Thursday August 2nd, 2018: 6:45 PM

  The day started with more annoyance than anything, which is a big surprise to what was presented from me waking up. I finished off my time in the D????????????????????r????????????????????????????????e????????????????????????????a??????????????????????m????????? halls of Heward, knowing in my sleep that I had gained the ability to forge magic into rings, a key ability that I was missing. Before waking however, I got news from the Lady in the Darkness Between Stars, that Amber would be reaching her new plateau, and that she would probably have to contact me about something, that I should probably make some time in the next few days to help her out with her next task. I woke up with a start, and the faint smell of fire in the air. I quickly got up, got dressed, and went to the common area of the tent.

  Rex was there, in his battle form, leaning over a body, while the kittens pounced on it and then off. I looked at it, and using my spectacles, determined that the individual was alive and stable, but unconscious and fragile. I shrugged and walked over to Cal’s bedroom. Cal took little motivation to awaken, and when he was ready, came out of his room to see the individual that was on the floor of the tent. I asked Cal if he was familiar with any gang markings or anything associated with this individual, to which he replied that he did not.

  I sighed and said that we could get to the bottom of this when Agent Smith and the others get here. I studied the individual with my magic detection aspect and found a few odd items in his inventory, as well as some non-magical items that were… interesting. First, on the magical side, there was a bronze ring with a grinning imp head. It took negligible effort to determine that this was a cursed item. I don’t know why he had it, but it makes it easier to be scried upon and diminishes his ability to even identify the aspects of magical items, even as it makes touched items glow if they are magical. I pocketed it, knowing that I could use it to study the effects of the natural magic in this dimension.

  The other “magical” item was what could only be a depleted wand, that I could tell was of a style familiar to Golarion. It was VERY weathered, like it had been here for a century or more, and seemed to have lost the last bit of magic in it just earlier. It had some kind of unknown language scrawled on it, but it wasn’t associated with the wand’s enchantment, and I don’t know what language it is. There was also an odd style of pistol, which looked to have a S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on it. I set it aside for further studying.

  Then there were the common things, that I would expect from a scavenger, a set of finely crafted lock picks, a well made long bladed knife that looked similar to a short sword but the blade was designed to cut as well as thrust, some very thin, well made, rope, a single key, and what looked like a simple, thin, black cylinder shaped item with a small button on the top. Something told me I would need even more information from Agent Smith about this. I got Cal’s help, and we took the unconscious thief to one of my cells in the basement. After they were secure, I used the Chisel to mold the door shut, to prevent any attempts at picking locks, because there were none. Much safer than any kind of door that can be picked or popped off hinges or anything of the like.

  When the attempted robber was secured, I walked with Cal back up to the tent, and explained what he was attempting for his first attempt at gathering magical energy, so it was important to get the foundations correct. It took longer than normal, and while he was doing that, I went and got the Mini-Avengers working on three separate projects. The first group of three were working on the next new item, “Tony’s Cold Shoulder”, a magical box similar to “Tony’s Hot Box”, only instead of spelling igneous stones to be seven hundred degrees Celsius, this box enspells quartz to be constantly be at the temperature at which carbon dioxide freezes. This item was going to have another sneaky activation, requiring the user to utter a cold related pun every minute of continuous operation, having no repeats at least every fifteen minutes. Let’s see how Tony deals with that.

  The second group of three are simply working on another three of the “Tony’s Petro Printer”, since quartz would still work for the shape conversions. I’m keeping the “Fac ut ita sit, numero uno” command word for every use. S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Masters of the Mystic Arts can just deal with it. The remaining group of two, Mini-Wong and Mini-Thor, to work with me on the last three Hy.P.E.R. Pumps. It didn’t take long, and before the end of it, the first three of the Mini-Avengers were assisting Mini-Wong, Mini-Thor, and myself.

  By the time that we had the “Hy.P.E.R. Pump”s and all of “Tony’s Cold Shoulder”s done, Cal had successfully meditated and gained his first supply of Arcanic Power. It didn’t add much to his capability for more spells of the first echelon, but he had a much larger grasp of the minor magics called cantrips. Of course, including his Oath of Anonymity, he gained the Mending, Prestidigitation, Sift, and Stick. All cantrips that he had been around frequently in the past few days. His first echelon spells were Cure Light Wounds, as he showed yesterday, and Scholar’s Touch. Both very useful things to start him out for his learning and growing.

  I congratulated Cal on his progress, and asked him if he felt that he could gain more knowledge and experience by installing the Hy.P.E.R. Pumps in the third floor booster trunks to get the rest of the floors fully plumbed. Cal smiled and said that he could get that done before Agent Smith and the rest arrived. I smiled and thanked him, as I got ready for Wong to get here, as between both him, and Agent Smith, we would get to the bottom of this new group that had arrived in my city. I gathered up everything that Wong would be taking with him, two of the three sets of “Tony’s Cold Shoulder” and “Tony’s Petro Printer”, and set them aside from the third set, which would be going to S.H.I.E.L.D. Bundled with that S.H.I.E.L.D. set was, The World Bursting Cane, The Sloughing Spade, The Masonry Hammer of the Jade Emperor, and A Mirror’s Reflection. I was holding off on the Chisel of the Exquisite Craftsman just until after the attempted Thief was discussed and dealt with.

  I reflected on what might be occurring today, and realized that I had yet to perform my daily check of casting Ears of the City. Maybe I should make something similar to the Iron Phoenix Badge for just this effect. That and maybe a similar thing for Unseen Servant, or that can just be enchanted for different rooms. What I got back from the Ears of the City was a bit… daunting. The news was not good, not good at all.

  Apparently, the Pagans were looking to do a smash and grab at someplace where they hold liquor that is called an “A.B.C.”. Even more threatening, is that the large chunk of ice that had been reported to be heading towards Norfolk so long ago, had changed to be moving much more rapidly and directly, and will be here in the evening. That gave me worries enough that I had initially considered having Cal deal with the bikers, but I realized that he wasn’t ready for that, and decided to just get everything I could ready for the later event, and that I would just coast through the first one. I knew even then that this wasn’t just a normal aspect of climate, especially since the ice block has been moving due West to get here, and not some derivative of North to South. I resolved to check in with Wong and Agent Smith about this as well.

  By the time that I was done with the spell, it was about time for Agent Smith’s crew to get here. And now, it was their first official day with ALL of the amenities present for their needs. I went down to the E-bike garage, and was actually surprised when three of the four Agents, Peterson, Cross, and Vance, actually arrived on E-Bikes and plugged them in. They all nodded to me with a smile, and then walked around the outside to get to the front door of the office area. Agent Smith pulled up in his SUV, and parked outside, nodding to me as he did, and then walked inside. I walked through the corridor to the storage room for the office, walked through the “secret door” and then out to the rest of the office area.

  I made my way to the “Director of Operations” office, and informed him that I had someone that I would like him to identify, to see if he knew who this new enemy group was. Agent Smith said that he had a few things to iron out first, but that he would meet up with me at the gaol cells in the basement. I nodded and said that I would wait there, keeping an eye on our current prisoner. I walked my path to the basement and walked to the current cell that was holding the attempted thief. I sat there, watching the unconscious form, studying them with my glasses, seeing that they had not changed in status.

  After a few minutes, I decided that it would be best to get ready to heal this person, in case they needed to be conscious for any interview, but I would wait until it was decided to make any movements. Then I realized that I needed answers and I didn’t know if it was good for Wong OR Agent Smith to hear these. I used the Chisel and made a way into the room, set the depleted wand down on the granite slab that was a table, pulled out my pistol, and cast Truespeech on myself before casting Cure Light Wounds on the thief. He came to with a jolt, likely from his last visuals being that of a reptilian beak bearing down on him. I told him that, in no uncertain terms, I held his life in my hands, and that if he wanted to live, he was going to answer my questions regarding this, pointing to the wand.

  The thief looked at the different walls, and saw that he was basically in a granite box. The look of “bars” for the cell, was a product of the one-way visual capabilities of “A Mirror’s Reflection”. The thief broke down and said that his group had stolen that from a person in Russia, that the person supposedly had it in their family’s possession since World War One, that a group of outsiders had come to kill Rasputin, and that they had gifted this wand to the member of the family in exchange for the person’s rifle. I asked him if he believed this, and told me that he did, that this was all the information that they had about it, and that it was saved among his group for circumstances where normal weapons wouldn’t wound what was needed to be killed to get more relics. I took that information in and asked him who else might know about this wand.

  He told me, fearfully, that he didn’t think anyone else knew about it, because it wasn’t used frequently, and he had only been given it because his group thought he might need it to deal with me and Rex. I thought about his answer, and told him that he was going to live thanks to his answers, and that he should forget everything about this wand, and that if he was asked, he could probably provide information about the ring and the pistol that he had with him. The thief nodded, and then I shot him with my pistol, knocking him out again. I pulled him up onto the hard stone plank that served as a cot, and then checked him with my goggles again, verifying that he was stable and fragile again, before pocketing the wand again, and using the Chisel to go back outside the door. I walked back out and sealed the door again, after checking my pockets to make sure that they didn’t grab anything of mine while temporarily conscious.

  While I waited back outside the cell, I pondered the implications. Someone had come from Golarion to this world, in the past, and left something here. They supposedly said that they specifically came to kill someone specific in this world. I decided to burn another spell, knowing that I was using a LOT of resources on just this thing, but that I needed to know. I cast “Page Bound Epiphany" on a blank book that I had in an extradimensional pocket, and focused on this “Rasputin”. I don’t know if that was a mistake or not, because the absolute amount of information that I got was… a little unnerving. Ten solid, very small text pages were quickly filled over the minute, and the amount of information about him was staggering.

  He was the son of Baba Yaga, yes THAT Baba Yaga, who holds sway over the frozen lands of Irrisen. She who only births daughters. He was born in the First World, another plane, giving him access from that world as well. Apparently, he had supposedly been killed repeatedly, but each time he comes back. There is rumor that he begat a bloodline here that includes not JUST the Grand Duchess Anastasia, but also a familial line that includes people today, Including Mikhail, Piotr, and Illyana.

  There are rumors about his family line having strange powers, and that his personality and essence pops back up in them from time to time, like a psychic wraith using their bodies as hosts. He isn’t rumored to still be alive at least, and that the group that killed him disappeared off to where they had come from, disappearing back into a hut with huge chicken legs, Baba Yaga’s Hut. This means that there MIGHT be a way to get back, even without the assistance or knowledge of the Gods, but then again, Baba Yaga was said to be just as powerful as some deities, so that might shield their sight. This gives the story that the thief gave some ominous truth and worries. If we have this to deal with I can only hope that the Master of The Mystic Arts can deal with it, and then why don’t they know about it already?

  As I memorized the information, it disappeared from the pages of the book, as the spell was expended. Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. I pocketed the empty book and stood up to greet Agent Smith. I shook his hand and showed him the thief in the cell. I pulled out the S.H.I.E.L.D. Pistol to show something that would be of interest to him, that the thief had on him.

  I asked Agent Smith if he wanted to interview the thief, or if he wanted to wait for Wong to get here, so they can both interview him at the same time. Agent Smith said that he’d prefer to have Agent Vance handle the interview, but that he’d have to go back outside the basement to get access to the internet to try to figure out how the thief got access to one of Fitz-Simmons’s ICER Pistols. I told him that he was welcome to come back, but that I was going to go get ready to meet up with Wong, when he arrived. We left the basement, and I carried the Chisel with me, so that no one could go in. We split on the first level, where he went to the corridor to go to the office and I stopped at that door to figure out a better way to make it so that not just anyone could come in.

  I started to think of something, but it would have to be checked, but the enchantments would be something that CAN be done at least. It would get rid of doors entirely. But then again, you can’t pick a lock for a door that isn’t there, or force open a door that isn’t actually one. While I walked, I pulled out a blank book for the items that I postulated, and started writing down prerequisites and formulas. By the time I was up at the area where Wong would arrive, I had quite the list of requirements down. It likely takes a day for each door, but would be VERY useful for stopping most enemies from entering through doors at least.

  Wong arrived in a marvelous sparkling circle, and stepped into the Chrysalis’s seventh floor. I greeted him with a bow, and I took him to the two sets of items. I explained the properties of each, and his eyebrow lifted, a slight smirk on his lips. I asked him if he wanted to have a Scrying session for when he delivers it to Tony. Wong said that he would talk to Pepper and see what she wanted.

  I agreed and said that we had another issue to discuss. I told him about how there was a thief who showed up last night, who was trying to steal magical items specifically, apparently. I told Wong that he was unconscious currently, but that if needed, I can wake him up. Wong looked a little upset, and we both walked down to the cells. When we got there, Agent Smith was back, along with Agent Vance. I smiled and told the assembled that we can do an interview at one time, or we can do this one at a time, depending on who wants to go first.

  Wong spoke up and said that he could wait until the end, to let the Agents get their questions done first. I used the Chisel out and opened up the cell door. I then lifted up the unconscious perpetrator and put him on the granite stool next to the table, and shaped the legs of the stool into shackles and the surface of the table into manacles. I then hit him with Cure Light Wounds to wake him up again. The thief jerked awake, but only so much, since he was firmly stuck to both the table and the chair that he was on. I whispered to him that he should remember NOT to say anything about what we talked about, and then went out of the cell to give the interrogation over to Agents Vance and Smith.

  The Agents shut the cell door behind them, and while Wong and I could SEE through the “cell door”, one solid foot of granite, even counterbalanced to allow for easy opening and closing, does a LOT to minimize sound transfer. The interrogation went on for about half an hour, during which I pulled out the bronze Imp head ring, and told Wong that the Thief had this ring on, and warned him that it was cursed. Wong gently took it and started to examine it. I told him that I was unsure of its provenance, but that it seemed to have a few aspects, one of which is a great ability to Scry upon the wearer, and while it glows when it touches enchanted or enspelled items, it makes it harder for the wearer to firmly identify the characteristics of the magical item or magical item touched. Wong looked it over and identified it as the Signet of Phantos, a minor relic that was made for a sorcerer king who sent his minions to FIND magical items for him, but not USE them.

  I asked Wong if he had any need of interrogating the thief, and he declined, saying that he knew that this was a member of the Dragon Raiders, that he had dealt with them in China, and that some of them had gotten away. I asked him if he wanted to take custody of this thief, and Wong declined, saying that he felt that the Agents could deal with this person. He then looked back at the cell and admitted that it had proved useful at the very least. I thanked him for the compliment, and admitted that they were not done at all, but that I would need to continue with furnishing and enchanting. Wong nodded and asked if there was anything else, with a hint that he knew that there was something more.

  I hemmed for a minute, and told him that there was more, but that I would be researching some things first, but that I would reach out to him, through Pepper, when I was ready to talk to him. Wong laughed and provided me with his phone number and said that we can keep Stark Industries out of any matters that deal with the Masters of the Mystic Arts. I told him that this was wise, of course, and that I would contact him directly for those kinds of matters. We waited until the interrogation was over, with Cal making his way down after finishing up on his project, and Wong took the opportunity to go to one of the combat rooms to have a spar with him, to see how far Cal had come under my instruction. After Agent Vance was done, the two Agents came out and I asked them if they were going to be taking the individual into custody.

  Agent Smith looked at me and said that this person was guilty of theft and had access to more information about an organization that S.H.I.E.L.D. knew too little about right now, but that they would have to get transport arranged. I told them that I would provide food and water to the prisoner, and of course remove the stone shackles and manacles from him, until they were ready to take him into custody. I walked in and used the Chisel to reshape the stone from around the wrists and shins of the thief, and told him that I would be getting him food and water within a half an hour. The Thief told me that he had not told them anything about anything and I told him that this was smart. I added that I would be ensuring that there was some degree of mattress and bed linens, if he was going to be here overnight.

  I left the cell and walked out to use the Chisel for melding the door closed again. Agent Smith smiled and said that this was one way to ensure that no one tries a jail break. I smiled and said that it is terribly hard to pick a lock, when there is none to pick. I walked with the Agents and told them that they should let me know fairly soon if we need to get bedding and other linen gear. Agent Smith told me that he would take care of it

  I smiled and said that he might want to get enough for all four cells, because it probably wouldn’t be long until we had a full house, at this rate. Agent Smith smiled and said that I might even need to make them “Extra-Dimensional” eventually. I nodded and said that wasn’t the worst idea, because it would at least triple the capacity, if not sextuple it, with an alternative design. Agent Smith nodded and said that he would get enough supplies ordered to accommodate that. I told him with a smile that he might want at least enough for the current cells present by the end of the work day, before walking off to check in on Wong and Cal.

  When I got to the Combat room, I could smell the scent of expended firearm bullets and Wong was standing at one corner with a mystical shield up, and Cal was standing at the other corner with my pistol in hand, in the Stance of Piercing Rays. I smiled, mentally noting that he had picked it up and was at least as proficient with it as I was when I started out. Wong signaled to stop the practice and Cal bowed respectfully. The arcane shield released and Wong walked over and asked me if I had really just started training Cal this week. I told him that I had, and that he really didn’t have anything that I needed to train him out of, so it was much easier than retraining.

  Wong nodded and said that he would have to consider more on that, but admitted that he was a capable student. I thanked him, and told him that Cal was definitely dedicated. The three of us walked out of the room, and I told Cal that he would need to check in with Agent Smith regarding getting licensed for a pistol, and maybe they can set him up with that ICER pistol that they confiscated off of the thief. Cal walked out and up to the office area. With Wong and I there, I proposed my idea for removing doors to the outside from the building, and making them just areas where only good people could activate the ability to meld through the walls in a certain area.

  Wong listened intently and asked if there were ways to bypass it. I shrugged, saying that it could be destroyed like any one foot thick granite wall, but if it was dispelled, it would just temporarily go back to a regular wall, and each activation was only for the person activating it. Wong said that it would at least be more secure than just having the only entrance inside a building that was only occupied during the day. I asked Wong if he had a date for when Tony was going to get Tony’s Cold Shoulder. Wong smiled and said that the Gelid Heart will be sent tomorrow, so the associated box will be sent Saturday, once Pepper gets the shipments of quartz arranged.

  I smiled and told him that I think it would be an amusing thing to see him interact with that stone, so if he has a schedule for it, he should let me know. Wong said that he would, as he tossed the ring back to me, saying that I can use this to start my own gallery of relics. I smiled and said that it isn’t mine, it is the Chrysalis’s. I’m just the caretaker until the next person takes it over. Wong opened up another marvelous sparkle circle, and stepped through into a training ground. I walked back upstairs and went to my tent.

  I grabbed my Field Provision Box, and walked back downstairs to the cell. I used the Chisel to un-meld the door, and let the prisoner know that I would be coming in with food. The thief walked into the back of the cell, and I opened up the box in front of him. I asked him what he wanted to eat, and he paused, confused. I told him to just list whatever he wanted, and he told me that he wanted a sandwich. I shrugged, and used the magic of the Field Provision Box, to pull out whatever he was visualizing, and the same with a drink.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I set it on the table, and told him not to worry about the waste, as it would disappear within twenty-four hours. I nodded to him, and left the room, melding the cell door to the wall again. I walked away and went into the central room of the basement that will be the reliquary and armory. I took the chisel, went to a corner, and formed a hand out of the wall, and slipped the ring on it, and admired that this was the first arcane artifact to become part of the Chrysalis. I figured that whenever we catch other items, I would check with Wong to see if they claim it, before I add it here.

  I walked back up to the Dedicated Wrights, and spent an hour getting them started on the last Crushing Banality of It All, this last one for S.H.I.E.L.D. With my morning wrapped up, I got myself kitted out so I can do some roves around the city. I asked Cal if he’d like to come along to observe, and he said that he would. I went to Agent Smith, and asked if he could requisition one more electric bike, for Cal to use, and he told me that he had one in the back of his SUV. I went out to the vehicle with him, and pulled it out, lifting the heavy beast easily. It was assembled and ready to go, so once Cal was suited up in my green gear as “Original Verdigris” (still waiting on his crimson Cinnebar equipment update), and me in my new “Cosmic Verdigris” (void black base with red, white, and blue pinpoints and green racing stripes), got on our bikes, and started riding about the city.

  There were waves and cheers as we passed greetings and thanks yelled at us. I communicated with Cal via the linked ear buds that Agent Smith had gotten worked up a while ago for Rex, telling him that he should feel free to wave from time to time, especially when it seems like they are enjoying our presence. We drove around and helped in minor ways until around two in the afternoon, when the Ears of the City indicated that the stick-up was going to happen. I had Cal watch for any back up or surprises, while I made my way to where the two motorcycle gang members were getting ready to bust in. I couldn’t legally stop them before they actually tried to do the crime, so I had to thread a very fine needle.

  I shadowed my way in while the two oafs were moving into the store. I snuck in without triggering the door opening alarm by using my Dimensional Stride Boots, jumping into a blind corner. I used Vanish to turn invisible and got into position as the two bikers started heading to the register. As soon as one of them yelled out that they wanted the money, and started to pull out a pistol, I reappeared and instantly fired off a pair of shots at that first one, and repositioned in between the second thug and the cashier. The first biker fell down, looking like his chest was burned through by a pair of bullets fired by my gun.

  The biker shot at me twice with his large caliber pistol. The first round went wide, and I used my Intercepting Shot maneuver to redirect it into the floor, preventing it from going into civilian areas outside of the combat zone. The second shot was aimed better, and hit my armor square in the center of the chest, my armor taking the hit without failure. I looked at the guy, and told him that he can either drop his firearm, and surrender, or he can get what his friend got. All I got back was an obscenity laden screed, and so I repeated the performance of the first biker, dropping this conspirator.

  With the situation dealt with, I turned to the clerk and asked if they were alright. The clerk asked if I knew who I was. I shrugged and said that I was Verdigris, and that I had stopped a robbery in progress. I asked the clerk again if they were alright. The clerk nodded and said that he was okay. I told him to call the police and that these two would be roped up out in the parking lot.

  As I started carrying out the criminals, I asked the clerk if there were cameras covering this store to provide an account of what had happened. He told me that there was, so I figured that I didn’t need a granite sculpture of the scene and what happened. When I got back outside, Cal was there with some handcuffs that looked to be S.H.I.E.L.D. issued. I nodded and said that this was a LOT easier than molding stone.

  Cal smiled and said that he didn’t have that spell yet, so he needed to make due with what he could. I told him that this was still a good solution. I asked him if he had done a thorough search of the criminals, and he told me that he had, with a wink. I smiled and told him that drugs and other contraband should be left. Cal said that he understood that, and that he had already taken that into account.

  We locked everything up and left the criminals for the cops to collect them, and continued on our patrols. After we had left, Cal asked me through the headset what I did with the money and jewelry I confiscated from the criminals that I busted. I told him that I turned them over to S.H.I.E.L.D., to have them converted and put into an account for donation purposes. I told him that it was the one way I knew for bad money to have a good ending. I added that there was no requirement that he perform the same donation and tithing that I did, but that he should keep in mind that once he can start creating his own enchanted equipment, that he will begin to realize that actual currency holds less value.

  Cal looked over at me while we were riding, and I told him that once I had gotten my food, shelter, and original needs dealt with, I realized that a lot of people needed the resources that I get from these criminals than me, especially the downtrodden that might be victims of these or other criminals. Cal asked me if I really could make anything, and I told him that my breadth had increased recently, but that there are still things that I can’t make, yet. I added that I was not opposed to making money on my own, but really, S.H.I.E.L.D. was covering the things that I needed to make things, and until they stopped, I had a good enough deal that I wasn’t stressing it. Cal asked me if I trusted the people that S.H.I.E.L.D. was going to be suggesting. I told him that if they weren’t the right caliber, they would not make it into the school.

  Cal seemed to be thinking about that as we drove around a bit more. After a half an hour, I said that we should head back to the tower, and that I would hit him with a Vanish spell, and carry both of our bikes, so that we can get back into the building without attracting too much attention to the building, currently. We got to a place where we would be within dashing distance, and I cast the spell on him, and told him to get into the building. I lifted up both of the bikes, after I noticed the door opening and closing, cast the spell on myself, and rushed across. When I was back in the garage, I saw Cal waiting, breathing heavily.

  I set down his bike, and mine, and walked mine to the stall, while he did the same for his new bike. We both set them to charge and then we headed down the corridor to the supply room “secret door”. I pushed it aside and we both walked in, and I checked outside the room to make sure that no one was in the hallway, before walking in and escorting Cal to the Director of Operations’s office door. I knocked and heard Agent Smith replying to the knock with “Come in.” I pushed the door open and the two of us went in.

  I thanked Agent Smith for his time, and told him that we had stopped an attempted robbery at the Virginia Spirits Seller. He looked at me oddly, and Cal clarified that it was the ABC. Agent Smith looked like he was pondering, and asked how attempted it was. I told him that the lead criminal had said the words that it was a hold up, and started to pull their gun. I added that there was video from the store, supposedly, that will verify. I cleared my throat and offered up the jewelry from one of the thugs and the cash, for Agent Smith to transfer to the fund. Without any real time, Cal did the same thing.

  Agent Smith asked if this was all for my fund, and I told him that Cal’s offering was for him to decide. Cal spoke up and said that he’d like to try to do the same thing that I was. Agent Smith noted this and separated both piles and asked if Cal wanted a specific fund or if he would like it anonymously like I did. Cal said that he’d like it to help kids who lost their parents in the Snap. Agent Smith smiled and said that he would take care of it.

  I thanked Cal and asked him if he could see to making sure that there were no other rooms or floors that needed any of the fire sprinklers. Cal saluted and was about to leave. I stopped him, and told him that he would also need to think on what Cinnebar was going to look like for his costume design, and that once he gets it ready, we can get to work on it together for abilities and features. Cal smiled and headed off, with a bit more gusto in his step, likely due to the promise of cool magical items or maybe just to get more things done. With just me and Agent Smith there, I told him that we both needed to sit down, because this was going to be heavy.

  Agent Smith pointed to a seat on wheels, and I took it and sat across from him. His smiling countenance changed to a flat demeanor as he asked me what the issue was. I sighed, and told him that there were a few things that I needed to clear up with him. I started out and told him that there was some information that Wong had given me that affects him, being that he and his crew “work” here. I told him that the individual who had broken in, was from a group called the Dragon Raiders, and that their main thing was that they attempted to steal relics and since this tower was going to be a storage facility and creation lab, that they needed to know this. Agent Smith nodded along and said that while they didn’t get much information about the “Dragon Raiders”, from the thief, that they did get some information.

  I nodded and told him that Wong had apparently had some run-ins with them years ago, and that they had busted up the group’s leader, but that it seemed like the rest of the group just went underground and were resurfacing due to the chaos of this post Decimation world. Agent Smith listened intently and had not yet lost his flat appearance. I told him that I would eventually be removing all doors to the tower that go outside, and enchanting them to allow those of good morals to just meld through small sections of the wall that are shaped to “look” like doors. I added that I wouldn’t do that to the office’s doors, or the doors that are for transit through the building, but I wanted him to know in advance. I added that this will stop the weakest of intruders.

  Agent Smith listened as I went on, and I told him that I would be creating rooms that would summon up copies of various extra-dimensional monsters, to allow for him and his fellow Agents, and any others, to get experience fighting the various kinds of entities that might be part of the conflict or other conflicts as time goes on. I added that I would have four of these rooms, so that they can be scheduled fairly freely. Finally, I told him that there was going to be an event tonight, before dark, where the massive ice block that is “floating” this way, and that I would need Cal to NOT take part in it. It was too dangerous for him, OR any of the other S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, and that I was going to have to prepare a holding cell SPECIFICALLY for what might be causing this problem. Agent Smith asked what that was, and I told him that the cell was going to have to be made VERY hot, to minimize any ability to decrease temperature, and even then, it wasn’t likely to hold whatever was there for long.

  I stood up to shake his hand and told him that I was fairly certain that all of the Agents here, including him, couldn’t take one hit from something that could create that Ice block, so that he should work to get civilians away from where it touches down. Also, if he could pinpoint exactly WHERE it was going to make landfall, that would be great. Agent Smith looked over at the screen of his computer, and typed a few things on his keyboard before looking back at me and saying that it was going to be closest to the Thimble Shoal tunnel entrance. I asked if he had any other information about the ice block. Agent Smith cleared his throat, and told me that this was high level Classified information, but it was likely that the core of the Ice Block was a man by the name of Donald Gill, and that he was a former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent and later member of the Index.

  I asked him if he had anything that could punch through the ice block, and he said that he had something. He also said that he could provide me with something that might be a bit more of a punch for the basic firearm damage. I shrugged, and said that by now, that was so little of a portion of the damage that I do, that it wasn’t even worth considering. I added that I just needed to make sure I could crack the ice to get him out to be able to TRY to talk to him at least. Agent Smith shrugged and said that he didn’t know how amenable Donald would be to talking, but that if I wanted to try to talk him down, I was free to do so.

  I asked how long it would take to get the ice block breaker, and he told me that he’d have an AT-4 here by the end of the work day. I thanked him, and said that I was going to go work on the cell. We shook hands and then I left to head down to the basement. At the cells, I chose one that was on the opposite side from the cistern. No good giving him a large source of water just as fuel within feet of his cell.

  I used the Chisel to make a couple of heat sconces, and quickly cast five total Constant Heat spells, and then shaping them into diamond grid patterns, similar to what we did for the alchemical septic cisterns, and making the ceiling and four walls all red hot and emitting heat. I went upstairs and grabbed my Desiccation Vault, Aetherm Conduit, and Zephyr Circlet to make a specific climate control for this room, taking air from it, down low, running it through the Desiccation Vault to dry the air through it, the Aetherm Conduit heats the air up to one hundred and forty degrees Fahrenheit, and the Zephyr Circlet speeds the air back through it into the room.

  I spent a few more minutes getting everything as ready as I could, and then Agent Peterson came down to the basement to tell me that they had a bunch of mattress pads and linen items for the cells. I thanked her and followed her up to the reception area where there were some large boxes. I carefully got all of them moved down to the cells, and outfitted each cell with a set. The Thief seemed to be thankful for some comfort, and I asked him if he had any idea about what he might be able to tell S.H.I.E.L.D. to get transferred to more comfortable accommodations. He told me that he had no idea, but that he hoped it would be soon, as he didn’t want to see that Dragon again. I sighed and whispered under my breath that this meant that Rex gets ANOTHER big fish treat.

  I told him that he’d be MUCH more likely to not see the “Dragon” again, if he went with S.H.I.E.L.D. and assisted them however he could. He was speechless to that, probably thinking of the possible choices ahead of him. I finished giving him exactly the linen and mattress materials that he needed, and closing and melding up the “door” again. I hoped that he would make a good decision, but ultimately, it would only be time until he was transferred, especially since he didn’t seem to have any real “powers”. The next inhabitant might make things a bit more… complicated.

  I headed back up to the tent to check in to see if Cal was done with his specifications, and there was still work that needed to be done, so he had not gotten back yet. I checked in on the materials that were left from my own armor, and resolved that I was going to need to get Agent Smith to get me more materials. I don’t know how easily he will be able to get me more of the “living steel” analog that they have here, but hopefully it won’t be too difficult to acquire. At least the Boron Carbide Fabric should be easy enough now that they have had time to get it into production since I gave them the procedure that I had memorized from my time with David. I started a list of useful enhancements to get for Cal, but I wanted him to be able to do more on his own, rather than just be piggybacking off my power, so I made sure that there was enough give to make sure that this meets the criteria.

  I spent a few hours working on postulating what Cal could use, and what he should reasonably have access to, with his level of capability. Eventually, I decided that he was going to need to get more experience and power before I could work on more magical items for him. Just enough to keep him safe while he strives and gets better. It had not been eight hours since I had cast my most powerful expended spells, so I decided to minimize my castings and just meditate on how to do this right. I didn’t want to kill someone if they were not intending to kill others, and so far, all this person has done is hop in their mini-iceberg and float into this country’s waters.

  About three quarters of the way through whatever I could figure out, Cal came back in, announcing that he had gotten all rooms below this level having all of the required water hook ups, sprinkler systems, lighting, and climate systems. I smiled, and asked him if he had given any thought to what he would like his equipment to help with. Cal smiled and said that he had not, but that he was going to give it some serious thought right now. I smiled and told him that should the worst happen, and I end up failing in this, that he should continue what I taught him, and keep working on getting better. Cal looked at me curiously, and I told him that you never know when your last fight will be, but that you should prepare those that follow to step up if it is likely.

  I told him that I would be getting ready for this conflict, and that he should spend the time with the Agents, getting people away from the conflict zone. Cal asked if it was really going to be that dangerous, and I told him that if someone could maintain a frozen block like that in this heat, they certainly had some power behind them. I told him that I was going to rest up and recover before heading out to stage up to deal with this, that it seemed like the block would be hitting the Bridge-Tunnel at Sunset. Cal asked if I was going to be telling Amber, and I sighed, saying that no matter what, she would know how I felt. We shook hands and I retreated to lay in my bed, with Rex, the Kittens, and Bright-Eyes all piling on. I decided to finish writing my journal entry and rest for an hour, using my enchanted bedroll, even if it wouldn’t bring back ALL of my spells.

  **********

  Thursday August 2nd, 2018: 9:00 PM

  I woke up just in time to get the Sending from Amber, telling me that she had reached another echelon, and that she had realized that she had the ability to bond to a creature, and she felt that bond from afar with Bright-Eyes. I “I reached a new echelon of power. I can have a familiar! Bright-eyes is linked to me! Keep her Safe!I love you SO MUCH!” I Sent back, “Bright-Eyes is safe here with her kittens. I will keep her safe. I love you and am proud of you! Keep up the good work!” I got out of bed, leaving the mass of fur there, and got Rex ready to go. As we got dressed, I told him that if, for some reason, I am killed and he is not, that he is to do whatever he enjoys, and if he can, keep an eye out on both Amber and Cal, as much as he would be willing.

  Rex looked up at me and said that he was certain that I had this in the bag, and that he’d be there to help. I looked at him and told him that he should NOT get in his larger form for this fight, if he joins it at all. I am not certain what exactly this person can do, but that not being hit is the highest priority. Rex nodded and said nimble is the priority of the day then. I finished getting both of us ready, as prepared as we could be, before I called Agent Smith for any final breakdowns on the possible encounter. Agent Smith told me that the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel would be closed from a half hour before sunset to whenever the encounter is over. He added that the AT-4 was waiting for me at the Seagull Pier so I thanked him and said that I would be heading there now.

  I walked down to the bike, and Cal followed me to his. I told him to stay back, and not come close to what I was going to deal with. It was too dangerous and he could very likely kill you with one hit. Cal asked me if I was certain, and I told him that yes, I was. Cal acknowledged it, but said that if he saw a means to step in and I needed the help, he would do so.

  I sighed and used one of my uses of Augury, and noted the result. I quickly made a plan and activated my Iron Phoenix Emblem. My bike shifted in form and I got on it, riding out of the building to head towards the waterfront. Cal tried to follow me, until I actually headed directly into the waves, and started riding over it. I heard him yell through the headset that we shared, and told him that I didn’t get a good feeling about him being with me for this.

  The “Woe” result that I had gotten from the Augury ability when I asked if it would be a good idea for Cal to be with me led me to leaving him someplace where he couldn’t easily get to me. I figured that it would take him time to at least get around to the blockade, and by that time, it might be over. I rode the waves with Rex on my shoulder, and I thought about using the ability on a question for him to, but decided that Rex wouldn’t be able to understand it anyway. At least I can order him to be small and hidden, and only strike out when I tell him.

  We got there with some time to spare, so I went through my preparations for what we can do that lasts the longest. I started with casting my series of spells to maximize Rex and I’s defenses. I started with Heightened Awareness for the both of us, then Mirror Image for both of us as well. It gave me eight images and Rex six images, so at least it was a start to defense. As the small iceberg got closer, I cast the fifth echelon of Summon Monster, to summon a trio of Hound Archons. Three well built humans wearing celestial silk robes, with well built bodies and heads that looked like what appear to be husky and terrier hybrids, each armed with a fine greatsword. I looked at the three of them, and gave them all the instructions to work to get people as far away from this combat as possible, once I cast two more spells. They sheathed their swords in scabbards on their back and waited while I cast Good Hope and Haste, to get them in the area of effect as well, and then went off to go help whomever they could.

  I picked up the AT-4 recoilless rifle, and studied what I could see of the ice block as it drifts to the shore of this island. I hoisted it into position, ordered Rex to hide off a little way away from the iceberg and be ready to strike. I got into the Stance of Piercing Rays, used my Quick Study ability to pick the perfect location, and waited the last few seconds until the Ice Block was JUST touching the shore. I activated my Iron Fang maneuver, and fired the AT-4 and it flew out with increased accuracy, power, and an energetic aura of fire around it.

  The top half, above water level, dissolved into water vapor, as the ice sublimated into steam and immediately drifted away. The man, or former man at least, stood up on the remaining ice platform and asked me in a bone-chilling voice, that had more of the sound of glaciers creaking than any human had a right to have, if I was with H.Y.D.R.A. I told him that no, I wasn’t and that I had just stopped H.Y.D.R.A. from taking some important materials. He looked at me with cold, pale blue eyes, and said then you must be with S.H.I.E.L.D. then, and fired off a blast of utter cold at me. It almost hit me, but thankfully, it struck one of the eight mirror images around me, and dissipated into nothingness.

  I knew that the time for talking was temporarily paused, so I summoned up my Searing Break, pulled my pistol and fired away at him, as quickly as I could, firing off three rounds at him, missing once due to a mirage of him keeping me from hitting him on my last shot. I wounded him greatly, but he still had some fight left in him. He fired off another pair of shots at me, missing me with another shot but hitting another mirror image with the second shot. I could tell that somehow, firing off those two shots wounded him some. I quickly repositioned and fired off another three shots. I missed with my first shot, but my second two hit, as I added a bit of a boost with some Weak Weapon Prana to the final shot.

  Donald wasn’t down, but he was feeling it. He summoned up the largest blast he could, and took aim in my area. His blast managed to drop ALL of my remaining images somehow, as a torrent of icicles blasted out at me, shredding my defenses in a most unusual way. I managed to not get hit, as my last defense kicked in, the Displacement, and I wasn’t where he had aimed it. I fired off another three rounds, carefully taking aim to get in a full round of shots, and hit with all three rounds, yelling out “Now” for Rex. Rex popped up and spat out a fire glob in Donald’s face, distracting him while I fired my bullets. The three tore through the mists enveloping Donald, and struck true, the final one being my expended Studied Shot, and Donald slumped onto the ice block, unconscious.

  That was when I noticed the helicopters up in the air, seemingly pointing directly at myself and Donald, as I recovered his rime encrusted body from the rapidly melting iceberg. I decided to make things a little more hectic, and polish off the rest of my spellcasting. I cast Army Across Time, and held placing an image in reserve, before putting Donald in a large bag and then picked it up. I then waved to all of the helicopters, before pointing to an image of me some sixty feet out on the surface of the water, waving at them, and then casting Vanish on myself (and my gear) as it appeared. I set up another fifteen to appear in different areas, all within a one hundred and thirty foot circle, all pointing to the next one to appear, just before they disappear. Then, I used my Dimensional Stride Boots to jump up to the roadway, with my bike and the bag containing Donald, while giving Rex a mental feeling of the warmth of bed.

  I kept the lights of the bike off, as I raced down the bridge tunnel south, while invisible, at over sixty miles an hour. By the time that the little show was done, I was long gone. I made my way back to the Chrysalis, bringing Donald to his temporary room, at least until we get his mental condition corrected or find him longer term accommodations. By the time that Donald was in his new cell, and in his bed, the rest of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents and Cal were just getting back. I smiled and said that Donald would be unconscious for twenty-four hours, so we had some time before we needed to worry about much.

  I told them all that I was going to relax and go to sleep, and that we could all talk about this in the morning. Cal followed me up to the tent, so he could head to his guest room, and the Agents were standing there stunned. I figure that this was a fairly good day, all things considered. I wonder what tomorrow will bring. I know that Cal will be taking what he saw into consideration for his own gear, but I know that I don’t want him restricted into thinking that he can just wear away every enemy with stamina. There is a lot of strategy to take into account too.

  B.Y. Yes, this is foreshadowing about... others. It will just be a while until I can tie it in.

  BUT, things will be moving faster now. I guess having an actual base will bring out the problems and opportunities. He will have to finish up the furnishing quicker than expected.

  also, there is a guest coming to the Chrysalis.

  Magic Item:

  Tony’s Cold Shoulder

  Aura Weak transmutation; CL 1st

  Slot none; Price 2,000 gp; Weight 1

  Description

  This Stark Industries made container has been enchanted to cast the Cold Variant of the Constant Heat spell on a piece of quartz placed inside it, when a Cold Related Pun is said. It will do this every 6 seconds for one minute after the cold pun is said. Then a different Cold pun needs to be said for it to function. Cold related puns can only be repeated every ten minutes.

  Construction

  Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Constant Heat (Cold); Cost 1,000 gp