Late night story telling thoughts

[myrdschaem]

You know what is underused as a fantasy story set-up? Pilgrimage. I think that would be a fascinating way to have the plot. Pilgrimages in medieval Europe were usually financed by a community sending one person and Hajj was sponsored like that too, I think? Broad strokes, I know.

Anyway, so have a setting where the world/continent is in imminent danger on date X, only a prophecy says that pilgrimage will solve it. So many small communities are sponsoring someone in preparation for that and we follow one. Since I am not religious, I would probably handwave some fate selection instead of the most pious community member and have them set out. Even if they don't believe fervently, it means a lot to the overall community and is a rare way to get out of normal life. They could become the Hero or maybe they meet the Hero on the way.

Pilgrimage has stations to pass so different locales with different problems are built into the narrative. At least at one point the whole party has to be rerouted because transportation is scarce. And then there is fun to have with a cottage industry of people selling shit to pilgrims on the way. Somewhere on the journey, they slowly figure out what it is that actually needs to be done, then there is a big showdown at the pilgrimage site - very convenient ancient god site is right there too for drama! - the evil gets defeated and character arcs are fulfilled. Final chapter is returning home with a bunch of religious souvenirs for the community.

Anyway, pilgrimage in fantasy as focus. Did anyone ever write something along those lines?

Edit: I think this is currently appealing to me especially because it emphasizes helping each other as a community even when inconvenienced. Sadly topical wish fulfillment.

Comments

[theladyscribe]

There's a YA novel called Crusade In Jeans (Dutch originally, with English translation) by Thea Beckman that sort of fits this premise, but with some twists. The main/POV character is a time-traveler who accidentally finds himself in the middle of a Children's Crusade, initially led by a pious boy who had a vision. They get mixed up with some shady characters, and it does deal a little bit with different characters' different reasons for going on this pilgrimage. I don't know if it will scratch your itch, but I enjoyed it a lot.

[myrdschaem]

I will look into it. I think Children's Crusade wasn't a proper pilgrimage, more of a scammers get a ton of people to go on "Crusade" with them. Historical pilgrimage sites had (and have, tbh!) entire economic set-ups around them, there are official routes, inn recommendations over decades and so on. I have had some other recs for the concept in fantasy though.^^