Alright, it’s go time. I’m going to assume everyone is being cooperative here, if not, I’ll edit my action
First, I’ll set up a stand in the middle of the Warehouse that we can prop the crucible up on.
Second, melt Clate’s gold down in a crucible
Third, Get Cara to move the crucible (with tongs, of course) over and put it in the stand.
Finally, drop an octohedron into the molten gold, and run away as fast as possible.
Name: Harmony “Harm” Li
Description: Lean and broody looking. This woman has short black hair and is partially covered in interlocking black tattoos. She wears simple black clothes, with a knee-length Maggot Wool Coat overtop. She wears a mail shirt underneath her clothes.
Goal: Overall, Harm would like to find a place where refugees and travelers could seek refuge without dealing with the dogmatic influence of the church. Right now, though, she just wants to get away.
Stats
Str:11
Dex:11
Spe:11
End:10
Awa:11
Cun:12
Kno:10
Ner:11
Skills
Weapon smith (3)
Mechanical (2)
Lucky Shot (1)
1 unassigned
Inventory
Mail shirt (protect 3)
Crystal cutting utility knife (free to borrow)
7 Octahedrons
5 Large branches of crystalline lead
Lucky Shot (6 rounds)
Short sword (cutting 3, pierce 2)
Rifle (2 pierce)
Field Lighter
10 Path Markers
2 units mechanical junk
2 mechanical arms (belong to Kara and Vikkan)
135 fathoms
Assuming everyone is ok with this since neither clate nor cara have replied.
When you drop the thing in, it reacts rather violently, not quite an explosion but close. Small globs of molten gold spray all over the ground near the crucible and the crucible itself shatters. In its place grows a bush or small tree. At least it resembles what you've heard of them, you've never seen one yourself obviously. Its about 5 feet tall, with a long twisted trunk of crystalline gold leading up to thin branches that bloom into literal gold leaf, fractal shaped paper thin slices of gold.
Check to see if enough time has passed for my mechbrain to be identified.
Ask The Church about what the payment for the Relic Vision test will be.
Play something on my haunted electrical guitar.
Play something from my Balaram Songbook on my normal, decorated Acoustic guitar.
I am purchasing both guitars for the 30 agreed upon, plus the 13 for the decorative materials. I am adding one fathom for the broken string on the other guitar, for a total of 44 fathoms transferred to Clate.
Name: AsHul
Description:Former human. Awful, ugly, indifferent
Goal:To find God
Stats
Str:10 Dex:9 Spe:9 End:11 Awa:12 Cun:11 Kno:11 Ner:16
Skills
3 Diving
2 Animal Handling
1 Survival
1 Weapon skill: Guitar
Inventory
Relic Fragment
Black Book (copy, strata 1,2,4)
3 Silent Night - calming. gives advantage on diving rolls
6 Worm Blood - steadies nerves (restores to max)
100 ft of rope
Ham radio
2 Occult Junks
59 (103-44 for guitars) Fathoms (One magnetically welded to the wall of his room in the Bore, one "shiny," 57 standard)
One Brass sphere with clockwork innards (From Balaram) (currently being investigated by a Brain guy)
Book of sheet music (from Balaram) [stack of about 100 pages bound by three brass rings along the top of the sheets]
his former bomb collar - made of something like demagnetized neodymium.
One Bone-fretted haunted electric guitar
One mundane acoustic guitar with wave patterns in abalone and turquoise
Notes: Empyrean: Deep Walker Leon is a church official who can place characters in positions within the church. Contact referred by the church squad who killed our captors.
Anvil: Local parish: currently looking for 8 to do a communal vision with a minor relic to extract the relic core.
Travellers' guild is offering a relic retrieval job. Local hazards ('living').
They identify it as a firing control module (+1 System)
1000 fathoms total, to be split among the people going.
[9] You noodle around on the haunted guitar a bit. It sounds pretty good and creepy but isn't magical or reality bending.
[11] You open the music you got from the spheres and sit down to play the first song. As you do, you notice something. The color in the world seems to fade except for a scattered points of light. Most are distant and indistinct but the fathoms in your pocket and the golden tree both gleam with a light that shines through the material between it and you. The illusion goes away as soon as you stop playing.
Craft a human bone pan flute. Try playing a happy tune with it.
Then head down to the town market, see if they have any livestock or other potential sacrifices for sale.
Name: Auft Kindheart
Description: Standing 3'10", with even fluffier than usual snow-white fur, this Ethral radiates adorable innocence even by the standards of her kind. Her porcelain-white mask is a circular shape carved into slices, each bearing a smiling face with eyes and mouths arched in joy, and adorned with pink blush marks. Her cloak is similarly pure white and a little too large for her, adding to her cute and defenseless appearance.
Goal: To amass and improve loyal pets and slaves.
Stats
Str: 8
Dex: 13
Spe: 10
End: 8
Awa: 8
Cun: 16
Kno: 13
Ner: 10
Skills
+1 Medical
+1 Translate
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Persuasion
+1 Stealth
+1 Animal Handling
+1 Archeology
+1 Biological
+1 Chemical
+1 Occult
[1 Skill Point]
Inventory
2 Fathoms
Ethral Rifle [7/7]
Doctor's Bag
Dodecahedron Spider-Thing: Fist-sized dodecahedron body, long unjointed legs that move in very slow cascades. Ceased moving upon being picked up. Can be trained in simple commands via clear hand signals, bops, and repetition.
2 quarter-inch cubes of impossibly heavy black stuff: Estimated 50 lbs weight total
Thug with metal teeth in his mouth and on his arm
Mediocre Skull Mug: A mug made from a skull. It works, but it's pretty meh considering it's made from a skull.
The resulting panflute is functional...kinda. Its basically a bunch of long bones crudely strapped together and the notes are all off despite the lengths going from long to short. They're arranged randomly, low and high mixed, and there's not much range. Bah.
There are numerous critters for sale. Grubs, worms, crawlers, crevice ferrets, void rats, Skin moles, Wool maggots, Various beetles, Fluff Scarabs etc.
Where exactly do the pilgrims want us to drop them off, is the edge of the caverns ok?
For the goods transport mission, will he give us some papers to identify ourselves with to the people where we will pick up his goods?
Are there things like toll roads or obstacles along the paths we'd need to worry about?
About how much fluid is in the beaker artifact thingie? And if one wanted to chemically test a bit of it in a chem lab, what kind of roll would that be?
Name: Adam Blavatsky Darvaza
Description: A young man of slightly pale complexion and eternal 9 o’clock shadow, he was raised in a small village. While the village priest and passing mystics droned with endless sermons of the Church and their teachings, what had always captivated young Adam’s attention more were the stories of his Granny.
Old stories of the world as it once was, before people were forced to flee to the caves and crannies of this damp hell. Of warm days where pleasant green plants tickled your feet as you walked through them and a cool breeze blew through your hair. Where food was plentiful, nature was benign and endless vistas reached as far as they eye could see.
Adam was nominally a card-carrying member of the church, though he mostly did it for the connections and perks that brought. They were powerful and had ancient lore, all things he would need to fulfill his true heart’s desire: to return to the surface, vanquish the madness that tainted their homeland and reconquer paradise.
Goal: Plunge the secrets of the depths below to find an answer to the horrors above.
Stats Str: 10
Dex: 10
Spe: 11
End: 10
Awa: 11
Cun: 10
Kno: 10
Ner: 13
SkillsDiving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Inventory1 soldier chestplate
Clothing: simple priest robes, shortened a bit so as to less restrict his movements
1 ethral rifle [10 rounds] (pierce 2)
2 black flame
1 Silent Night
5 worm blood
1 minor artifact
1 beaker artifact (found in crystal ruins)
1 crystal construct
1 black book copy
1 black book
1 field lighter
77 fathoms
(loaned 6 fathoms to aigre)
1 unspent skillpoint
See where the caverns cross near the river? By Undertow and Kirk? Thats where. Right at the tip.
If you take the job, he will.
Generally not. The exception is the Abyssal path, which charges to use the automated systems that lower the bore down. Its fairly cheap though.
About 400-500 ml. Knowledge + Chem
@Nyw
"How about you, Honored Dead. Will you join us in bringing forth the core of this relic for the local parish? Or would you find escorting pilgrims to be more to your liking?"
"I do not know. I am inexperienced with diving, and am not Chthonic in faith. Do you believe brawn of the dead would be of use in your mission? If so, I will happily assist withe the relic. Otherwise, it seems prudent to remain where I might be of use."
You sidle over to the other honored dead and start trying to fix up his armor. He politely pushes your hands away. You equally politely continue to do it anyways.
"Err, hello. You are honored kin, yes? I am joyful to meet another of my kin, but I--please, I would rather remain covered!" Nyw pushes Cara away more forcefully, and retreats several steps. "Thank you. Now, may I ask your name, Honored Sister? My own is Nyw'geuq Otin Sunam, The Lords' Child. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
Nyw is going on the relic mission, pretty sure.
Name: Nyw'geuq Otin Sunam; calls himself "The Lords' Child"
Description:
((Only one murakumo, but hey! Dual wielding them is stupid anyway. Possibly also impossible, very soon.))
Goal: Inscrutable, which is code for "Definitely not involving this lizard thing".
Stats:Str:14
Dex:8
Spe:10
End:14
Awa:14
Cun:8
Kno:7
Ner:10
Skills:Unarmed: +1
Defense Skill: +3 (Full Plate)
Vehicle Skill: +1
Caving: +1
Navigation: +1
Murakumo: +1
Inventory:
Full Plate Armor [Protective 4]
Crystal Murakumo [Cut 6, Pierce 3, Fragile]
Ornamental Mask of the Child
A hooked cleaver [Cut 3]
Two knives [Cut 2, Pierce 2]
Guard rifle [Pierce 2]
A bunch of bloody guard garments, to be used as raw material.
Okie dokie
Continue napping until it's time to leave for the relic mission.
Name: Alex Wells
Description: A middle aged man standing 5'7" feet tall. He has short brown hair and an unkempt beard.
Goal: Exploring the depths and collecting its wealth.
Stats:
Str: 11
Dex: 11
Spe: 10
End: 11
Awa: 11
Cun: 12
Kno: 11
Ner: 11
Skills:
Explosives 2
Mechanical 1
Survival 1
Caving 1
Chemical 2
Geology 1
1 Skill point
Inventory:
Dynamo Lantern
Field Lighter
5 TNT
Bladed Shovel (Cut 3)
Mail Shirt
39 Fathoms
Crystal box of golem limbs
Golem buddy
Black Flame (Cut 3)
Rifle (Pierce 2) 10/10
8 Structural Junk
Grappling Hook
Also Ok.
Okay, some tinker. I preemptively apologize.
I have a mechanical arm. I'd like to use that to create/tinker something that would let me use a rifle one-handed (because when I shot Moku I assume I was lying down to brace it). If it would be able to hold other things, that would be even better. Would that be possible?
I have some ideas about how it could be done, if it would help, but if you have something cooler/better in mind I'm all for it.
So, first the Long Arm gauntlet. Imagine this gauntlet made out of a mechanical arm. On the left side the gauntlet has a hole through which her arm can get out of the gauntlet. The Long Arm is held on her shoulder with straps so that it doesn't fall down when she removes her hand from it.
The way I'm thinking this, the gauntlet gives her the support necessary to hold and shoot the rifle with one arm without penalties. When she runs out of ammo, she can lock the gauntlet in place and remove her hand from it to reload it.
The second idea is the Bracer backpack. It looks like a backpack made out of the mechanical arm. She can reach up to activate it, whereupon the Bracer deploys away from the backpack, over her shoulder and positions itself in front of her. She can grab it by a handle to control it. The Bracer can grab stuff and hold it in place, but it can still move if you apply sufficient force. It has multiple break settings so you can either move it freely, have it offer some resistance or completely lock it in place.
The concept is similar to the first, a way to use rifle (and other stuff) one handed, merely has different execution. Perhaps the brakes can be used to charge the gauntlet.
The third idea is the Integrated gauntlet. I simply integrate the rifle with the gauntlet and give it a feed so you can just put a lot of bullets in it and don't have to reload. I'd still like to have the hole in the side. It lets me remove my arm and do stuff to the gauntlet, like unjam it. Of course, I don't know if it would still count as a rifle at this point or some other exotic weapon.
Name: "Kara" is what most humans call her, though the closest pronunciation would be Kr'ra-Kax
Race: Corven (advantage for climb, disadvantage for falls)
Appearance: She is a crow-like Corven with matte-black feathers. A bit short. Constantly moves her head around, examining her surroundings. Moves her tail up and down whenever she's excited.
Age: Adult, but just barely
Goal: Wants to find artifacts and experiences that she can use to make an (under)world-famous museum. Wants to prove herself to her mother and piss off her brother with her success (both financially and socially).
StatusSacrificed left arm to reverse time (eaten by giant Shluck-like thing). Bandaged and given spider venom for the pain.
StatsStr:9
Dex:13
Spe:13
End:7
Awa:12
Cun:10
Kno:12
Ner:11
Skills1 unspent
Rifle: 1
Medical: 1
Translate: 1
Acrobatics: 1
Caving: 1
Machine Control: 1
Stealth: 1
Geology: 1
Archeology: 1
Navigation: 1
Inventory? fathoms
Church Documents (document ownership and events, and recommend favorable treatment)
Ethral Rifle (rifle 3, pierce 3) 6/7
Field Lighter (Fire 2)
Simple Clothes
Kara's DiaryIn StorageCrystal Tablets (diary about some construction project, inventory, obedience rod instructions, construct assembly instructions)
Cot
Book (Adventures of Pilgrim)
Deck of Cards
Mechanical Arm (not installed)
Crystal Friend
Bomb collar (unlocked)
All bomb collar remotes
Suffer not the tinkerer to live.
Sure. Although "use one handed" can be interpreted in a lot of ways, from integrating it into the arm to just having some clamps and a bit of sting to clamp it on and then pull to fire. What exactly to you have in mind for this?
Deliver guitars to Ashul
Repair string from guitar that he snapped last turn
Check my kidnapper bell box contents, as per last turn.
Name: Clate
Race: Shluck
Description: Being a Shluck, Clate is rarely seen outside of his environmental suit. Inside, he is the standard albino mollusk, with his only true defining characteristic being the alternating white/borwn pattern of his beak, much like on a nautilus shell. His environmental suit and exoskeltons are full of scuff marks and small blemishes from work, but the knowledgable observer will notice that it is mechanically kept in tip-top shape. He wears a toolbelt and a satchel to store his tools and other knickknacks, and has a blue cap perched on top of his helmet.
Goal: To create great works of craftsmanship and become filthy rich in the process.
Stats
Str: 8
Dex: 11
Spe: 9
End: 10
Awa: 10
Cun: 16 (+3)
Kno: 12
Ner: 11
Skills (1 point unused)
Electronics 1
Mechanical 1
Biological 1
Chemical 1
Occult 1
Weaponsmith 1
Armorsmith 1
Stealth 1
Steal 1
Explosives 1
Inventory
Clothing: A tool belt that can be modified to fit the exoskeleton, a satchel and a blue cap with "If it ain't broke, fix it" embroidered on.
Mail shirt (Made to integrate directly into the exosuit, protecting surface that houses Shluck including head.Protect 3)
Bladed Shovel - handle coated with Pseudomagnetic mortar
Knife (cut2, pierce2)
Rifle (pierce2, 10/10 magazine)
TNT x5
Dynamo lantern
Field lighter
Path markers x10
"Muggy"(skull mug scrimshawed with "can we fix it?" on the side, "No, it's fucked." on the bottom. Has trigger on the inside of the spine-handle that, when squeezed, caused the mandible to open and close)
Electric guitar (mostly metal with human bone fretboards. When played, screams can be heard under the tones.)
Acoustic guitar (Metal + guardbone, totally mundane. snapped string)
Acoustic guitar (Wood, turquoise and mother of pearl inlays.)
Box with "kidnapper bell"
8 Octahedrons - supposedly replicate materials
1 gold cubes
1 container of Pseudomagnetic mortar
labradorite/Obedience rod
Slate box with multicolour crystal toothpick - supposedly turns someone into a gemperson.
Spool of thermoreactive wire.
Bomb Collar
100ft silk rope
3 structural junk
30 chemical junk
1 corpse (missing: skull, neck vertebrea, some bones)
99 Fathoms
Crystal Babies
1. Dodecahedron, no limbs, rolls. Fist sized.
2. 8 sided diamond (looks like Ramiel from EVA and floats). 8 inches to an edge
3. Crystal snake. hiss. 18 inches long.
4. Spiky daddy long legs like Irony has. 1 foot legs, fist sized body.
5. Thing looks like (see pic). about 8 inches to a side.
7. Wheel sort of thing that has a fat inside edge and tapers to a sharp edge on the outside. Foot and a half in diameter.
Done.
Done.
You open the box and inside is a bell, laying in what looks like a bed of dark blue silk. The bell itself looks to be made of crystal, lighter blue than the material it is laying in and partially transparent, but shot through with veins of black. The bell is about the size of your metal fist, maybe a bit bigger, and quite expertly carved. It has no distinguishing markings, no letters or anything of the sort, but is covered in asymmetrical and strangely organic
whorls, with a small handle of bone and brass affixed on top. The handle is very ordinary, clashing with the design of the bell and looks like it was probably added later, by someone else.