An hour later I have the bag. I pulled out 1 bug. Type of large locust. I have seen pictures of these before. Small numbers not so bad, by the thousands they can strip a land of everything, plants, animals, people, everything.

I head toward the East gate, the farm land I have been told, and the section of town where the Gods of Agriculture and War have their temples. Some would see it as irony, but I get it. War needs farms because soldiers need to eat. Protect your farms and your supply lines.

I act like I am going toward the Agriculture temple, then turn suddenly and run in to the temple to War. Not the nice versions either, defenders of the land and such, but the mean bastard ones. The ones who Like kicking Destiny in the teeth and changing things.

I am only mildly surprised no one tries and stops me. Well that last till I go past the first alters and try to go in to the inner sanctum. Two large brutes in blood red plate and robes get between me and the doors. "None but the most holy may pass" they intone. I blink, "So if I beat you two I can go in ?"

They glance at each other then me, "You are stupid and unworthy." the fight lasted about 10 seconds. I left them webbed to a pair of pillars. Then I went in. The priest inside looked up and asked incredulously, "Where are the guards ?"

I shrug, "They are a little tied up at the moment."

There is a booming laugh filling the room, "Oh that was SO embarrassing. Two of my most dangerous paladins and they under-estimated you so much. Tied them to the pillars, still holding their swords." laughter.

The priest scurries past me and looks out the doors. One is right side up the other upside down, both have their arms, holding their massive swords in front of them, tied to their chest then to the pillars. The rope looks thin and kind of wispy but it is holding those two armored terrors with ease.

"I love watching you fight Rob, really I do. You tend to think so far outside the box that it confuses your enemies. That won't always work you know, but it's still fun to watch."

I nod, "Well that and their arrogance and the element of surprise worked in my favor to."

The voice, "True, very true. So what can I do for you my up and coming warrior."

"Destiny tried to pull a fast one. Unfortunately for it I have read many tales from many worlds and this one is known to me." I hold up the bag, "Know what this is ?"

Red light, like blood, plays over it. "An old bag, not in very good shape either."

I grin, "It's magic is shielded. It’s a Plague Bag. Destiny and I am sure you heard I wanted a bag of holding. So she tried to trick me in to getting this one. Telling me it had some bugs in it and that dumping them in the East Fields would be a good place for them. The Bugs are dormant Locust." I pull aside the fake bag and pull one out, placing it on his alter."

The light plays over the bug, then I pull the bag open part way and stick it in the light.

The room went Dead silent for about 5 minutes. (I can't help picture WAR beating the hell out of something in anger.)

The voice returns, "Ok you got my complete attention now. What do you want ?"

I shrug, "I came to give you the bag. A little sacrifice."

It's deadly quiet for about 10 minutes. I stand and wait the whole time, bag out and over the alter. The priest, heck a dozen priest, guards, warriors, and such have crowded the doors. The God was speaking. They know he's still there cause of the presence, but it's quiet. Quiet and War are not usually normal or healthy.

From around the back of a statue a massive figure walks out. It wears white and gold trimmed armor. So not what I was expecting.

It walks over to me, "You got guts, I will give you that."

I shrug, "I know how much you love thwarting Destiny. So I figured you’re the best one to handle something like this."

If it could smile I think it would. I do hear the laughter again though.

He reaches out and takes the bag, "Sneaky bitch. Tried to make you think she likes the extra work you give her didn't she ?"

I nod, "Yes and I just played along, but Destiny has too much of Order in her to like the Chaos I am bringing to her careful little stories."

He nods, "And me, I am order or chaos ?"

I shrug, "Mix of both. Necessary in places. War and Peace help civilizations grow. Too much of one or the other can be bad. Though wars are not always fought between nations are they."

I grin he nods, "True. Little wars, rivalries, gangs and such happen all the time. Keeps me interested in keeping the worlds going." he cocks his head to one side, "You were not expecting this look were you ?"

I shake my head, "It’s a new one on me. Was kind of expecting a Battle Mech really. But the white and gold armor is nice effect."

"What's to say this is not a battle mech ?"

"You got a gnome in the chest then ?"

Snickering laugh, "No but it would be one heck of a surprise wouldn't it." I grin and nod.

"Your dangerous Rob. Lots of idea's. Lots of Pieces of knowledge. Now mind you, I like dangerous. But you need a little guidance to. So and you can hate me for it later Or now and save the wait. But I am going to send someone to help you along in this world." then in a small conspiratorial whisper, "someone you can help to really. I got someone in mind. They need a little balance to tell the truth. Not sure if you're the one to do it. But I figure it can't hurt, too much, to try."

I think and shrug, "Truthfully having a companion would be nice, even if they are a little um, well War like." He nods like a bobble head for a moment then catches his head. "ooo ok nodding when you have no neck is not easy."

"knocked your helm loose ?"

He nods carefully. "I like this design, but the helm is a little unwieldy." he confides.

I nod, "More Dress armor than actual combat style I think. Something you would expect to see a king wear. One who does little actual fighting. Change the helmet design though and it would work for a more impressive type king. Inspirational instead of hiding behind the ranks."

He considers, "Hm, I see your point. Good insight. I will think on it and you may see this or similar on a mortal during your travels. Oh and thanks again for the bag. I know Just what I am going to do with it. See how Loth likes a bug invasion in her precious webs." again the laughter as the armor and bag vanish.

Audience over I turn to leave. A younger priest stops me, "Um, how do you get this stuff off ?"

I look at the webbing, "It's webbing, it burns. So fire. lots and lots of fire."

Voice from the main temple, "ROB!"

I sigh, "well it was worth a shot." I say back in to the temple.

I go over and spit on certain places. My spit causes the webbing to start to break down, "There that will do it. In a few minutes Hunky and Dorky here will be free to figure out why the unarmed man was able to dance around them and tie them up."

Snickering from the temple, 'hunky and dorky, oh that's good.'

Lower priest to Higher Priest, "Well the god is in a good mood now at least."

High priest nods, "Must have been something good in that bag."

Destiny, well the physical embodiment of Destiny is outside at the foot of the stairs, "WHAT DID YOU DO ?"

I grin at her, "I know your schemes and how you Hate when people screw up your plans. The plague bag is now in the hands of WAR. He seemed very happy to get it to. I am not going to be the instrument you use to destroy this place cause you don't like Free Will you scum sucking Evil Corrupted Monster."

I get some looks, which tell me no one can see her but me. I shrug at them, "Demon problems, I keep screwing up their plans and they keep pestering me."

A few look like they think I am crazy, till the road in front of me explodes and she is gone. No one was hurt, but the road. I look at the crater then give it a wide berth on my way back in to town. Plus side, none of them think I am crazy now. Bad side, I am now being followed, for about 2 blocks, by the people there and priest from several temples. Including War.

I stop, turn and look at them, "What ?"

One man, "That demon ?"

I nod, "yes ?"

"How did you know it was a demon ?" he ask.

"Tried to trick me in to destroying all the crops, but well, I am 1 not stupid and 2 trained to recognize such things. Mom was a very powerful priestess to the gods of Light and Hope. Dad was a soldier. I learned allot from both of them." I shrug.

Ag Priestess, "Well that makes allot of sense really. Heard of stories like that to. Just the first time I have seen one happen in real life. Well done young man."

I nod , "Thank you mam."

Two massive anti-paladins come through the crowd then. Me I am ready to run. They stop and one pulls off 'her' helmet. " Hello, can we talk ?" I nod.

They wave off the crowd (very easy to do when everyone is scared of you) and then lead me to a nice tavern near the temple district. where apparently they are regulars as none of the staff even give them much of a look and just take their orders.

Both turn out to be women I find. They sit order wine, I get a mead and then I wait. The tall women collect their thoughts, "After you beat us and tied us up we listened to you and the god. He called you by name, happily spoke of a battle you had. He does not laugh often and it's usually not something nice or well you know. But you, you made him laugh. and not about someone's pain or suffering or you know wars." the first one says quietly.

The 2cd one though, "That is all well and good, but what I want to know is how you beat us."

I think, then answer "Well one, I am a Meta. We are as a race stronger, faster, and a little smarter than humans. Most of us can pass for human to and usually do. Not all of us are warriors, but many of us have been mistaken for gods in the past because of our differences."

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They nod, "The god knows this ?"

I nod, "He helped make me actually, see I died not long ago. A group of gods got together and remade me, he was one of them. I don't remember much of that time as I was dead during it. But I recall making suggestions and him laughing over the possibilities of those idea's. I did not get everything I asked for, but enough to make me a formidable opponent. But my real strength is I was 72 when I died and had trained in many different combat styles and knowledge's. See in my youth I was a demon hunter. Knowing how to fight was really important. Do you know how many demon hunters make it to old age ?"

They nod, "Not many, heck most warriors don't make it to old age. So how did you die ?"

"Stupid accident really. Magical portal opened and I drove right in to it. My horses got left behind and my carriage raced down this long mountain path and standing in the middle of the path were this stupid band of adventurers who did not have enough sense to get off the path when they saw me coming. Instinct took over and I tried to go around them, the carriage rolled and I was suddenly outside watching it happen. Cause my head was bashed in during the roll.

Next thing I know there are these gods, War, Order, Law, Chaos, Luck, Balance all looking at me and muttering about potential and the need to push something forward. No idea what none of them explained that. They talked to me, asked if I was willing to go back, I flippantly said sure, if I got to be very strong, agile, young and healthy and a few powers would not hurt. Well here I am, strong as a giant, agile as, well I don't know but very agile, 70 plus years of knowledge and mixed combat styles. But no idea where I am cause this is not my world. Not the one I gained all that knowledge in. Though surprisingly allot of it works here to. some better than others.

They made me a Meta, always wanted to be one cause of what they are."

They slowly nod, "A tool of the gods to help with a plan they did not explain and probably won't cause if you knew then their enemy could find out."

I nod, "Which means if I do know it's locked in my subconscious where my conscious mind can't find it." they nod.

The 2cd one states, "Your so screwed."

I nod, "More than likely, but I hope to have some fun on the way." That at least got a smile out of the two evil women. I grin at them and state, "Oh and it your waiting for me to pass out from the drugs in my drink, I am immune. One of the perks. Immune to poison, disease and I heal really fast to." I salute them, "The drugs make the mead bitter." I put the cup down, stand, wobble just a little, then I stand straight and belch. Then I am fine and walk out the door. I glance back to see the two glaring at the help and hear one ask, "Why did you drug his drink ?"

They look ready to kill and I am in no mood to stop them cause I am seriously bluffing about how the drugs are making me feel. May not knock me out but I am going to be very sick.

I make it to an alley and then puke my guts out till there is nothing left. Then I work my way to the temple, where I fall in to the arms of one of the guards, mutter 'drugged, sick" and when I wake I am in my room and a lovely older lady is mopping my head, "Hello young man" she says. I smile, "Hello young lady." I respond. she smirks, "I see what ever drug they gave you is still in effect."

"Not as much as earlier. Still little wobbly. Place outside the temple district. Was asked to join a couple of the temple guards for a drink. War temple mind you. I did and someone decided to spike my drink. While I was leaving I saw the two who had invited me getting ready to clear up why my drink was tampered with, by way of their fist to the ones responsible faces. I think they were trying to recruit me to their faith really and the people who played fast and loose with my drink did not realize it."

She nods, "ok. But you called me a young lady when I am old enough to be your mother."

I grin at her, "Nope, I am 72 years old. Other way around. Look young thanks to some serious magic." and then I pass out again.

For the rest of that day I told the truth, just not in anything resembling a straight line or making much if any sense.

I learned later that I had actually been slipped about 12 different substances. Everything from truth elixir's to a love potion to an actual sleep drug. The fact that I was alive after all that is amazing, the babbling random truths and the flirting and seeing all women as beautiful they think is the after effects of the love potion being mixed with a truth potion. Which made sense as I never saw any of those women after all the drugs and magic potions wore off. Which took about 3 days.

The end of that period I was much quieter and reserved. I was unsure of what I had said to anyone as the previous few days had been a blur.

I did know I wanted a bath something fierce. So Tod and Lady Marge (nice older priestess and 'special friend' to Tod) took me to a bath house and explained how they worked.

I should have known going in that me and public anything is chancy at best.

Everything was going well, went in, paid for the service, got undressed and stored my clothing. Was almost to the bath when I realized I forgot to leave my undergarments with my clothing and went back. There I found 3 men rifling through the clothing, pocketing purses, personal items and in some cases nice clothing, like mine. I flipped out, went stealth mode and knocked them all out before any of them knew I was there. The problems came when a female attendant started screaming that I was attacking employees.

Guest and other employees came running. I had just grabbed the girl. Big fat man rolled up on me, "What do you think you're doing punk ?" the fat wet naked man asked me. I looked around and spotted a head attendant (Tod had introduced us before), "Excuse me sir, does this girl or those thieves work here ?"

The attendant came in close and looked at her, "No she does not. Thieves ?" I point to the men lying face down in the changing room. "I forgot to leave my undergarments when I was changing. Stupid of me I know, when I came back to put them with the rest of my clothes I found these 3 pocketing purses, jewelry and other items as well as taking any Nice clothing they came across. When I knocked them out this girl started screaming. I think she was supposed to keep watch out here as they never expected anyone to return so soon from the baths." The fat man is suddenly still then turns an impressive shade of red, staring at the girl. She in turn seems intent on shrinking in to nothing under his glare. I get the feeling they know each other.

The bath employees gather up the thieves, removing all the stolen items and Lady Marge, sighing offers to run a truth spell to make sure the items recovered only go to the real owners. The Bath House master is quite agreeable to that. Having things stolen in his shop is very bad for business.

My only reward was I was allowed free use of a couple of the pricier soaps. Which was nice actually. Though of course someone complained about the 'adventurer' ruining their bath (me). Tod kindly pointed out I was a trader, not an adventurer. I made my living normally by buying and selling items between cities but was taking a break here to avoid the spring rains further north.

I learned later about his cover story for me and thanked him for it.

Later that day I went and saw Allisnore the mage. I showed him the secret to the easier formula and he stared at it for an hour, I also taught him the cold cantrip as he did not know it. He laughed for a half hour at how Simple it was and it was something he used lots in the making of other items. Asked how it came about I told him some apprentice had mixed up a huge batch of the stuff then put it in a cold storage, so he would have it ready during his alchemy classes. But when he got it out the next day it was all this icy sludge. Thinking nothing of it really, as it was largely water, he left it out in a basin to warm up. It never did get warm. Was a different group that figured out how to profit from it though. Medicinal and food storage all year round was born.

Getting the bags to seal them in is actually easy. They have all kinds of water tight material's to use and with a little convincing from me (blue packs for Blue Ice) a new product was born.

While with him some of his friends from the guild came over (being a little jealous of his new product I suspect) I got to talking with them about Mail Order services (one of them had heard a rumor on it) and I clear it up and tell them about the early days. Then I tell them about one that is right up their alley. Aurora's Whole Realm Catalog. How one enterprising woman, in a different reality, place called Realm Space, had come up with an idea. Teleportation Disk being used to ship items to mail order stores. Saved on the expense of having caravans take the goods out there and the sped up the process of people getting their goods.

The buildings where these shops were located were usually small warehouses which housed the employee's and the teleport disk which went both ways. They could send objects, money, invoices employee's and such via teleport. Long term it made more money than was spent getting the teleporter's to work.

They could also hirer adventurers to find new products, guard special shipments, recover stolen shipments as they knew things like that could happen as they had to get the items from the original location to one of their teleportation locations.

I spoke of Hubs where they would have larger warehouses to store common items and be able to get them to their clients easier and if need be replace broken or incorrect items (human error and all that). By the time they left I had pretty much convinced them to build this worlds equivalent to Amazon. I even included disclaimers and warnings to put in the catalogs to cover themselves legally.