The Champion Saga. Chapter One. My meeting with Saljigah.

Before taking my first steps up the mountain, I purge my thoughts through meditation. I wanted my mind empty for the journey so that I would be ready to receive anything and everything that Saljigah might offer me. The trek to her is harsh yet pensive. She lives in the clouds of the mountain range east of Gaja, though not in any one place. She is also selective on whom she allows to find her. I walk for nine days and nights straight without stopping before I see her. When I passed into the bode of the spirits, though I never laid down to sleep, my mind is so quiet that sleep feels like it was part of my travel. Earlier pilgrims I spoke to said that right before they saw her, the bitter icy cold of the mountain turned warm. Some claim they even saw tufts of bright green grass beside her in the snow. For me the warmth is gradual, as are the patches of grass, until all of a sudden, I am standing in a field of tall green. I am seven feet tall, so am rarely accustomed to grass that rises above my ankles. Around me are beds of wild gigantic white and blue flowers, bushes with succulent red fruits, and a lake of water so clear I can see every scale of the rainbow fish beneath the surface.
My matron deity, Saljigah, is lying on her side beneath the one tree of the garden before me.
After keeping my mind bare for so long, as a scribe I can think only of one thing on seeing this place. She gazes at me with a wide smile beneath her trunk and says "Yes, you may."
I prostrate myself before her.
"That is enough," she says gently after some minutes.
I rise to my knees to face her. "My Matriarch, Saljigah."
"Bhat Jahnhassen. Yes, you may document what you see here today." She knew my question before I could ask it.
“Graciously, I thank you for your permission to tell others of this garden, but why has no other visitors mentioned it?”
"You are the first to see it, perhaps the only one who will in this age."
My Matriarch. Such a blessing to see her in her home where she is most divine. Her skin is a perfect grey, her black hair carries an emerald sheen, and her elephant head contains millennia of wisdom between the creases. Her long slender white tusks are stunning and artistically shaped as if she controls their growth. She has been seen in Gaja with four arms, yet here all ten are on display. In this moment, drunk on the intoxicating sight of her and her garden, I feel like being here is all the reward I need for the journey I am here to undertake. She shifts to sit cross legged before me. "Bhat Jahnhassen, we have much to talk about." I nod, and focus my thoughts around my purpose.
“Matriarch. I sense a terrible war coming. A war that will devastate the world. I cannot say where it will come from, what factors will play into it, but I feel it still. The more knowledge I gain in my diplomatic visits the more I sense it, though no hard information supports my prophesy. Rather it is the accumulation of delicate information. Slight changes in behavior, differences in word choices, the small changes in animal migration patterns. I cannot connect all of what I am gathering, but it is as if the world senses something is coming but is not in touch with their awareness of it. Do my senses betray me, Matriarch?"
"I wish it were so, Jahnhassen, but it is quite the opposite. You are not like others, not like even the most revered qui-lahks of Gaja. There is reason that you can sense the calamity. Firstly, because it is real. Things happened long ago, the repercussions of which are now certain to manifest. But before I tell you more, what will you do with this information, bhat?" My answer was swift. "I will direct myself towards stopping it. I feel already it is my destiny, to use all my talents against it. Because it is years away, I have the time to use my skills as a scribe, as a peace maker, and warrior to combat it. I believe that whatever else is required of me, the one thing I must do is tell the story of this journey from beginning to end, with faith that it will create the unity necessary to combat future evils." I bowed fully before my Matriarch. "Goddess Saljigah, I humbly ask you for an instrument of your will that will help me with my journey."
Saljigah nodded solemnly "I will grant you this tool, but first listen to my next story, for it will be of greater use to you than even my blessing. Ready yourself, bhat. The burden you accept is greater than you know, and there is greatness in you as well.
"Every age has its great war between factions of mortals, gods, and those who are both. Every age has people intoxicated with power, who fail against other either like-minded villains or heroes.
In the previous era when magic was more fluid between beings, one hundred of these great villains banded together. They were known as the Iskidas. Once on the verge of becoming immortal deities who would enslave the world, they suffered a great many defeats that left them shadows of their former selves. The immortality they strived for was no longer possible. This gathering of mortals, gods, and demigods would now certainly die. Bitter beyond reason and belief, they invested all their talent and magic into creating one hundred cursed items. These items are called Isikas, and were designed to draw upon the evil of those who use them. Anyone in possession of an Isika channels their ill-will through it, which grants them a unique power which is different for every Isika. It encourages more ill-will and thus becomes an insatiable vicious cycle. But the spells the Iskida cast in creating their Isikas could not be completed. The Isikas were just ordinary tools until they were in the presence of incredible acts of evil, and such a thing happening was no longer a possibility in their era because of their own defeat. So the Iskida consulted their oracles and history to decipher the area of Adijari most likely to succumb to corruption. There they buried the vault that contained all the Isikas. It would only open when surrounded by people with an unsatisfying lust for power. The Isika were untouched for millennia, but two hundred years ago the vault was opened. The Isikas are now coveted vehicles of power. Through wars, thievery and gambling, they have spread all over the world. The Iskida are long gone. Now it is the current owners of the Isika we must contend with, for once the Isika settles with their owners, its magic will bring them together. Two things are assured when this happens.
Firstly, there will be clashes and fighting that will devastate every region it takes place in. It will make the land barely livable. Secondly, and even more horrific, the surviving and inheritors of the Isika will unite. Together they will overrun Adijari and all that is good. They will destroy so much of what is needed for life. They will then turn on each other once again and destroy the little that is left.
"Bhat Jahnhassen, combating this fate is the burden you have come to assume, to find and destroy these one hundred Isikas and to stop them from ravaging Adijari. But, there is more to this story.
"In this age in question where the Iskida rose, it was the demi-god named Brimhur. who led the fight against them. She was a warrior, a poet, a king, a clairvoyant, a sage, a magician; the list of her titles only pales to her deeds. Though she did not defeat the one hundred alone, she was pinnacle in raising the forces against them, recruiting people from within the one hundred villains’ own ranks, and especially in leading the battalions against them that saved us all. Our age would not exist as it does if not for her.
"When the villains went into hiding near the end of their lives and near ending of the age, Brimhur was bothered by their evil returning in a profound way through their Isikas. So, she cast a spell upon herself, and split her life force into five parts. Through deals with other deities and spells that worked upon a foundation of the cycle of death and life, she destined these five parts of herself to become part of new life forces. These five would meet, and save the world of Adijari from the evil of the Isikas.
“Bhat Jahnhassen. You are one of the five Brimhurs. This burden is to be shared between you. You will recruit many others on your journey towards ending this villainy."

I did not speak for a long time. How is one supposed to react when they discover the fate of existence is their responsibility? How is one supposed to be when hearing that an ancient heroic deity is incarnate in oneself? I just sit in silence and absorb the depth of Saljigah’s words. Denial is not an option, not when the informer is my Matriarch, the spirit that my nation has trusted since even before nations existed. She speaks the truth, and every part of me knows this without doubt.
"Faith." Saljigah uttered. "In yourself, in those you meet, in the journey to follow. Your fear as well will guide you as long as it does not overtake. Time is on your side that you are learning of your destiny now, time you will use to ascend and build your loyalty through story."
Not for the first time, yet for the first time in years and never so severely, do I doubt the innate power in my craft. "Matriarch Saljigah. What story can possibly save us from the devastation you speak of?" Even knowing that I am part deity and inclusive of my successes as peacemaker and warrior, I am small to this task. I feel like an amateur, like I am accepting this purpose as a novice and not the great hero you think I am."
"Jahnhassen, it is story that binds us all, and it will be your story that unites Adijari against evil. You feel small because in this moment it is true. It is right that you feel this way. If you felt your past successes qualified you, then you would begin this journey tainted. You would not accept the help that you will need. You would let the weight of this burden crush you at times when you should be welcoming others to carry it with you. It is because of your humility that you will be mindful of yourself, as well as the great potential in others."
I surprise myself by smiling. I've said very similar things to others. "Thank you for your wisdom above all else, Matriarch Saljigah." Saljigah smiles back at me. Moments later she spreads her arms out wide, like they are spokes to an invisible wheel. "Bhat Jahnhassen. My first gift to you is a part of myself. With it you will masterfully tell your story."
Four of her hands come together in prayer form. Her bottom two hands rests on her knees, the palms face upwards with the forefingers touching her thumbs. These bottom hands glow as they absorb energy that comes from beyond. Then, two hands hold on to her left tusk, leaving a faint gap between them. The remaining two of her ten hands draw from her back a stout and highly decorated axe, with a blade that crackles with lightning.
To my horror, she swings the axe between the gap of her fists holding the tusk, and cleanly cuts off the end. The lightning cauterized the wound before there is one. Though she utters no reaction, and is a being of energy beyond my understanding, I know she feels pain from this action.
I can't help but feel guilty. Though I had not asked her to mutilate herself, it is still to grant me a boon. I remind myself that she is as invested in the fate of Adijari as I am. I wonder if this is to be my first lesson, that throughout this journey to come, I will be forced to demand sacrifices from others.
With the hand holding the broken piece of tusk, she brings the near tip of it to the end of the other tusk that is still attached to her. This tusk is glowing purple. She bends the somehow malleable piece of tusk into a new shape, and drags it very particularly against the tip of the still attached purple tusk. She is etching a powerful rune. I gaze as she does it, entranced by the soft purple fire that ripples from the indentation.
The object curves upwards on both side, and Saljigah gently scoops it up from either side with her second highest set of hands, and then scoops it from them with the first. As she raises it up, all her other arms fall into meditative mudras. It seems to disappear when she brings it to its zenith. Tears streams from her elephant eyes, not of pain but of elation. The hierarchy of spiritual powers is said to go beyond the deities, having forms that mortals can never know. I can only surmise that she is communing with these powers now. Saljigah lowers her hands. The now sacred object in them again. I can never refer to this gift from my goddess as a broken tusk again.
"Bhat Jahnhassen. Brimhur. I present to you the Ganesha pen. When you write with it, you will need no surface to write upon. You can write in the air itself. The words you write will stay with you forever, and with me as well. I will orate your story to your fellow Gaja citizens when I visit them. Their loyalty to me will be loyalty to your purpose, and the actions they take will be of benefit to you. Bhat Jahnhassen, this is my gift to you. I expect that due to the powers I drew from to create it, that you will discover its other gifts in time. Do you accept this token from your Matriarch?”
I reach forward and lift the Ganesha pen from her. It is exquisite. It fits perfectly between my fingers and thumb. The comfort alone creates a serenity allows my finest writing to come naturally.
"Thank you, great goddess Saljigah, for your faith and generosity."
She nods. "Now, you must make a decision that will dictate your path on this journey. I can grant you one other gift, but you must choose which of these three gifts will serve you and your burgeoning community of followers, for I have the power to impart only one of these gifts of the three.
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1) “The first option is a gift for you as writer.
“I will imbue the Ganesha with the ability to impart sigils upon others. You can choose for this sigil to be temporary or permanent. When you imprint a temporary sigil upon another, part of the story you have already written at this time will be immediately shared with them. Chapters of your soon to be epic tale will be known to them instantly. You can use this to influence their decisions in the moment.
When you imprint a permanent sigil upon them, they, like myself, will be permanently connected to your saga as you write. Bear in mind that their ability to contain the details of this epic will vary, and none will come close to my mastery of it. But they will know the parts of your tale that are most relevant to them, even if they are continents away. These people will act on your behalf, by sending you tributes and gifts they believe will help you, and by arranging your welcome and safety in your travels. 2) “The second option is a gift for you as warrior.
You will be able to summon my friend Taven the elephant spirit. Upon summoning, Taven will take on the physical form of a white elephant. He might come to you as a normal sized elephant, or as one that is giant, or one with multiple heads. He will have extraordinary powers of strength, flight, and speed. It takes little imagination to know his usefulness in battle and other physical tasks. Be wary though, that he will only be able to help you for a short while, and you will be unable to summon him for a great deal of time after that. Summoning him when it counts though, will almost ensure victory.
3) “The third option is a gift for you as diplomat.
In your journey towards gaining allies and defeating enemies, there will be many invested in the success and failures of those you meet, including spirits. These spirits either keep their intentions hidden, or are otherwise unable to communicate with people, such is the nature of the divide between spirits and the physical plane. This gift will allow you to speak to these spirits so that you can make deals with them to help you in your journey. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are your options, Bhat Jahnhassen. Which blessing do you choose?



I considered each option carefully.
"Great Saljigah. You have already given me the greatest gift a writer could hope to have. It feels indulgent to augment this gift further.
"I know that violence will be unavoidable in the journey ahead, and that Taven will be an invincible ally to me. But I must begin this journey in faith that diplomacy and cunning are a better tool against unnecessary fighting. I am humbled to accept your gift that would allow me to communicate with spirits."
"Very good Jahnhassen.” She puts all her hands together in prayer form. She is radiant. All of a sudden, a tiny mouse scurries over her right knee and comes towards me. It stands on its hind legs and sniffs the air around me. The little creature confuses me. What is a tiny thing like that doing here?
Saljigah addresses me again. "Jahnhassen. Brimhur and Elephant-Lahk. You are more aware of the greatness around you than most. You can hear and process the vast amounts of information around you. But the dormant spirits who may aid you do not hide in the vast, but in the miniscule. They hide between details, in tiny crevasses of reality that would take you lifetimes to find. This is Moonshah, the Seeker of Spirits. He is a disciple of mine who will accompany you. I have blessed him with a life as long as yours, though he is still vulnerable to mortal wounds. You will need to protect him. When there are spirits around you, Moonshah will guide you to them.”
I lower my hand to the mouse. It scurries up my finger and along my arm to my shoulder. He seems like an ordinary mouse. Again, he stands on his hind legs with his nose pointed up. I turn to see him, conscious that I might knock him over. I have never felt so large. In all my expectations of what is to come, I never expected to take care of a pet such as this. I could crush him with the weight of my thumb. I turn back to Saljigah and thanked her.
I know she senses my disappointment, but right then, an entire season of change happens in minutes. The bushes of bright flowers wither. The grass browns to half its original height. I can feel the cold coming back as well. I put my fingers to my shoulder for Moonshah to climb onto, and cup my hand over him to protect him from the freezing winds. "Goodbye, Matriarch Saljigah. Thank you for all your blessings." "Go forth Jahnhassen. We will see each other again"

I sought an audience with the council of elders as soon as I returned to Gaja . We decided after much deliberation to approach my journey with some secrecy. Though one reason to use the Ganesha Pen is to gather followers, we need to take into account that I have an unknown number of enemies out there as well, who will not want their Isikas taken away from them. Through Saljigah's godly wisdom we can trust that she will be deliberate with whom she shares my story, but her aside, we decided it foolish to share my purpose widely at this time. Among many decisions based on it, we also had to decide which pooja to conduct my send off.
It is custom in Gaja to begin any adventure with a pooja, a celebratory event that involves worships of gratitude, bountiful food, games, and other festivities. It is a powerful means of inviting others to make offerings towards a cause.
The options we considered were, The Traveler Pooja, The Heroic Pooja, or the Secret Pooja.
We decided upon the riskiest venture, and chose the Heroic pooja.

The Heroic Pooja is a celebration of trust. It asks people to give, promising that their gift of gold, a most worldly loved possession, will go towards a noble and necessary purpose for the good of all. That is all the people are told. To preserve the sanctity of the pooja there is no obligation to tell people anything else. The day of the Heroic Pooja is not just a celebration of trust but a measurable commodity. As a safe guard from this being abused, an institution cannot hold one within one hundred years of another. Gaja to our credit, last conducted this pooja over three hundred years ago.
It was decided that I take no active part in the ceremony to further distance me from its purpose. I argued that I should at least cajole allied diplomats I am on friendly terms with, but the council convinced me to take this time to prepare for my adventure. I was reluctant to not participate or aid in a pooja designed for my benefit, but I later agreed with the wisdom of their decision. I was going to be away from Gaja and touring the world for a length of time that I only knew would be very long. There was so much I needed to consider.
For the two months that it took Gaja to prepare the heroic pooja, I spent time with my family and arranged for other Gaja representatives to continue my diplomatic communications. I informed everyone that I was going to visit our sibling elephant-lahk tribes. It was a bland and common enough reason for a diplomat to leave the nation, though we would have to see how it played out when I didn't return. Knowing that discipline would be a necessary quality going forward, I spent more time training in Nagamalla to hone my mental and physical resolve. I asked my guru how best to continue my practice without him. He suggested that though I am able with both the nagamalla staff and the Gaja shields , that I choose one to excel in.
I made it a habit to bring Moonshah with me everywhere. This was particularly perplexing for my family, although, they were just the ones who dared to ask questions that I had to dance around. It was difficult to defend my reasons when I myself struggled with this relationship. Still, I had pledged to my matriarch that I would care for him. I had a blacksmith create a cross body strap with a pocket for Moonshah, and asked him to line it with metal for added protection. I packed the pocket with soft materials for Moonshah to nest in. He would be the one companion who would accompany me on my journey after all, and so I needed to make sure he was comfortable and safe.

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Audiences voted for 'the diplomatic gift' 
Originally I thought that regardless of what gift people picked, that it would be carried out through modifying the Ganesha Pen. But after the voting period ended, modifying the pen seemed like too easy an option. I went back to the source material and was reminded that Ganesha had a mouse (or rat depending on what text you read) as a companion. I looked into it more, and also studied rat and mouse totemism before deciding to go with a mouse.  I appreciate Jahn's reluctance to form a bond with a creature smaller than his fingernail. Moonshah brings to light that the great scribe to be struggles with humility and was a way to insert a flaw into the character that I didn't even think about before writing this section.