Once upon a time there was a prosperous town called Pasna. The people there were very happy, nestled between the sprawling plains and the lush hill country. All was well. Until the giant came.

It had traveled from the farthest edge of the hills, under the black crag where nothing grows. A lone figure full of malice and greed, it demanded the townspeople give it half of all their harvest.

The townspeople protested, they would not surrender their hard worked harvest to a rude usurper. The giant laughed. With one kick it leveled the stone grand hall, and with the snap of its fingers all the buildings around it was engulfed in flame. As the villagers scurried about, trying to save their homes, the giant laughed and proclaimed: I like this place, so I shall stay. Before the last sunset of each month each household shall bring half their earnings to the yawning cave.

The giant made no threat, for it didn’t need to. Humble farmers and artisans were no match for a Warlock giant, and they had no knights to or defenders to call on.

They did as it demanded, all through the fall and into the freezing winter. The giant was cruel, taking more than the farmers could afford. Any bargaining was met with a sneer, and false claims of misfortune were severely punished.

When the snow melted and the birds returned the townspeople were much diminished. Sapped of strength and hope, and many their very lives. They would take no more.

They gathered in the main square, amongst the wreckage of the town hall, and listened to the mayor. He demanded action, they would no longer sit idle and let this giant destroy them. They would fight back! But how?

“I will go!” Someone called. It was Makeda, a young farm girl born and raised in the town. “I will go out and find a warrior. Someone brave and true and strong. A hero!”

The townsfolk cheered. What a grad idea. Supplies were gathered and the best bike in town made ready. As the sun rose the next day Makeda set out to great fanfare, full of hope and purpose. She peddled out into the world, ready for what wait. As noon approached she reached the first crossroads, and realized a great flaw in her plan: While she had of many great heroes throughout the land, she didn’t actually know where to find them.

As she stood and thought an old woman appeared. She had long run out of supplies so Makeda happily shared a meal with her and gave her further supplies; she had enough to reach the far edges of the known lands.

The old woman was deeply grateful and asked what she could do in return. Makeda told the woman her plight and asked what she should do. The old woman had the answer. She knew of four warriors that could face such a beast:

To the North is Haruna, an exsplorer who has mapped nearly all of the northern mountain range and dispatched the tyrannical yeti king who tried to invade the lower lands. She makes her home in the village of Hullun.

To the west is Kapena, a brave sea captain that slayed the black serpent of the North Sea. He docks in the port of Kainuinani.

To the East is Sir Bambang, knight of Kanmayun, who bested the dark wizard of Morgaroon and his five hell hounds.

To the South is Voski, a machinery of great skill and reigning champion of the red arena in Hesto. She lives in and owns the Sky Fang tavern where you can see the heads of the five dragons she has slain in her life.

If you want my advice, start with Bambang. He is said to be a noble soul sworn to aid anyone who call on his skills.

Makeda took her advice.

It took just a few days to reach Kanmayun, known as the crown jewel of the forest. It was a beautiful city, but behind its walls was chaos. A once peaceful forest fairy, wielding strange powers, had attacked and stolen the infant princess. Bambang and disappeared some years before and all the knights were out protecting their borders from ogres and trolls. There was no one to save the princess.

Makeda wouldn’t stand or this. Imps and fairies were always playing pranks on Pasna’s farmers so Makeda knew exactly how to deal with them. She collected herbs for a simple charm and set off.

Night had fallen by the time she reached the fairy’s home. She snuck in and quickly found the baby. The fairy was singing the little princess to sleep in a nursery. A quick distraction lured the fairy away and Makeda scooped up the baby. She tried to escape, but the baby started to cry and the fairy caught them.

Makeda threw her charm and stunned the fairy. As she fell Makeda spotted an amulet around her neck; the source of her strange powers? Makeda grabbed the necklace and yanked it from her neck.

The fairy calmed down and begged Makeda’s forgiveness. A traveler had come to her house and sold her the amulet. As soon as she put it on she became confused. She forgot that her young son had gone to visit family with her husband and panicked, thinking him lost. The traveler convinced her that the king and queen of Kanmayun had stolen her child and she flew into a rage.

Makeda returned the little princess with the fairy, who set her powers to repairing all the damage she caused. The people were sympathetic to her plight and forgave her.

A great celebration was held in Makeda’s honor. She was plied with drinks, food, and praises. The king and queen tried again and again to reward her for her bravery, but she refused it all: I have done no more than anyone would have with the knowledge I possess.

The next morning Makeda decided to take the train north to see if she could persuade Haruna to help her. Before she left the king forced a new set of clothes and some money for food on her; they also paid for her ticket. The fairy was also there and gave her a book of spells and the amulet, stripped of the curse that confused her. The northern mountains were known for monsters and Makeda needed to be able to protect herself.

Armed and well dressed, Makeda boarded the train to her next stop.

It took just one day to reach Hullun. One restful, comfortable, stress free day that allowed Makeda to study her new spell book. They were all simple spells, easy for her to understand, and easy to get her in trouble. She was no longer allowed to bring her book into the dining car.

The Hullun station was deserted, not even the station master was on duty. The conductor tried to talk Makeda into staying aboard to the next stop as they unloaded her bike, but she was determined. She had her book of spells and a mission, but she appreciated the concern.

Hullan was a small town, tucked so deep and high in the mountains the touch of winter only abated two months out of the year. As Makeda walked through town the silence pressed in on her. The snow smothered all sound, but the weeping of mothers.

A sleeping sickness had fallen on the town, claiming the children first. No one knew the source, no one knew of a cure, they only knew the source: up the western pass, toward the highest peak, where the first victim was found.

The townsfolk tried to make Makeda feel welcome, but they couldn’t hide their fear and grief. Who would go next? How long could they survive in that state? How long until they all fell?

Makeda wouldn’t stand for it. The next morning she bundled up and headed out, spell book in hand.

Only a thin breeze and the crunch of snow kept Makeda company as she made her way into the mountains. The snow was deep from the night before, but nothing she couldn’t handle. In time she came to a fork in the path. One way went down and out of the mountains; the other was marked with over a dozen warning signs and wards. Evil waited down that path, so naturally it was the one she took.

It was only a bit further until she found something promising: An abandoned and ominous black tower perched on the edge of a cliff. It seemed only moments from crumbling and falling into oblivion. Clearly the perfect place to start.

As Makeda approached a strange mist crept out from the tall gate. A tall figure rose from the mist, draped in tattered, pale rags with long, spidery hands. A feeling of dread filled the air as pure rage wafted from the figure. A Wraith.

Makeda recognized it from her spell book: a spirit made from a collection of vengeful souls all seeking vengeance on the same person. They search the land, destroying anyone or thing in their path, until they achieve satisfaction or their target die. And there was no out running a wraith.

Makeda flipped open her book to one of the pages she’d saved. She found it just in time to block the first attack. Soon they were fighting, the wraith pushing Makeda into the mountain side. Makeda kept blocking, trying to find the attack spell she’d marked the day before. She found it and fired back.

The wraith was thrown back, surprised, and Makeda made a dash for the tower. Wraiths couldn’t go inside buildings, she was safe; or not. A hissing drew her deeper into the tower. Inside she found a small, scaly demon wrapped around a sword driven into a marble angel. She searched her spell book and found it was a dream gremlin; a creature who fed on bad dreams. The book warned that if a dream gremlin got hold of powerful magic they could put their prey under a sleeping curse. The book also said how to take care of such creatures. A quick spell and the problem was solved. Now, how to deal with the wraith?

It floated just outside the door, blocking her exit entirely. But it offered a deal. Many years ago it had tracked its prey to this pass, but a young warrior had used an enchanted sword to tether the wraith to the tower. Since then their quarry had passed, but the sword still bound them. If Makeda removed the sword the wraith could pass on.

Makeda did so, taking the sword with her. The wraith was gone and Makeda returned to Hullan without incident. The crying was louder than ever, but they were tears of oy. All the children had awoken and their families were celebrating. Makeda told no one what she had done, but the children knew; they had seen her. A great festival was arranged which lasted for an entire week. Makeda slipped away on the third day. Haruna had moved away some years so Makeda still had a mission to complete.

She headed south, along the western coast. The city of Kainuinani was her next destination, where the brave Captain Kapena made port.

At an inn she met an old sailor also headed for Kainuinani. He walked with a cane and a long way to go, so Makeda offered to travel with him so he could ride her bike. He was endlessly grateful and offered to teach her how to use her new sword in return; it was laughably obvious she had no clue.

The miles passed quickly as he taught her the steps and forms. She was a good student, though she suspected the swords enchantments helped. It was no time at all when they arrived in Kainuinani, and found it in crisis.

Strange singing from the ocean had lured all the men out to sea. The women were terrified for their husbands and children, but none of them had the skill to navigate the treacherous waters where the men had gone; in fact there was almost no one alive who did. But the old sailor could.

In truth he was Kapena, the very man Makeda had come to find. With a good ship he could steer those waters and the women set about securing him one. He asked Makeda to come with him. He was much too old to fight sea monsters, and there was always the risk he too might fall under the spell. She agreed.

The seas were rough as they sailed to the sheer cliff. Jagged rocks and menacing sea mounts clutter the mouth of the sea cave, but the captain had it well in hand. He was calling orders and twisted the wheel with all the experience gained in his long career; it was amazing to watch. They slipped into the dark cave and drifted on the current to its heart, lanterns guiding their way.

Light fell on a school of mermaids sitting in the shallows. Among them were the missing men, dazed and unresponsive. The mermaids had been saving them from the rocks and bringing them here, but nothing they did could wake them. As the women guided them aboard the school’s teacher explained to Kapena and Makeda. A nixie--a fresh water sprite--that lived in a spring atop the cliff had been singing the song. She had made some pact with an evil creature for the siren’s song. Some years before her beloved sea serpent was killed and she wanted revenge on everyone involved.

Kapena knew of the serpent, it’d been his ship that chased the creature down after it sank twelve ships. If the nixie learned of his return she would just keep singing and drive the whole city into the sea. She had to be stopped. Makeda would stop her.

As Makeda readied for her hike Kapena gave her a shield. It had been left in his care by the brave warrior who slayed the serpent. She had no idea how to use it and a sword, but at the very least it would protect her back. Such a treacherous creature was capable of anything.

The cliff was overgrown with trees and shrubs, making the going difficult for Makeda. She struggled through to find the spring, deserted. Singing started just on the cliff. Makeda burst through the trees to see the little Nixie standing on the edge.

Makeda drew her sword and the Nixie stopped. She tried to bargain with Makeda. She offered her all the treasure to be found in the city; Makeda wasn’t interested. She offered to sing her enemies to their doom; Makeda doubted it. She offered her to share her power; Makeda had no need of such darkness. Finally, desperately, she begged for mercy. She promised to stop, to leave the city in peace and surrender the artifact that allowed her to sing. Makeda believed her and stowed her sword.

She allowed the nixie to pass to return to her spring. But the Nixie had lied. As soon as she passed Makeda she rushed at her and tried to push her off the cliff. Makeda ducked, catching the sprite in the chest, and threw her over her back. She tumbled across the ground and over the side, falling to her death.

The enchanted men were returned to their senses and a great celebration was held. The whole city wished to thank Makeda and commend her bravery, but when the great ceremony was to be held she was nowhere to be found. Kapena and his new crew had smuggled her away. She had a mission to complete and her time was running out, they knew she had to go. They wished her their best and sent her off to her last hope: Voski.

Hesto was in the heart of the dry lands, built around a spring on the edge of the endless desert. Rain came only twice a year as great floods that washed away anyone foolish enough to be out during the three day storms. The storm had come and gone by the time Makeda was making her way to Hesto. So, needless to say, it was hot. Too hot.

Makeda stumbled into the first tavern she could find and drank all the water she could get her hands on before collapsing on the floor; it was not her most dignified moment. When she regained her senses she realized that she’d wandered into the Sky Fang tavern. Perfect! Now all she had to do was find Voski, but something caught her attention.

Hesto was known for its cheerful people and rowdy taverns, but the room was downright desolate. A sense of bitter hopelessness filled the air like a gas. But maybe it was nothing, a bad betting day or something. I wasn’t as if every place she visited had some crisis no one else could solve. Right?

Wrong.

Makeda discovered just how bad things were when she finally met Voski. The mountain of a woman was bruised and bandaged, her arm in a sling. She’d been brutally defeated in the ring by a newcomer who claimed the title of champion. Might made right in Hesto and the new champion was using his new power to suck the city of all its wealth. The only way to stop him was to defeat him in the ring, but he’d soundly defeated every contender so far.

Well, it wasn’t as if Makeda could ignore this kind of mess. Besides, she’d done well so far, and this was exactly the sort of thing worth pushing your luck for. All she needed was someone to teach her the tricks of the arena.

It took some convincing, but Voski agreed to train her. It was a brutal week, but then she was ready. She challenged the corrupt champion. He also took some convincing, but eventually he took her challenge seriously and they entered the ring.

He showed her no mercy, attacking with the fierceness of a tiger. She held him off, blocky and dodging each blow, but she wasn’t used to combat and it showed. Her sleeves were quickly torn to shreds, pushed around the whole arena. A bad step and her defenses went down. A slash to the face. Blood blinded her eye. But she felt something.

Magic. He was a wizard, and nobody else knew. Well, the best way to fight magic was with magic.

She pushed him back; matching his spells and finding his blade work no better than her own. She was going to win, and he knew it. He gave up pretense and tried to curse her, but he wasn’t a match for Makeda. She rebounded the spell and he was turned into a harmless chicken.

Hesto was saved, the whole city celebrated, but Makeda didn’t have the heart. It would be months before Voski was in any shape to fight a giant. Pasna didn’t have the time to wait. Makeda had failed.

And then the old woman appeared again; she was Voski’s mother. She had one last lead for Makeda, a last hope. Deep the endless desert was a cave where lived a wise and all-knowing oracle. If she could find them they’d point her directly to her hero.

Makeda wanted to set out right away, but Voski insisted she rest after her fight. The next day she set out into the desert, with a week’s worth of supplies and a blessed cape; a gift from Voski that would protect her from all magical or elemental harm.

A day into the desert Makeda encountered a caravan in trouble. Their usual route through was blocked by a Grootslang; a cave dwelling snake of impossible size. Luckily, Makeda’s book told her exactly how to deal with a Grootslang. In exchange the caravan would take her to the first marker to the oracle's cave.

It was a bit difficult to get the snake to do exactly what she wanted, but in the end Makeda prevailed. The next day the caravan dropped her off at the first marker and went on its way. It took her a few days to follow the trail, but eventually she found the oracle’s cave.

Guarded by a dragon!

Just typical.

Makeda was more than ready to fight the dragon, and then she saw that it was hurt. It had several deep wounds, bite marks. It looked like it had had an encounter with the Grootslang before she got to it. Dragons were resistant to venom, but not immune. It would take a while, but the dragon would die.

Makeda approached the cave. The dragon tried to rise, but it was too weak. It blew fire, but her cape blocked it. It snarled, but she wasn’t moved. She reached the dragon and stowed her sword.

It watched her cautiously as she pulled out her book. She flipped through and found the healing spells. She began to work, first neutralizing the poisons and then stitching up the wounds. It took only a few moments and the dragon was healed and back on its feet.

She waited, half sure the dragon would still defend the cave. But then it bowed and let her pass. She didn’t hesitate.

The cave turned out to be empty. Small and dark, there was no place to hide, just a tarnished old mirror set in the wall. She approached the mirror and saw only herself.

She plopped onto the floor and raged. After everything she’d gone through, this was it? She’d left her home for the first time in her life for this! She’d climbed mountains, crossed deserts, and been to every corner of the known lands! She’d snuck into a fairy’s house, battled a wraith, and killed a demon! She’d faced an evil nixie, bested a wizard, slayed a Grootslang and...and healed a dragon…

Had she really done all that?

She stood and looked in the mirror. Really looked. It’d only been a month ago that she left Pasna, and yet the change was clear to see. She was the fittest she’d ever been, the strongest, armed with skills she’d never imagined herself having. The farm girl was gone, what was left was a hero. A hero that just might be able to beat a giant.

She left the cave and headed for home.

It was as if the people of Pasna had never seen anything as curious as the girl riding into their town. Many of Makeda’s endeavors had made it back to them, but most had trouble believing them. Their doubt vanished when they saw her.

She headed straight for home and got a big hug from her parents. I was good to be home.

Once night fell the mayor and many others from town came to the house to speak with Makeda. They bombarded her with questions: Were the stories true? What are wraiths like? Did she really meet mermaids? How did she kill a Grootslang?

She answered them all with a smile. But as the night went on she became tired of retelling her adventures in pieces. Near midnight her mother stepped in and quieted them with a single word. It was time for Makeda to rest from her journey. But there was one last question that needed asking: Did she find them a hero?

She smiled. “You’ll see tomorrow.”

They went home, anxious to understand her cryptic answer. Makeda went to bed, thankful to be sleeping in her own bed once more. She’d had plenty of time to think one her way back to Pasna; time to plan. She knew exactly what she was going to do.

The next morning, before the sun rose, she grabbed her last set of supplies and headed into the hills. Hidden by the pre-dawn gloom she made her way to the yawning cave. As she expected the giant had put up all sorts of magical protections, but a few little spells and she slipped through to the mouth. She didn’t dare go in with the giant there. She found a hiding place nearby, set herself up, and waited.

Hours passed, mid-morning came and so did the giant, finally leaving his cave. He took a long, deep breath, and then went back inside. Makeda was understandably frustrated. It took nearly 4 hours, but just after mid-day he left his cave for real.

Makeda waited until he disappeared over the hills before hurrying inside.

Everything inside the cave was huge, from the chairs, to the desk, to the cups; it was surreal. A quick search and Makeda found the treasure chamber, practically aglow with gold and jewels. She collected an arm full and created a trail leading to the cave mouth. Rushing back she went about working her magic. A curse, some illusions and she was ready. Time to wait again.

It was an hour this time until she heard the giant’s footsteps. A moment’s pause, and then running. The giant burst into the chamber and went straight for his gold. As soon as he touched it the curse took hold. In a flash he was shrunk down to human size.

“Clever,” He called to the room. “But maybe not clever enough.”

He struck out at one of her illusions meant to be a hiding place, but not her hiding place. He struck again and again, but he couldn’t find her. Finally she struck. She rushed from her hiding spot and struck, but he just managed to block.

It turned into a battle of sword and spells, neither of them gaining ground. His magic was stronger and more practiced, his strength alarming, but her sword work was more experienced and she easily danced around him. She was quick on her feet, and that was what won her the day.

He went to block but she feinted, and struck him with a curse. In mere seconds he was turned to stone. It was all over.

The townsfolk reclaimed their treasure and freedom. A grand celebration was held. It was nowhere near as grand or exciting as the ones Makeda had been to before, but she enjoyed it with all her heart. She’d done what she set out to do, even if it wasn’t the way she planned.

When the party was finally over Makeda took her amulet, her sword, her shield, and her cloak and locked them in a chest; they would be of no use as she put her hand back to the plow. But she kept the key always around her neck. Because, who knew? The day may well come when a hero was needed again.

The End