Monday July 30, 2018: 1:00 PM

  The morning started with me waking up from another ring creation dream. Another night of me working in my sleep, another morning waking up feeling the loss of something that was so quickly here and then gone. I resolved to get ready for the day, and I got the Mini-Avengers working with me on improving my enchanted pauldrons, I didn’t need the specific focus on just my physical fortitude, so I generalized it, and I also included a few secondary features that could work with my Goddess and my proclivities. I added the fact that I can turn my entire body cold enough to the touch to mimic a pale portion of the cold of space, and it hardened my skin and made me slightly protected from the same cold, at least enough that I could hold the Gelid Hearts without fear of injury. All in the effort of making me a better vessel for the actions of my deity.

  I worked with the Dedicated Wrights for a little over two hours, and we were finished by half past seven. I stood up and stretched before putting them on, and trialing the activation of the power to make my body cold to the touch. I knew that I was emanating cold at a level that was even beyond the chill of the Gelid Hearts, and I picked one up to see if I could be affected by it, and I was not. I laughed a little and said that I could definitely utilize this in the future, the next time someone tries to grapple me. I made sure that the Dedicated Wrights were ready to start working on whatever I might need of them for later and by that time it was getting close to nine AM, and I needed to work on getting ready for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Cal to be arriving.

  Shortly before nine, I noticed that Bright-Eyes looked VERY scuffed up and wounded. I reflexively cast Truespeak and asked her what had happened. She told me that King Grunt had come by, and was trying to mate again, saying that the kittens were old enough. I looked at her and asked her if she knew where he might be. Bright-Eyes told me that he was the kitten’s dad, and that she didn’t want him hurt.

  I asked her if the kittens would be too put out, if King Grunt didn’t sire any more siblings or half siblings, not that he was dead. She looked at me, and I told her that I can take him somewhere, and not kill him, but ensure that he does not cause problems for these reasons again. The Kittens can interact with him, but he will not be the same as he was today. Bright-Eyes looked up as I cast a Cure Light Wounds on her, to heal up the bites and scratches, and told her that I would make sure he has a change of mind. I strode out of the warehouse, and looked for the ass-cat.

  He was just around the corner and had a smug look on his face, before he said that he would get Bright-Eyes again. I told him that he would not, and that he can leave or suffer the consequences. King Grunt laughed, a funny thing for a cat to do, and said that I could do nothing about it. I told him that I can call two different groups, one will change his life, the other will end it. King Grunt laughed again and said that I couldn’t take care of him on my own.

  I smiled and offered him the chance to test himself against me. King Grunt took it, leaping forward to take a swipe at me, and suffering the full effects of the cold as he went unconscious. I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and told his unconscious form that he really should have been more careful. I took him to a crate, and once he was locked inside, hit him with a Cure Light Wounds spell to minimize any lasting damage. King Grunt looked VERY pissed when he woke up, and hissed without even attempting to speak.

  I texted Jonathan that there was a hostile visitor to the warehouse that needed to have a message made of him. I told him that I had subdued the individual, and that we can do what we need to. He asked me what I intended to do. I told him that we were going to have to take his balls. That there was no way around it, and that hopefully, it would make him more pleasant to be around, and less of an out and out ass. Jonathan responded with a call, demanding that I had promised to not make a scene today, and that now I am talking about castrating some hapless criminal that violated the sanctity of my new dwelling.

  I was silent so that he could hear the hissing and yowling as I put the phone next to the crate. After a minute of this, I put the phone back to my ear and he asked, a bit more calmly, if that was a cat. I told him that it was indeed a cat, and that it was the one who had pounced on me, had attacked some of the future familiars for students, and actually tried to attack me. I was just interested in removing him from the breeding population, and I didn’t trust PETA, so I could use a good vet that worked on ferals to get him fixed.

  Jonathan asked if I was seriously asking for a black book ultra secure espionage level neutering of an alley cat. I told him that no, I did NOT want that level of pomp and circumstance, I just didn’t have a good way to get the cat to a reputable vet while also being available to teach and instruct the newly arriving group of three more agents and my new student Cal, so I was hoping that he could get ahold of some company to just get the cat there, and arrange the public payment for helping decrease the population of breeding strays. You know, maybe another good PR thing for S.H.I.E.L.D.? I laughed and said that not everything needs to be cloak and dagger or some secret agent level thing. Maybe it is just a good natured individual paying to help on a stray. Maybe make it a part of an initiative to help with the population in Norfolk?

  While we were finishing up discussions, I told him that I would drop the cat off at Bob’s Gunshop, just across the street, and Jonathan replied that he would arrange something called an “Uber”. I thanked him and he told me that the Agents would be the ones bringing in the samples with them. I thanked him for that as well, and, having had enough of the yowling, hit the cat with my Silence spell-like ability, just to minimize the noise. We said goodbye and I went to the door where I was going to meet up with the three new Agents and my apprentice. At nine am, exactly, the four of them showed up at the rear gate, having shown up in three vehicles. The three Agents introduced themselves as Agent Sarah “Sarge” Vance, Agent Daniel “Dan” Cross, and Agent Chloe Peterson. I shook each of their hands in turn, AFTER turning off my cold field. Then I saw Cal, and asked him if he had learned a lot when he went to work with S.H.I.E.L.D.

  Cal told me that they mainly got his schooling settled, and that he was going to be learning from me, and the Agents, over time. I nodded and said that this was a wise investment of time. Agent Vance told me that Agent Smith would be here in the second half of the day, but handed me the samples that would be needed. I told them that Agent Smith was fairly well versed with what I would likely be telling all of them. I escorted them over to the tent that was occupying part of the future office area. Cal looked to be smiling, knowing what was going to happen, and the rest of the Agents snickered, saying that this was a small place to hold training.

  I opened up the flaps to the tent, and escorted them into the building that was larger on the inside than it was on the outside. Cal walked right in, unbothered, and went up to Rex, to give him some head scritches. Rex was VERY appreciative of the attention and small burps of flame erupted from his lips. I showed them into the thirty foot by twenty foot main room, and told them that they would feel a bit better if I explained everything I could about this tent. The three Agents had a bit of wonderstruck about them, and I told them that this tent was created by myself shortly after arriving here, in Norfolk, Va, less than sixty days ago.

  I told them that yes, one of the main features of this tent is that it is larger on the inside than it is on the outside, but that is only the most visible feature. I requested one of the three to go outside and ask the other two a series of ten questions, while the two inside would note the answers. Then the reverse process would happen, where each of the two inside would ask five questions each of the one outside. We will compare the results when you are done. They chose Agent Cross to go outside, and he asked a series of ten simple questions about current events and basic historical facts. The two answered them all vocally, and then after the tenth question, each of the two remaining asked five questions each.

  After a minute, Agent Cross asked if they were going to ask any questions. I opened up the flap and told him to come in and compare notes. It took next to no time for the three Agents to come to the conclusion that no sound transmitted out of the tent, but they could hear reasonably well through the tent from the inside. I told them that it allows one hundred percent protection from overhearing, and there are five other features. I lifted up all four fingers and a thumb, and lowered them as I listed each item, and I told them that it will slowly repair any items left in it over eight hour spans, will clean all unattended or worn items over the same eight hour period, the whole tent will set up in ten minutes and take down in a similar period of time, prevents any and all signal based transmissions in or out of the tent, and finally, no person of poor morals can actually enter the tent at all.

  The three of them looked a bit confused and perplexed, and offered them up a place at the levitating table to sit. I walked over and sat on a pillow that had been set up earlier in the day, and made myself comfortable. The four of them looked at the table and walked up in front of the pillows, and were standing there trying to figure out what to do. I pointed to each of them in turn, and told them the command word for the pillow in question. I told them to place a hand above where the pillow was, at the height that they wanted their seat to be at, and say the command word.

  Cal was the first to get it, and he almost immediately got his seat to the height he wanted. Agent Peterson was next, getting her seat at an appropriate height. Agent Cross and Agent Vance were almost simultaneous in their successful attempts. I smiled and congratulated all of them, telling them that they had just activated their first magical item. They all look at me oddly, and I tell them that each of those pillows are a unique magical item, and that each Agent used their own minds to activate the pillow and direct it to the height that you wanted.

  I explained that placing your hand where you had did not stop the pillow, only that it allowed your mind to focus on where you wanted it to stop. They all gingerly sat down on their pillows and asked what we would be doing here. I put the Field Provision Box in the center of the table, and told them each to open up the box, focus on ANY food and drink that you would want to eat and drink, and then say the command word. Cal did so, and pulled out a very nice reuben and a soft drink. Agent Peterson was the next, and pulled out a salad and some tea.

  Agent Cross was the next, and got out a burger, fries, and a soda. Finally, Agent Vance pulled out a nice chicken sandwich and a beer. I smiled and pulled out a very nice wagyu and a shot of liquor. I told them all that the food that comes out of this magic item is perfectly nutritious, but has no effect other than the vitamins, nutrients, and calories. There is no salt, caffeine, or alcohol. Only the illusion of taste, so you can pull out whatever you want, and never have any negative repercussions of eating or drinking it.

  They were looking at me oddly, and Cal was just enjoying his food, as was I. Agent Vance asked if it was safe, and I told her that no studies had shown that it wasn’t, and that it was designed for feeding people. I noted that I didn’t think that it actually had ANY allergic qualities, as the food was distilled down into the most safe food it could be. I told them that they had all activated their second magic item, and that once they each activated a third, I can start teaching them more about magic as a whole, and what we were going to be doing here. The Agents looked around and one of them asked what I was going to have them activate.

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  I pulled out the four pairs of SHAPE Goggles, and handed one to each of them. I told them that all they have to do for this, is just put them on. Cal was the first and seemed to be taking this the easiest, whereas Agent Vance was the first one this time. Finally, Agent Cross and Agent Peterson put their goggles on, and reported that they could see little words over each entity in the building.

  I nodded and told them that they had successfully activated a use item, a command word item, and a command word item that produces a customizable result from detecting thoughts. I asked them if they knew the difference between any of them, and Agent Cross said that it might be in how difficult they are to make. I nodded and told him that this is certainly one aspect of it. Agent Peterson asked if it was about resonance and how some items might be better suited for other activation methods. I told them that this too was an aspect of it.

  “Congratulations. Now, I ask you, all of you, you included Cal. Do any of you want to seek reassignment? I will not burden one who is not compatible with abandoning some aspects of conventional physics for these new things that this place can do. You four can all be involved in the making of your office, and of the tower that we will make, but I can make all of this without you, if you want to remain blissfully ignorant of this world. I would caution that just because you are ignorant of it, it does not mean that it is ignorant of you, and that would be the case without you ever associating with me.”, I asked them all.

  Cal, of course, was the first to answer, and he said that he was here to stay. I thanked him for his decision, and told the other three that there is no pressure at all, that they can still even stick with this assignment, but I felt that they should know the backbones behind what they are “selling” here as account managers. Even if you choose to only take that role, and not choose to learn more, I will be ensuring that this building is as secure as any building I can make. Agent Peterson was the next to voice that she would be staying, and Agents Cross and Vance were in agreement when they nodded to each other. I thanked them and told them that I would be giving them an hour long lecture on the principles of magic, and that if any would like to use the facilities, they are located in the middle of the three curtained off areas.

  I stood up to show them how every item was magical, and how they were self cleaning and self operating. The Shower, the Sink, and the Commode, all for whomever is here. I told them that the curtained off area to the right of the facilities room had four floating cots in it, similar to the table or the pillow. I told them that they can feel free to continue eating, but that the change will only last an hour, before it returns to plain water and a grey enriched bean cube. I can change it to something else, or even Rex can, but it will allow you to see how bland and boring it is.

  I welcomed them to take some time to utilize facilities, and that I will be starting on an indepth lesson of the basics of magic and magical item creation and use. They all took the option to utilize the facilities while I pulled out four simple blank notebooks and set them at the places that they had chosen to sit at. After ten minutes, everyone was ready, and before I started, I asked Rex to keep an eye on the outside to ensure that no one would bother us. I started with some explanation of arcane theory, and the different paths of magic, to the best of my understanding, from where I am from. Then I went on to explain how different users of magic activated their magical abilities.

  I continued with telling them everything I could about how magic interacts with the world, and the different effects that can be seen, with some sample spells of different types. I took some time for questions, and ensured that they had a firm grasp on what I was teaching them. Then I spent another half an hour teaching them about different types of magical items, and what was required to operate each of them. I brought out each of the four items that would be used to make the office and the tower. I went over the plans for each level, and then, when I felt that they felt that they were confident, I led them out of the tent, and to the different areas.

  Cal was going to be wielding the World Bursting Cane, and was paired off with Agent Peterson wielding the Sloughing Spade. It was their job to hollow out the tower’s footprint to be down twelve feet, and also remove a further twenty foot by twenty foot by twenty foot section at the bottom. I gave them the floor footprint plans and where everything was going to go. I gave Agent Cross the Chisel of the Exquisite Craftsman and Agent Vance the Masonry Hammer of the Jade Emperor, and the plans for the front office, to the extent of what they can, after I got samples that were brought by the Agents this morning. I gave them all a brief two minute explanation and description of what they were going to do, and set them to do their tasks, under my observation.

  By the time a half an hour had passed, they had set up the entire office area’s walls and the entire footing of the foundation was removed. I called them all together to ask if the agents wanted to see some interesting utility. I got the Chisel from Agent Cross, and had Agent Vance set down a foot thick bottom and then a foot thick side to make the massive septic treatment tank. I showed them how we were making it twenty feet wide, by twenty feet long, but that it would only be five feet deep. I got the Phoenix Core from my set, and used the Chisel to make it a massive one eighth inch thick expanded diamond plate, that was eighteen feet by one foot. I did this four more times, separating each one from the other by a foot, and making the whole septic a steam boiler unit.

  I used the Chisel to ensure that the tank had a slight slope that went to a collection area in the middle of the bottom that would act as a sluice channel. I told them that I needed to do some secret things, and that they can go take a break outside of here for lunch, if they so desire. They did so, leaving Cal, and I got Mini-Wong and the Mini-Avengers. I had them enchant the bottom of the tank to be constantly cleaning of effluent. It would not take much, and the only needed to be the actual anchoring of the enchantment, but it was sufficient.

  I got the rest of the tank made, with Cal assisting with the Chisel as needed, and we routed the piping to where it was needed, including using a blight stone to create a solids dissolving system. The final enchantment was to enchant a section of pipe to be a ring, just before this tank, that would purify the liquid and remove any acidity, which would be placed directly after the blight stone portion. Vent pipes were placed with a couple of Galvanic Sparks spread through them for ionization of the steam in the vents. The entire septic system will be self contained with no needed maintenance, ideally. I set the top layer of the tank and Cal ran the pipes for both the tower and the office. WIth them still gone, I took the chance to get more information into my journal.

  ************

  Monday July 30, 2018: 8:30 PM

  By the time that the three Agents had gotten back, with Agent Smith, they seemed excited and ready to go. I gave them the instructions for what the three Agents from this morning could do, and I left Cal to help and observe the idea behind everything. There might have been some questions when it came to the directions for the gaol cells in the basement, but hopefully, they can understand the need to have an effective means to keep someone imprisoned that might not be viable for other locations. I went through an hour of training with Jonathan, just a refresher more than anything, and showed him all of the training that the first group got. Then I went out to check on how everything was going.

  The four of them had gotten the entire basement level done, with the walls, gaols, combat rooms, the armory, and even the restroom. They even piped to the septic line through the floor, and included the pipe lines through the walls for the upper levels. I told them that they had done exceptionally well, and that we will worry about lighting a little later. Agent Cross laughed and said that there was probably a spell to make a permanent light. I told him that he was exactly correct, and without prompting, Agent Smith declared it was Continual Flame.

  I gave him a side eye and there seemed to be some level of communication going on between the other Agents and Jonathan that was completely silent that I just couldn’t catch yet. I will break it though. I had Jonathan take over on the Masonry Hammer of the Jade Emperor and Cal take over on the Chisel of the Exquisite Craftsman, and had the other three walk around the city wearing their sets of SHAPE Goggles, with pairs of the Mustang Gloves in their pockets. I told them that I wanted them to go out into public and use the goggles just to get used to what they would be, “Selling”, so they could market it correctly. The three Agents looked over at Jonathan, and I saw a slight nod, and they got their items from the tent and went out to do what I had requested.

  Jonathan, Cal, and I worked on the next floor. I was only making the interior floors eight feet between floor and ceiling for floors above ground level. With an eight inch floor/ceiling, it makes the total floor level under nine feet, which means that there will be a four foot tall patio/walkway around the outside of the building. The first floor was done, sans furnishings, in under an hour. The second and third floors both took an hour each, putting us at roughly four pm. The Agents were scheduled to be back at five, so we had time for the final of the forty foot by sixty foot floors.

  That means we have the entrance floor, the Student Dorms, the Classrooms, and the Classroom labs are all done. It also meant that the ceiling of the building had been removed where needed in that section and carefully set aside for reuse. I had Cal put the eight cots in the eight student dorms, so that some students can immediately be placed, at least until the individual tents can be made and placed in each room. The three of us went down from the fourth floor to ground level to meet back up with returning Agents. I told Jonathan and Cal that we would be putting in lighting and windows once I figured out a good way to do one-way windows in it.

  As we walked down, we saw the Agents, waiting outside the entrance door for the tower portion, and they asked if we had really just made this all in the four hours that they were gone. Jonathan nodded and said that we were being fairly busy. We got another set of lights, and escorted everyone from the basement to the fourth floor, showing them everything that we had created and shaped into what we needed. When we got up to the fourth floor, I warned them that to go above the fourth floor would mean that we are in line of view of anyone with a camera that happens to point our way. I showed them the stairs up to the next level, and told them how I would be making the palisade and battlement over the top of the fourth above ground floor.

  I added that I might consider increasing the power of “The Oppressive Banality of it All” when I am stronger, to give this floor a sunroom/walk out eating area for the staff and students. Jonathan said that he and the Agents would leave us for the day, and that Cal can call them to head back to the Hotel. Cal asked if he could just stay in the guest room of the tent. I shrugged and said that if they were good with that, I was. Agent Smith nodded and the four Agents walked out of the warehouse.

  With Cal available, he and I worked for another three hours and finished the next four floors of forty foot by forty foot, and then the final two floors of twenty foot by twenty foot. He helped me carry up everything from the tent to the second from the top’s floor, where my bedroom will be located, and set everything up for the building. I showed Rex how he can fly out immediately, and I escorted Bright-Eyes and her kittens and they seemed very intrigued with the sheer amount of rooms that they can now explore. I finished off with Curtis with us both invisible from Vanish, making the crenelations and battlements for the top of the fourth floor and the full eight foot high courtyard walls for the secret walls for my walk/balcony. With the shell of the tower created, and it getting late, I showed Curtis to his room in the tent, while I went to my own.

  Very shortly after I made my way back to the room, I got my nightly Sending from Amber. She told me that, “I had kind of a rough day with Agent May, but that I am still working hard on the next plateau. I love you Curtis!”. I sent back to her, “There are some big surprises here. Things are proceeding ahead of schedule, and I can’t wait for you to get back. I love you Amber!”. I felt very reassured that we can get this built before Amber is supposed to return. Things will be going well from here, but the utilities tomorrow, that will be the fiddly work.

  World-Bursting Cane:

  Aura faint transmutation; CL 1st

  Slot none; Price 1,800 gp; Weight 1

  Description

  This Darkwood Cane has a Jade Mole Skull for a topper. The wielder can point at an area in range, and say the word, “Expungation”, and cause the Expeditious Excavation spell to effect that 5’x5’x’5’ cube of dirt. It spreads the dirt around the area, to be removed by other means. The Jade Mole Skull has tiny pinprick rubies in the eye sockets.

  Construction

  Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, expeditious Excavation; Cost 900 gp

  Sloughing Spade:

  Aura weak transmutation; CL 3rd

  Slot none; Price 10,800 gp; Weight 5

  Description

  This Spade has a shaped Jade blade carved to look like a wide dragon head, with an engraved darkwood handle. The eyes of the dragon are sapphire, and little white and red pinpoints show up along the “spine” of the shaft. This spade, when touched to a piece of hardpacked dirt, will cast Soften Earth and Stone, when the word, “Disiungere” is spoken. A 10’x20’ area in front of the shovel will then soften and turn to loam.

  Construction

  Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Soften Earth and Stone; Cost 5,400 gp

  Chisel of the Exquisite Craftsman:

  Aura weak transmutation; CL 5th

  Slot none; Price 27,000 gp; Weight 1

  Description

  This duskwood handled chisel has a tip made of jade, and has a design similar to those used for extremely soft stones and woods. When placed against a piece of stone, and the command word, “Sculptura”, the chisel will swiftly part even the hardest stone, and form the shape as desired, up to fifteen cubic feet every six seconds. This will work exactly as the Stone Shape Spell.

  Construction

  Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Stone Shape; Cost 13,500 gp

  Masonry Hammer of the Jade Emperor:

  Aura weak transmutation; CL 8th

  Slot none; Price 57,600 gp; Weight 2

  Description

  This hammer has a duskwood shaft, and a head that looks like a roaring dragon head. The eyes are of the clearest diamond. Once per round, the wielder can pronounce ‘Obsidium” produce a four inch thick, ten foot by ten foot wall, at the location struck by the hammer. It can be designated to be vertical or horizontal, when placed. This wall is of whatever granite sample is struck, and if none is struck, whatever granite is the most common in the area around the wielder. It can be struck and commanded every six seconds.

  Construction

  Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Wall of Stone; Cost 28,800 gp

  Voidformed Spaulders

  Aura moderate abjuration and necromancy; CL 6th

  Slot body; Price: 19,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

  Description

  This beautiful robe is fashioned from fine blue silk embroidered with silver thread, and trimmed with owl feathers and tiny shards of crystal. The robe grants its wearer a +3 resistance bonus on all saving throws. In addition, the flesh of the robe’s wearer becomes searing cold to the touch. Anyone who strikes the wearer with an unarmed strike, a touch attack, or a natural weapon takes 1d6 points of cold damage. The wearer can activate or deactivate this ability as a free action.

  The wearer also gains a +1 to Natural Armor, Cold Resistance 5, and their carrying capacity is increased as if their strength was increased by 8.

  Construction

  Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, barkskin, chill touch, resistance, anthaul; Cost 9,500 gp