Founding a village

When the town came into view, we were not expecting to see it on fire. The people were fleeing it much like I had heard people had fled the large cities during the Sundering. Shanri just fell to her knees, not really able to understand what was going on.

"No!" Kel shouted. He ran, as if his life depended on it, questioning those stumbling out of the village where his family was.

I could only stare, a cold hand gripping my heart. The fires danced across the thatch roofs, easily catching the flame and eating hungrily at the people's hard work.

Of course I pulled the token from my pocket. Was this the goddess's way of telling me to dally no longer? If it was then it was a cruel message. But, how am I, a mere human to understand the whims of a god? I knelt in prayer, hoping that my patron god would give me some guidance, for I desperately needed it.

System notification! player will begin appearing in 16 hours.

"Zystim, please guide your lost lamb. What should I do?" I prayed. I prayed for some time, but no guidance came to me. I opened my eyes, by now most of the village had burned to ash, little remained standing.

Those who knew of why I had left had gathered around me, hopefully looks in their eyes. I looked around, Caleb and aunt Kathy were supporting a badly burned Josiah. Kel was holding his daughter close to him, tears had stained his face.

Blini and Isok stood in front of a pair of older looking people that seemed to resemble them. Well, soot stained versions of them. Li-li and her mother seemed distraught. A few others had gathered around, but not having caught on to the small wind of hope that was fluttering around the small circle.

I sighed. This task had befallen me. Zystim had a plan for me, I was one of her favored. So I began to use the lessons my father and mother had taught me when preparing me to be a lady. I smiled and stood straight and tall. I began to speak in a clear and concise manner befitting of a lady.

"I have with me a token that allows for the founding of a village." I held it above my head. "It is not of iron or silver nor of gold. But of platinum." I allowed a moment for that to sink in. A platinum token had only been recorded once before in any of the kingdom's histories. "There is a suitable plot of land for a large city, not too far from my parents manor. There I will use this token."

I put the coin back in my pocket. "I invite all of you to join me, the journey will take the rest of today and some of tomorrow. Salvage what can be so that when we settle next we can make ourselves stronger than we were before."

Those that had heeded and been swayed by my words or demeanor began to do as I instructed. Packs were salvaged, food was gathered, only about a day or two in total. Waterskins were filled and what few items of value that could not be easily crafted were gathered. Axes, shovels, cooking utensils. Isok and his father had gathered his tools for their forge, while Li-li had gathered the supplies her family used when they practiced their profession.

More people began to join us as we gathered what we could salvage, who would not wish to be a member of a settlement founded on a platinum token? Soon there were some thirty people. We were the last to leave as the others had gathered some food and water and merely picked a direction and begun walking. Not even the desperate pleas of the village elder could get them to stay.

So our ragged band set out. I had the injured lead, setting the pace of the group. Immediately behind them were the strongest, then everyone else. I took the very end of the line, to help those that were falling behind. Kel and Shanri lead from the front, guiding the group to where I wanted us to go. Perhaps Gom had taken pity on us, as the weather was comfortable, a soothing breeze calming our frayed nerves.

When darkness fell we set camp, several small, hastily lit fires crackled under the starlight. I spent most of my time speaking with those that had worries or doubts. I reassured them, and wishing them a good night's rest. It was late into the night when I finally was able to fall asleep.

System notification! Village tokens may now be used to found villages.

System notification! Players will now begin appearing.

I gave a prayer of thanks to Zystim. To know I was still among her favored helped calm me as I helped the others in beginning today's trek. We made our way over many hills, stopping every so often so that those in worse states could catch their breath.

It was as we began to near the area that I began to realize I had yet to decide a name of the new village. It could not be some simple, meaningless name. It needs to carry meaning, weight. With that in mind it was easy to discard many names of cites that had dotted the kingdoms before the Sundering.

Slowly my mind turned to the olden times, when humanity had first begun to crawl out of its caves and mud huts. There had been many gods that had been worshiped, many cities and empires built that had fallen to mere ruins in the half millennia since their founding.

But specifically there had been the largest empire to span the globe. The Hadrian empire. It's history ran deep and it's effects upon the culture of society could still be seen. So from among its many gods and great cities I chose a name, one that had meaning, weight, and history.

The name needed weight so that when it was spoken, people would instantly know what one spoke of. One would not be confused with the similar names that humanity used for its many towns and villages.

As we began to stumble into the sprawling field I had directed Kel and Shanri to lead us to, the group began to slow and look around as we left the cover of the forest. A blue line snaked lazily through the large grassy plain. The foothills of the mountains were to the north. It would be here where I would found my village.

We walked until we had crossed perhaps two thirds the distance between the forest and the river. I called everyone to a stop.

System notification! Congratulations to player Ulis for founding the 1st village on Almera, founding of the village Cape Town; special reward of 1100 merit points.

System notification! Congratulations player Di-zen for founding of the 2nd village on Almera, founding of village Polsk; special reward of 1000 merit points.

System notification! Congratulations to player Shou for founding of the 3rd village on Almera, founding of Sanhai; special reward of 900 merit points

At first I was baffled by the sudden barrage of information from the goddess. Why would I need to know this? But perhaps it was a warning? I would have to look into this later.

I pulled out the village token. I did not know how it worked so I merely knelt down and placed it on the ground.

System notification! Would you like to found your village here Y/N. *once a village is founded, it can not moved and the token will be expended.

I selected the Y, why else would I be here? A shining platinum obelisk, perhaps ten feet in height and five feet at the sides at the base of the obelisk rose from the ground. It shined with a brilliance that silver or gold could aspire to compare.

System notification! Please name you village. *once named, it can not be changed.

"Hadran!" I said proudly.

Ancient characters as well as modern ones rippled across the base of the obelisk, staring the name of the village, and when it was founded.

System notification! Congratulations to Special non-playable character Elizabeth Almeria for foundung the 4th village on Alerma, founding of Hadran; special reward of 800 merit points.