Day 72: Oathday the 29th, Neth, 4707
Savah and I got up bright and early today, again awaking to the gang being outside the building, plus Shalelu and Vaeren. Vaeren was there to take over running the store while Savah was out, and to keep an eye on the workshop, while Veronica and Igor were working away on today's project, building up more parts for the generator. Savah cautioned Vaeren that there might be a paladin or two that might come by, and that if they were sent by Chaplain Tira, they were to be told that they needed to go to Rynshinn and get a tailored suit of quilted cloth. Vaeren noted that he remembered the armor process and said that if he had any question, he would refer the paladin to come back after we had returned.
Savah said that she could accept that, and I noted that the pair would be pretty much self-sufficient, but that if he heard fighting he should probably remind them that they had work to do. Vaeren looked confused but said that he would try to remember that. Vaeren asked if there was anything else, and Savah told him that Oren and Arika were staying here as well, and Bailey needed to be let out every day and let back in at night. Vaeren acted like he was mentally writing it down and said that he was fairly certain that he had it. I told him that if he had any questions, he could probably reach us by the radio in the workshop for at least a few hours.
Vaeren wished us well and we headed over to the Merchantile. Dame Rebekah had not been too enthusiastic about locking up Bucepherous in an animal wagon, until Sir Jasper showed her that the top of the cage was actually false and that her steed could make it out if they needed. We loaded the bikes up in the spare enclosed wagons and got disguised as generic guards. Savah spent some time doing up disguises for all of us as we obscured our regular gear underneath the disguises. By the time that we were all ready, Sir Jasper had come back and informed us that we would be having some last minute passengers in addition to the cargo, a group of four young dilettantes who had come into town late at night and were looking to get back to Magnimar apparently fairly quickly. Sir Jasper had noted that he believed that they were looking for a good night out, but were worried about their families being upset now.
Sir Jasper said that this was not an impossible occurrence, and it was becoming more frequent since there were stories of a new tavern opening up in Sandpoint and the possibility of hearing some stories that had never been told on this world before here in a random tavern. Sir Jasper winked and said that we would be using a total of seven wagons on this caravan, and that we would split up the wagons such that Savah and my bikes were in the first wagon in the train. The second wagon would have the four young women and a few other travelers, all of whom had paid fair to the Mercantile for transport.
The third would be a cargo wagon with goods going to Magnimar for sale. The middle wagon was to be the "Pegasus" wagon with Dame Rebekah stationed as a wagon driver. The last three wagons would be another two cargo wagons and the final wagon would be Faunra and Shalelu's bike in a wagon, with them on that wagon to act as drivers and guards. Everyone seemed okay with how the assignments were, so we got on our wagons and waited for everyone to be ready. Just as we were about to leave, a man by the name of Jubrayl Vhiski stopped us and talked to one of the drivers of the cargo wagon. I didn't quite catch the conversation but it looked like Jonathan might have, but didn't say anything.
We all started out not too long after that event, and I didn't even realize that I had not paid attention to where that man had gone. We were riding for a good two hours and were just making it to the Whisper wood. We didn't pass any signals or words between us because we all knew that we were about to be in the thick of it and didn't know if we could do so without revealing the ruse. We continued on our journey to Magnimar through the Whisper Wood for another two hours at our normal pace when arrows started flying in to strike at us. I say strike at us, because they couldn't penetrate the armor that we wore underneath the surcoats and other gear that we wore to pretend.
Jonathan's keen eye alerted us to the location from where the volley struck forth, and indicated where we needed to concentrate our efforts. At least that is what would have happened if there wasn't abject pan-delirium. At the same time that the arrows were raining down, and Jonathan was pointing out the source, a pair of thunderstones assaulted the front and back of the caravan. Whoever had planned this assault had clearly developed a good grasp of strategy. The horses in the front of the wagon reared back and balked. The ones in the rear of the wagon train tried to rush forward until Shalelu stopped them. There was chaos everywhere and it looked like for the first time, we were going to be on the losing end. Savah got hit with an impossibly accurate arrow that knocked her out cold. She was just asleep, not dead, but I was unaware of that at the time.
I don't know what came over me, but I instantly knew where the arrow had come from, where they were hidden up in a tree-stand. I could see the person's smug face sticking out from behind the foliage that they had obscured themselves behind. Instantly my pistol was in hand as I pulled it up and fired a shot off at the person, taking care at the last second to try to aim a little lower than the head. It knocked them out of the tree and onto ground level. I didn't see them move but I don't know that I actually cared at that point. I only vaguely recognized that the gun sounded a little like the thunderstone. Jonathan took aim at the ambusher who had thrown the thunderstone at the front of the group and dropped them with one hit.
I guess that the ambusher in the back of the group must have thought that the attempt was still on, because they threw another thunderstone at the rear of the group, causing Shalelu to try to shout more calming words to the equines. A brigand in a tree tried to hit me with their bow. Just like before, it just bounced off my armor. At the very moment that the arrow bounced, a bright light exploded in the trees, blinding and dropping three of the brigands who had been on that side of the trail. From behind her, one of the brigands tried to charge her, expecting the armor that she was "wearing" to be fake. The attack failed as could be expected.
Just then one of the damsels from the that wagon came rushing forward asking me to protect them. I didn't think anything of it, but just told them to stay down. Faunra launched the second phase of the counter attack, hitting the other batch of brigands with a web spell to wrap them all up. Another of the damsels from the wagon ran up to me on the other side and asked where the danger was coming from and if they were going to be enslaved. A brigand from the webbed area managed to break free and started coming towards Faunra. The other Brigand that had been webbed up managed to break free as well, but could only reach the end of the webbing. I took aim and shot the other brigand who had been throwing thunderstones, dropping them while Jonathan dropped the Brigand who had charged Dame Rebekah.
One of the women tried to pull me towards her to protect her. Then the other one on the other side of me tried to pull me her way. I told them both that I needed to help my allies to keep them safe. I noticed that Dame Rebekah had launched a spell of force to knock out the remaining two brigands. Then another of the girls tried to pull me forward, they were surrounding me all pleading with me to protect them from the dangers. It was the last one, the one that had ended up behind me that I heard whisper that this was the revenge from the Technic League for my stealing of their technology, and a frigid blade found its way in between the joints of my armor.
A feeling of euphoria came over me as I realized that I felt absolutely no fear right now. I knew that I could defeat them all on my own, even as I developed a bit of a cough. I attacked the one who had stabbed me with my machete, but was off balance from the stab that I had just gotten before, so I could not finish them off in one hit. The other women who were around me pulled out similarly alchemical blades and attempted to jab them into the weak points of my armor, jabbing where they could. After the third stab, I felt myself feeling weary and drifting off while they stood over me. One of them noted that I dropped fairly easily for all of my reputation.
I woke up after what everyone told me was about an hour. Dame Rebekah was lying next to me and Jonathan was channeling his power into my body, reducing the drugs in my veins. Then Jonathan focused on Dame Rebekah. Within moments he had spent a large amount of his energy getting us repaired from what the assassins had attempted to use on us. Apparently almost all of the total assailants had been stabilized and bound up. The only casualties were two of the assassins who had died to the wounds inflicted upon them by Jonathan when he was coming to defend Dame Rebekah, Savah, and myself.
Between Jonathan, Faunra, and Dame Rebekah when she came too as well, I discovered that I had fallen unconscious due to the assassins' blades, which were drugged with a substance called Shiver. Dame Rebekah caught sight that the former meek nobles' daughters were standing over Savah and myself with wicked looking blades of tainted ice. Dame Rebekah had apparently rushed across the field and stood over my body before casting the only spell she could think of, obscuring mist. Dame Rebekah noted that indeed the armor I had made stood up to the many attackers, but that they managed to knock her out too, but not before Faunra webbed everything in our vicinity from above. It was just as Dame Rebekah was falling that Jonathan arrived on the scene with his enhanced cestus and started dropping them left and right.
Faunra, Jonathan, Shalelu, and Sir Jasper's crew helped pull Savah, Dame Rebekah, and myself from the mists. Then they got together and collected all of the surviving enemies up and separated them from their weapons and gear before locking them up in the vehicle wagons. After five minutes or so, Savah awoke with a start to see myself and Dame Rebekah still asleep. It was her who had identified the drugs that the blades formed with, and five minutes after that, the blades just dissipated into thin air. Since two of the attempted assassins had survived, we would have to question them.
I told everyone what I had heard whispered, and Jonathan noted that he had found four scars on each of them in the same location. He had inspected the scars on the deceased ones and found that there was something inside of the wound. When he showed me what it was, I thought that it looked exactly like one of those RFID tracking ships that you have put into your pets. I told the group what they were supposed to do, and Jonathan asked what kind of range they might have. I shrugged and told him that where I was from it depended on the device that was tracking it, but that with these chips, I might be able to reverse engineer a way to know when someone with one is near.
The rest of the people who had actually hired the caravan sent someone over to talk with us. Their representative asked what the plan was now. I told them that the regular guards would take the travelers on to Magnimar while we brought the prisoners back to Sandpoint. The wagon riders who would be driving the prisoners back with us, along with the empty animal wagon. We added that we would catch back up with them. The drivers and the riders loaded up in the remaining wagons and headed out.
We collected all of the equipment of the brigands and buried the deceased assassins. I noted that Hayliss might have the truth telling spell available and we might be able to get some answers from the assassin. Savah noted that we did have to head back quickly but it was possible that we could stop by to ask while the others who turned in the brigands to the Sheriff and Sir Jasper. The rest of the group agreed with Savah and we set up to get back.
We made our way back to the town without any real issues. Jonathan and Dame Rebekah were looking after the prisoners while Savah, Faunra, and I all took turns running out on scouting trips and running back. The wagoner who had been talked to by Jubrayl Vhiski seemed a bit on edge, but followed all the directions that we gave as any of the other drivers did. Before we got back to the town, I called over the radio to Oren and told him that we were heading back with some brigands that we had captured. Oren responded that he would get the information to Sheriff Hemlock and Sir Jasper.
When we got to the South Bridge, Sheriff Hemlock and Sir Jasper were already there. I asked Sir Jasper if he knew if his sister would have the truth-telling spell available. Sir Jasper noted that she did, but that he had already asked her for it for Melgur, but that she only had one prepared. I nodded and said that I would appreciate it if they could hold the assassins until we got back, so I could try to find out who had sent them. Sheriff Hemlock noted that he could easily hold them due to the attacks for a while.
Just then, a sealed scroll appeared in the air in front of us and dropped to the ground. Sheriff Hemlock bent down to the pick up the scroll and looked it over. There was a wax seal with the arcane symbol of Master Leis Nivlandis. There was just my first and last name written on the outside next to the seal. He handed it to me and I looked it over to see if there was any trap or other magical auras on it. The only magical aura was a fairly strong one that seemed to be associated with the spell to send it here. I opened it to look at it with everyone else. The note was from Master Leis Nivlandis. It read as follows:
To David Drake,
I have been asked to send this missive to you by the Lord-Mayor of Magnimar. You and your group are requested to come to Magnimar to receive a mission request from him. Please make haste and get here as soon as possible.
Good Luck,
Master Leis Nivlandis
After I read this message aloud, the letter disintegrated. I looked to the rest of the group, and noted that we were going to have to leave immediately. Sheriff Hemlock said that he would hold the assassins for as long as he could, but would probably have to send them on to Magnimar in a week or so. Sheriff Hemlock told me that he would pass word along to Oren and Arika that we would probably be gone for a little while. I thanked him and asked if anyone needed to talk to anyone else in the town before we left. Everyone shook their head or verbally disagreed so I shrugged and thanked Sheriff Hemlock for his diligence in dealing with these villains.
Sir Jasper apologized for not being able to reimburse us for any damage that we suffered during the attack before we left, and I noted that all of the damage that we suffered was from the assassins, and as such he was tricked as much as us. Sir Jasper was still hurt by what happened, but I told him that we really had to head out, and apologized that we would not be able to escort the travelers the rest of the way to Magnimar, as we would have to travel much faster than the caravan. Sir Jasper said that he would send a group of mercenaries on horses to catch up with the group.
We shook and we turned around to leave when we saw Luma standing behind where we were. Luma asked if what she overheard was true, that we were heading back to Magnimar. I looked to everyone else and said that we were. She asked if she could travel with us, as she missed the caravan earlier. I shrugged and asked if anyone could have her as a passenger. Savah and my bikes were all full with what we were bringing to Magnimar, and Faunra had some of her equipment with her on her bike.
Dame Rebekah volunteered as she mounted Bucepherous. Jonathan checked the laces on his boots and ensured that he was ready. I noted that I guessed that it was time for another race. Everyone smiled and we kicked off on our bikes, horses, and feet. We got up to speed fairly quickly and rushed down the Lost Coast Road. We were kicking up a huge amount of dust behind us. I mean we were going a massive twenty-eight miles an hour, but it did mean that we would get to Magnimar before the end of the day. I spared a look over for Luma and Dame Rebekah and Luma was holding on for dear life. I looked back to Savah and she looked to me and we shared a smile.
After an hour and change, we managed to pass the town were the caravan was stopping for the night. After the second hour of the speed, we were just outside the gates to Magnimar. We still had about an hour left of the normal day, and Luma asked if she could help us out at all since we got her home so quickly. Dame Rebekah said that we were glad to help and that we could always use a friend in Magnimar if she was going to stay here. Shalelu added that we would be glad to help her move if she needed the help and everyone nodded in agreement.
We got to the gate and the gate guards were looking like they were going to give us some trouble before Luma stepped up and noted that we were interviewing with her for guide and mercenary roles for the Derexhi household, and that it might upset the house if we were detained. The guards immediately let us pass. Faunra asked me discretely how much it would cost to increase the speed of all of the other bikes. I asked her why we would need to go faster and Faunra replied with a wink that Dame Rebekah had requested a set of Horseshoes that speed up her horse when Faunra had the chance to make more enchanted items.
I did some quick math and noted that it would be at least five thousand gold worth of parts, maybe less if I can manufacture most of the parts in the workshop with Veronica and Igor. Faunra nodded and asked how long it would take to get an upgrade done. I juggled some numbers around in my head and noted that if I had all of the parts already made and it was just the take down and assembly, it would take roughly a day with both Igor and Veronica helping. Faunra nodded and said that she might want to look into that in the future.
We agreed to talk more about it later, and got inside the city. Dame Rebekah had requested that we go to the Iomedae Chapel first, to drop off the idol and the chalice. It was convenient since the Chapel wasn't too far inside the Naos District gate that we came in. We all indulged her and went directly to the Chapel. Of course, Master Leis Nivlandis just happened to be there. I guess this is what one should expect when dealing with a highly skilled wizard that focuses on Divination magic.
Chaplain Tira greeted us all with a good heart, and asked us all to speak in her office outside the Chapel. Master Leis told us that he would wait for us here. We all followed Chaplain Tira into the office. Chaplain Tira started out with thanking us for providing her paladins with such useful armor, and with the knowledge that ghouldom is a disease and that the victims need to be burned so that they do not transmit the disease to other creatures. She confided in us that she had seen ghouled wolves and even ravens before but had never thought that it could be due to them eating contaminated flesh. She told us that she was passing this information along to all of her paladins, not just the four that volunteered to head to Sandpoint to help with this menace in the farmlands.
Dame Rebekah said that the help that they were providing was invaluable, but that in the course of our daily lives in Sandpoint, we had discovered something that was even more dire. Chaplain bade her to continue and Dame Rebekah told her how we had discovered that there where foreign ghouls moving in to the area and that they were being drawn to the Pauper's Graves. Faunra continued where Dame Rebekah left off, noting that the ghouls were collecting goods and monies to pay their way into a Necropolis underneath the graves themselves. After a moment of silence, I spoke up and revealed something that no one else in the group had heard of. That the groundskeeper of the Sandpoint Boneyard had been hearing scratching and digging when he was in some of the crypts in the Boneyards, and that I expected them to be from burrowing ghouls.
Chaplain Tira was a little livid with the thought that there was a booming Necropolis within sixty miles of her chapel. Chaplain Tira noted that she would try to get more paladins to head to Sandpoint, to root out this evil, but that she didn't think that many of the more experienced ones would be willing to give up their enchanted armors even for this new material. Faunra cleared her throat and noted that it was possible for her to transfer the enchantments, as long as they were not exclusive to the armor types, with a ritual. Chaplain Tira's eyes lit up with that. She noted that this could go a long way towards getting more paladins out there. Dame Rebekah noted that we had discovered something in a dragon's hoard just a few days ago that might make them want to assist out of duty.
Dame Rebekah pulled out the platinum idol and the golden chalice and placed them on Chaplain Tira's desk. Chaplain Tira noted that these were lost when the monk who was taking them from Windsong Abbey to here in Magnimar was lost. Faunra noted that they were in the possession of the black dragon that we all worked to slay, and that we were turning them over to the appropriate owner. Chaplain Tira smiled and said that the duty of assisting a town with defense against something as evil as ghouls could easily be ramped up by noting that the poor inhabitants of that town had braved an acid spitting dragon to get us our treasure back.
Dame Rebekah thanked her and noted that we had been requested to meet with the Lord-Mayor today when we got the missive in Sandpoint, so we had better get to going. Chaplain Tira wished us well, and that even she had not been briefed on whatever the Lord-Mayor had needed us for. Jonathan tried to be helpful by speaking up and noting that he had only contacted us about two hours ago, so maybe he had not gotten a chance to tell her. Chaplain Tira thought for a second and asked us if we had run our horses near to death. Dame Rebekah spoke up and noted that her steed was special, but that the bikes that her companions, us, rode were far beyond what most other vehicles could perform.
Chaplain Tira curiously asked to see one of these vehicles. I noted that I needed to speak briefly to Master Leis, but that I was certain that Faunra could give a decent explanation of what they were. Faunra agreed and the rest of the group all went with Chaplain Tira to see the bikes while Savah and I went to go speak to Master Leis. Master Leis was talking with another paladin before we walked up and this paladin greeted us briefly before heading out. Master Leis told us that he was glad that we had gotten here so quickly, but that the Lord-Mayor would not be ready to talk to us until tomorrow morning. I thanked him, and noted that we could possibly get some shopping done.
Master Leis shook his head and noted that this was not a good idea, as I would doubtlessly experience more attacks directed at me and those around me. I asked him if he knew what we should do to avoid this. Master Leis advised that I should probably try my own versions of divination, from my home world to see if it was compatible with this world and if it could provide information that he did not have access to. I noted that I would do so, and that I would likely try to hide my technology while I was in town. Master Leis said that this was a good idea and that he wished us well, but that he had to head to an appointment with another young group of adventurers.
I looked to Savah and asked if she had any ideas. Savah said that she had to head to the Bazaar of Sails to offload all of our stuff, but could do that with a wagon instead of the bikes. I told her that I was kind of torn, because I wanted her to be safe, but I also really wanted to not bring further attacks against her. Savah had a brilliant idea, that we should go talk to Luma at Derexhi Manor. I agreed that this was a brilliant idea, and we went out to the bikes where Chaplain Tira was talking to the rest of the group. Apparently Faunra was really talking up my bikes, about how they were designed to take advantage of low level magical effects to power a technological ride, and how the innovation had come entirely from me.
I told them all that I hated to interrupt, but that we had received word that there were other assassins in the city, and that we were going to be heading to Derexhi Manor to try to see if Luma can pull any strings there. Chaplain Tira told me that she might consider sending her paladins to me to bikes as well, and I told her that she should seek to arrange that through Savah, but that we had a long waiting list until I got more work space made. Chaplain Tira agreed and said that she would send some people over to discuss it when things were clearer.
With our business settled at the Chapel to Iomedae, we all decided that it was the best logic to head to Derexhi Manor together. While we were on our way up through the Capital district, we got stopped by a trio of city guards who asked us what our business was here. I spoke up and told him that we were summoned by a member of a noble house, and that it wasn't good to ask what the nobles wanted, rather it was better to just go there and find out. The guards looked like they were going to object and Savah blurted out to me that the Derexhi would not be happy with our delay.
The guards took a step back and ordered us to move along. We thanked them and rushed the rest of the way. We got to the Derexhi Manor and asked the servant who answered the door if we could speak with Luma Derexhi. The servant looked a little dismissive but went forth to go get approval from the required member of the noble. After a few minutes, Luma came out looking like she was upset a before she got to talk to us. Luma welcomed us into the manor and escorted us to the stables where we placed Bucepherous and our bikes.
Luma escorted us to a barracks area of the Manor after that and informed us that the we would not be welcomed in the rest of the manor, because she did not have a lot of favor in the family, and we would be seen as interlopers. I asked her if our presence would cause problems. Luma shook her head and noted that there was a reason why this barracks was here. It was a semi-frequent occurrence that any of the mercenaries that the family employed might need to use it to hide out for a brief period of time, and these barracks were the ones that were known to not be interfered with.
Savah asked if Luma had given any further thought to moving to Sandpoint. Luma said that she had not truly thought more about it more since our discussion but that her return had not been appreciated by the rest of her family. I told her that we would try to support her however we can, but that it was her decision. She said that she would think on it, but that she would need time to wrap up her affairs here in Magnimar in any event.
Faunra noted that we would only need to use the barracks for the night, but that Savah would need to head out to make some business deals if there was a possibility for her to utilize a wagon and maybe a bodyguard or two. Luma said that there were a few bodyguards who were just hanging around, and that she could reassign them to Savah for the day, especially if we had some kind of information or gossip that she could pass along to the family as the payment for their services. Jonathan and Dame Rebekah both smiled and said that we could pass along a fair amount of gossip and information, as long as she could give us a subject.
Luma said that we could discuss it later, and said that she would arrange the wagon, the bodyguard, and the driver as long as the family would have first pick at any of the good that she was looking at selling. Savah agreed, as long as it was at a reasonable price. Luma agreed to this stipulation as well and went off to arrange the detail. Savah and the rest of us collected all of the things that we were looking to get rid of, including some of the possessions of the assassins and brigands who had attacked us. I was still getting used to the concept of that, but it helped pay for the tools and materials that I needed to get this place up to snuff.
When the wagon was brought around, Savah started unloading everything into it, and Luma came out with another person who seemed to be mostly a bookkeeper, until they cast a detect magic spell to go over everything. The bookkeeper was asked about the origins of several of the items, including the gigantic enchanted Cloak and Great Axe. Savah gave a very good rendition of the history of each of the items, slightly embellishing them when it was called for, but never lying. When it was all said and done, the bookkeeper recommended the purchase of all of the enchanted items, but none of the mundane equipment.
Savah bartered with the bookkeeper and got a good deal. Not full sale price, but enough to get a good return for both herself and us. Luma and the bookkeeper went and got a large chest of platinum coins. Before the deal was concluded, I checked with Luma to ensure that this would not be an issue. Luma smiled and noted that getting ahold of many of these types of magical items was very useful for arming more specialized mercenaries for certain tasks, and that the family was always on the lookout for more of these items. In fact, since she did not have to pay full price, it might get her better into the family's good graces, and at least offset the cost of this bodyguard mission.
Savah concluded the trade and got ready to head out. She checked to make sure that her radio was on and powered up. I checked mine and we verified that they both worked and were on the same channel. Savah got up in the wagon with the driver and headed out. Luma left us in the barracks and went back to discuss further things with her family. After a few minutes, Dame Rebekah asked why we were not the ones escorting Savah through the town. I told her that we had been cautioned that there were more assassins in town looking for me, and that others would likely get hurt or killed if they were associated with us. I added that I didn't know what they had tried to use on me, but I didn't want them to have the chance again, especially not Savah. Dame Rebekah asked if we knew that this would happen or were just guessing.
I shrugged and decided to do what Master Leis had suggested. I pulled up my rune app and set it throw a set of runes. From what I could discern, it looks like both good and bad would come from us escorting Savah down through the city to the Bazaar of Sails. I had it send another throw, and this one was for Savah if we did not make our way to escort her. It came up as a positive reading. I relayed that to the rest of the group. Jonathan, Faunra, and Shalelu all were accepting of those results. Dame Rebekah asked if we should just believe my results. Faunra noted that we believe the results of magic, and my form seemed just as reliable and anyone else's. This shut Dame Rebekah up and we all started getting ready to bed down for the night.
It had been a long time since we had all slept in conditions similar to this, and we were making all kinds of preparations, from using spells to kill all kinds of insects and vermin, to cleaning every square foot of the building, to transmuting much of the garbage into materials that can be gotten rid of easier. It seemed like the mercenaries that used this barracks didn't much care about keeping it clean. After a half an hour, the place was barely recognizable for what it looked like when we arrived. It was much cleaner and it kind of felt good only having to deal with a simple problem like this, rather than a ghoul invasion, or a goblin army, or a rampaging black dragon.
After a few hours, Savah came back into the barracks with a load more coinage and a good dinner for all of us. It appeared that she had stopped by a tavern and ordered a fair amount of food to go. When they demanded to know who it would be for, one of the bodyguards flashed the sigil of House Derexhi and the tavern keeper shut up and just piled on the food. I was grateful to not have to make anything myself, and Jonathan noted that he could have made half of this stuff. Dame Rebekah acknowledged that of course he could, but that he didn't need to.
We all ate our fill and had enough left over for breakfast tomorrow morning. We set up a cold box with frozen water to keep the food in good condition. We had gotten clear of our armor and gear and got ready to head in for the night when Luma came back in. She didn't look any better from before and was decidedly less happy than when she was talking with us. Luma confided in us that she really didn't want to leave Magnimar, as she felt a connection to this city that few ever could. I thought about it for a minute and noted that Sandpoint was a vassal town of Magnimar, so she would technically still be in Magnimar if she was in Sandpoint.
Luma said that she would think further on it and asked if we had any clue about what the Lord-Mayor might want to discuss with us. I shrugged and noted that he had a contract for me to make some stun batons for his team of bodyguards and might want an update on that. Also, he might want to know how the building of the school is coming along. Luma said that she had heard through her contacts that the Lord-Mayor might be looking for some people to head up to Turtleback Ferry, as previous mercenaries that he had hired to head up that way did not return.
We thanked her for her advice and asked her if she wanted any information for all of the help that she had provided. Luma shook her head and said that the bartering was sufficient and that she didn't think that it would help anymore anyway. Shalelu reiterated that we would be glad to help her in whatever way we could, and Luma smiled before saying that we could look into this after the meeting with the Lord-Mayor in the morning. Luma left us for the night and we all retired into our individual areas for the night.