One moment I was being ripped apart and flung to the ground. My friends were mourning me, and telling me it was ok to rest. The next, I was opening my eyes to find my friends with me in a warm room. With them was a large bald Goliath with red tattoos all over.
"Hello, Ashtar." Bibs said in a gentle voice.
"Why do you look weird?" I asked immediately. "Oh, glasses and neat hair."
"Yes. Well, it's been some time since you may last remember." Bibs said slowly.
Tilton leaned in and said, "It's been three hundred sixty-two years to be precise."
Bibs looked up at him disapprovingly and said, "I had intended to ease her into that."
"Suppose that's long enough of a rest, hm?" I asked.
Bibs smirked. "Yes. I.. believe that was a fine nap."
"That's a long time." I noted.
"Yes. Some things have changed. We don't have seasons at the moment." Bibs replied.
I was quiet and thoughtful for a moment. "What else?"
"Well, the Realm and Kingdom are practically at war. The only thing it lacks is soldiers." Bibs said.
"Monsters are far less prevalent. Still a problem, but not as bad." Tilton added.
"Well, that's ok. Don't gotta fight monster to help people." I said.
"I may have oversold the lack of monsters. They are still a problem." Tilton insisted.
"Sure thing, Trouble." I responded, sitting up and realizing I was on a table. "Good golly, still working off tables."
"More like it was the most convenient place. And safest. Don't open anything in here." Bibs said.
"Well, isn't that ominous." I commented.
"It's more of, I have a very particular ecosystem on my house.." Bibs said.
"I definitely died, huh?" I said. It was a question, but spoken as a statement.
"Yes. You did." Bibs said firmly.
"That's one way to skip time, I suppose." I replied. "I should be careful to not repeat it."
"Indeed, you should not. Next time try dodging." Tilton said, a hard edge to his voice.
"That parts a little fuzzy." I said.
"Hm. It's a little fuzzy for me, too, it was over three hundred years ago." Tilton said.
"Which is why you know to the year, hm?" I teased him. "What mess have you made in this time?"
"I do not make messes. I clean them up." Tilton responded.
"That would be the exact opposite as I know." I said.
"Nothing remains the same forever, Ashtar." Tilton said.
"Got some big feelings?" I asked. "Clearly everything's alright now."
"Yes. Everything is fine." Tilton agreed.
"Need a hug?" I offered.
"I don't do hugs." Tilton said firmly.
"Makes people feel better." I shrugged. I was never into the touchy feely either.
"Supposedly and do are very different things." He replied.
I grinned, "This rapscallion is getting philosophical."
"I defy you to find anyone who'd call me a 'rapscallion.'" Tilton said.
"Got a mirror? I'll find one then." I retorted.
"Somehow, I haven't missed this." Tilton said.
"Neither have I. Seems like it was just an hour ago.." I replied.
He groaned. Bibs looked quite amused.
I turned to the big guy, "Hiya, I'm Ashtar, and you?"
"Hello. I am Kershka." He greeted in return.
"It's good to meet you, Kershka. Know these two long?" I asked.
"For a while." Kershka answered.
I started thinking over what I'd need to so to begin adventuring again. "What are you all up to these days?"
"I'm the mayor of the town you're in." Tilton said.
"Very descriptive." I replied.
"I feel I answered exactly what you asked." Tilton replied.
"Sure, sure. You know, speaking won't make you dumber. Words don't work that way." I said.
"In your case, it is better to let people assume you are stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." Tilton replied.
I stood and placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "You are responsible for eighty percent of my knowledge."
"That would explain why twenty percent of you is idiotic." He said.
"Well, I'd argue fifteen percent was Bibs. Really wanna say so?" I teased him.
Tilton looked at Bibs. Then looked at me and said, "I said what I said. I have things to attend to."
"Kershka, do not open the door for him." Bibs replied.
Tilton stopped and said, "Are you trying to keep me hostage?"
"No, Tilton. I am simply keeping you here against your will." Bibs replied.
"That is exactly-" Tilton was saying.
"Exactly. You can either talk, or sit down and be quiet." Bibs interrupted.
"Even your mad house of contracts cannot keep me here against my will." Tilton said.
"No, but it would be mighty annoying for quite a few days if you broke out." Bibs responded. "We haven't seen our friend here in hundreds of years. Surely, you can afford to be a little civil."
Tilton sat down and said, "I didn't mean to offend. I simply just don't know what to say. Ashtar, your death is what made me who I am. I stopped being a trouble maker and worked to improve myself in all things. I didn't want to lose another friend."
"I'm sorry that incident scarred you. I love you both a lot." I replied. "I don't think being a trouble maker was an issue, though being dutiful isn't bad either."
"We love you, too, kid. It will take time, but I'm sure you will adjust to the times." Bibs said.
"It's difficult to wrap my head around, but I'm sure I will figure things out. I've got my friends, still, after all." I grinned.
"Of course you do, kid. Would you like to see the town Tilton runs?" Bibs asked.
"Certainly. Is it new?" I replied.
"In many ways, yes. But it's actually Dieling Rivers." Bibs answered.
I snorted in amusement and a little surprise, "You was serious about enjoying the place, huh?"
"Yes, I was." Tilton said. "Now it is mine to manage. Admittedly, some days are better than others."
"If you need help, ask. You know I'll do what I can." I said.
"Sure, why don't you join the town guard, then I could make all the problems yours." Tilton said.
I laughed, "I am a rogue, you know."
"And a couple of the current guards are nothing but thugs that have been given a purpose. Background doesn't matter. Capability does." He said.
"I suppose you're right. I'll consider it, then." I replied.
"Or you could also just decide for yourself later that you don't want to deal with his problems." Bibs said.
"My own priorities haven't changed." I shrugged. "But you could also be right."
"How about we get that tour underway?" Bibs suggested.
I nodded and Bibs asked Kershka to open the door. We headed out together so they could show me around. A few curious glances were sent our way, I'd imagine we were an odd grouping to most. When we drew near the Guildhall, there was a large and muscular man scolding an adventurer about having broken something.
Part of being an adventurer is to not cost our contractor money or bring them to harm. Doing so damages the reputation of oneself, their party, and the guild. It was very important to be mindful, after all. Otherwise you lose out on future jobs. Plus you could lose potential jobs that way.
"Ah, and there's Gregor, scolding yet another adventurer who seems to have.. botched a job." Bibs said.
"Merciful, innit? Didn't adventurers used to get pay docs and put into training?" I asked. We'd never gone through that, so I wasn't sure aside from rumors.
"Gregor tries to talk to those he simply thinks needs a talking to." Bibs replied.
After Gregor had finished speaking to the adventurer, Bibs said, "Let's go meet him. We used to adventure with him. After your time, obviously."
I smiled and said, "Alright."
Bibs greeted him before he could head into the guild barracks. The way Gregor had moved indicated to me what training he'd had. Monk. It was something Tilton had taught me to notice.
"Gregor, what a wonderful start to the day, hm?" Bibs commented.
"Haah. Just a young upstart that thinks they can swing a sword at every problem till it goes away." Gregor sighed. "Tilton, there have been reports to the East of an owlbear running amok. I want to keep it clear until it's handled, maybe move the loggings to the other side for now?"
"Haah. That's easy enough, there's plenty of trees on either side." Tilton said.
"Just the one?" I asked, curious. Owlbears were easy to track and to catch. Or kill if need be.
"Yeah, parently it's some kind of mutant. Either really big.. or some kind of abilities that we don't fully understand.. but, we'll get it sorted." Gregor said. He sounded tired.
"Is mutations still rare?" I asked Tilton, assuming he'd be the expert. "I remember Gorthok was an occasional annoyance due West of here."
"Mutations are indeed still rare." Tilton answered.
I grinned and said, "It was only slightly funny when Gorthok chased you."
"I was tempted to make a saddle for that beast." Tilton reminisced.
I patted his arm and said, "It would have been a neat warmount. Until it ate some people."
"Eh, just gotta train it right." Tilton replied.
I laughed and said, "Yeah, can't picture it."
"I can't imagine it either. It would be far too much trouble to feed it." Tilton said.
"Well, it's an omnivore, innit? Doesn't that make it easier?" I asked. Then I blinked and said, "Well, I suppose not. This isn't farmland anymore."
"Not even slightly." Tilton said.
"Yeah, let's not try and tame a giant monstrosity." Gregor said.
"It allegedly grows a might bit larger than giant, but I ain't seen proof of that." I replied. "Plus the whole human eating part. It was a doomed project, Trouble, so you'll have to set your sights on a manageable project."
"Trouble?" Gregor asked looking at Tilton.
"It is an ancient nick name that," he looked at me pointedly, "no one is supposed to use."
"You aren't even ancient so it can't be an ancient nick name." I pointed out. "But I'll work on it."
"So what are you all up to?" Gregor asked.
"We're giving Ashtar a tour of the town." Bibs answered.
"Well, since no one else will do it. I'm Gregor the guildmaster. What's your name?" Gregor said.
"Good to meet you, Gregor. I'm Ashtar, I used to adventure with Bibs and Tilton back when Tilton was a troublemaker." I replied, offering him my hand to shake.
He took my hand and shook it. "I hadn't realized that had become a past tense thing."
"It's what I was told. And he hasn't hog tied me and left me up a tree, so chances are in his favor I suppose. Acourse Bibs did tell him to stop doing that." I said.
Gregor chuckled and said, "Yeah, I think that part is behind him."
"Ooh, a grey wall jumper. Guess the town is doing good." I said, noticing a spider run between the flagstone.
Much to Kershka's apparent pleasure the spider went straight to him. It matched him, in a way, so it was using him to blend in. Then he further surprised me by pulling something out of his pocket for the spider, which went straight to the sack in his open palm. He was feeding the spider.
Distracted, I said, "Jumper's are always nice to have around."
"They are good ones." Kershka agreed. "Other's very mean."
I shrugged and said, "Are they? If they try an make themself big, they usually ain't friendly."
"I know two near Bibs' house. Very rude." Kershka replied.
"They're rude?" I asked.
"They make fun of me. Like I'm a statue." Kershka said.
"... You can understand 'em?" I asked.
"Uh-huh." He answered.
"That's awesome!" I said, "Are they chatty?"
"Some can be. Mostly about good places for webs." Kershka replied.
"That makes sense. It's very important." I noted. The instant the spider had finished eating, it leapt onto my face. And started climbing down, then leapt back to Kershka. I raised an eyebrow and said, "Energetic."
"He's a young one. Still working on his jumps." Kershka said.
"Aww. I don't mind. Acause they eat bugs." I said.
"That they do." Kershka agreed.
"Alright, you two. Let's finish this tour, shall we?" Bibs asked.
"Sure thing, Bibs." I replied.
"Alright. You all have fun." Gregor said.
"See you later, Gregor." Bibs replied.
"Good meeting you." I commented with a smile.
"It was lovely meeting you. Hope to see you again." Gregor said.
"Course. Accuse I'll have to rejoin the guild." I replied.
"Should be an excellent addition to the guild." He replied, before heading into the building.
We restarted the tour then, though there wasn't much more to see other than the tannery, Tilton's homes location, and the lumberyard. So it finished up pretty quickly. We had lunch at Bibs's place after. Then Bibs and Tilton said they had stuff to do. So Tilton, Kershka and I were let outside.
Bibs invited me back to his home later, and I was let to wonder, so naturally, I wondered out the gate to the east. The people there were already setting up to go work on the West side today, for safety reasons. I approached one of the men.
"Excuse me, but might you have a hand are I can borrow for a few hours? I'll return it sharpened." I said.
"What for?" A burly man crouching asked. He wasn't explicitly who I asked, but still..
"I mean to go look for a yew sapling that I can fashion into a bow, and some reed sort plants to make arrows." I explained.
"Alright." The burly one said. "I'll give you my old one, it's not good for much these days. You may keep it."
"Much appreciated." I replied.
He went into a cabin briefly and brought me a badly rrusted and dull handaxe. This didn't discourage me, and the men warned me of the danger. I promised to be careful, then headed North after thanking them again. It took me a little over an hour to find the necessary sapling. And longer still to find the right reeds.
Thankfully, the sharpening process of the handaxe and chopping of everything was pretty simply. I wove a simple basket to set the things up to cure in the sun, the basket used two saplings to make it sturdy. The process for bowmaking was to split the sapling in half, peel off the bark, and perform the tillering on it, which is just making it thinner from the inner side.
I twisted fibrous plants until I had a sort of string, and wrapped the ends of the sapling with it. Then I spotted a nice animal that would help with the crafting. Setting my things aside, I crept near the animal. Then, threw my handaxe through it's head. It died pretty much instantly. Thank you, Tilton for your teaching.
Next, I field dressed the animal, and set up the intestines and tendons to make sense for the bow string and to tie on arrow heads. It'd take time to get them going, for sure. Setting them up on my drying rack, I fetched some sappy wood and made a small fire to melt the sap onto a stone.
Once that process was done, I dipped the wrapped ends of the bow staff into the sap to seal in it's moisture and prevent cracking. It would help keep the bow good for a long time. After I finished prepping the bow, arrow shafts and animal parts, I turned my attention back to prepping what I could of the animal. I wasn't going to make bone arrowheads. Stone was easier and smelled a whole lot less.
As I was finishing putting the meat into the skin to sell, I got an unmistakable feeling of being watched. It wasn't a predators gaze, it was a curious one, I was sure. Tilton had taught me the difference. However, no one approached. I put out the fire once I was done, took the antlers, and used woven fibers to tie the bow onto the basket at an arch.
I hefted the basket, balancing it on my head and lifted the skin filled with meat. I then started to head for Dueling Rivers again. It wasn't hard for me to get back, though it was getting late. Before reaching town, I store the basket in the top of a tree, then took only the skin, antlers and meat to town, well, and the handaxe.
The guards looked relieved when I'd entered, but didn't comment. I barely managed to reach the hunters stand before he closed up. He bought the antlers, meat and skin from me without any qualms. Probably acause I'd been walking with Tilton earlier, or he was used to it. Dunno.
As we finished up the transaction, I noticed someone was approaching, so I looked. It was Gregor. I smiled at him, "Well, hello, Gregor. Out for a stroll?"
"Yeah, I finished up all that lovely paper work for today. Figured I'd grab a bite at the tavern. Care to join me?" Gregor replied.
"Sure. Daddy Bibs won't be too awfully worried." I grinned.
"Daddy Bibs? That's a new one. I could see him being a teacher, but not a dad. That's just me, though." Gregor said.
"Him and Tilton raised me a long time ago." I explained. "A lot of my morals came from them."
"I can see why you mess with Tilton, then. A lot of people around here think he's a jerk, but he looks out for them." Gregor said.
He started to guide me to the tavern since I'd accepted. I said, "He's a brat from time to time, but he's always been patient when teaching."
"He really drives his point home these days, typically while doing everything he can to make sure you know what you did was dumb. Rarely will he actually call you dumb, though. He's a good guy at heart. " Gregor said.
"It's a bit difficult for me to grasp the time that's passed between then and now." I said.
"How much time has passed? You don't look to old to me, which is confusing cause I was with them for over a decade." Gregor said.
"Three hundred sixty-two years according to Tilton. They restored my life today." I said. "I'm twenty-two."
"Wow, I can't even imagine what things were like, then. Though, I guess it could be the exact same. I don't need to guess, do I. I can just ask you so what was it like?" Gregor said.
We'd entered the tavern and sat at a table now. "Well, this whole area was farmland, like I mentioned earlier. The East and West on the coast was feral at best, and the South was delightfully snowy most of the year. The King had just took the throne for the first time, after a long fight with his Lord. The King was a knight, you see. I believe his Lord's keep was to be left vacant, because he was an unjust Lord." I reminisced.
"I believe I know that keep. It's filled with monsters now." Gregor commented.
"It would be interesting if one of the guild's took it over. Thieves or adventurer." I shrugged. "Would make for a good neutral place to rest."
"Well, it's possible if we cleared it out to turn it into another branch of the guild. Not much of a designer myself. So we'd need to find someone who could really spruce the place up." Gregor replied.
"Guess it would be in disrepair." I noted. We placed orders for food and drink at this point.
"Indeed, monsters have really done a number on the place." Gregor said.
I flashed a grin and said, "You know the tallest part of the keep?"
"Yeah?" He said.
"Tilton and I pelted people below it with water filled bubbles." I told him.
"Pretty sure from a certain distant that would hurt. But also be very amusing." Gregor said.
"Oh, yes. It wasn't anymore when Bibs caught us though." I giggled.
"Oh, my, yeah. Bibs never enjoyed tomfoolery at others' expense." Gregor agreed.
"He made us clean the mess, and know what Tilton told him? 'I was just teaching the Twerp to aim'." I laughed.
"Oh, yes, Tilton, never at fault. Always has a purpose, even if that purpose is to just be an ass." Gregor sarcastically.
"During the festivals in Ymir's Town, Tilton would start snowball fights, and egg people on." I told him. "Bibs didn't mind that and would join sometimes."
"Snowballs are harmless fun." Gregor replied.
"Let's see.. I don't really know what else to tell you about, acause I don't know what else is different." I said.
"Were humans still the most prevalent race back then?" He asked.
"I would argue that Leonin are to my knowledge. Large roaming clans all around. Next to them would be humans, firbolg, tabaxi and goblins." I said.
"Well, that's very different. Leonin are extremely rare now." Gregor said.
"That's a shame. They are fun to mess with. You should see the arguments Tilton got into with them. I could never tell which enjoyed it more." I grinned. "Oh, right. Would you know if that Island to the North East is full of shifters, still? Guess it don't matter. I don't think anyone I knew would be alive still."
"Yes, they are still there." Gregor answered.
"Still reclusive?" I asked.
"Yes. People still have an issue with things that resemble were beasts, or are werebeasts." Gregor said.
"That's a shame. But after what all the changelings did, I can't say I blame them, I guess. I just prefer to judge individuals over species." I replied.
"It's a good way to do it." Gregor agreed.
I smiled at him and said, "Can you imagine how scared I was the first time I met Tilton and Bibs? My whole village had been destroyed, and Tilton found me under some rubble. Bibs fixed up my legs. Not many people had survived, my parents hadn't." I shrugged. "Tilton was displeased with me following them when they left. But he slowed his pace so I wouldn't get lost. He was the first to cave and start looking after me."
"I feel those two have swapped their roles." Gregor said.
"Bibs didn't want me persecuted for traveling with a goblin, and wanted me to have a chance to be raised proper, you see. Tilton was just afraid I'd get hurt trying to keep up with them." I said.
"You may have given them some practice for those who came later. Though, Jack died too, so I can't say they got better at it. What brought you to your untimely demise?" Gregor asked.
I shivered at the thought of it. "That would be a better question for them. I don't quite remember it well. One moment I was walking just ahead of them, chatting about going to the mountains for candy, then something grabbed me about my middle and I was in the air." I paused and shuddered. "I did see someone in red, briefly, before my body was shredded and I was flung back to them."
"Someone in red. That sounds awful familiar." He said. "Probably Asmodeus. He's the one who killed Jack, too."
"Asmodeus?" I asked. "I'm not familiar with the name."
"Lord of the nine hells. Also bit of a douche." Gregor said. "No idea why, but he's been harassing Bibs and Tilton for years. Hundreds, apparently. He's like an insane Uncle. Always hanging around, but you're pretty sure he's going to kill you."
Our meals arrived about now and we recieved refills for our drinks. Both non alcoholic. "I suppose I'll ask Bibs bout it. Poor Tilton said he became responsible to not have another friend die as I did, now you say another did."
"Yeah, but there was literally no way for Tilton to stop it." Gregor replied. "Jack got it in his head he could outwit Asmodeus like Bibs does. He was very wrong."
"Mm. Unfortunate." I said. "Well, I hope if Asmodeus is the one that killed me, that he has a hobby to not do the same thing twice."
"If it brings him any level of enjoyment he will continue to do so until it doesn't. He's extremely bored and extremely powerful." Gregor told me.
"Then I hope I'm boring." I said.
"That's been my strategy. I don't engage with him." Gregor noted.
"You've monk training, haven't you?" I asked.
"Indeed. Helps control the emotions and guide my fist. Typically into my opponents jaw." Gregor said.
"In spite of my own teaching. I've sneaky fingers." I grinned.
"Sometimes it's just natural." He said.
I laughed and said, "'Spose so. They decided I was unlikely to get hurt if I wasn't seen, and it worked, 'cept that one time."
"Well, mistakes happen. Typically they don't lead to very disastrous results, but sometimes they do." He said.
I patted his arm and said, "Yup. But it's all fine. Traumatized my dear friends, though."
"With how long lived those two are, I'm sure they have plenty more trauma to come." Gregor said.
We continued chatting, though it became about just random things while we ate. Like what we'd done with our day. Then he asked me for specifics, which I prattle about, though I had the feeling he just wanted the sounds and companionship rather than an actual talk. Which was fine. I was happy to entertain Bibs and Tilton's friend.
After our dinner, he returned to his home, and I went to Bibs house. My body was exhausted to be honest. Kershka greeted me and we went inside Bibs' place. He looked like he was finishing up something at his desk. I decided that now was as good as any time to ask.
"So, you and Tilton are stalked by Asmodeus?" I inquired.
"Hmm? Ah, yes. Well, we haven't seen him since we retrieved your soul from him and got him to sign a contract that will let another companion walk free again. He will likely be around soon enough trying to get back at me." Bibs said.
"Oh." I said. "I had dinner with Gregor. He's funny."
"Funny? Well, yes, he certainly can be. His lack of social etiquette is very amusing in the right settings." Bibs said.
"He asked bout my death." I said. "I told him what I remembered."
"Well, I did say he lacked social etiquette. I can't imagine it was a pleasant thought, though." Bibs said.
"Probably less pleasant for you or Tilton. I don't remember it well." I replied. "I told him about some of Tilton's shenanigans."
"I'm sure he enjoyed those stories. He and Tilton were always at odds, but they respect one another." Bibs commented.
"He does a lot of different documenting throughout the day, it sounds like." I said.
"Indeed he does. Running the guild branch is not as glamorous as he may have first thought." Bibs agreed.
"We talked about the neglected keep briefly. I mentioned it may be interesting if one of the guilds, thieves or otherwise, took it over for a neutral place that people can rest at." I told him.
"Oh, another branch for him to run. Could be interesting. He'll be swamped with paperwork." Bibs noted.
"With the right people in place it wouldn't be too difficult. He said they'd need to fix the place up." I said.
"Yes, I do believe they would need to do quite a bit of repairs. Monsters don't tend to maintain the place very well." Bibs said.
"They'd have to pay taxes if they did." I joked.
"I believe it would be quite amusing to watch the tax man try to collect that." He noted.
I giggled. "Did you accomplish what you meant to today?"
"I accomplished a few things, but never enough." Bibs replied.
"I've got a bow and arrow shafts I'm processing. Tilton's teachings paid off." I informed him.
"I'm glad you remember his teachers." Bibs said.
"I hope he'll be impressed when it's done." I said. "It'll be the first one without his supervision."
"I could always add a few things if you wanted." Bibs said.
"That's alright. You're very muchly busy as is." I shrugged.
"Alright, no enhancements." Bibs said.
"After I get the arrows and bow all fixed up, I'll try it out and then join the guild again." I told him.
"Well, Gregor could certainly use the experienced help. He's had a lot of lackluster recruits lately." Bibs said.
"Is it popular these days? It used to be regarded as a last resort, if I recall correctly." I said.
"It was, but now it's more of a job you can do what you want at." Bibs said.
"So, mercenaries?" I asked.
"Mercenaries with rules and guidelines." He clarified.
"Mhm. You boys going to eat dinner?" I asked. "You should."
"Oh, I suppose dinner would be a good idea for us. We have a tendency to miss that meal." Bibs said.
"I'd offer to cook.. but we both know that's disastrous." I said.
".. Yes.. Even now I can remember that... we do not need to cook like that now. Just need to simply walk up to the cabinet and request what we want." Bibs said.
"Ooh. Neat." I said. "I was joking, by the way. It was one of the main things you both agreed upon. A shame, since I'm a woman."
"Well, aren't you a lucky one that a woman's value isn't solely determined by how she cooks." Bibs said.
"It's not? Thought cooking, cleaning and child rearing were women's main tasks." I replied.
"That is still their main tasks, but you can be other things now." Bibs said.