Legend
You remember liking Brenda in the past, but young crushes seem so long ago now. You're sort of surprised that she remembers you. Still, she was always friendly with you so you don't mind talking with her. She looks a little different, like she's put on a little weight. She still has a cheerful demeanor though.
"Hey, it's you! What brings you back?" she says with a smile.
"Oh I dunno. I got a little nostalgic for home I guess."
"So how's the adventuring life? Is it exciting?"
You immediately tell her about your experiences (Carefully omitting certain bits and exaggerating others). As you tell her what you've done, you realize that you haven't been "adventuring" too much in the scheme of things, but these tales are more than enough to impress Brenda and make her think you're a real adventurer.
After telling her of your adventures, Brenda has her own information. Surprisingly things here haven't been that mundane as you thought they might be.
"If you haven't looked around you closely, you'll notice that the village has been in somewhat of a slump as far as moral fiber is concerned. Though it's not that bad yet, I sometimes worry about what it's starting to become." Brenda says.
"What brought all this on? Last time I remember most folks here were pretty law abiding and went to church on a regular basis." You ask.
"Well, they go to the tavern a lot more than church nowadays. That sort of all started when the crops started failing and the livestock got sick. I think it caused an air of depression that lead to more drinking. I should mention though most of the people here are still upstanding citizens though. I guess they're feeling a little defeated lately. That wouldn't be too bad by itself, but there are other elements here causing problems as well."
"Like what?"
"Well there are a group of refugees from another village called Edolaville that came here recently from some disaster that occurred there, most of them brought skills with them that have helped out a lot, but I dunno how it was back in their village, but they're a bit rougher than your average Altberger and they tend to carouse a lot. There was a Gypsy Caravan near here a few weeks ago, but they moved on pretty quickly thankfully. At least they didn't steal anything. But I wonder if it's a good or bad thing that even they wouldn't want to camp near here."
"Hmm, and I was hoping to get a little peace while I was dropping by."
"Planning on leaving again huh?"
"Is there a reason why I should stay?" you ask
"No, I suppose not" she says. "Not after seeing and doing all that you've done. I mean I guess it's surprising you even came back to visit. Nobody really goes anywhere like you did. Klint and I never go anywhere, not that I could anyway in my condition."
"Condition?"
"Yeah, I'm pregnant, can't you tell? What did you think I just let myself get fat?"
"Um no I "
"Don't worry about it, I'm not that far along yet." She laughs.
"So you guys got married?"
"Sort of had to. You know my Dad. When he found out, he insisted that Klint marry me or he was going do something to him. Klint's parents insisted he marry me too. He didn't really have any say in the matter. Crossbow wedding."
You remember Klint too, he was always getting in your face about something or other. Though you were "rivals" or something, even though you never understood why. Once again you're surprised that they ended up together. You didn't even know they were even seeing one another. You'd have to say he certainly got the better end of the deal.
"So how is it?" you ask.
"Married life? Eh, its okay I guess. I don't know. I think it's been good for Klint. Made him more responsible and less of a trouble maker. He actually works for my Dad now. I suppose I'm glad to be married to him now with all the riff raff around. I know he'll protect me if something happens. Well anyway, I have to get back home, it was nice seeing you again and while you're here don't be a stranger!" Brenda remarks and leaves.
You are left to ponder your next move.
"Hey, it's you! What brings you back?" she says with a smile.
"Oh I dunno. I got a little nostalgic for home I guess."
"So how's the adventuring life? Is it exciting?"
You immediately tell her about your experiences (Carefully omitting certain bits and exaggerating others). As you tell her what you've done, you realize that you haven't been "adventuring" too much in the scheme of things, but these tales are more than enough to impress Brenda and make her think you're a real adventurer.
After telling her of your adventures, Brenda has her own information. Surprisingly things here haven't been that mundane as you thought they might be.
"If you haven't looked around you closely, you'll notice that the village has been in somewhat of a slump as far as moral fiber is concerned. Though it's not that bad yet, I sometimes worry about what it's starting to become." Brenda says.
"What brought all this on? Last time I remember most folks here were pretty law abiding and went to church on a regular basis." You ask.
"Well, they go to the tavern a lot more than church nowadays. That sort of all started when the crops started failing and the livestock got sick. I think it caused an air of depression that lead to more drinking. I should mention though most of the people here are still upstanding citizens though. I guess they're feeling a little defeated lately. That wouldn't be too bad by itself, but there are other elements here causing problems as well."
"Like what?"
"Well there are a group of refugees from another village called Edolaville that came here recently from some disaster that occurred there, most of them brought skills with them that have helped out a lot, but I dunno how it was back in their village, but they're a bit rougher than your average Altberger and they tend to carouse a lot. There was a Gypsy Caravan near here a few weeks ago, but they moved on pretty quickly thankfully. At least they didn't steal anything. But I wonder if it's a good or bad thing that even they wouldn't want to camp near here."
"Hmm, and I was hoping to get a little peace while I was dropping by."
"Planning on leaving again huh?"
"Is there a reason why I should stay?" you ask
"No, I suppose not" she says. "Not after seeing and doing all that you've done. I mean I guess it's surprising you even came back to visit. Nobody really goes anywhere like you did. Klint and I never go anywhere, not that I could anyway in my condition."
"Condition?"
"Yeah, I'm pregnant, can't you tell? What did you think I just let myself get fat?"
"Um no I "
"Don't worry about it, I'm not that far along yet." She laughs.
"So you guys got married?"
"Sort of had to. You know my Dad. When he found out, he insisted that Klint marry me or he was going do something to him. Klint's parents insisted he marry me too. He didn't really have any say in the matter. Crossbow wedding."
You remember Klint too, he was always getting in your face about something or other. Though you were "rivals" or something, even though you never understood why. Once again you're surprised that they ended up together. You didn't even know they were even seeing one another. You'd have to say he certainly got the better end of the deal.
"So how is it?" you ask.
"Married life? Eh, its okay I guess. I don't know. I think it's been good for Klint. Made him more responsible and less of a trouble maker. He actually works for my Dad now. I suppose I'm glad to be married to him now with all the riff raff around. I know he'll protect me if something happens. Well anyway, I have to get back home, it was nice seeing you again and while you're here don't be a stranger!" Brenda remarks and leaves.
You are left to ponder your next move.