Day 165: Starday the 2nd, Pharast, 4708
Savah and I both work up especially early, having headed to bed early last night. I asked her if she wanted to have her bike loaded up, and she commented that she would just go ahead and ride in the sidecar of mine. I got us both armored up, with Savah's armor having automatically expanded slightly in the middle to accommodate for her… current status. I mentioned nothing about this, as was wise. We were leaving Sandpoint for the weekend, so we locked up the store and everything on our way in.
We got everything ready and headed to the plane, with Vaeren and Erika following us, blearily. The Quads were there, with what I could charitably claim was a downscaled Jeep Wrangler. I gave them one of the berths for the bikes for their vehicle. The Quads went into the plane and got in their special seats. Shortly after that, others who were travelling with us, the whole of the school and some select members of the town council, showed up for their accommodations. With the fact that Faunra was not going to be with us, someone else needed to take up the role of "flight attendant", which I'm only slightly surprised to find that Dmitri Petrovitch, our resident sprite, took up with gusto.
Savah took up her position in the co-pilot seat next to me, and got carefully buckled in. Dmitri flew up to the cockpit, took a look around, and asked me if I had any preflight instructions for all of the passengers. I looked to Savah, and she shrugged, as if to say that she had no idea. I looked back to Dmitri and told them that we would be taking off in five minutes, that they should have their tray tables up, their seat backs in the full upright position, and that we will take off when the lyrics of the song that I will put on starts. Dmitri smiled at me and asked what I was going to be playing.
I looked back at them and said that it would be the only thing that could possibly be appropriate for the large group of new passengers on our plane. Dmitri thought for a second and asked one word, "Magic?" They immediately knew from the smile on my face what song I was talking about and rushed back to the passenger compartment. I heard Dmitri yell out that everyone had less than twenty seconds to get everything stowed once the music started. Faunra, who had been here for her dosage of techno-magical multivitamin, was in the hangar and was activating the sliding cover for the hangar.
Once the hangar was open, I got the engines up and going, and pushed play on my phone. The music started off with the familiar static and feedback that would be jarring enough to get everyone's attention. As the feedback ended and the guitar started up, the engines started their thrust. Without waiting, I goosed the throttles, and we took off. On a fast take off, doing a graceful wingover to head to Magnimar.
There wasn't any lack of speed going here, on this trip. We were heading there just to get there. After Steppenwolf, I paused the phone for Dmitri to come up to ask what we would be playing next. I looked over and told them that I would be playing another classic, and that it would be about eight minutes long, but that everyone had about thirty seconds to get comfy. We would be touching down in Magnimar in under sixteen minutes. Dmitri thanked me and told me that they would let everyone else know about what to expect.
Savah and I talked a bit, and I checked in to make sure that she was feeling okay. She told me that she was, and that she was sure that there wouldn't be any problems with the pregnancy. I asked her if she would be okay with getting checked out once we landed, and she readily agreed. I turned on the music for the passenger compartment, and we continued our talk about, of all things, baby names. Life was starting to feel… normal, I guess.
While we were flying, and the cabin was listening to Stairway, we flew over the coast to Magnimar. About halfway there, we spotted a trio of giant eagles, who looked to be attacking a pair of tidepool dragons. I didn't think that it would be prudent to interfere, and neither did Savah, so we just flew on by, at a respectable distance. Whatever the fight was about, food, territory, or other, didn't exactly concern us. The fight was kind of flashy, but we left it behind us.
When the song was over Dmitri checked in with the two of us again, letting us know that the group of passengers seemed to appreciate that song a bit more than the first one. Savah said that it was a lot more peaceful than the first. I nodded and told Dmitri that we would likely be landing shortly after the end of the next song, so please inform the passengers to be ready for such. Dmitri said that they would and asked if there were any plans to include a lavatory for this plane, as for longer flights, it would be inquired about. I shrugged and noted that the last time we had to fly a fairly decent distance, I had something set up in the engine compartment, but that wouldn't be feasible with normal passengers, so I would think about it.
I put on the last song, Battle of Evermore, and Dmitri went back to talk to the passengers back in the compartment and Savah asked me what we had. I told her that we had a chair on a tank, and that the tank was emptied whenever it was needed, after being purified. Savah looked at me oddly, and I told her that I wasn't about to empty feces over someone's dwelling or farm, so we purified it magically, via an enchanted item, and then emptied that purified material out in the wild. After a minute, Savah nodded and said that she could understand that. Savah asked if we reused the water at all. I told her that we had enough water creation magic operating on the plane that we never really needed to, but that I wouldn't do it anyway, because I can't control for the minerals in the purified liquid anyway, and that would lead to scale formation on the boiler setup.
Savah seemed to listen intently as I geeked out over the issues of scale buildup in boilers, and how you needed to extensively control for the minerals in the water unless you whole cloth got distilled, or magically created, water for your boiler system. After a minute I shut up and apologized to Savah for being so verbose about everything. Savah laughed it off and told me that it was amusing that I could speak so in depth about these subjects. I told her that it was because I had to sleep, eat, and breathe this material for several years, so I could recite it in my sleep. I added that I was intensely glad that I didn't have to anymore, even if I still had the memories in my brain.
Savah giggled a little and mentioned that I had better remember just as much about our kids. I promised that I would do everything in my power to memorize every minute of their life. Savah smiled as she leaned her head over against me. I let her stay there for a while until the song was getting close to ending. I cautioned her that we would be making our approach to Magnimar and thus the new runway. Savah straightened up and got settled into the co-pilot seat.
I made an announcement as soon as the song was over that we would be landing in the next thirty seconds. I heard Dmitri rushing around and telling people to make sure that they were seated and buckled up. I thought to myself wondering if I had actually placed seatbelts on the actual seats, before just accepting that if I did, I did, and if I didn't, I would likely have too soon. For all three of passenger compartments anyway. I offered up to Savah that there were a fair number of "special" compartments in the plane that could only be accessed by certain hidden doors, and that if she wanted, I could show her the pilot and co-pilot's berths.
Savah seemed to think about it, and accepted the offer, after we landed. I told her that I had no intention of doing otherwise, as someone needed to fly the plane until we got to the point that we could get a decent quality autopilot. Savah asked me if we had something like that without magic where I was from. I told her that it was based off a lot of maintaining levels, angles, and velocities, ad as such, it was basically just increasing or decreasing speed or changing the pitch of directional flaps to maintain a constant direction, speed, and elevation. Savah nodded cautiously as I made the announcement that we would be landing momentarily.
I put the plane into a decent descent while I slowed it down to just over half of what our normal cruise speed was, at about forty-five miles an hour. Normally this would be well below stall speed, but since we had a magical ballast that kept us at the same height, we only needed the techno-arcane engines for forward thrust. Therefore, I throttled them back to as low as possible, before cutting them out just as the wheels touched down. We slowed to a graceful stop within twelve seconds, right in front of the hangar. I activated my magic ring to get a forecast for the area, and did my best announcement for the people, about the current and forecasted weather, the upcoming activities, and when the plane would make its next flight.
Dmitri got the people to disembark as Savah and I went back to offload the vehicles. The Quads had their Pow-Pow-Power-Wheels Jeep with Snow Tires and drove into the hangar, while others from the group were a bit taken aback. I got Vaeren's bike out next, and he jumped on it, with Erika hopping on the back behind him. They both waved to us and took off down the runway towards the city gate. The other people looked on as I got my bike out and used it to tow the dimensionally expanded plane into the non-military hangar. I told them all to follow me inside, and they did.
Once we all got inside of the Hangar, everyone started looking around. I detached the plane from the steam bike and went over to everyone. Since it was the entire first class, I offered them up a bit of coin for if they wanted to get their own accommodations, or they could chill out in the extradimensional side cabins, if they were happy with bedrolls and pillows. I offered up a section of eaves to Dmitri for the night, along with a, created at that moment, heating stone, to keep the area comfortable. Dmitri thanked me and mentioned that they would spend a night out on the town and come back later.
The students all mentioned that they would like to go into the city, and Savah did as well. I signed and went outside make an iron wall, transmute some of it to wood, and then fabricate up an extended carriage, allowing for a total of eight occupants. It had a setup allowing it to be pulled by my steamcycle. I had everyone get onboard and had another hot rock for them for the interior of the wagon. Slowly everyone piled in with Dmitri again acting as the concierge. When I started pulling the extended vehicle, we swiftly made our way to the city gates.
We got to the gate and found that the Stone Giant crew had actually included the road to the airport along on the road, making the trip even easier. I considered going along and adding a warming rock every couple of feet to keep the snow down, but that would get ridiculous after a bit. The City Watch Captain on duty at the gate, luckily not Officer Pan-Am, was actually Captain Acacia Uriana. She had us stop and inspected the vehicles. Everything was in order, but Captain Uriana asked us if we were responsible for the four golems that came in earlier.
I nodded in agreement, and said that they were mine, but that they would not be entered in to the Golemwalk Parade, that I was just bringing them along to see it. Captain Uriana accepted that and noted that they had claimed much the same. Captain Uriana told me then that they had stated that the Quads would be heading to the Kaijitsu villa, and that they were expected. I noted that we were expected, and that we would be heading there directly. Captain Uriana waved us through, and I directed my bike and trailer to the noble villa that we had used so frequently.
The roads were cleared of snow, doubtlessly due to all of the traffic that been undertaken in the "new money" district of Magnimar. Naos was likely getting as many of the less fortunate residents of the city out with shovels and brooms to keep the streets as clean as possible. When we got to the Villa, I was a bit surprised that the Villa was already lit up and bumping with music and visitors. When we pulled up there was a hired valet to open up the carriage door and help the people down. The stairs that flipped out kind of surprised the valet, but they took it in stride.
Everyone exited the carriage, and went into the Villa, while Savah and I sat on the bike. Once they were all gone, Ameiko waltzed up looking at the carriage while smirking, and telling us that even in delivering a group of students, we have to go all out. I looked back at the carriage and scoffed, saying that this old thing was just whipped up because we needed to get enough people to the Villa. Ameiko gave me a look and told us that we can park the bike in the stables, like usual, but that there is a dress code for her party. Savah looked at her and asked what she meant by a dress code.
Ameiko smiled at us and said that the dress code was that we actually had to be wearing clothes, not suits of armor. I nodded and said that we would get it done and be in shortly. I drove the bike into the stables and put it right next to Bucepherous. As Savah and I got off the bike, she whispered to me that she didn't have her party dress. I mentioned to her that I had dress in my saddlebags.
We got changed quickly, what with the mannequins that we had made to act as stands for the armor. They were only very simply enchanted to walk where desired by the one who put the armor on them, act in a certain way when one situation presents itself, and finally, issue a large alarm whenever another situation occurs. I activated my suit, which became my three-piece suit again, this time in a cream white, whereas Savah's dress remained a deep blue, but the fashion changed to work best for her… current status. Taking a look at her, I smiled broadly and held out my arm. She took it in hers and I escorted her out of the stables to the party.
When we arrived, Ameiko started applauding us and the rest of the party followed suit. She introduced us as her most honored friends and walked over to introduce us. Unfortunately, everyone that she tried to introduce us to was someone that either knew Savah or knew me. Ameiko later would tell me that she did this on purpose, to throw people off. Sheila Heidmarch approached Savah and myself to tell me that she needed to talk to me, in private.
Savah excused herself and this was when Sheila informed me about the time that I had spent talking to her during my phase of hyper-cognition with atrophied retention. She started out with telling me that she had gotten ahold of a crew with enough interest and skills to attempt to learn to run the plant. She wasn't at all happy about it but looked like she was doing it out of necessity to the organization. I thanked her, and apologized for my previous demeanor, saying that I wasn't in my right mind when I barged in like that before. Sheila told me that it was for the good of the Pathfinders as a whole that we got Pathfinders filling the roles, rather than something nebulous like random people who might end up aligning with the Technic League.
I thanked her again, and she accepted it, and before turning away to go back to her husband, told me that she had been warned by one of the members of the Decemvirate that I was quickly gaining their specific interest, and that I shouldn't be surprised if they check in on the school. I told her that the school would start on Toilday, and would run five days a week, and that if the prospective workers couldn't be there at the start to start with the first class, then I would have to have a special group for them. Sheila paused and said that they would be there, especially since the new road should be done by then. I told her that it definitely would be, as the grand opening of the road was Moonday. Sheila nodded and continued to walk off.
Savah came back over and asked what all of that was about. I told her that it was a bit more of the time when I was hyper-focusing, and that we would be getting another batch of students to train for another project. Savah nodded and then we went to mingle more. We met up with a few more of the Magnimar elite, including the Lord-Mayor, who was remarkably tight lipped about our encounter, only to ask if the Hangar for the air force was completed and when the planes would start to be built. I replied that it was completed, and that the planes would be the next project to come out of my craft shops. The Lord-Mayor nodded, wished Savah a good night, and toddled off, looking somewhat thinner and more haggard than the last time I remembered seeing him.
Savah commented as much as Valanni managed to sidle up to us and asked if we could provide a tour of the airport to him and Khonderian. Savah told him that we would be glad to and offered up that they can drop by the airport tomorrow after the Golemwalk Parade. Valanni wrote it down in a little book that looked suspiciously like something I would have brought to this place, closed it up, and said that they would be available then. I noted that our extended carriage could fit two more, so they could get a talk with my first class of students during the trip. Valanni said that this would make sense and turned to leave.
Before he left, Valanni turned back and whispered to the both of us that he didn't know what all I had done or said with the Lord-Mayor, but that he had turned over a new leaf, and was much more intent on being a positive influence on the city, rather than an indulgent self-centered arsehole. Valanni added that the Lord-Mayor even thanked him for taking over as much as Valanni had, and politely asked to get as much information as possible about the actions that Valanni had made to improve the city for him when he was, morally indisposed. Savah looked shocked and looked at me to ask what I had showed him. I shrugged and Valanni said that Lord-Mayor Grobaras wouldn't even tell him, except to say that there is a LOT of dangerous things coming in the future, and that we needed to make the city safe for the future. Valanni added that the Lord-Mayor was fully considering an alliance with Andoran and had been meeting with the Andoran Ambassador fairly frequently.
With Valanni slinking away again, Savah looked at me a bit aghast, and asked me just what I had shown him during those six days. I told her that I have absolutely no memories and can only piece together what all I did after the fact. I added that I apparently destroyed records that I had made during the events throughout it, to the extent that some of the rituals that I had uncovered were destroyed by myself, and that I had placed things in different areas without much notice to myself for the future, other than hints that I left with other people. I continued with telling her that I didn't do any of this maliciously, and that everything I've done seems to be associated with end goals to make the area better, but that I didn't have any information about what I had come across that had forced me to act in such a paranoid way.
Savah looked a bit miffed, and I can't say that I blame her. I spent six days doing gods know what and being fairly secretive about it. I can only apologize and tell her that I had no inclination that this would happen when I started taking that dosage of magical enhancement. I will talk things over with her more explicitly in the future. All I know now, is that I have to find out the rest of what I did, to the greatest extent that I can, tell her, and then get it recorded into those previous pages.
The rest of the party went off without a hitch, and the students mingled with everyone else there. Quite a few seemed to check in with the Heidmarch's throughout the night, when they were trying to be sneaky. I'm not quite sure when I got more observant, but it just seems that I am intuiting where they would be now, rather than just utilizing any natural awareness or common sense. When the party ended, Savah and I wished Ameiko well and went back to the Stables, where I got us changed over and got the bike ready again. I apologized to Savah again and she told me that she knew that I wasn't exactly myself for a lot of that time, but she knows that at the core of my decisions, I was seeking the same things.
I told her that I had no idea of what all I was doing then and Savah nodded, saying that she understood, but that she'd need a bit to get everything into mind. As she sat down into the sidecar, in armor, she noted that the one thing that she could be happy about is that I didn't do anything romantic or anything with someone else while I was in that state, that I didn't do anything that was illegal, or that I directly lied to her. I told her that I only had eyes for her, and she playfully slapped me. We checked in with the students, and they were all finding accommodations, except Dmitri, who was going back with us to the Airport, where their heated alcove was ready and waiting for them, with a little hammock.
We drove back in the dark and the Gate Guards let us through. One of them noted to me that the Quads had already headed back out and they had a new cart pulled behind their little horseless wagon. I thanked them for the information, and we headed back to the airport hangar. When we got there, we saw the new wagon and I recognized that the cart was something that they had made themselves, as it was collapsible. I wondered what all they had sold to get the materials to make that so quickly and Veronica sent back to me that they had made some knickknacks that they were done a while back, like wire wound notebooks and pens, but nothing dramatic.
I sent back telepathically to her a question if Valanni had purchased a set, and Veronica said that he had indeed purchased from them. They said that they had purchased a lot of larger things with the money and were installing it into the Hangar, so that they had a good tiny workshop here as well. I nodded and noted telepathically that Valanni and Khonderian would be visiting tomorrow. Veronica and Tank both telepathically acknowledge it. Dmitri yawned and noted that watching me sit there and think to another entity was boring and left.
Savah suppressed a giggle and I noted to the Quads that we were heading to bed. Savah and I entered into the plane, and I lead her to the pilot's quarters. Savah and I got out of our armor, and I set the recovery units to recharge them. We got into the nice bed together, and I put on a movie in the incorporated projector. Savah, of course, wanted the Princess Bride. It was an interesting day.