Day 51: Oathday the 8th, Neth, 4707 – Abjurant Day
I woke up to Veronica acting as my alarm clock, telling me that she would start work on a guard bike, and that it would likely be done before lunch. I thanked her and told her to just work on guard bikes every day until we get a different order. Veronica said that she would do so, and work on various goods for the house when she was not. I thanked her for her initiative. She said that it is what I would do.
I got up and started the morning process of making coffee and breakfast for Savah and myself. Oren was in there getting a quick bite to eat and I told him that we finished something for him and Arika. His eyes perked up and asked what we had for them. I told him to hang out for a few minutes while I get everything ready for Savah. Oren said that he had a few minutes before he needed to get to the garrison. I took the food into Savah and told her that I would be right back. She stretched and got up, languidly eating her breakfast.
I left the room to go get Oren acquainted with his gift. I went back out to the dining room and Oren was waiting. I led him into the workshop and showed him his new bike. He was fascinated by it, and asked how it was powered. I told him that it was powered by a magic stone in the engine, and that it needed pure water to fully operate. Oren asked me where he could get that, and I siphoned some out of my bike's tank for him. I told him that he should have enough to go about seven miles with that tank, but that he would need to get more to go further. Oren nodded and said that he would keep that in mind.
I went back to the bedroom and went to go help Savah get ready. When I got back in the room, Savah was already getting dressed. She asked me if Oren was happy with his new bike. I told that he was like a kid with a new pony, which, basically, he was. Savah smiled and said that she was glad that I could help out my "cousin". I smiled and said that I hoped that he continued to help this town. Savah told that she was sure that he would.
We finished getting dressed and getting ready. I walked Savah to her shop and gave her a kiss before heading back to the workshop. I checked in on Veronica and she had a small pile of things for me take to the build site from her working last night. I thought to Veronica that she was doing a good job, and she raised head to look at me briefly before continuing on her job. I got on my bike and headed out to the jobsite. Aesrick was there and they were putting the saw that I had made them the day prior to good use. Aesrick asked about other tools, and I told him that I could probably make one a day, but that I would need to know what he could use most first.
Aesrick told me that right now, he could use one of those drills that I had mentioned, and maybe a finer saw for the detail work. I groaned because I knew what I would have to do to get those. I told him that I would do my best to get this done. He thanked me and accepted the pay for the day's upcoming work. While I would have to go have my reckoning with Ven.
I rode over to his general store, and it was just the young boy standing outside, sweeping off the porch. Thinking quickly, I told the boy that I needed a drill and a fine detail saw for Aesrick, and that I had to get back to him quickly. I added that I would give the boy a whole gold piece if he could get me a drill and the saw, and he could keep the change. I added that he would know where they were kept better than I would, and I could get back to him quicker. The boy weighed his options, took the gold, and ran inside. He brought out a drill and a fine saw, and I thanked him before riding back off to my workshop.
When I got into the shop, I worked on the drill first, since that was going to be easier. It took a few hours of retrofitting and getting things exactly right, but by lunch, I went back to the site and delivered the drill. Aesrick noted that this would make putting things together much faster and easier, and I told him that back where I was from, we could get these in every town. He was a bit dumbstruck by that, but continued on the job. I rode back and dropped by Risa's place to pick up lunch for Savah and myself.
It turned out to be a good thing that I did, because she seemed to be swamped with people who could not make up their mind on things. I sat with her behind the counter and tried to help answer questions while we ate. Eventually the browsers made up their minds and bought what they were going to buy. Then a pair of familiar faces entered into the shop. It was Shalelu and Faunra. Faunra entered into the store asking what was the best weapon to take out an outlander with a gun. I responded with it seemed like any weapon except fire or electricity could do the job quite well. We all laughed and I told Savah that I had to take them to their bikes. Faunra and Shalelu were excited as they walked into the workshop. Faunra saw Veronica working there and greeted her. Veronica lifted her wrench in salute and went back to work.
We wheeled out the bikes and got them both set up. Shalelu asked if we could go on a test drive, and I told them that I would escort them around town. I helped them get mounted up and quickly ran to the store. Savah was there sitting behind the counter. I asked her if she wanted to go on a drive with all of us, and she agreed. We locked up the store for a "late lunch" and we all got on our bikes.
We went on a tour of the whole town, and it was just when we were heading up to the bluff that the noble manors were on, overlooking the town that we overheard a vicious rumor. They were talking about how we were putting The Goblin Squash stables out of business with our bikes. I asked the person if they knew how many horses were bought from Daviren Hosk every week. They told me that they had heard that he was complaining. I told them that I had never heard of such a thing, but that if he was, I would be glad to talk it out with him. I also pointed out that while my bikes were able to run for long periods of time, they needed very specific conditions to work better than horses, otherwise a loyal horse could bring someone back to a place of safety, while my bikes couldn't do that.
The person nodded and said that they had never thought about that. I told them that there were tradeoffs for each, but that each person had to assess their own needs when purchasing a mount or a vehicle. The person seemed okay with that line of reasoning. They went off and we made our way back to the Armory. Faunra and Shalelu took their bikes with them and headed off to their campsite. We wished them well as they went.
Shortly thereafter, Fumi and James dropped by, with Fumi holding a heavy book. She carefully handed it to me and I took it just as carefully. James noted that it was going to be another week or so that Fumi would need to help translate the documents for him, but that after that, she could help translate the book so that I could reproduce it. I carefully opened up the book to look at the first page, and somehow I could understand the words. They were in a font that I had never before known, but it seemed to be related to the tongues of dragons. I told them that I would not need a translator anymore, and that I would be working on this as soon as our house was finished being built.
Fumi said that she could accept that, knowing what was going on in town, but that she would definitely need the book and it's copy back soon. I told her that I would get it back to her as quick as I could, and she headed out. I looked to Savah and she kind of shrugged. I told her that I had one more tool to make for the people, but that after that, we would probably be getting into the new place much quicker. Savah said that it would be good to get it done quicker, so we could make it a home that much faster.
I went back to the workshop and got to work on the jigsaw. After about two hours, it was in good working order. I figured that it would be good to get it out to the site quickly, and did so. When I got there, an individual from the Town Hall was there arguing with Aesrick. I pulled up on my bike and asked what the issue was. Aesrick said that there was an issue with getting the plans certified with the town hall. I asked if this issue would prevent his crew from continuing to work.
Aesrick told me that the inspector had agreed to let him finish out the week, but without the approval of Town Hall, he would not be able to continue next week. I asked the inspector if I would be able to file the requisite paperwork today. The inspector said that the office was closed, and that I would have to try to get something done tomorrow, if I could manage it. I told the inspector that I would make sure to be there as early in the morning that I could. The inspector got on their horse and rode off.
Aesrick looked pissed, and I asked him what the main issue was. Aesrick told me that this inspector was a friend of the Scarnettis, and that they would not make it easy. I laughed and lowered my voice an octave before telling Aesrick that the inspector thinks that bureaucracy is his ally. He merely adopted the bureaucratic ways. My land was awash in it and I was born to it, molded by it. I didn't see freedom until I came here, and it was blinding. The bureaucratic ways will betray him because they belong to me.
Aesrick looked at me like I was nuts before shaking his head. He asked me what I had meant. I told him that back where I was from, I saw all of the bureaucratic techniques to stall land usage. I would study them tonight and be ready for the meeting tomorrow. Aesrick nodded and said that if I could get the confirmation to continue by the end of their working shift tomorrow, his crew could pick back up after the weekend, but if not, he would need to start working on his other projects. I told him that I could understand that, but that he should at least give me a chance.
Aesrick thanked me for my understanding and said that he of course would. He also recommended that I go check in with someone who might have a bit more information about the bureaucratic ways of this town, maybe the House of the Blue Stones or the Curious Goblin. I told him that I would check out both and thanked him. Aesrick took the jigsaw and took it to his workers. I hopped on my bike and headed back towards the town proper.
Thinking quickly, I wheeled my bike to make it to the Curious Goblin. I knew that I needed to get a few blank books anyway. I walked into the store, and Chask greeted me immediately. I asked him if he had a couple more blank books. He said that he had two right now, and went to get them. I looked around the area and tried to see if he had any books on the laws of Sandpoint. When he came back with the blank books, I asked him if he had any books that dictated the Sandpoint and Magnimar laws on construction and building and what might prevent it for being allowed. Chask asked me to explain a bit more.
I told Chask that I had been directly authorized by the Lord-Mayor of Magnimar to create a school for Technomancy here in Sandpoint, and was also being required to move out of the former glassworks so that Ameiko can get them going again to fulfill the orders that had been made and paid to her father. Chask asked why I needed the laws. I told him that we had a site outside the town walls prepared and being worked on, but a town inspector that seemed to be very favorable towards a certain family had visited the work site and stopped work starting next week, unless I get the proper documents filed tomorrow.
Chask smiled, and said that he had wondered what tact Titus would take. I told him that where I was from, I would have been able predict everything that I would have needed to get filled out. I added that here I did not have access to the forms that would need to be filled out. Chask laughed and said that was not exactly true. He produced a sheaf of papers from a vault below the counter. Chask told me when he had to fill out the forms for building this place and when he did, he managed to get a second copy of the forms, in case he messed up.
I could see that this was the lifeline that I needed. I asked him how much he wanted for them and he told me that he would work with me to fill them out tomorrow morning for a fair amount, but that these were the last copies available outside of the town hall. I asked if it was really that difficult to get them, and Chask told me that it generally required unanimous agreement from the town council to get a building plan approved, and Titus was blocking anything that didn't use his sawmills, through any number of duplicitous means. I told him that I couldn't let down Savah, and that I would be back tomorrow morning. Chask told me that he would be ready.
I left the Curious Goblin and headed back home. Savah was closing up the store when I got there. I told her everything that I had learned and she was furious. I told her that I was working on it with Chask tomorrow. She calmed down a little and said that she was certain that he could help us. I told her that I was as well, but that I would still be presenting the case in person tomorrow. We settled down for the evening and worked to make plans on how we went about tomorrow. We spent the rest of the night getting all of our documents in order to ensure that we would have what we need.