I woke up in my section of the tent, with Rex on my chest, curled up. I got up carefully and went to check on Clint. He was on the flat cot, with a sleeping bag on it. I saw that he was still, and figured that he was already awake and not moving to see what I would do. I yawned loudly, and said that I was going to go out and get breakfast, if he was interested.
Clint got up and asked if there was a shower or anything. I showed him to the middle area, and told him how to use each of the items. I went back out to the central area as he asked me if I was serious. I told him it was his first chance to see how magic really worked, and went about meditating for my magic for the day. After fifteen minutes, I realized that I had access to new spells and one of them would certainly be useful for crafting and one that would now be able to modify my bicycle.
Clint came out of the “bathroom” and asked if I had cleaned and repaired his clothing and gear overnight. I told him that the tent had a constant effect on any items left in the tent for four hours, in that they were automatically cleaned and repaired. Clint shook his head, and I told him that there is a fair amount that I can do, but it is limited in what I can do on a daily basis, including making enchanted items. I offered up that since he was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and an Avenger, as long as he can cover the expenses and I had the free time, I’d help him with whatever he might need. Clint asked me how difficult it was to make the cot that he had slept on last night.
I thought about it and told him that I could make four of those a day, and that I was actually making four of them today for the place where I worked. Clint looked at me oddly and asked a single question of “Work?”. I told him that Sharon Carter had only managed to get me listed as a S.H.I.E.L.D. affiliate, so I didn’t actually rate a paycheck, just the ID card and access to the bank to store my stuff and get it converted. Clint looked a bit confused, and I told him that I had only “popped into existence” in this world less than a month ago, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary for me to not just get a job with S.H.I.E.L.D. He still looked a bit askance at the whole idea, and I shrugged, saying that I was doing fine like this.
I added that they had gotten me set me up with a safehouse when I first got here, and then when that was destroyed when I was doing a mission to try to help heal a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, they set me up with the Hotel room, but that was slated to end this week anyway, so moving full time into the storage unit was going to be a thing anyway. Clint asked if I had made the tent and I told him that I had indeed made it, and then went on to describe its functions. Clint’s eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets, so I pulled out my journal that contained all of the magic items that I had researched and/or built. I offered up that I had just recently developed the ability to make magical weapons and armor, and that I had not tried to make anything like that yet, hence why it wasn’t in the book. Clint asked what kind of magic weapons and I told him that it wasn’t like I could make artifacts yet, only slightly enhanced ones that makes you react to danger quicker, or consecrating them to be stronger against vampires or undead, as long as this world has them.
Clint was a bit confused when I mentioned vampires, like he knew something that I didn’t about this world, but I told him that undead were a somewhat common occurrence where I was from, but that I was certain that there were other things that I could do, like add energy damage to a weapon, possibly even changeable energy damage via crystals that could be attached and then swapped as needed. Clint looked at me confused, and I told him that I could probably easily make a crystal that would add a little bit of sonic damage with what I already know. I offered up that I could explain more of the damage types according to magic over breakfast, if he was still willing to listen more. Clint nodded, and went to go get dressed for a restaurant, while I sat around collecting my thoughts and getting Rex ready for the day. When Clint came back out, he asked if I was going to be wearing my hero attire, and I used my kote to change my outfit to something more reasonable.
Clint balked and asked if I could make something like this, and I could, and that I might be able to make another four of them in a day, if the materials were already ready. Clint asked me what kind of materials and I told him that it would need to be some kind of wrist gear, but that I would need to verify the gear to make sure it was up to standards. Clint thought about it and said that he’d figure something out while I was out today. I agreed and we happily left the storage unit. I offered him the key to the lock and he asked how I was going to get in.
I looked at him with a smile and told him that both Rex and I had magical equipment that let us do short range teleports up to five times a day. Before he asked for more information, I told him that it was in my journal, which I had given him to check out. I led him to the NY Bagel Cafe, and we rode our bikes and motorcycles there. When we got there, I ordered us both “Healthy Man” breakfast sandwiches and I discussed what all I was planning on doing since getting here, since I figured that I would never be able to get home again, and wasn’t in a rush. I added that since I had a place to stay, for a moderately expensive amount of money (doing the math, renting the storage unit was like one hundred and forty gold a month in salt for just a room), but it was secure enough, and there wouldn’t be that much in the way of questions, I felt comfortable with protecting this city as best I can.
Clint asked me if I was willing to help out elsewhere if needed. Without a second thought, I told him that I would be happy to help out wherever I could, but that I doubted that I could have much of an effect outside of boosting others. Clint asked me what I meant by that, and I told him that I’d be happy to show him when I get done with my day job. Clint laughed at that and said that he’d check it out when he had time. I offered up the location and identity of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that was my “handler” as we finished up breakfast.
I shook his hand and told him where I worked, in case he needed me before I got out of work for the day, and wished him good luck with his day. I headed to work immediately after we separated, without any specific direction changes. When I got there, Bob was already waiting for me and he let me in as soon as I got there. I brought my bike in and offered him up a “good morning” before heading directly into the workshop. I loaded the table up with the salt (thirty five pounds to start with) and got all four of the boards out.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
After just under three hours of planning and focusing, I had tapped out on what I could enchant for the day. The good news is that the cots were all completed, each with an easy to pronounce word in Draconic (along with the appropriate phonetic pronunciation) inscribed on the edge of the board. With everything ready, I took them immediately to Bob, who was waiting in his office. Bob perked up and I produced the well carved boards to show him, and described their usage without activating any specific one. Since it was close to lunch, Bob told me that we would show everyone what these were and what they did, during the lunch.
The meeting went fairly well, with Doug and Steve being the most interested until Jessica learned that it wasn’t just a cot, but basically a “floating shelf” that can hold up to three hundred pounds, that can be set next to a wall and pretend to be an insert mounted shelf, or as a large fold out table. Bob told them all that he was getting the ponchos late in the week next week, pushed back due to the issues from the Blip. There was a bit more discussion with each about the pronunciation of each board with the individual recipient, and clarifications for questions about what happens when it is overloaded. We finished up our lunch and everyone headed back to their individual areas. Bob pulled me aside and said that while the military was still testing the firearms, but, from what he was hearing, it was going well.
I nodded and said that I would be glad to work on enhancing further firearms whenever it comes up. Bob nodded and said that he was going to work on getting more orders. Apparently there was another Seal team stationed nearby that was arranging a meeting, and that there were a bunch of Seals that were split up that had not been reassigned to a full team yet, that might be considered as well. I nodded and told him that I would be glad to work on it whenever it could be set up. Bob thanked me and I went back to cleaning and servicing firearms.
I finished off the day with writing down everything that I was going to need for future magical items that I was going to be making for myself, Rex, and now Clint. I had an absolute limit of how much I could make in the way of magical items, so that was a firm boundary on what I could make until I found some other way to increase that limitation. I had a shopping list, including what items I might need for Clint’s stuff that I was thinking about, so I figured that I would head out tomorrow to shop for all of that. I headed out on my bike and headed back to the Storage Unit to check in on Rex. When I got there, both Clint and Rex were there, and it looked like Clint was talking and Rex was nodding or shaking his head.
I laughed as I got my bike into the unit and pulled shut the gate afterwards. Once I crossed into the tent, I could hear what Clint was asking, basically a series of yes and no questions regarding favorite foods and where he catches his fish. I was amused by this and after Clint asked me if I knew that Rex was intelligent, I looked at Rex and asked him if he was pulling Clint’s leg at all. Rex laughed and replied that it was only a little. Clint looked over at me and asked what language that was. I told him that it was Draconic, and that it was the only language that Rex’s natural form could intone.
I spent time explaining a lot of things about Rex’s nature, and even more so, the nature of magic as I use it. Clint mentioned that the Blip had affected him too, but I did not press as to how it had affected him. If he wanted to tell me, I felt that he would. I went on to go over all of the information that I had for the various gangs in Norfolk, and the various supers that I had gotten hints of being here. I added in everything I knew about the evil agencies that had come up in the rumor mills. Clint absorbed it all in as I spoke, and I told him that I would intend on going out to do some reconnaissance tomorrow evening, if he wanted to join, and was willing to abide by my one request.
Clint looked up at me and asked me what that request was, and I told him that we had to attack to subdue, not kill. I offered up that he could use my rifle if he could get that to work for him, but that we couldn’t kill unless it was life or death. Wounding was fine, but nothing that would kill, especially since the police seemed to be tentatively okay with me so far. Clint smiled and said that he could work with that for now. I then asked Clint how the meeting with Jonathan went.
Clint laughed and told me that he was told that the pallet of salt would be delivered tomorrow morning, and that Jonathan still wanted to compare notes about my magic, if we ever got the chance where the situation was calm enough. I smiled and said that this was a floating thing, that just seemed to always get pushed back. Maybe it will work out eventually, but until it is safer for the common person, luxuries about comparative magic system discussions wasn’t something that should take a focus. Clint nodded and asked which gang we were going after tomorrow. I sighed and said that we should deal with the Painkillers, as they were the ones who were trying to move into this area, while the Warlocks were working on consolidating their gains in the rest of the city.
Clint agreed to this course of action and I offered up that we should probably get something to eat while we planned the next night. I offered up that I might still have a S.H.I.E.L.D. account at the hotel restaurant, so we can eat there. Hawkeye laughed and asked what I was paid per hour where I worked. I told him the amount and he laughed even harder. He told me that if S.H.I.E.L.D. fully took me on, that I would be making three to four times that amount.
I shrugged and said that I was perfectly fine with my current rate of pay, especially since I grab the ill-gotten gains off of the criminals I bring down, and use that to fund taking other criminals down. Clint nodded to that and said I was a regular James Jenkins. I told him that I was not familiar with that name, and he brushed me off, saying that it was a semi-famous “thief-taker”. I shrugged and said that it sounds like a fairly likely assessment. Clint then asked what would happen if I knew that the money or items that the thugs had belonged to someone else.
I replied that I had stopped a mugging from occurring just a few nights ago, recovered the property of the person, and returned it to them. I added that I had mostly been focusing on drug dens and the gang hideouts, and only dealt with the criminals on the street when they jumped me or I saw them in the commission of a crime. Clint listened and said that he could understand that. We talked a bit more about ethics and crime fighting until we got to the hotel.
When we went into the restaurant, Amber wasn’t on staff, so we just got a table and ordered food. We talked a bit over dinner and Clint mentioned that this place seemed a bit like a dive, to which I mentioned that it was just as good as anywhere I had ever really been. The meal went okay and they charged it to my room just like before. I asked Clint if he wanted to head back to the storage unit or if he just wanted to catch up tomorrow. Clint told me that he’d drop by the Storage unit, at a little after dawn.
I acknowledged the meeting time, and vowed to be ready with as up to date information as I could get. We separated and I headed back to the storage unit. I started a bevy of Scrying, Page-Bound Epiphany (with Amanuensis), and Ears of the City to get as much up to date information as I could about all of the super-villains and gangs in the area and what we might expect. I learned that Francis Noche was still with the Warlocks, but that David Angar was on his own and Karla had joined up with the Painkillers. I got as far as I could before giving up for the night and heading to bed.
So here I admit that I wrote myself into a corner, without realizing it. Clint should have had access to Coulson’s continued existence, but never knew about it from the Canon. Also, the Protagonist should not have “Known” about Coulson’s death, but he never knew Coulson’s existence in the first place, and had the ability to extend Coulson’s life (or possibly save it).
- Rolled zero encounters, so maybe a decent relaxing day from yesterday.
- Magic Item:
Floating Cot (Inspired by the Noble's Table from The Genius Guide to "What's in my Pocket, Part Deux")
Aura evocation; CL 3rd Slot —; Price 250 gp; Weight 3 lbs Description
A floating cot first appears as a highly polished plank of birch wood, one foot by two feet, and two inches thick. When a user speaks a command word, the floating cot floats to a height designated by the user, up to four feet above the ground and supports three hundred pounds.
A gesture along the surface of a floating cot expands its size. It can quadruple its length and width, unfolding in one-foot increments. The weight limit remains the same.
Wealthy people who enjoy outdoor activities (like hunting, camping, or exploring) often prize floating cots for refined outdoor sleeping.
Treat a Floating Cot as having hardness 10 and hp 20.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, floating disk; Cost 125 gp