Day 84: Toilday the 11th, Kuthona, 4707
I awoke to the smell of bacon, eggs, and toast. Savah was still in bed, so I got up and went out to see Oren and Arika making a meal in the kitchen. When they saw me come in they both came over and patted me on the back and congratulated me. I asked why, and they told me that I had apparently made something that caused Sheriff Hemlock to be impressed. I asked if it was the grenade. They both said that he didn't say what it was, only that when he got the training items, they would all be training with them.
I asked if they wanted to know what it was in advance. Oren said that he did, especially because he was being tasked with helping protect the town. I told him that what I had made was a set of items that were like more powerful alchemist's fire, that didn't do fire damage. I told them that the basic thing that they needed to know was that they needed to pull a pin, and then throw the grenade within three seconds. Oren said that he could kind of understand that, and asked if I had any other things planned.
I told him that I was working on an upgrade for my armor, but that this would not be something that I could do for everyone. Oren nodded and asked if I would be here when the battle comes. I told him that I had no plans to leave between now and the event, but that Savah would be heading out to Magnimar with Shalelu to do some trading. Right then, Savah came in and cuddled up to me. She asked them if they had noticed anything else about me. They said that they could not guess, and she told them that I had developed the ability to cast spells, and gained the blessing of a Nymph.
They both looked a little incredulous, and Savah added that my group had killed Black Magga. They acted like she was joking and I told them flatly that she was telling the truth. Oren looked shocked, and said that even he had heard of Black Magga. Oren asked me if he had permission to pass along some of this information. I told him that he was free to talk about the Black Magga information, and the clearing of the Hook Mountain Ogre clan, but the bit about the Nymph was dealt with a person who was alive and they wanted to minimize the information about them that gets out due to the circumstances.
Oren said that he could understand that, and that he would keep that between us. Oren said that Arika and himself had been recalled to be back to the town for training so they would be in town today if they were needed. Savah and I nodded and I told them that I would be dropping off the training grenades once Igor and Veronica were done. I sent the two of them a message asking if they were done. Veronica noted that they had one hundred of them done, and had shifted to working more on the armor. I sent to Veronica and Igor thanks and that we would be there to pick them up in a little while.
I told Oren and Arika that the twins were done with the training grenades, and that they could take them with them. I asked them to tell Sheriff Hemlock that I would be dropping off the live grenades closer to any attack. Oren said that he could understand that caution, and that he would pass this along to Sheriff Hemlock. Oren said that he would and we all enjoyed breakfast together. Oren, Arika, and I headed down to the workshop and I warned the twins that we were coming in and that they should obscure whatever they were working on. Igor and Veronica noted that they will start on the armor modifications.
We went into the workshop and Igor and Veronica were working on adding the modification needed to mount the new gear that we had made yesterday. I verbally asked the twins where the training grenades were, and they pointed to a set of boxes. I helped Oren and Arika mount the boxes on their bikes, and wished them luck. I went back upstairs and helped Savah get ready for her trip today. She noted that she thought that it would be prudent for her to bring her rifle, and I told her that it was definitely a good idea for her to do so. I summoned up an Unseen Servant and had it whip up a paracord rifle sling for her while I helped her get ready.
Savah noted that she should be back by the end of the day, but if not, that she would be back tomorrow. I told her that I wished her luck and a speedy journey. Savah smiled and noted that she always had a speedy journey since the bikes came into existence. I went back to the store and Vaeren was there running the shop. Vaeren told me that he had been working on his bike while I had been gone, and noted that he was working on getting his bike to be closer to my bike's speed. I told him that it would be a task for him to continue on this, but if he wanted, I would teach him further.
Vaeren said that he would think about it, but that he needed to get himself one of the Homunculi. I told him that he would have to talk to Faunra about that, but that we would probably need to wait a while until we determined when the attack would occur. Vaeren asked about what attack, and I told him that we had told the Sheriff and the Mayor about a missive that we had captured between an ogre hold and a giant culture about an attack on Sandpoint in the future. Vaeren was amazed at this, and I told him that he needed to keep this to himself, because the town council needed to be formed today to determine how the town would be announcing this to the town. Vaeren said that he would, but that he would like to know as soon as we could tell him when the attack will happen. I told him that Savah and I respected him enough to tell him as soon as we could.
Vaeren noted that he was studying on bonding with the bike like other wizards bond with familiars or even items. I told him that I really didn't have much that I could provide for him in that subject, but that Faunra might be a better person to ask. I told him that I would pass along these questions to her, when I ended up seeing her. Vaeren thanked me and I left him to deal with the store as was needed.
I went into the workshop and the twins had made some phenomenal progress and we were already done with it before we even realized it. Feature creep snuck in, and we ended up putting in a reinforced exoskeleton to help me carry the weight of everything and deal with the recoil of the added firepower. Now my armor looked like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, but I would have the ability to transition between my pistol and my machine gun fairly quickly. I tested the role out of both, and they seemed to work just fine. The door to the workshop opened up, with Faunra and Vaeren both standing there in aww as I turned to face them. I sent the machine gun back and Faunra immediately came over to inspect it. Vaeren followed after her.
They both asked if they could see this in action, almost simultaneously. I told them that we all had bikes, so we could roll out a decent distance from the town so that they could see it in operation. They both jumped on the chance right quick. We locked up the shop and Bailey 2.0 took up a patrol around the house. I got a call in from Savah asking what was up and why we were leaving the house. I told her that we would be testing out my new toy, and that we would be back very soon. She told me that she'd want to see it when she gets back, and I told her that I would definitely show her. She signed off with accepting that and wishing us luck. I did the same and the three of us quickly drove off.
We made our way about half an hour down the road at our current speed, and got jumped by a pack of goblins. The goblins had all bunched up and were yelling at us to that they were going to rob us and eat us. I looked at the others, and they cupped their ears quickly. I instantly lowered the LMG and let it rip. They didn't have a chance. It was a slaughter. I almost felt sorry for them, but I knew that these goblins would have assaulted other travelers without a second thought. We went out and checked to make sure that none were suffering, but they were all very well ventilated. Faunra noted that this would have been a definitive game changer during the ogre assaults.
Vaeren looked at us oddly, and Faunra noted that we had to take out a group of ogres that had assaulted Fort Rannick, and then we took out the rest of the ogres at their cave. I nodded and noted that I couldn't use my pistol when I was using this, so I might need to get this enchanted. Faunra said that she would do that as soon as we got back to the shop, as she had retained the enchantment essence from one of the magical weapons that we had gotten from the creatures that we had fought. We rode back after removing the armor and weapons from the goblins. It took a while to bury the bodies, and Vaeren said that he was going to enchant a spade to do the work much quicker when we got back.
We rode back with the items, and we unloaded everything into the shop. I spent the time mending and cleaning what we could for resale in the shop. Most of what we had recovered was actually decent quality equipment, apparently they had been fairly successful in their endeavors. Vaeren and Faunra were spending time going over the LMG and transferring the enchantment to it. I had the unseen servants work on sorting everything into a bit more manageable bits and cleaning them at the same time. The twins were working on more ammunition. After the weapon was enchanted, Vaeren went back to running the shop. Faunra told me that she could enchant the weapon to reload on its own and even fire on its own, but it wouldn't be with my skills.
I thought about it for a minute and asked if it would be like Veronica and Igor. Faunra said that it would be exactly that, except where Veronica and Igor can help me create things, and even create them in my absence, this would be something that can fight on my behalf, and reload the magazine. I told her that this would be a great modification. She said that it would take another pint of blood, and that she can be done with it tomorrow. I got my machete from the armory armoire in the bedroom and handed it to her.
Faunra said that she would drop it off tomorrow. Before she left, she asked me if she could borrow some of my other equipment so she could upgrade it as well. I grabbed the items that she told me about and brought it to her. She noted that she would bring back some of it tomorrow. Faunra headed home and I went back to my shop, to continue working on all of the projects that were on my plate.
At the end of the day, Vaeren told me that he was heading out. I asked him if the Mayor or the Sheriff had sent word about the meeting. He told me that they had not, and I just nodded. I told him that Savah would probably be back some time tomorrow, so it would probably be good for him to drop by and run the store while she was out. Vaeren asked me if I had given any thought to selling the firearms in the shop. I told him that I probably would end up doing so, but I would leave that choice up to Savah. Vaeren nodded and wished me a good night.
I locked up the door to the store, and went to go let Bailey 2.0 in. Just as I got to the door, Sheriff Hemlock was about to knock. He told me that the town council was ready for my testimony. I asked if I needed anything for this, and he shook his head, noting that it would probably be best for me to not bring any weapons. I told him that I wouldn't wear my armor or bring most of my weapons, but I would bring my pistol with me. I told him that I would surrender it when I got there, but after all of the events, I didn't trust going out of the house without a weapon. Sheriff Hemlock said that he could agree with that.
I got my pistol, and put it in my holster. I also grabbed my radio, and turned it on. On my way out, I asked if the rest of the group would be needed to be here for this. The Sheriff just shook his head and told me that he was told it wouldn't be necessary. I asked him if this was because of the noise I had caused, and he told me that it probably didn't help. I asked if I could ride my bike over, and he noted that he had ridden his horse over here, so he didn't see why not. I got on my bike and locked up the rest of the house. I told Bailey 2.0 what was going on in the thoughts that she could possibly pass it on to Savah.
As we were leaving, I sent a message to Veronica and Igor that if I sent them a message to do something, they were to drop everything and do it, at least until I told them otherwise. I sent to them that they should find a box that would be impossible for them to open from the inside and write a note on the outside saying that they were in there. Veronica and Igor told me that they would do so. I told them that I was just preparing, but that if I did end up passing on, I had left instructions for Savah to bond to them as I had. Veronica sent back that they would do so, but hoped that it would not come to this. I agreed and said that I hoped it would not either.
Sheriff Hemlock asked why I was so quiet, and I told him that I was responding to questions from Igor and Veronica, and giving them instructions for what to work on. Sheriff Hemlock nodded but didn't reply. We rode our horses, iron or flesh, to the Garrison. Orik was there and had a splotch or two of paint on him. Arika seemed to be a bit less paint encrusted. They looked a bit grim. I knew at the time that I was really done with this. Scarnetti had caused enough problems for me and mine. This was going to have to come to a head sooner rather than later. This was NOT the time or the place, however. We made our way to the office where Quera and Jubal waited, grimly. Not the best circumstances, really. I handed Sheriff Hemlock my pistol and radio and entered.
Inside, the town council was in attendance. Ethram, Titus, Ilsoari, Mayor Deverin, Father Zantus, Ameiko, and Kaye were all there. Trying to get a read off the room was mostly useless. I knew that Titus would be an adversary, as would Ethram. Ilsoari might be pissed at me for snagging his assistant. Mayor Deverin would try to remain as fair as possible barring that. Father Zantus would try to be fair as well. Kaye might be okay, as long as she wasn't being blackmailed again. Ameiko was a bit less of a wild card, but anything could happen. I immediately started the transmission to the radio, whose speaker volume I had turned down.
When I got in, I saw that Hayliss was there again. It seemed odd that Titus had yet to learn that I didn't lie when it came to these things. Another person was standing off to the side, maybe to verify that there was no tomfoolery going on. As I entered the room, I saw the person walk over to Titus and whisper something. Titus nodded and whispered something back. I made my way to the witness chair and sat down. Quera and Jubal flanked me, standing with swords unsheathed. I did my best to look unconcerned.
Sheriff Hemlock called the meeting to order and noted that all who were to be called to witness would be required to submit to truth verification enchantments. Sheriff Hemlock then passed the floor over to the Mayor and the Town Council. Mayor Deverin started out with explaining that there were several reasons for calling this meeting, that some of them were all encompassing, and others were of lesser importance, but they needed resolving. With that she noted that each town council member would be allotted a few minutes to present their issues and their arguments. I would then be allowed to respond to them as needed. I could also make a general statement at any time. The Mayor asked if I understood the proceedings.
I thought for a minute and asked what all were the possible punishments that could be levied against me. Titus cut the Mayor off and said that they had not been decided yet. I smiled and responded to Titus that I could not fully claim to know the proceedings if I did not know the extent of any fines or actions that could be levelled against me, but that if needed we should continue anyway, as I did not want to be seen as wasting the Town Council's time with my alien notions of having a right to not only face my accusers and question any witnesses, but to be able to know what the possible punishments were to best elucidate my standings, statements, and contrary evidence.
The Town Mayor tried to stop the whole thing but Titus said fine and commenced the event. Having to go through all of this again was tedious. This time, they made sure that I would not have any back up to support me. The first person to speak was Kaye, surprisingly enough. Kaye asked me if I had any plans to disrupt businesses further in the town. I asked her for a minute to properly answer her. She granted me that, but noted that I would have to signal when I was ready so that the spell could be cast. I wanted to know that I was phrasing this right, so I gave it a good thought. Titus slyly suggested that I was trying to think of a way to lie without lying. I told him that I would address that question at the same time as Kaye's question, under the same spell.
I got everything right in my head and told Hayliss that I was ready. She walked over and invoked the spell on me. I let the spell affect me, even though I knew that I wouldn't even have to strain to resist it. An image of a celestial warrior came over me again and the other figure nodded to Titus. I told Kaye and the assembled that I had no inherent inclination towards impeding businesses in the town. I added that in fact, I was trying to work on solutions to increase the capabilities of businesses in town to get their goods, materials and services to a wider range of areas, and that I was also looking into other markets that the town could share that would provide more synergistic benefits for the shops here as a whole. Then I turned to Titus and told him that I wasn't trying to figure out a way to answer a question truthfully while lying at the same time, rather I was trying to figure out the best way to answer the question that was being asked as fully as I could.
Titus fired back asking me to identify all of the magical effects that were currently effecting me. I started out with saying that the boots that I was wearing were designed to increase my maneuverability and my flexibility. I went up the body from there, saying that the belt that I was wearing was something that increased my general health and resilience. I added that further up, my shirt was one that would automatically stop me from bleeding to death, and would heal me if ever I should fall in combat. I continued with telling the assembled that my outfit was enchanted to be the exact appropriate design for whatever function I was going to when I said the command word. I stopped at my arms and told them that I was wearing a self-winding watch that brought me great stability when I was trying to do something skillful. I added that of the two rings that I wore, one provided me with a field of protection that deflected attacks away from me, while the other provided a bevy of benefits that included the ability to predict the weather for the next two days, once a day, generate light on itself, and other minor abilities to make me more skillful. I went back to my shoulders and noted that cape that I wore could change its color and shape for whatever event was required, and provided me with a sizable increase in my ability to resist or evade all manner of effects. I added that my laurel was one such that in increased my general. I continued with telling them all that I had been gifted with a Nymph's inspiration recently for services rendered.
Everyone was a bit dumbstruck for a minute as I rattled everything off. It seemed a lot more substantial than even I had been keeping track of. Titus came back and asked if there was anything that should be helping me evade the effects of the spell or pretend that the spell had taken effect when it had not. I told him that I had no knowledge of anything that would have done those effects on my person that fell under those conditions. Everyone was sat thinking for a minute then Ilsoari cleared his throat.
Ilsoari asked me if I was intending on taking his role and position as the teacher of this town. I again asked for a few moments to get everything parsed right in my head and when I was ready I signaled to Hayliss. She came over and cast the spell again. I again let the spell take hold and Titus was again signaled that the spell had taken effect. I told Ilsoari that I had no thoughts whatsoever of removing him or replacing him. I told him that early childhood education was vital, and teaching children the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sciences was crucial for me to teach them later when they chose to come to my school for teaching in the technological and scientific fields.
Ilsoari looked fine with this answer, but Ethram fired off quick asking me if I was intending on bringing outsiders to the town to change things. I noted that the only things I sought to change were those that were bringing disharmony and inefficiency to the town, and I normally only sought to change things that more than one person or group of people in town would benefit from, like working out a plan for Gorvi to stop pissing off the Gozrehites, while making him more money, and decreasing the town unemployment. Ethram seemed a bit perplexed by the last bit of my answer, like he didn't realize it was me who had engineered all of that.
Father Zantus was next, and he asked for a brief moment to phrase his question correctly. I was fine with it, and we gave the requested time to the wise priest. Father Zantus spoke up and asked if the rumors he had heard were true, that I had been instrumental in the slaying of an ancient evil, that I had helped deliver a town from a catastrophic flood, that I had been vital in the slaying of a coven of hags, and that I had helped in the extermination of a tribe of ogres. I asked for the spell and Hayliss came forward. She cast the spell and touched me, and the new spellcaster whispered again to Titus.
I spoke quickly, telling Father Zantus that I had indeed participated in the slaughter of Black Magga, and that we had taken the skull as a trophy. I added that I had indeed helped slay the coven of hags, one of which I killed by myself. I told them all that the flood had been a result of the hags bringing forth the rains to flood Storval Deep, while a bunch of Ogres from Hook mountain had been working to destroy the dam. We killed a fiend and got the dam to do a controlled lower, allowing the waters of Storval Deep to drain out to manageable levels, and that after we had slain the ogres in Fort Rannick, and the ones on Skull Crossing, we backtracked them to their lair and slew the stone giants that were commanding them. I added that this was where we had found the letter that had explained that the giants were going to attack the town. Titus interrupted me saying allegedly.
I shook my head as the third spell wore off. Mayor Deverin noted that Hayliss was out of spells, and as such could be released from the proceedings. Hayliss asked if she could remain, and was granted it by a four to three vote. Titus, Ethram, and Kaye were the ones who voted against it. I figured that they might have something on Kaye. Then it came down to who else they had dirt on or who else could be bent to their side. I asked who else might be able to cast the spell, and the spellcaster from Titus's side raised their hand.
Ethram cleared his throat and said that he had the next matter of discussion. I turned to face him, and he spoke slowly but clearly, asking me if I had done damage to any person of this town. I immediately asked for the spellcaster to come forward. They stepped up and touched me with the same spell. The celestial version flashed, and I knew that I could not lie again. I told Ethram that I had caused physical harm to at least one person of the town, and that was Tsuto. I didn't kill the man, but he was struck down in combat with my group. Ethram asked if I had done damage to anyone else, and I thought about it, before noting that Aldern Foxglove might have been considered of this town, but that he was undead when I dispatched him. Titus spoke up and asked about non-physical damage. I looked at Titus and told him that the definition of damage was physical harm caused to something or someone in such a way as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function. I have not done physical harm to anything to impair the value, usefulness, or function of that item or person, and in fact, I had been trying to help as best I could in the town.
Titus growled and noted that he didn't agree with me on that but obviously I did not have the same common sense as him. I smiled and noted that it was a saying back where I was from that there was nothing common about common sense. Titus seethed. I looked around the room and noticed that Ameiko had looked like she didn't want to ask something but had to. I looked to her and waited. Ameiko finally asked me if I was deliberately causing disharmony in the community. I motioned for the spellcaster to come forward and they did, touching me again with the spell. I told Ameiko that nothing I did or intended to do was intended to cause disharmony in the community. If there was such from actions that I had undertaken, it was because these issues were non-issues where I was from, and I didn't realize that some people were so provincial in their thinking.
I looked to Ethram and he quickly asked me if I was cognizant of issues caused by delaying work on projects that the nobles of this town had desired be done. I quickly responded while the spell was still active that if I had disrupted the unannounced plans, that the work that I had done to enhance the speed at which the jobs could be done should more than make up for any perceived delay. The spell ended as I finished up my answer. Ameiko looked like she had a question that she didn't want to ask, but was going to have to.
Ameiko then cleared her throat and asked if there was anything I had done that could have caused the giant army to come down on the town of Sandpoint. I waited for the spellcaster to come forward and when they did, I took the spell of truthtelling and responded. I told Ameiko that the forces behind the goblin attack, the Skinsaw man murders, and the ogre attacks were the same. I told her that this was all linked to ancient Thassilonian spellcasters and a rune that was carved into a person, or engraved on an item in a person's possession, or even tattooed onto the person, and that this rune would cause the soul to go to the whatever nefarious purpose the originators had. Thistletop had only been the first stage of a long drawn-out plan.
Ameiko nodded and seemed to take the whole thing very seriously. I finished by saying that there was a good chance that the army was already marching on the town and the town council should start making decisions regarding the populace of the town. Ameiko nodded and the Mayor was the last to go. Mayor Deverin asked me if I was doing what I could to help the town. I told her that I was doing what I could with the resources that I had. I wouldn't want the town to divert resources to me from other aspects that would be more useful overall for the town's safety and continued survival.
With that, the last question was asked, and I answered it. I asked if I could make my statement now. The Mayor noted that I could, but that the spell had lapsed, so it would be taken with less gravity, but that I could say my piece. I cleared my throat and told everyone that I had not been a resident of Sandpoint for long. In fact, I had been here less than three months by my reckoning.
I told them that I did have big plans for the town, to make things run smoother for everyone. I also needed to get the school set up to get more business for all of the people in town. I told them all that I had done what I could to guard, avenge, and proactively defend the town as I was able. I hoped that I would not be exiled, but that if this was the case, I would not leave with vitriol in my heart. I noted that this was the worst time for the town to do this, a time of upcoming strife was on the horizon.
The town council retired to deliberate. Quera and Jubal seemed to relax a tiny bit, and I asked them how things were going for them. Neither of them answered, but I saw Hayliss come over to talk to me. She got down to my level, me still sitting in the chair, and asked if I knew anything else about the giant army. I told her that it was the estimation of Faunra and Shalelu that it might be as little as ten days from when we left that they might arrive to an unknown amount of time. I told her that this was because we had found a note from the Giants of Jorgenfist to the Giants of Hook Mountain that they might be needed to help with a return from a raid, so the absolute best case is the amount of time it would take an ogre army to march to Sandpoint to assist in a retreat after the raid that the Giants are set to undertake here. The ten-day figure is simply just our estimation of how long it could take if the giants had sent the messenger before we had taken out the ogre camp and they arrived just after we had destroyed them and rushed to catch up with the army.
Hayliss asked if I thought that this might be the case. I shrugged and noted that I really had no clue, as I didn't know how it would work out with the giants because I had not heard much about them aside from the single note that they had left. I told her that I had hoped to ask some people about the possibility of divination about the future to find out a time frame for the assault, but that I had not had that much of a chance to find out since I got back. Hayliss quietly asked me if I had any worries about how it might go. I told her that a horde of Ogres had taken out Fort Rannick, and the Fort was designed to defend against those kinds of things. I counterpointed that Sandpoint was not designed to withstand the kind of attacks that would come from them. Hayliss nodded and went back to her seat next to Sheriff Hemlock.
I waited in silence for a few minutes while the town council probably argued in the other room. I waited for a few minutes before I heard a very quiet voice come from my laurel. It was Jonathan. He had picked up his radio and was talking back. He asked me if I was in a town council meeting and if I was being kicked out of town or worse. I absentminded told myself aloud that I really wished that this council meeting would end sooner rather than later and that I hoped that I wouldn't be exiled or executed at the end of it. I could only hope that the people who were paying attention to me figured that I was just getting bored and talking to myself.
Jonathan responded back asking if he needed to get the word out to Faunra and Dame Rebekah. I tried to think about how I could phrase it in such a way so as to not be suspicious. I called over to Sheriff Hemlock, and asked him if I could ask him a question. He came over and I asked him how I would go about getting evidence from other members of the group who were there, to corroborate my side of the events while transmitting to Jonathan. Sheriff Hemlock noted that the others wouldn't be called for this, as it was only my words that were being judged. I responded back to Sheriff Hemlock (and Jonathan) that it was a shame that I had no way to get information to them so that they could help corroborate my recollections. Sheriff Hemlock sighed and noted that he didn't like it either, but this was what he was told had to happen by the town council's ranking members. Before he left, I asked him if he knew what sorts of actions were being considered. The Sheriff said that I had upset Titus repeatedly, and he probably thought that he could just order something to happen to me and buy his way out of the consequences with the Lord-Mayor. I thanked him and told him that I didn't hold anything that happened against him.
Sheriff Hemlock went back to his seat and sat down. Jonathan waited another minute before responding back that he would go get a message to Dame Rebekah and Faunra, so that if it was needed, they could mount a rescue. I quietly thanked him and went back to waiting. It was another half an hour before there was any change in the situation. Ethram slowly came out and asked me a question directly.
Ethram asked me if there was any further information that I could provide about the Stone Giants. I thought for a bit and told him that the giant we faced was a spellcaster capable of creating undead, and that he was not the one in charge of the situation. Ethram asked me to explain. I told him that the stone giant that we had killed was not the one in charge, as he was the one who had received the orders. That meant that a stronger spellcaster was the one calling the shots. Ethram asked why I thought that it had to be a spellcaster. I told him that one thing that many giants respected was strength, and that strength did come in many forms. When a person could kill you with spells and bring back your corpse to torment your dead, you give them a wide berth. And then I added that this was the person who was sent out and given orders, and expected to follow them. There is over eighty miles between Jorgenfist and Hook Mountain, so this has to be a person who could extend their personal authority over an extended area.
Ethram nodded and went back into the council chamber. Another period of awkward silence followed. I suggested to Quera and Jubal that I wasn't planning on leaving until the end of this, and that I wasn't intending on doing anything mischievous or disruptive to the proceedings, so if they wanted, they could take turns sitting, and have the other stand and keep their sword at my neck, instead of both of them. They didn't say anything, but they did look at each other. We continued to wait for another few minutes until Ilsoari made his way out.
Ilsoari seemed a bit reluctant to ask the question, but I told him to go ahead and ask. Ilsoari asked if I had done anything to help prepare the town for the upcoming raid. I thanked him for the question and asked if I could bring up another person. Ilsoari said that we couldn't bring anyone not in the room in to the proceedings. I told him that this was fine, and asked if I could ask Sheriff Hemlock a few questions to answer Ilsoari's question. Ilsoari nodded and Sheriff Hemlock came over to respond to my questions. I asked Sheriff Hemlock if I had presented to him a tool that I had intended for the guards to use against a future enemy. Sheriff Hemlock noted that I did indeed present a new weapon to him with the intent for his people to use. I asked him if I had left him with no means to train his people, or if I provided a non-lethal tool to train the town guard with. Sheriff Hemlock smiled and said that I did indeed provide almost a gross of these training aids, and that training had gone well today.
I asked Ilsoari if this would suffice for helping the town prepare for the raid. Ilsoari thought for a minute and asked Sheriff Hemlock if these weapons would really be useful. Sheriff Hemlock noted that these weapons would only be useful for raids, but in those circumstances they could be extremely useful. Ilsoari nodded and said that this was sufficient for him. Ilsoari went back inside and Sheriff Hemlock noted that this was a smart move by my part. I told him that I really did only have the best interests of the town in mind.
It wasn't too long after Ilsoari went back in that Ameiko came out. Ameiko asked to speak with me privately, and authorized Quera and Jubal to stand down. I slowly stood up and Ameiko walked me over to a corner. She looked me dead in the eye and asked me how we had slain Black Magga. I told her the story of how Faunra had figured out some information about Black Magga from some rumors that we had heard in Turtleback Ferry the first day that we had arrived, and how Jonathan had seen her coming down the stream when the flood happened. I continued with telling her how we had all worked together, digging out any blessings, spells, or enchantments, that we could dig up and rushed to get to the church before her. I finished with telling her that we, as a group, had focused all of our energy on her and didn't stop swinging until she was fully deceased and Dame Rebekah had severed her head.
Ameiko nodded and said that we had performed a great task, and that she would be glad to spread the story around town. I told her that it wasn't necessary. She smiled and repeated back the word necessary, before saying that it was FUN, and that she was certain that there was no other bard in a hundred miles of here that had this story, myself excluded. I told her that all I was, was a teller of tales, that I didn't have the ability to rouse spirits or enchant with my voice. Ameiko thanked me and noted that at least I had a good story to tell people that I was actually involved in, with a wink. I went back to my chair and she went back to the decision chamber.
I sat for a minute before I asked Quera who she thought would be the next to need to ask a question. Quera didn't speak, so I turned to Jubal. I asked him what he thought. I said that my money might be on Father Zantus. Kaye spoke up and said that I would be wrong. I smiled and said that it wasn't the first time, and wouldn't be the last. Kaye came over and asked for me to speak in private again. I looked to Quera and Jubal. They motioned me to stand, and I walked over. Kaye whispered to me asking how I had managed to gain the favor of a Nymph. I told her that I needed to keep some details secret, under their request, but that any one in my group can verify my statements later.
I told her that we had encountered the ghost of a nymph when we were looking for a lost guard from Fort Rannick. The ghost told us that she had been savaged by a group of Ogres in front of her lover, and the lover was taken away and made into an undead monstrosity. She requested that we bring back something of his remains so she could bring him back. We did and she left me with this lasting blessing as a thanks for doing this. Kaye asked if I thought that I deserved it. I thought about it and wondered why I was singled out, but that I was certain that the group deserved it as a whole. Kaye nodded and noted that I was one of a very rare number of people in the world, and that I should keep that in mind. I told her that I would try to do so, from here on out, as long as I had a future to do so. Kaye smiled and said that I shouldn't worry about that.
Kaye went back into the chamber and I went back down to the chair. Quera and Jubal seemed to be a lot more relaxed and I told them that they should probably look a bit more attentive, as we didn't know if the next one would be Titus, Father Zantus, or Mayor Deverin. They both snapped to attention as the door started to open. Father Zantus came out and asked me if he could ask a question. I told Father Zantus that I was at his leisure for questioning. Father Zantus nodded and thought for a minute before asking me a fairly simple question. He asked me what I had thought about the people of Turtleback Ferry.
I thought for a minute and told him that I was fairly conflicted. I told him that the Mayor of Turtleback Ferry seemed to be a lot more Fire and Brimstone than I liked to deal with, but that the people of the town still didn't need to die needlessly or have their souls consigned to be utilized in some evil ritual. Father Zantus asked if this was why we set up the meal for the town. I told him that we had worked it together so that the town would be more accepting of the offer of free tattoo removal, as all of the tattoos could act as conduits to the ritual. Father Zantus asked if I had felt welcome or accepted in the town of Turtleback Ferry. I told him that I definitely did not feel welcome, and neither did Jonathan or Dame Rebekah, Father Zantus noted that I still helped the town.
I agreed and he smiled, going back into the chamber. I told Quera and Jubal that this left just the Mayor and Titus. Quera and Jubal stood up and straightened up to be more on guard. After a few more minutes, the whole chamber came out and sat down. The Mayor asked me to stand and asked me if I could answer one more question. I nodded and she asked me if the noise that I had generated was related to the defense of the town. I told the town council that the noises were related to the defense of the town such that the town would have another person with a decent weapon who could help defend the town during the raid. The Mayor asked if I would be only teaching that person to use a weapon like that. I told her that I had not arranged any current trainings, but if someone wanted to fund the fabrication of such a weapon, I would train them as long as I was certain that they would not use the item against me.
The Mayor nodded and noted that this was a sufficient answer. I thanked her and asked what the next step was. The Mayor asked if the rest of the council was ready to vote. They all noted that they were, and the votes came in that I was not to be exiled (six to one), fined (five to one), jailed (six to one) or punished (four to one). Titus voted for each, and Ethram made up a vote for a fine and punishment. Kaye voted for Punishment as well, with a slight wink. The council dismissed me and I thanked them for helping get the information out, and asked how we would further be getting information out to the rest of the town. The Mayor noted that the council would be making an announcement tomorrow.
I thanked them all and stood up to take my leave. Titus told me that he would ensure that this did not last. I told him that I agreed completely, I didn't want the town to be under the threat of raids or attacks either, and that I was glad to know that neither of us wanted this to be prolonged. I turned and headed out with Sheriff Hemlock. Sheriff Hemlock noted that I really did get under Titus' skin. I smiled and told him that I was certain that it wouldn't last for much longer. I made my way home and noted to Veronica and Igor that I was safe and home. I passed along to Jonathan that I was safe, and he thanked me for the running commentary. I went to bed and tried to enjoy a quiet night.