Day 105: Toilday the 1st, Abadius, 4708
Savah and I woke up to the smell of Jonathan's famous cooking. Niddler recognized that I was awake and told me good morning. I thought to him thanks and asked if there were any things going on last night. Niddler noted that there wasn't much of anything going on that he could witness. I got up and got dressed enough to go to the kitchen. Jonathan was in there with coffee and breakfast. I groggily asked him for a report, and he pretty much told me what Niddler did. He did add that he had went down to check out the twins and they were busy working on a second side car.
I grabbed a mug and a plate for Savah. She woke up to the smell and was very thankful for Jonathan's cooking. Savah was happy to gorge herself on the culinary master craft while I summoned up an unseen servant to start helping out around the room and later the house. Once Savah was ready to get out of bed, I had our gear and armor summoned on to the both of us. We headed out of the room across the balcony, through the library, and into the common room upstairs.
When we got inside, everyone was enjoying one of Jonathan's trademark breakfasts. We were greeted with a chorus of good mornings as we made our way to the table. It was only the eight of us, the group and their significant others, in the room today. Oren and Arika were off doing their shifts and Vaeren and Erika were catching up on sleep. We all talked for a little bit to get our plans hashed out. The twins, as said before, were finishing up on the second sidecar, the one for my bike, and apparently they had made some modifications to my armor that I had been thinking about but had not asked of them.
Faunra smiled because she noted that she had time to do some quick enchantments on my armor's gloves to give us some more intelligence capability. I nodded and thanked her. Honestly, we had been through enough that I trusted her judgement. If she felt that we needed it, we needed it. I could always make another set or have her disenchant them if they didn't work out right. Faunra seemed to be absolutely giddy about them, so I humored her saying that she can explain everything to me while we were on the trip to Magnimar.
Faunra thought for a minute and then asked why I thought that we would be able to speak on the road. I told her that the Giants would likely only be able to pull four miles an hour with their gait. Shalelu took a second from her bacon to volunteer to give them a blessing of speed that could last for at least a good part of it. I noted that if we got that blessing, and gave them sufficient supports, we could get them to jog at ten miles an hour for a few hours, and make it there in under eight hours, if we can get them up and ready. Jonathan told me that they were already packing up.
I nodded and mulled this over, before I noted that everyone seemed to have everything ready, and that we only needed to get Titus and figure out how to get him to be willing to head out fast. Dame Rebekah smiled and said that Chelger and her had already went to go have a talk with him this morning. The clerical pair shared a smile and Dame Rebekah finished with saying that Titus was most willing to be up and ready when we would be. I nodded and noted that we needed to get the supplies loaded into the saddlebags. Shayliss and Jonathan noted that they were already packed.
Savah laughed and said that she guessed that they were getting us to get a move on. I hugged her and told everyone that I'd get equipped and ready. They all noted my statement, and went about talking about what they thought that the day would bring. As I got into the workshop, I saw some of the obvious upgrades that the armor had undergone. I checked my watch and noted it was nearly eight AM, by my estimation anyway. I cast the spell that I knew, and the armor materialized around me. My shield and my pistol were both on the other side of the room, so I silently summoned them, using the crystals that had been installed.
I gave the gloves a look over and I could see the mechanical reinforcements that traced around the fingers. I reached over to a half inch thick wooden dowel and crushed it mercilessly in my hand. And both of the gloves were set up like that. That will definitely help with keeping on the bike. I was instantly glad that the bike is made of sterner stuff than that dowel. I checked my backpack and slung it on my back. All was ready.
I started to head upstairs, and I heard the stairs creak as the group was all coming down to meet up with me. I took the last few seconds to go over some of the other features. My helmet had a battery level display indicating that there was one hundred percent power right now, there was a flashlight on my left shoulder and right forearm, and Veronica caught me thinking about the armor. Veronica asked if I wanted a full rundown of the new features. I told her that it would help.
Veronica started listing the various major (and minor) upgrades that Igor and her had worked on. The stuff I had found was talked about first, and also a lot more stuff that I had not noticed. There was a constant low level environmental system that kept the internal suit temperature steady, a small air tank with about five minutes' worth of compressed air, a sensor for the depth that we are below ground, a radiation sensor on the left forearm, a pair of stabilizer pitons that were triggered by specific leg muscle movements, and the soles of the shoes were composed of lodestone to help with climbing ropes and keeping stuck to the bike.
I thanked Veronica for her thoroughness with the list, and checked in with some of the future possible upgrades to the armor, including working on making a better shoulder mounted weapon option. We quickly bounced ideas back and forth and hammered out some things that she could work on getting ready for when we got back. Veronica agreed and asked what else they should work on. I noted that any supplies that had been needed to be used to get things up and going would need to be replaced, and the both of them should get work done on the set up the power mill for the university. I added that if they needed further work, to check with the list from Savah. Veronica and Igor both agreed to this path and I noted that I should be back within a week.
In the time that it took me to get the rundown, the seven people from the common room had made their way down the stairs and into the garage. I followed them and two of us, Jonathan and myself, made our goodbyes to our loved ones. Savah wished me good luck for the journey, and to not think on what we could not accomplish. I thanked her and wished her well and made myself ready. All of those leaving got mounted up on our various modes of transportation or got ready to head to our next destinations.
Dame Rebekah, Chelger, and Faunra were part of the group heading to collect Titus. Jonathan, Shalelu, and I went to go get the stone giants. This is going to be a fun journey. The three of us rode through town and made a quick stop off at the Garrison. Sheriff Hemlock was there on his bike, and in his armor. His trusty revolver was at his side. I nodded to him as we all slowed down. Sheriff Hemlock nodded back and noted that he would be heading out with us until we got to the edge of the Farm Lands, just to make sure that no one attacks the giants. I smiled and told him that I was much appreciative of that.
We all got together and headed on down to the Glassworks. The four of us dismounted from our vehicles and Jonathan rushed ahead of us to get the two giants ready. I looked to Shalelu and Sheriff Hemlock and asked if we should just wait here. They both shrugged, so we did just that. After a few minutes, Jonathan came back with the two lumbering stone giants following him. They both had what looked like giant backpacks and better clothing than they had when they arrived.
Jonathan caught up to us and noted my observation. He told me that he had a few scamps that had attempted to steal from him a few weeks ago, so he had turned them over to working for him, and they had gotten the materials from Ven and started sewing the night after the raid. I told him that I approved of this and that it was a great way to curb some of the more anti-social habits of those. Sheriff Hemlock agreed and said that it was better than just locking them up. I added that it helped to curb crime in the long run too, by showing them that they can get money from work rather than theft.
The giants made their way to the group and asked us how we would be making it to Magnimar in one day. Shalelu said that she had a spell to help, as long as Jonathan would help out with the fatigue portion. Jonathan admitted that he would, but that he would need to ride in the side car to do it. I said that this didn't interfere with my plans, so we all agreed, the giants somewhat suspiciously. We all headed to the South Bridge without much fanfare or problems. People got out of the way of the procession, but there wasn't any rampant damage from the assault, so there was less abject hostility. Having the Sheriff helped a great deal.
When we got to the South Bridge, the crew that had gone to collect Titus Scarnetti were just showing up. I really didn't expect anything different, as nobles were famously finicky and this one had a chip on his shoulder. When the three that had gone to pick up Titus arrived, he looked visibly pale at the sight of the giants. Faunra said something and he looked a bit mollified. I figured that I didn't really need to know. The three pulled up and Sheriff Hemlock went to go talk to both Titus and Dame Rebekah separately. I just barely caught something invisible being passed between Sheriff Hemlock and Dame Rebekah. I expected it to be orders or evidence or something similar.
We all got into our travel orders, and Shalelu blessed the two giants with an ability to travel faster. I think I caught her using a wand or something but I wasn't paying attention. We all took off at a respectable ten miles an hour. We took off and let the countryside fly past us. After we were travelling for about an hour, Jonathan indicated that he should use his powers on both of the giants, so I maneuvered over to be next to the giants. Jonathan focused his healing power and took some damage to stop them from feeling the effects of fatigue. Shalelu took the opportunity to enhance her blessing with her own spellcasting. Shalelu messaged over the radios that she was heading off to the rampart. Everyone said safe journey and she peeled off to head up to the Ashen Rise.
We continued on down the road at our ten mile an hour jog for another little while when Chelger announced that he was heading to the Manor. We wished him well as he took his pegasi to task to turn to the manor once we crossed the bridge. This left the four of us, on one horse and two bikes, Titus in Faunra's side car, and the two jogging giants. We had made it another hour when Jonathan indicated that we should provide healing to the giants again. I once again maneuvered in to have Jonathan help them and he fixed their fatigue at more expense to himself.
We had gone twenty miles in two hours, and had a long road ahead of us. I didn't expect that we would encounter anything with two giants running alongside us. After another hour of this, Jonathan healed them each a third time, noting that he would not be able to do so again. The giants thanked him and noted that they would likely be able to run for another few hours at this rate before they needed to slow down. I thanked them for their efforts, and they thanked me for the efforts that we would put forth to get them the contract. I nodded and smiled to myself that I had already secured the contract, and only needed to inform the Lord-Mayor of the subcontractor.
We continued on our trip at the jogging speed that we were going at, with Titus eventually asking if we were used to travelling this fast. Dame Rebekah smiled and told him that we were going slow for his benefit and the giant's. Titus seemed to be puzzling this over silently after that. We kept going, at this medieval fast pace, but sloth pace from my perspective for another two hours, with us slowing down to a walk about four miles outside of Magnimar. I noted to myself that it probably would not look well if we were seen rushing the town gates with two stone giants in tow. As we slowed down, we made our way to the Naos gate that we commonly frequented when we were in town.
The city guards stopped us, looking over the giants and our motley crew before asking us what our business was. Dame Rebekah produced a scroll which I expected was what Sheriff Hemlock had slipped her. The guard took it, opened the seal and read it. He looked to Dame Rebekah, who nodded back to him. The Guard whispered something to the other guard there and went off to get his commander. While we waited outside, I asked Jolfumus that if it came down to it, how comfortable would the two of them be in a tent just outside of the city gates until morning came. Jolfumus noted that they would need to get food and drink, but that a large enough tent would suffice.
Dame Rebekah noted that she had a tent that would suffice, if there weren't any other options, but that we should be able to stay at Kaijitsu Manor. Titus spoke up and said that he would be staying in his own familial manor here in Magnimar, and Faunra told him that we expected that, but that we didn't think that he would be inclined to offer hospitality to the two giants in our midst. Titus was silent for a bit after that. The commander came to the gate and looked us all over. He sighed and motioned for Dame Rebekah to come forward.
Dame Rebekah went to meet with him and there was a brief discussion between the two. After the discussion, Dame Rebekah came back and told everyone that we were free to enter the city and proceed to Kaijitsu Manor. Titus was of course free to head to Scarnetti Manor. We had an appointment with the Lord-Mayor the next morning. Titus got up from the sidecar and thanked us all for such speedy travel. He headed inside and got a runner to get him a carriage from the Wagoner's Guild.
After he was gone, the commander asked us if he was the one who the scroll had told about. Dame Rebekah nodded and the commander said that he would ensure that he would be at the meeting in the morning if there were any difficulties. Dame Rebekah thanked him and all six of us headed to Kaijitsu Manor. When we got there, Faunra presented the key and unlocked the gate to get us in. We moved the bikes and Bucepherous into the stables and made our way to the house.
Jolfumus and Forsetta had to crouch a little to get into the house and while they could stand in the great hall, the rest of the house was a bit beyond them. I offered to try to find them a way to get them into a room, and they both shook their head, saying that they would be okay if we could set the tent up out in the courtyard. Dame Rebekah and I made good on that while Jonathan made his way to the kitchen and the larder to set up dinner.
I decided to summon a couple of unseen servants to help out, making quick work out of putting up the tent. I had the servants spend some of the remaining time on making the giants conditions much more comfortable. By the time that it was all said and done, the giants would have a lot more of a comfortable living condition than any time our group was on the road. Jonathan was also done with the gigantic meals that we were getting ready for, and Faunra had went down to set up her little mobile workshop.
All six of us sat down to eat and took the opportunity to enjoy a little conversation about what the future might hold for any or all of us, and what the giants should try to project in their meetings tomorrow with the Lord-Mayor. Jonathan and Faunra noted that they would be carrying out any of the business that we needed to conduct in town while Dame Rebekah and I would be dealing with the Lord-Mayor and the legal issues. I thanked them for doing that and they noted that if we were going to be stopping this raid from occurring, we were going to need to have everything that we needed so that we could head right out from Sandpoint the day after tomorrow. I agreed and we all decided that it would be good to get a decent rest in.
I headed back to the guest room that I frequently used when I was in the Kaijitsu Manor. I took the opportunity to send a message back to Savah with the enchanted stone that I had been given by Faunra. Once a day, twenty-five words. Not a lot, but at least something that I could pass along a good night wish to her. After that, I started looking over my armor and weapons. There was advanced technology in this world, as evidenced by the batteries. I know that the Aspis Consortium can get ahold of them, but can others? Also, will I run afoul of the Technic League if I try to acquire these things? Only time will tell, but if I am looking to get into dealing with these stronger monsters, I am going to need stronger weapons.