The next morning I am awoke by a pretty and young acolyte and a half dozen cats who all want check out the new guy and his stuff. The girl was obviously flustered by the cats I just grinned.

When I stood, shirtless, before her, I watched her eyes go wide as she looked up at me (starting at the waist and going to up to my chin before blushing and looking at the cats). I do admit I like the new body. Buff without being all bulky muscle, evenly proportioned in all the right areas with large hands and 'other' parts. still wonder what my face looks like but going by the looks I have gotten I know I am not ugly, not super pretty either, which really I prefer. I will take nice looking over gorgeous, for myself, any day.

I let the cats explore as I watch the girl, finally I ask, "Is there something I can help you with ?"

She blushes again, "Sorry about the cats, don't know why they are even in the temple." her tone tells me she is not a cat person.

I shrug, "I don't mind them. They can be nice to have around."

She gives me a 'you are odd' look then shrugs, "I came to get you for breakfast. The head chamberlain told me you were here, that you arrived last night and were granted a room."

I nod, "From your tone that is unusual ?"

She nods, "Does not happen very often for those not of the church."

"I had a letter of introduction and presented it to the head people. It was late so they lent me the room."

She nods, "Ah that would do it. Well get dressed, I will lead you to breakfast."

I nod, and put on my clothes. She makes a face, "Clean clothes would be preferable."

I nod, "If I had any I would, but I only have the one set of clothing. So I make do." she looks surprised. I indicate the pile the cats are sniffing around, "This is everything I own in the world." Eyes widen a little and the look of confusion comes back. Still she leads me to breakfast. Eggs, fish, bread, cheese, 2 kinds of milk (goat and cow), water. Simple filling fair. I eat as much as they will let me, which is a lot really. The cook seems tickled that I enjoy his food so much.

After breakfast the Abbot calls me to his office, "Good morn sir, I hope you rested well ?" I nod, "Yes sir. Thank you sir." I am standing in an at ease pose. It just feels natural. He notes it, "Military background ?" He ask, I shrug, "Family was. I never joined the military myself but have had some training, mostly self-taught to tell the truth. Me and friends mimicking stuff we saw and such." he grins and nods, "Well that does not put on the muscle like you have." I shrug, "Training is training, what you do with it makes the difference."

He nods to that, "So other than combat, do you have any skills ?" I think, "Rudimentary cooking, some carpentry, mostly repairs and simple stuff like building shelves or basic items. I can read and write my own language and common, I know allot of random stuff that I picked up over the years. "

He looks at my letter again, "According to this, you were reincarnated so your mentally older than you look now."

I nod, "Yes Sir, 72 actually. I had some collage but they raised tuition past where I could pay for it and as such I never finished."

He looks impressed, "What were you studying ?"

"I had a year of Business law, economics, computer science, and psychology."

Business law and economics he understood, the rest left him looking blank. "What is this computer science and psychology ?" saying both words slowly.

"Psychology is the study of the mind and how it works, from mundane things to madness and ways to treat it." he nods but does not comment, "Computers are more complicated. They are machines made to run complex mathematical processes and use a language all their own. Truthfully I was never very good with them. My younger brother though was a genius with them. The very first computers were huge things, size of a small building. By the time I was born they were more manageable and it's probably pointless to talk of it as I am not of this world originally. The accident happed, according to the gods, because of several things happening at once that caused a wild magic surge, opening portals at random, I was just in the right place at the wrong time and got sucked in to one. The portal dropped me here, pretty literally . It is not an experience I ever want to go through again as I am sure you can imagine."

He considers and thinks over some things and then nods, "Well I don't think we have much job wise you can do here. We have competent carpenters, and don't need any more guards. But we will allow you to use that room you stayed in last night while you remain in the city. The fact that the goddess sent a vision for you to be here helps with that. Your remarkable story does not hurt either. I suspect the goddess has plans for you though."

I grin, "Lady Luck tends to have plans for anyone who steps out their door every morning." He smiles and nods, "True and few people realize it. I will let the priest and clerics know you are a guest of the temple. You may make use of our facilities and the hall is open to you as well."

Blank look, "Hall ?" he grins, "Right foreigner, forgot. The hall of chance. Like a gambling den but all the games are honest. Can't say that about many of the professional gambling halls." I nod, "Ah. Ok. Yeah I can see it, gaming of that sort would be a good way for the church to make money and show the influence of the Lady."

He nods, "True on both points. Try not to spend too much there though. I don't imagine you have much in the way of funds."

I pull out my purse and look in it, "I am ok for a bit. Oh, I do have some small gems, do you know where I could possibly sell some for coin, preferably from someone honest."

"Yes actually we do that to, and have a pawn shop as well though outside the temple proper for that. Let's see what you got boy, er sir." he catches himself, I just grin. "Boy is fine. Being young and healthy is a great gift." he nods to that as I pull out some of the blue stones.

He looks at them through a lens, "Do you know what these are ?" he ask, I nod, "Spinel's if I don't miss my guess. Grandfather on my mother's side was a jeweler, taught me how to identify rocks and stones and if they were gems or just base crystals, also the difference between iron pyrite and gold. He loved to wander the mountains back home looking for stones that may have been uncovered in rains or washed out in the rivers or streams from inside the mountain. Used to have a jar full of low end garnets as a boy. Little tiny pieces too small to be used in jewelry." he grins and nods, "Good education and correct. These are nice pieces to, not found in these parts which may actually raise the price a bit."

I have 5 stones before him (of the 10 in my pouch), he sets them aside as he examines each one. 3 are exceptional and he whistles to himself. Then gets up and calls in another for a 2cd opinion. The middle aged priest comes in and looks them over, glances at me then shakes his head and whispers to the head priest.

The head priest shushes him, "He thinks you must have stolen these."

"Nope, they were a gift from one of the adventurers who found me. I don't believe he knew what he gave me and truthfully I did not know till I stopped to camp that evening as I did not look in to the purse till then. If I see him again I will have to tell him and I put aside a couple just in case that happens."

The high priest nods, the other sighs at my good fortune.

They leave the room and I sit and wait, unsure of the value of such gems but not expecting to get their full worth at any rate. They return with a heavy chest and set it before me. "2 of those stones were of great value, one had a bad crack which decreased the value. Now mind you we charge 10% for appraising them." I nod, "Sounds fair, and an easier number to keep straight." the old man nods. He hands me a key, "It also covers the cost of the strong box in these cases to. Here is your key. Now, and you may want to remain sitting, as you just became a fairly wealthy man. There is just over 4000 gold crowns in this box. The box can hold as much as 5000 gold crowns when full, so expect some shifting." I take the key and then try (and fail) to work out the exchange in my head. "bah, need a calculator" I mutter in english. Neither man understood that of course. "I am not good at working out large numbers in my head." I explain, "Trying to calculate the translation of your money system to my homelands is a real headache. Especially given how corrupt our system is."

I pull of a 'gold dollar' from my side pouch, "This is what they try to pass off as gold back home."

They both look it over and shake their heads "What is it ?" ask the younger priest, "Magnesium and Brass. Very shiny when new but turns brown with age and very cheap to make. Worth less than pure copper of the same weight in fact."

They both shake their heads, "I can see why you left." the younger one states.

"I guesstimate what you gave me would be worth millions back home, just in the metal alone. But how that translates in to your economy I have not a clue." I am thinking when the younger priest grins, "You could take some of this and try your luck in the Hall of Chance."

I nod absentmindedly, "How much over 4000 ?" Older priest, giving a mean look at the younger one, "95" I nod. "If I limit myself to that amount then I will still be ok, right." The older priest starts then smiles and nods, "Yes I think so."

"To give you some idea. A common laborer maybe makes 1 gold a month. Where as a clerk can make up to 8 gold in a month. Being able to read write and do math helps with that." I nod slowly. "So while this is a good amount of coin, I am by no means Super Rich, just comfortably well off, provided I don't go on a mad spending spree."

The old man nods, "Yes. Though I would suggest getting a few nice things while you can."

I consider then ask, "Know where I can get a bag of holding ? Always wanted one of those." He smiles, "Afraid not."

The younger clears his throat, "Not completely sure they would have that item, but a magic shop opened up near the north gate last month. Mostly he sells things made by apprentices or mages looking to sell excess items but also adventurers bring in things from time to time." I nod, "Ah thank you. That is some place I would like to visit, though I will need directions."

He is happy to give them to me.

I take the chest back to my room and then count out 50 gold coins and place them in different pouches and pockets.

Then I head down to the Hall of Chance. It's a casino alright. Not as flashy as back home and has some 'simple' games of chance and card tables to. I stand at the entrance for a long minute, letting the atmosphere of the place wash over me and intuition guide me to my best chances at increasing my fortune. I play for around 5 hours and walk out with 1393 gold more than I went in with. At one point I started to lose, dropped to 150 gold, so I switched games. I did this about 8 times. I start to lose more than win I would switch games. Did play the 'spin the wheel for a prize' one a couple times, for a break. Lost the first 2 times, won the last 3 times. The heavy set girl who gave out the prizes flirted with me, but I was focused on the games and was just polite back.

On people watching. Most players were the hard types. They came here cause there is no cover charge and they don't do 'penny anti' so you can't go completely broke. Also all the games are straight. Pure chance. Very few what I think of as 'pretty people'. In fact, by my standards I only saw one pretty girl and she was a tall, black girl with gorgeous long curly hair. Little more slender than I normally like, but nice none the less. Most of the other women here tend to be on the heavy side for my taste. All are human to. I have not seen one non-human among the staff. Well to be honest most wear mask and full covering robes, so it's hard to tell but I am pretty certain. The clients though, wide variety. Dwarves, gnomes, halflings (which I note are actually on average a little shorter than the gnomes and the gnomes are shorter than the dwarves, but its close on height.) Builds is the best way to tell them apart, Dwarves, bearded wide stocky built, gnomes, some with beards some without, big noses prominent and slender builds. Halflings range in builds from stocky to slender, but they all have this child like faces, though on the women they don't look at all childlike from the neck down (a few are very nicely endowed in fact.) I took a break about half way through, sat at the bar and people watched even as I sipped a drink and counted my winnings.

Then went out and played more. I took my winnings via a back route, shown to me when I came in by the staff, to my room. Where I put it away. Then took some out and stashed it in several different places just to be safe.

It was still early enough I decided to go do some shopping. So I pull out 500, probably too much, but what the heck and head outside (letting the wardens know so I did not get locked out again.)

As I am walking I notice a couple of people from the Hall following me. Given they were steadily losing at the tables I don't think it's to congratulate me on my winnings. As such I stick to the more crowded area's and avoid alley's.

I do find a couple of tailor shops but nothing in them really catches my interest (one item had me leaving moments after entering - I get it's a fashion thing, it's just one that I have never been able to think of without cringing. Really short puffed out pants and high stockings with the matching tops - ew.)

High fashion in this age / world sucks in my opinion. Low fashion is not much better. Though I can handle the long shirts style with the cloaks. I actually like cloaks. But my fashion taste is more Renaissance and these people are not there yet.

As I walk I notice at one point people in average looking clothing going down this alley and returns a bit later in nicer clothing. Being curious I follow one such fellow and find the alley opens in a nice courtyard with a private well, some benches an arch with a yellow flowering plant growing over it and a shop. The small shop is a tailor who makes both ready to wear and custom items. I wander in, ducking to enter at the doors here are very short to my tall frame, even inside though my hair brushes the ceiling.

The tailor, sitting in the front talking to the man who came in before me stares in awe of my size and presence in his shop. Meanwhile I am looking over the items he has on display, I like much of what I am seeing actually. Several items in leather, good quality cloaks and hats. I let the tailor see to his client as I look at the other items on display.

Once he is free he comes over to me, "Good day sir. May I be of service ?"

I nod, "I hope so. Just to be clear, you are a tailor shop open to the public ?"

He smiles, "Yes though most find me by word of mouth, a few just happen to luck on to my shop."

I grin, "I actually noticed people coming in and out, go in ok clothing come out much nicer clothing, so I followed that last one in." he smiles back.

I am looking at a leather jacket, too small for me but very well made, "I like the style and quality of what you have here." he nods, pleased. "What sort of price range is at work here ?"

He holds up a simple item, "As you note, I do quality work as such my cheapest item is 1 silver and that is hats like this. " I nod, "The jerkin your holding is 2 gold crowns though one in your size would be a bit more. The most expensive item I ever sold was a specialty cloak for a mage and it ran to 10 gold crowns."

I nod, "Lots of hidden pockets and such I would expect." he nod, "Yes actually, plus ermine collar and gold thread." I nod. "I have had a bit of mixed luck of late. Started out bad but had some good come out in the short run. IE so far. So while my luck is holding I thought I would take some of it and get a new wardrobe. Not many items mind you as I am a traveler, but enough to have a fresh bit of clothes for 7 days at least."

He nods, "May I ask what was your bad luck ?" I sigh, "Brigands. walked off with my cart in the night, in which all my clothing save what I am wearing and most of my goods were taken. I was asleep in my tent and anything not in the tent with me they made off with."

He winces and nods, "I was fortunate to have a letter of introduction with me though and the local church of the Lady allowed me to stay with them and turn a couple small gems in to a few gold. Then I won a little more at their tables and left when my luck started to."

He smiles, "Best time to do that. Leave when ahead and try to rebuild." I nod, "Actually between the gems I carried, which while fairly common stones back home, are rarer here, so that garnered me more than I spent on them. Then I won some at the tables. All in all made more than if I had just brought my products to market. Makes me think I am in the wrong line of work. I sold I guess you would say odds and ends, trinkets and such. I don't make any of them, buy what is cheap in one place, sell them for more in another type thing." he nods, knowing the sort of traders. Dangerous work, because travel is dangerous, but done right it can be profitable to. Brigands and dragons seem to be the biggest worry, other than the weather. "Coming here was not in the plan at all. Took a wrong turn really. By the time I realized it I was too far along to go back and well, curiosity, there was a perfectly fine road, had to go somewhere." I shrug, "and here I am. Still lost, but " I shrug again. He grins and nods, "Well today you have found the shop of Day-sun, that is actually the name of the yellow flowers outside. My wife planted them many years ago and they have done well. They are some of the first to bloom in the spring and will bloom till just before fall sets in." I nod, "Nice. Better than a wooden sign most the year"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

He nods, smiling, "True"

Then he has me sit (I do so, back straight, shoulders wide) and take off my coat, which he notes though while obviously old is very well made. He marvels at the zipper and I show him how it works, I point out there is one on my pants to and tell him they have been in use in my homeland, which is very far away, for over 100 years now. I also tell him that I think I may be the first trader from my homeland to make it to these lands. When asked I tell him it's called the Confederate States of Merica. Used to be separate smaller countries, 5 in all, but due to aggressive and larger neighbors they joined together some hundred years ago in to the Confederacy. It's mostly worked. He can understand that. I manage to work in the zipper in to a trade agreement with him. How it's made and the dangers and benefits and items it's used for, including bags and Pockets. He likes pockets in clothing but it adds to the cost and many don't want to pay the tiny bit extra for them. I point out I prefer to have pockets as they are so much more convenient than belt pouches and just a touch harder for pick pockets to make off with your wallet. He even marveled at my pants. I grin and ask him what he thinks they are made from. It floored him when he learned they are cotton. I tell him what I recalled on the making of Denim, which I point out, not being a weaver, is just something I read at a traders conference. I had to explain that and he thought it was a wonderful idea. Reciting from memory, slowly for each word, " Denim is a sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This twill weaving produces a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from cotton duck. The most common denim is indigo denim, in which the warp thread is dyed, while the weft thread is left white. " I pause then point out, "I have no idea what a weft is or a warp thread. I know to that the dye comes from coal, but not how it's made. I am something of a walking storehouse of random bits of knowledge that may or may not be useful to other people." He took notes and knows a few weavers, which in his line of work is a good thing. He is excited about this new product and I am happy to tell him a few other tricks of the trade I know about, like the tiny copper buttons and the purpose behind them. Apparently those buttons are called rivets, and they're there to prevent jeans from wearing out and ripping at the seam. I could not remember the original creators name so I called him Reno of Nevada, which I told him was a land of deserts and scrub that many seeking gold or other such treasures went to. I had never been there as it was hundreds of miles west of my home and I really did not like the idea of deserts. I did have relatives that moved out that way though.

Through a mix of negotiation, and guile I managed to get a sweet deal of the clothes. Basically I just paid the material cost (understandable really) and in turn he got to exclusive rights from me (the one introducing these new items) for 1 year to make and sell the cloth and zippers. After a year I had the rights to sell the secret to others. (preferably in a different country) I did warn him that the zippers are not hard to make once the trick is learned and as we both know there are people out there that would try and undersell him. My suggestion was to sell them only a few copper over cost and fold that in to the price of the clothing to increase the profits and done right he may end up turning people away just from the sheer volume of custom he could make. Right now though I am wishing I had the basic engineering skills to make a sewing machine. That would go over Huge here. While I have seen pictures and even had one of the peddle type a long time ago, I have no idea how it all actually worked together. Like the car, I know it worked but could not tell a person how to build even the engine. On the other hand, because of my interest in medieval based games I know how to build simple but effective struts and shock absorbers for wagons and carts, even very basic oil type hydraulic shock absorbers. Of course the material to make them are beyond me. It's a case of knowing how Somethings work but not others and while ways to put them in to use may exist, I don't know what those ways are.

As far as clothing goes he has a few basic items in my size (or close enough that it took very little to fit them to me). We went over items and I got a very nice hooded cloak that fit over my jacket and reached down to my ankles. On most anyone else it would have dragged the ground, which it was actually designed to do. Making the bottom hem line a great deal stronger is his trick for that. I love the size of it myself, having a taste for the dramatic and still some style and proper use. It is well after dark by the time I leave. Both of us quite happy with how things worked out.

I manage to make it back to the Temple just before the doors were to close. I learned the Hall was still open, but no new people in, just a few stragglers to go out. Then they would clean the place for tomorrow.

I am heading for my assigned room when I meet the middle priest, I stop, "Oh sir, hi. Um I forgot your name."

He nods, "It's Tod sir. Short name but easily forgotten it seems." I nod, "I am Rob, also a short name that people tend to get wrong." he grins and nods, "I heard you did well at the Hall today, then left us."

I grin, "Went shopping. Found a wonderful little tailor shop called Daysun, ever heard of it ?" he shakes his head, "It is a bit out of the way, at the end of a cul-de-sac there is a well with the yellow daysun flowers around it. To the left of the well is a small shop. Was a most lucky find for me and the tailor it seems. I did not realize it but the material that my pants are made from is new around here. They have been in use for a good while back home. Anyway I recalled how the material was made and we struck a deal that included some nice discounts on 7 full sets of clothing for me, 5 work sets and 2 nice sets for well, not work times."

He smiles at my enthusiasm, "Sounds like the Lady has smiled on you sir. " I nod, "Yes I think she has and I am quite grateful for that. Prior to coming here my luck felt like it was running out. Things were bad back home, recovering from wars and hardships and well stuff. You know. But since I have been here, things seem to be looking up. So I will try to spread around my good fortune a bit to." he nods, "That is something we like to hear sir. Have you had dinner yet ?"

I shake my head, "No. I was going to my room to put these items I got away, is the kitchen still open ?"

He nods, "Yes and no. Kitchen is always open, cooks not always there." I grin, "Well I can understand that."

He walks with me to the room. Only the door is ajar and we both slow down and look at each other.

When we push the door open, the light from the lamp in the hall shows the room has been tossed. There is stuff everywhere.

I gulp and rub the bracelet I am wearing. We go in and look. My storage chest is there, the lock smashed but all the coin is in it. He calls the guards and I look over what is missing. My ice chest is gone, but the food that was in it is dumped on the bed. My tent is gone to. The grill is missing, but nothing else.

I describe the missing items and point out the leather bag (tent) had an enchantment on it and the blue and white chest with the large black wheels had a couple of items in it of alchemical nature called Blue ice. I even describe the grill.

Once I mention that one of the items is enchanted they call (via small crystal ball) a mage, who at that moment was getting ready to identify an object for a client. When he hears what we are looking for he tells us the thief is there now.

The city guard is there in minutes while the mage stalls him. He, actually She is caught along with an accomplice.

I am very impressed at how fast they got my items back and the two thieves as well as my stuff is given back to me.

I go over my stuff carefully, nothing is damaged, a little scuffed but that’s all.

I look at the girls, "I can understand the bag, it's enchanted, the ice chest cause it's different, but why the grill ?"

The now in very much in trouble Priestess who was helping the thief, "The metal it's made from of course. It's light, easy to carry yet you can burn stuff in it. That grate alone could be worth thousands."

I look sadly at her, "It's zinc. Steal dipped in zinc. Very common item I have seen several smithies Here using that technique just today alone. It's how they make Galvanized Steel." the girl looks very surprised. "The grill itself is just black lacquered thin layered steel as well. It's shape is different from local types is all. The whole of it locally would cost may be 10 silver."

The thief shakes her head, "Told her to leave it. Said we should have taken the coins to. But she said you were just brimming with magic items we just had to get them."

I look at the thief, "The leather pack, it’s a self-setting up or down tent. For someone like me who travels it’s a very nice item and very easily traceable as they are Only sold by one group in the world. Expensive but nice. The blue items in the chest are called Blue Ice, Once frozen they stay frozen. Forever. Very useful for carrying perishable foods which is what I was using them for before you dumped the foods all over my bed."

The priestess, struggling, "You have more magic than that." I nod, "True, but you did not steal that stuff as it never leaves my person. Not that it's all that great an item. It just shows pictures. It was made long ago by a company as a sort of catalog to show off their wares in a convenient way. Company went out of business do to a war. But their magical picture items show up every now and then. I got one cause I like looking at the pictures." From what I learned from the green lady and adventurers that is what everyone who has ever seen it thinks it does. I pull up my sleeve and the mage, who is still there, happily listening to my explanations on the items, sees it and nods, "Ah that. Yes that is the second one of those I have seen. You rub a finger over the crystal and little very nicely rendered pictures of the items show up. I thought it was a learning tool actually though your explanation works much better. "

I push the crystal and then make a gesture over the crystal, like expand on a cell phone, and a picture of a rowboat with sail rises from the display, showing it in 3D. "I got the deluxe model, the one you describe is the cheaper model." he claps his hands, "Oh Very nice use of illusion magics."

I show him different boats and pictures of horses and dogs, and tents and even a turkey dinner. "They did not sell the birds or such, just the plates and bowls in the image." he nods delighted. I sigh, "I have no idea how they made these and only a few still exist because someone started a rumor that if you know the trick you could make them create the item pictured. So many were destroyed by people trying to do that, it was insane. See if you look at the base of the picture you can see the name of the company." I point to a picture on the tent (I have) that shows Smith and Weasely and their logo. "It was a mail order company. You find the items you liked, include the item number (I point to a list of random looking symbols) and base description and the money of course and they would send the items out to you."

Mail order turns out to be a new concept here. Well not Completely new, as some places do make special orders and ship them out to other companies that sell them. But to do it from a central location and to individuals, now that was new. I marvel at that, "Really ? Huh. They have been pretty common back home for almost 200 years."

I learned in my talk with the adventurers that their whole world had not yet been explored. Just 5 years ago an entire new chain of islands was discovered. The natives are not at all friendly either.

They guestimate that they have only explored maybe 2/3rds of the world. So saying I come from a far away and as yet undiscovered country, which given the way I talk and my strange gear and clothing is not hard to believe. I am really working that angle to.

Girl thief, "I want to know how you caught us so fast."

I shrug, "Luck, pure luck."

Tod nods, "You just happened to go to the mage we use to track stolen items and he recognized the items you wanted identified when we described them." the mage 'Allisnore' nods, "I am under contract by the Temple of Luck for magical needs and tracings as they do attract more than their fair share of thieves."

The thief glares at the priestess, "That's how you knew of him ? You are so Stupid." The priestess flinches from the verbal assault.

"Should have taken the gold." I state, "The magic items are worth a whole lot less than the gold I had. That tent averages out at 400gold. The blue ice 5 to 10 gold each depending on the market. There was 4000 in that chest." The thief pales, then turns a furious glare on her accomplice, "You are so dead." she states even as the guards drag them away.

I look at Allisnore, "So from your reaction the blue ice is another item that is not well known ?"

He grins and nods. I nod, "Well in truth while the formula is simple, it is not easy to make. One wrong move and instead of ice you get fire, in the form of a massive explosion."

He looks surprised, "Then how is it made."

I shrug, "Magical lights only, no open flames. You would be surprised the number of people who don't take that warning seriously and end up cremating themselves." He thinks about it then shakes his head, "Actually no I wouldn't. I put it up there with the number of idiots who try to rob a luck temple. No one has Ever succeeded as the Lady takes a dim view on those trying their luck Against her."

I nod, "I can imagine that."

He ask, "So you won 4000 gold ?" I shake my head, "gems, traded them in via the high priest, whose name I keep forgetting to ask." Allisnore grins, "He is Fredrick Von Luce. Though he got nick named Von Luck as a lad, before he became a priest."

I grin, "His calling found him early then ?"

Allisnore nods, "and he fought it for years to." I nod then turn the subject back to the Ice.

"There are two versions of the formula. The easier one is safer to. Just don't try and drink it, would make you sick. The easier version makes a slush, which when packaged right is good for sprains, strains and burns. Well easing the pain in such because the packaging is usually a thick cloth and can be wrapped around the affected area. The hard packed Blue Ice well I don't know how to make that packaging. It's made from the sap of a tree and I don't even know where it grows or if it can be found around here. Not that that is any help cause that is as far as my knowledge of it goes."

He nods, "You have no formal training in alchemy or magic do you ?"

I shake my head, "I pick up things here and there. Read allot and " I shrug, "stuff just comes easy to me, so I went out in to the world and have been exploring and doing odd jobs, trading, and such to make ends meet and finance my wanderlust."

He smirks, "So no near death experiences ?"

I look at him, "A few, but I can run really fast. I can fight if I have to as well. Prefer to avoid a fight though, reason when possible, when not, little luck, and lots of dodging."

He laughs and nods, "Good philosophy." I shrug.

He considers, "Well I am a stay at home type mage. Adventurers come to me to identify magics or remove curses and that sort of thing. Do a little alchemy on the side. Tell you what, you interested in a business proposition ?"

"I am listening."

" This blue ice slush, if it's as easy as you say to make maybe we can work out a way to make some money off of it."

"Tell you what. How about tomorrow I come by your place and we can discuss it. Right now I want to head back to my room, sort my belongings and think things over. Oh, do you know where I can buy a bag of holding ? It's one magic item I have always wanted but never seem to find."

He directs me to the magic shop. I grin and tell him he is the 2cd person to tell me to try there. He gives me directions to his place, I repeat them back to him, then follow Tod back to the temple. Tod is humming along quite happily.

I look at him, "Feeling the luck ?"

He nods, "You have a good bit of it, not huge amounts, but just enough to make things happen. And your using it in positive ways. Times like this I am happy to be a priest."

I grin at him, "Yeah I can see that."

He looks at me, I shrug, "Your humming" he nods and continues to hum his happy song.