The Othemoor! What a nice swamp. The air smelled of rot and wet wood. The trees curled into twisted shapes right out of a children's movie. You know the ones with haunted forests filled with scary monsters. Yeah that's the one. I can see a mosquito about the size of a cat feasting on the corpse of some kind of lizard creature. Then it got eaten by an alligator. I am sure glad I decided to come here.

Sarcasm aside, I flew high over the Othemoor. I wasn't interested in the swamp itself just the things the people Othe pulled out of it. I wanted that willowshade oil. I don't want to face any creature with the ability to turn things to stone without it. I hope to leave with at least 3 uses of it.

I am well over the forest and have a view of the Cryios mountains. My flight path should lead me to Othe but if I continue over the mountains I should be able to reach Deastok or Kamordah if I fly long enough. I don’t want to head to the empire just yet though. So I return my eyes to the swamp. Othe is a city of 8,000 built upon 5 landmasses that rise above the swamp. They connect to each other through bridges. So I need to be on the lookout for that. Othe is the spiritual center of the Concords and is home to many of the animistic and deistic traditions mixed into a nice package. Many worship Melora the Wildemother who some Ki’nau see as the combined form of their many animistic beings.

Eventually I saw it. The humble city in the shape of a crescent resting in the middle of this creepy ass swamp. They had druids I assumed so I swooped onto an empty dock and transformed. It was late now. I had been flying for most of the day so I took a good stretch. The Apa-feids are the center of the city and its many temples lie there. The Rudwashes is the residential district and its homes are made of red brick. I am currently at the Stark Docks. Here small boats and storage buildings rest. This city has a small Myriad problem but nothing compared to Feolinn. What the Myriad want most is the unique herbs that grow here. Marquis Mata Laau-afu and the city's druids have done well with protecting its resources and their growing methods. The people aren't hostile to foreigners but it's expected for them to approach the residents.

“Excuse me. Where might I find an inn?” I said to two dock workers. They were dressed in overalls and covered in mud.

“Head down this path. Turn right at the tavern. It has good food but no beds. The inn will be about 5 houses down on the left.” One of them said.

“Howd you get here not knowing that? Ya would of needed at boat to get here. Whadda do, swim?” The other said.

“Nah I flew in. Thanks.” I said and headed for the inn. The people seemed nice enough. The inn I found was called The Quagmire Escape. When I went inside I immediately understood why it was called that. There was a large metal ball in the middle of the Inn. It was a giant sensor and it was pumping out a lot of smoke. I see, the main benefit of this place was that it didn't smell like swamp. It instead smelled super strongly of incense. Oh boy if I might get allergies just being in this room.

“Helloo. How can the Escape help you today?” Behind the counter was a human man in his late 30s. He was wearing an array of colors and sashes. He seemed to be trying to make up for the lack of color in the swamps by wearing every color himself.

“I need a room for the night.” I said.

“That will be 2 gold please.” Said the colorful inn keeper. I handed over the gold. “Your room is down that hallway. Second door on the right.” He said.

“Thank you. I have come to town looking to purchase your specialty alchemical products. Specifically Willowshade Oil. I plan on traveling to some dangerous places and the one problem I don't want to face is petrification.” I said.

“Ah then you will be looking for De’s Spices, Herbs and more. She can be ornery but loves money more than she is stubborn.” He said.

“Thank you.” I said. I head to my room. Time to rest and meet the newly awakened animals.

…………

I appear in the middle of a grassy plain lying on my back. It's not uncomfortable and is actually quiet. I plan on fixing that today. I stand up and feel for Rubert. He is near the warehouse. With a single step I am next to him.

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“Roob. How are the new residents?” I ask.

“They are doing great. Right now they are still looking at memories but I can wake them up.” Rubert said.

“Good. Do that please, I have something to say.” I said.

Rubert went around and woke everyone up. They all seemed much more focused now. I guess that's to be expected. They had gained the equivalent of a +6 or so to their intelligence. I don't know the stats of all animals but I know a lot have around 4 or 6. If looking at my memories has the same effect as an awaken spell then they should be at 10 or so. The average for a humanoid's intelligence.

“Good to see you all. I think we are missing the seagull Rubert?” I said.

“They didn't take to the memories after looking at one and flying to the river. I have checked on them and they still seem to be a normal seagull still.” Rubert said.

“Well all right. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am sorry I prevented most of you from getting these benefits but I have changed that now and we will keep offering these benefits. Today I killed a dire wolf.” I said. I could feel the wolf moving through the forest confused looking for his pack. “I will be helping him today. But as for the rest of you. I want to offer something. Are any of you willing to work with me?” I asked.

“Of course M’lord. I am Clarion. At your service.” Said the cat.

“I didn’t mind helping you in life. I didn’t expect this but I am grateful you at least made my death peaceful. So yeah, I will help. I am Atlas.” Said the horse.

“Whatever you need boss I got it. I am Lightning.” Said the dog.

“I am agreeable to being of service. I am Gatsby.” Said the crow.

“I am not sure how I can help but if I can I will. I am Tiny.” Said the rat.

“Good. I am going to give you all jobs. I haven't tried out the full extent of what I can do here but I am going to now. Gatsby. You are up first.” I said.

“Yes master.” Gatsby said.

“This world needs wind and sound. It has only the imitation of life. I need it to be better and I need someone to do that. Can I trust you to be the four winds of this world? Can I trust you to fill the air with the music of life?” I said. His eyes lit up with every word I said.

“Of course master. I will see to this task with my full attention.” Gatsby said.

“Good. Make sure you take the time to relax every now and then.” I said and took a deep breath. “Gatsby the crow. You are the wind of this world. The breeze is yours to control and the sounds harmonize and dance at your command. You gain this power at my authority and my approval. So I have said so it shall be.” I speak and a gale blows through the world. It picks up speed and blows everything around us. Then it stops. Gatsby told it to stop.

I didn’t know whether I could give someone control over this world but I wanted to try. Everything here can change as long as I will it to happen so why shouldn't someone else have that power. I am glad I can delegate a little. I have other ideas too.

“Rubert and Clarion. I have over 20 years of memories. That will take a long time to sort through. I name you both the record keepers and architects of knowledge. I task you with going through everything in there and documenting anything that could be useful to not only myself but others in this world or Exandria as well. You are also to protect my memories from those that would abuse them. Can I trust you with this?” I said.

“Yes boss/master.” They said together and so it shall be. There wasn't much fanfare this time but I know these two have a lot more they can do now.

“Good.” I said. “Now for the rest of you. I don’t have a job for you all yet. But that's okay. I will give you something right now.” I said and turned towards a space next to the warehouse. I create a bit of sand a block wide. I then add details in the sand with giant wood blocks. I create mountain blocks, forest blocks, and many more. “This is a map of the area as it is right now. I want everyone including those that have been given jobs to help make this world.” I said. They all looked impressed and excited. “You don't need to finish the whole thing, we can go piece by piece as well. But that will be up to you all.” I said. I spend a few minutes speaking with them about ideas and I learn the rest of their names. It's nice to see this little community growing.

Once that is done I track down the dire wolf. He is sitting under a tree looking mighty depressed. It will be hard to speak to him like this. He is alone and I don't think seeing me is going to help him. I start by creating a memory of a burger in front of him. That scares the shit out of him and he leaps away. I don’t chase and he eventually comes back. After a minute of tapping and sniffing the orb he bites it. His eyes glaze over and he lives the memory. Good. I create a couple dozen more of different events. Mostly food but also some tv and games I got to play online. I will leave him with that for now. I am sure he will need time so I will talk to him tomorrow. I create a tree house for myself and spend the rest of the night reading. Gatsby had read the book he named himself after and seems to have become a little bit of a book nerd. I will have to see what I can do about that. Can I kill a book?

I woke up in the inn. I nearly choke on the smell of incense but I can learn to deal with it. I gathered all my things and entered the main lobby of the inn. I saw yesterday they offered free breakfast and I am not one to turn down free food. I ordered bacon and potatoes. I didnt care what they did to them but I wanted potatoes. I was given a baked potato. My delicious potato breakfast was interrupted though as a turtle sat down next to me. Well let me be clear. He is a tortle, a humanoid turtle person.

“May I help you sir?” I asked.

“You may but first I need to help you.” He said in an old voice. Tortles only live about 50 years or so but this one looked well over that age.

“I would be glad to help you. But what do I need help with?” I asked.

“You are in grave danger, I am afraid. You are being hunted by a powerful creature in this swamp and she will do many evil things if she catches you. I am afraid you can't leave this town." He said as a few people in armor entered the building.