Day 94: Fireday the 21st, Kuthona, 4707
I awoke to a rainbow pattern over my eyes. There was a prism that had been placed in the sunrise facing window that was projecting a pattern over the entire room. I figured that this was just an anomaly, and got up to get dressed. I got sent a message from Niddler that they had not seen who it was, but that there was a visitor overnight. At almost the same time, I got almost the same message from War-Bringer and the twins separately. I summoned my clothes, but not my armor, and headed out on to the balcony to look around. I managed to spot quite a few prisms hanging in parts of town.
I dimly remembered that this was a part of the daytime Crystalhue ceremonies, and that there would be a large amount of performers throughout town. I sent a thought to the twins, asking if they were done with the packaging. The twins told me that they had finished, but the items disappeared, seemingly simultaneously with the arrival of the prisms. I hoped that the items had not been truly stolen, but if it wasn't to be that the people I wanted to get the gifts for got them, then it wasn't to be. The twins noted that the books were still wrapped up in a pile.
I sighed with relief that the gifts to the couples were still in our custody. I noted that all of the townsfolk were going to be having the day off, so I sent the message to the Twins that they were free to pursue whatever they wanted to today, as long as we had the materials for it. Veronica noted that there was something else that needed to be passed on first. I thought to them that I was listening. Igor said that the helmet that he had worked on was gone, and Veronica noted that the Bike cart that she had worked on was gone as well. I shrugged and asked if they had heard the bikes leaving and they sent back that they had not.
I summoned up an unseen servant to start making breakfast, a simple one of oat groats, fruits, milk, and honey. It was going to be a day of revelry, so we should eat light but appetizing. I went down to the garage, and saw that there were three carts there, one each still attached to Savah's and my bikes, and the last one was attached to Oren's bike. I thought that this would have been a good gift if I had planned it. I wasn't about to detach it, there was a bow on it and everything. I headed to the workshop and sent to the twins that the cart was in there and it was attached to Oren's bike. Veronica noted that this was the intended use, so it was all good.
I reiterated to them that today was a day off, and that they could work on whatever they wanted today. They asked if it would be okay for them to watch a movie. I told them sure and asked them what they wanted to watch. Igor told me that he'd like an action movie, and Veronica noted that she would like a comedy. I loaded up Princess Bride on my tablet, plugged it in to maintain the charge, and left them with it. By the time that I had made it back upstairs, the unseen servant was done with the largest part of breakfast. I switched it over to coffee and tea, and started to take the food out to the common room.
In the common room I was greeted was a pile of wrapped items all stacked high on a side table. There also were small prisms attached to strings running from the ceiling to be near our lights. I put the food down on the center table and took a moment to take in all of the scene. While I was looking around, I heard the kitchen door open. Savah groggily came in and noticed the rainbow reflections going throughout the room, and only slowly noticed the side table covered in gifts. Savah asked me if I had done all of this, and I told her that no, I had not. I told her that some of the gifts were bought by me yesterday, but not all of them.
While we were taking all of this in, Niddler sent me a thought that we were going to have a lot of guests here soon. I passed this on to Savah and she asked who. I sent the question to Niddler and he said that it was the whole group, Faunra, Shalelu, Dame Rebekah, Chelger, Jonathan, and Shayliss were all there. I went back into the kitchen and set the unseen servant that was making tea to continue to do so, and summoned a second one to start making more oat groats. Savah and I then went downstairs to the garage to let everyone in. We welcomed them in and they all greeted us in turn before we all headed up to the common room.
When we got there, we saw that Arika, Oren, and Vaeren were already in there, looking at the slowly mounding pile of food and drinks on the main table that the Unseen Servants were bringing in. I bade that everyone should sit down and partake of this before we go about our day in town. I told them that I wanted to take some time to explain about the gifts. We all sat down and started eating and drinking, and generally having a good time. After we had some breakfast, I started to explain that back where I was from, we had a custom of feasting and giving gifts on the winter solstice. I added that I didn't want to leave a custom like that back there, and that there were other faiths here that celebrated this holiday, so I didn't think it would be out of place. I told them that I had gotten all of them gifts, and that some these gifts here were the ones that I had gotten, but not all of them.
I had the unseen servants clean off the table and I got a gift each for all of them. Savah asked me who should open the gifts first, and I said that we could start with the youngest person and then go on from there. The youngest was Arika, so she opened her first gift. It was the fur cloak that I had gotten in Magnimar yesterday. Arika said that she was thankful for it, as the winter was going to get colder here soon. Oren opened his gift next, and it was the lounging robe. He looked at me a bit oddly, but thanked me. Dame Rebekah followed, and opened up her package of the Linen Altar Cloth with Iomedae's sigil on it, and the temple incense kit. She smiled and quietly thanked me. Chelger opened up his box after her, and it was the silver engraved censer. Shayliss opened her box up next and found the assortment of brandied fruits, all five pints. She seemed happy and looked to Jonathan, whose box had the five pounds of death cheese. They both thanked me together and I told them that it was nothing.
Faunra asked Shalelu if she wanted to go first, but Shalelu deferred to Faunra. Faunra opened her present and found the field glass, disassembled. She looked oddly for a minute before putting it together. She smiled and bade Shalelu to open her gift. Shalelu did so and found the hunting knife set in the tooled leather sheath kit. Shalelu and Faunra both said how thankful that they were. Vaeren was next and tore into his package. It was a lounging robe, but in the colors that he wore for his wizardly robes. He sheepishly thanked me and then noted that inside the folded up robe was a set of slippers. Oren looked in his robe but seemed a bit off put when there wasn't anything there. I told him that he should check out the garage, and Arika and him both ran down there.
Savah was the last one to in the circle to open their gifts, and found the assortment of gifts. She immediately put on the jade bead necklace and gave me a hug, saying it was beautiful. I noticed that there were still gifts on that side table, so I went over and looked at the name for the next one. It wasn't Sir Jasper, Cyrdak, Belor, or Ameiko. There was a package that was directed to Vaeren, that I didn't know who it was from. I passed it to him and told him that this wasn't a gift that I had gotten him. He opened it and it was a multi-colored scarf. He noted that this was the exact kind of scarf his mother would have made for him. There was a note that he didn't tell us about, but I could see made him kind of emotional.
I looked to the pile with a little trepidation and saw that there was a package for Shalelu. I handed it to her, and she unwrapped it, noting that it was a two pair of elven gloves, with a note from her sister that one pair should go to Faunra. Shalelu asked me point blank how I had gotten these. I told her that I didn't even move my gifts here, that the Twins, Niddler and War-Bringer had noted that something or someone had been through here last night and they didn't even notice until after it had come through. I looked back to the shrinking pile and saw a scroll tube that was addressed to Dame Rebekah. I took it to her and she opened it up.
There was a letter inside, and she started to read it. Dame Rebekah started to cry a little, and then looked at me in a rage. She shot up and yelled at me, asking how I could do such a thing to a friend. I told her that I had nothing to do with it, and she yelled at me saying that I had no right to impersonate her parents like this, even if I was just trying to be nice. I told her that I didn't even know what her parent's names where, much less what their sigils were for the seal on the scroll case. Dame Rebekah put her hand over her mouth and went silent. I looked over at Chelger and he went to comfort her.
I looked again at the pile of presents. I went to head over and Savah went to stop me. She asked me if I thought that this was a good idea. I told her that the gifts seemed to be what people were looking for, whether they knew it or not, and blocking them didn't seem like a good idea either. I looked at the shining pile of presents and told Savah that it might be best to just go through with it. I went over to the pile, and saw that there was a shiningly wrapped package that simply had Jonathan written on the top with what I truly thought was black sharpie marker. There was another package underneath it that looked fairly common place in the wrapping that said Shayliss. I handed each to the respective person and they cautiously unwrapped their gifts.
Jonathan's gift ended up being a variety pack of jerky that looked like it was from my old world, but the font of the language didn't match anything that I had ever seen before. Jonathan said that he couldn't read it either, but there was a note with it that said that the source of his fuel for vengeance was the Children of Leng, and that he would encounter them within the next year. Shayliss' gift was a sweater that Katrine had been working on before she was slain. The two of them looked at me and Jonathan asked what kind of deal I made to get these things. I told him that I had made no deal that I knew of. I looked over to the pile, and there were five packages left.
Oren and Arika had just come up and I handed them the two packages that had their names on it. Arika's was obviously something fabric, whereas Oren's was a very utilitarian looking box. Oren's had a pair of matched daggers with a folded note. Arika's was her folded up apron from the store with a note inside of it. Oren didn't tell us what was on his note, but Arika told us that there was just a note that said it was from her mother that she was proud of Arika. I looked at the last three packages and saw that the top one was for Chelger. I looked to him and he nodded.
I brought him his package and he opened it while Dame Rebekah was repeatedly rereading her letter. Chelger's package was a simple multi-patched coat. He smiled and said that he recognized it anywhere, it was the coat of the cleric who taught him of Shelyn. He hugged it and put it on over his outfit. He went back to holding Dame Rebekah. I looked at the shrunken pile and the two gifts that were left. The top one said Savah and I brought it to her. Savah cautiously opened it up and saw that it was a very tiny set of clothes, and Savah knew without saying that these were ones that her family had made for her when she was a baby. She looked up to me and had tears of joy in her eyes.
I looked to the last gift, and it was a fairly large cylinder that declared that it was for Faunra. I took it to her and saw that there was a tiny packet that was behind it that had my name on it. I gave Faunra hers and she opened it up. It was a trio of constellation maps. One that I recognized as one from my own planet, and of the other two, Faunra said that one was from when she was in the old time, and one was labelled as current. Faunra said that she was going to have to look into this, but that it might lead to her finding a way to go to my world. I cursed inward, as I didn't want that at all now, but said nothing.
Savah saw the little packet in my hand, ad asked who that was for. I told her that it was addressed to me. Everyone stopped and asked if I had set a gift up for myself. I told them all that I had not, and that I didn't know what this was at all. I carefully opened the packet and discovered that the packaging was a letter that was folded around the item. What was in the packet was a metal feather. I read the note aloud while holding the feather.
The note said that it was good of me to bring this kind of positive tradition to the people of Golarion, and that they (the writer) would be looking to do something like this celebration every year, as long as they didn't upset Shelyn or any of the other deities who shared this holiday. The note finished that I should put the feather down somewhere that the tree it creates can stay, and that it might be good to get Shalelu's help with it. I looked to Shalelu and she said that we should all rush out to check it out. Everyone else nodded, and we rushed out to the yard. Shalelu looked around and decided that the best place was likely just this side of the mill pond. We went over and I placed the feather on the ground. It didn't do anything, so I asked Shalelu for help again. She lifted the little silver feather off the ground and gently set it back down.
Immediately, a thirty-foot-tall, twenty-foot diameter blue spruce tree popped up. As soon as it had reached its full height, little prisms and lights popped into existence. There was also tinsel, garland, and other decorations. At the top, there was just a brilliant light, instead of any specific style of tree topper. I thought that the tree was an excellent addition to the property. I looked back at the note and there was a bit of writing on the back that I had missed. It said that the tree would constantly project the proper holiday decorations for the current holiday, for the area around the tree. The note disintegrated in my hands after I read this part out loud.
I looked around to everyone and told them that it looked like we would have a holiday tree from here on out. From what I could tell, everyone looked fairly happy with this, and I knew that I certainly was. After a few minutes spent gazing over the tree we all managed to come to our senses. I brought up that today would be a great day to go visit the Market, as it would certainly be the best market that we might end up seeing for a good long while. We all got ready to go out and wander the market, with even Vaeren coming, as we had decided to shut the store down for the day.
We made our way across Tanner's Bridge, and passed Rovanky Tannery. We dropped by and Lars came out front to talk to us. He had a large amount of items for us, from the gloves and belts from the supple black dragon hide, to the mink and ermine cuffs that were made for the ladies of the group, to the firepelt vests. He told us that he was glad that we had chosen him for this, and that these works were quite possibly his best in a while. I told him that we only knew one person who could do this quality of work, and that he was the only choice with something as important as this. Lars smiled and nodded and we headed out from there.
Luckily, we had thought to bring one of the magic backpacks, so we stuffed them all in there. It had room for more, in case we found anything at the market that we just needed. We continued down Undercliff Way, to avoid a throng of people heading up this way from Festival Street. As we walked down the side street, we saw Risa's son Besk was out watching for people to be seated in their tavern. He flagged us down and we walked over to him. When we got over there, he asked us if we would be considering eating at Risa's today for lunch, as he was certain that it would be packed, but that he could save us a set of tables. Savah thanked him, but told him that we could not be sure when we would be back this way, so we didn't want them to lose any customers waiting for us to get back. Besk nodded and we parted ways amicably. I was certainly impressed with how she handled this.
We walked down Soggy Alley and exited on to High Street just in time to see the horde of revelers make their way past Red Dog Smithy. Maybe they were looking for some place to eat? We walked up High Street until we saw the Barghest. Jonathan's restaurant was absolutely packed with people, with a brisk trade being done with people waiting outside for burgers to be delivered. I joked that Jonathan should set up a ride-thru, and he asked me what that was. I explained how at restaurants back home, some of the faster places would have menus available outside as part of the building and people would come up to place an order. Money would be exchanged and the food would be given to the people, who would then ride off. I could just see the money glinting in Jonathan's eyes as I told him about it. We continued down Tower Street until we made it to the Town Hall and the Garrison.
The Mayor was standing outside, talking to people who walked up and were talking to her. I could see that Toth Bhreacher and Master Leis were gently questioning her about different aspects of the town's laws and restrictions. Apparently, both of them had separately figured that they might like a home away from home and were considering different properties. Mayor Deverin was deftly answered all of their posed queries. She spared a glance our way and smiled while continuing. Master Leis also glanced our way before asking another pointed question. We walked past the trio and moved on to head down Main Street.
As we made our way down to Alma's, we saw the Lord-Mayor himself with his entourage, sampling the wares of the baker. Alma motioned for us to come over, so we did. Alma tried to introduce us as the people who had brought such novel ideas to her bakery, but Valanni was too much on the ball, and whispered to the Lord-Mayor who we were, not that he needed much prodding to remember us. The Lord-Mayor responded to Alma indicating that of course he had met the illustrious Saviors of Sandpoint, Magnimar, and Turtleback Ferry. I thanked him for his kindness, and told him that Alma's was the best confectionary that I had been to in all of Varisia, and that he should definitely look into having her cater one of his parties.
The Lord-Mayor said that this sounded like an excellent idea, especially if what he had been told about the feast cake was correct. We all wished him well, but that we were needed to discuss some last minute arrangements with Sir Jasper at the Merchantile. The Lord-Mayor bid us well and went back to discussing the various pastries that Alma could make. Valanni sidled up to us and noted that pastries usually didn't last the two or more days that it took to go from Sandpoint to Magnimar. I whispered back that when everything was all said and done, we would be looking into some things that could decrease that as well. Valanni replied that we should keep in touch before heading back to the Lord-Mayor's side.
We continued on past the General Store, where Ven was way too busy with dealing with customers to complain to us. I found out later that some were even asking about his "distilled water". Ha! We made our way through the crowd to the Merchantile, and found that Sir Jasper was pacing and worrying. Dame Rebekah went to talk him down while the rest of us all milled about. After a few minutes, Sir Jasper was back to his normal self, and ready to accompany us for the rest of the trip.
He left the Merchantile in the care of his second, and we all headed to the Market. Along the way, there was a large amount of various spellcasters who were casting all manner of cantrips for the amusement of children, from clerics of Abadar, to Wizards from Magnimar, to Varisian Sorcerers to even odder folk like a "Occultist" from a place called Ustalav. I remembered it from one of the former Lord Foxglove's retainers. He worked at the Rusty Dragon now, and I promised to myself to check in on him later in the week.
As we walked through the market, there were lots of people from all over hawking wares. It seemed like everyone who is anyone in Magnimar tried to get in with a local representative to have spot in a booth. Just about every shop that had any kind of presence was there, excepting taverns. They all had different things there as well. I managed to spot a jewelry box that has a rotating clockwork rose and plays a little music. I managed to catch it up quick and drop the requisite coins in the merchant's hands before anyone else caught on. Into my enchanted backpack it went.
We kept our little browsing tour, making tips to various performers. Some were singing songs or playing instruments, other were physical acts, still others were performing magic tricks, but with actual magic. Savah seemed to really like the act of one of the bards that were playing what looked like an old version of a guitar. I figured that I would introduce her to Hendrix later. We made our way through the market place and made our way by Madame Mvashti's house. She was busy with a line of customers, but managed to be out just in time to give us a wave before we continued on.
We made our way up Festival Street to get to the Theater. It was important to get there early so that we could get properly dressed. Corwin was of course there, and checked with us as to how we had liked our previous hair styles and if there was anything that we would want to change. Savah had noted that since it was traditional to have multiple color streaks in one's hair today, she would like to have that. Shalelu spoke up and agreed, and soon all of the women, faithful of Shelyn, Desna, or otherwise were all sporting different colors. Even Faunra, who had gone with a different scheme last time ended up with bands of hair being different colors, looking much like an aurora borealis. Corwin was so good at this that when Faunra's hair shifted, it looked like the natural wave patterns of the light show.
Savah went with blue and white streaks in her hair, traditional colors for Desna's followers. The way her hair moved made it look like waving columns of color. Arika went for a lot more colors, but there didn't seem to be a specific pattern. When her hair moved, it looked like a moving rainbow. Dame Rebekah's hair now had red and white streaks that made her hair look more like a mane than just a hair style. Shalelu went with greens browns, and reds, which would have gone well as camouflage. Chelger had Corwin dye his hair in a rainbow pattern. I decided that I would simply have mine styled. I didn't want to be a spoil sport, but I really don't think the colors do well on me.
We finished getting dressed, with all of the vests, gloves, and everything else. We all used our Faunra enchanted clothes to make our outfits perfect for the occasion. We got the various tiaras, circlets, vests, gloves, and assorted jewelry on and ready. When we were all dressed and ready, Father Zantus came in and gave us all a pep talk about the theater being packed and we were almost ready to start. He looked to Chelger and Chelger just briefly nodded. Father Zantus nodded in response and headed back out to the theater's stage. It was only a few minutes before the ceremony was to start when I asked Chelger when he would be doing the summoning.
Chelger surprised me when he told me that the Dapsara had already been called and would be on site when needed. I asked him when he had done this and he told me that they had done the calling this morning when Dame Rebekah and he awoke. Chelger told me that the Dapsara had agreed to perform the ceremony, but wanted to wander around performing Shelynite miracles before the ceremony. I asked him if the Dapsara was responsible for moving and getting the extra gifts and putting up the prisms. Chelger said that he wasn't sure about the extra gifts, but that it was likely responsible for all of the prisms in town.
Then a ghostly cloud came into the room and a beautiful woman with jade colored skin coalesced from it. She was dressed in much more modest garb than I was expecting for what an unearthly performer of the Goddess of Love and Beauty. She was dressed in what I could only call a renaissance dress with a ghostly pair of arms underneath her regular set that seemed to be holding tomes. Chelger whispered to me that this Dapsara was devoted to the performance aspects of storytelling, and specifically chose to answer his call.
The Dapsara walked over to me and told me that their name was Haggadahiel. Haggadahiel told me that they were most amused to answer the call to perform a ceremony for so people of so many different faiths, and that the ritual would include a special "mystery couple", so that others not able to be in the ceremony could envision themselves as them, was an "interesting" twist on the ceremony. Haggadahiel asked me where I had come up with that, and I told them that I had heard a story a long time ago about a couple, in fair Verona, who were forbidden from being together by their families, and ultimately ended up killing themselves to be together, and that this might have mitigated that loss of life.
Haggadahiel smiled and simply replied that I was from that world and walked away to talk to the other participants. I must have seemed foolish to try to tell a divine entity of storytelling one of the classics as my reasoning. Savah came over and hugged on me a bit, maybe trying to comfort me from my embarrassment. I told her that I was okay, and that it was just a moment of feeling really stupid. Savah smiled and noted that I was one of the most intelligent people that she knew, that she didn't like it when I said I was stupid. I smiled and told her that it wasn't that I thought that I was stupid, just that it was a moment where I felt really stupid. Savah nodded and left it at that.
After this, we were all ready, and Father Zantus summoned us all to the stage. We all went out to take our places. The Theater was absolutely packed, with our normal seats being taken up by the Lord-Mayor, his retinue, and other esteemed guests from Magnimar. I noticed that the town council was up on in the balcony as well, at least all of them save Father Zantus. Titus looked like he was being forced to eat broken glass, and talk about how much he enjoyed it.
Haggadahiel started the ceremony with a pleasant, non-forced invocation of their deity, Shelyn. They then invited the divine representatives of all of the member's individual faiths present to step forth and give their own invocation. Mother Bevaluu stepped up and provided a nice invocation for her mistress of travels, hoping that all of those who were taking their vows today and those in the audience would be blessed in their travels for the upcoming year. Proctor Jyronn was the next one, who was specific in his attentions towards Sir Jasper, saying as how the works of civilization are difficult and how they should be worked on and saved, no matter who one loves.
Ayamyra made her way up next, and talked about how her mistress had a lot of different portfolios, but revenge for being betrayed was just one of them. She passed along her well wishes for a lack of betrayal, and a caution for those who might consider doing so. After such an impassioned speech, Chaplain Tira came up for Dame Rebekah. Chaplain Tira talked about then honor of being there for your family and community, and how she wished safety and protection for all of those attending. Yannah stepped forward tentatively to tell the crowd how Erastil was sending his blessings onto the unions as well, but kept her pronouncements short. She might have been a bit cowed by the sheer power of the presences already on the stage.
Before Haggadahiel was back up to the center of the stage, I heard a Master Leis' voice in the form of a whisper. Master Leis noted that he had been asked to pass along a message from another entity that this was valid as far as they were concerned. I whispered back to him thanks, and that I did have a few questions later if he had time. Master Leis said that he would try to do so, and said we could try to talk more about it later, but that the ceremony was about to restart. Haggadahiel started talking again almost on cue, taking up the rest of the ceremony and performing magnificently I struggle to believe that I could perform any kind of oratory nearly as well as Haggadahiel did in that moment. I just don't know if I could find the words like they could.
The ceremony finished and we all went back stage to where we got together before we took the stage. Haggadahiel came with us and announced that they had more work to do in Sandpoint, but that they would performing deeds for Shelyn for the next few hours. Haggadahiel noted that they would be following all of our exploits, as they looked to make an interesting story, but from afar back on the plane of Nirvana. I stifled a laugh and noted under my breath that Nirvana was just a band back where I was from. Haggadahiel responded back in perfect Icelandic that it was truly sad the depths to which Kurt had suffered before he left the world to join their choir. With that shocking statement, Haggadahiel dissipated into mist.
I looked to everyone else and Savah asked me what Haggadahiel had said. I stuttered out that they had told me that the worlds are much more connected than I had thought, that they knew someone from my old world specifically by name. Faunra thought for a minute and said that we did see that someone had thought that I was some guy named Danny Catch before. I didn't bother correcting her, as I said that it was just a bit odd, like someone here finishes off a phrase that was common place from back there.
Faunra looked a bit confused but I told her that we could explain it better later. Dame Rebekah noted that it didn't seem that odd, thinking about it, as the divine were members of the outer planes, which contact all of the prime material plane. I told them that I was going to need to study the cosmology of this place if I was going to figure out any more, but that we should enjoy the rest of our night. We all took leave of the theater and headed to the feast.
The feast was occurring in the market, which had been cleared out by a massive effort from Gorvi's workers. Apparently, he was now paying his employees better, since they were making a lot more money from their trade, rather than just throwing everything off the side of the Junker's Edge. His business had taken off when he started offering to have his boys pick up the recyclables rather than have the people dump them all into the street. He even got his workers matching uniforms! Slowly the town was starting to clean up to even renaissance levels of sanitation. Next is the sewer system and everything related to that.
When everyone was seated, with all of the couples at the same table, the Mayor of Sandpoint rose to give a speech, but deferred to the Lord-Mayor. Grobaras stood up and gave a rambling speech about how proud he was of this little town, and how this excursion has made him realize that he needs to visit all of the towns that Magnimar helps to protect, and that we would start working on a project to do that sometime next year. He added that this project would help make the travel to and from Magnimar safer and faster and that he was extremely proud that we would be the first area with something like this. He saluted the town and us who were part of the ceremony again before telling everyone to commence eating.
All of the town's food establishments were on display, and they had all brought their best. From the peppercorn venison and tiramisu from The White Stag, to the Lobster and Snapper chowder with Cheese Harbor Biscuits from The Hagfish, to Ameiko's Curried Salmon and Cracktooth's fondue and topped foods. The best drinks of a year had been tapped and everyone was getting to partake in the festivities. Even the town guard was filtering people in to enjoy the feast. All in all, the event went especially well.
Several bards took up the chance to perform together, and strung together quite the melodies, with an area being cleared out to allow for dancing. The Lord-Mayor came over to our table personally, escorted by his aide as always, and thanked us for the invite to this event, and the work that would be done on the roadways. He noted that he had seen what had been done with the wall that was being started on the North-East side of town, over the Turandarok, and that he expected great things, even if they would be slowed by the vast distance. Dame Rebekah thanked him for his confidence in us, and noted that it would take a long time to do such a thing.
The Lord-Mayor shook away the concern, noting that it only needed to be started next year, and that even the great Thassilonian empire would have needed time to undertake something such as this. The Lord-Mayor went to go hob-nob with the local and Magnimarian nobles who had come to the event. Valanni paused for a moment to slip a paper to the table. Faunra opened the note and it told us to submit an estimate for what all this would cost to them and they would tell us the time it would take to get the funding approved. Faunra asked me if we could get together after the "honeymoon" and the raid to determine what all would be needed and she would work up a statement. I told her that this would be for the best, as I didn't want to spare any attention from my beloved. Savah slapped me shoulder playfully.
Master Leis came up a few minutes after the Lord-Mayor went on to talk to others, and apologized that he couldn't stay to answer my questions, as he had foreseen that he was needed back in Magnimar. He told us that we should look to Sunday for the next prognostication, as the fortunes should clear up from tonight's events by then. He wished us all the best, excused himself, and purposefully walked a short distance before teleporting away. Some of the higher level individuals were all milling about and taking their leave early, so we took this as our cue slowly.
Dame Rebekah and Chelger were the first to leave, as they had to fly the furthest. Faunra and Shalelu were the next to leave, as they went to get their bikes and ride home. The masked couple got up to leave and came over to Savah and myself. Sheriff Hemlock spoke through his costume a thanks for his star, and Kaye thanked us for the helmet, claiming to not understand what it was for until Belor told her when he dropped by to pick her up on the back of his new bike. Savah asked them how they had gotten the items, and they both said that the items were waiting on their bedside tables in the morning. I told them that they were both very welcome, and that it was our pleasure to get them things that they could use/would like.
Oren and Arika were the next to arise, mentioning that they needed to visit with Aneka and Alma before the night was over. I wished them both well, and Savah did also. Not wanting to be the last to leave, Savah and I looked at each other before standing. Ameiko sidled up to Savah and sat us both back down. She looked at us both and asked how I had gotten the jar of brandied grapes into her bedroom. I told her that I did not, that someone else had taken the gifts that I had gotten yesterday and delivered them. I told her that there was a legend of a saint who did that every year on the solstice, and that we had all gotten extra gifts that I had not purchased, including the new tree that is up at the property.
Ameiko told us that she would have to talk to me more about this legend, because if they were going to intrude on this place, she wanted to make sure that everyone knew about it, one way or another. She walked off to enjoy some more of the festivities and to get in on the merry making. Savah and I got back up before being pushed back down into our seats by Sir Jasper and Cyrdak. Sir Jasper was beside himself with the fact that Proctor Jyronn had come to Sandpoint for his betrothal. Cyrdak seemed fairly close to three sheets to the wind, but deadly serious when he told us that we had done a great service for them, and that he would not ever forget it. I looked to Savah and told them that we just wanted to make sure that everyone who could get a chance at happiness deserved to get it. Cyrdak and Sir Jasper got back up and wandered back in the direction of the theater, with Cyrdak loudly proclaiming that the theater was closed for one, no two weeks.
Then it was just Jonathan, Shayliss, Savah, and myself. Savah and I looked to Jonathan and Shayliss, and we all four got up at the same time. Jonathan told us that he did not have much experience in the ways of families, aside from what he knew to possibly be lies, but that we had accounted ourselves to be the very image of family, and he thanked us both for that. Shayliss added that she had never felt so much acceptance than she had with us. Savah accepted the thanks and all of us went back to our respective houses.
When we got home, we locked up and headed upstairs. Savah and I both sent messages to the various Homunculi that we were not to be disturbed unless there was actual danger. They all responded to the affirmative, and finished with congratulations and merry Crystalhue.