are you!" Tori demanded.
"I am Epona. Bringer of bounty to the world, and caretaker of every creature that walks on four hooves," the woman replied.
"Epona?" Tori couldn't believe her ears. "The handmaiden of Demeter?"
"The same. Though my days as a servant came to an end with the passing of the old gods," she said, somberly.
"What do you wan with me? Wait, am I dreaming?" asked Tori as she struggled to take in the majesty of the woman before her.
"No, I am speaking directly to your mind now, and I have come to you with a purpose." Epona's tone deepened to a command. "This world has been corrupted. Yet still it is not beyond saving."
"If you're looking for a clergy, I'm afraid I was never a very pious woman," Tori began.
"I have priestesses, and lay worshipers," the goddess spoke. "What I need is a person to bring my edicts to those who have forgotten them. A person to remind the people of this world that not all the gods have forsaken them. A person to purge the land of those who would despoil it further. What I am looking for... is a vassal."
"A vassal?" Tori blinked. "You want me to serve as your vassal?"
"You knew the world before it's fall, and you've seen what awaits it should nothing be done to heal it's wounds."
Though she wanted to argue, Tori knew truth when she heard it. Since the 'Fuckening', as many had come to sarcastically call it, the world had only fallen further into corruption as people hid behind walls and in secluded villages. Maybe it was time to take the fight to the enemy. "What do you need me to do?" Tori asked.
"You may begin by slaying the daemon that has taken residence near the village you now dwell in."
"How? The last time the rangers tangled with one of those things, it took ten men to bring it down," said Tori, recalling the last time she had encountered one of the horrible things.
"You already have all the tools you need to fell the creature. Just remember; a woman's bounty will draw it out, and when the battle is joined I will aid you."
With her final words, the world around the goddess seemed to fade away, and Tori found herself sinking back into reality. Coming to with a start, she found herself sitting on a bed surrounded by her friends and companions. Casting a long look around the room at each of them, she said, "Larek, Reiya, we have work to do."
