Lenny… er… Tresh? Opened his eyes, feeling something hard beneath his cheek. The orange light that entered his eyes blurred the world as he sat up in a wooden stool. Rubbing his eyes, he stared down at the wooden counter, a dozen empty mugs of ale before him. Tresh blinked, confused. Hadn’t he fallen asleep on his couch at home? He blinked again.


    Couch? At home? Tresh had no home, he was a wanderer, a warrior of sport… but for some reason he felt that he shouldn’t be here. Where was here anyhow? He looked around, seeing that he was in a wide tavern with a vaulted ceiling, three chandeliers hanging down illuminated the space. There was also a fireplace off to his right, in a pit surrounded by comfy looking seats. Wasn’t the first time Tresh ended up in a tavern after a blackout, and by the gods, it wouldn’t be the last. Lenny- Lenny? What was that name? it seemed important somehow…


    He looked down at himself, shocked to see that he was shirtless, and more than that, he was built like three pro-wrestlers combined, rippling muscles with thick scars overtop them. Was Lenny dreaming? He didn’t have his phone, in fact, he had no pockets, as he was wearing little more than a fur loincloth. Tresh shook his head, of course that was what he was wearing! It had been what he wore when he wandered in here right? He checked his coin purse, frustrated at seeing that only a few copper coins remained. Why did he keep thinking his name was Lenny? That was a stupid name!


    After a moment of consideration, Tresh shrugged, swiping up a half-filled mug of ale before guzzling it all down, gasping before slamming it down on the counter, “Another ale!” He declared loudly, drawing the attention of the barkeep. A fat human in a stained apron, the sign of an exceptional keeper. Couldn’t trust them skinny keepers… Lenny knew that was the truth, Robert Jordan taught him that. Tresh frowned at the invasive thought, but chose to ignore it, there was booze to drink!


    The man approached, brow furrowed as he stared at Tresh, “...When the hell did you get here?”


    “What?” Tresh asked, “Can’t remember, but ya gave me my drinks yah?”


    The barkeep shook his head, “I’ve been working since yesterday, since I can’t get good help around here!” He shouted suddenly, causing a similarly dressed fellow to flinch. He was a younger man, maybe the barkeep’s son based on their similar facial structures. He stood behind the counter as well, serving another mug to a different patron while shooting a nervous glance at his boss. The barkeep sighed, “But because of that, I know that I haven’t served you, and the boy hasn’t either, since I have to do everything here.”


    Tresh narrowed his eyes, gesturing to the empty mugs before him, “I guess the mugs got here by themselves then?”


    “Listen here, orc.” The barkeep replied, “This is Ket’s bar, and what Ket says goes, and I say that you ain’t been in here before.”


    Orc? Lenny looked down to his broad, green-tinted hands, scarred and heavily muscled. Wait a second, Tresh already knew that! He stood to his full height, towering over Ket with a glower.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    “You callin’ me a liar?” Tresh questioned.


    Intimidation check: Failed.


    “I know you ain’t been in here.” Ket shot back, “You fix that attitude or I’ll have my boys over there throw you out.” He finished, indicating the burly men by the open door of the tavern.


    They were both broad, nearly as much as Tresh himself was, albeit with less height… he was certain they wouldn’t be too difficult to deal with, but Lenny didn’t see a need for conflict. Tresh shook his head, what was this Lenny creature, was it a spirit attempting to possess him!? He’d get himself checked out at a temple later to be sure.


    “Eh, sorry. Look, you had a long day yah?” Tresh asked, sitting back down, “A long two days ‘pparently, maybe ya just don’t remember me coming in?”


    Diplomacy Check: Critical Success!


    Ket let out a breath and leaned heavily against the counter, the full bags under his eyes seeming to bear the weight of the world. “Aye, perhaps you have a point there lad. I need myself a nap, but my boy simply isn’t ready to take control for an entire shift by himself yet… if only my manager hadn’t quit so suddenly, we wouldn’t be having this problem.”


    “Yer manager quit?” Tresh asked, “Why’d he do that?”


    Ket shrugged, “Beats me, but without him here my life has become hell.”


    “Can’t hire someone else?”


    “Tela is a small town, this is the only inn for miles, and the none of these locals are experienced in hospitality, I can’t hire any of them. I’d have to head to Lagos if I wanted to find one, and fat chance of any hoidy toidy keeper wanting a job down here in the middle of nowhere.”


    Lore Check: Success!


    Lagos… that was the capital of the nation of Breynia… but of course it was, Tresh knew that, somehow. It would be a long journey to get there, about a month on foot, it was no surprise that Ket didn’t want to scout talent down there. The question was why bother? It couldn’t be so hard to innkeep, honestly.


    “You need an experienced keeper?” Tresh asked, “Wouldn’t it be betta to get someone who’s gifted at it and train ‘em up?”


    Diplomacy Check: Failed.


    “The buffoons in this town? Are you kidding!?” He laughed, incredulous, “I’d sooner have them fill buckets with air.”


    “They can’t be that bad.” Tresh pressed, “Have you ever even tried it? Could be someone really gooder at it ‘round here somewhere.”


    Diplomacy Check: Success!


    “Suppose it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, but I won’t be expecting fantastic results. You said you wanted another drink right?” Ket asked, grabbing one of the many mugs in front of Tresh.


    He nodded enthusiastically, “Yup yup!”


    Lenny- Tresh, found himself wondering if perhaps… Perhaps he could try and help the barkeep here with this shift? Maybe he could get some coin if he took over and let the old man get a nap. Problem was that Tresh had no idea how to run things behind the counter, and really, was the potential coin worth the effort?


    <hr>


    Ah no, this is bad. The candidate’s original personality hasn’t been completely erased. Which of you screwed up the soul transference? Bah, it doesn’t matter now, it seems everything is fine despite this setback, we’ll continue as planned. As long as the gods of this world don''t find out what he is, it should be fine. Anyway, I see no reason for Tresh to help this human with his insignificant tavern, we should get him out on the road and into the fray to build up his strength. Yet, I am not the one in charge here, as we are all equals, but I am certain that you see things the same way I do. Please, turn in your answers.