- What is the best quality of the Hob House?
"I like to believe that our best quality is how welcoming and supportive we are. I want the Hob House to be a place where the youths can grow into their best selves, even if they were dealt some bad cards at the start."
- What is your future dream?
"I have plenty of them, just like the Hob House has plenty of members. Each single one fills me with hopes about their future."
- With whom do you have the best relationship?
"As a Guild Master, it wouldn't be great of me to play favourites. By the nature of being a large organization, my relationship is deeper with the senior members, who receive their duties directly from me, but I also spend a lot of time with those who just joined us because it's a vulnerable time for them, and when I think they need my support the most. I'd like to think I have a good relationship with all of them, or that if it isn't quite there yet, that we'll manage to get there in the future. This goes not just for the Hob House, but all the employees of the Ugard Industries as a whole."
- What was the most difficult job you have ever taken?
"Depends what you mean by 'difficult'. When I was younger, I did some hard physical labour, the type that'd break many. I risked my neck when I served in the village militia and had to fight off bandit raids. I put in the effort to rise in the Ugard Bathhouse, and through many more years filled with it, I managed to build the Ugard Company into what it is today. Founding a Mage Guild with my minuscule talents also was not easy. Each day is a new challenge, I try to rise to. But what I think is personally the most difficult for me, and many other Guild Masters, is when we have to send our pupils on jobs that carry with them certain risks. We, of course, try to minimize them, but we cannot eliminate them completely. Taking the responsibility for that, that is the most difficult job I have to take."
- How have you changed since starting the Hob House?
"It's difficult to perceive your own changes. It might be better to ask those who knew me back then as well as now. If I had to point out something, maybe I've become more patient? And old. I'm certainly older than I was back then."
- What is the best time you've had with the Hob House?
"I love spending the holidays with our guild members, and each next one is more wonderful than the last. We have new members joining every year, but having to set another table is always worth it when you see smiling faces behind them."
- We've heard rumours about your rivalry with the Mistress of the Hag's Hex. Would you like to shine some more light on how that came to be?
"I'm sorry, but I'd not like to go into the details of that. I'll just say that I hope those who've lost their ways, may find them again and find solace in that."
- Is there anything else you want our readers to know?
"If you know someone in need of help, reach out to them. If you are someone in need of help, don't be afraid to ask for it."
Is this your first time being interviewed?
No. Bastly has given many interviews before, about many different topics. Guild matters, economics, regional politics, tourism, and many more. They rarely attach his image, but his words have reached many.
Do you plan what you say, or just barge ahead with the truth?
He doesn't need to plane ahead too much, but he doesn't just blurt out answers without thinking.
Play evasive or let it all out?
He prefers the truth, but will only reveal it if it's appropriate.
Keep it short and sweet, or talk their ears off?
It depends on the interview, but he usually tries for a middle ground.
What do you think when you see your name and answers on the page, next to all of your guild members?
He's prouder about the guild members than about his own appearance.