I got about 4 hours sleep before mother nature informed me of a most urgent need. Took me a bit to find the blasted privie. Then a few minutes more to Cleanse the stupid place of a bad bug infestation, THEN I got to take a crap. Then I worked out what to do as I don't have toilet paper. Ended up using some kleenex I carry with me instead. Not perfect but better than nothing. That lead me to finding some nice soft cloth that is good for cleaning myself and a washing spell for the cloth. So I could clean myself, then the clothes. Which I put in my bag when I am not using them. That took a couple hours.

After that, being so awake, I go explore the other side of the border fortress.

I got all the keys, so I just go along and open all the door and such I find. Which eventually leads underground and to the cells. A few of which have skeletons in them, then further in, behind a heavy reinforced door. Which I did not have a key for. Well Sort of - I got annoyed and blasted it with my new Telekinesis - 3000 lbs of force, the door held up well, the hinges not so much, ie the lock side held up well, the hinges twisted and it fell in on that side. Within is a long line of cells, small ones with one person chained to the walls with in each. I got 10 people, 5 men, 5 women. They all look to be in bad shape. I think the women have been raped, just by how they react to my shadow in the doors. No keys for these doors either, so the keys to these cells are kept elsewhere. No matter, I use my TK power to 'pick' the locks, turn tumblers till something gives. Poof lock pick power.

I start with a healthy looking young man. Well other than the bloody and beaten face.

He growls something in a language I don't know. I just stare at him, "No clue what your saying." I state in Thassian, that being the only language I presently know.

He grunts in that language, though bad accent, "Thessian scum, you will pay for this!"

"I am not Thessian, not from around here, this is just the only local language I know. Now if you will stop fighting me I may be able to get you free, then if your willing we can free the others, some of whom are not in as a good of shape as you are."

He looks blank, then "But the guards."

I smile, "Are presently 6 inches tall. They pissed me off."

He stopped fighting me after that, mouth hanging open. He follows me as I get to the next cell (across from his) and 'Magic it open', I mutter about loving magic even as I push open the door and then do my lock picking trick on the next set of shackles. Thus it goes with only 2 of them trying to clobber me. The others jumped those two and point out to the idiots that if I were with the ones who locked them in here, I would be armed and not setting them free of their chains. One of those two thinks it's a trick and there will be guards outside ready to shoot them all dead the moment we walk outside.

Surprise, no guards, except for the ones on a shelf, in a box, glaring murderously at me as I walk past with their prisoners. The ex prisoners all stare at the box of tiny guards then back at me.

Richard informs me someone came up to the Empire side of the gate and rang the bell, then pounded on the gate and then left. Screaming obscenities as he was going.

I head over that way and look through the hatch. I note the doors on the empire side are far better quality than the ones on the other side, wierd set up that. Makes me wonder who's place this was originally.

Outside I note this caravan of merchants. I say a soft prayer to Lady Luck, asking what I should do.

SHE shows me images of people wrapped like mummies and hidden in the bottoms of the cargo wagons. Men, women, and children.

I mutter about slavers, then thinking I do my group shrinking spell, using the word Slavers in place of Thieves and well, All the merchants and their guards shrink down to 6 inches tall in very short order. I look at these other people. The guy who was SURE I was leading them to their deaths is now 6 inches tall. I think he was a plant used to keep the others in line. That or competition.

"Well that is a twist. Looks like the 'he is going to kill us' man is a slaver. I state this as I just put the shrinking curse on all slavers in my range." I tell them, even as I tk the door winch, which opens the inner door, revealing the tiny merchants and their full sized wagons and horses.

I look at Richard and Keen, "I really love that shrinking curse." Keen laughs, Richard just rest his head against a post. He understands evening the odds, still its just not fair to shrink everyone the way I do. He has a strong sense of honor and fair play. Definitely a knights horse that one.

Everyone stares at either me or the laughing horse.

Pretty girl, "Why is that horse laughing ?"

"That horse used to be a man before some evil mage turned him in to a horse. I have not worked out how to change him back yet." I tell them. More wide eyed stares at the magic grey horse now.

Of the ex prisoners only the family (Norstroms) are willing to help me free the bound up ones. The busty brunet is praying to some goddess, and the other one is looking for weapons. He is not going to find them, I put them all in my bag, all the armor to.

By the time he thinks to come look over the guards stuff, I have sucked it all in to my 'bag'

The tiny people all ran for it when they realized they had been miniturized. Probably like the guards, they are thinking when the spell wears off ... insert plan here...

Rafeal is amused by my innovative 'non leathal' spells.

"Why non-lethal ?" he ask me as we are pulling up the smugglers hatch on the first wagon.

"I am a mystic, which is sort of like a priest but not to. We tend to work on a system which states do no harm if possible. We are allowed to if there is need but really talk first, then try no lethal, if that fails, maiming is allowed. IF That fails to disaude the enemy, well I got combat spells to. Some of those are very leathal. Lightning works well for that."

He nods to that and to my general explenation on my 'profession'.

Peter ask, "So being a Mystic is your profession then ?"

"No. Mystic is never a profession. Mystics seek to understand themselves and their place in the universe, along the way we tend to gain the ability to work magic of both the mage and priestly sorts. Normally we have a patron God to, but in general we tend toward Pantheon types. One prefered God but not limited to that one, unlike priest who have just the one god, usually. For a living I am a trained merchant and clerk, also a bit of a cook but mostly as my mother insisted all her children learned to cook as you never know what life will throw at you. She was a priestess to a God of Knowledge and Foresight. Astrology fell under his preview. I never really understood her faith, though not for a lack of trying. My father was an Engineer as was my Grandfather. Great Grandfather was a Landed Knight, and his Father was a Baron with 12 boys."

Rafeal just snorts, "Ok that is one way to end up with peasants in the family."

"Whole family is pretty well educated though. Middle class at the very least." I tell him, "But if you follow the family tree back far enough you start hitting kings and queens and all that. But that is I think 10 generations or so back, could be less. Never was good at keeping track of it all." I sigh, "Mom kept up with all that but when she died, well stuff got mislaid and I don't know what happened to several of the family histories. Being the eldest I tried to keep up with them but' I shrug.

Charles nods, "I do that in our family. But then I am the only one to be married either. Rafeal has horrible luck with women. Finds the Gold Diggers every single time."

Rafeal nods, "Does not help I have a title and a nice home either. I am a Count here in Pellara, till we ran afoul of the Church of St Micheal. Those blighters are the ones who ambushed us and brought us all here. To be sold as slaves to the Thessians."

"I escaped being made a slave by those assholes just a couple days ago. They are down a few guards and one sleeze ball mage called Fernjan."

The whole group (freed slaves included) freeze and look at me in surprise.

Peter ask, "Rob, what level of a mage are you ?"

"11" I state, "What ?" looking around.

One fellow ask, "Are you sure he is dead ?"

I think about it, then pull Just his head out of the bag, look at it, then them, "Looks pretty dead to me." Then put it back.

LOTS of Wide Eyes looking at me now. "What ?"

Charles, "What was that ?"

"Fernjan's head, I got it in a magic storage space. If I kill someone I make sure they stay dead. Though in truth He died on accident, tried to cast a spell on me but I was using a refraction shield, that bounces spells back on their source. It knocked out his defenses so when my lightning ball spell hit him something of his failed and blew up, took him and most of his personal guards with him. One less evil mage in the world." I grouse.

Charles ask, "So how did he end up in your storage space ?"

"Stupid thing sucks up any non living things that is affected by my magic. I got a couple of tables, a burning door, and all these guard bodies in it to. Don't know what to do with them either." I sound miffed about it. "Just does not seem right to dump them on the side of the road you know."

They kind of nod, it's not something I did on purpose, strange twist of the magic.

One old man coughs as we get him free, "You got a Garage Bag from the sound of it. Things are stupid rare and ONLY Lost ones get them." he tells the others.

"That is what I was told to." I nod, "Which fits as I am such."

Peter nods, "So explains the clothing and the careful way you talk." I shrug as I work at freeing what I think is a child. Turns out to be a halfling man. He is quite happy to be out of all the bindings to. Ok then, first 'child' and it's just a small person. Who does not speak any language I or the Norstroms know. Lovely.

He is helpful once he realizes we are rescueing everyone though.

We end up with some 20 prisoners and all the merchants goods to.

I return to the gate house after that, I am hungry, so go to the kitchen. Where I find the women turning the rooms upside down.

I ignore them as I pull out the food I want to use.

Marcella, Charles wife, is next to me, glaring, "Where did you get the food ?"

"Here originally, then I put it all in my bag. Now I am getting some out and fixing something to eat." Charles, following behind with pretty much every other ex slave, "Please no potatoe soup. That is ALL they fed us."

I shrug and pull out some of the preserved meats I got and breads and work on making a beef and vegitable stew. Using my new fire power to start the stove. (Fire finger, HA Flaming HAND, Muwhahaha) I look at Peter, "I love magic" he chuckles and nods. The oldster nods to, "I am a mage, but lost my books when those monsters grabbed me up. All cause I would not convert to St Micheal."

I nod, "I found a whole bunch of conterfeit coins here with their mark on them. They are just a criminal organization disguised as a church from what I have seen. And as I have only been in this world 3 days. Does not speak well for them."

Marcella and the other ladies stare at me as Peter explains, "He is a Lost One. Which goes a long way in explaining his strange magics really. Lost ones tend to be powerful in some form or other. Special gifts and such."

I shrug, "I am here because of a cosmic level accident. An item from this world, fell through an improbable hole in to my world and I just happened to find it. It sent me here, eventually. 6 months to the day from when I found it actually. Though other than being home sick I can't complain to much. It made me Lots healthier than I was before coming here. I was old and in bad shape. Now I am pretty healthy, and lots younger. For some reason, it cured birth defects but not injuries I suffered before I turned 20. The Goddess does not know why it did that either."

I think and then work on cooking enough food for 40 people. (I am unconsciously making enough for the guards to, even though they are all tiny now.) The ones who know how are helping with the cooking though, so that is nice.

Old woman, baking some bread, pokes me, "What goddess ?"

"Tymor is her local name. Lady Luck is what I use." said in English, which gets some strange hand signs made around me. I slowly look around then ask one of the few who did not make that sign, Alfer I think is his name (the guy looking for armor and / or weapons). He sighs, "Sign against evil or bad intentions. Many people fear her visiting bad luck on them."

I nod, "Given my luck, I can use all the help I can get, so I call on her. A Lot. I got wierd luck though, always have. Goes in spurts though."

Alfer nods, "They tell me you got all the weapons and armor you found in some kind of magic bag."

I nod, "Yup. Anything that looked useful or interesting or I could maybe sell at some point. Sucked it right in to the bag."

"They had my weapon and armor. Over powered me and took everything I had before locking me in that cell. I want it back." he growls at me. I stare at him, at his aura really, which shows me he is likely overly violent, "No."

He growls again, "Give me my stuff or else." I stare at him for a bit, "I don't take threats well, so no."

He throws a punch and my years of Tai Chi come online and I drop him, grab arm, over the shoulder, and throw, he ends up on the floor near the old woman, who points a long knife at him, "You try that again boy and your not getting any food, got me." He gulps and nods. She is a tough old woman. I like her.

I grin at her and she grins at me. We get back to cooking while Alfer goes and sulks. Marcella sighs, "That one is a priest to some war god or other. Not one I have ever heard of. War and Protection, but he loves to start trouble. Was part of a larger group but started one to many fights and they left him behind. He was trying to catch up with them when he pissed off the guards here and they dropped him in those cells."

Peter is chuckling, "Not often you find a mage who knows how to fight."

"I am trained to fight really, tournement style to be truthful. But have not done it in years. Leg got to stiff for it and well." I sigh.

Charles nods, "Old injuries sneak up on you like that."

"I injured my leg when I was 7. " I pause, "I lack the words to explain how it happened." I sigh, "Problem with new languages. Sometimes finding words is hard."

Old woman, "How long have you spoken Thassian ?"

"Day before yesterday is the first time I ever heard it. I learn languages really fast though. Usually enough for basic communications in maybe a couple hours. Reading takes longer, books help though. I found a primer book on their writen language and have a basic idea on how to read that language. My native language is English, but that one can be a bit dangerous to use here as it's also the magic language here. Well with some special words or phrases included in to it to activate the magic."

And everyone is giving me that Stare again, like I am walking around with 3 heads and a loaded machine gun.

I look at them all and sigh, "Right, I am compusively honest to and that gets me in more trouble than lying does."

That actually snapped a few people out of the shocked stare.

Old woman shakes her head, "Normally lying gets you in trouble, it's sad when the truth does it."

I shrug, "I don't always know when to just shut up really. Tend to over explain things to. Bit of a nervous habit really. I used to get bullied allot, before I learned to fight back, so I over compensate with words." I stumbled over that sentice but I think they got it.

I look at the old woman, "What is your name anyway ?"

"Selline - S-E-L-L-I-N-E. I did not pick the name. My old master was an ass and tended to give women bad mage names. Yes I am a mage, level 12 myself."

I nod, "Cool... Um, that is a slang phrase and I really can't explain it except with other slang phrases. Anyway I am a Mystic, which combines Mage Craft and Priest craft, level 11 According to the sheet Tymor gave me."

Girl (forgot her name), "Wait, Tymor Gave you ?"

"I met an avatar of Tymor yesterday, after surviving a rather nasty little man who tried to curse me. My spells turned his curse back on him. Being me, mr nice guy who does not always think things through, I tried to reverse the curse he cast. But well I combined several spells together, Bless, Remove Curse, Cast out Darkness and Holy Light, and well, a cursed magic item in his possession blew up. Took out him, his cart and nearly his horse, who was running the moment the first spell I tried was going off. He managed to break the leads from the cart, so only got part of the blast and truthfully if not for my magic shields I would not be here either. Blasted me back a good ways. She came after that. Fixed my glasses and made them so they self repair. Then we talked and she did a spell that showed what brought me to this world. After that she did a different spell that showed all my stats, skills, abilities and such. Says I am level 11, but Natural Mage to. I learn magic faster.

She offered to make me a priest, told me I have a better calling for magic but she liked my luck."

Selline, is chuckling, "Oh I imagine she does. Surviving a magical mishap like that takes some seriously good luck."

"She had me heal the horse to. Who it turns out is not really a horse but someone that evil peddler turned in to a horse. His name is Keen Sight."

About 5 people just stop and STARE at me, old man, "That fine grey horse is Keen Sight ? The Arch Mage ?"

I shrug as I stir the stew, "He just told me he was a mage. Been explaining magical stuff to me as we walked. He is happy with me because the healing spell the Goddess gave me reversed something really nasty the man had done to him."

Selline sighs, "Gelded him right ?"

"Yep, but I fixed that, with the Goddesses help. He is a happy pony now." I grin at her and she sighs.

Old man, "Wait, if he is a horse, how are you talking to him ?"

"Telepathy mostly. Took years to learn to do that to let me tell you. Learning to speak to animals is so not an easy thing to do. But now I can do it, if I am close enough. Proximity thing."

Selline checks her bread and nods, "Makes sense. From what I recall on Mystics, pushing the boundries on mind and magic are all part of it."

"True. But Mystics don't have 'tried and true' methods. We all are different and on personal journeys to learn about ourselves and the nature of everything. We are strange people and most like it that way." I state with a nod. "Not to say we don't talk or share knowledges. But what works for one person may not for another. Lots of philosophy in there to. Me I worked on my mind as my body was failing me. Trying to expand my consciousness. I was born with spirit sight, I learned to control it, then I moved on to Aura Sight and Object Reading. Both are tricky in their own right and ways. I lucked on to someone who knows a great deal about aura sight here though ... I should get him, I left him on the Captains desk, he was reading the Captains journals."

Selline's head drops, "He is 6 inches tall isn't he ?"

"Not sure. He is a skull actually. Some morons following some god called Cro-Nan murdered him then tried to turn him in to a Guardian. It did not take as all he wants really is to kill the people who killed him. Otherwise he is friendly and talkitive and has some good insights."

Several of these people know of Cro-Nan, but have a low opinion of him and his faithful. They have no problem believing they would screw up creating a guardian being.

Lunch / dinner was pretty good really. My seasoning cantrips worked really well to. The mages there loved learning those as well, given the price of seasonings, it's really understandable why to.

After dinner and kitchen cleaned up, we went out and pretty much took apart the merchant wagons. Seeing what we all could find. None found anything that had belonged to them previously but we did find a good selection of clothing and common items. So everyone has clothes and I got more than 1 set now. Middle class looking stuff. Or so I am assured by everyone.

Now that is done, I work a bit of healing magics on everyone. Claiming to have been to hungry earlier. I don't think to many people minded as MY Healing 'spells' revitalize them quite a bit. (Heal Spell crossed with my Biophysical Regeneration makes a very potent effect).

The next part is to figure out where to go from here. Cause we sure can not stay here much longer. Food is just one concern, the other is this IS a military outpost and at some point they will send in people to relieve the bastards who were here before.

The other problem they are having is getting me to give up all the weapons I collected, and some of the armor to. Well the armor is easier really. I dump all the low quality stuff and the Priest armor. He got it on, then tried to beat his weapon out of me. I taught him the meaning of Electro-Theripy, Lots of Shocks, some threw him in to walls. My reason for not giving him his blasted mace is he attacks anyone who annoys him, or looks at him 'funny'.

Selline points out to him that he is on a fast track to fairy sized land. Just like the guards and slavers. So he went from trying to beat me up to just kill me. I showed them all what size I can make someone, 6 milimeters, or the size of 6 silver stacked on top of each other aka 1/2 inch.

He proved to be stupid. So he can go live with the bugs. (That took all of 2 days to take place. Given how he was acting, NO One blamed me for his shrinkage. Most there, had they the power, would have just killed him outright.)

I was able to make copies of a few of my spells for the other mages to. That improved their mood considerably, having even a few spells for a mage is important. I included my Shrinking spells, I got 4 levels of them really - level '1' drops someone to half their normal height from about 8 to 12 hours - level '4' is the 6 inch one and its a Transformation type spell, so permanent till reversed or canceled. The first one is an Alteration spell which is why it has a time limit. After that is a level '5' version which is just like the level 4 version but a couple of new phrases that up the difficulty a bit and include the 6 centimeter and 6 milimeter sizes. They have seen both in action and understand that this 'meter' part is a new form of measurement. I warn them not to use any number above one with Meter as part of the spell or they will get Taller instead. I end up explaining about how it all works and am fortunet that the mini maginifying lens I got has a small ruler in Centimeters along one side. About 3 inches or just under 8 centimeters. So they can see that 6 centimeters is close to 2.5 inches while 6 milimeters is right at 1/2 an inch while 1 milimeter is 1/10th an inch. Alfer is a good example of that last spell. Otherwise I give them the Lightning Blinder spell (pretty much like a flash bulb type effect) and the Lightning Mage Missile spell, or Lightning Ball, which does a tiny bit more damage than the normal version of the spell and is more effective against targets in metal armor. They like my new take on the old spells.

I also taught them Lighten and learn that I got the parameters wrong - its not supposed to make something 90% lighter but 1/10th or 10% lighter. When I showed them that if you use '90%' instead of the common phrase you get just that. 90% lighter. The face palming was mighty at that point as no one had ever thought to use percent as the standard of measurement in the spell before. I also pointed out it was the precurser to the spells Feather Fall and Water Walking. Which again most of these highly experienced mages had missed as well.