“Okay, Goblins, I hope I did not make a mistake.” turning and walking toward the wayside. Don't get me wrong I know from fantasy games and books that goblins are evil. Vile creatures that will kill and eat anything without hesitation. At the same time, I have read stories of good goblins that heal, build and mine. Keeping the population down can be a problem. I don't want to be overwhelmed by a horde of goblins in the future. Hearing a scream I rush toward the wayside and seeing one of the Goblin women giving birth. Panicking a little I went to the tower returning with twenty fried rabbit meat, blankets, and a pot. Setting the stuff near them and started a small fire then rushing to the creek with the pot for water to boil. Still not sure about why boiling water. Tarla came over to me as I was standing up. The three-foot tall green skin half starved goblin woman. With large coal black-eyed, and sharp teeth and pug-like nose. I can smell her as she approaches me, her green hair ratty and dirty. Noticing her clothing was torn and dirty with no shoes. Trying hard not to flinch from the smell. As for being half naked I most use to that being around some primitive tribes in my journeys.

“Master, can we stay?” She said, groveling on the ground.

Growling with anger, “get up you do not bow to me or anyone here!” She cringes back frightened.

“Sorry I scared you,” reaching down to help her up, she hesitates before taking her hand. “As long as you decide to stay, no bowing or groveling, understands?”

“Yes, I understand, do you need us to warm your bed?” She said.

“No! No! I don’t do that, you and the others are free.” Seeing her flinch.

“Look I have two hovels, pointing at the two buildings. You are all welcome to live in them, it must be kept clean, you and the others must bathe to keep clean.” Seeing the look of horror at bathing he laugh. “We will have to find clothes for all you.”

“Bathe? Do we have to?” She whines showing terror.

“You can always leave.”

“But you said we do not have to obey anyone,” she responded.

Laughing, shaking my head “0n this you all do, I will make a tub for you all to get clean in. There are rules. Tarla and you have to follow them to stay if you break the rules you leave.” staring down at her. “My name is Jack and welcome to Safehaven.”

Your reputation with Swamp Water tribe increases by 1 Tarla loyalty increase by 1

Daria loyalty increase by 1

Gema loyalty increase by 1

Kora loyalty increase by 1

Building a two feet deep tub, three feet wide and six feet long, using water blast and flare spell to heat up the water. Going up in the tower and retrieved thirteen tunic and several blankets. He hollers for Tamla to come over. While he waited he cut one of the rope into thirteen pieces for belts.

Tamla leads the others to the tube, she points to each of the women, “ Darja, Gema, and Kora. Kora had the baby. I told we must bathe or no stay.” She drops her tattered clothes in a pile and climbs in the tube.

Turning red I turn away, I hear the other women talking among themselves in goblin, laughing at him.

“You no look at women or no seen one naked before.” Tamla laughed.

“Be sure to get the dirt off and dry off using the blanket, I put a stack of the tunic on the blankets there with rope belts. Let me know if you need more water.” Rushing away to laughter from the women. Glancing back as they wash the children one by one shaking his head.

An hour later he hears someone approach, looking up from one of the books I was reading, “sorry we laugh,” she said.

Seeing her in a tunic. Looking clean, seeing yellow freckle across her nose. Her green hair was clean and pulled behind her long droopy pointed ears hanging down. A smell of some type of herbs reaches his nose. “Me add smelly flowers to the water. you like?” Grinning with her sharp teeth.

Nodding “smells nice. I have more blankets for all of you to sleep on, I have pots and skillets for you to use in your fireplace.”

Looking puzzled, “fireplace?”

Laugh while standing up grabbing a copper pot and some firewood. “Follow me Tamla,” head into one of the hovels. Starting a fire in the large fireplace explaining that they can cook using it. Filling the pot from his water skin he then added a rabbit and vegetables. In the real world, it would take a few hours, in this world less than a minute. Making six bowls of rabbit stew. Taking a silver spoon out and hand her a bowl.

She groans with delight from eating a spoonful. “When you are done please clean your bowls and pots so you can use them to make the next meal.”

“You teach us to cook and to live like humans?” She asked.

“Yes and teach you to hunt and grow a garden for food. All four of you need to learn skills to survive and maybe make money,” I said

“What for you?” she asks narrowing her eyes.

Teach me how to speak in goblin, and your culture. If you know anything about the area I be happy to learn anything you know.” I said. Getting up and heading outside, seeing everyone clothed. Considering the clothes in the digital word grow or shrink to fit. I know I will be feeling better not having to see breasts hanging down.

Swamp Water tribe Reputation increase by 1 (+2)

While the children played the women empty out the basin and clean it out.

Tarla whisper, “we think you bath we smell you far away,”

Laughing as she grabs a crying child and waves everyone into the hovel. Shrugging I cast water into the basin and cast flare to heat it up. Stripping I climb in making sure no one watching, using some of the herbs to scrub the dirt off it felt good relaxing.

The next morning I set off with Gema, after finding out she knows how to trap. She shows me how to set snares, and spot good game trails, we end up setting twenty snares by noon. It was a quiet morning since I did not know how to speak Goblin or her speaking common. After that, I head to the east bridge and scry to the east finding nothing to worry about. I finished the building the Stone bridge being prompt.

You have built a stone bridge. Do you wish to alter bridge, YES/NO?

“Yes,” looking through about thirty bridges. I found one with an arch across the water that looked very strong. Think I should have build two towers and a wooden drawbridge. Not seeing one but did find one with two wooden gates on each end and decided on that one.

Do you accept the bridge? YES/NO?

“Yes.”

The bridge shimmer and the arch under the bridge form with two gates that I ended up barring. When I walk back the wayside I clean up the fire pit and replenishes the firewood nearby. I smelled rabbit stew as I passed their hut. Tamla steps out of the hut and handed me a bowl. I sat and watch the children play, “what is their names pointing at the children.”

Shaking her head no, “No name children for one year, they become an adult, half make one year.” She said matter of fact.

“How old are you, Tamla?”

Thinking, then counting her hands and toes “thirteen winters, twenty-five children, all dead.” shaking her head sadly.

“I am sorry for your loss, so who’s children are these?” Pointing at two of the children, Gema. Kora gives birth to one, rest are tribes, raise them all and protect them. Many women do not survive past ten winters, we two to three children a year. Kora baby walk in a week, in six months, learn to kill rats, by one, adult.”

She takes my empty bowl and washes it, I get up and head to the tower, an hour later I see the women head to the basin and strip. I turn red and turn away from the arrow slit. Hearing the women laughing made me feel good. Seeing the books in the bookcase l decided I need to teach them common to learn some skills.

Morning came to the goblin women singing. Climbing up to the tower I look down and see then cooking breakfast. Look through the telescope in all directions. I did not spot anything of importance except to the north, I can see the Aurochs moving about ten miles away. Climbing down I decided to build a four-foot wall on the north side of the road. To keep the cattle from hurting anyone.

Eating breakfast with the goblins I told them I will be working on a wall today to keep the wild cattle out. Tamla and some of the older children decided to gather firewood and some plants. Gema helps me check the snares. We found thirteen rabbits, thirteen hides and meat, loss three rabbits to predators. Resetting the snares Gema took the hides and meat back. Took the whole day to put a four-foot high wall two feet wide along the road. Every few hours each one of the ladies brought me water to drink. I figure on putting in a gate in the wayside in the morning. Tamla ask me what I want to be done with the pile of old clothing of theirs. I decided to show her Bill, feeding him one piece every few days seem to keep him happy. Putting the elemental back to work on extending the sewer out to cover two more hovels.

Before turning in after dark “Tamla can you tell Gema that half the rabbits hide and meat is hers.”

Tamla and Gema talk heatedly for a few minutes, “No understand, a woman does not own, we are own.”

Getting a little angry at the thought of women being own. “Tell her no one own anyone here, and she shows me how to make snares and set them so it is only fair she gets half. Tell her there are merchants that pay money for north slope rabbit fur and if a coat is made out of it, it is worth more.” Seeing Tamla eyes get big.

After hearing from Tamla, Gema eyes get big and said something back.

“How we learn to make coats?” Tamla ask.

“Can you read?” I ask

“I read a little, they no,” Tamla said sadly.

“Well, I will have to teach you all while I am learning goblin.”

When she told the others I was hugged by everyone, took me an hour to head back to my tower.

“Jack? Why help us?” Tamla asked

“Because I want to, good night Tamla.” And climb into my tower.

Tamla loyalty increase by 1 (+2)

Gema loyalty increase by 1 (+2)

Next morning I found Tamla and Kora looking at the temple door, “something wrong ladies?” Seeing both of them jump.

Tamla said, “we saw a woman go inside.” pointing at the door.

Opening the double doors I see Frigga stand next to her shrine. Both goblin hiding behind me as I walk in. Bowing to Frigga I hear Tamla hiss, “he bowing to her,” Frigga glow a golden hue.

“Because he shows respect to his goddess,” Frigga said smiling.

Both ladies grovel on the floor, “I just had the stop doing that.” Shaking my head.

She laughs and bend over and pulled both women to their feet, walking around both of them. “Didn’t expect you to have other races so soon, Odin is pleased with himself for winning the bet. I came to let you know that a priestess and a paladin. They both have taken the quest together to serve my temple. If they survive the trek they should be here soon” Looking at the two goblins, “you are welcome to attend my temple.” saying to the goblins. “You, on the other hand," Pointing at me, "need to come more often.” Pointing at me.

Tamla step forward, “Goddess, a boon from you, I pay price.” kneeling before her.

“Any price? Hmm, Very well name your boon,”

“Tribe wish to read and write common.” Keeping her head bow.

Laughing, “Delightful, this will make Odin fluster! Very well, “pressing her palm to Tamla forehead a bright light shined from her body. “What I give you can be both a blessing and a curse. All that seek knowledge will come to you as a teacher. Be warned you will be targeted by those that see knowledge as evil and those that see you as dangerous. My price is for you to bring as many of your people to seek knowledge and peace. I fear you will fail.”

When I open my eyes Frigga was gone. Tamla's mouth was open. Kora said, “are you alright?” Her eyes getting huge, “I speak common!”

Tamla had tears streaming down her face, “I understand so much now. Thank you for giving me the gift of freedom.” She hugs me crying. When the others rush in all talking at once. I slipped out to work on the gate, carrying several boards with me and went to the wayside.

Tamla loyalty increase to by 3 (+5)

Daria loyalty increase to by 1 (+2)

Gema loyalty increase by 1 (+3)

Kora loyalty increase by 1 (+2)

Swamp Water tribe Reputation increase by 1 (+3)

An hour later and a finished gate, Gema smile at me as she went through the gate to check the snares. We ended up killing two wolves that attack us. Gema had her left arm slightly damage, ten rabbits hide and meat along with two Grey wolves pelt and four wolf meat. I worked on the west bridge, return back to the tower after dark lighting the light post for the night. Looking at the temple seeing light inside I hear the woman singing praises to Frigga as I climb my tower.

Next morning I holler at Tamla to come to the tower. I show her the books and told her to pass out any of the skill books to whoever she feels can use them. She started crying and held on to me until she stops crying. After a few minutes, she hugs me again and heads out the door.

I gave Gema my Warhammer for protection. And head toward the west bridge. Spending three days to finish it got the same prompt just like the other bridge and made the same choice. Now that bridge was done. I proceeded to work on the next two hovels taking three days to complete each one. Each night we all sat around a fire talking. Gema took herbalism and herding. While Kora took tailoring. Darja took farming and herbalism, two of the older boys took fishing. Tarla said she already has skills so she read the cookbook along with the other books. Sometimes having to kick her out of the tower due to her reading. During all this, Gema supply of rabbits pelt reach about a hundred. Kora making bone needles and was able to make thread from strands of braided hair. she made ten coats out of the rabbit's fur. My stack of pelts was over a hundred. I told Kora she can have half the money if she makes hats, shirt, gloves, pants, and boots to go with the coats. With the help of my elemental, Darja and Gema was able to put in an acre of farmland north of the wayside. I did learn the goblins use to live in the swamp. But was pushed out by the Lizardmen from the south and a large Orc tribe to the east.

Tamla loyalty increase by 2 (+7)

Gema loyalty increase by 4 (+7) Tamla: Shaman 5, Teacher 1, Herbalism 1,

Gema: Forager 4. Hunter 3, Herbalism 1, Herding 1.

Kora: Forager 3, Tailoring 1.

Darja: Forager 2, Cook 3, Farming 1, Herbalism 1.

“Be sure to keep a set for each of us for this winter,” I said as I head to my hovel. After I clean up the hovel I lay down for the night. Waking up to the sound of clanking of bones and a skeleton laughing over my head.

You have died!