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[Tack]

Ebbor's fault: (4) Milo, Andrea, Madman, Johiah
Ebbor’s Triumph: (1) Tack

I haven’t been keeping up with the discord so i’m essentially voting blindly.

[andrea]

since my edit, both plans are identical actually.

[Tack]

Then I shall vote upon naming scheme alone.
Unless NUKE wanted to put forward their edits

[Jilladilla]

Really, whether the plan is called Ebbor's Folly or Ebbor's Triumph depends on how successful it is. All we're sure of is what we're doing, and who is to be credited with the plan.

[Draignean]

Three Captains

The mightiest fleet in Wrethan history comes screaming down to wreak havoc on the Three Captains. Ten skiffs and four Windriders approach, the scout shouting back intel whenever needed.

This turns out to not be terribly necessary, since Kasgyre appears to have buggered off. Again.

The airspace around the Three Captains is bright, sunny, and only bothered by a few faint whisps of clouds. Officers, expecting the greatest battle ever fought, sulk in their quarters. Lesser Aeronauts get out dice cups and decks of cards, content to enjoy the nice weather on a day that doesn't involve them all dying. The fleet takes up a defensive position at the spire, sitting tight until the transports arrive- which happens in short order.

After one of the officers suggests that this all could be a clever plan for the dastardly Kasgyrites to ambush the transports, the fleet reassembles for a tense escort of the transports to the Three Captains. Nothing happens. All eyes are on the dinghies as they disembark soldiers into the spire. Nothing continues to happen. The last of the dinghies are stowed back on board the transports, and the  Marge and the Shibboleth take up central positions in the fleet. Nothing then happens with such a great vengeance that the Windrider officers once more return to their cabins to sulk and fill out paperwork to complain that their jobs don't provide enough stimulation.

Inside the Spire

The reinforcements to the three captains meet mixed success. The rifle squads have good success, particularly in pegging holes in the front line. The shields used by the kasgyrites, while tough and still capable of stopping or deflecting a bullet from time to time, are penetrated on most shots. Volley fire from the rifles is effective when the enemy attempts to close, as it can disrupt the enemy's front line and allow gauntlets and pincushions to score more hits. However, the blinding clouds of smoke are a severe issue in tunnel fighting, and reduce the marine's ability to pick targets considerably- which limits the barrage to pushing off closer presses. Toe-to-toe, the rifle can't keep up with, or out aim, the Kasgyrite snipers- but it's still the best tool for suppressing them

The additional cannons are something of a mixed success. They allow more cycling of cannons, but that does nothing to prevent the cooking heat. While this issue is felt on both sides, the Kasgyrite inability to advance to close range doesn't do much at all to prevent their superiority at close range. Judging by measurements made by men on the ground, their shrouds have taken a pounding that puts them on a par (at least) with the shroud of a Comet.

The Kasgyrite push continues, however, and though they lose men, they succeed in pushing the Wrethan defenders out of the heavier fortifications made in the 'peaceful' years. They appear to be running low on grenades, and they are even further outnumbered. However, with looser defensives, they'll likely inflict significant casualties before being brought down. A weapon capable of knocking out their shrouds, or killing them through it more efficiently than an decades old flintlock design, would be greatly appreciated.

Confirmed Kills: At least one Kasgyrite squad.
Losses: Squad H, 1 PLACE, 25% of squad L

Wreth has Lost Ground at the Three Captains


The Unfinished

The scouting skiff at the unfinished would really, really, really like to get moved to a different assignment. Something about the prisoner transports occasionally drifting into the Unfinished's ramshackle harbor, about the packages that are laid out by night so you can never actually get a good look at the workers, about the way that the glimpses the men do get of the specks moving down on the docks at night fill them dread.

The officer writes it all off as fatigue on the part of his men, but he'd still really like to get stationed somewhere else.



Spire Wreth

The WOSV Black Ink is christened and declared ready for service, and a new Comet is constructed to replace losses.



It is now the beginning of the year 376AR.

Spire Wreth's Production Stands At,
13(+8)/y Crystal, 53/65 Banked
19(+2)/y Ore, 26/95 banked
19(+6)/y Wood, 89/95 banked
10/y Silk, 28/50 banked

It is now the design and project maintenance phase. You have 5 dice left to spend.

Spoiler: Projects (click to show/hide)

E.S.P: 6/20 | 2 Ore, 2 Crystal | Rushed 0 Times | 2O, 2C
Aether Forge 2/27 | - | Rushed 0 Times | Nothing Invested
EMERALD 9/12 | 3 Crystal, 3 Ore, +4 of either C or O | Rushed 0 Times | 19 Crystal, 11 ore Invested

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

The Calm: The calm is a region of the aerosphere with almost no wind beyond fleeting turbulence, and absolutely no aetheric currents. It's frigidly cold, and filled with fine red 'snow' that barely moves. Traversing it with a conventional vessel is impossible due to the lack of energy to fuel the lift and trim crystals.
The Everstorm: As the name suggests, the everstorm is a region of the aerosphere dominated by an enormous and eternal thunderstorm. It's a chaotic region of raging winds and surging aetheric energy that manifests in terrible bursts of prismatic flame. No conventional vessel could hope to survive the nightmarish storm conditions.

Wreth Territory

Haze-Maze
Marine Presence: K 0/8 |  W 1/8
--->Marines
---> Squad G (No Equip)
Territory: 0/4 | 4/4
Resources: 1C, 3O, 1W, 2S
Conditions: Deadly Gas Pockets, significant vertical shafts and steep tunnels.

Miner's Folly
Marine Presence: K 0/18 |  W 1/18
--->Marines
---> Squad G (No Equip)
Territory: 0/4 | 4/4
Resources: 1C, 6O, 0W, 1S
Conditions: Toxic Stone, Massive Caverns, pitch-black

The Verdant Vista
Marine Presence: K 0/18 |  W 0/18
Territory: 0/4 | 4/4
Resources: 1C, 0O, 8W, 2S
Conditions: Mostly earth and soil, Unstable pocket caves


The Belt

Three Captains
Marine Presence: K ?/20 |  W 6/20
--->Marines
---> Defense Squad D:  Silk Vest (Officer) | Pincushion (1/4) | Suppressor (1/4) | Gauntlets (2/4) | BLOCK | PLACE x2 | Envenomed Bolts
---> Defense Squad E:  Silk Vest (Officer) | Pincushion (2/4) | Gauntlets (2/4) | BLOCK | PLACE x2
---> Support Squad F:  Silk Vest (Officer) | Pincushion (3/4) | Suppressor (1/4) | PLACE x2 | Envenomed Bolts
---> Support Squad G:  Silk Vest (Officer) | Pincushion (3/4) | Suppressor (1/4) | PLACE x 2 | Envenomed Bolts
---> I:  Silk Vest (Officer) | Suppressors (3/4) | Gauntlets (1/4) | Envenomed Bolts | 1x MOVE PLACE [75%]
---> M: Rifles (4/4) | 1x MOVE PLACE
---> L: Rifles (4/4) | 1x MOVE PLACE
Territory: 1/4 | 3/4
Resources: 1C, 6O, 2W, 6S
Conditions: Kinetoluminescent Ores, Heavily Infested

Wrackspire
Marine Presence: K ?/12 |  W 0/12
Territory: ?/4 | 1/4
Resources: 3C, 4O, 4W, 2S
Conditions: Unstable Aetheric Phenomena, Broken Spire

Burned Mountain
Marine Presence: K ?/24 |  W 0/24
Territory: ?/4 | 0/4
Resources: 1C, 10O, 1W, 0S
Conditions: Inexplicably Molten Core, Hundreds of narrow tunnels and small galleries.

The Unfinished
Marine Presence: K ?/45 |  W 0/45
--->Marines
Territory: ?/4 | ?/4
Resources: 8C, 0O, 6W, 2S
Conditions: Unfinished infrastructure, Massive open rooms and halls.

Spoiler: Ships (click to show/hide)

WOSV Chimera - Windrider Class
Loadout
8 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons+ (Flanged Heatsinks, Itshana Select) [4 unit Broadsides]
1 Dragun Cannon+ (Sapshot) [Specialized Dragun Bow Mount]
1 Medium Ikusasa Core Crystal
2 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
12 Itshana Select Trim Crystals
4 Itshana Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
8 reams of webbing
Armored Skin 
2 Unit of Armor
Location: Three Captains
Status: All papers are in order.

WOSV Marge - Transport Barge
Loadout
1 Small Core Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
1 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
2 Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
1 reams of webbing
Carrying: 0/6
Location: Three Captains
Status:  All papers are in order.

WOSV Shibboleth - Transport Barge
Loadout
1 Small Core Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
1 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
2 Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
1 reams of webbing
Carrying: 0/6
Location: Three Captains
Status:  All papers are in order.

Comets - Skyskiff Class (x8)
Loadout
2 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons (Flanged Heat Sinks)
1 Very Small Select Core Crystal
1 Very Small Select Lift Crystal
4 Select Trim Crystals
2 reams of webbing
Location: Three Captains
Status: All papers are in order.

Comets - Skyskiff Class (x2)
Loadout
2 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons (Flanged Heat Sinks)
1 Very Small Select Core Crystal
1 Very Small Select Lift Crystal
4 Select Trim Crystals
2 reams of webbing
Location: Three Captains
Status: All papers are in order.

Comets - Skyskiff Class (x1)
Loadout
2 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons (Flanged Heat Sinks)
1 Very Small Select Core Crystal
1 Very Small Select Lift Crystal
4 Select Trim Crystals
2 reams of webbing
Location: The Unfinished
Status: All papers are in order.

Comets - Skyskiff Class (x1)
Loadout
2 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons (Flanged Heat Sinks)
1 Very Small Select Core Crystal
1 Very Small Select Lift Crystal
4 Select Trim Crystals
2 reams of webbing
Location: Spire Wreth
Status: All papers are in order.

WOSV Longlast - Windrider Class
Loadout
8 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons+ (Flanged Heatsinks, Itshana Select) [4 unit Broadsides]
1 Dragun Cannon+ (Sapshot) [Specialized Dragun Bow Mount]
1 Medium Ikusasa Core Crystal
2 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
12 Itshana Select Trim Crystals
4 Itshana Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
8 reams of webbing
Armored Skin 
2 Unit of Armor
Location:  Three Captains
Status: All papers are in order.

WOSV Payoff - Windrider Class
Loadout
8 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons+ (Flanged Heatsinks, Itshana Select) [4 unit Broadsides]
1 Dragun Cannon+ (Sapshot) [Specialized Dragun Bow Mount]
1 Medium Ikusasa Core Crystal
2 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
12 Itshana Select Trim Crystals
4 Itshana Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
8 reams of webbing
Armored Skin 
2 Unit of Armor
Location:  Three Captains
Status: All papers are in order.

WOSV Crystalclear - Windrider Class
Loadout
8 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons+ (Flanged Heatsinks, Itshana Select) [4 unit Broadsides]
1 Dragun Cannon+ (Sapshot) [Specialized Dragun Bow Mount]
1 Medium Ikusasa Core Crystal
2 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
12 Itshana Select Trim Crystals
4 Itshana Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
8 reams of webbing
Armored Skin 
2 Unit of Armor
Location: Three Captains
Status: All papers are in order.

WOSV Black Ink - Windrider Class
Loadout
8 SUCKERPUNCH Light Aether Cannons+ (Flanged Heatsinks, Itshana Select) [4 unit Broadsides]
1 Dragun Cannon+ (Sapshot) [Specialized Dragun Bow Mount]
1 Medium Ikusasa Core Crystal
2 Small Basic Lift Crystal+ (Itshana Refinement)
12 Itshana Select Trim Crystals
4 Itshana Trim Crystals+ (Itshana Refinement)
8 reams of webbing
Armored Skin 
2 Unit of Armor
Location: Spire Wreth
Status: All papers are in order.

Spoiler: Infantry (click to show/hide)

Marines 13

Spoiler: Misc. Goods (click to show/hide)

1x Prototype ESP Transmitter
3x Prototype ESP Receiver

Current Technology

[johiah]

1 die to EMERALD: (1) Johiah
1 die to Aether Forge: (1) Johiah
(3 die) Maybe a new design for ground troops? (1) Johiah

[milo christiansen]

It has long been known that nitric acid can be used to produce explosives. Sadly, none of these explosives have been of much use to the military due to their volatility. Similarly, "fire paper" made from plant fiber treated in nitric acid has long been known, but attempting to use it in weapons has resulted in severe issues, namely premature combustion, resulting in the continued use of good 'ol black powder despite its drawbacks.

Recent experimentation has resulted in a concoction made by dissolving fire paper in certain solvents and alcohols, and drying the resulting jelly into sheets which are then carefully ground into powder. This stabilizes the fire paper somewhat, and allows it to be formed into differing grades of powder suitable for rifles or cannons.

The basic process is sound, but a method of mass production and a few other details are still needed. The design team suggests that more engineers be assigned to working out exact proportions required and designing the manufacturing machines needed for this new propellant.

Poudre B anyone?

In case it needs to be said, nitro based propellants as described above have several major benefits over black powder:

* Much less fouling and corrosion.
* No big cloud of stinky black smoke.
* ~3x more power for a given weight (which won't really matter here, but is a big deal IRL due to logistics).

1 die to EMERALD: (2) Johiah, Milo
1 die to Aether Forge: (1) Johiah

White Powder:
- 3 dice: (1) Milo

[andrea]

]

1 die to EMERALD: (3) Johiah, Milo, andrea
1 die to Aether Forge: (2) Johiah , andrea

White Powder:
- 3 dice: (2) Milo, Andrea

[10ebbor10]

1 die to EMERALD: (4) Johiah, Milo, andrea, 10ebbor10
    - 7 crystal, 3 ore
1 die to Aether Forge: (2) Johiah , andrea
Save 1 die : 10ebbor10

White Powder:
- 3 dice: (3) Milo, Andrea, 10ebbor10

[NUKE9.13]

So, mechanically, what benefit do we get from white powder? More reliable guns -> higher RoF, less smoke -> better accuracy? I mean, that's cool, but is it worth a minimum of four dice (and probably more like six)?

Obviously we need to design something for our marines, and it needs to be something we can get out the door next turn, but I think we can do better than that.

I had this written up already, though their reliance on aether shields means a conventional weapon might be a better choice:

Small Aether Projector- Handheld Implement for Rapid Extermination: EMERALD heralds a new way of manipulating Aether, which in turn opens the door to a host of interesting applications. SAPHIRE is one such application.
SAPHIRE is, depending on your point of view, either a very small cannon or a very big rifle. It consists of a long barrel wrapped in copper wire, significantly smaller than that of a LAC, but larger than that of our rifles. There is a handle towards the front of the barrel for the left hand. To the rear is the weapons crystal, a handle for the right hand, and a trigger. To power the weapon, the user also wears a backpack, a wooden frame housing a core crystal, with 'wings' of webbing extending to the sides. The core crystal is connected by a sheathed bundle of wires to the weapon.
Thanks to EMERALD's aether-compressing tech, SAPHIRE is able to fire exceptionally powerful blasts without overheating- nothing on the scale of a PLACE, obviously, but significantly more powerful than gauntlets or Kasgyr's pistols. Needless to say, the weapon will overheat after multiple shots in close succession, but allowing for a cooling period should give a rate of fire signficantly greater than that of the PLACE (sustained for longer due to reduced aether consumption). Other benefits of a SAPHIRE-equipped marine over a PLACE include substantially greater agility, not cooking a corridor (allowing an immediate advance following a shot), and potentially greater accuracy (if the user is resting the weapon on something and sighting down the barrel).

A grenade design, perhaps?

[andrea]

More reliable, more accurate, more powerful.

[NUKE9.13]

More reliable, more accurate, more powerful.

Milo correctly pointed out in his own design that the powder being more powerful doesn't help us (except logistically), since the limit on power is the strength of the barrel.

[10ebbor10]

Still an aetheric eeapon isn't going to help us either.

[NUKE9.13]

Well, yes, like I said, I think a grenade might be better. Something like

Qhumane Grenade: A copper sphere filled with gunpowder. An adjustable clockwork mechanism detonates the grenade after a certain amount of time has passed, counting down from when a pin is pulled. The copper exterior has been molded in an interesting way, vaguely resembling a vat-grown spike-fruit, such that it will break apart into many fragments, enhancing the lethality of the device.

Or something along those lines.

Project Progress
1 die to EMERALD: (5) Johiah, Milo, andrea, 10ebbor10, NUKE9.13
    - 7 crystal, 3 ore
1 die to Aether Forge: (2) Johiah , andrea
Save 1 die: (2) 10ebbor10, NUKE9.13

New Designs
White Powder:
- 3 dice: (3) Milo, Andrea, 10ebbor10

Qhumane Grenade (3 dice): (1) NUKE9.13

[Tack]

I would personally say go Aether forge, find a better alloy and then go full CQC.
Their shrouds fix our aetheric weapons, their shields fix our conventional weapons, their grenades fix our emplacements.

We need either a flame weapon or melee troops.