Day 50: Wealday the 7th, Neth, 4707
Like clockwork, Veronica woke me up to ask me for my orders. I told her to work on a bike for the Sandpoint guard. We were going to have to make several of these per orders, and I wanted to get started on them. Savah was still asleep, so I made a good breakfast. Unfortunately, she woke up while I was doing so, so we ate at the table together, rather than in bed. We went back into our bedroom and got dressed. I really can't stress how much easier it is to keep a room clean when you have the ability to do it magically.
Savah went back to her storefront, hopeful about the day's events. I took a ride out to the jobsite, to see what was going on there and to drop off the pay first thing. Aesrick was there, and his crew was working on the frame. I saw that they had to cut each board by hand, and that this was along increasing the amount of time it took to put everything together. I asked Aesrick if he would be interested in learning about some of the tools that we had back where I was from. He perked up and said that he would listen. I told him about circular saws, jigsaws, tiger saws, sanders and drill/screwdrivers.
Aesrick noted that he didn't have much use for drills, since they didn't have a large supply of them here, and I told him that one of the things that they would use a drill back where I was from was for dowel pin construction. Aesrick smiled at that and asked how long it might take to make a similar set for him. I told him that I would look into it, but that if it would make the process faster for building my house, I would push it to the front of my orders. He said that it would definitely help to get the boards cut, and get them assembled quicker. I told him that I would look through my plans to see what I could get made the quickest and get back to him.
I drove right back home and left Veronica to work on the guard bike, as I had to look into power tools. I figured that a chainsaw like thing would be the easiest, but Hayliss only had an odd gnomish weapon called a Ripsaw Glaive. I bought that quickly and turned it around into a steam powered chainsaw. I rushed it back to the jobsite, and gave it to Aesrick with the caution that it was dangerous for both heat and for the blade, that he would have to fill it up with water to get it to work, but that it would operate as a chainsaw.
I gave him a demonstration on a piece of wood that they needed to cut and he was impressed. He asked how much these things were, and I told him that they would be at least one hundred gold a piece. He said that if I could continue to make these, he would continue to use them, and that we could reduce it from the cost of the final build. I asked him how much these would decrease the build times, and he told me that there would be some break in time for his crew, but that it would at least shave a day or two off.
I thanked him for his good work and headed back to the shop. I told Savah about my news, and she seemed a bit miffed at first. I told her that I didn't remember her having a ripsaw glaive, but that Hayliss did, as an oddity, and that I needed a proof of concept. I added that now we could use her contacts to get more, and that I would only be using her from now on. She smiled and said that I better damn sure only be using her from now on. We decided on a light lunch at home together, and James popped in to say hi and that he was beginning to make some sense of Lonjiku's notes. Apparently everything was written in Tian, so he had to have a guardsman translate everything.
That as when Fumi came in. She saw me and smiled, asking me if I was still willing to copy her family's book. I told her that I would be more than glad to do so, that if she dropped it off, I would work on it when I wasn't working on bikes for the guard, or tools for the new building, or weapons for the Lord-mayor's personal guard. Or a new Jacuzzi for my new bath, Savah chimed in. Yes, or that. Fumi said that she would drop it by later before heading out and James followed suit. Savah smiled and said that my days were certainly busy. I told her that my nights were all hers.
I went back to workshop and started work alongside Veronica. She was skilled enough that she could make these herself, but it felt good to work together like this. We finished up the guard bike and now the workshop was starting to get a little crowded. I made a call over the radio to Faunra to ask if she would be in town anytime soon. She came back after a minute saying that they would be coming in to town tomorrow. I asked if they would be willing to drop by the Armory, and she said that they would. By then, it was dinner time, and Vaeren was heading back to the Rusty Dragon. I gave Veronica the missive of working on whatever she could to make sure that we had everything for the sitting room and she nodded.
I went to the storefront and Savah was just getting ready to lock up. Since we were going to drink at Cracktooth's, I didn't want to drive my bike, even at the piddling seven mile an hour pace it went, we had decided to walk the short distance. We got fully kitted out and headed to the bar. When we got there, the place all cheered. Jesk had us taken to his booth and he soon joined us. He told us that he had no love for the Scarnettis, and that he was glad that we had given him a comeuppance in the town council meeting. By now it was apparently an open secret what had happened in there.
He ordered us each a Tooth Cracker, and an order of fondue. He told us that the fondue has been a big seller, even with the stigma of being associated with me. I told him that I was very glad about that, and asked him if he had heard the news about Crystalhue. He said that he had heard that Oren and Arika were considering a betrothal ceremony then, but that he had not heard anything else. I told him that there were a few more guests of honor that would be showing up. I let it sit for a minute while I took the shot. Jesk got a little impatient and asked me who would be coming.
I started out with telling him that Master Leis Nivlandis from the Stone of Tears in Magnimar was coming, an accomplished divination wizard. Jesk asked how accomplished, and Savah told him that he can contact other planes. Jesk sweated a bit and asked who else. I told him that Ayamyra, high priestess of Calistria would be present, as would Mother Bevaluu Zimantiu of Desna. Jesk balked a bit, but realized that I had more to say and motioned for me to continue. I told him Chaplain Tira Ronnova of Iomedae and Proctor Jyronn Imikar of Abadar would both be here as well. Savah chastised me to stop beating around the bush and told Jesk that the Lord-Mayor of Magnimar would be here as well.
Jesk asked how I had managed all of this, and Savah told him that I had basically just asked, except for the Lord-Mayor, who's life I saved. Jesk raised an eyebrow and noted that the event was going to be a LOT larger now, and asked how Father Zantus had taken this information, let alone the Mayor. Savah noted that we had not exactly told them all yet. Jesk thought about that for a second, and noted that this means that he was one of the first people to know about this. Savah told him that Ameiko was the only other person who was not directly involved in the event, and that even Cyrdak did not officially know yet.
Jesk was laughing his ass off. He motioned for more drinks to be bought, and said that he appreciated my sense of humor and timing. Jesk asked if I would be telling a story tonight, and Savah pushed me to do so as well. I waited until the bard that was performing was finished to get up and head to the stool. The bard that was there graciously lent me the stool.
I asked everyone if they were ready to hear the further adventures of the Saviors of Sandpoint. The crowd all cheered and I started out with where I had last left everyone, with the end of the goblin threat to Sandpoint. I told them how we had found and slain the undead murderer of Banny Harker and Katrine Vinder, and how they had ravaged the countryside of the farms there. I told how we tracked it down and destroyed it, and how that led back to a murder cult that was secretly hiding in Magnimar. I added that this had tracked back to a Lamia Matriarch who was orchestrating the whole thing.
The crowd loved the impossibility of it all, and when someone challenged me, Savah was there to put them straight, and even undo some of the understating and minimizing I had done of my own role. I gently told her that a good storyteller always tried to minimize their own role in the story. She faux-protested offense, and claimed I would be sleeping in the workshop tonight. I told her that the ovens could keep me warm if she did kick me out. She huffed and looked away in jest. We had done this particular bit before but the crowd loved it.
In the end, everyone enjoyed the story and the back and forth. A lot of people tipped coins into a pitcher that was on the end of the stage. I took a look into the pitcher, and I could tell that a lot more people pitched coins into the pitcher after I started than the performer before me. I left the coins in there and thanked everyone for their generosity and headed back to my table. Jesk noted that I left the tips in there.
I told him that I was doing well enough right now that we didn't need it. I added that after the house as finished, I might need to perform more to keep everything up, but for now we were good. Jesk said that he'd at least comp us our meals and drinks, and he ordered us a bottle of Director's choice and a basket of his famous drunkfish vittles. Jesk noted that he couldn't spend the entire night with us at the table, but that Cyrdak and his crew should be arriving soon.
Speaking of the devil, Cyrdak just entered into the bar and spotted us immediately. He walked over to us and sat down. Cyrdak told us how much he missed the chaos I brought to this town, that it was starting to get rather boring. Jesk laughed his ass off before excusing himself. Cyrdak asked what he was laughing about, and Savah reiterated our discussion about the new visitors. Cyrdak went from joyous, to serious, to unbelieving, to finally uproarious laughter. He told me that he would not have believed it if it had not been related to me.
I asked Cyrdak if he was upset at all, and he told me that he would most appreciate the chance to be back in front of Lord-Mayor Grobaras again, after having to leave Magnimar. Cyrdak hugged me fiercely, and noted to Savah that he was glad for her to be getting betrothed to me, because he would hate to see what I did to this town if I wasn't tied down. Savah smiled, and said that she was glad to have me, and would be even more glad when my school was built.
Cyrdak raised an eyebrow, and Savah explained that we had convinced Lord-Mayor Grobaras to allow me to have a school for Technomancy built in Sandpoint. Cyrdak noted that this would increase the numbers of people who could go to his performances. I nodded and said that it would be likely be adults who were coming to the school, and that I could make the courses specifically designed to not be in opposition to his playtimes. Cyrdak thanked me and said he would be greatly appreciative of this.
After a few minutes more of catching up and telling him the dirt on everything that had gone down since the last time we had talked, Cyrdak noted that he was going to have to write a new play based on these events. Soon thereafter, Jasper came in and walked right over to Cyrdak. I stood up and shook his hand, saying that it was good to see him. Savah noted that she would be utilizing his services soon, to place an order for Magnimar. Jasper raised an eyebrow and said okay.
Savah then noted that we needed to head out, if we were to get the stuff done that we needed done. Cyrdak wished us good night and said that he had a lot to catch up to with Jasper anyway. Jasper said that he had just talked to Cyrdak before the show. Cyrdak smiled and said that was before he had talked with me. I said goodnight to everyone and headed out, waving to Jesk as we left. He nodded and told us to not be a stranger.
We walked home and had a nice night together, relaxing and getting ready for the day going forward. Veronica told me that she would continue working on goods for the sitting room and that she would wake me at the normal time. I thanked her and finished off my notes for the day. Maybe tomorrow will be a boring, but good work day. Savah and I are going to bed now. How much have things changed in fifty days.