To James Baker, life wasn't perfect, but it was good. He had a decent job, his family was loving and supportive, and his childhood friend was his pretty girlfriend who enjoyed gaming just as much as he did. He was even on his way to a degree for software development.
Then, a simple joking shove from his girlfriend when he pretended to whisper dirty talk in her ear after class made him trip and hit his head. He walked it off and assured her that he was fine, but after a few months, the headaches began, followed not long after by his brain sometimes feeling sluggish. He went to the doctor, and got stunning news. His brain had been damaged, and it was slowly breaking down. He had a couple years before he was gone.
James wasn't going to cry about it, or sit around praying for a miracle that may never come. He decided to get his life settled before he died. He proposed to his girlfriend and received an enthusiastic and slightly sorrowful yes. They had a lovely wedding, and he got things settled with his family and friends. His college education wouldn't do him much good anymore, so he used his tuition fees to instead pay for his wife's, so there would be more money while he was around and after he was gone. He lived every day making sure they both were happy and without regrets. And then, when the end drew near, his wife began showing. He lived just long enough to see the faces of his twins, a boy and a girl, both healthy and happy. He recorded videos for them to watch when they grew older and threw everything he had into spoiling them and his wife before he finally passed in his sleep. James was somewhat sad about what he would miss out on, but still, he was happy. He could pass on in peace. Well, he thought.
"Hello James." James' soul, for that was what he was now, a soul on his way to the afterlife and whatever awaited him there, looked around for lack of a better term. But there was nothing, just darkness. Not threatening, deep darkness that filled him with fear. The soft, gentle darkness one experiences during a long, restful sleep. "Apologies for interrupting you, but I have a request. Know in advance that you can answer however you wish, and then you will be sent on your way."
James was confused and kept looking around in vain, then slowly nodded, or at least tried to before remembering he had no body. "Alright, shoot."
The voice seemed to sigh in relief, and then James felt something. A presence, neither comforting or unsettling, simply... There. "My gratitude. Allow me to begin by telling you who and what I am. My name is Yalthos, and in a world seperate from your own, I am a god. Note that I say a god, not The God." James began to grow confused again. "Apologies. You see, there is more than one god, but only one God." James noticed there was an emphasis on the second time he said the word god. So big G God then. "We lesser gods are simply beings and people who achieved something extraordinary that made us... More than what we once were, and He took notice. We were rewarded with further evolution, becoming gods in our own right. We act under His watch, both good and evil, but must limit our ability to take direct action. When we do, it is with His permission. He is more hands-off than most believe, content to let people live their lives as they wish, with small nudges from us or Himself to benefit you towards a better path. And even when we nudge you, the choice to follow is yours. Simple enough?"
"What about that was simple?" The presence chuckled at James' response.
"Think of it like running a business. The true God is the big boss, and we lesser gods are managers. We all oversee ordinary people like you and do our best to help you succeed with as little interference as we can. And sometimes, people earn a promotion, and join us, while sometimes lesser gods who go too far are fired as it were and lose everything." James tried to nod again. That was easier to follow.
"In my world, my followers are people with incredible potential but unable to progress properly. I fear for their fates. So, I ask you to aid me in an experiment that He has sanctioned. Please, allow me to bind a fragment of yourself to one of my followers. And no I am not trying to trick you into sacrificing your soul or some other such nonsense!" James quickly derailed that train of thought. "Thank you. What I am asking is for a piece of who you are. And it will not affect you. But while I have no idea what will happen, my hope is that some of your traits and maybe even fragments of your knowledge will pass into my follower." James tried to blink as he recognized the tone the presence took. A god, a being who directly answered to THE God, was begging.
"Go right ahead."
He felt a wave of relief and gratitude from the presence. "You have my thanks, James. I hope that a piece of somebody like you can guide my followers to greater heights." James felt a gentle tug on his being, and something came free. Not painful or unnatural as if it had been ripped free, more like a piece of himself had been put into something, like artists described doing to their works. And he was then back on his way to the afterlife, while the piece of him went to Yalthos, who passed it on to a world far removed from Earth, and into a young gnoll named Yrn, who shivered as he felt the blessing from his god. As confirmation, a screen appeared in his vision that only he could see.
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE RECEIVED A BLESSING FROM YOUR PATRON DEITY! New options unlocked! You also receive 300 XP. Level up!