video | usn: brightsun

[stephanivien]

[ The video is a clear capture down in the forges, the device propped up on a worktable of some sort, with curled pieces of parchment and scattered writing sticks of charcoal scattered across the desk, though all details of plans are neatly swept out of view.

Instead, is centered a quite tall man with pointed ears, a hint of soot smeared across his cheek, while behind him lie large loam moldings, as well as a couple strangely shaped large metal components, nearly as tall as the man himself. ]

Greetings! My name is Stephanivien, and I am something of an inventor and maker of armaments by trade. With a gracious deal from King Deimar, I have begun the manufacture of several improvements to help those borne to the towers with defenses. However! There is only so much one man can do alone.

[ He moves closer to table, placing down both hands an leaning in towards the device. ]

Most immediately pressing, in this case, is the dragon problem facing the Southern Tower. Luckily enough, dealing with dragons in this manner is something I am unfortunately quite familiar with. I've been focusing on a modification of a previously existing design of mine, especially in light of the desire to capture over...[ He pauses, clearly searching for a way to say 'death', except the dragon is already dead. ] ...more permanent measures.

In light of such things I should like to request two forms of assistance! First, to any and all engineers, tinkerers, inventors or all else of the mechanical sort, I would be deeply appreciative of any willing extra hands and partners to brainstorm and build. You will, of course, be welcome to work on your own projects as well, utilizing the space, and as any worker of a manufactory, compensated for your efforts and time.

[ He pauses to sift through a sheaf of parchment just at the edge of view, before pulling out something that from the brief view appears to be something alike an employment contract. ]

Second! To any mages of skill, particularly those already among the towers: I am quite adept at the melding of machinery and magecraft, but there remain questions of both energy storage and also finer details in terms of how, exactly, we wish for this to operate. On the base level, it will be not dissimilar to a typical ballista, though augmented for the expectation of its target, but the design comes in more question with the desired bolt. My initial thoughts were something alike mechanical claw, with a requisite chain for attachment. However, I believe added magical character, as well as additional strength to both bolt and chain will be required if we take that tack as opposed to a more traditional harpoon.

[ He reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose, briefly, smearing more soot across his face. ]

I'm quite well versed with the magic of my home, but not of that available to those here. Frankly, I will need to know what is possible for those of you who will end up manning the thing to sustain before I can get too deep into the manufacturing of it.

Comments

un: strange / video

[rehandle]

[ Would you look at that? A plan seems to be pulling itself together. Up pops Stephen, views from the South Tower his backdrop. ]

Would it be possible to recreate something like a bolas as the projectile? If in theory a sorcerer could help guide it home and help keep it where it needs to be once your device had provided it the necessary force to meet its target.

We need her free to fly, but the biggest danger she presents to anyone guiding her is her ice and her jaws. If we could keep them closed, we'd have a better chance of getting her clear with minimal injury.

[stephanivien]

A bolas! That is a good idea. [ Stephanivien's face lights up at the prospect, and he pulls out a new piece of parchment and a charcoal stick to begin scribbling on ] We would still want to go with a ballista as the launching mechanism, I wouldn't trust the stability of the chase enough even if we could cast a cannon sufficiently large.

The force aspect should be quite doable, and even precise aiming isn't out of hand. The base can easily be made to pivot, and you should have a reasonable angle to adjust the launching point as well.

[ As for the rest of it... there's an enterprising glint in Stephanivien's eye. ] If they are primed properly for magical enhancement, do you think you could power them enough to have them expand in size? It would be an easy enough preparation, though my fears up to this point have been the limitations on where to draw enough aetheric density.

[rehandle]

If raw power is all you need, that won't be a problem.

[ Humblebrag??? But really he just means power input as opposed to an assistive spell. If all the projectile needs is fuel for an already primed expansion, he'll make a wonderful battery. ]

I can come by for testing if you need to check the fit.

[ Just like not all cars can run off gas, it'd be wise not to just assume his magic is compatible with every universe's tech. ]

i know this is three million years later my deepest apologies

[stephanivien]

Power should be all, though I would appreciate the testing! We'll likely need to calibrate to however your internal energies manifest, or at least enough to make the conversion more generalized!

[ The principles should work the same, he hopes, from a 'magic-and-aether-as-energetics' perspective, and he hasn't seen any reason to doubt it yet, though fine tuning will of course be needed. Especially since magic seems far less inclined towards Aspects, here.

Honestly, that just makes it a far more interesting puzzle to solve. ]

If you can arrange a time to come down here, that would be great. I am equally happy to try and come up to meet you in the towers; I will need to transport and install the armaments regardless of any further magical enhancements.

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

Capturing is all well and good, but do consider the sheer size of the frost wrym in question. Should she struggle and come crashing down, she will do considerable damage. Her sheer size also means turning her to aim for a less... destructive landing could be difficult.

That said, I'm well versed in crafting, enchantment and frost wryms.

text

[stephanivien]

Indeed! I had originally thought more in the sense of a controlled reeling in like a whale with a harpoon, which has been previously managed on another beast of similar size, while desired parties boarded across the reinforced chains and then further control or capture determined from there. Though I've recently gained other suggestions that may mitigate that cause altogether, such as a more bolas-ascribed projectile. I am certainly open to additional suggestions.

I confess I hadn't considered that the frost breath was a condition of the dragon being Ice-Aspected! Perhaps it is worth considering elemental affinities and weaknesses for further enchantment of the materials themselves. I would certainly welcome any aid towards enchantments, or further familiarity on the subject.

[blackscales]

Boarding her to help steer her is worth trying, her slow movement means she won't at least quickly spin her passengers off but I have no doubt she'd try. You'd want to afford any who something to slow their fall, if they succeeded, so they don't find themselves in pieces on the ground. What was your intention with the bolas?

un : dappled peals of the parted seas (voice)

[beitangmoran]

If you have the king's blessing, I assume you won't be needing for funds?

[stephanivien]

Let us instead say that I have already set aside a portion of my production set aside to account for the costs of starting up, but remain interested in additional investments.

[ A man's gotta eat. And pay his workers. And build up clientele. And build up back stock for when the—what appears to be inevitable—further migration forward occurs.

A pause. ]

Unless you refer specifically to the dragon situation. That is fully covered.

[beitangmoran]

Oh, I will fully entrust you with the dragon situation.

but in case some provisioning is needed that cannot go through official channels for any reasons, do tell. We'll find a way.

un: absterge

[downswing]

( A... gracious deal. Ah. )

Greetings.

I beg iron's boon of the forgemaster.

[stephanivien]

...I am sorry, but I'm not sure I understand. Is there something specific you are seeking?

[downswing]

Chains.

un: max silver

[margenes]

Oh, crap. This is cool.

[pietro is just an enthusiast of all these things. so many words, so little time to hear them all.]

Do you need someone to grab things for you?

[stephanivien]

That would be incredibly helpful, Pietro, Thank you!

[ A familiar-ish face! Stephanivien is happy to see you, in amongst the zipping back and forth around Deimar and his pages. ]

I'd be glad to instruct you in more of it, as well, if you find the moments to spare.

If nothing else, it would be good to have a few others on-hand who know how to fire them.

[margenes]

[how cool to have his name remembered.]

My man, I have nothing but time. Just tell me when you are not busy and I will go listen to your instructions. Where are you at?

un: yiling laozu

[weifinder]

I'm happy to add to the minds working, though I'll need stay below during the process. My nights run late, I run little loving of sleep until they run later still, and projects are the kinds of puzzles I enjoy. Which I know I've more or less mentioned when discussing what to do with Irenia.

[stephanivien]

Indeed you have! I shall either swing by myself or send someone to you with schematics to puzzle over. All the better to fill those waiting hours with.

Later still, I will try to meet with you myself to discuss more of the magic aspects. Twould be best to account for any potentials for tampering through the magics of this world if I am to continue along a track of enhancing my own weapons with magic.

[weifinder]

If waiting hours are really here, but I have a good mind for visuals when I'm interested.

( meaning he'll multitask while helping map out escape routes in the changing context of guts bind. )

Later will be measured on after leaving this place, and whatever costs we find it adds to our lives in the process. Happy to discuss such with you then! For now, the siege, the evacuations, hell breathing up from below. Enough on our hands, and swift our movements to handle, with as little trust as the people whose livelihoods were this fortress can muster to spare. Understandably.

un: V; audio

[techmaturgy]

Do you invent other things? Or just armaments?

[stephanivien]

Many other things! Methods for converting one's inherent aetheric—or, rather, magical—energies into electrical power, trackers to trace back remote signals, Automatons! The possibilities of invention are endless!

Yet, war is a familiar beast, with familiar demands, that I have a wellspring of experience in meeting. And what innocent lives I can save by improving the capabilities of their defenders, I have no qualms.

But! Little of that, if that is not your interest! There is much yet still to be made, and I am of deep curiosity to make it, so be welcomed for works towards other things as well.

[techmaturgy]

I'm well aware that the arc of scientific innovation trends towards war, more often than not.

[It doesn't mean he has to accept it! Still, it's difficult to argue against weapons or defenses when they're in the situation they are.]

Tell me more about your work with magic.

video, un: long rope

[eyeofthavnair]

[Could this gentleman be an Ishgardian? It would be nice to have another here from his world, even if they were a stranger. But with how many worlds there seem to be out there, it's hard to tell.

Still...he'd like to hope...

(it may be strange for a dragon to be excited to meet an Ishgardian, but he's liked the one he knows so far!)]

Does your homeland often have...'dragon problems'?

video

[stephanivien]

A great deal of them, formerly, and originally of our making, as it turned out, but no longer. Though the wounds of war are ever-slow to heal, we are making much progress with them. [ He squints. Potentially a Thavnarian by the garb? Almost certainly, at least, someone from home. He's yet to see or hear of anything like the Au'ra anywhere else, after all. ]

Pardon my presumption, but you wouldn't happen to be from Thavnair, would you?

[eyeofthavnair]

[Varshahn's face brightens immediately. He was right! And he should have realized how clearly he himself stands out. Hehehe.]

Ah, what could have given it away? [A buddy from home!! Fellow...uh...Ethyrian? What is their adjective, anyway? Okay, okay, focus.] You are correct. My name is Varshahn. Though I wish we were meeting on...more familiar ground...it is nevertheless a pleasure, Stephanivian.

[Alright, on to business. Although he's not actually sure he can do much for this man.] I cannot say I know much about machinery...but if there is any simple labor that would help, I would be glad to do it.