The Primal Hunter

Jake had to admit that it was actually quite impressive he could have so many talks with Miranda without ever bringing up the subject of gods. He had honestly just come to assume everyone knew about gods being a real tangible thing. Maybe his view on the topic was a bit skewed, though. Just maybe.

So, when Miranda came to his lodge for their weekly meetup, and she brought up the topic, Jake just listened as she ranted a bit about someone wanting a temple. Apparently, a follower of some god had come, and Jake’s first question was upon hearing this was just:

“Oh, who?”

Which got a perplexed look from Miranda, who clearly hadn’t expected that to be his first question.

“What do you mean?” she asked, trying to get him to reclarify.

“The name of the god. Or title; a lot of them prefer to go by titles over their actual names, I heard,” Jake tried to explain, as Miranda just looked more and more confused. He didn’t help the situation by casually rubbing the belly of the bird on his head.

“I… didn’t get a name… do you know something I don’t, about this so-called god?”

At this point, Jake realized there was quite a knowledge-gap when it came to divine stuff. Thinking back, he never mentioned anything about gods to her before, and without meeting one herself, it was quite natural she didn’t know about it.

He reckoned many people had met factions or people associated with gods… but Haven only had citizens from limited areas. Abby only recruited people from her own tutorial, Neil and friends coming from that same one, and Miranda’s tutorial didn’t have any divine involvement as far as he could tell. At least not on the surface.

The same was true for the fort. Jake had yet to hear anything about gods from them, and clearly, Phillip wasn’t blessed by any. I guess it’s time to bring her up to speed.

Jake could see many issues arise in the future if Miranda remained ignorant about the fact that a bunch of bored gods likely fucked around behind the curtain and had many followers on Earth doing their bidding.

“So… here’s the deal…”

The entire night was spent with Jake giving her a bunch of exposition that would make everyone complain if written in a novel and dumped all at once. He didn’t really bother hiding anything, which got many confused looks and questions when he said that he was blessed by a god but wasn’t really a follower of a god. He didn’t give any too personal details, just saying that he was on good terms with a few gods, which in itself was enough to screw over her understanding of divinity.

“Gods are just people who got extremely strong. Some are assholes, some are nice. Well, from what I gathered, most tend to be arrogant asshats towards mortals, but I guess they did kinda earn it. I got lucky with the ones I met, I guess,” Jake said, shrugging.

That was just his understanding of gods… and he had a feeling he wasn’t wrong, even if his interpretation was a bit simplified. Villy honestly was just a dude - an extremely strong and immortal dude, but still a dude. And as Villy had said: one doesn't become a god without at least having a bit of arrogance. The audacity to believe that you of all people can achieve godhood was just inherent to divinity.

“I… this changes a lot… the ideological differences between gods will trickle down to their followers and inadvertently lead to conflict… if we keep recruiting as we are now, there will without a doubt come parties with opposing religious views… wait, what does the god you follow, eh, I mean befriended… what is this god’s faith?” Miranda asked, after sitting in contemplation for a while, taking it all in.

She didn’t believe that Jake was lying for even a second. He had no reason to. So either he was some delusional fanatic himself, or he was actually telling the truth. And while she did think he was pretty weird, she also saw him as relatively sane.

“Eh… not much? He said faith isn’t really a big thing for him… but he does have an Order…” Jake answered. Had Villy told him what his whole Order was about? Jake didn’t remember…

Miranda, sensing Jake was unsure, swiftly moved on with the conversation. “Back to the whole temple-construction business. Should we allow it then? What if others come and ask for the same?”

had described the monstrosity of ore and stone that the man wanted. Not really something going well with the whole forestry aesthetic

it, but it could be dangerous if we offend some divine being with a slew of followers,” Miranda said, with a bit of hesitation. She could already imagine a crusade against

after thinking

a few more minutes before

out loud: “Hey Villy… any input? I know you said you aren’t much into faith, but since

moments, and just when he questioned if he caught the

I didn’t give you the blessing expecting anything in return. A statue or a church or whatever on your tiny planet won’t help me much at all. Even if you conquered your entire planet, a few billion

universe, and when you leave your universe or yours is fully integrated, no one will give a flying fuck about you killing a

to fate, and I give a big thumbs-up to those that tell fate to go fuck itself. Actually, you are quite a good Chosen now that I think about it. Oh, and if you really want to do something religious for me, I am still open to mass ritual sacrifice. I could even provide you with the schematics for this formation to sacrifice

turning a bit more serious. “But seriously… if you ever need anything, just ask. I feel like I owe you a

a score. But I’ll keep it in mind. Cya around,

the multiverse or whatever you’re up to,” Jake answered with a sincere smile. Soon after, he felt the presence of the Malefic Viper fade, and everything

just Villy doing him favors over and over again. It felt like having that one friend that

gap was just absolutely enormous, to begin with. But it wasn’t

need to sit there in his own thoughts much longer before he felt Miranda and a man enter the valley. Jake took the little bird off his head and put her on a pillow on the table.

finely combed hair and a big fake-looking smile on his lips. He instantly rubbed Jake the wrong

waste your precious time but come with an offer. I represent a congregation of more than four hundred people, and we would be more than happy to welcome the City Owner

hand, indicating for him to stop. Kenneth reminded Jake of a discount-Jacob without any of the charisma. He was closer to some

raise his hand, the man paused briefly

insufferably annoying… no, not really,” Jake answered, instantly seeing the man

no

“Name. Of. God.”

the great shaper, he who forms

can take his shitty temple elsewhere. I don’t give a shit what you practice in your own time, but don’t go around preaching like a lunatic. You can find somewhere else to do that. This is my

tasked me with bringing this Pylon under his great

I just don’t care. This is my city, not yours, and definitely not Tera-something’s. I don’t give a shit about your god, and I don’t give a shit about any task he has given you,” Jake said, honestly

as Jake let

and your followers can just fuck right off. I don’t need you, and I most certainly don’t need some shitty god that isn’t even in-the-know about whose Pylon he wants to

to stammer out a few more words; it sounded a lot like apologies, but not to Jake but to his god for Jake’s blasphemy. Honestly, he couldn’t help but consider giving the guy an arrow in the knee at that moment. He didn’t, mainly because it would make the man leave his valley slower

he was gone, Miranda turned to him with a hint of worry.

to leave now, get in line, or he can become an example of what happens

doubt he will just leave

And if he refuses to leave, we can

he would likely become an issue