After a long conversation with his parents about not wanting to join a church, Jacob then had to explain on who Crow was and his beliefs.
"I... I just wanted a friend to play with and Crow played with me."
"A god played with you?"
"I know it sounds strange, but I think Crow is compassionate and is looking for friends rather than followers."
"Hunny, a god doesn't look for friends, they wish to spread followers to gain more power."
"But then why would a god pay attention to me?"
"..."
As unreasonable as it was, they had no idea how to respond to that question. When Jacob turned 3 he was taken to the church of Arsenia to be tested for holy talent when it was discovered he had none they were thrown out of the church.
Now some unknown god has made their son a priest?
"I heard that demonic gods look for people to torment and control, are you sure crow isn't a demonic god?"
A flash of worry and fear flashes across his parents faces. They all have heard of the horrors that take place in cults following demonic gods.
Demonic Gods are entities that accept tainted belief filled with desire with slowly pulls them down to madness. The demonic gods are filled with greed that often turns sadistic into leading their followers to pillage and torture villages and travellers.
In the last century the cult of the broken cross once attacked a neighbouring city leaving nothing but pain and destruction in their wake. The church of Arsenia joint with the kingdoms army to deal with the cultists.
A bloody crusade that lasted for a month took place against a demonic god who enjoyed playing with his victims.
After the battle the truth of the small deity was released to be about a small farming deity in a village that had absorbed the villages fear of wolfs and desire for money, becoming more aggressive against outsiders and greedy for riches.
the church of Arsenia has always been aggressive against cults as they knew they would be a threat to the kingdom and Arsenias religion. On the other hand the temple of Abraxes pays little attention to cults of this level as they would have no affect against Abraxes, even if the city falls the temple has plenty of other cathedrals to run.
Abraxes and the other major religions always have an isolationist policy against the outside world. As long as a force doesn't touch them they would not interfere.
Even Jacob had to hesitate to answer this question. What if Crow spoke to him just to make him an inside spy for a cult. But then he thought of what Crow has done for him. "Theres no way Crow is a demonic god."
"If you say so hunny, Just be careful. If he does anything you find uncomfortable tell us immediately, okay?" His parents weren't very convinced but decided to give Jacob the right to decide, he's a growing lad that could grow from this experience while they safely keep an eye on him.
After breakfast, Jacob got down from the table and headed into the servants quarters. The servants all ignored Jacob as this was his usual routine, the servants would gossip about it saying that they still had commoner routes and most would report back to their true masters, the other nobles in the city.
Soon news would spread about Jacob having the talent of a priest to a minor deity, but this would just bring more mockery as deities are commonly prayed to by villages for a better harvest.
Jacob sat down in the servants dining area with a pile of wood. Today he will complete his woodwork advancement task.
he had reached max level for basic wood work last week and is eager to become a beginner carpenter. At this level one would have enough skill to open their own carpentry.
[Basic woodwork advancement task]
[You have reached the peak of understanding of basic woodwork and are ready to advance to beginner woodwork.]
[Complete an army of toy soldiers: 49/50]
[Create a small work of art: 0/1]
The task was quite simple as he has almost finished the first part and would do so in an hour, however when it comes to a work of art Jacob is completely stumped.
Creating an achievement was a common task for almost every advancement class. Once one completes an art that is recognised by the system, the work would be graded as an item. Depending on the grade of the art would depend on the grade of the title that will come with the upgraded skill.
The grades go: Iron, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, diamond, extraordinary, epic, legendary. There are higher grades but they are so rare and kept as secrets by larger forces.
Jacob would be fine with just getting an iron grade work of art as woodwork is just a hobby he uses to pass the time now.
When his family were poor he picked up woodwork by watching a local carpenter work so he can sell toys to help his parents pay taxes and for food.
But now he carries on because it has become a habit. Something that can make him forget about the world of nobles. Little does he know is that its become his therapy during his lonely times.
After completing his final soldier he grabs another log and holds his shiv and ponders on what to create. He has attempted to make a work of art before but they have never been considered grade-able to the system.
He's tried creating his most detailed toys and even made a dining set copied from his mothers extravagant cutlery, but they were both rejected by the system.
He wanted something meaningful to him that would be recognised as his first work of art. something that could bring him joy that he experienced last night.
That's when he decided to create an idol dedicated to Crow.
He had no idea how Crow looked so he decided to create a crow and a shadowy figure. He began to whittle away at the bark and wood carving out an idea of a humanoid shape.
Without him realising his hands begun to move and he started to carve as his mind began to wonder. He is grateful for Crow for coming in to his life and bringing him something akin to closure and clarity over what he needed.
With these thoughts he began to smile reminiscing about how Crow took playing with his toy soldiers so seriously even creating a ransom and battle tactics that was enough for him to gain a profession skill.
He originally planned to have a blue soldier betray his comrades and open the gates for the enemy army but Crow changed the story.
Just how Crow had already started influencing fate of Jacob Flicks.
Just then a system message arrived.
[Congratulations for completing the basic woodwork advancement task]
[You have forgotten the skill basic woodwork]
[You have gained the skill beginner woodwork]
[beginner woodwork: lv1](you have started your journey of carpentry, you are able to craft items with a chance to be recognised by the system.]
Wait, What?
When did Jacob complete a work of art?
Jacob looked down at his hands and was shocked to see what he had crafted.
A wooden child sat in a small wooden chair next to a table containing a castle and a miniature army charging forward on horseback. Small figures can be seen on the castle wall holding bows and javelins preparing to throw at the approaching Calvary.
But what shocked Jacob enough was the wooden humanoid child standing opposite his depiction with large wings that stretch half way around the table. Long hair that flows down the Childs back and on a soft looking fabric.
He did not know how, but he knew this was Crows true appearance.
As he inspects the work of art a system interface appears.
[Crow and Jacobs playtime]
[A wooden idol created by a talented young carpenter depicting the childhood of the god, Crow.]
[grade: platinum]
[When praying to the idol faith is increased by 50%, when around the idol mood will calm down and happiness increases, attraction to children increased, lonely children are more likely to become a follower of Crow]
[fame +1]
[Tale of a lonely carpenter: chapter 1]
(Jacob was a child who was taken away from his friends and family after his father was promoted to baron of the Catalan kingdom. After a year of being bullied by other nobles his wishes were answered by an unlikely being the newborn god Crow. Together the two played war with toy soldiers crafted by Jacob. The next day Jacob crafted a platinum grade idol of the event.]
[Fame +2]