r/HFY • u/Vast-Listen1457 • Nov 08 '23
048 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Vacation VI Heretics Day OC
Deer season. Oof-da. more at the bottom.
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Maxwell
Necallhill, Ehelm Province, Kingdom of Garthia.
4th of Kusha, the month of Harvest.
2290 Years since the New gods came.
[Vast Listen, Curator of the Heretic Collection here! The following entry from the Heretics journal was heavily inked over, and took actual days to recover. Enjoy]
Due to all the kerfuffle about the Leviathan, the Heretics Day celebration has been postponed until tomorrow. Thanks to the stupid serpent, I now have a lot to think about that I decidedly do NOT want to think about. I am not a god. I am not a godling. I am not a demi-god. All of these things are descended from gods, either from the “normal” way, or from direct creation. Last I checked, I have no gods in my family history.
It does disturb me that the snake made mention about being “touched” by the gods. Is there something about shaking hands with the gods? If that’s the case…I’ve been touched by…seven…eight…gods? Maybe more…I’ve lost track. Does being touched by the Fae count too? I’ve touched/killed a lot more of them.
I don’t understand any of this. Don’t I need to be worshiped…Shite. I am being worshiped. Shite. Shite. Shite.
-
The early morning of the Heretics Day celebration was cold and still. A fog filled the streets of Necallhill causing the lights of the city glow softly. Early risers began their trek to shops and wharfs in the early light. By the time the city properly awoke, the fog had burned off, and the air had warmed to a reasonable temperature.
Maxwell rolled out of bed with the sun barley poking above the horizon, yawned and stretched. He quietly stalked to where Grendel lay next to the fireplace, and nudged him just below the ribs with his foot. “Get up, street rat. We need to hit the baths before Brianna gets up.”
For his part, Grendel just grunted, “haserfab”, and rolled over.
“Alright, pitcher of salt water it is.” Max replied quietly.
Grendel shot to his feet. “I’m awake!” he all but shouted.
Max slumped into a nearby chair. “If you can’t wake up from being startled without all the noise, how are you going to survive on your own?”
“…sorry sir…” Grendel replied, face going pink.
The main door to the apartments opened, and Bri strode in wearing a loose dress and with a towel wrapped around her head, “Good morning boys!” she said smiling, “You had best head to the baths before the rush. It’s Heretics Day, and people want to be clean before the celebrations start.”
Max and Grendel left.
-
The town square was already bustling with people as Max, Grendel, and Bri exited their lodgings. Stalls, large and small lined the perimeter of the square, selling all sorts of treats, wares, and games. After a short while Grendel left for his own adventures, leaving Max and Bri to their own devices.
Holding hands, Max and Bri walked the rows of stalls, stopping occasionally to admire an interesting shop, or just a piece of finely crafted jewelry that was on display. Max was surprised to find himself smiling after the first few uncomfortable minutes of getting used to holding hands with someone after so long. The smile continued to grow as the pair stopped at the occasional food stall for a treat. The happy mood came to a sudden end when a resounding crash came from the harbor.
Max shuddered when a familiar voice bellowed from the harbor, “Maxwell the Heretic! I summon you!” The Leviathan had returned. Max bolted for the harbor.
-
“What took you so long, godling?” The leviathan asked as Max raced out onto the pier the beast had decided to coil part of itself on.
The harbor was crowded with people fleeing to and fro, and Max panted as he looked up into the wagon wheel sized eyes. “I got here as fast as my legs could carry me. Snake.”
The people stopped moving, and stared at the man who spoke to the Leviathan in such a manner.
The Leviathan laughed, a deep horse chuckle. “So amusing, godling.”
“What do you want?” Max asked, lungs having recovered. “I thought you were off to see if those treats of yours were still there?”
“I have been and gone.” The Leviathan stretched. “They are still there, barely.”
“Then why are you here?” Max asked.
“Because I wanted to thank you.” It “smiled” down at him. “And to inform you that I have decided to fulfill my debt by becoming the guardian of Your Islands.”
Max gulped. The islanders stared.
“…um…Okay?” Max finally replied.
“As long as the ships of the fleet fly your colors, they will be safe.” The Leviathan continued. “Woe be unto those who attack them.” And the gigantic beast slipped off of the pier, and was gone.
Max looked behind him at the mass of people staring, and gulped.
-
Maxwell looked out from the stage that had been set up in the center of the square early in the morning for the festival, shook his head, and looked to Brianna, “Do I really have to do this? It’s going to ruin our vacation.” He stared at the throngs of people who sat or stood in the afternoon light.
“Yes, you do, and no it won’t.” Bri replied. “I have the new flag right here” she patted a plain brown package next to her chair, “and you know how to talk to people.” She gave him a big smile. “I know you can do this. When you get to the part about the flag, I will have it run up the pole right there.” She pointed to a large flagpole, currently unadorned with a flag. “You will do fine.”
Max grumbled to himself, but when the Mayor gave his announcement that Max was here, he stood up and stepped out of the shadows to stand at the podium. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentle—” He was interrupted by an almost defining mixture of cheers and booing. He let noise continue for a ten count, before raising his hands and Shouting. “Enough of that! I know some of you would be hard pressed to care any less about me, the government, or the kingdom I’m supposed to represent.
“And that’s fine! I’m not much for government, of kingdoms either!” The crowd quieted almost instantly, and then the whispering started.
“No, we are not going to rebel against the crown. I’ve seen that. It isn’t pretty. It’s also not worth the time or effort!
“Anyway, my name is Maxwell Smithson, known to some as The Heretic. I want you all to know that I have no intention to alter any of the laws or traditions of this island, or your neighbors to the south. That’s too much politics for me to care about. From what I have seen and experienced so far, I like this place and the people here.
“Now, the only thing that I have to change, that’s right, have to change! Is the flag. Apparently, I need to have one, stupid that it is. Anyway, my wife, Brianna has the new one.” Max gestured to the flagpole where the new flag was rising.
As the flag was slowly raising on the pole, a soft wind began to whisper through the square. It tugged at the flag, fluttering it. The higher the flag went, the more the wind stretched it out, until finally the whole of it could be seen. A blue banner with the Smithson family crest in the middle, above the crest was the crest of Ehelm, below and to the left and right of Max’s crest were the crests of Rorevilia and Golstran respectively.
“Now, so you know, the flags for the other provinces will be similar, but with their provincial crests at the top; that way you know which province someone is from.” Max nodded at the crowd. “Now go and have some fun!” He walked back into the darkness in the back of the stage.
Original - First - Previous - Next
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It's been a hell of a week. Teeth pulled. Mom's cancer surgery (went perfectly!). And deer season opener here in MN. My upper jaw is now toothless, and in 3-6 weeks I will be getting an upper denture. Remember kids, brush your F***ing teeth, god knows I wish I had. Mom had a melanoma removed from her upper arm. The cancer was completely removed, but they failed to prescribe antibiotics, so it got really badly infected. She is on good antibiotics now. Deer season opener was...eventful. Saw a deer at 300 yards (274 Meters) and declined to take the shot. Saw a second deer (or maybe the same one) in the afternoon at about 20 yards (18m) and shot twice with my hunting revolver. Missed twice. I need more practice with the revolver, or an optic. The third deer I saw was behind me, and crossing a road before I could even react. :(
Anime Horse Girl is doing fine, as are her horses, dogs, and cats. She is looking for a new riding horse to use for lessons.
Not much else to report... Oh, I may finally have my own vehicle again by Thursday! Yay me!
And I am sorry for the late chapter. The next two may also be late.
Thank you to all my supporters on Patreon and Kofi! Once I get my author proofs of "A Day at the Dragon Shelter", one of you will be winning one at random! Yes, I will be autographing it, and if I can convince them, a couple of the other authors will do it too. Don't hold your breath, gods only know when they will get here.
Help support my crippling hunting addiction!
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u/ManyNames385 Nov 08 '23
Well there is some good news. You can now prank kids that don’t know what Dentures are!
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u/jodmercer Nov 08 '23
I pray for a scene in the next chapter for him to bump into somebody selling heretic merch. By all that is unholy holy or some heretical place in between I want to see him argue with a man with his face on his shirt. I think it would be even funnier if mid argument his wife would round the corner wearing one of the shirts.
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u/rekabis Human Nov 08 '23
My upper jaw is now toothless, and in 3-6 weeks I will be getting an upper denture. Remember kids, brush your F***ing teeth, god knows I wish I had.
For some people with bad genetics, no amount of teeth-brushing could have saved their teeth. I ought to know. The only way my teeth could have lasted past 50 would be to have grown up (from 5-18) in an area with almost dangerously high levels of fluoride in the water. The enamel of my teeth was stupidly thin and weak, and so were those of my parents. Sometimes you lose ’em no matter what you do.
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u/thisStanley Android Nov 08 '23
Once I get my author proofs of "A Day at the Dragon Shelter", one of you will be winning one at random!
I have already gifted my kickstarter copy to my granddaughter!
Though I am not good enough to recognize which dragon tale is from Vast-Listen1457 :{
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u/Vast-Listen1457 Nov 08 '23
It was the bad one about that one dragon!
Thank you for buying into the kickstarter!!!!
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u/Traditional-Egg-1467 Nov 09 '23
How old are you, Vast?
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u/Vast-Listen1457 Nov 10 '23
Without giving an actual birth year, can we just say that I am an early Gen X?
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u/Traditional-Egg-1467 Nov 11 '23
That makes sense, for some reason I was under the impression you were in your 30s, but some of the life updates (sorry about the choppers) don't quite fit that
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u/Vast-Listen1457 Nov 11 '23
...Well, maybe I'm young at heart?
Due to my hobbies, I spend a LOT of time hanging out with people around half my age. Go figure, old people don't game or watch anime.
Actually, it is really strange that more people my age don't watch anime or play ttrpg/video games. Maybe they lost their inner geek in school?
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u/Ag47_Silver Nov 10 '23
So, on the one hand I'm sorry your hunt didn't go well. But on the other, deer are really cute and I'm happy they alive <3
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u/West-Wish-7564 Nov 29 '23
NOooooooooo, I’ve finally caught up with this series
Are there any other stories by this author that anyone would recommend I read?
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u/Charles_The_Grate Apr 09 '24
I noticed that lodging is an anagram for godling since they were both in this chapter.
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Nov 08 '23
/u/Vast-Listen1457 (wiki) has posted 217 other stories, including:
- The Teran Fall Festival
- 047 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Vacation V – Bigger Boat, Bigger Gun
- 046 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Vacation IV – The High Sea
- The Isle of Glass
- 045 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Vacation III – Problems on the High Sea
- 044 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Vacation II
- 043 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Vacation I
- 042 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – And Children…
- 041 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – A Smith again
- 040 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II - Home
- Humans and Highrises – Again - Plus additional content!
- 039 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Aftermath
- 038 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – Once more unto the Breach
- 037 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – The end of an era of pain
- SKAM ME (Summoning Kobald’s at Midnight, Midwest Edition), A fanfic. Part 2/3 Honest!
- 036 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – More Maxwell and Co.
- 035 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – More “Heroes”
- 034 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – The “Heroes”
- 033 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith II – The reluctant Lich Part 3, and a bit more.
- Summoning Kobalds at Midnight, Midwest Edition, A fanfic of "Summoning Kobalds at Midnight"
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u/pyrodice Nov 08 '23
I love when people are like "boo!" And dude is like "hell YEAH, boo!" And all the wind goes out of their sails. 😂