Rise of The Runelords - David Drake's Saga

by Raulfur

This is the Rise of the Runelords series as told by of David Drake, an American pagan who got tricked into the adventure. This series shows how he comes to understand the world and his journeys through it. The first three posts detail his companions, Faunra: a time displaced elven Magus, Dame Rebekah: a child of crusaders, and Jonathan: a skinwalker monk/kineticist. Still ongoing.

33. Day 29 or outfitting the town

Day 29: Wealday the 17th Lamashan, 4707

I woke up to see Savah still asleep, and smiled. I had a nightmare that they were cancelling the Netflix Marvel Series'. I mean people loved those, I wonder why that would have come to mind. I guess I'll never end up finding out how everyone comes back and my hope that I see Thor take out Thanos in the long run. Maybe I'll end up using the Marvel movies as a story-time later on.

I got up after my musings and went to go get some breakfast made. It was the least I could do since Savah has been getting me lunches the last two days. I brewed up some coffee, and made some eggs, bacon, and toast. I also used my prestidigitation to juice some oranges. I made enough for three, since I didn't know if Oren had left yet. I heard a knock at the door of the office and I set down the tray of food to go check it out. It was Arika.

I apologized for being in my sleep clothes and let her in. She said that she was there to get her armor fitted, and to talk to Savah. I let her in and led her to the break room. I asked her to sit down, and have some breakfast. She dug into the food and I resolved myself to make more. I told her that I would go get Savah up, and took the coffee I had made for her in to our bedroom. Savah was sitting up on the bed, sheet draped around her. I smiled when I saw the sleepiness in her eyes. I brought her the brew and she drank it down almost immediately.

Savah perked right up and looked at me with that look in her eyes that I treasured so much that it hurt to tell her that we had a guest. She asked who it was, and I told her that it was Arika. I helped Savah get dressed quickly, there has to be a spell for that, and armored up. She helped me as well, and we kept the distractions to a minimum. I used Prestidigitation to clean us both up and scented her armor with the scent of lilies. She smiled and thanked me.

I grabbed both Arika and Oren's armor tunics and we headed out to the break room. It was just then that we saw that Oren was heading out of the bathroom in just a loin cloth. I cleared my throat and spoke loudly to Arika that I was bringing out the tunic to make sure that it fit. I was trying to ensure that she was looking at the tunic that I was bringing out to her, and not at Oren. Savah caught on and also tried to help distract Arika while Oren snuck his way back into his room.

I would like to claim it was a success. I would like to claim that we managed to get Arika attention completely focused on what we were focusing on. For the most part it was, until Oren tried to open the hallway door. It creaked at the last moment as he was trying to shut the door. Arika got a glance of his posterior as he got the door shut behind him. I heard her stifle a giggle and realized that we had failed.

I gave up at that point and went into the kitchen to whip another serving of bacon and eggs for the breakfast. Savah came in and patted me on the back and said that it was a valiant effort. I told her that we might want to arrange for a set of pajamas for Oren. Savah asked if I thought that Oren would even like a set like mine. I laughed and said that I doubted that he would want a set like mine, but a basic set wouldn't probably go amiss. Savah laughed and she said that she would ask Rynshinn what she thought that he would like. I thanked her for doing that and everything else that she was doing while I was busy in the workshop.

Savah said that she had to thank me and I told her that I was confused. She told me that with all of this, we were only out the costs of the coal and the paste. She noted that the guard were paying for their own cotton tunics, and if this works, they are looking at increasing the guards' armors to include the additional pieces little by little. She told me that if it works, she will have a large amount of orders in the future, and that if this works, the guard of Magnimar might end up seeing the material in action and want it as well. I told her that I hoped that she was successful in it.

I finished up making food and brought it out to the breakroom. Oren was fully dressed and trying on his tunic and Arika already had hers on and was checking it for maneuverability and fit. I asked them what they thought of it. Arika said that she didn't know what to think, but that it was fairly lightweight. Oren told her that he thought it seemed a little like Mithril, but it didn't have the same feel. I told him that a spellcaster had told me that it doesn't offer the same benefits of Mithril, but that the weight was lighter. They both nodded and I told everyone that I was heading to the workshop, if they needed me.

I took the last two suits and headed into the workshop. I started up the ovens and added coal to get them up to temperature. I checked in on my Argon tank, still decent amounts, and the levels of the boron compound paste. Everything looked to be in sufficient quantities to get all of the prospective orders done, but we were running out. I didn't think that we could make more than another few sets without resupplying. Savah escorted two people I had never met before. She introduced them as Naru and Fumi Tokage. They were a brother and sister who had joined the guard after goblins had raided their farm and killed everyone else.

I apologized for their losses, and Fumi told me that it had been years ago. Both her and her brother grew up at the Academy as orphans. She continued with telling me that since Shalelu had saved her and her brother, they had both decided to join the guard when they were old enough. They had both been members of the guard for several years now, and wanted to thank me and my group for the things we had done to eliminate the goblin menace. I told her that my contribution had been minimal, but that I would pass along the words of thanks to the rest of the group.

Naru and Fumi both handed me their tunics as Savah went back to her store. I started getting the seams undone and they watched as I coated each with the paste. I got the help of both of them to put the tank into the oven after I purged it of air with the Argon. Fumi asked me what all I had done when the tank was in the oven and ready to go. I told her that the paste that I had put on the cotton tunic would work to replace part of the cotton with a super hard material. I offer us the roll of material for a trial if she wanted to try to cut it.

Naru went over to the roll and tried a few cuts with his longsword. Fumi asked what I had put in the tank after I closed it up. I told her that it was a way to prevent the material from catching fire while it was heating up. She asked how it did that. The tank was all set up and Naru was trying a couple of different cuts on the B4C roll, so I took her over to a wall of the room. I put up the fire triangle and showed how natural fire required all three things to function: Fuel, Oxygen, and Heat. I told her that the Oxygen was part of the air. I told her that the gas that was in the tank displaced oxygen from the being around the material to prevent it from igniting.

I took Fumi over to the tank and lit a small piece of wood. I asked her to take the piece of burning wood and lower it slowly into the tank. She did so and watched as the fire went out as it reached the level of the Argon. She lifted it up quickly and once it was back in the air it caught fire again. She asked if the gas was magical, and I told her that it was not, that it was a natural part of the air, in a much smaller proportion of the air than oxygen. I told her that I had a device to collect the material from the air and put it in the tank. I added that the gas was heavier than the rest of the air, and that was why it was able to be in the tanks.

Fumi thanked me for the information as Naru came over. He nodded to Fumi and she said that he was satisfied with the strength of the material. I thanked him for his assessment and they both took their leave. I looked over at the material and couldn't see any indication of the material being terribly damaged, but decided to hit it with a mending effect anyway. I also repaired the steel rod with another effect. I turned to face the door when it opened to see Savah escorting in two large men. One of them looked extremely northern European, and the other sported a buzz cut.

The two of them introduced themselves. The tall man with the blond, half shaven head told me his name is Rip Charg, and that he worships the god of battle. I nodded and said that I hoped the armor would work well for him. The buzz cut man told me that his name was Paltero Talbert. I took the tunics from them and started splitting the seams. Savah left the two of them with me and went back to her storefront. Rip asked me if he could try out the material, and I motioned him to the roll of material. He smiled and pulled out his sword. Paltero asked if we had anything to drink. I told him that I didn't have anything in the workshop, but that after I got the material treated and into the oven to heat up.

Paltero asked if he could help in anyway, and I told him that after I got everything coated, I could use the help to get the tank into the oven. He nodded and went to go look at Rip trying hacks at the material on the roll. I got the material coated and into the tank. I sealed it up and purged the air out of it before calling back to Paltero to get some help. He came over and we muscled the tank into the oven. I thanked him and he asked about the drink. I asked him what he might want. He said that he would drink beer if we had it. I told him that we had Old Murdermaw, if he wanted or I would have to try to figure something else out. He said that he would take the Murdermaw. I got him a mug of it out of the pantry. He thanked me and Rip asked if I had anything else to drink. I joked and told him that I didn't have any mead right now, but that I did have some ciders.

Rip looked a little suspicious at me and said that he would be okay with cider. I grabbed him one and grabbed myself a cider as well. I changed mine to Dansk Jyde Mjød, because I had gotten thinking about mead. Rip must have smelled it because he asked what it was. I told him that it was a cider that was magically changed to taste like a type of mead from my home. Rip asked if he could try it. I motioned for him to hand me his cider, and he gave it to me. I changed it to the mead and Rip tried it. He thanked me, and said that it wasn't like the mead from his home, but that it was good enough for this area. I told him that I only wished that I could have brought some from home to have the full alcohol content.

Rip nodded and asked if we could share some stories of our home lands drinks sometime. I told him that I would have to check in with my fiancée, but I wasn't against it. Rip started to laugh, and I told him that I the females were the ones in charge of the household in my faith, especially when the men went out to raid. He stopped laughing when I brought that out, and he noted that we would have to have that drink sometime. I told him that we would and the two left. I went back to the workshop and Hazgan and Lance were waiting there.

I asked Lance how his hands were doing and he flexed them, saying that they were fine now. I handed them both their tunics and they tried them on. Lance seemed a bit worried at first, but I told him that as long as he had the under-layer on, he should be fine. I told him that if there were any problems to come back and I would try to fix any of the issues that he had. Lance nodded and I asked Hazgan how his fit. He said that that the tunic fit fine and that he had tried to cut the material, to no avail. They booth took their armor and tunics and thanked me for the armor. I told them that I hoped that the tunics would serve them well in the future.

As they left, I followed them out to the ESR and got the reading book that I had made for the kids. I took it and a blank book back to the workshop and made the household's copy. I didn't know how large a household library was, but I was going to spend every effort I could to make one at least as large as Chask's. That was my ultimate goal for the family library. I had well over five hundred books in my library back on the old world, and I was going to surpass that, especially now that I could just make copies of everything that I ever had on my tablet and that as long as I worked with Chask, he would allow me to make copies of the books he had for a reasonable price, as long as he could get copies of what he wanted from what I had.

I kept an eye on the oven temperatures while getting the copying done on the reading book. I finished up copying the reading book, and I figured that I had about an hour before the first tank would be done. I decided to start studying the Tome of Epics to see if there were any other highlights that I might want to take away from this world's epics to try to hone the last bit of the Odyssey to maximize my performance tonight.

I had just finished up studying some more of that book when Savah came in and asked if I would be ready to take some people in to get their suits prepped. I told her that I could get the suits prepared, but that the suits couldn't be put in for a few minutes, at least until the first batch was done. Savah nodded and ushered in the two clerics, Lovus and Yannah. I welcomed them both and looked to Savah. She tried to look as innocent as she could, and said that she had to go back to the store.

Lovus and Yannah both looked at each other and shrugged. I told them that it was a thing between us, nothing bad though. I asked them how they had been since my brush with mortality. They were a little bit unnerved with the blasé manner in which I was referring to it. I told them that It wasn't worth worry about something that didn't happen after the fact. I told them that once I was told of the effect of the kiss, I figured that I was on borrowed time. I told them that I figured that I would do everything I could to clear out the dungeon and then I would relax knowing that I had done all I could to keep my friends and the town safe.

Lovus and Yannah both seemed to accept that and I asked them if they had the cotton tunic already done up by Rynshinn. They both pulled out a pair of suits of cotton quilted tunics from bags they were carrying and handed them to me. I took them and used my prestidigitation powers to undue the seams on both of them. I put the individual sets on two different tables and started to coat them. It would be a bit of a tight fit, but I should be able to get both of the suits of armor into one tank. They didn't have the hard plate material focus, so it should be okay. Still, I could only do so much with the pasting. Without even looking up, I asked them if they had any questions or concerns.

Yannah asked me if I had decided to do this after talking with them. I told her that I had considered doing this on a larger measure for the town after talking to all of them, but that I had not figured on doing this at this rate. I added that honestly, I'd really like to get an assistant of some kind to free up my days to work on other things, like improving the literacy rate of the town and doing other public works projects like getting a functional town wide plumbing system and a fire protection system. Lovus asked me if I was still planning on travelling back to my home world. I looked up and told him that I had abandoned all current plans to head back quickly, but that if I could figure out a way to do it in the future, I might take a select group of people with me.

I asked if they had any questions about the material itself, and they both said that Father Zantus had said that he trusted me after seeing the material be made and tested first hand. I thanked them for their trust as I checked on the first tank. It was almost done so I would be able to get the tank out and put the new stuff in fairly quickly. Lovus asked me if it was true that I was a priest back on my home world. I stopped for a second and told them that I was indeed a priest, legally anyway, on my home world. I told him that I would probably want to talk to Father Zantus about it first, but that I would probably tell anyone who asked more about it after my next talk with Father Zantus. I just wanted to hammer down some things before talking about a foreign faith in a land where the god isn't known. Lovus said that he could understand that.

My alarm went off for the first tank, and I got it out of the oven while the two clerics watched. Neither was strong, so I just cooled it off enough and muscled it out on my own. I cooled the tank off more and got the Argon recovered from the tank. I opened the tank up and got the Tokage's tunics out. They were both suitably functional. Using a procedure and factoring in any weather concerns made for a fairly consistent operating process, and this was a fairly simple procedure all things considered. With their help, and judicious use of my prestidigitation powers, I got the quilted armor pieces in to the tank and purged the tank of air with the oxygen.

I got the tank muscled back into the oven and asked if they had any questions or concerns left. Yannah asked if the material could be used for other things. I told her that I could probably make roofing tiles or something similar if I can find a way to reduce the cost of the fabric base. Yannah nodded and noted that Cotton was expensive. I agreed and said that it was a requirement for the material to be formed. I added that I would be looking into other materials when I wasn't focusing on getting everyone else their armors made. I cautioned them that I had not done a quilted set before, and that I hoped that this would work. Lovus told me that he had been specifically told by Father Zantus to tell me that they trusted in my faith and the inspiration that I got from the divine to get these right, and that they wouldn't hold it against me if this didn't work.

I again thanked them for the vote of confidence, and told them that they would likely be ready for fittings tomorrow morning. They both headed out and Savah came in with Father Zantus and Walda. The latter two both had similar tunics to the first two priests. Savah had an extremely large basket filled with ciders and canvas bags. I raised an eyebrow, but she just smiled. Father Zantus and Walda both handed over the quilted tunics and I got to work undoing the seams. Father Zantus was having a quiet conversation with Savah while Walda watched me work. I asked Walda how things were going at Thistletop.

Walda told me that she had not been there in days, that it was Chelger and Dame Rebekah who were there with some guard members. This gave me a bit of a surprise, and decided that when we all ended up getting back together after the vacation I would ask everyone what they all needed that I might be able to make. I hoped that I wasn't ignoring them or neglecting their needs. Walda continued by telling me that they had volunteered to do it to try to help out with the re-consecration of the former Chapel to Lamas-. I put my hand to her lips and stopped her. She went to pull a weapon on me but Father Zantus stopped her. He told her that she couldn't use that deity's name around me and the rest of the group because there were things that we were working on that did not need to have her notice.

Walda calmed down a bit and asked why we couldn't use her name. I told her that we had paid for a very high powered spell to be cast where we found out that the deities can have their attention brought to someone who mentions their name, and witness them for as long as they want after that. He told her that we were using the term Echidna for that particular god, and as long as we didn't offer her a sacrifice under that name, it shouldn't be tracked. Walda nodded and asked if it was related to the issues that happened at Thistletop.

I told Walda that it was, along with the Chapel that was beneath the city that we had found and cleared out. Father Zantus added that we had also worked to destroy an altar to Echidna with extreme violence that was being used to generate unholy water automatically. I added that we had also worked to fill in an artifact that was a pool that generated evil entities that was below the town. Walda asked why she didn't know about any of this. Father Zantus told her that this was something that was kept from the vast majority of the town by order of the council. I could tell that Walda didn't like that, but was willing to accept that.

I apologized to Walda for stopping her so rudely before. Walda said that now that she knew why, it was a little understandable. I told her that it was still a violation of her personal space and that I would strive to not ever do it again. Walda told me thank you for that, and that she would try to keep the lesson in mind. I asked her if she had any other questions. She thought for a minute and told me no. She looked over to Father Zantus and he nodded. She grabbed a cider and canvas bag and told me that she did really appreciate the meal that I had apparently been the inspiration of. I told her that I was just glad that it was turning out to be a good fit for the town. Walda told us all that she had to head back to the cathedral for some of her duties, and I wished her luck.

I got the suits coated in the past and checked my alarm for the second tank, and it still had a few minutes. Savah brought me a cider and a bag, along with one for herself. Father Zantus got his set and sat down across a table from us. He asked me what I had needed to talk to him about. I told him that I was thinking about conducting services for my deity and that I didn't want to step on anyone's toes. Father Zantus told me that he had already given me a green light for it. I told him that I thanked him for that, but that the question that I wanted to ask him about was about whether I should try to stick to my old world's dates, or if I should try to switch them to this world's dates.

Father Zantus thought about it for a minute, and asked if the dates were based around a calendar initially or the seasons. I told him that it was a mix of both, but that many are based on the seasons, solstices, and equinoxes. He asked me if I thought that it was vital to have other people attending the service. I told him that it was not, but that I didn't want to upset someone by having a service of a different deity while I was in their host world. Father Zantus said that as long as I wasn't actively trying to work against other deities, that there was nothing to worry about.

Father Zantus thought for a minute and asked if I thought it wise with the fact that my deity was until recently a secret. I told him that that was the main problem. He wasn't a secret anymore after that spell was cast. I told him that he might as well get some kind of benefit of veneration of someone on this world if he has a worshiper here. I told Father Zantus that I wasn't in a place where I could even perform the full ancient rites, but that I would be doing what I could, as long as I didn't bring conflict to the town. Father Zantus asked if I would be willing to get him a copy of the religious tenants for my faith so he could give it a once over.

I told him that once I got through my backlog of books that I intended to copy, I would make him a copy of what I had, and work to see what else I might have. I asked Father Zantus again about what he thought about changing the dates to match this worlds dates. He said that doing so would basically be admitting that I would not be getting home. I looked at Savah and told him that I believed that I was comfortable with that.

We all finished up our meals and Father Zantus thanked us for our time and effort in this. He told Savah that he would look into getting an account set up for her as well as the one he has set up for my group. I looked at her and she had that same mischievous grin that she had whenever she was scheming. Father Zantus got up and Savah escorted him out. Before they left, Father Zantus lifted up the bag to me and said that this certainly was an interesting meal. I told him that Jonathan had done a great rendition of it.

They both left and I got back to tending the ovens. I got the second tank out and stared to cool it off. Once it was cool and ready, I pulled out the tunics of Paltero and Rip. I got them stitched up, ready, and waiting for the guards to come back. I got Father Zantus and Walda's suits in the second tank and into the oven. I started to make a copy of the first aid book set for Chask. About an hour had gone by when the Tokage's came back. Fumi and Naru both took their tunics and tried them on. Naru made a few attempts at cutting the material and found that he couldn't. He smiled and went to shake my hand.

I gratefully accepted his handshake, and he actually spoke, asking me what I was doing with the books. I told him that I was making copies of books that I had from my home country to provide to the Academy and other people who would benefit from the knowledge. He asked me wat I charged for this service, and I told him that I just asked for a few blank books so that I could bring more information forward. I added that there was a philosophy back where I was from that said "Information wants to be free" that I tried to cling to whenever possible. He nodded and looked to Fumi.

There was a conversation between them in a language that I could not understand. Fumi looked back at me and asked if I would be willing to copy a book for them. I told him that I did not think that I could do so if the book was magical, but that I would do so if it was not. Fumi said that it wasn't but that it was in the language of magic. I told her that I would have to learn the language before I could do the translation, but that after I learned whatever language it was, I would do so. The only thing that I would request was to ask if I could create a copy for my own library.

Naru spoke again, and said that as long as it was only the one copy for me, and not for the rest of the town, they would be willing to consider it. I told them that they were the owners of the book, and that they did own the information in it. I told them that I would promise not to share it from my end, but that I really stressed that I had seen a lot of instances of information wanting to break free on its own. They looked at each other and said that they would think it over and get back to me. I wished them well and they both left to return to their duties.

I started on the next hour of my copying, of which there would be at least another two hours to finish this up. Savah came in after the next hour of copying was done and asked me how it was going. I told her that the Tokage's had offered me a chance to get access to a book that they had for copying purposes. She wondered why they had not taken it to a mage in the past to get it copied. I figured the same thing, but it was their secret book. Maybe they wanted someone who wasn't connected with anyone in the town to do it. She nodded and said that it was probably likely. She kissed my forehead and wished me luck.

I went back to intermittently checking the ovens and copying the book. After another hour, Savah brought Rip and Paltero back to the workshop to pick up their tunics. I got each man the right tunic and they tried them on. They both took a few moments to adjust the fit and get things right. When they were both ready, they tried some draw cuts on each other, like the others before them. They seemed impressed enough with the material and what it could do. Paltero thanked me and headed out immediately. Savah escorted him out and Rip stayed around for a bit.

Rip asked if I had given any thought to the drink and discussion. I said that I would be checking in with my fiancée, but that we might be free tomorrow night. Rip said that he would hold us to that, and that we should all meet up at Cracktooth's. I told him that I would see what I could do about making sure that it worked out. He thanked me and headed out. Savah came back and noted that these were all the guests that we were looking to get today. I thanked her and told her that I would finishing this book, but after that I would probably spend the last bit studying up on my storytelling for tonight to finish strong.

Savah smiled and told me good luck as she went back to her shop. I got back to work on getting the copy of the first aid book finished. It took another hour and change, but I finally got it finished. I kept the ovens at temperature and watching the quilted fabric change into the B4C material. If this works well, I might be convinced to swap out our B4C sets for this new set up. Especially if there is an added benefit. I figure that it would be good to note this in my general notes for the armor, so that I can make sure that if this is a benefit, I can make it happen for us.

I had finished drawing up some modifications to the armor to make it a mark two version and decided to work on the steam buggy design that we would need. I needed to make sure that I could get the speed up to something respectable. If I could get a good twenty miles an hour, it would be worth it. I mean I had to do some calculations to convert everything from the steam velocipede from good Sylvester's plans, but if I did the formulas correctly, it should work out correctly. I will have to take another trip to Magnimar to talk to Taren again to get the required "Hot Rocks". If I just scale up the boiler size, from my calculations of the thermal work conducted by those continual heat rocks. I mean that if anything, the problem will be safely containing that amount of pressure.

Maybe I could even get a plane in the works if the math works out how it is actually looking to work out. It does seem that if I get this going right, I can revolutionize the travel industry, with enough time. I mean, I'm sure that magic will always win out overall, but for the masses, being able to get from Windsong Abbey to Sandpoint, and then to Magnimar in less than a day, trade will be revolutionized. Even steam paddle boats could be possible.

The timer rang out for the first one and I looked through the porthole. The process seemed to work with the cushioned material. Once I got the tank out of the oven and cooled down I checked if the material was any different. It seemed that the only change was that the material was still quilted with a layer of cotton between the top and bottom layers of B4C. If I could get ahold of a good STF, that could be a good modification, but it would either need to be temperature stable or I would have to just double up all of the material used, resin the insides of both sheets of material, and then stitch it up in the proper pattern. This would take some work, but for now, it seemed to continue functioning.

I got everything correctly done and set aside for Lovus and Yannah. I cleaned up the workshop a bit while I was waiting for Father Zantus and Walda's sets to be completed. I had been letting it go since I was burning the candle at both ends. I figured that if I ever got electricity up and running a system of fans, vents, and even a vacuum or two would not be missed here. I could use that battery to make the thing run off of DC, but I'm not even certain that I would be able to recharge it correctly without resorting to making a steam based generator.

Savah came in to see if I was ready, and the alarm dinged for the second tank. It seemed to work as well as the first pair. I stitched up the seams and got them set take into our bedroom. Savah helped me carry everything in and she noted that we didn't have that much time to get ready. I asked her if she needed my help with anything, and she told me that I should head out if I was going to get a chance to drop off the books to Chask before we go to The Rusty Dragon. I thanked her for her thoughtfulness and got everything packed up. I made my goodbyes and checked that all of the doors were locked before heading out.

I started out quick to get to Chask before he would close up for the day. I waved hello to various people as I rushed to The Curious Goblin. Chask was standing by his door, about to turn the key when I got there. I asked him if he had a quick minute before he was going to head out. Chask's eyes lit up when he asked me if it was about a book, and I said that it was actually about two books. He let me in and I pulled out the two part first aid book.

Chask noted that this was a great deal of depth into the workings of the human body, and I noted that my culture did not, in fact have any kind of dealings with any other races, such as elves, dwarves, or even gnomes. I mentioned that Elves and Humans should be at least somewhat compatible if they could breed together and the offspring could breed with either or another half-elf. He looked a bit confused, and I told him that my world had made some forays into genetic research to determine what it was that were the base building blocks of people. He told me that we would have to talk about this later, but that he would like for me to collect all of the information that might pertain to it. I told Chask that I already had another book on the docket to make copies of, but that I would add his request to the roll.

Chask mentioned that his curiosity was piqued by the mention of other books to copy, and I told him that I would let him know more after the show. I asked him if I could get that Engineering book and he threw in two different ones. He told me that he would try to figure out a return value after I got them back, and I told him that he could just get me more blank books at whatever reduced amount that he thought was fair. Chask said that he would think more on it, since this was not a thing that happened that frequently. I told him that I would try to get the price of blank books down eventually, if I could figure out a good way to do it. He nodded to that.

I left him there to lock up and rushed to The Rusty Dragon. I waved to some other people and told them that I was off to do the conclusion of The Odyssey, and that it was due to be a thrilling event of conflict, betrayal and violence. That got some people following me and others were already heading that way. When I got there Savah was already seated with Oren and Arika. Ameiko rushed me on to the stage to make preparations. I smiled to her and she smiled weakly back to me. I hope that she was feeling okay. I started off my story with asking the kids in the front row where I had left off.

The kids all told me that they had just made back to the island where the friendly king was and were told to leave. I thanked them and continued the story where I had left off. I told them how the wind and the waves took him far away from his home, and that all of his men's ships were blown into a harbor except his. I noted that this turned out to be a little fortunate for him, because it turned out that the harbor was home to cannibalistic giants, the Laestrygonians. I told them all how the giants sunk all of the ships except for Odysseus' because his was the only one that wasn't in the harbor. His ship sailed off after the rest of his ships were lost.

I asked all of the kids where he thought that the might travel next? Some of them said home, while others noted that they did not know. I noted that Poseidon's curse was not yet done with Odysseus yet. I told the assembled group how the last ship of Odysseus sailed on and found themselves on the island of Aeaea, which was the home of a witch-goddess by the name of Circe. I told the crowd how Circe turned half of Odysseus' remaining men into swine after feeding them drugged cheese and wine. I continued with telling them that Hermes was asked to intervene, since Odysseus was on the land, Poseidon could not complain.

I told them of the herb moly, and how it gave Odysseus a resistance to the powers of Circe. I told them how Odysseus forced Circe to restore his men to their rightful shape. I added that even in doing this, Odysseus was not free, because the witch seduced him and made him and his men stay with her for a year of feasting and drinking. After that year was up, Odysseus was instructed by Circe on where to go to get a resolution to his curse. He was told to sail to the edge of the sea and go to a particular harbor.

I continued with telling them how Odysseus and his crew made their way to the harbor where Odysseus would sacrifice to the dead. I told them how one of his former crew members visited him and told him that he wanted to be buried. I told them that after this, that Odysseus summoned the spirit or a prophet who told him that he could get home if he avoided a certain island and refrained from eating the sacred cattle that were there. I told the group how then, Odysseus saw the spirit of his recently deceased mother.

Odysseus's mother told him that she had died of grief during Odysseus' long absence, and what the current situation was with the people back home. I then told the group how other famous men and women's spirits came to visit him, and tell him of information that he could use or was needed. I told the assembled that, armed with all of this information, Odysseus went back to Aeaea and Circe. He buried the man who had died, and received sage advice from Circe about the remaining stages of his journey. I told the group how they made their way past the land of the Sirens, how they were similar in appearance and abilities to what are known of as Harpies here and that they would enchant the men into leaving the ship to swim to their doom, had their ears not been plugged with Beeswax, as Circe had told them to do. I added that Odysseus was the only one to listen to the song, but that was because he ordered his men to lash him securely to the mast.

I continued with how Odysseus had to pass between a monstrous six headed hydrae (no need to get into how things changed over time) and a giant whirlpool. I told the group how Odysseus ordered his crew to sail closer to the Hydra than to the whirlpool, and how he lost six of his men in the process. I continued with how They crew next landed on Thrinacia, despite Odysseus' wishes. The ship made landfall and the people disembarked. I told them how the god of storms was requested to conjure up a storm that would keep them on the island, and did so for many weeks, until they were depleted of all stores.

I told them that Odysseus went to pray while his men ignored the warnings of the prophet and the witch-goddess and hunted the sacred cattle. I continued with telling them how the skies cleared and the ship departed and was then shipwrecked by the god of storms into the giant whirlpool. I told them how Odysseus was the only one to survive, and that this was because he had not partaken in the slaughter of the sacred cattle. I told them how he washed up on the island of Calypso, where he was compelled to remain, as a bored, homesick lover, trapped on her island for seven years. I told them how Athena, Odysseus' patron goddess, beseeched the storm god to let him leave.

I followed with how the storm god sent the messenger god to Calypso to free Odysseus, and she complied. I told them how he sailed by a raft to the island of the Phaeacians, who listen to his story and agreed to get him back home to Ithaca, with a large amount of treasure. I told the group how they ferried him at night, while he was asleep. I told them that the Phaeacians suffered from Poseidon's wrath when this was discovered, until much was made in the way of offerings and promises.

I stopped for a moment to take a drink from what was provided and told the crowd that we would finish this tale tonight, but that I would need take a break. Everyone placed their orders and took their breaks. I went over directly to Savah and asked if everything was okay. She said that she might have to head home early because she wasn't feeling well. I asked her if she would like me to take my leave and head back with her. Savah shook her head and said that she could use the rest. I told her naturally, and that if she needed to leave, I hoped that she felt better and that my thoughts would be with her. Savah nodded and got up to leave. I told her that if she wanted, I could finish off the story for her at another time. She shrugged and started out to head home. I nodded to Oren and Arika, and they looked at each other and nodded back. They both got up and tailed Savah on her way home.

I got a drink, went to the relieve myself, and asked for a small bit to eat. The kids were all taking a fair amount of time to get everything dealt with, so Oren and Arika had enough time to get back before I had to start again. They both took their places and nodded to me. I started up and brought everyone back into the story. I told everyone that before the break, Odysseus had been dropped off on the beach of Ithaca by the Phaeacians. I continued with the story, telling everyone that when Odysseus awoke, he was certain that he was far away from his homeland, and that he was going to have to find another way home.

He was started to build another raft when his patron, the Goddess Athena, came to him and told him that he was indeed back on Ithaca, but that there were things to be done before he could assume his rightful place. She hid his treasure and disguised him as an elderly beggar and escorted him to the hut of the swineherd Eumaeus. The swineherd was hospitable and spoke favorably to the disguised beggar about Odysseus. After a communal dinner where Odysseus ate among the other farm laborers, he told them all a false tale of a past where he fought in the Trojan wars, and was in Egypt for seven years. He promised the men that Odysseus would return, but the promise was discounted.

I stopped for a minute, and asked if anyone remembered where we had left Telemachus, Odysseus' son. One of the kids perked up and said that he was with a swineherd. I told the child that he was correct. I added that the swineherd that Telemachus was talking to was in fact, Eumaeus. And the beggar that he was going to be introduced to was in fact, the disguised Odysseus. I told them that initially, Odysseus wasn't going to tell his son, but Athena suggested that he do so.

I informed the group that Odysseus and his son plotted to kill all the suitors, without informing Eumaeus. I continue on, telling them that Telemachus headed home to get things prepared and Odysseus travels to his house with the Swineherd Eumaeus the next day to beg Penelope for food and drink. I told them that his dog, Argos, died from excitement upon seeing the disguised Odysseus, as the dog had last seen Odysseus when it was a puppy. I continued with telling the group that one of the serving maids recognized Odysseus but was prevented from telling Penelope by Athena. I told them that the beggar told Penelope that her husband would be returning soon.

The next day, Penelope tells the suitors that she had a final test for the suitors and would marry the one who could perform the task. She pulled out Odysseus' old bow and said the person who could string it and soot it through a dozen axe heads, she would marry. None of the suitors could perform the deed. The beggar tries the task and succeeds! I told the crowd how he threw off his rags and with a fell shot, killed the more impertinent of the suitors. I continued with the story by telling them that Odysseus, his son, the swineherd Eumaeus, and a cowherd Philoetius, all fought together and slew the over one hundred suitors. I added that traitors to the family were hung, and others were treated even worse.

I added for the group that Odysseus identified himself to his wife, who didn't believe him until he told her about how he made their bed from an olive tree that was still rooted to the ground. I added that the people of the island were upset that Odysseus was now responsible for the deaths of two generations, but the Goddess Athena helped smooth things over. I stood up and thanked the people for listening to the story of Odysseus and his travels. I looked over to Ameiko and thanked her for the use of her tavern to tell my tales. Then I noted to everyone that I would be performing at Cyrdak's brand new play, The Travails of Poldaran, starting on Fireday.

Ameiko approached me after the show with a bit more curtness than would have been required for the act, and handed me three gold for my take. I thanked her gratefully, and asked her that if she wanted any other stories done in my style, I would be glad to do so. She just shook her head and I headed out of her tavern. When I got outside, Oren and Arika were already outside. I asked if Savah got home okay. Oren told me that she had, and I told him that was all I was concerned with. I passed them five gold to go paint the town red or whatever, as I wanted to apologize for any drama that was going on.

Oren told me that he'd like to talk to me after he got home, and I told him that I might be up late writing everything down, so he should just check the break room. He nodded and they both went off. I made my way home and checked in on Savah. She was asleep and there was no light in the room. I hoped that she wasn't sick. I mean I tried to make sure that there was nothing that I could have transmitted from my home world.

I had gotten myself a cider and sat back down in the break room. I cooled off the cider and re-flavored it to taste like Jameson. I decided to get my tablet out and write all of details today. I had been writing for a long time before Oren had made his way back. He asked me, in a rather blunt way, if I was trying to piss Savah off with the story. I told him that I was confused. He told me that the story was tailored to be about me and the negatives of my time on this world. I thought for a minute and told him that I had honestly not given any thought that the I was in any way the same as Odysseus.

I told Oren that I didn't consider myself in any way as noble a man as Odysseus. I told Oren that I had also not considered myself like him because I was not trying to get back to my old world. I explained to Oren that I considered this my home now. He told me that Savah seemed a bit upset at what had happened, and that I better figure out some way to make it up to her. I thanked him for telling me how Savah had reacted to this. I told him that I would try to figure out what I can do to make this right. He nodded and went back to his room. I made sure everything was locked up and decided to head to bed.