Day 131: Sunday the 27th, Abadius, 4708
I woke up first today and set about making food for everyone. Igor sent me a thought to ask what he'd be working on today. I sent back to him that Faunra would be coming by to work with him on Tank, and that after that, he and Tank would be working on Savah's armor upgrade. Igor acknowledged that, and said that he'd finish up his work on his current project and then set up his workshop to work with Faunra. Veronica and Gemini sent to me that they had done what they could for Savah's armor last night, and were working together on getting more electrical wiring made for the building. I thanked them.
I started to plate all of the food and got a thought sent to me from Niddler. He had been very busy getting his farm expanded, on the thought that he was going to have to get his set up ready to feed the whole school immediately. I apologized and told him that it would take a while longer, but that I would allot him a group of crafters to make him whatever he wanted. Niddler said that he could really use that, as his little farm was getting cramped. I told him that I'd work on getting some area cleared outside of the wall and expand the wall once I checked with Madame Mvashti. Niddler said that he'd go talk to her.
I finished up with just setting the table when I heard a knock on the door. I went downstairs to the garage where the knocking was coming from, and Jonathan and Shayliss where there. With a LARGE amount of food and drink. I sighed and told them that we should probably just move into the school's dining hall for large meals. Jonathan smiled and headed that way. I went back upstairs to gently wake Savah up.
Savah was already up and getting dressed when I got there. She asked me if Jonathan and Shayliss were already here. I nodded and she told me that she had been told by everyone that until all of the crafting was done, that we would all be getting together in the mornings. I smiled and laughed knowing that they had conveniently forgotten to tell me of such. I got dressed for work and walked over to the school with Savah. We walked up to the cafeteria and everyone was already there, including Vaeren, Erica, Oren, and Arika.
Jonathan had a large spread of the different foods from his restaurant, including chicken tenders. Savah and I took the seats that were presented to us. We all sat down with some light conversation. There were four rods that were on the center of the table that were not being talked about, but were obviously the focus of the day. When the conversation was at a lull, I asked what the rods were for.
Faunra smiled and noted that we needed to reinforce all of our houses with the rods. I asked why, and she told me that houses were not protected from incorporeal or ethereal incursions, that they could just come through. She was pointing at two identical rods that both looked like solidified aether. She pointed to the next one, which looked like crystal, and noted that this one was a way to make the results of a spell invisible. Faunra then pointed to the final one, which was a very fine quality darkwood and silver rod that she indicated was a rod that would allow us all to expand the area of effect of the rod.
I looked at them with a bit of confusion and Faunra helpfully suggested that we could reinforced our houses with the Ectoplasmic Rod and the Widen rod when coupled with Wall of Stone spells, and make windows with the Ectoplasmic and Invisible rods and the same Wall of Stone spells. I noted that this would allow us to make great greenhouses. Faunra agreed and said that she had gotten them with a fair amount of the party funds, and hoped that the rest of us were not upset. I looked to Jonathan, who was the least able of any of us to be able to use them, and he asked if we'd all be willing to cast a few spells for him. I told him that of course I would, and he said that they'd make a great investment.
I asked if I could try them out, and Faunra said that this was why she had brought them with her today. We all went down to the "Danger Room" to give them a try. It had been thoroughly excavated over night by the teams of Unseen Craftsmen, and the walls that I had put up yesterday were only the starting point. It was basically a balcony for what had been created, as the room was now immense, and went far beyond the original footprint. I dismissed the crews, as this was beyond what I had expected.
I readied both the ectoplasmic and the widen rods and started the spell, making the floor of the front half of this large room a solid half foot thick of stone. With the remaining amount, I made the wall section closest to us six inched thick and ghost proof as well. I smiled and Faunra noted that normally, we would use this to enhance our houses. I told her that I agreed, but that I needed to try it out to see how far I could get and what more I need to do to reinforce the "Danger Room". Faunra looked at me oddly, and I told her that this room would be where students from the school could test what they learn in combat against summoned monsters. Faunra's eyes glowed with anticipation. She told me that she'd be glad to help with that, as long as she got a chance to run those people that she wanted through it. I told her that it was a given, and I told the rest of the group that it applied to everyone here.
Faunra asked how many more days it would take to finish up the rest of the room. I did some quick math and noted that we'd need at least two days to get the entire room safe against that kind of threat. She thought for a minute and asked if I thought that it would be good to layer the walls. I told her that the worse the threats, the more complex your defenses, and that if we were dealing with entities that can go thru stone, then we should definitely layer the walls. Faunra nodded and said that she'd be starting up her own defensive improvements, and would appreciate my thoughts. I looked at Savah and she nodded, so I said that I definitely would help.
Dame Rebekah asked what we would do now that the three uses of the Widen Rod, and the Ectoplasmic Rod, what would we do with the other rod. Faunra smiled and noted that there was a second ectoplasmic rod, so that we could make the windows as well without needing to limit ourselves. Dame Rebekah noted that she didn't pray for the Wall of Stone miracle this day, and Chelger offered up the same. Faunra nodded and said that we were just prepared for when we start doing this in earnest. One person can utilize the two rods to make them ghost proof and larger, and the other person can make the smaller windows and such.
We went back upstairs and I smiled about the thought of getting the "Danger Room" done and ready for action, and then I remembered Niddler's greenhouses. I told everyone what he was planning, and they all wanted to help in whatever way they could. It seemed like everyone loved Niddler. I told them that he was getting in touch with Madame Mvashti today to see about the area that he wants, and noted that it was going to be fairly large if he was going to have to talk to her. Faunra recommended that we get to work, and I seconded. She got her double to start working on her crafting magic items, and she started working with Igor on Tank.
I went into the room with Veronica and Gemini and got us all working on an improved set of tools to get us working faster. I loaded up a playlist for my phone and threw in some headphones when Veronica asked to listen as well. I let the phone play and we rocked out to some interdimensional space metal. By the time that we had been working for eight hours, we were done, and had a much superior set of tools to work on all of the non-chemical and non-electrical jobs. We'd have to get working on the electrical and chemical sets next, as this would help us work on the other armors later.
In the afternoon, after I had finished with what I was working on, I went to the cafeteria. Jonathan was there and he seemed a bit off foot. I asked him what was up, and he told me that the rest of the group were a bit worried about me. I was confused and told him that I didn't know what happened. He told me that HE wasn't concerned, but they had wanted to know if I was serious about "wanting to set the universe on fire". I laughed the laugh of one who had been heard singing along with a song while they worked. I told him that I wasn't and that I was just singing along to some music while I worked, because it helps me work faster. I added that today, Veronica and Gemini had wanted to hear it as well, so that was why I was playing it loud enough for others to hear. Jonathan looked confused but didn't say anything else about it.
After a minute, Jonathan told me that everyone was at the Barghest, and that we were all getting together for dinner. I asked him if he was satisfied with my answer. Jonathan said that he wasn't one of the people concerned, but that the music wasn't playing from the phone. I realized that I must have just been listening to it and letting Veronica and Gemini listen to it through my thoughts. I told him as such and he nodded his head. We walked to the restaurant, him basically crawling due to the speed at which he normally moves, versus my fast walk speed. We still got to the Barghest fairly quickly.
When we got there, everyone was there, and we sat down at the tables. We talked about everything that was done today, and I explained to everyone that was there what had happened, and even played the song in question for them. They mostly seemed to be mollified, but Chelger was the most taken aback by the song, declaring that he had never heard something similar to this before. I nodded, saying that the band claimed it was interdimensional space metal. Faunra AND Dame Rebekah stared at me, and I shrugged, saying that this was what they called it.
After the meal, Savah asked what we were all planning on doing for the night. Dame Rebekah and Chelger admitted that they had nothing planned, with Jonathan and Shayliss admitting the same. Faunra and Shalelu admitted that they had no plans either. I asked if everyone wanted to head to the theater. Everyone looked at everyone else and it seemed that we all were at the very least okay with it, so we all decided to head over to the Theater.
Cyrdak welcomed us to the theater and personally escorted us up to the booths that we normally took. Cyrdak asked us if we had known what the performance was supposed to be. We all shrugged and said that we did not, and he stifled a laugh, hoping that we wouldn't get too upset. He escorted himself out and an attendant came up to take our orders. We placed orders for drinks or snacks, and Jonathan splurged to get drinks for everyone in the lower levels.
While we waited Sir Jasper came up and sat with us for a bit to talk while the performance got started. He apologized to all of us and me specifically for the show. He told us that he didn't think it was too off-putting, but that he didn't think that we would appreciate it. I asked him who had bankrolled the show. Sir Jasper noted that it was a member of the House Scarnetti who had hired someone to write this show, and write it fast. Then they petitioned Cyrdak and after enough pressure from others, accepted that we might be okay with some humor, especially if the show didn't play well.
I shrugged and looked to everyone before saying that if it made Cyrdak and him nervous, that we'd leave, but that we were out for a show, and we didn't want to have to travel to Magnimar to get one. Sir Jasper nodded and asked us to just keep in mind that this was not Cyrdak's idea. Sir Jasper left from the balcony and we talked amongst ourselves while we waited for snacks and drinks. Everyone from the lower level looked up to us when they all got free drinks, and I pointed to Jonathan. Before the start of the show, we were visited by another pair of guests, the Mayor of Sandpoint and Silia Rutio, the ambassador from Andoran, came up to take their seats in the balcony.
Savah motioned for them to come over and we asked Silia how she was experiencing Sandpoint. Silia said that there were a lot of things that she could see that would keep our interest here, especially knowing that the Mayor was so enamored with what we had done and were planning on doing here. I looked at Mayor Deverin and she seemed a bit miffed by what Silia was just openly airing out. Silia tried to relax her by telling her that it was obvious that the entire town was beyond happy with what we had done.
As if on cue, the curtains opened and the music started. The performance started by depicting a young man who was being portrayed as the idealized form of Titus. It showed him working hard to get the town into a civilized condition for the people of Sandpoint and his god, the god of civilization, Abadar. It showed how that Native Varisians were not receptive to the glories of civilization, and how they naturally didn't seek to build, but rather travel like vagabonds. I could tell that this was already souring people in the cheap seats.
It went on to show how it was only through his guiding hand that the town was made safe from Shoanti Raiders, Goblin attackers, and other monsters, and even insinuated that it was he who was keeping the Sandpoint Devil away, after having attacked if for harming Varisian children (who were misbehaving, as expected). He was being played up to be this good and righteous (but yet stern?) patrician who was dragging this town to fulfill the dream of its creation. After they had done enough to set their argument, they brought their scene to a close and ended with the curtains closing and some of the people grumbling about the idiots on stage. Silia looked at us as if to say what was going on, and I told her to wait for it.
A flurry of activity occurred backstage, and very shortly the curtains opened again. The scene had changed and it set in a very different place. It was a very bad rendition of Windsong Abbey. Our group was shown to be associating together to plan on what we should do. Jonathan was portrayed to be a vicious brute, more beast than man. Dame Rebekah was being shown to be a stupid but loyal friend. Faunra was an inscrutable being who tarried favor with other planar entities. I was shown to have appeared out of the side of the stage in a mockup of a roaring wagon with no horses.
I was shown to be clearly evil, and while the actor was dressed to resemble me, it was clear that they were focusing on the thought that I was a nefarious being from an evil plane who had answered Faunra's summons. The actors and actresses went over the top with being evil, seditious, stupidly loyal, or bloodthirsty as the case may be. Ultimately, it was decided that Sandpoint had to fall, and to do that, they needed to destroy its only defender. Dame Rebekah's character was convinced on the grounds that she was helping her friends.
The curtains closed on the scene and there was more booing. Silia looked at us, and I smiled, and said that I was waiting for this. There was a cacophony of noise behind the curtain again, and everyone, including the Mayor and Silia looked at me with confusion and anticipation. I told them that we had obviously made enemies with the Scarnettis, and since we had gotten the patriarch of the Scarnetti clan jailed, we would be attacked in the best way that they thought that they could, in the court of public opinion. Silia asked if I thought that I should be worried. I shook my head, noting that the people whom I care about don't believe this, and the ones that believe this kind of thing, I don't care about.
We poked some fun at the actors and actresses as to who everyone thought was the least like themselves and who was the most like themselves. The look was spot on for Dame Rebekah, whom everyone agreed, but far off for Jonathan (everyone but Jonathan and Shayliss) and Faunra (Shayliss and Jonathan's vote). As for the acting, everyone was agreeing that Dame Rebekah was the worst acted, and that Jonathan was the best acted.
Silia asked how we could just accept this kind of mockery. Savah told her that we wouldn't be getting mocked if we weren't actually important enough to warrant it. Silia thought about that and told her that this indicated that we were major players in Sandpoint. I told her to wait for the next act or two. Silia looked confused and Savah asked me how far I thought that this go. I told her that it at LEAST had to go until after the Siege of Sandpoint, and that I wondered how they were going to contort that.
With that, the next act started. It was the Swallowtail festival. There were caricatures of everyone involved, from Mayor Deverin (made to be ugly and unattractive), to Sheriff Hemlock (stupid and brutish), to Father Zantus (portrayed as a senile old fool). People gave short stupid speeches, and then the goblins snuck in. They were being played by halflings and gnomes and children in costumes. They yelled about how they were my pawns. I stifled a laugh. These actors had bad luck. Our actors and actresses slaughtered the goblins, but it was presented in the worst possible way to us. We were presented as getting the town to fawn over us as we destroyed our minions.
My actor went on to denigrate the reputation of Titus at every opportunity. I found it amusing. The scene ended with there being a murder and our group being called in to investigate it when we were the obvious suspects. The curtains closed and the scene was being changed. Silia asked if this was anywhere near what had happened. Mayor Deverin was red with anger and tersely answered that the events had happened, but not in any way like that.
Silia looked to the rest of us and I shrugged saying that I distinctly remembered us being brought in to investigate the murder. Shayliss slapped me in the arm and Savah didn't stop her. I apologized for Shayliss' loss and she told me that it hurt to not have her sister, but that she was getting through it. I said that it was still a heartless thing for me to say, and she retorted that it was just the truth, that we were asked to investigate Katrine's murder. Silia looked at me and I noted that I tended to have very little tact. Savah hugged my other arm and noted that she still loved me.
Mayor Deverin noted that it wasn't me who was the suspect, if she remembered carefully, that it was actually Dame Rebekah was the one who was implicated. I snorted that there was no way that was going to be believed. Dame Rebekah retorted that it was a lot more believable that she did it than I did it. I agreed that she was a LOT stronger, and handier with a blade. Dame Rebekah smiled and sat up a little straighter.
We all quieted down when the notice went up. It showed an old decrepit mansion. It was a great job with the props. It also definitely answered the single question I had left. The Foxgloves had no part in this. It showed us going through the mansion to encounter the Ghast that Aldern had become trying to come to a deal with us. Our actors of course betrayed him even though we were his allies. We went on to discuss how we were going to betray the town of Sandpoint while Dame Rebekah's character was busy slaying undead. The act ended with us deciding to go to Magnimar.
Silia looked to us and laughed openly when the curtain closed. I asked her what part was the one that was so obvious that she could be drawn in anymore. She said that it was when Dame Rebekah was miss-hearing everything that we said just because we were talking while she was swinging her sword. I laughed as well, noting that I was really the least observant one of the four of us. Silia asked how long this was before I had found the armor that we all had now. I told her that we didn't find it, I made it. With large assistance from Faunra for the enchantments. Faunra smiled.
Silia asked if she could get more information about the armor and before Savah could clear her throat, I told her that she'd have to inquire with Savah, but that there was a waiting list. Silia asked how long the waiting list was, and Savah said that it was best discussed later. Shalelu looked a little miffed at that, but Savah gave her a look that said that I still know who my friends are. Shalelu relaxed a bit at that.
Silia and Savah discussed a little bit of scheduling for when they would talk about the armor until the call went out that the next act was ready. We quieted down and watched for the curtains to open. They were in a mockup of the sawmill and our actors were running through it, slaughtering peaceful workers as we went through. Our actors got to the top and they found the person who they were there to meet. It was an assassin who they had been planning on hiring to kill the Lord-Mayor. Our group killed the assassin and took the evidence to get the Lord-Mayor behind us, pretending that we were not behind the plot in the first place.
It was a terribly circuitous route, but I could see the threads that they had to pass between. They couldn't upset a noble family that had power or influence, as it would just backfire on them. They couldn't directly insult the Lord-Mayor of Magnimar, as they were trying to ensure that they courted his favor. They could insult the government of Sandpoint without worry, but the Lord-Mayor was a lot more tenuous of a situation. They were trying very hard to thread that particular needle.
Our actors ended the scene with Dame Rebekah explaining how we had killed the assassin who was trying to kill him, and the rest of us badgering him for more and more benefits, including a promise to get an honest man thrown in the Pit for false charges. The curtains closed and Silia looked at the rest of us, asking if they actually expected the Lord-Mayor to be that stupid. I shrugged, saying that nobles very rarely had the kind of common sense that others did, that in my experience a lot of them got by with the money of their family. Silia nodded along, saying that it was similar to her experience.
We had some more small talk while the scene was changed for the next act. For the most part the crowd didn't seem to like the performance much. I felt sorry for the actors, it wasn't their fault or even really the playwright's fault. When the curtain came back again, the actors were again in Sandpoint, and it seemed like we were talking to some shady representative and bribing a tribe of giants and a dragon to attack the town. Then the attack happened and we were killing the attacking tribes to "save the town". Then we made sure that they attacked the manor of Titus.
We defeated the giants and presented falsified papers to the Sheriff and the Lord-Mayor, and convinced them that Titus was a villain. They facilitated us getting Titus to go with us to Magnimar after the battle was done. The act was done and it was wrapping up. The curtains closed and there was more shuffling back of the backdrop. It was getting quicker, so I assumed that everyone just wanted to get this travesty over with. The curtains opened up quickly, with Titus going before the Mayor in a fake meeting where he was jumped on by an honorable judge who had been given the false evidence. He came to the only conclusion and sentenced Titus to the Pit. The play ended with the three of us laughing and Dame Rebekah being confused about why.
The crowd wasn't too happy with the show, and a lot of the clay mugs ended up being thrown at the curtains. There was no curtain call. Cyrdak came up to check in with us while the crowd jeered. I welcomed him and asked which one of us he thought would be the best to talk the crowd down. He looked to Dame Rebekah and she nodded, before getting up to go to the edge of the Balcony. Dame Rebekah got their attention and she begged their indulgence to listen. She asked the audience to give some consideration for the poor actors who were just doing their best to fulfill their roles.
The crowd took Dame Rebekah's words to heart and calmed down. They shuffled out to the taverns and other establishments in town. Cyrdak thanked Dame Rebekah and apologized for how bad the play was. I asked him if he has to complete that show for another night. He nodded sadly and said that he really hated it but they had already rented the theater and paid the actors, so there wasn't much he could do. I told him that I didn't really mind, just that I wished that it had been better written. Cyrdak nodded and said that he had heard that they got a hack out of Magnimar to write it and gave him as much as they could.
We left the theater as Cyrdak and Sir Jasper went to go to Cracktooth's for the post show. Our group said our goodbyes to the Lord-Mayor and Silia Rutio and they went to go talk about other things. The eight of us split up with six of us heading back to the school with Jonathan and Shayliss heading back to their residence. The three remaining couples got back to the school and the two couples who lived outside of Sandpoint got together and teleported away after saying goodbye, leaving just Savah and myself. We headed inside and retired for the day.