48th of Anael, the first month of snow.

  Maxwell’s Journal

  Brianna was right. I should have listened to her council this morning. Ouch.

  The Celestial Library

  The day dawned bright and early, Max had breakfast with Bri, told her his plans for the day, and she shook her head. “Bless your heart my love. I think that’s an unwise choice, but I won’t try and stop you.”

  Arriving at the “workshop” in the library, Max made coffee and waited for the others to arrive. Everyone was assembled by seven, handed their summoning assignments, and sent forth.

  Then the trouble began.

  “Alright Lemon, I’ve picked up a Mud elemental…I mean earth/water elemental.” Max announced. “Distance is 200m. What does the “m” stand for, anyway? Why isn’t it in inches?”

  “M is for Meters. It is a measurement based on the size of our world.” Lemon replied, clinging to Max’s backpack. “It is much more accurate than inches and feet.”

  “Well, it’s never going to catch on.” Max grunted. “Next you’re going to tell me that you’ve got a new system of weights that people are going to have to learn how to use.”

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  Lemon smiled a devilish little smile, “Well actually, yes. Marquee Measures, god of measurements, has come across something called a “stone”.”

  Just then an electrically charged ball of water dropped from the ceiling, splashing Max with water and electricity.

  “Damn it! Why did we summon ALL of the elementals at the same time?” Max yelled.

  Lemon, now hiding under the top flap of the bag, yelled back, “Because we were in a rush, and not thinking clearly!”

  Max sighed, shaking his head, “I should have listened to Bri.”

  -

  Max and Lemon stared at each other over their respective glasses of whiskey. “Let’s never do that again.” Max said, taking a swallow of the dark amber liquid.

  Lemon nodded, taking his own swig of liquor. “And let’s never speak of this again.”

  Max nodded in response.

  The pair stayed up late drinking.

  -

  49th of Anael,

  We have a range of about 218 yards on our stick of elemental detection. We get distance and direction from the stick, but that’s about it. We need a generic elemental detection device too, otherwise we will be walking around flipping through some thirty choices at random. Gah! This is annoying! At least at this point I can do the detection enchantment myself.

  I am already tired of working on this project. If I was just working by myself or just one or two other people, that would be fine. Working with and managing a dozen people? Nope. Especially not gods. Never again. Herding cats is easier.

  50th of Anael,

  Basic detection charm is complete. Anything elemental will trigger the alarm if I’m within 200 yards. I’m going to start tomorrow with a street-by-street search.

  The Research and Development team for the stick has been compensated, called a success, and disbanded. Research on the cistern/well (turns out it acted as both, apparently) is ongoing. The individuals working the well are currently working on figuring out what the rope was that was around the top, and what properties it held. I wish them luck.

  We have found out… Bri found out what happened to the ship. It was caught in a gigantic whirlpool a hundred or so miles off shore. At least according to Madam Beatrix, the local soothsayer. My heart grieves for the lost.

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