They had immense power, they had been gifted, though they would say cursed, with immortality. But what to do with it? Money wasn't exactly an interest, and they hated the idea of settling down and owning land, that would drive them nuts after a while. Who was that famous person again, that living god? Oh that's right, go to the temple of helping hands! Maybe they can give advice! -- The New Guy
Most immortals never come by it on purpose. Even those who do soon learn to regret their new lifetime. For Stagdaz, a humble Gobelliin fungus farmer, it was quite a shock to discover that ze couldn't die.
Getting up after falling four hundred feet onto spikes is always a give-away.
Ze didn't know what ze did to gain immortality, and didn't know what to do with it now that ze had it. There had to be a reason, right? Something to do with hirself to change the world. That was usually why the gods granted immortality. Wasn't it?
Stagdaz had a lot of questions about that, and no answers. Ze didn't want power. Ze didn't know how to protect hir people or where to begin. Besides, fortifying a Gobelliin burrow only invited Adventurers who wanted to see what all those fortifications were guarding. There was no real way for a single Gobelliin to stop any number of determined Adventurers.
There had to be someone who knew about this. Someone who had experience, and could therefore teach.
Someone else who had yet to die and was working to change the world.
A few days on the dreaded surface and Stagdaz learned of one famous around the world. Wraithvine. The eternal wizard.
It had been thousands of years since Elves and Gobelliin had had any business with each other. Well. Ze had to start business with an Elf now.
It took hir a month to find the real Wraithvine. Ze was amazed to learn there were so many pretending to be the immortal Elf.
Wraithvine was the only one who did not look down hir nose at Stagdaz. The Eternal Wizard also knew the look of the recently immortal.
"You come seeking knowledge?"
"Knowledge and advice," said Stagdaz. "On how to be a good immortal."
Wraithvine said, "Congratulations on a good first step."
[Photo by Clyde Gravenberch on Unsplash]
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