Day 23: Oathday the 11th Lamashan, 4707 The Trial
I woke up feeling great, like I had a really good sleep after being exhausted. It was dark in the room when I noticed it, the smell of the grave. It seemed like it was coming from was right outside our locked door. Savah was still in bed, wrapped up in the sheets, not moving, lying there besides me. My gun was on a table that I had pushed to be close to the bedside. I worried that I wouldn't be able to do anything with it before whatever it was broke in. The smell lasted for a few minutes and then it slowly went away. I realized at that moment that I didn't know if I trusted my little pea-shooter to keep Savah safe. Especially if this was what Scarnetti was sending after us. After a half an hour I had decided that I was going to have to do another once over of the building to make sure that every entrance was locked and we were safe. I started to get up and Savah told me that whatever it was is gone. She added that we needed to get back to bed or else I wouldn't be rested for tomorrow's trial. I told her that I felt fine, and she smiled at me and said that we'd have to take care of that.
I woke up feeling famished, like I had been working out all night and needed to gorge on a three course dinner. As I woke up, Savah stirred. The sunlight streamed down through the skylight and showed just how beautiful she was in the morning. She caught me taking in her body and asked if there was anything I liked, coyly. I told her everything and rolled her over on top of me. We kissed for a bit, but I think she was hungry too. We got dressed and I told her that I wanted to check out the hallway before we walked through it. She accepted that but said that I better hurry, that if she doesn't leave this room soon, she might just have to drag me back to bed.
I opened the door and took stock of what was in the hallway. Just some wet footprints that lead to each of the doors and stopped at ours. I checked out each of the other party member's bedrooms and found that they were unlocked. I looked inside each, hoping not to find anything, and I wasn't surprised. It looked like whatever it was looked into the rooms and shut the door. When it came to our room, the door was locked, a habit from having to deal with the children of female paramours back in my old world. It must have noticed that we were inside and wanted to get at us. It didn't want to wake us though, or at least I guess anyway. I locked the other rooms' doors and started presto-cleaning the floors. Savah came out after a minute and we both tracked down where it had come in from. There was a window that wasn't locked from when Jonathan was cooking yesterday morning and had opened it to let the smoke out. I chided myself for not remembering it.
We had just gotten it shut and were entering the break room when Jonathan and Shayliss opened the hallway door. I drew my pistol and he had a ball bearing ready to launch. When we recognized each other, we lowered our prospective weapons. Jonathan asked, so you had a visitor too? I asked him if it smelled of death? He answered affirmatively. I told him that it was outside our bedroom door last night just waiting. He told me that it must have come here first, because it wasn't long before it was outside his house. He told me that the smell woke him up, and that it was took a good long time to get back to sleep. Savah interrupted me by saying that it was the same for us.
Jonathan said that Faunra had told him that she would be back in town for the trial, but that she wouldn't be joining us for breakfast. I accepted that, and added that I hope that we can keep in touch if she decides to leave. He told me that he figured that she just needed some time to get acclimated to this time period. None of us got the information we were seeking here in Sandpoint. I realized that he was right about that.
Savah asked what he was talking about. Jonathan related his story about the Masked Abbess to her and Shayliss. I added my story to it. We jointly told her what we knew about Faunra's and Dame Rebekah's meetings with her. And how we all needed to get here by the Swallowtail Festival. Savah and Shayliss both noted that if we had not, then more people would have died.
I thanked them both for showing that good had come of it, especially since all four of us were now in relationships due to those events. Jonathan also noted that Dame Rebekah would be heading to the trial directly from the Cathedral. She told him that Hayliss had been hired to perform some truth telling magic for the purposes of the trial, but she didn't know who would be the person who it would be cast on. I nodded to that and offered to help get the table ready for whatever Jonathan was making. Savah helped me and Shayliss went in the Kitchen with Jonathan.
Savah asked me if I was upset that I was misled by the Abbess. I told her that in part I was, because if she had just been straight forward, I feel that I would have been better prepared. Savah asked if I was happy here with her. I told her that of course I was. I just needed to get something of mine that I left there, and then I would be coming back. She asked if she would be welcome to come along? I told her of course, that if I got my car back, she could experience riding in a car for the first time on our way back. I wouldn't be able to get it anywhere near the speed I could on paved roads, but that this would be a start to getting places somewhere faster. I asked her about the shop, and she said that as long as we were going to be back in under a week, it shouldn't be a big deal.
I told Savah that I didn't like her business suffering for me, even if I did love her companionship. She told me that the first set of my Armor that she sells will make her more than what she would normally make in a month, even if she sells them at half of the price she quoted Cyrdak. I smiled and told her that she had great business prospects if that was true. She smiled at me and said that business wasn't the only area where she thought she had had good prospects.
Jonathan and Shayliss came in carrying platters with mounds of sliced dried bacon, fruits, cheeses, and breads. We all ate what we needed and drank some cider to wash it all down. We locked up everything we could after getting dressed and ready. Savah told me that she'd be careful, staying in her shop and keeping the door to the back half of the building locked up unless she needed to go elsewhere. I told her to just be careful. She said that I was the one that needed to be careful, I was facing a litigator. I told her that it wasn't the first and that it wouldn't be the last. I kissed her before heading out. While Jonathan and I were walking, Shayliss was heading to her father's store, I felt a vibration that I had not felt in weeks. Apparently my phone had rebooted and I needed to check it to make sure it was in Airplane mode. I didn't need to have the battery run down while it was searching for a signal that it would never find.
I pulled my phone out and unlocked it to see that I had received a bevy of text messages from when I had the Kirlian Photography app on back at Thistletop. Apparently the app required the network function to be turned on, and had forced my phone out of Airplane mode. I looked over the messages and there were over two hundred. I saw some from the people at work, some from my family, and some from Nicolette, my wife. I asked Jonathan how much time we had before we needed to be at the trial. He said that we would need to be there soon, but that I had to wait outside to be called in to testify anyway. I thanked him and kept reading texts.
The first few messages were those I would have expected. How far was I? Could I pick something up on the way home? How much longer would I be? After these first three messages, the questions started to get much more accusatory, asking me where I was, and why I wasn't home. I scanned through them as they went down. After a day they got really scathing, right about then I was fighting for my life against goblins. The messages called me all manner of names, saying that if I was a man and wanted to leave I should have just told her. I don't know if the goblins would have agreed to stop the fight to let me respond even if I had signal.
The messages continued like that for another week and a half before she dropped a bomb on me. She texted me to tell me that she had been cheating on me steadily for the last three years. She said that she had hooked up with an old boyfriend and that it was good that I was gone because she didn't need to hide it anymore. She was going to take my ass to court and get paid. That was about the time I was in the church, ensuring that I wouldn't die and become some evil thing that would attack my friends.
Well, considering that I had stayed true even with the absolute temptations here, I felt fairly good about myself. I mean apparently she had been cheating on me the whole time, but I certainly didn't know that until now, after I had made the decision to stay here rather than risk my family. Now I don't know what I would have picked. This information actually decreases the likelihood that I would have stayed. The messages didn't get better from there. There were the messages telling me that she was getting a lawyer to sue me for abandonment, the ones saying that my kid wasn't even mine, I did have some suspicions with that, but I was a blond growing up too, and my father did have blue eyes. There was at least a chance it was mine in my mind before. On the twenty-ninth of September, Third of Lamashan here, she wrote that she never loved me, and that the reason we were always broke was because she had been supporting her ex for years. That was when I would have been heading down into the dungeon levels of Thistletop, and fighting for my life against that Bugbear, good times. A follow-up said that she had an ace lawyer that was suing to get a quick judgement in absentia against me. Right when we had to fight Nualia and her Yeth Hound.
And yesterday was the final message I got, it was an apology of sorts. She wrote out a wall of text saying that she knew I would never read this, but that she had to apologize. She said that she couldn't figure out why I was on the Blueridge Parkway that day, but that they had found my car, burned up off the edge. She was sorry because of all the things she had written to me while they had not known I was dying slowly in the car. Apparently it didn't burn up, it just trapped me. She was getting my insurance and everything but wanted to clear her chest, so to speak. None of my stuff had been in the car, it had looked like some people had already worked it over for anything easy to take away.
The police had said that the car only got noticed because a couple happened to be biking the Blueridge and there was an obstruction in the road. She finished it all with goodbye. I briefly scanned over the messages from the work people and they were basically requests for this or that. They stopped the day my "remains" would have been "discovered" by the police. Right about when I was dealing with the Barghest. My family's texts basically started up a day or so after Nicolette's started getting vicious. They still were trying to get ahold of me when the last text had come in. I still had no signal, and I wonder if this was just a one-time thing. It was about then that I was called in to the trial room. I had apparently managed to walk there in a fugue state while Jonathan was alongside me, helping. I threw off the momentary confusion and went inside.
It was a group of five members of the community, Mayor Kendra Deverin, Ethram Valdemar, Titus Scarnetti, Father Abstalar Zantus, and Ilsoari Gandethus. Ameiko was not permitted because she had a direct link to the case, and Kaye volunteered to not join because she didn't want to take part in a trial that could result in an execution, and the possibility of a hung jury would not be good for the town. Hayliss was there in her capacity as a spellcaster to cast the touch of truthtelling spell if it was needed. The first accused was Orik. He was there in a seat on a different side of the room than Nualia, who was doing her best Hannibal Lector impersonation.
The council asked me to come forward to be seated and noted that I might be requested to submit to magical verification of my speaking the truth. I thanked them for the warning and asked that there be no questions that are not directly related to the events in question or directly related situations. Mayor Deverin consented to that before it could be put up for a vote. I told them that I would not resist any magical effects upon me that were explained in advance.
The council asked for my name, residence, and occupation. I asked for clarification as to whether they meant currently or at the time of the incident. I said that I'd answer both, I just wanted to make sure that the information is as complete and accurate as possible. Titus looked at me and said both. I provided the information for before the Incident, as precise as I could, being my name, the town I lived, the commonwealth that it was in, the country that that was in, the world that it was on, and the galaxy that it was in. Titus immediately called for me to be put under the truthtelling spell. Before Mayor Deverin could object, I said that I would be perfectly okay with that. Hayliss looked at me with a bit of sorry and I told her that there was no reason for her to be sorrowful. I did ask if they would want me to answer the first question again or just verify that all of the information that I gave would be sufficient. Titus demanded a full answer. I shrugged and told him, your time.
Hayliss cast the spell and I took on the brief visage of a mailed, winged, Einherjar. Titus went to object but Hayliss said that the spell did, in fact, take effect. Titus repeated the first question and I rattled off the same answer. He was dumbfounded. The Mayor asked for my current residence. I gave them all of my current id, including my name (same), residence (Glassworks), and my occupation, being inventor. Huh, I guess I consider myself an inventor after all. Father Zantus asked what caused me to live at the Glassworks. I told the group that I had helped save Ameiko Kaijitsu's life from her brother and some goblins that were in his employ. She rewarded us with a lifetime of free room and board at her Inn. I added that I had felt guilty that we were taking up valuable spots in her Inn that could be used for other guests. I floated the idea of us staying in the Glassworks as a way for her to fulfill her promise while us being able to keep an eye on the minor runewell (thanks Faunra for explaining what it was) that was below town to prevent any more Sinspawn from being formed and rising up against the town from beneath.
Titus claimed that these Sinspawn did not exist. I merely commented that this was the name that was given to them by my associate who was skilled in the knowledge of the matters Arcane. All of the documents and evidence that we have discovered in the pursuit of the mastermind behind all to this at first called them freaks and minions of a Quasit that had been lairing underneath the town. Titus yelled "a-ha" but I continued, until they were given their actual name with the documents that were discovered in the work chambers of Nualia. I added that the brief period of time that I have left under this spell would be best used to determine the particulars of the case rather than trying to harangue and denigrate my own person.
The litigator stifled a laugh. She asked a question of me, Do I believe that Nualia had orchestrated this entire event. I told her that Orchestrated is a very interesting choice of word. I do believe that she was the motivating factor, that she had hired people to do the jobs that they did, be it bodyguard or infiltrate the town and cause a raid. Orchestrate would mean, to me, that she is directing each and every move. I don't know that she has it put together enough to directly control that many people in all of their actions. Do I believe that she is ultimately responsible? Definitely. Based upon the independently collected evidence and sworn testimony from a surviving hireling. Her de facto paramour, the Half-Elven Cuck-spawn known as Tsuto Kaijitsu had written of her plans, and participated in those plans, noting that he was waiting for Nualia and the others to rally the rest of the army of goblins to raid the town.
Hayliss noted that as I finished my statement that the spell has worn off. I apologized that I was longwinded. I added that I did have more to say but I didn't know if it would be worthwhile without the verification. Hayliss added that she had one more casting of the spell if the group felt it would be of better use for me than someone else. Titus wanted to question me more. I suggested that he should re-hire Hayliss to come to the next council meeting and I'll stand for questioning then, provided I am not off saving the town from some other Sczarni building burnings or other plots. He blanched a bit at that but fired back that it still wasn't clear that I wasn't involved. I turned to Hayliss, and told her that I have no problems being subjected to the spell again, even if I thought it would be better served by interviewing Orik instead.
Father Zantus directly asked Orik if he was willing to be placed under the spell and testify. Orik affirmed that yes he would. Mayor Deverin informed him that it might put him into more danger. He said that he has had some time to think about things these last few days, and that he has realized that his life has gone down a dark path. He knows that he will have to make amends for his role in this. If that costs his life he will regret it, but understand. Ilsoari voted asked the litigator how it would be best to proceed if one of the accused is willing to testify.
The litigator said that she believed in truth, but that it was her position was that it would not be in her client's best interest to open themselves up to testify. Orik told them that he knew the risks. I asked the council if I could be permitted to question Orik on behalf of the council. Titus was against it from the start. Ilsoari reserved the right to question Orik later at a different date if he decided that it was necessary. Ethram agreed with that suggestion, as did the Mayor. That meant that three out of the five were willing.
I stood up from the chair and let Orik take the seat. I cautioned him that he should not resist the spell that would be cast on him. He nodded. Hayliss cast the spell and I saw him take on the image of a battered angel. I noted it and asked his name. He responded that it was Orik Vancaskerkin. I asked where he was from. He replied Riddleport. I asked him to give a brief summary why he was no longer in Riddleport. He said that he had killed a man who had double crossed him. I asked if that was a common practice in Riddleport. He said that it was. I asked, then why did you have to leave. Orik's response was that the man who was killed had a brother that was a crime-lord, and that crime-lord was looking to kill him in retaliation.
I switched gears and asked him where he first met Nualia. He told me that he was down and out in Magnimar and Nualia approached him for a bodyguard position. She offered to pay in platinum. He accepted. I thanked him for his honesty, but reminded him to keep it brief unless we ask for clarification. He nodded. I asked if he ever killed anyone while in Sandpoint. He told me no. I asked him if ever knowingly killed someone from Sandpoint. He told us no. I asked him what his contribution to the raid was. He said that he was asked what the weak points of the town were. I asked him if he provided weapons for the raid. He said no. I asked if he provided armor for the raid. Again, no. I asked if providing the weak points were the only aspects of the plan that he participated in. He said that they were. I asked if those weak points were for use during the Swallowtail Festival raid or the further raid. He said the raid that was to come later.
So, I summed up, the only support that you provided was insights for a battle that hasn't occurred yet? He agreed. Okay, can you tell me what you were considering when you were found? He told me that he was contemplating leaving. I asked him to tell everyone how he felt after the goblin raid on Sandpoint. He stumbled for a second and said that he felt terrible about it, that the Sandpoint people had only showed him kindness and here he was protecting someone who was looking to do it harm.
Hayliss whispered one last question. I asked him if he was sincere in his desire to make restitution to the people of Sandpoint. He told me yes, in whatever way he could. Hayliss announced that the spell had ended. I apologized to the litigator and the council that I had taken all of the time. Titus asked what that could have proved. Father Zantus responded back for me, saying that it means that we could be better served by having him serve the town than by killing him. Titus sneered back what way could he serve the town. I cleared my throat and asked if I may. The Mayor motioned for me to speak, and I told the group that my home-world had an issue with thieves of many sorts. When we wanted to keep something safe, we would hire a thief to show us all the ways a thief could break in. We have someone who can give us insight into how a group might try to raid and assault our town. I am sure that we can find other uses for him until his debt to society is paid.
The Mayor asked Orik if he would accept something like this. He agreed that he would, and hoped that the sale of his weapons and armor would help defray the costs. Titus said that they would try to figure out what damages he should face, but that he can be returned to the jail for now. I asked if the council would need me for any further questioning, or evidence presenting. The litigator asked if she could see the evidence that I had presented to the council. I asked if the parchments, journals, and other paperwork had already been provided to the defense. The litigator said that she had seen them but that there were references to something called videos and pictures. I pulled out my tablet and showed the pictures that I had taken of the various things in Thistletop. And then for effect I played the Kirlian video of us killing the Barghest. Nualia screamed in rage when she saw that. The first thing that she screamed was one word, no. Then she starter up, screaming that she would kill everyone in this town and me too.
I suggested to the council that I might be causing the defendant to become hostile and that I should probably be removed from the court space. The litigator agreed with my assessment, but asked me one final question. The litigator asked me since I was so far away from here, what would they do where I was from. I noted that on my home-world, we had a problem with a similar thing called terrorism, people who commit acts of violence and death to cause some kind of societal change. Our problem was that normally the people would blow themselves up before being captured.
Whenever we did manage to catch those who were planning to do these events, before the fact, it would be life in prison. This would be a fairly unique circumstance, in that we managed to capture the person who was planning the attacks between attacks. We managed to find one person who would have been in her situation, comparatively, but they refused to surrender and ended up being killed in the attack to capture or kill him. Numbers wise, he killed many more than Nualia could have even hoped to. But if we look at it through a ratio of the people in the town to the people killed by the attack, then the Sandpoint attack was far worse.
Also, you have to take into account that she apparently set fire to the former Sandpoint Cathedral to kill her father, at least according to what I saw in the notes. I struggled with this, litigator, because I asked myself the same question that you are asking me. Would I condemn her to death? I feel that if she had been caught after the Cathedral Fire, then I would look to possible jail or something for rehabilitation, at least that is what my world would have thought. After planning and setting into operation not one but two terrorist attacks, and planning an even larger third, I'd see no other solution than life in jail or the death penalty. The fact that she is an actual priestess of a goddess causes issues in my mind with life in jail.
I don't know that there is a jail that can hold someone humanely if they have the basic equivalent of a master key that they can prepare every night. It is my understanding that Priests and Priestesses do not even require rest to be able to pray for new spells, so you could even just keep them on a schedule of lack of rest. And in the fact that there are any number of spells that she could ask for her goddess, and the chance that her goddess could show her favor again like she did with the three Yeth Hounds, and we end up with no place being secure enough to hold her. Ultimately, I would have to say that the death penalty would be the best solution.
By the end of my soliloquy, everyone was shocked. Titus and Ethram had probably never thought that I would side with their thoughts about what should be the proper punishment. Mayor Deverin and Father Zantus had also probably never thought that I would push for a death penalty. Ilsoari was likely a little bit confused with how much this had rolled around in my head and how much was on the fly, with everything else I was working on, and how free I was about information about my home-world. The litigator looked like she was shocked because I seemed to be so much pushing for Orik's clemency, but then not Nualia's. I asked if anyone else had any questions.
The councilors all looked at each other, but no one was speaking. I thanked them for letting me speak my piece, and for the possibility of taking what I have said into account. I asked if we might be told when after the decisions have been made if they are to be made in secret, so that we can close out this case in our mind and make sure we are ready to for the next quest. I turned to leave, and made it to the door before someone spoke out. Titus told me that he would be expecting me to show up to the next council meeting, and I told him sure, just make sure you give me a day or two notice so that I can make sure that I am not in the middle of a delicate project because I would love to give the council my full attention.
I opened the door and headed out to the screams of Nualia yelling something about killing all of us. Dame Rebekah looked at me with questioning eyes. After the door shut I casually mentioned that Nualia may have accidentally seen the film of us killing the Barghest. I noted that the litigator had wanted to see all of the evidence. I added that I went through all of the videos and photos of the Thistletop raid, and the Kirlian video was the last one.
Dame Rebekah smiled and shook her head. She said that she had not testified yet. I asked her to just be honest about Orik and his contributions if asked. She would, and asked if I thought that he could really be redeemed. I said that he was doing all of this to get home. Until this week, I was in his shoes. I didn't get to his point, but if I was still seeking to get home, and getting nowhere, after months or years? I told her that I thank the party greatly for helping me get through all of this. It looked like that hit her a little and she nodded. I went back to sit down in the waiting area while Dame Rebekah went in.
I thought a lot about the messages that I had read. I was going to level with Savah about them, obviously. This was a serious blow to everything that I had been back in my home-world. Was it my home world anymore? I mean, this place was getting to be more welcoming to me than the one I came from. I'm going to miss the internet greatly, and I'm going to miss the shows that I used to watch. I will HATE not knowing how the Avengers get the "snappening" undone. I mean I had some theories, but the Russo's could throw a left turn into it. But was that really something that I needed to know? I mean here I was dealing with the kinds of threats that comic book heroes might deal with, at least the street level ones.
Jonathan noticed that I was brooding and asked me what I was thinking about. I got him to head over to a corner and levelled with him about everything that I had learned on the way up here. He looked at me and there was a look of horror in his eyes. He asked if that meant that I would never be able to get her back for all of that betrayal. I told him that it wasn't likely anymore, especially if I didn't want to doom my family and the rest of the world. He just shook his head, and told me that he felt sorry for me for that. He added that the lack of resolution would be terrifying for him.
I thanked him for his sympathy and for being there for me while I try to figure out how to deal with this. He told me that he'd ask the high priestess about it when we get back to Magnimar if I wanted. I told him sure, but that I doubted that we could ever do anything about it. I added that I don't think she has a sufficient worshiper base on my former world, and I don't want that world to burn just to get revenge on one person, and that her child, while a result of the action, shouldn't be punished for the deeds of the mother. He said that he'd seek the advice from the High Priestess, even if just to know what the doctrine says about this for later.
We left the corner to go back to sit down and I asked the watch member who was looking over the group if there was any requirement to stay here after we gave testimony. The watch member, Merin Vargil by name, told us that she had been told that we should remain until she was given leave to let us go, as we might be called back in for further questioning. I told her that it was a wise thing to demand. I asked her if I could make an unrelated report with a different watch member while I was waiting to see if I would be called back. She thought for a second, and said that she would take me to someone, and that there would be problems if I tried to leave. I told her no problems, I just wanted to get something done while I was here.
She nodded and took me to a different watch member, Silver Enda, who was a recent hire. She was very new, and so was just getting her head around paperwork. I told her that this was the first time I had made a report for this town, so it would be fairly new for both of us. We muddled through the reporting process and managed to get the reporting done. I gave them all of the facts, and my guesses, but I cautioned her that they shouldn't just trust my guesses. I added that Jonathan's house was also trespassed last night, and that she might want to get his inputs. She told me that she would and I thanked her for her thoroughness in the reporting process.
I asked if she could escort me back to the waiting area, and she did. I saw Merin Vargil and thanked Silver for her time. I went back and sat down on the bench. I decided to work on my coil-gun project. It had been a long time since I tried to figure out what I needed to make it work. I figured that I could make this work with the "shimmerdisks" if I could get ahold of more of them. That would require another trip to Magnimar, although if we need to get more materials for the armor, it makes it a good excuse. Still, I'm going to need to make a LOT of money to get them. And I needed to find a way to recharge the "shimmerdisks" after depleting them. That will require a mechanism that will charge to the required voltage.
I drew up some updated plans and some designed for the home-made capacitors that I would need for this. It wouldn't be the wort thing that I had to make, but I'm going to need to find a way to get the copper wiring in one solid piece instead of in a series of shorter lengths that are soldered together. We did have an over that would get up to a high enough temperature that I could melt copper. They did have copper wire in this time. I took a look through the various books that I had but specific there.
I'd talk to Savah to see if she knows anything. Maybe we can reconfigure how they make the wire for chain armor. I finished up what I could, and figured out what else I would need. A straight tube of narrow enough diameter. They have blowguns at the very worst. It would be better to make it out of a metal to ensure that it is tough enough, but then again, this is a world of magic. They probably have the kinds of materials that would make bleeding edge tech weep. I could have the smith in town make the ammunition.
The case would be easy enough to make out of the same materials that our armor is made out of. I'll just use what we have reproduced he re. If I keep out the living metal material, it wouldn't even have a competing magnetic resonance issue from repeated usages. It is a semiconductor, so I am going to have to figure out some kind of insulator. Maybe they have some kind of monster that is proof against electrical shock or something? I really have to thank the military for all the training on formulas for magnetic acceleration. Even back then I was looking at it for the purposes of a rail gun for my own purposes. Who knew that I would have to wait to make it to a different world to be able to use the formulas the way I had wanted. Naturally, I opened up some of the electrical theory books I had on my tablet to make sure that all of the formulas were right. I wasn't going to trust myself using almost twenty-year-old memories. I think that the main issues that I'm going to have to deal with in making this are that I'm going to have to make a couple of things and they will be much harder than just buying in a corner store. A transformer is easy enough, but the relay and the capacitors will be more difficult.
I knew how to make all of those in theory, but I had never taken the time to do anything about it. Never really had the time that is. I wish I had the capacitors and wire that I had stockpiled for this project back on the old world. Oh well. If I'm going to do this, I might do it best by focusing around a rifle build than a pistol build. I mean I will have to replace my pistol at some point, but I hope that it will take a long time for that.
Most of the rest of the time spent waiting to be called back was spent planning out a shopping trip the next time we went to Magnimar or the next big city we visited. Faunra showed up and on a bench with the rest of us. She asked me what I was working on and she said that she'd look into whatever she could to see if there was anything she knew about to speed up the process. She told me that she valued my open friendship, and that I was willing to help her. I told her that fast friends are hard to find, especially for someone like me. It only made sense to find the people that needed help and help them, and hope that we might band together eventually. I told her that I'd have an announcement after the trial today, back at the Glassworks if she was willing to stay in town for it.
Faunra said she would and was promptly called in as Dame Rebekah came out. I asked Dame Rebekah how it went and she just shook her head. She whispered that a lot of the questioning was about me. Apparently the litigator wanted to know a lot about me, possibly to try to dismiss the evidence that we had collected. I told her that I cannot be upset if she told the truth, and that I would not expect anything less. She told me that she had not been subjected to the touch of truthtelling spell because the litigator trusted her as a Warpriest of Iomedae. I answered with a huh, so that is what your profession was called and didn't say much else. She asked if I was worried, and I told her not really. I said that if they wanted me out of this town, there were easier methods than legal and physical intimidation. I continued that just telling me to high-tail it would probably suffice, but that I really wouldn't want to leave Savah. She smiled at that and I asked if she came up.
Dame Rebekah told me that they had asked about it, and she told them that I had refused any kind of actual carnal activity until I had been cured of any hidden afflictions by the Proctor of Abadar in Magnimar. The litigator said that she would check up on that. Dame Rebekah gave the litigator the date. I told Dame Rebekah that I was amazed that by this point I had not even learned the litigator's name. Dame Rebekah told me that they need to remain anonymous for some reason. I shrugged and told her that I had something to talk to her about in the corner, if she was willing to discuss it. She told me that she wouldn't leave the watchful gaze of Watch member Vargil, but that she could discuss things in private, as long as they didn't directly relate to the case. I told her that they didn't relate to the cases of Nualia or Orik, but that they relate to me. She said that she would listen at least.
We went over to the same corner, and I ran down what I had discovered when I checked my phone this morning. I showed her the text messages that I had received. I saw her fists clench when she read what my former? wife had written to me admitting. She asked me if I had any clue about any of this. I told her that I worked outside of the house for at least twelve hours every weekday for the past several years, and that she stayed at home the whole time. I told her that I worked more and more because we were always short on money. She clenched her fists tight and told me that I should feel no guilt about whatever had occurred with Savah before reading this. Dame Rebekah added that my former wife had obviously been perfidious for a long time, and that even if I didn't know it, I must have felt it.
It did feel good to have that kind of validation from the person I thought had been the most scolding of the situation with Savah. I told her that I was going to officially announce something after we were done with the trial, if she could make her way to the Glassworks with us. She said that she would. I asked if she could take Jonathan and the rest out for a few minutes before heading to the Glassworks so that I could inform Savah. She said that she would do so. I thanked her and went back to my bench. I figured that it would take a month to make everything that I needed and assemble it for the Coil-gun, so this really was a long term project.
I figured that I should look into making a method of transportation first. It would be quicker to work off what they already have, but I feel that unless I am going magical, I was going to have to work from the start. I mean a bicycle can pretty much keep up with a horse during a fairly average horse trot. If I make out of the B4C, then it will be light enough. Not as light as carbon fiber, but comparatively one third the weight of steel. I would need to mold it into the shape of a pipe though. That would be difficult. I suppose that I could make a quick mold for it of two pieces of wax coated wood. I don't need it to be proof against heat, just the reaction bonding process of the alchemical cement.
Then again, I have seen bicycles made of wood. I'm looking for something a little stronger though. I'm looking to make a four-person wagon. I still have the plans for the PVC carts and using the B4C for that will be a little easier than trying to make it out of steel or something. A lot easier than trying to invent welding in this place. I figure that as long as I just focus on making the motors as powerful as I possible I can make it heavy duty enough to be able to be used for this area. If I get find a way to make springs, I can even get some kind of shock absorbing. I know that they have leaf springs on the carriages. I might have to just buy a carriage to have a baseline to start from. I mean if I just use the carriage and strip it down while installing the power supply I might have a suitable work around. It won't go nearly as fast as a car, but I bet I can give the horses a run for their money.
That's all if my car isn't at Windsong Abbey, as I expect it not to be. I don't know how they found me when I am still alive, but I'm willing to take the loss if it means that I have cut ties to the old world and those who were relying on me are taken care of. I guess I'll find out when we take the field trip back to the Abbey. I don't know that I really need to confront the Abbess, but I'd still like to check on the car. If it is there, I will be taking it for a spin, and having Savah in there with me. Hell, I'll take the whole group for a spin. It'll be a good time for all.
I snapped out of my daydreaming to see the watch member trying to get my attention. Apparently, the council wanted all of the group in the trial chambers for the decisions. I locked my tablet and put it in my side pocket. I'm going to armor that pocket, and cushion it if possible. Just sensible really. The Mayor asked all of us to be seated when we came in. We found that they had put a set of four chairs on one end of the room, between the council's table and where the two defendants and the litigator were.
All of the group sat in the assigned chairs, and waited to be addressed. The council asked each member of our group if we had anything that we thought was pertinent to add. Dame Rebekah, Faunra, and Jonathan all stood and claimed to not know anything. I asked if Orik's aiding of our group had been brought up by anyone during the other testimonies. The council respond that it had not. I asked if I could have leave to bring this up. The mayor accommodated me, with the standard warning that it might not change anything.
I accepted this and told them how Orik had informed us of the various dangers that he was aware of after he had surrendered. He had not even had a chance to attack when we came into the room, so we can't say that he would have, but he did drop his blade and shield as soon as he had a second to react to our incursion. He told us everything that he could about each member of Nualia's crew, and where they might normally be. He warned us about the Yeth Hounds and where they were. His description was vital in allowing Faunra to identify the monsters before we reached them.
I continued with telling the council that he even swallowed his own fear, when requested, to aid us in attacking multiple Yeth hounds simultaneously, to try to prevent them from giving warning to the rest of the facility. He did this without accepting healing before or after, knowing that we might call on him again. He had been stripped down of armor and weapons, and given a bow and a pair of arrows. He fulfilled our request of him and asked to be escorted back to where we were holding him. I told them that he had seen the wrongness of the faith of Nualia's goddess and was in the middle of reflecting on his life when we caught him. He did not try to escape and was thinking about where his life had ended up in his sole quest to find a way back home.
I told the council and the litigator that this was all I felt needed to be added. The council thanked me for my statement and said that I could be seated. I did so and waited for what came next. The council asked the litigator if there was anything else that she needed to present in the way of evidence for either defendant. She said that she was satisfied with the veracity of the evidence and of the testimony. She said that whatever decision was reached by the council, it was with all of the possible information and compelling testimony that could be brought forth. The council thanked the litigator for their work and assistance in this trial and said that they would take a brief break while they made their decisions.
We waited while the council went into an adjacent room. The litigator came up to me and asked me how I got on this world. She took what I had said under spell to be truth, so she would like to know if there was a likelihood of others like me coming here. I told her that I wouldn't worry about more like me coming here, as I think that it was a one off that exploited a lot of situational things. I told her that I wasn't in control of coming here, and that I couldn't get back to tell them of this place. I told her that I wouldn't tell my home-world about this place anyway. I joked that not everyone from my home-world is a principled as I am.
She nodded to that and walked back to her table with her two defendants. Hayliss walked up and gave me a friendly warning that Titus seethed after I left, that he demanded that I be brought back. Hayliss had to tell him that she didn't have the spell available anymore today before he would stop. She added that she expected him to want to get me back before the council within a week. I told her that I had no reason to lie, but that if he wanted to position himself as an enemy to me and mine, I would not look kindly to it. She smiled and whispered that we have made more friends than we know of with my little stunt at the harvest festival. She told me that she had met the Proctor and that she was a bit amused that I got him to write that out. I told her that all I did was ask. She just smiled.
The council came back in and asked us all to rise, which we did. The council asked if the rest of the group wanted to back my last statement about Orik. Dame Rebekah backed my statement and added that due to Orik's information, we managed to take Nualia alive, rather than dead. Jonathan noted that he was willing to back what I had said, and Faunra did as well. The Mayor, Ilsoari, and Father Zantus all seemed pleased with that. Titus looked annoyed and Ethram just looked old. We waited for the declaration with some degree of interest.
The Mayor read the decision for Nualia first. She was to be executed by hanging and buried in the pauper's lots in an unmarked grave. As far as the town was concerned, Nualia had died in that fire years ago, and it did not need to be changed with this. I was afraid of that. Not giving the town the mastermind meant that they would probably throw the book at either Orik or try to pin it all on Tsuto. Neither was a good result.
Nualia was escorted out of the room by a pair of watch members and Sheriff Hemlock, swords pointed at her neck from various angles, as she walked. Titus started to speak, on the matter of Orik Vancaskerkin, he would be given a two thousand gold fine that could be paid by either gold, trade, or labor. He would work for the town watch in a role chosen by Sheriff Belor Hemlock until his debt is paid. After that we will determine if his future. Titus said that Orik's role in the events would not be made public knowledge, that he would be required to hide his identity and his past while in the town. Orik looked hopeful and said that he looked forward to a chance to repay the town for his mistakes and his role in the plotting.
I figured that this was all that there was to the decisions, but the Ilsoari spoke up. He mentioned that on the subject of David Drake, I was to be allowed residence in the town for as long as I sought, as I was engaged to wed. If that changed the matter would be revisited. Faunra Felldoom, Jonathan the Haunted, and Dame Rebekah Destrier were all permitted to become town residents as well. I didn't even know that this was on the ledger. Shit, I really have made an enemy in Titus. I could see him seething, while Ilsoari spoke. I guess I should have him to thank. Titus cautioned me that if I ever became a burden on the town they might rescind this privilege. I thanked them all for their generosity.
We all filed out and the litigator took me aside. She said that she could probably bet that I would be welcome in Magnimar if I got kicked out of Sandpoint. She said that I seemed like I would be a good fit with some of the people there, and recommended that I catch up with Pug from Pug's contraptions if I ever make it there again. That's the second time he has been brought up. We will have to make more time for our next trip to Magnimar. I'll need to figure out a way to get Savah away from her store for a good two weeks. I'll just need to make enough money that she could close down for that time and not miss it. Or something like that. Maybe the Glassworker that is coming from Magnimar would be willing to shop sit while we were having a vacation. I really need to recalibrate my expectations for travel in this realm. I am too used to fifty miles being a twice daily work drive, not something that takes two or more days by either cart or horse. I really need to get my act together and get a better vehicle option. I'm also going to need to break the news to Savah that my car might not be there. I'll let her know that I had left it in the custody of gnomes.
As we left the Town Hall, Sheriff Hemlock caught up with us. He told us that he had been apprised of the punishments. He asked if we needed to say anything to the female before she was executed. I looked at the others and said not really, just tell her that the Barghest will make a real nice rug. He kind of smiled at that and said that he would pass the word along.
The Sheriff also noted that Oren Drake, my cousin, would like to talk to us after this ends up blowing over. I was confused for a second, but mentioned that we would try to make time to talk in the next few days. I asked what kind of job the Sheriff had found for him. The Sheriff said that the first few days he was going to be going around doing security checks for every kind of threat that could be thought of. Then we would see what else he was good at. I told the Sheriff that I hoped that my long lost cousin performed well at his job, and that if he did not, the Sheriff should let me know promptly.
We all started to head towards the Glassworks when Dame Rebekah told the rest that she had been asked by Ameiko to come visit. The invitation was not extended to me, of course. I sighed, and hoped that I didn't do something new to piss her off, but wished them all to have a good time there, in my honor. The all headed that way when I turned down Glass Street. Savah was waiting for me outside her display room when I got there. She ran up to me and jumped on me. I grabbed her as she smiled and said that she remembered the first time she did this and how I reacted. I told her that we had a lot to talk about before the rest of the group got here, and she looked confused. I got her to go into the Glassworks and made out way to the break room.
I pulled out my phone, unlocked it, and pulled up my text message history from when they started arriving. I told her that I could tell her what I found out from my home world or she could just read it on her own. She asked what exactly this was. I told her that on my world it was a means of communication like the radios, with a much further range and the ability to do other things like send written messages or even images. She asked me if I would allow her to look at this later. I told her that I would, but I didn't expect any other messages from anyone. I told her that I think it was a one off thing when we killed the Barghest. I told her that the messages would stay there until I removed them.
She said that it would be fine for me to just read them to her. I went back to just before I got taken to this world and started the back and forth. After reading through the first days' worth of messages, Savah asked me if I could have responded back to her. I told Savah that to the best of my knowledge, I have no way to get a message to that other world and have not since I got here. I explained that getting messages is a little different, in that on the network waiting for the phone to reconnect, where to send a message you have to be connected to a network.
She asked like waiting for someone to pick up an item that has been delivered versus trying to get someone to deliver a package. I told her that it was exactly like that. She asked me if all of these messages were just waiting for my phone to get signal when I got the momentary signal. I told her that it would seem so. I told her that it took my phone resetting to sort everything out and give me the notice. She summed up that all of these messages were would have been waiting until I made it back home if they had not come through. I told her that was correct. She asked me to continue. I could see that she was getting increasingly infuriated by the messages until we got to the point where my former wife dropped the bomb on me. I paused and she asked if that was it. I told her that it wasn't and that the next part got worse. I just wanted to give her the chance to prepare. She told me she was ready.
I read to her the text. She wasn't ready. Her jaw dropped and she looked angrier than I had ever seen her. I told her that there was more and continued. She heard how I had been used without knowing it for years. She asked me why I wasn't angrier. I told her that I really should have realized it, but I just couldn't let myself think about it. The amount of acrimony really wasn't natural for a relationship and she was never really happy with what I did, no matter how hard I tried. She asked if there was any more. I read the last message from Nicolette. That one pissed Savah off the most. She yelled that she wanted to clear her conscious of all the things she had said and done with a one off message to someone who would never be able to even know it. Savah said that she was glad that she would never meet Nicolette. I told her that she didn't have to worry about me trying to find a way back to my old world again. She just held me for a long time after that.
We were still just sitting there when the rest of the group showed up. I thanked Savah and welcomed everyone in. They all seemed to be in a much better mood after stopping at The Rusty Dragon. Shayliss, Shalelu, and Chelger were with them. I gave Faunra a quick rundown, since she was the only one of the group that I had not told about the messages. I told them all that I wanted to thank them for being there for me during this brief period. They all said that they were happy to be here for me. I announced that I was giving up on any chance of heading back to my old world. I was fully dedicated making this world be the best it could be.
They all smiled and we shared a drink. I announced to everyone that as of today, the council has announced that I'm officially a resident of Sandpoint. Savah kissed my cheek and everyone cheered the announcement. I told them all I did have bad news, that apparently there were records back on my old world that my body and my car were discovered destroyed, so I don't know if my car is still at Windsong Abbey. Savah was saddened by the thought that she wouldn't be able to ride in the car. I told them all that I'd find a way to remake one here, but that it would take a long time. They all mock sighed, and I smiled to them all.
Dame Rebekah told them the results of Nualia's trial. Savah and Shayliss was a little upset that the town wouldn't get to know, Shalelu noted that this was this was the way of the town council for as long as she had known. Chelger noted that Father Zantus had told the acolytes about the results when he had gotten back to the Cathedral. Apparently, this was going to be another widely kept town secret. I noted that the most important thing is that we got to the bottom of the situation and it is dealt with.
Chelger noted that the minions of… Echidna… are likely not going to stop with just that. It would be good to have a group of people here in town to fight her lackeys. Dame Rebekah had said that she was certain that we were all together in fighting her. Jonathan, Faunra, and myself all agreed with her. Chelger noted that Walda had gotten the work done deconsecrating the chapel on Thistletop. We all approved of that update.
I thanked them all for coming and told them that there was something else that had happened that I needed to talk to them about, that Jonathan already knew about. I told them that twice in past few days we had someone trespass into the Glassworks. I added that they smelled of rotting death and there were wet footprints. I told them that the footprints went into both of the other makeshift bedrooms. I didn't know if anything had been disturbed but I wanted them to check it out.
Faunra checked her room and said that nothing had been disturbed. Dame Rebekah was not as lucky. Apparently her holy symbol and some clothing was missing. She said that she had her armor's holy symbol and could use her sword as one, but that it was disturbing that it was missing. I noted that I would keep the place locked up better, and that I would try to rig up a better alarm system. They both noted that they were going to move their stuff out anyway. Dame Rebekah was moving back into The Rusty Dragon until she gets her own place, and Faunra was moving into the woods outside of town with Shalelu. I nodded and hoped that they all liked their new living accommodations. I also added that I hoped that we had not pushed them away.
They just noted they each wanted some time alone with their significant others. I smiled to Savah and said that I could relate. I asked if they were all planning on moving their equipment with them. They both said that they were. I asked if they both would like a radio and a charger to keep it charged? They both said that they would I got each of them a solar charger and a pair of radios. I showed them how they could change the channels, and told them that the emergency channel should be one, that this would be what the town representative would be on. They were all programmed to scan channel one at all times, even if they were on another channel.
I asked them if they thought that we should have a private channel for just the group? They all liked that idea, and noted that it would be good to have an assigned group channel. I set up each of the group radios on channel two and noted that if they wanted to have a private discussion with another member of the group, they could just give each other a number and both go to that channel. Faunra asked if that meant that they could have a private conversation between the radios. I noted that yes, only the people who were on that channel should be able to hear the conversation. They all liked that capability. I noted that I was using nine as my personal channel. My radio was set to scan channels one and two, so if someone needed to get ahold of me, switch to that channel. Savah smiled, her radio was already set to channel nine, with scanning on channel one.
Jonathan asked for channel six for him and Shayliss, while Dame Rebekah and Chelger got channel seven, and Faunra picked three for both her and Shalelu. I showed them how to set up the solar chargers, and refreshed them all on how to change out the batteries. They all thanked me for the communication capability. We all enjoyed a good dinner that was made by Jonathan. I asked him when he was looking at opening up his Tavern. He told us that he was planning on opening it on Moonday. I asked him what he was planning on having for his standard fare.
Jonathan told me that he was mainly going to get set up with easy foods first, sandwiches and such. Some soups, a lot of stuff that he read about in one of the cookbooks on my tablet. I smiled and told him that I expected good things from him and his eatery. I asked him what the name was of his Tavern. Faunra smiled and told us that they had been working together to make a good sign, and she used prestidigitation to create a logo of more cartoonish wolfish Barghest with the name "The Bolting Barghest" she noted that name had a double meaning, being that bolting meant running, but could also mean eating a lot. I noted that it was also a horticultural term, but that wasn't important.
They said that the Barghest skin would be the welcome mat. I smiled to that. I asked Dame Rebekah what she would be up to for the foreseeable future. She said that she was going to be working on getting herself set up as the resident source of religious information for her deity. I told her that if she worked or found a chap-book that I would make as many copies as she could want as long as she got me the books to transfer the copy to. She smiled. I made the same offer to Jonathan, for menus. He asked what menus were. I prestidigitated a copy of a menu that he looked at. He asked me if this was how people would order food at places like his? I told him that sometimes there were secret menus, but yes. People would sometimes request modifications if they felt they needed to make them but most people would just order from menu. He said that he would think about it.
Faunra headed me off from asking her and said that she would be mainly making more arrows and whatnot to prepare for our next mission. I asked her if she meant the trip to Windsong Abbey. She shook her head, that this was a side quest, there was always another mission. I shrugged and told her that I hoped she enjoyed the time off at least. Shalelu said that she was sure that she would, with a wink. I smiled when they asked me what I was planning on doing. I told them that since I wasn't welcome in The Rusty Dragon, and that I had not been contacted by Cyrdak, I guessed that I would end up trying to create some more inventions or other things.
Savah cleared her throat and I looked to her. She said that she didn't have a chance to tell me, but that Cyrdak had come back to the Armory today and dropped off the script for the play that would start tomorrow, and that if I wasn't such a Prima-Donna I would have been at the read through today. She told me that he had said that he was holding off the show until Toil day because of it. I sighed and noted that I'd be looking over the script for the next few days then. Everyone laughed and we had some more small talk until we had all eaten our fill.
Jonathan and Shayliss were the first to excuse themselves, but not before I got Jonathan to relocate the bed from his old room to the ESR. I told him that if the thing came back, I wanted to have my whole arsenal available if needed. He said that he understood that logic and we got it moved quite quickly. Savah was whispering with Shayliss and they were giggling a little. I didn't ask them what they were talking about, and just hoped that it wasn't anything bad. Jonathan and Shayliss headed out after that and we wished them well. They took all of Jonathan's equipment that had been left here with them.
Faunra and Shalelu were the next to head out, as they had the farthest to go. Shalelu thanked us for the radios and said that would be pretty useful in the long run. I cautioned them that the batteries would only last for so long on constant scan. She nodded, and said that she'd keep eye on them. I wished them both luck and they headed out with all of Faunra's things. Faunra handed me Lyrie's spellbook and told me to take a look into it to see if I could figure out anything from it while she left.
Dame Rebekah and Chelger were the last to go. They helped me give a once over of the place to ensure that there were no unlocked or open windows or doors. I thanked them for their help and she loaded up her stuff and headed back to The Rusty Dragon. Savah was waiting for me as I locked the door and double checked it. She had changed into her sleeping attire while we were looking through the Glassworks. She took me back to the former servants' quarters, turned ESR, now master bedroom. She helped me change out of my gear into the pajamas that she bought me. She took my hand and we locked the door of the ESR behind us.
Savah led me out the back of the Glassworks to a pair of chairs that she had set up on the cliff-side overlooking the water. There were a few ciders in bottles sitting there on either side of the chairs. We sat on the chairs, watching the waves for an hour or so, drinking cider and just talking. We talked about a lot of different things from what I was thinking about doing with my life now, what my next goals were, and what I thought about different things. I told her about my plans for the rifle and a similar pistol, the vehicles that I was planning on making for everyone. I asked her what she was looking for in the future and she told me all her plans. We smiled and sat together, enjoying our time together.
We came back in and brought the chairs and bottles inside. We locked up the door, double and triple checked it. She led me to our new bedroom and said something about not having her tea tonight. I just shrugged went along with it. I think she thought that it might have meant something more to me than I realized if does. She asked me to finish up my notes early so we could get to bed. I think I got everything written down.