“Hey beardo, I just.. I wanted to really thank you for last night, I was losing my mind, I’m not sure what I would’ve done.”
I was speaking to the groggy dwarf as he was getting into a sitting position on the bed. I was a bit gung ho and didn’t even let him really collect himself, I just wanted to sincerely thank him.
“Hrnnmm? Who’s a whats it now? Last night? Oh my, did we.. ya know?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Then what an sams blazes are you thanking me for?”
“For.. for not leaving me alone in this god forsaken cabin forest while I'm only level 1 with no means to protect myself. I know I said I was fine, but I was just being stubborn, I wanted to not rely on anyone anymore.. But that was just dumb of me.”
“Lass-” he paused as he was rubbing his eyes clear
“If that’s all you are thanking me for, then don’t mention it. I told you before I couldn’t call meself a dwarf if I simply shrugged your stubborn self off and went home. Wouldn't have got a wink of sleep anywho. ”
A low purr resounded the room, as the familiar large beast tackled Bronzebeard back into a laying position, shining up his oh so signature beard with disgusting saliva. This went on for a couple of minutes before Berry finally let up, and Bronzebeard rose again. I needed to ask him a favor.
“You know I’m the keeper now right? You got some notification or something the moment Elzare decided this crazy thing.”
“Aye, that I did lass, as does the rest of the citizens of Andril”
“Did it have any mention of my location or level.”
“Hmmm.. not as far as I remember, it just said Rosie has been bestowed the title of Keeper from half-elf Elzare, the worrying thing wasn’t the level or location, but the fact it said Rosie.. Now I already figured you and Rosalin were the same person, because I have the privilege to talk with you a bit, and I’ve got brains to match this here dwarven brawn!... but I’m pretty sure some townsfolk got a bone to pick with you from those guards you done an killed”
Fuck. He’s absolutely right. Man this really sucks. I didn’t want any of this, now I can’t really leave or abandon this place can I? I guess I could give the title to someone else, but then that betrays Elzare’s trust, the first person to help me in this cruel and godforsaken world.
“Do you know if the citizens have to obey me now due to my status?”
“They don’t have to obey you, though you can kick any NPC out of the place, the magic of the crystal up in the old cooks towers would severely debuff them if they are in the vicinity, should be child's play to inforce a little law from that point if you go down that route… though I wouldn’t recommend that, lassie. If you make an example of one npc, others will see, and the tax collector may say you aren’t worthy of being a keeper if the entire place is against you. It won't be pretty lass, when the elders decide to replace a keeper, it's exactly that. You disappear, a new one takes the spot.”‘
“Bronzebeard, can I please ask a favor?”
“Anything within this dwarfs power lass.”
“I can’t really wrap my mind around this keeper stuff right away and I doubt I could manage anything with my current stats. I don’t want to feel powerless either, can I please stay with you until this wears off? Teach me some more smithing and anything you know about keepers?”
“Hmmm.. ya see, I’m a busy dwarf, how could I evvvverr have time for a lass like you to be pesterin me all day with questions?” He spoke teasingly, I decided to hug the short dwarf in front of me again.
“I guess you won’t be a bother, we can figure out the rest later, I also don’t think you want people seeing your face or knowing who you are, might wanna get a cloak or somethin, in fact, I’ll scurry along back right now, bring some things back in a little. Think you can manage without these strong, sexy dwarven arms!??” Beardo was flexing again, one foot on my bed, Berry let out a primal roar behind him, almost agreeing with what his master was saying.
“I think I can just about manage for a little, don’t let your ego get too big now Beardo.”
“Lass! An ego is a dwarfs second biggest thing!”
Good god, I don’t want to know what the first is.
I shoed him along before I would ever ask.
“Alright, can you please go now? I wanna wash up and prepare for what I’m sure to be a crazy day.”
The day proceeded forward, pretty much exactly to plan. I ended up showering again in the back with the bucket, water trickled from my hand as a bar of soap glided over my body. I then used Noble Upkeep to straighten my far too green baggy clothes. Beardo ended up coming back shortly after that, he held a decent sewed hood in his hand and presented it towards me.
“This should help a little lass, but I’m worried about your height, it’s not exactly normal if you haven’t noticed. There aren’t enough elfs here to make your height not such a hot question.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Bronzebeard was looking down, pondering what to do. Soon he ended up rummaging around to another one of his mysterious satchels.
“This will only work for a few days, got it a while ago. It’s suppose to let you change your looks to whatever you imagine in the moment you consume it. Some say you fly up into the air and create a new you, I never personally used the stuff. How could you want something other than this handsome mug! I was hesitant to use this though, was hoping the hood would do the job, but looking at you tower over me tells me it won’t be enough. You’ll owe me lass, this stuff wasn’t cheap.”
Feeling kind of bad, but out of choices, I took the purple vial he held in his hand. Slowly taking a sip, my vision faded and blurred, twisted and distorted shooting upward.
Who are you?
Truth
Half-Truth
Lie
Three figures stood before me, floating aimlessly in the air. I had no control over the looks, it seemed to be predefined. Hovering under the blue bar of truth stood a shocking sight.. It was me. Not Rosie, instead Ryu. Standing at about a modest 5’11, brown hair, eyes, a thin dangly figure who clearly hasn’t seen a day of hard work, staring at me, he was breathing, blinking, and moving around slightly. This was the most bizarre thing I ever experienced. Looking down I could still see I was Rosie.
Underneath Half-Truth stood a slightly shorter Rosie, with brown hair instead of blonde, brown eyes, and a common look to her, but still managing to be very gorgeous.
Last but not least, underneath Lie stood a strong broad man, roughly 6 feet tall, muscles stacked on top muscles, blonde rugged hair, and deep blue eyes. So this is apparently my lying version of myself ehh? Well that's a kick to the balls.
Thinking hard over what the following few days may hold, and feelin kinda homesick and nostalgic, I decided to pick truth. The world started flowing back to me, I felt incredible pain swooshing through me, the sound of bones cracking, my spine was changing shape, I could barely glimpse Bronzebeard recoiling in shock.
“Lass! You okay?”
Before I could answer, the full features of my body were formed, to my surprise, instead of comfort, I felt awkward now being back in this weak body.
“My word! I knew the potion was amazing, but hot damn I didn’t know you can change gender!? You are a man now right? Maybe I shouldn’t have gave that up.. I can imagine some things to do as a gir-- nevermind. More importantly, you okay! That looked like hell.”
Trying to speak with my now changed vocal chords, a familiar and sad voice came out.
“I’m alright beardo, thank you.”
It was a weak voice that held no authority, no power, no meaning.
“Good to hear! Guess I should start calling you lad now, ehh!?” I felt a hearty pat on my back.
I didn’t expect Bronzebeard to take this so well, part of me always though he was so nice to me because of my uhh.. Womanly features before, but the heartfelt pat I just had on my back, reassured me completely, this man was a good one.
“Or maybe you have an alias you came up with, any name you’d prefer?”
Silently thinking for a moment while I was standing in far too baggy clothes, 2 times over now with the difference of height that just occurred, I finally replied.
“Ryu.”
“Ryu it is lad! My guess is no one should have any clue at all who you are now, let’s get you a change of clothes and head back to my wooden fortress of sleepatude”
Bronzebeard carried a jolly jog to him as he walked forward brimming with confidence. Just how does he do it? Slowly moving one foot in front of the other, I eventually managed a pace that wasn’t completely awkward or deadly with my footing.
Eventually we were back at his cabin, I was wearing the hood just in case, was an awkward trip back here in these gigantic clothes, but manageable. Beardo left again, and soon came back throwing small clothes my way, the same god forsaken boring green colors, I wanted to cry but didn’t want to insult him after he went so far. Scurrying along to the familiar room with the tub in it, I changed into them. Soon comfort wrapped around me, perfectly fitting nice snug clothes, these weren’t baggy in the least. I started to wonder if the baggy side effect was because of the craftsmen working so hard to accommodate such an extreme height, but surely that wasn’t the case right?
I soon found myself hammering away at iron, in the shape of a dagger, albeit far from perfect, as Bronzebeard was screaming behind me, telling me every single detail, how to mold the metal, how to shape it, how hard to hit, how often. We spent the next three days working metal, talking about keepers and enjoying each others company, even still now that I was a man. I think Bronzebeard is someone I can honestly call a friend, not just a in game title anymore, but a genuine friend.
Eventually I managed to make a dagger, I decided I wanted a dagger to have stored away in case my main weapon were to ever be missing or unavailable, me and beardo also made a large adjustable strap for it to my leg, even adjustable enough to fit back on Rosie when I change back. It was pretty shitty to be honest, but it was something to call my own, with very little assistance besides verbal.
Shoddy Dagger
A shoddy dagger that is far from the perfect shape of a dagger, it's made rather large and will be hard to use for those without the height and hands to handle it.
+7 Damage
Made by Godsmith beginner Rosie
Adjustable Dagger Sheath
A fairly well made dagger sheath that can be strapped on to many different places or many different widths.
+1 Defence
Made by Godsmith Bronzebeard, and Godsmith beginner Rosie
Our talks about keepers weren’t very useful though sadly, it seems the first message box I got awhile back ago, really did have a shit ton of into on it. I still don’t really know the game plan from here out, I decided though while working with Bronzebeard, this was my home now. This will be the place I come back to, these people will be those who I swear to protect, this will be my safety, this will be my place to call my own, to improve, to work towards a better life, a safe life. Perhaps introduce proper plumbing with Bronzebeards help, make a belltower to alert everyone, build better houses, get some proper guard schedules, emergency plans and a confident commander. I don’t want to be powerless in this world, ever again. This will be my power, my foothold, my strength. I will improve myself and the place I hold out in. I can’t be be better than everyone in this world, but with the support of Bronzebeard and maybe an entire village willing to improve, then just maybe I can have the advantage over most.