Day 92: Wealday the 19th, Kuthona, 4707
I woke to the blaring report of Niddler and War-Bringer mentally screaming about target acquisition and asking if should they fire. I told them to keep the target locked and that I would be out for confirmation promptly. I got out of bed a bit quicker than I would have wanted, and summoned my clothes and armor onto me. I simultaneously summoned my pistol to my hand while I walked out to the terrace. When I got outside, it was just before daybreak and I used the helmet to focus in on what Niddler was seeing.
I saw a younger man sneaking towards the house. The young man looked as if he didn't have that much training in trying to remain hidden, but that he was a boxer by his trade. I thanked both War-Bringer and Niddler for their diligence and called out to the man that it would be best for him if he didn't move. The man seemed to think that he wasn't seen and continued. I called out to him, describing him when I did, that he should really stop because it just wasn't in his best interest, and that he was only getting a trespassing charge right now. I told him that if he should continue on his path, I'd have no choice but to let loose War-Bringer, and that we'd have to pay Father Zantus to ask him why he was snooping around my property.
The young man seemed to pause for a second, seemingly trying to work out why we would need to have a priest talk to him. I shut that down after about fifteen seconds when I told him that we would need to have him request the divine incantation to speak with his dead body. He started to focus in on where I was and bent down to pick up a rock. I shot the rock away from his hand, getting his attention. I waited there for a few seconds with the whole situation on pause before I heard Savah ask me if everything was okay. I asked her to get Oren and Arika, if she could, as I would need them to make an arrest.
After a minute, Oren came out, wearing the equivalent of pajama bottoms. Oren asked me what was up, and I told him that I had caught someone sneaking around on the property, and that they had not stayed still when it was recommended. Oren looked out and said that he would get Arika and get dressed, and that they would take this person to Sheriff Hemlock. I thanked him and continued on my vigilant watch of the perp. After a few more minutes, Oren and Arika were walking out from underneath my position, slowly approaching the trespasser.
It looked for a minute that he was going to take a run, but Oren and Arika overpowered him and got a set of handcuffs on him. They said that they would be back for the gloves, and took the individual off to the garrison. I went back inside and shrugged, noting that it was going to be hell to get back to bed. I conjured up an unseen servant and had it help me get out of my armor. After that, I had it clean my pistol and then told it to clean the kitchen for an hour before starting up making breakfast.
The second time I got up, Savah was waking me up, saying that there was one of my unseen servants making breakfast in the kitchen. I asked her what was wrong with that, and she told me that it was STILL making breakfast in the kitchen, even after it had made enough for everyone. I got up and got into the kitchen and ordered it to stop. It did so and I saw that there was quite a large platter of food. I ordered the force to move the food into the common room and then to clean up the kitchen afterwards.
I followed the food into the kitchen, and saw that everyone was already there, waiting. We all sat down and enjoyed some small talk. Oren and Arika noted that Sheriff Hemlock caught up with them about halfway there on his bike, and told them that he was going to have to ask me to build up something so that prisoners could be transported. I laughed and said that I would add a Paddy-Wagon to the list of things I needed to work on. Everyone kind of looked at me oddly before apparently chalking it up to my unique brand of insanity.
We all finished eating our plain but large meal and the four went on to their job of making the Turandarok Bridge wall. Savah noted that she was going to check in on Sir Jasper, about the supplies, and Vaeren was off to run the store. I went down to my workshop and started copying my newly recharged tablet's books for both Savah and Hannah. The twins were working away on upgrading the garage to include the dumbwaiter. After three and a half hours of fervently copying, I was done too.
I went out of the shop to check in the store, and Savah was giving Vaeren some pointers on better shop etiquette and salesmanship. I watched for a few seconds to ensure that I was not interrupting before I cleared my throat and asked Savah if she wanted to head out into Sandpoint to go to lunch. Savah said that she'd love to, and we got on my bike. I had picked up Hannah's copy of the book and handed it to Savah, saying that we could drop it off on our way to eat. Once we were on my bike, I asked her where she wanted to eat. She told me the Barghest, so we went to visit our friends.
When we got there, Jonathan welcomed us in. He sniffed us for a second and congratulated both of us, without saying exactly why. He then took us to a small table in the corner and asked us if we wanted to have anything special. I shrugged but Savah was ready. She listed of an exacting list of ingredients for her burger and Jonathan dutifully jotted it all down. I noted that I'd just like a cheeseburger with fries. Jonathan got one of the waitresses to get our order placed and she took the paper with her. I looked to Jonathan, and he noted that the Magnimarians had already started to show up, and he was having to start making slips of what people ordered to ensure that they were getting exactly what they asked for.
A sadistic smirk came across my face when I thought about something. I told Jonathan that I had yet another item to add to his menu, something of a challenge item, like the Norah Challenge. Jonathan seemed like his interest was piqued. I told him about how back where I was from, people would have challenges about eating hot peppers or sauce from them. I told him that he could do it one of two ways. He could make the food taste exceptionally spicy, and have it as a challenge, or have something extremely spicy changed to not be spicy, but that it would "wear off" after a period of time. I added that he should also add jalapeno poppers. I described them to him and he said that he would look into both of those.
I looked over to Savah and she told me that she sometimes forgot just how different I was from every other person around here. I asked her if this was an issue and she shook her head, saying that it was just a little bit interesting. I thanked her and said that I hoped that I would always be interesting and helpful for her. She just smiled. Our food came out and the bard who brought it asked if I could show them those "jalapeno poppers" that I had told Jonathan about. I took a bit of potato and willed it to change to jalapeno, and then did the same to change some cheese to the white cheese. When it was all said and done, I changed all of my fries into jalapeno poppers for the bards, Jonathan, Savah, and myself to have. There were mixed feelings.
We finished our meal and covered the bill before heading out. Jonathan stopped me and whispered to me what he was thinking about offering for the ceremony. I told him that it was a great idea and he smiled before rushing back in. Savah looked to me and I told her that this would be telling. We rode off to check in with Jasper. We passed Ven along the way and he looked a little like he might want to start something before he looked like he remembered something and rushed into his shop. When we got to the Sandpoint Merchantile, Sir Jasper looked to be already waiting for us outside. He smiled and told us that the shipment had just come in and he had sent it to be dropped off at that house. Savah thanked him and asked him to update us if there were any more issues.
Sir Jasper said that he would, and that he hoped to see us tomorrow night for the practice. I looked to Savah and mouthed practice? Savah kind of shrugged and told me that we should talk to Cyrdak after dropping the book off at Hannah's. We bid Sir Jasper good day and headed on to Hannah's. Savah jumped off the back of the bike and rushed in with her book. She was inside for a few minutes before Hannah came out to give me a look over. She nodded to Savah and Savah jumped back on the bike behind me.
Savah told me that we could head out, and I started up the bike to head to the theater. Cyrdak was directing his staff in the last performance that they would do before the break for the Crystalhue ceremony. Cyrdak came over and hugged both of us. He told me that he had heard about just what kinds of chaos I had caused to Ameiko and was glad that he had not underestimated me. I thanked him and he asked if we would be ready for the practice tomorrow night. I told him that we had not heard about this at all, but that we would be ready. I asked him if the others had already been told about this, and he said that everyone had, and that Sheriff Hemlock had said that he would tell us.
I was a little annoyed but thought to myself that it was a pretty decent prank, that he would likely be dropping by to tell us tonight. I asked Cyrdak if he could not let the Sheriff know that we already knew, and that we would be planning on attending the play tonight. Cyrdak smiled and noted that we still had reserved seats, and that he would ensure that we were welcomed properly. I thanked him and we headed on our way. Savah asked if we should be heading out so soon after someone tried to burgle our house, and I told her that War-Bringer and Niddler had both seen the intruder and that the only reason why they had not fired is because I had asked them not to. I added that they would both be within range, as would Bailey, so she would have a good idea about what was going on back at the house too. Savah smiled when she remembered that and said that she felt like this would be a much safer place now.
We thanked Cyrdak again and headed home. I sent a thought to Niddler and War-Bringer that people would be dropping off raw materials and that they should observe but not attack. War-Bringer and Niddler acknowledged the order. We got back and the people who were dropping off the raw materials were just leaving. We waved and they waved back as they left. Savah asked me if I had anything else planned today, and I told her that I needed to finish the coops, and she said that she was going to go over some of her book-keeping and that she would be ready to head to the theater.
I went right to work on building the rest of the building up, specifically the roost, the roofs and the nest boxes. It was about time to leave when I was done. I did a quick prestidigitation to clean myself up and to get myself ready for the show. When I got in, Savah was dressed to the nine's. I changed my outfit to match and we told Oren, Arika, Dame Rebekah, Chelger, and Vaeren that we would be heading to the theater. They all cottoned onto the idea, and said that they all wanted to go as well. I shrugged and we all got on assorted vehicles/mounts and headed over.
We were greeted and headed up to the balcony. When we got there, the seats were all ready and there was a runner waiting for out orders. We all took our seats and told the runner what we would like. He ran off quickly and said that he would be back. We were greeted with another pair of guests coming up to the balcony, Sheriff Hemlock and Kaye Tesarani. Sheriff Hemlock came over and said that he'd have something to discuss with us after the show. I acknowledged his statement and they sat down in the Kaijitsu seats. Faunra and Shalelu ended up showing up, as did Jonathan and Shayliss. The gang was all here.
The performance was a good one. It was about Crystalhue days of the past where people would get gifts for others, or the Goddess Shelyn would leave little crystals to brighten up people's day. I blanked. I didn't know that this was a holiday similar to Yule. In fact, Yule was tomorrow. I need to figure out how I'm going to get thoughtful gifts for everyone in one or two days! Shit.
The good Sheriff waited until the end of the show to tell me that the rehearsal would be tomorrow night and that I had better make it a priority. I said that we would do so, of course, and that we would definitely be there. Shit. I don't have time to do everything tomorrow.