Blake felt a deep soreness, as his eyes opened to an unfamiliar ceiling, his body hurt, and his legs felt like they were gone. He looked around as much as he could but found no one but the bed he was in. “open rank” he said in a weak voice.

Name: Blake Winters. Class: Paladin. Race: human. Current power rank: 65.

Health points: 100/210, Spell Points: 100/100, Spell Power: 48, Energy points: 100/100

Strength: 46, Dexterity: 34, Constitution: 38,

Intelligence: 29, Wisdom: 28, Charisma: 33,

Trust: 27, Faith: 10, Honor: 5.

Skills: Halberd proficiency(renowned), longsword proficiency(trained), bow proficiency(trained), heavy armor proficiency(skilled), shield combat proficiency(trained), basic light magic, intermediate light magic, Basic holy magic, intermediate holy magic, advance holy magic, magic proficiency(skilled).

Abilities: Power strike, smite, rend, shield slam, heavy guard, heal, cure conditions, dispel curses, dispel magic, quick recovery, Holy blessing, Holy Ward, holy shield, judge’s eye (passive), Hallowed binding, death respite, sun flare, burning smite, greater heal, Devastating Blow, Rebuke, Solar Forge, Light Prison.

Blessings: Blessing of the Long Breath, Blessing of Life tongue, Blessing of the Peerless, Blessing of the Indomitable (12%), Divine Emissary (Justice, Honor, Life), Blessing of farewells x 2. Troll Slayer (Title)

Blake touched the Troll Slayer title he got and found out that if he landed hits on enemies with a regeneration ability then the speed of their recovery is halved for every hit he lands. [wait is that stacking, kinda wish I have this before now.]

Blake looked over the information and lowered his hand to his chest making the window vanish, “greater heal.” he whispered as the light of the spell filled the room, the feeling in his legs returned and he felt a bit lighter, leaning up as the sound of rushing footsteps sounded and the door swung open to Jackie rushing in followed by Hilda and Phanna.

“Hey, I guess I have you to thank for saving me out there.” Blake said with a smile.

The three tackled him with hugs, forcing him back down, each one’s eyes slightly watering up at his recovery.

“You nearly died killing that troll, why did you even do that?” Jackie asked into his left shoulder.

“Moron, if you died who would have dealt with the goblins.” Hilda said on his other shoulder.

“Yeah dumbass, you aren’t allowed to fucking die yet” Said Phanna as she squeezed his neck.

Blake brought his arms up to hug them back and smile. “Because I have to protect you all, that thing, I think it was a servant of the dark lord. If I didn’t stop it, it would have attacked your town.” He said calmly.

“Damn it,” Phanna let out before seating up and beating on his chest, “You didn’t need to fight it on your own, we were coming back with others, we could have helped,” she said, as her tears grew a bit more until she was crying, “You nearly died before we could thank you properly.”

Blake looked up at her and smiled. “I had a feeling everything would be ok, so I took the risk. But I am sorry for scaring you.” he said as he tried to reassure her.

Jackie leaned up and looked down at him, as she watched his face, her cheeks growing red at the thought she had and acted on as she leaned in and kissed him quickly, “I understand that you are strong and powerful, but please don’t rush to fight something that unholy”

Before he could respond, Hilda turned his face to her and kissed him too, “I didn’t understand why you told us to run until I watch the fight, thank you for holding to your word and protecting us.” she said as she pulled back, blake’s mind drawing a few blanks at the turning events.

Just as he was finding an answer or response to their affirmations, Phanna centered his face and kissed him but for a bit longer than the other two. “ That is your first reward for bringing us back, and if you defeat the goblins I’ll give you a better one.” she said after she pulled back a bit embarrassed.

Blake stared at the three women for a few seconds, then smiled warmly. “I don’t need anything but to know you are all safe.” His voice was soft and comforting to all of them, the enjoyment that he still was not demanding anything for his efforts spoke to them.

However the mood was interrupted by Blake's stomach growling at the lack of food, stunning them with silence then they burst into laughter before they slowly got up, Hilda and Phanna heading out the door, and Jackie handing Blake his clothes.

“So whose house is this?” Blake asked as he got his pants on.

“It's mine, I got it from my mother after she passed, this was my brother’s room.” Jackie said before turning back around and handing him his shirt, “It is a big house so I offered to let Phanna and Hilda stay here after the attack, their homes were razed by the goblins.” she helped him fasten the opening around his neck closed. Her eyes lingered on his chest, but not looking, just watering at the memories.

“I see, that is kind of you, I don’t think I could live in a big house all by myself either,” Blake said, before slowly pulling her into a hug, his hands tenderly cradling her to him, letting her bury her face in his shoulder. “It is ok to not be strong at all times.” He whispered to her ear and heard the muffled cries at the loss she felt, and the grief she had hidden away.

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He held her for a few minutes before she pulled away and wipe away tears, and smiled up at him, “Thank you, not just for saving us but also for helping us.” she said as she broke free and handed him his padded tunic.

“I was doing what was right at the time, and I understand loss, I have lost my wife too.” Blake said as he slipped his arms into the sleeves and worked to close the front, “If I didn’t have my friends I don’t know how I would have survived, grief is a dark well that is hard to climb out of, but is made easy with a helping hand.” he looked up to her and smiled, “and I was, am, and honor to have lent my hand to you”

Jackie’s face grew red, and she smiled a deep and affectionate smile. “Thank you for taking care of me.” she said, her voice peaking something in Blake’s heart before she turned and headed to the door. “Lunch will be ready in a few minutes, just follow the smell.” she wave her hand as she left.

Blake watched for a second and looked out the window, his mind thinking over the idea of staying here and pursuing Jackie or one of the others, but he remembered that if he did then he would have to watch them die too, as he wouldn’t age, and though it pained him to say it out loud he quietly cursed that blessing. He quickly dismissed the thoughts, settling on the idea of at the most agreeing to give them anything they ask for but staying here.

As he got his boots on he made his way out the door and followed the scent of cooking meats to an open eating area with a large table flanked by benches. At which was seated Hilda, Phanna along with an unknown man, off a few feet away was a fire pit where Jackie was at, pulling off the last few pieces of what looked like chicken meat off a large skillet.

Blake eyed the man, he looked to be past forty nearing fifty if he had to guess, with a bald head and ragged beard adding to the effect. But Blake noticed the man was still very much fit, likely from many years working in the village.

“Ah, I see you are indeed awake, and moving impressive,” the man said, his voice sounding genuine and happy. “I am Collan Jandea, the elder of this village, welcome to Yari’s yard.”

“I am Blake Winters, Paladin of Jaud, Jal, and Geie, thank you for allowing me to stay,” Blake said as he walked over and took a seat, “I understand that you had to allow the widows of some of the villagers to be taken to compensate some adventurers,” Blake noticed the women freeze as he spoke, their understanding of what he holds as acceptable vastly different from what the chief might. “Can’t say I agree but I think you should know that those adventurers had swindled you, they had not dealt with the issue.”

“Yes, I was told, and found out the hard way when some of our hunters were attacked.” The chief said, but Blake’s eye told him that there was more to the tale. “If I had known I wouldn’t have done so to the ones you saved, I am grateful” but the man was lying about this and Blake saw so.

Blake sucked on his teeth. “I am going to help this village by dealing with the goblins, but I want to know something first…” Blake said carefully, making everyone stop and looked at him. “What did those bastards offer you for the women I saved?” his voice was stern and harsher than he normally used.

“What?” The chief said after a second.

“Yeah, I guess you weren’t informed, but I can see through lies, my eyes can literally tell me if you lie about something.” Blake said as he rested his arm on the table. “Just now you said that if you knew, but you did, so what did they offer you to take the women?” he pointed a finger at the man.

“Nothing, i am telling the truth, i didn’t know anything.” The chief said back as calmly as he could, but Blake scowled at the man.

“Lies again, so let me guess, they would sell these women and then come back with an actual subjugation force?” Blake asked pointedly, seeing that he had guessed right as the man’s expression shifted just a bit. “Yeah, they for sure weren’t going to do that, and if you had not agreed to the request the only thing that would have changed, would be that I wouldn’t get to meet these lovely ladies as soon as I did.”

The chief drew in a long breath before sighing.

“Chief, just so you know my gods would demand you be killed right here and now if you have done this in greed.” Blake glanced around the room at the others smiling to reassure them he wouldn’t. “But as you did what you thought was for the best of the village I can’t be the one to pass a sentence on you, so you will have to explain to everyone in your village about your failure and sin if they forgive so will I,” Blake said as he took a slice of bread and meat, making it into a sandwich and taking a bite, “If they don’t then they can ask me to use my powers to punish you as par my gods’ wills.”

Everyone was still watching Blake as he kept eating and then Hilda was the first to speak, “Is he right?” she asked turning to the chief, “Did you agree to sell us so the goblins would be subjugated?”

The chief looked up at her with an apology in his eyes, “Yes, they had said the goblins were close to completing a fortress deep in the woods, and we didn’t have the money to get a proper army ready, so they said if I give them some people they would handle the goblins.” he said in a sullen voice, blake watched him as he spoke. “I said I can give them some of the older folks that can do housework, but they said they wanted you lot, they said you would sell for a better price. I told them to reconsider, that you have just lost families and loved ones, and that you need time to grieve. But they said if I didn’t agree they would just leave and tell the capital that the village was gone. So I did as they asked.” The chief lowered his head in shame, “I am sorry for anything that may have happened to you, please forgive me” his eyes watering at the confession of his misdeeds, but he spoke truthfully.

“He speaks true.” Blake added, making the three women glance at him for a moment, then back to the chief.

“I don’t think I can, but I understand why you did it,” Jackie said her hands tightening together as she spoke.

“Same, I wish you would have conferred with us first, So we could understand the odds” Hilda said as she took a bite of food.

Phanna looked at Blake, malice in her eyes and a demand to do something, but Blake reached over and held her hand, her expression softened but the anger was not gone. “I can’t forgive you, and I wouldn’t forget, but I will stay and help the village, I expect you to surpass my expectations, chief.”

The chief let out a sniff and looked back over to all of them. “Thank you for listening, I plan to do better moving forward.” he said as he wiped away a tear.

“Now chief, I plan to investigate the goblins and see if I can solve the issue,” Blake said as he readied a second sandwich, “best case scenario the ones that attack the village are a rogue element of the goblin tribe that I can take out, worst case scenario is that the whole tribe has indeed gone hostile, in which case I’ll do my best before returning,” Blake took a bite and chewed a bit before swallowing, “As for compensation, I want food and to be able to stay a night after I am done. I need enough food to get to Wynberg, sounds agreeable to you?”

“After you slay a troll on your own, yes, I would happily do that, I can ask around and see if anyone wants to host you too if you would like?” he said back but locked eyes on Jackie’s face, “But I suspect you would prefer to stay here in Miss Malic’s home?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to hosting my savior.” Jackie said.

“Thank you, Jackie, you have really been a great help over the last few days,” Blake said before wiping his hands and taking a drink. “I’ll set off soon, just need to get my armor on.” he stood up and got ready to head back to the room he was resting in.

“I’ll help you.” Said Hilda as she got up and came up behind him.

As they walked in he heard the door close, but was stopped from turning around as Hilda hugged him from behind, her toned arms pulling him in a bit, “I am sorry but can you not move a second.” he nodded knowing she was likely watching him, her grip loosening and hands coming to rest on his shoulder blades, her head pressing on the center of his back by the base of his neck.

He heard her let out a long sigh, before sniffling, her hands gripping his tunic, her body started to shake based on the light shift in her grip. He could tell she was likely crying, but she didn’t want him to see, so he said nothing, her silent mourning of her late husband ripping at Blake's heart, but all he could do was silently let her hold on to him.

They stay like that for more than a few minutes before he let a hand go and wiped her face. “Sorry, I couldn’t hold it back, I am sorry, but I don’t know who I could turn to, and well…” she was cut off as Blake turned around and pulled her into a hug, closing her in tight with a warm embrace.

“It is ok, if you need a shoulder then just say so.” He said with as soothing a tone as he could manage.

She nodded her head in his arms, before pushing away and walking over to his brigandine, lifting it up and walking back over to him, “I had our blacksmith check it over and sharpen your halberd while you were asleep.” She said as he slipped it on and started closing it from the top while she worked on the bottom.

“Thanks for that, I appreciate it,” he said, but faltered as their hands collided in the middle, but he took hers and pulled them against his chest. “I am sorry that you were worried, but I will be back after this too.”

She looked up at him, pulling a hand free, cupping the back of his neck, and kissing him, her wish for his return clear in her act. “For good luck Blake, I know that you wouldn’t stay in the village after this, so I want you to be ready to take my heart with you.” she said as she pulled away and left, and for the second time, Blake’s mind and heart found a conflict over his next action.

He looked down to the ground, as his mind won the battle again before looking over to his halberd leaning against the wall, and he sighed, “Let’s go see what this goblin business is all about.” he said to himself before donning the rest of his combat only kit and left with Halberd in hand.