Turn 26: Scalemail
Iktaka Modri[Have clonal colonies?: Luck=3] Modri couldn’t recall any plants of that particular behavior. ((If she had it would have been cool, I had a tree in mind! Also, Test 17 has been renumbered Test 16 to reflect this.))
- Step 1: Moderate = 4
- Step 2: Moderate= 3
- Step 3: Moderate= 7
There were no systematic ways of measuring viscosity of a fluid, so Modri had to more or less eyeball it. It seemed different from sap, although she had a very difficult time articulating how; she was much more comfortable with definitive results! Farrek tried to channel magic through the substance, but ended up nearly falling over. For the first time since meeting him Modri took a good look at the man. He was haggard, worn down from the constant use of his magic. Perhaps the man needed a vacation. At the very least he was clearly done for the day. Fortunately the day was not entirely without results. Modri was able to confirm that these structures in the phloem carried this new liquid, but also that this was not the case in trees without crystals. In fact, in CC trees without crystals these structures seemed empty, without any fluid. This would explain why earlier observers hadn't noted much about them; they did not appear to serve any purpose unless a crystal was present. The rest of the phloem carried sap as usual
[Forestry Favor: Luck=7+1] Modri called in her favor and discovered there is a tree which grows in clonal colonies of small clusters in the swamp near Paludan. It is named Traitor's Bean, though the name actually is derived from the earlier name of Traitorous Bean. It serves as a stimulant when cooked properly, a poison when uncooked, betraying the person consuming it.
Abbreviations: Crystal Embedded Tree (CET), Unresponsive Crystal Embedded Tree (UCET)
Test 1, Tree Survivability:CET will move canopy to allow light to reach it, CET will react to perceived threats and push them away, trunk grows around crystal to rapidly enclose it, crystals should be kept safely away from the area where the trees can push, or at least be in a closed container
Test 2, Now With Less Danger, Hopefully!: Dead wood is unreactive to crystal insertion
Test 3, Let’s Appear Like We’re Doing Something Important: CET will draw water uphill to their roots, CET react slowly to thrown object, CET react to noise, some trees do not show any reaction to crystal embedding (UCET)
Test 4, The Fruits of our Labors: CET fruit appear to be larger
Test 5, Deprivation: Removal of crystals from CET returns tree to inert state, dense vascular growth occurs around crystal
Test 6, Preliminary Infection Test: CET can repel insects, no apparent effect on disease or mechanical damage
Test 7, Apple Examination: No apparent crystal formation in fruit of CET, no observed crystal sickness in pigs from eating CET fruit
Test 8, Escalation:Addition of crystals to UCET does not appear to generate response. It is the advice of this researcher that two crystals be applied in most cases, and no more.
Test 9, Location: Branches are particularly difficult to work with, focal point of magic dissociates from inserted crystal, horizontal slits for insertion appear easier on tree and researcher.
Test 10, Reintroduction: UCET remain unreactive under the removal and reintroduction of crystals, there is no obvious external signs of difference between UCET and CET
Test 11, Deadwood: Crystals will not repel termites if inserted into deadwood
Test 12, Transformation: There appears to be macroscopic structure of vascular tissue in reactive versus unreactive trees, this observation made after embedding of crystals, no data collected before crystal embedding on potentially reactive or unreactive trees
Test 13, Uppery: Each crystal allows for an additional simultaneous pushing or pulling action by the tree
Test 14, Stumped: Live stumps of trees with grow to envelop crystals, this is not enough to keep a trunk alive
Test 15, Prediction: Trees with highly ordered vascular structure will use embedded crystals, trees with disordered vascular structure will not
Test 16, What’s Inside: oily film on crystals, tubes forming around them, similar to an enclosure of any other object. Appropriate vascular structures are spaced evenly similar to the ring of primary meristems in the average dicot. Also happens in the extremely thin layer of phloem, evidently.
Test 17, The Alterations:
- Forestry FavorFarrek
5 iron shillings
Vast supply of scrapwood
16 live trees
6 CET
3 UCET
1 Deprived Tree
Small Crate of Shards (270)
3 Apple Trees
2 CET (Apple)
2 Pigs
Apples
Crystal Tree Apples
1 Embedded Insect Infested Tree
Small Bowyer Favor
Tree Corer
Magnifying Glass
George ThainGeorge was having
an adventure!Force crystal
200 iron shillings
Bane Willedhelm[Material Test Scales: Luck=12][Material Test Bones: Luck=7] Bane convinced fellow guild members to conduct tests on the material properties of the bones and scales. The bones were mostly cartilage, offering greater flexibility at the cost of strength, and no use was immediately apparent to those conducting the tests. The scales were another story. They were incredibly difficult to break, and were layered in such a way as to prevent most piercing or slashing weapons from making contact with whatever lay beneath. At this point the Admiral came in with a couple of the city guard and ushered everyone except Bane and Podri out, and Podri only stayed at Bane's insistence.
"What was discovered here is to remain here. Do you understand? There's a lockdown on all arms and armor not owned by Varisport right now, each city gets just enough to protect their guards. If Varisportian authorities found out about this scale it'd be taken from us in a heartbeat, allies or not. Now, I need to know how you found and killed this thing."Bane recounted the entire story, starting with recruiting Podri and the theft. He slipped into storytelling mode as he reached the description of the tension as the beast approached, describing in detail the flurry of action that occurred as it broke the surface of the sea. Gesturing as to the size of the beast was entirely superfluous, the massive carcass served as a backdrop for the story. This was high fisherman drama; it didn't get any better than this.
"Damn, so we do need the Mages Guild for this. This thing doesn't look like it can be brought down with harpoons easily. You, Podly, you're gonna be a liaison for this entire project. You'll be in charge, from our perspective. From the Mages Guild perspective you're a young member who got lucky and stole Guild property. You understand? We need to decide what to tell them mages. Just enough that they'll be interested in helping us kill more of these beasts, but little enough that we don't give them our whole damn catch… You have anything for them aside from these scales?"10 iron shillings
Podri
Titanic Organs, Bones, and Meat
Large, Medium ,and Small Crystals in Flesh
Pile of Teeth
Herman Tongs[60 shillings?: Luck=7] The merchants seem to think that these mages have had little enough success in creating any new effects with different geometries that they would be happy to do commissioned work, though another 10 shillings would probably need to be added up front to allow for the purchase of a sufficiently large and pure crystal.
Access to bronze, iron, and sea silver
Wax for casting
81 iron shillings
Sketch of Hand-Crank Hammer
- Hammer
- Two Mechanisms
- Metal Frame
- Spring
- Crank
Intricate Sketch of Powered Hammer
- Columnar Hammer (Must be Iron)(Check: Great)
- Large Anvil (Must be Iron) (Check: Fine)
- Metal Frame (Check: Great)
- Four Mechanisms (Check: 2 Perfect, 2 Great)
Intricate Sketch of Magical Water Power Source
- 3 Rust-Proof Pipe (Check: Great, Well-Made, Fine)
- Rust-Proof Reservoir (Check: Perfect)
- Rust-Proof Corkscrew Rod (Difficult)(Check: Great)
- Mechanism (Check: Great)
- 4 inch diameter Crystal Plate
Great Hand-Crank Hammer
Casting Basin
Fair Pipes
Powdered Sea Silver
Wol Fann[Test Powder: Moderate=12] Wol decided that he ought to test the powder the way it was intended to be used. He waited for his volunteer to go to the market, and followed. As the man was walking home Wol jumped out from around the corner of a building and threw a handful of powder in the man's face. He went down like a rock, and broke an arm that was caught under him. Wol dragged the man into the small space he had jumped from, and with the help of the toxicologist carried him back to their workspace. When he came to Wol explained he had tried to leave while still dizzy and tripped, falling and breaking his arm. Wol had then bandaged him and monitored him. The man thanked Wol for his care, and left to go to the market. Wol just hoped the merchants were happy enough with a repeat customer to not mention anything…
Access to gardens and swamp
Workbench with mortar, pestle, and alembic
15 Guild credits
33 iron shillings
Cowbane
Red Vine
Sage
White Crown
Untrained Recovered Rat (Cowbane/White Crown)
Untrained Recovered Rat (Red Vine/White Crown)
Trained Recovered Rat (Red Vine/White Crown)
2 Unpoisoned Trained Rats
Toxicologist
Recovered Trained Pig
Pig
Dog
Human Volunteer
Red Vine/Sage Extract
Chalky Salt (1Use Remaining)
Red Vine/Sage Powder