Ah yeeah. :D

>>16534647
"Excellent. I trust you had everything you needed to ensure an easy production?"

>>16534647
"Good. I trust that everything will be ready for the demonstration.
"Oh, I'm sure this will come up during the demonstration: what is the average operational time before it requires maintenance? On average how many kobold-hours of work will this armor require per hour of active combat operation?"

Fuck yes, this quest is back.

>>16534647

Ask how long the demonstration will take. We were going to try and transfer the rest of the prisoners soon, this way we can plan ahead.

>>16534695

"Excellent. I trust you had everything you needed to ensure an easy production?" You ask him.

Felix'hia nods. "Enough, and more offered. This prototype might be too expensive for mass production." He reaches in and tweaks a few pieces with his bare hand. "Mithril used in big pieces, so it's very costly, but very light." He reaches up and checks the several tubes sticking up from around the collar. "All user controlled, limited motion in some areas necessary. Magical strength enhancement took magicians a while." He taps one of the armored thighs. "Some prosthetics tech in the legs. Jump up to ten feet easily."

"Good. I trust that everything will be ready for the demonstration." You ask him rhetorically. Felix'hia simply nods while still cleaning. "Oh, I'm sure this will come up during the demonstration: what is the average operational time before it requires maintenance? On average how many kobold-hours of work will this armor require per hour of active combat operation?"

He pauses. "Depends on mechanics. Weekly maintenance should be all that is necessary." He looks over at you, frowning a bit. "Wouldn't want to do it on an arm, leg. Wouldn't want to do it daily on a whole body." He removes one of the knee plates, and you can see a leather sheath around the internal parts. "Something to keep out dust really helps." He says, checking around it for tears in it.

"How long do you think the demo will be?" You ask him.

"Not much to it," Felix'hia shrugs. "Should be no more than an hour, I hope. Too much activity tires me out, should be the same for a pilot."

>>16534836

Tell him he's doing a good job and when people are coming to watch the demonstration.

When's Yuune going to send us our mages for that teleport, incidentally?

OP, that reminds me. What are our stocks of mithril and adamantium like? What kind of exotic metals exist in the setting? And what's the total budget/economy of the crystal caverns like? They gave us fifty thousand gold to throw together the GRU, so I'm curious how bit a portion of the wealth available to spend here is.

Also, how many troops do we have?

Finally, is there anyone aside from Dalak and Felix'ha working on proechetics? Are there any other prostheticists in the Caverns? Who else makes NAJAs and guns and our other technologies?

>>16534894

"Good, there should be someone coming to watch you in about an hour or so." You say to him.

"More time to work, then." Felix'hia says, placing the armor piece back on the knee and screwing it in.

"Good to see that you're working hard, but don't push yourself too much." You say to him. "I don't think I've ever seen you taking a break."

Felix'hia pauses. "I get eight hours of sleep. Two four-hour periods with one hour of light planning between them."

"That's not what I meant." You say to him, sighing quietly. "Well, I mean, don't overwork yourself."

Felix'hia doesn't answer, and he simply keeps working. You turn and walk away, hoping that eight hours will be enough.

(rest in next post)

>>16534894

"Send the 'special patient' over when you get the chance!" Dalak says to you from a side room as you make your way out.

Yuune will be sending the mages over himself, using some of a limited stock of teleportation magic that he has ways of refilling. Most of the ways involve spending a bit of money.

Mithril and adamantine are two metals the caverns doesn't have a lot of, maybe 350 pounds of mithril and 200 of adamantine. Most other special metals tend to be alloyed created by metallurgists, but one includes a blend of adamantine and mithril that's mainly used to reinforce the mithril. Duralumin is a mixture of a number of rare metals including aluminum, but that's about it. Even then, you'd be hesitant to call them magical metals, just very convenient ones.

The green metal, known as starmetal, though? You have about 25 pounds of it. It's light as mithril and soft as copper, but it alloys well and can replicate some complex spell energies. Even a small amount can work well for continuous magic. Of course, being rare and innately magical, it's in high demand.

The cavern's total wealth is in the upper tens of thousands of gold. However, remember that with everyone taking a piece of the pie, military production costs, and research funding, that will go down quicker than you'd think.

As far as troops, and over all population, you have a roughly 10-12% employment out of the total population. The total population of the Crystal Caverns is about 350,000. Your troops include 35,000 total active soldiers, including the home guards and the scouts, with about 7,000 reserve troops, mostly retired or being rehabilitated veterans.

Dalak and Felix'hia are training prosthetists, but are aparently having some trouble (Previous thread btw: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/16459611/ ) getting them to learn. They don't do many weapons, the parts come mostly from the Guild of Magic and Technology.

>>16535176
Cool to know.

"Oh, gods..." put our hand over our head. Hopefully our undead friend has calmed down a bit...although he probably hasn't.

As for getting for them to learn, I think I have an idea.

"Felix'hia, how old are you getting now?"

I assume he's just about as old as, if not younger, than us.

"Have you considered...recording your knowledge? On paper? Or perhaps in a memory shard?"

Basically, try to coax him into writing, or at least having someone follow him around to write his knowledge down, into a textbook of sorts. That should help our newer trainees learn the craft easier.

>>16535251
He's not talking about Ghurken, Dalek is talking about the trog.

>>16535176
Do we have a heavily defended accessway to the surface, one that we can't be cut off from?

We need a continuous means of getting supplies and keeping our economy going, as well as an Alpha Site fallback position on the surface in case all defenses are breached.

>>16535294
Oh; well then, we're not exactly thrilled about that either. At least he's loyal (for now).

The trog may dangerous, but he's our dangerous trog.

>>16535176
How big is the Guild of Magic and Technology?

As far as we know, is Felix'ha against all apprentices or just the ones he has?

If we don't know, ask Felix'ha if he'd be willing to take on apprentices that have proven their capacity to learn things quickly, as opposed to ones that he would have to struggle with.

After that, if we can take care of it immediately we should really leave him to his work and go get those wounded to the hospital.

>>16535334
We actually have only and ONLY that Trog's say on his loyalties.

He claims to be loyal, but then he claimed to bhe loyal to the last guy and his loyalty may buy him experimental and weaponized prosthetics to sell to the enemy empire.

I'm in favor of rethinking the entire experiment and maybe even scrapping it. Surely our allied Trog tribes will have amputees we can offer that to instead.

At the VERY least we need to use Detect Thoughts on the trog.

>>16535462
>bhe
*be

We might TEST the Trog's loyalty somehow, but it better not cost us our technological advantage with weaponized prosthetics.

Let alone our prostheticist, who he could kill if he had the chance. He's already killed a number of H'runten cobolds that were trying to prevent his escape.

>>16535251

You narrow your eyes. "I will, once I'm sure we want to do this."

"Take your time." Dalak says to you. "Though having a tester for this new stuff who we can have full tenure over would be easiest."

You lean over towards the back door, raising your voice. "Felix'hia, how old are you getting now?"

"Twenty-four." He responds evenly.

"Have you considered... Recording your knowledge? On paper? Or perhaps in a memory shard?" You ask him.

"Make plans for everything. Haven't stopped to record processes." He says back into the room.

"I... I suppose I could write down MY knowledge." Dalak responds, a bit quiet. "It could take a while, with a war oncoming..."

"What about the apprentices? What's wrong with them?" You call out to him. "Would you accept some if they showed a high aptitude for learning?"

You hear an aggravated growl. "No! No I-" Felix'hia stops himself, panting. "I... Maybe. But I want to meet them."

You suppose that's the best you're going to get out of him.

"He gets frustrated easily." Dalak explains.

"Well, with all this work coming in, you two aren't going to be able to handle it." You say to them, raising your voice a bit. "And who knows? Maybe one of them might discover something too!"

"Maybe." Felix'hia replies, more calmly, but still with frustration in his voice.
A few hours later, you have finished the chain teleportation of the H'runten troops, many of whom refer to you as "Mer'kali". You figure you'll just ask someone what that means later.

Off to the trog, then?

>>16535632
Yeah, let's bring him in.
As this poster suggested, can we use a scroll of detect thoughts to make sure he's not planning something, or at least, isn't at the moment?>>16535462

>>16535726

You take possession of one of the extra-strength scrolls of mind-reading, and head into the prison.

Tarvash has his usual glare, but as you pass through the open door, you notice him waver a bit, his body quivering with pain. He makes no sound other than a greeting- of sorts. "Come to reveal my fate, Mynthar?" He rasps.

>>16535877
No words; no emotion.

Just raise a hand and use the thought spell. If we're really going to test him, now would be as good a time as any before he readies any defenses.

>>16535877
No, we haven't. But we can ask him some questions now.

However, what's the cost of not getting the spell to work properly? Can he lash out against our mind, OP?

>>16535925
Why aren't we getting assistance from a bunch of other casters?

He told us flat out that his mind 'would be hard to break,' and he's potentially not coated in lime. He could use his vapor on us.

>>16535937
Considering that he's in prison, he should be aptly covered in the lime. As for assistance, we're fairly powerful, all things considered; that, plus the fact that we have the elements of preparation and surprise is enough, I feel, to be able to overcome him quickly. He's obviously in pain, meaning he's distracted. Having our mages arrive before hand might give him time to pull himself together.

>>16535925
>>16535929
>>16535937

You consider the team that you have posted outside, but then remember the intense pain your own injury gave you a long time ago. You don't have to be politically experienced to see that the trog's not nearly fully capable of defending his mind. In fact, his expression doesn't even change slightly as you take out the scroll and begin the incantation.

The worst that can happen with a spell like this is a mental pop and a bit of a headache. Some more mentally inclined spellcasters have a tendency to have a stronger kick than others.

Torvash's mind, much as he has strong defenses, is laid bare to your perusal.

There's a lot of background noise, likely from the pain, and anticipation.

<<Has he decided to kill me? Too tired to tell. Why couldn't I sleep?>>

He slowly blinks, not seeming to notice what spell it was that you cast. "It... It is a bit cold in here." He raises an eyebrow at you, as though expecting further chatter.

<<God of Destruction, I hope I have revered you well these years. May my soul pass quickly into oblivion should it go, and may my life have done its purpose.>>

>>16536053
Look for signs of betrayal or crossed motives. If we find evidence of his loyalty, we'll stop, then get him some pain medications. If we detect darker thoughts, then we'll tear through him like a farmer through his field.

>>16536053

Tell him that you have come to respect the threat he poses, as he suggested earlier, and that as a result you have taken him seriously and are no longer playing games.

Tell him you will act accordingly and avoid arming him until he shows you some good faith, though you will not mistreat or injure him further.

Tell him you need to know what he knows, now, so that you can make decisions from a mental standpoint of having to worry as little as possible about what he's holding out on.

Ask him to tell you how to control your destructive, draconic tendencies, and to tell you everything, as now is not the time for screwing around.

Write down what he tells you, or have the staff nearby do so. It needs to be recorded.

>>16536148
And probe his thoughts as you do so.

>>16536128
Seconding this, except regardless of whether you find evidence of loyalty, don't stop probing his thoughts and checking the surface thoughts against his words.

Give him the pain medications anyhow.

>>16536128

You continue to concentrate, waiting for something that will betray his loyalties.

He closes his eyes slowly for a moment, then opening them. <<I'm not hallucinating, am I? He hasn't said a thing. Just staring.>>

Torvash attempts to regain his mental faculties, his eyes seeming to unfocus a few times.

<<Is this a test, God? I am sorry. I know not what you want me to do. This man tried to kill me, and I turned belly up in the face of defeat. Should I have died then? Allowed him to reduce me to ashes without so much as a whisper? A fitting fate for one who has brought so much misery. A quiet, kind demise. But, I rebuked it.>>

"Hrmph." Torvash grunts, his upper right chest suddenly twitching and accompanying a spike of static.

<<In that moment, when I felt my limbs being ripped apart, I thought I felt you pull me away, guide the magic from my body and keep me still in this world. Your new incarnation, he is not dead yet. That's what I thought I had to do. Have I stepped off of the path? He's still staring. Why do I even care anymore? If he wished it, I could be killed at any moment.>>

His thoughts turn towards this darker line of thought. <<I should not have been honest with him. He would now likely take my last limb, then find some sadistic way of keeping me alive. But, if he would, why even entertain the idea of letting me live whole once again?

<<No, he has something else planned. Or perhaps his dragon's blood has already given him the beginnings of the rage, and he'll start with me, now helpless in agony. A pity. If he is the accessory of change, no way will he be able to stop himself.>>

>>16536233
Right, obviously we have a demonstration if an INTEREST in not being a completely amoral person.

However, his whole moral structure is what we might call ass-backwards.

Anyway, move on to the stuff in these posts please:
>>16536155
>>16536148
It relates to important subjects.

>>16536233
Well, it seems very sincere.

Drop our hand.

"No, I will not kill you, Torvash. And neither will your god, I think. But of course, I'm the one holding the spell, here."

Call in a doctor or nurse with some medication.

"Thirsty? I hope your confines haven't been too measly for our newest recruit."

>>16536318
Doesn't seem terribly insincere to me, and he doesn't know we're using a detect thoughts spell evidently.

Don't do this.

>>16536402
instead, ask him if he knows what kind of spell you cast.

then you can...READ HIS THOUGHTS to tell if he's lying.

then do this part >>16536282
and ask about controlling your destructive tendencies and all that shit.

'dopping out hand' will not be useful if we have not explored its potential.

>>16536148

"Alright." You say, interrupting the trog's thoughts. "Torvash, was it? I have given you what you wanted. I have treated you as a threat."

<<I am in no condition to escape. Surely he must see that. And what would I do if I could?>> "Indeed you have." Torvash hisses.

"I will treat you like a threat, and thus, avoid arming you, until such time as you show good faith towards me." You say, carefully.

His mind surges with anger. <<Betrayed! He would keep me useless while his mages work through my thoughts, a book on a shelf!>> The mental image of him reaching out, lunging for you, passes through his mind. <<Faith? I should show faith when I have been denied my rightful reward?>>

"You change the bargain so easily, magistrate." He seems renewed by a surge of adrenaline, or perhaps anger. "Tell me which I should show faith in, the you who makes promises, or the you who keeps them."

The dig stings at you, and you have to take a moment to stop yourself from saying something you might regret as you feel a fire start in your belly. "We will not mistreat you or injure you further, you need not fear that. Give him more pain medicine." You say out to the guards.

"I will take none." Torvash hisses, his eyes narrowing. <<It could contain anything. Poison, truth serum. I might just be weak enough to succumb to it now.>>

"I need to know what you know. And I can't have you feeding me half-baked truths and getting my people killed." You point at his chest. "I need you to prove your committal to me."

<<What does he want me to do, chew my own hand off in devotion?>> The trog's mind snaps angrily in response. "I have tried, but you seem to be resistant to the notion that a bastard trog would seek something higher than reducing your people to slaves and you to a pile of bones and metal." His vocal response isn't much less acerbic. "If you want absolute devotion, my only god is the nameless one who sleeps behind death and violence. My soul belongs to him, and from him I draw my might." He glares at you, his hand gripping the wall. "That I want my limbs, my life back, is that so unusual to you? You, who had your arm taken along with your comrades by Rosenkraft?"

You feel your hand wrapped around trog flesh before your mind finishes processing his words. His eyes expand in a moment of shock, his sole hand reaching up to grasp at his throat, claws scratching futily at unfeeling metal.

"YOU DO NOT SPEAK OF MY FRIENDS, YOU MISERABLE ONE-LIMBED WORM!" You feel your grip tightening, the words flying from your tongue like some long practiced spell. Torvash gags, his broken body writhing in an attempt at escape.

>>16536488
>>16536500
....ok, maybe we should calm down.

Get a hold of ourselves! Remember, this guy has been truthful so far (or so we think); he may be useful to us. Killing him would be a waste. Plus, we'd get Trog blood on our good robe!

If we manage to quell our inner fire, release him. Even though we're very unbalanced at the moment, his thoughts should be racing; search deeper now that his thoughts are being uprooted.

>>16536500
Put him down. Ask guards to enter and restrain you should you become angry again. Order them not to harm him in any way.

"I...don't think it would be wise to compare our fight with the torture and loss I experienced in the grip of the drow, Torvash. You fell in battle after slaying plenty of your attackers, and I kept them from killing you. You have not been beaten or assaulted further since being relocated here. I reject the comparison."

"I will remind you that you are an individual capable of dealing handily with our numbers at your full strength, and you have done much to give me consideration, but you're dangling my sanity in front of my eyes with this mention of draconic blood and its destructive properties. So, I will say this: I have granted you use of medications that controlled your pain and shock, and am willing to do so. If you will not have them, that is your call, but I am afraid that is suffering you will bring on yourself."

"It is evident that you are capable of drawing out the destructive pattern you claim is present in my behavior, Torvash. Therefore, it would be a straightforward and a help to both of us if you reduced it and increased my control over it by simply telling me what you know of the matter."

"Pray do that, Torvash, and do not grow paranoid. The prosthetics will not be ready immediately, and there are those closer to death - those you injured near to death - that may need attention first. Restoring you by magic will take time. Telling me what I wish to know about dragon blood and so forth will not stop me from having reasons to wish to help you in your predicament, but keeping information from me will simply make me go to lengths I have no interest in visiting to get it."

You come back into your senses, like a sheet being lifted off of a lantern. Your hand releases the trog, who rolls away, his claws cutting into the bed to drag him away from you as he coughs.

Your mind now capable of it, you concentrate, sensing fear in the trog. <<Can't breathe...>> He thinks for a moment, before you hear a mighty cough from him, followed by panting. <<Worse than my training, tighter grip. Damn him! He... Gods... He slipped into it. Already? My presence might be accelerating the process.>> He curls his body around, trying to face you, while still hacking. <<Sensitive about that. His friends. Still early in the process. But why do I care? I might as well bite through my tongue, let him break this place to the last cornerstone.>> His rage becomes a black hate, his arm shakily propping him up. "You make a promise, then in the same breath, break it! That is what that rage will do to you!" He glares deep into your eyes. "Those you want to protect, they will end up like me! Crippled, or dead by your own hand! If that is what you want then I shall gladly accept imprisonment or death over being used like some kind of tool!"

You pause for a moment, slowing your breathing before responding. "I will remind you that you are an individual capable of dealing handily with our numbers at your full strength, and you have done much to give me consideration, but you're dangling my sanity in front of my eyes with this mention of draconic blood and its destructive properties. So, I will say this: I have granted you use of medications that controlled your pain and shock, and am willing to do so. If you will not have them, that is your call, but I am afraid that is suffering you will bring on yourself."

>>16536686
I'm heading to bed, OP. I'll try posting again tomorrow. Have a good night.

>>16536686
Yeah, we're going to need to give him some security and see to his wounds if he has any.

Cast a healing spell on him, then say the rest of what you were trying to get across or at least this part:

"It is evident that you are capable of drawing out the destructive pattern you claim is present in my behavior, Torvash. Therefore, it would be a straightforward and a help to both of us if you reduced it and increased my control over it by simply telling me what you know of the matter."

<<I would gladly suffer. I would gladly DIE for one such as you!>> His thoughts race. <<But not while you decide I am an enemy.>> He remains silent, remaining propped up by his forearm.

"It is evident that you are capable of drawing out the destructive pattern you claim is present in my behavior, Torvash. Therefore, it would be a straightforward and a help to both of us if you reduced it and increased my control over it by simply telling me what you know of the matter." You say to him.

<<What do I do now? He will not honor his promises, has maimed me, and nearly killed me.>> He glares at you, angrily, and still silent. <<And yet... That brief attraction. Perhaps it was not just the pain.>>

You feel your eyebrow raise involuntarily. Sometimes knowing EVERYTHING someone's thinking can make things more awkward. Torvash does not appear to detect anything unusual.

<<But, that power. It would render his goals unattainable. For now, I hold his fate, despite what he's done to me. The way he's treated me, betrayed my trust... I should leave him to his rightful fate. He does not want my help.>>

The thoughts chill you a bit. What if you can't get it under control by yourself? He seems to believe what he's thinking.

Torvash's hand clenches. <<Ah, God of Destruction. You have seen to it that I have been totally humbled.>> He sighs. <<Even in the face of all that, I still want to help him.>> "Fine." He coughs out. "I will teach you how to control it, if only so that I don't become a target again."

You feel a bit of relief. "Pray do that, Torvash, and do not grow paranoid. The prosthetics will not be ready immediately, and there are those closer to death - those you injured near to death - that may need attention first. Restoring you by magic will take time. Telling me what I wish to know about dragon blood and so forth will not stop me from having reasons to wish to help you in your predicament, but keeping information from me will simply make me go to lengths I have no interest in visiting to get it."

"Your promises ring hollow with me, kobold." Torvash blinks one of his eyes. "But, fine. I shall tell you of the secrets within your veins, provided you listen calmly, and concentrate on what I say." <<And don't choke me.>>

You stupid fucks.
I'm away for a few hours and you've let this entire situation deteriorate almost to the point of complete loss.

Why the fuck did you go back on what we promised him? Now he's completely useless to us, especially as a weapons test subject.

>>16536889
Listen calmly, concentrate on what he says, write it down if he doesn't mind.

>>16536889
Have one of the guards outside get us a quill, some ink and some parchment, and write down what Torvash says.

>>16536905
Because you were going to give him a shit-ton of weapons without knowing the extent of his loyalty and probably send him against the empire.

He'd run the risk of capture and having his prosthetics reverse-engineered even if he DIDN'T immediately turn his back on us.

And now, he's telling us what he knows without us having to take those risks and we don't have to fuck around and give him expensive technologies while a bunch of guys that lost arms on our account sit around looking at THEIR stumps.

Did you forget he was a volatile enemy before he oh-so-conveniently changed sides? That he was unstable and had destruction and precipitating wars between civilizations as his goal?

>>16536946
We weren't sure of his loyalty which is why we asked Dalek to put remote kill-switches into the prosthetics.
We were going to put him into situations where he could be easily shot by one of our own soldiers or otherwise killed.
Everything you said was already accounted for.

>>16536932
>>16536917

You take a deep breath. "Please, get someone to record this." You say to the guards. As they do, Torvash grimaces, clutching at his body.

"I've been feeling colder. Can't take the medicine right now." He shakes his head as a scribe arrives. "But here, let me start at why you have dragon's blood within you.

"Legends say that dragons were the first life in the world to know things, know their meaning. They first learned the meaning of ownership. And so, they each sought to own ore than their other. This led to a number of races being created, some through selective breeding, others through manipulation using their blood." He gestures at is own chest. "Those people with the blood in them still have a body remembering those brutal times, when death was necessary for any life at all, and their masters, not they, determined if they would live or die." He nods over to your scribe. "That's the short of it."

>>16537011

>remote kill-switches

Dalak and Felix'ha had misgivings about the damn things anyway, and whether you could find out that he had betrayed you was never well explored.

>we weren't going to put him in situations

This guy got out of your grasp last time when most of his body was missing and evaded capture for hours. Do you think he gives a fuck about what kind of situations you wanted him to be in?

Seriously. We had no reason to trust or work with this guy up until now except our own goodwill, and he was holding out on us on something relating to MENTAL INSTABILITY.

Fuck no, you didn't have it under control.

>>16537011
>>16537093

not to mention the trog having dragon blood and being able to go insane from it too

>>16537093
>Find out that he had betrayed you in time to activate the kill-switches before he got out of their range was never well explored.

And if he went and sold them to the Empire, he could have likely gotten as many scrolls of restoration as he wanted out of it.

>>16537093
It was only Felix that had misgivings, and those were only ethical ones, not concerns of whether the technology would work or not.

As for controlling him, besides controlling him by controlling his desires, we could just use a Geas spell.

If you were so against the idea of offering prosthetics or using him as a test subject, then why didn't you voice any of these objections when it mattered?

>>16537138
>Only Felix had misgivings
Dalak gave voice to them FOR Felix'ha, and likely did not have an interest in going against his brother's wishes if it was avoidable. And frankly, he's demonstrated an interest in ethical action throughout the quest when it came to use of his prosthetics.

>Geas spell.
Because those never go wrong, not even in endless stories of D&D tabletop groups that have to foil Geas spells or have them lifted from someone unwillingly placed under one. That never happens.

>why didn't you voice any of these objections when it mattered?
Well, it matters now. But not every quest player has been able to be here from the beginning.

I hate to say it, I really do, but I'm afraid you aren't always guaranteed a consensus - and at this point, you're complaining about a situation which is going BETTER than expected, not worse: we are getting information we didn't have before WITHOUT spending a significant portion of the limited resources available on expensive prosthetics for an untrustworthy enemy.

I understand that you're frustrated that it caught you unawares, but it was a simple disagreement that you didn't have the opportunity to hear before.

Your not hearing of it doesn't somehow make your decision about what to do then incontrovertible.

As much as I appreciate you guys getting worked up over my game, you should probably keep it more civil.

I like interparty conflict, and your enthusiasm, but I'd rather not have this devolve into something ugly.

>>16537208
I'm cool, VKO. Not complainan' or anything, and I won't be comin' at no bros.

>>16537067

"Controlling that rage, that survival instinct, can only be achieved through focus and direction." He says, looking over at you. "Defining for yourself what will trigger it, and even who." He clears his throat before continuing. "Changing what these triggers are at a whim, this can be done too, but not yet." He points at you, speaking with further emphasis. "But, remember, if it has nowhere to go, it will burst out through you. It must always go somewhere."

>>16537460
"And what can the rage be channeled into? Must it always come out as violence?"

>>16537494
Secondan this question.

Also, this has been a show of good faith so far.

OP, you mentioned that there was a druid living outside of town on one of the IRC chats. Can he cast restoration?

>>16537494

"And what can the rage be channeled into? Must it always come out as violence?" You ask him.

Torvash shakes his head. "No. Aggression, perhaps. Violence is simply a more pure expression of such a feeling." He closes his eyes for a moment. "The techniques I was taught involve repeated prayer, introspection, meditation. The meditation is the only thing I believe you need. Your convictions are strong, and you can tell what it is you need." He breathes in, deeply, then out once again. "You simply need to detach yourself from your feelings. Picture them as something, and then direct it towards your trigger. When you have done this, reinforce it." He opens his eyes once again. "Do you understand?"

>>16537569

He cannot, but he can cast the lesser version (not on the spell list). You do have a cleric who can cast it, you think.

>>16537587

See if you can do as he says. If it is at all successful, thank him and go get a restoration scroll and give him back his limbs.

We can start a program to test experimental weapons prosthetics on veterans and active members of the military who volunteer to do so, we'll be seeing the General for the suit's demonstration anyway.

>>16537610
Sweet.

Do this >>16537616 and then see if the cleric can cast it on the trog. But double the goddamn guards at his door.

Tell Torvash that this has all been a much more meaningful show of good faith and that you will reward him for it, and that you have good reason to want to increase the trust between you now.

>>16537587
"I believe so. Now, test me."
This knowledge needs to be applied in order to be useful. No time like the present.

>>16537629
>>16537616
Are you going to try to cure him of his insanity with Restoration?

>>16537616

Restoration...

Restoration doesn't restore limbs.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/r/restoration

>>16537668
Meant Regeneration, derp. Though a spell to cure his madness would probably be worthwhile.

VKO, can any of the clerics or the druid outside town cast regeneration? Can anyone in town, or is there a scroll available?

>>16537668

You focus, imagine your anger as what you believe it is. A dragon, colorless and changing in form. You focus it on a troglodyte, who you believe is the leader of the Golgremet. You envision it attacking him, and your imagination soon has the trog being swung about bodily by the dragon. You open your eyes. "I believe so. Now, test me."

"Test you? This is not some kind of game." Torvash says, glaring at you. "You don't think I'm stupid enough to let you kill me with a slip-up again, do you?"

"That's not what I meant." You say to him, getting a bit annoyed.

"Watch, one slip about how you lost your arm, and it'll be gouging my eyes out." Torvash says, pointing at it. "Gods know how you got to your position without having the modicum of willpower to avoid getting angry over such a thing."

You narrow your eyes at him. "Is that really necessary?"

"Having second thoughts about this?" Torvash hisses. "I can't say I'm surprised. After being insulted, ridiculed, and humiliated, I mean, you're running out of a list of things to do to me." He holds up his arm. "I still got this! Maybe you could rip it off and knock me upside the head with the bloody stump a few times!"

You feel the echo of the intense emotion in your mind. "Alright, I think it's working."

"Oh? And here I hadn't even gotten started yet." Torvash says, his face stony for a moment before he grins briefly.

>>16537717

No regeneration outside of the stuff in the Brotherhood. And that's expensive.

>>16537795
Absolute minimum price is 3,825 GP.
That's if the caster doesn't charge you for anything beyond the material components of the ink required for the scroll.

>>16537789
"Good."

Now let's see about that demonstration.

>>16537825
Seconding the thing about the demonstration.
Dialogue: "Good. Thank you for this show of good faith. I feel better about you not trying to cave my skull in first chance you get when you're back up to four limbs again."

>>16537795
How much does it cost relative to how much the Trog's prosthetics would cost the state if they were free of weapons? I thought prosthetics cost the state thousands of gold pieces.

>>16537884

"Good. Thank you for this show of good faith. I feel better about you not trying to cave my skull in first chance you get when you're back up to four limbs again." You say to him.

"Do not get me wrong. I have respect for you." Torvash says. "However, treating me in this way simply because I have killed, conspired..." He looks over at the stub of his right shoulder, the remnant moving slightly. "I do not know how to show that my motives are genuine. So I... I am frustrated by that, on top of everything." He pauses for a moment. "Simply because I worship destruction does not mean it is all I am capable of. Joy, cooperation, love- I have not lost these things. Nor will I." He gazes over at you.

(The limbs for him would cost you 1650 gp with no enhancements. With, I don't know if the cost could be considered that, since it's for prototypes.)

>>16537960
And the restoration scroll is three thousand gold?

"Giving me useful information on how to stay the temper born of my blood was the most useful thing you could have done for this entire nation, and that you did it when asked, even if the circumstances were less clear-headed than I would prefer because of that self-same temper, was the most genuine proof you have yet shown. It is of little use to me to know of external enemies if the internal one dwelling in my being will tear all to ruin before I can turn to face the rest. For such a proof, I will improve things even if I cannot do everything instantly."

Turn to the guards. "Guards! This prisoner has willingly aided the Crystal Caverns to a great extent. Give him food, drink, and any medical attention he seeks promptly. I will leave a small fund for other comforts at his disposal should he wish for distraction from books or whatnot and will consider moving him to a different facility soon."

If we have a holding facility for noble hostages or whatever, for example diplomats or important figures from enemy nations, we might transfer him there.

Give the warden some petty cash that the prisoner can use - not a huge pile of money, but enough to buy some books or games. Unless there's a prison library or something, then he can just borrow stuff from that.

Also get a caretaker to look after him every few hours.

>>16537960
Bump Torvash up to regular prisoner treatment.
May as well provide a heater; we don't want him dead just yet.

>>16538027
Watch the reactions of the assembled officers, Ghaon, and Yuune.

>>16538027
Greet Gahon and Yuune, then get back to watching the demonstration.

Speaking of troops, how heavily armored are ours? Do any of them wear anything in the field that protects them from arrow shots?

And we have gas-masks, right? Are they just leather and filters, or do they have any kind of purifying element in them? Is there a way to protect them from being pierced by enemy arrows, like by covering them with metal lames like those found on lamellar armor or putting them under breastplates or something?

What kind of head protection do the troops use in the field, if any? What kind of armor could they concievably wear? Do any of them use shields, or melee sidearms? Do they have bayonets of any kind?

The first thread meantioned a 'steam-gas sticker' - one of the 'pygmy' tribal kobolds called it that, and the mining foreman said it was a spear used by our infantrymen. Is that still in the picture?

>>16538028

(yep, and more!)

You look back over at him. "Giving me useful information on how to stay the temper born of my blood was the most useful thing you could have done for this entire nation, and that you did it when asked, even if the circumstances were less clear-headed than I would prefer because of that self-same temper, was the most genuine proof you have yet shown. It is of little use to me to know of external enemies if the internal one dwelling in my being will tear all to ruin before I can turn to face the rest. For such a proof, I will improve things even if I cannot do everything instantly."

Torvash seems to relax somewhat, and his expression softens. You can tell now that he is tired. Emotionally, physically, maybe both. <<God, you try me. But it's finally over.>>

You turn to the guards. "Guards! This prisoner has willingly aided the Crystal Caverns to a great extent. Give him food, drink, and any medical attention he seeks promptly. I will leave a small fund for other comforts at his disposal should he wish for distraction from books or whatnot and will consider moving him to a different facility soon."

"Other... Comforts?" Torvash says quizzically. "What could I do, exactly?"

You pause. "That... I don't know. Maybe a massage or something?"

"Massage may activate the scent glands, but I suppose I might use one." He shivers, looking a bit frail. "But first, perhaps a bit more pain medicine, and some sleep."

"I'll get you a caretaker and a heater as well." You say to him.

You leave him without a further word. Torvash lays himself down, seeming rather exhausted.

You arrive around the back of Dalak's shop to see Ghaon and Yuune, along with a few other military officiates watching the demonstration. The suit is currently displaying its physical enhancement, both arms being used to lift up a clearly heavy iron beam with some exertion. Felix'hia lowers the object down to the ground before dropping it. It thuds loudly into the ground.

"The upper limbs, housing the driver's own limbs, are particularly flexible and well armored." Felix'hia's voice echoes from inside the kobold-headed helmet. He rotates each arm fully, then raises the knees of the legs up to his waist, then rotating the leg outwards. "They don't go past a certain angle to prevent injury. Even in the case of a breech, these mechanical limits will remain in place." He rotates the head to either side, it stopping at about a 90 degree turn from the front.

"Next, I will display the destructive power of weaponry associated with this armor." He says, walking over to a weapon stand that has a rather large axe, a line rifle, and a pneumatic spear, all sized for the armor.

>>16538095
Wunderbar. Now we go to the demonstration and say hello to Gahon and Yuune if they're there?

>>16538101
OP, hey OP. Did we ever meet the Grey Death?

Also, the answer to all the questions about the military in this poast would be good >>16538053

I know you're in the middle of something right this second, but I can wait.

>>16538101
Let's see how the assembly reacts to the power armor demonstration.
I prefer to stay in the back and not announce our presence; their reactions will be more truthful and open if they think we're not there.

>>16538110
That works too, I guess.

>>16538053
>>16538047

"Hmph. I could lift something heavy like that." Ghaon grumbles.

Yuune seems to acknowledge the display, but does not seem particularly excited or bored.

The military men here are in full battle dress, including Ghaon. The usual uniform includes a jacket bound up with wrappings near the wrists, a strip of cloth about the waist used as a loincloth and tail covering, and pants going down to about the mid-shin, often worn with leg wrappings or foot-gloves. The soldiers also wear the customary headdress for specialists, a large hooded cloth going over the front of the face with a pair of eyeholes, these usually covered by goggles. That cloth usually holds a pot helmet beneath it, as well as possible face protection over the nose and mouth. Most armor is kept on the light side, a simple plate piece on the torso with lamellar on the arms and legs being most common, and gloves and foot-gloves of the same material being used in most cases. The tail is similarly armored. Heavy infantry usually get banded armor on their arms and legs, as well as the plate and a possible full helm. Due to the different needs of units, their outfitting can be very different.

Troops intended for melee combat almost always use a shield, and usually a spear of some kind, though swords are favored in close-quarters areas. Most troopers carry a backup knife. Bayonets do exist, but most troops do not have them save close-combat units.

The pneumatic spear is used usually by fairly strong or skilled spearmen. It uses mechanized power to quickly thrust through armor and stone.

>>16538109

You did, though briefly. You only found out he was the Gray Death some time later, as he wore a cloak over his shoulders to conceal his injury. He was a quiet man, but nonetheless intense. You remember, he was given replacements by Dalak, and left soon after.

>>16538171
Awesome work.

If no further reactions are forthcoming, we should step forward and say hello to the senators present.

Perhaps we could point out that such a device could potentially mount guns as heavy as the NAJA walkers.

And I have to admit, I'm curious if Mythar ever met the Gray Death and what the no-armed dwarf-killer was like.

How big are the shields? Are they used in group tactics like Roman turtle formation, or are they smaller?

Someone was mentioning manufacturing processes in a discussion thread a few days back and said something about assembly lines. Does the Guild of Magic and Technology use them? Do any of our manufacturing processes?

Speaking of the guild, we never did learn how big it was.

>>16538171
We'll need to see if they're impressed with the weaponry it can wield.

>>16538206

"You know, this could potentially mount guns as large as a small NAJA walker." You say to Ghaon, making him jump.

"When did you-" He begins, but turns back after he hears the sound of a very large bullet being loaded.

Felix'hia levels a gun with a barrel probably four feet long at a rectangular stone target roughly 100 feet away. With a loud, snapping crack, the gun fires, the stone's center being reduced to dust in an even circle bigger around than most creature's torsos. The target looks as though it was about six inches thick.

"Oh... Ohh..." Ghaon gasps, turning to one of his masked comrades. "You wanted crowd control? There's some crowd control!"

Felix'hia next takes the axe. "Unenhanced weapon." He says, smashing it into a small stone pillar also being used as a target. The axe slices in staying embedded about a third of the way through. Yuune nods to him.

"And enhanced." Felix'hia says, taking the spear, then pulling the axe out from the stone. He activates the spear, and with a loud, sudden hiss the spear strikes the stone with a loud crack, the pillar falling apart into chunks.

"Oh, we need more of those." Ghaon says.

>>16538245
I think that's a success.

When the demonstration is over, thank Yuune for sending the mages promptly and ask Gahon and Yuune if they've yet received your letter by official courier.

We could use those Force Depletion Reports.

>>16538255
And tell Felix'ha he did a good job, and mention that he will need a workspace to build more such things.

>>16538245
"Packs quite a punch, doesn't it? It should give squads doing assaults that little extra bit of firepower that always seems to be lacking."

We should also see if a cheaper, less heavily armored version of the suit could be made, designed to use heavy guns and a shield to make up for reduced armor.

>>16538206

If you did want to know more about the Gray Death, you could always ask Dalak.

The shields are typically used to provide cover using a shield wall for other kobolds using long weapons or rifles. Final defense lines use tower shields, interlocked to provide a solid wall of metal and wood. Most shields are made from a wood-like fungus, wicker, or some combination of the two treated with metal.

The guild of magic and technology has no kind of mostly automated manufacture process, though they do have factories. It numbers about 20,000. Some of them may be capable of serving in the military on notice as well.

>>16538255
>>16538257

Felix'hia turns over to the group while inside of the armor. "In case of a critical injury, the wearer can remove the armor provided he has the use of at least one hand." You see the chest piece shudder, then open up to reveal Felix'hia's torso and upper arms and legs, clad in a slim black jumpsuit studded with copper discs. "This was originally a design intended for those who had lost spinal control, or who had been weakened enough that they could not walk. Our limits in linking with the spine prevent us from proceeding any further in that regard, but anyone missing a limb can pilot one of these without the need for a prosthetic." He reaches up, and pulls the helmet off with a bit of difficulty. "Any questions?"

"When can we get them?" Ghaon asks, and one of his subordinates laughs.

"I can make another frame in four days." Felix'hia answers seriously. "The armor I would suggest having someone else make. simultaneously. About a week per Stal Armen."

"Is that what you're calling them?" Ghaon asks. "Well, I think this is worth it."

"Yes. Already saw once." Yuune agrees.

"Good to hear it." You say to them. "Then shall we get him a new workspace? Start designs on lighter armor?"

"I suppose so." Ghaon nods.

"Did the two of you get my note, by the way?" You ask them.

They both nod. "I believe that report you wanted, we're still evaluating the countries." Ghaon says.

>>16538357
"Senators, I heartily recommend this device for further development, including rigorous testing both in and out of the field as soon as our experts think it ready. However, I would like to point out that the innovator who created it might have more such ideas and be better able to turn them into reality if he had a workspace of his own, to be kept as he wished, perhaps with a handpicked staff he personally met and approved - we could call it the Trans-Machine Works or some such. If you think there's room in the budget, we could put some plans together right away. As for the Stal Armen suits themselves, I would suggest starting off with a run of no more than ten and working to integrate them with existing operations and tactics so we know where we stand."

"I would note that Felix'ha himself piloted a model during the retrieval of Tayn from the ancient facility upriver, and that it performed admirably."

(Trans-Machine Works being a reference to Omsktransmash, the Societ manufacturer of the T-80 line of main battle tank, and the Lockheed Martin Skunkworks. I figured we'd keep the references coming, but if someone has a better name, I'm all for it.)

After that, we could ask if they've gotten our message from before.

>>16538381
"Thank you."

VKO, what's our progress on securing the facility where Tayne was being kept?
Also, how do the Crystal Cavern trade caravans get to the surface? Do we have our own, heavily defended surface route, or do we use a major trade highway?

>>16538381
Right on. In that case, we have a number of other projects to see to, but we should ask them if they have any thoughts on increasing the number of divine casters in the city.

While we're here, we should ask Dalek about contacting the Grey Death and maybe ask the undead guys we have visiting to explain their being intelligent and undead at the same time...Though we might want to phrase that last question carefully.

>>16538453
It's pretty important to know what kind of access to the surface we have, seconding this question.

If nothing else, it could be used as a retreat route of last resort in case we had to completely evacuate the caverns.

>>16538446

You take a look at both of them. "Senators, I heartily recommend this device for further development, including rigorous testing both in and out of the field as soon as our experts think it ready. However, I would like to point out that the innovator who created it might have more such ideas and be better able to turn them into reality if he had a workspace of his own, to be kept as he wished, perhaps with a handpicked staff he personally met and approved - we could call it the Trans-Machine Works or some such. If you think there's room in the budget, we could put some plans together right away." You point over to the suit. "As for the Stal Armen suits themselves, I would suggest starting off with a run of no more than ten and working to integrate them with existing operations and tactics so we know where we stand."

"Should work out just fine." Ghaon says. "We'll keep them close to home and then send them out further. Two engineers per suit minimum."

"I would note that Felix'ha himself piloted a model during the retrieval of Tayn from the ancient facility upriver, and that it performed admirably." You say to them.

"Ah, some pre-field testing!" Ghaon says, not making much sense, but sounding impressed. "You'd better get your boys started then, eh Yuune?" He elbows Yuune lightly. The smaller kobold just nods a bit.

(They have already answered that yes they got your letter.)

>>16538468

Your main access is through an underground river flowing down from the surface. Using a series of canals, you can and have placed boats up there in the past. Other ways include those kept by small farming communities further out from the Caverns. You usually trade with a halfling trade community off of the surface river, known as the Thrush river.

>>16538453

So far, an expedition has secured the perimeter, but the interior is likely still full of those creatures.

"Any thoughts on increasing our number of divine casters?" You ask them both, but mostly Yuune.

"Pay incentive." Yuune suggests.

>>16538515
What defenses do we have along that river? It's potentially an avenue of attack and we should secure it. It also provides a lifeline to the farms on the surface, which will become invaluable if we have to abandon the outlying farming communities.

>>16538515
"We may have to resort to that, but I suppose we could also let them practice their faith in relative freedom. Might send for some philosophers from the surface, if they'd be willing to be kept here."

"Could start a philosopher's academy or collegium, see if it produced more priests. Short-term, though, it bears more thought."

VKO, how far underground in terms of miles or feet or kilometers or whatever are we? Do we have any idea?

Also, we're having a lot of luck with farm production but how good is our water supply? Do we need to desalinate/demineralize/purify our current source, and if it fails are there others we could use/would need to set up purification for? How easily could the enemy poison our wells?

>>16538515
"Pay incentive? I suppose even priests and clerics need money, even with the protection of their gods.
"Yuune, I trust in your abilitiy to find a reasonable pay inventive depending on the skill of the caster. Those that can create potions or scrolls should have priority."

>>16538545

You have the gates of the canal reinforced, and numerous turrets with repeating line cannons behind bright projecting crystals along various parts of the path. It's small enough that maybe one ship of decent size can get through at a time.

>>16538551

"We may have to resort to that, but I suppose we could also let them practice their faith in relative freedom. Might send for some philosophers from the surface, if they'd be willing to be kept here." You suggest. Yuune seems to nod at this. "Could start a philosopher's academy or collegium, see if it produced more priests. Short-term, though, it bears more thought."

You clap him on the shoulder. "Yuune, I trust in your abilitiy to find a reasonable pay inventive depending on the skill of the caster. Those that can create potions or scrolls should have priority."

He nods, and begins making notes on a small piece of paper. Likely scratch work for possible pay amounts.

Your "to the surface" canal goes directly up, by the way. It's about 4 miles to the surface/ 6.5 kilometers.

You get river water direct from the surface into your bay. To poison it, they'd need to poison a very, very wide river.

>>16538592
Cool, that gives us some degree of security I guess. Let's tell Gahon we're looking forward to the family mean we've been invited to at his place, bid the Senators farewell, and go talk to Dalak and see how our skeleton friends are doing.

Oh, and I know we don't have automated assembly lines, but do we have any kind of obstacle in the way (not enough technological development, or something) when it comes to putting together an old-style one like in the first assembly line processes used in the early nineteenth century? If we can't have the idea because it doesn't fit the setting or whatever, we can figure something else out.

And how do our gas masks work?

>>16538592
OP/pther players, if you want to get on IRC again I'm in the #KSquest channel on suptg IRC.

>>16538620
>>16538627

"Good to hear this went well then." You say to Ghaon. "I look forwards to dinner with your family, by the way."

Ghaon seems surprised that you remembered. "Yes, well, Loani is anticipating it as well. She always has to cook everything herself, or it won't sit well with her." He sighs. "You can take the bold out of espionage but you can't take the espionage out of the bold." He chuckles a bit at this before walking off with the others.

Assembly lines might be a bit difficult simply because treads and treadmills haven't been discovered. If NAJA could operate automatically, however, you could skip a step and go right to robotic manufacture.

Your gas masks are made from leather and have a cylinder and a filter, which is breathed through. The masks are kobold-fitted, though they can be modified to fit a trog perhaps. They also come with goggles in most cases. The filter is from a special fungus-cloth that picks up things like dust, spores and poison from the air easily.

I will totally chat with you tomorrow, as well. I'm out after a few more posts.

>>16538663
Awesome, thanks for the answers, OP. Any idea when you'll be around tomorrow? Can go by board time or adjust for your timezone.

>>16538663
>treads and treadmills haven't been discovered.
Hmm. We do have a good understanding of wheels, chains, and pulley systems, though, right?

How about a printing press, moveable type, or wood-block printing, does that exist?

Mithril is an interesting substance for many reasons, including its properties when it comes to being as hard as iron/steel (GM's discretion) but only weighing half as much as those metals. Do we know of any veins we can go after for industrial use in significant military production?

Failing that, can we use other, less expensive or rare metals that weigh less in the creation of equipment or various devices? For example, the D&D Mystara setting has Red Steel, which has similar weight properties to Mithril but is rather easier to get ahold of and far less desireable.

How advanced is our understanding of physics, engineering, and geometry? Do we understand the properties an arch has in terms of its resilience to downward pressure due to its shape? Do we understand harmonics?

Finally, can we get a bit of a tl;dr on the philosophers dwelling in the Caverns and the ones important to the settlement's history?

>>16538711
Oh, and can we make a test to invent things or whatever else, or perhaps earn an 'invention' by virtue of some inspired writefaggotry or something? If we need to focus on making use of precisely what we have, that's fine too.

And hey, what about interchangeable parts? Can any of the bayonets our close combat units have work with any of the guns that unit carries? Can any gun's trigger mechanism be swapped out for any other?

You head in, looking over to Dalak. "Hey, I was wondering about a patient you had here a few months back."

Dalak thinks to himself for a moment. "Well, provided you have a name, at least. I've had a lot of people in and out of here."

"The Gray Death." You say to him, and he smiles.

"Oh. Well, he did ask for me to keep some details confidential. Medical things." Dalak nods. "But I can tell you about him as a person, I suppose. He was very... reserved. Seemed almost guilty that he was getting replacements." He shrugs. "Kept saying he wanted the others in Valkraz's group to get them first. We'd already done them all, save him." He takes a seat over by the now cleaned table. "His name is Yethisk, by the way." He bridges his fingers. "So, Yethisk insisted that I make sure I had everyone else in the group. I showed him the notices myself. He finally seemed to resign himself, told me what he needed. We needed to do custom work on the arms, of course. A bit of guesswork." He nods to himself. "Felix'hia asked him for some stories, and he told them to us. Usually, I'm the one telling the stories." You grimace a bit, remembering Dalak's tales while he worked or measured something.

"He'd been missing his arms for 14 years." Dalak says, looking over at you. "Where the arms had been, the scales were perfectly grown over. He asked about the nearby dwarven community, things like what crops they grew, how many children they had. I told him if he wanted to do them in he might as well leave it to the lich." Dalak laughs to himself. "He didn't take well to that. We actually kept him here to try for some rehabilitation for a couple of days. He seemed very lonely, really. Phenomenally so." Dalak sighs. "Things didn't go so well. He was angry about it. At himself, I think. Never blamed the prosthetics, though. He told me 'I'll learn to shoot with my hands again if it's the last thing I do.'"

Dalak thinks to himself for a moment. "Determined, that's what I'd say."

(Back at 01:30 board time, when I'll get ot further questions)

>>16538764
Got it, OP, thanks.

The time has arrived; bump for OP!

>>16538726

Hey all.

As far as making stuff, I don't see why not. Some kind of collaborative story-telling with extra collaboration? Madness.

As far as how the gun manufacturing goes, you do have baselines for gun part measurement. Most production teams follow that or make their own guide. A linegun's chamber could be put onto a larger or smaller gun, certainly. The barrel might need some adjustment, however.

My timing was a bit off.

Also this delay shit again? Really?

>>16540744
Was any progress made with gunpowder?
Either in making more of the stuff, making a less smokey version, or incorporating them into grenades and landmines?

Also, since we have NAJA, we should talk with Yuune about the next steps we need to take to make automated construct factories.

>>16540793

The gunpowder is mostly shipped in from tengu traders. Your experiments, you find out after a bit of messaging, have had varying successes. The current blends of gunpowder are best used in mining traps or for shaped charges.

Assuming you want to head forwards a few days (move into a more inexact time measurement, maybe), what else all do you want to do?

>>16540975
I don't know about everyone else, but here are some of the things that come to mind:
-Make Torvash nice and ready for operations (after he gets the operation with the prostethics we chose for him).
-Speak with this young bronze dragon. He may be young, but dragon's instantly know the history of the their people and such IIRC. Plus, we'll need to learn anything else we can about the effects of draconic heritage.
-Send an envoy to our neighboring lich. The enemy of the enemy is my friend, so let's make sure that the Trogs haven't been in talks with him.
-Oversee any further developments for Felix'hia and Dalak
-Tele back to the inn to see how our other friends are doing (both the H'runten and our beloved GRU members)
-While in the other city, search for a representative of the church and ask if they care to join us in scoring some revenge against the Trogs
-All the while, make sure that we're putting our new H'runten spy networks to good use. What major cities do the Trogs have under their control? Do they have any factional elements that we could exploit? What's the ratio of slave to free-Trog? Any black markets where we could obtain some of their fungi from?

These are just the bigger ones that came to mind. Feel free to add more, fellow anons.

>>16540975
Talk with Yuune about creating magical construct versions of NAJA that could be used in factories.
Continue work on gunpowder and guns, for semiautomatic guns that can be reloaded and have either an internal magazine or detachable external magazine.

See what the H'Runten have been able to pind out about the Church, how deeply they've been compromised, and plans on what to do with them.

>>16541182
Sending an envoy to the lich is a bad idea. He has a fairly strict 'No Trespassing' rule, regardless of diplomatic intent. That's why we put the message board up in the first place.

>>16541182

The following day, Torvash goes under the knife and has large mounts placed on his shoulder, hips and tail. After a day's observation, he is outfitted with the tannish-red tester limbs, though these appear to be new pieces. You move him into a "secure domicile" used by the guards to secure people who are in danger of crimes, or whom they want to remain on good terms with. The replacements seem to alleviate most of his phantom limb pain. Dalak finishes the work on the injured H'runten a short time later.

The brown dragon does not seem to recall much about his lineage, but seems introspective enough that he can figure things out about his own biology. He seems concerned about the dragon's blood producing such rage in people, and he says that he doesn't think that's supposed to happen. He does add that sometimes a draconic heritage can result in physical changes to a person.

You put a post up on the lich's message board asking him if the Golgremet have bothered him recently. He replies promptly that they have not.

Felix'hia has some time left over before he puts the StalArmen into production. Ghurken's ability to control his new body is seemingly rather limited, and he is barely capable of walking. At this point Felix'hia offers to try building Ghurken a full set of musculature using black ioun ore. Dalak is busy working on Torvash's parts.

>>16541681
Encourage Felix to attempt the experiment with the black ioun ore. Perhaps it will provide interesting new uses.

Check in on the injured H'Runten and see how they're taking to the prosthetics.

See if anything has turned up in our investigations into the recent accidents.

>>16541728

You give Felix'hia the go-ahead, and he soon begins production, saying now would be a good time to test using the polymer skin, as the nerves won't transmit pain if something does go wrong anyway.

You ask the skeletons while you're there what's up with them. These two say that they're full aware they're undead ("You think I think I'm alive when I'm just a skull and a jawbone? How stupid do you think I am!") but only think that it might have something to do with the purplish crystals in the family crypt.

The injured H'runten seem to have mostly gotten black metal replacements, and greet you warmly when you head into their ward. Most seem to be taking naturally to their prosthetics, considering the short time between their injury and the affixing of the prosthetic. Those who do seem to have more severe injuries and are still awaiting fitting after a re-amputation compliment the nurses and attendants of the hospital. One says that they plan on seeing a play soon with the ones who know the surface dialects.

On the recent accidents, you have not found any sort of external causes or evidence of tampering or trespassing, and the local trog tribe has been very co-operative.

>>16541946
Well, everything seems to be going according to plan. Unless anyone has any business left, let's skip forward until something major happens.

>>16542084

The nest few days pass quickly, the GRU reporting back that the H'runten are beginning operations against the church.

You hear after a few days that developments have been made concerning gunpowder, and that Torvash's limbs are ready to be installed.

Also Felix'hia's workshop finishes construction, and he's nearly finished with Ghurken's body.

>>16542387
>>16542533
Good to hear. Let's start by wrapping up the loose-ends first.

Take a trip to the workshop to see how Ghurken is doing before he's finally finished and how the workshop has changed.

>>16542602

You head into the workshop, seeing a number of builders relaxing in the main room, most of which notice you and appear surprised. You wave past them, and head into the padded room, where you can see Ghurken sitting atop one of the chairs, a black-muscled neck and torso beneath him that is notably missing the internal organs, as well as the limbs. The bones, as well as his skull, are red metal, giving him a bit of a ghastly appearance. You notice that his eye color, or the ghostly flame of it, has gotten a bit darker. His face seems to be dotted with very tiny mounts, and his torso has no limbs attached to it save the tail. Felix'hia stands at the work table, attaching muscle to a skeletal metal leg by soldering it in place with a small torch. You can see another one standing up in the corner, without any muscles attached to it.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. 'Do you know you're dead'!" Ghurken jeers, good-naturedly. "Been busy around here! Bunch of idiots clanging things around non-stop! If I slept, I'd be really angry!"

"They were building something, Ghurken." Felix'hia sighs. "That reminds me, we need to see if we can get something in your socket for an artificial eye, see if you can see out it."

"Oh, you go on! Like I could re-enter society being made up of 95% metal and stone anyway!" Ghurken says back to him.

>>16542990
"I'm sure that it's a step down from the tougher stuff you were made of in your youth, Ghurken." Joke with him.

Get a good look at what they did to improve the facility. New ceilings? Perhaps a lavender-scented bathroom?

>>16543158

"I'm sure that it's a step down from the tougher stuff you were made of in your youth, Ghurken." You say to him.

"I'll say! Dragons can bite through stone and steel, and I never had a dragon bite through me!" He laughs. "You know, it does feel good, having a spine again!" He moves his torso around a bit. "No pesky internal organs to weigh me down or give me aches and pains, either!"

"So, where's the add-on, Felix'hia?" You ask him, looking around the room.

"Oh. Dalak said I should thank you for that." Felix'hia mentions, still soldering parts. "It's out back. Can get there from the back curtain."

You peek out the back, seeing a brand-new bunker erected where there had been an empty space near the wall of the caverns not too long ago. You whistle, looking inside. There are parts manufacturing equipment, numerous partially finished frames, ioun muscles, and tools hanging from the ceiling.

>>16543238
"Impressive layout you've got going on." Return to the main room.

"So Ghurten, you ready to see your family soon? They may mistake you for some phantom with a color scheme like that."

"And where is your brother, Felix'hia? Hard at work, I presume."

"Impressive layout you've got going on." You say, returning to the padded room. Felix'hia nods, not looking up from his work.

"So Ghurten, you ready to see your family soon? They may mistake you for some phantom with a color scheme like that." You ask the undead dragon-slayer.

"I was thinking..." Ghurken says, somewhat quietly. Well, quietly for him. "Maybe... Maybe I don't go back to my family. I could go out and start my own legend over again!"

"Need skin for that." Felix'hia adds, and you can tell from his tone that he's said it any number of times.

"But what fi you get my face wrong? What if I look like an idiot?" Ghurken asks him.

"Done facial reconstruction before. Mostly bone. Made muscle removable in case of messing up." Felix'hia raises an eyebrow over at him. "For someone who just sits there, you don't listen."

"Don't stamp on my good mood, kid." Ghurken leans back, sighing.

"And where is your brother, Felix'hia? Hard at work, I presume." You ask the still-living kobold.

Felix'hia looks up for a moment. "He's over in the back room, maintaining one of the construction worker's lifting arms." He nods. "Lot of dust buildup from stone. Older models have that problem."

>>16543598
Dust huh?

Well, I think it's time for a good-old political showcase. Let's use prestidigitation to clear out some dust from the workshop. We look after our own, even when it comes to cleaning needs...

"Ghurten, you know we can't let you go outside. The public....er...won't know what to do when such a hero walks into town." It's already hush-hush about giving an undead some prosthetics, let alone employing him. It sounds like a really bad political ploy should the public find out. Having a Trog under our banner? We could hold the "liberating" card. But an undead? We'd be instantly tied to the lich.

"Besides, Ghurken, I'm sure your grand-children will need you. There's war brewing, and you may need to defend your well-won trophies."

"Ghurken, you know we can't let you go outside. The public...er..." You pause for a moment, thinking. "...Won't know what to do when such a hero walks into town!"

"I'm not a moron, Mynthar." Ghurken snaps. "I've been dead for about a quarter millennium. Bored to tears. I'd rather tell people I was a..." He turns to Felix'hia. "What was the story again?"

"Severe burn victim." Felix'hia says. "Could even take the identity of a deceased outsider."

"Yeah. Ladies love a hard-luck case." Ghurken grins. "That aside, your soldiers wear full-body coverings, right? So why not let me?"

You jump as the leg on the table that Felix'hia is working on twitches. He stifles a grin at your shock. "Sorry. Found out that undead parts can function while separated, didn't think you needed to know."

"Besides, Ghurken, I'm sure your grand-children will need you. There's war brewing, and you may need to defend your well-won trophies." You say to him.

"What? Those aren't just my trophies. They're the family's." Ghurken rasps. "That aside, you want that horde, right? No way can I lead you to it if I'm back home."

>>16544021
Tap our chin in contemplation.

"Your horde isn't something that I need; it would just be nice to see what history lies within. Imagine Ghurken, having your family's name in the history books of the Crystal Caverns as a hero of legend along with a relief of your bounty."

To be honest, I'm more interested in what the crystals are doing to make them undead with most of their mental functions in check, but that's for another time.

Think about the full-covering business.

"Alright then, Ghurken. If I were to give you a position here, what would you do? What are your strengths and prior expressions? Would you take the job of a simple guard, should we assign it to you?" Pause for a greater question. "Would you keep rank and order with a superior officer?"

Basically, what degree of his rambunctious personality is he willing to sacrifice to go out adventuring?

>>16544089

"Your horde isn't something that I need; it would just be nice to see what history lies within. Imagine Ghurken, having your family's name in the history books of the Crystal Caverns as a hero of legend along with a relief of your bounty." You say to him, watching the literal flame in his eye grow brighter.

"More fame never hurt anybody!" Ghurken laughs. He pauses. "But... To be honest, I have the opportunity to go on a new journey now. A new lease on life!" His leg twitches from across the room. "Or unlife, I suppose. And that aside, I'll take whatever chance I can get to live away from those kids of mine."

You think to yourself. Being able to test that full-covering skin would be very useful, and as Felix'hia said, the worst that can happen to Ghurken is some pain.

"Alright then, Ghurken." You hold up a hand to him. "If I were to give you a position here, what would you do? What are your strengths and prior expressions? Would you take the job of a simple guard, should we assign it to you?" You can tell from his sickened expression that such a thing was not his overall goal. "Would you keep rank and order with a superior officer?"

"A guard? What the hell would I be guarding, and would it involve the killing of some very large monsters is what you should be asking yourself!" He leans forwards. "I'd transfer my military records, but considering I'm not only officially but ACTUALLY dead, they might not take kindly to that. Hell, I don't know if they even kept records!" He sighs. "I was thinking maybe something more exciting than sitting around, doing nothing, that thing I've done for most of my post-adult life! Hell, why even finish the leg if you're not going to let me use- OW!" Ghurken shouts, looking over at Felix'hia, who is holding a needle, next to one of the toes on the leg. "You... You made me feel pain!" Ghurken says in as much anger as his surprise.

"Then nerves do work. They were just out of alignment." Felix'hia takes the leg off of the table, putting it down on the ground.

"How... How did it hurt?" Ghurken asks.

"Too complex for you. In short, nerve is simulated by magic." He looks over at you. "Can attach leg now, or wait for me to finish other one."

Ghurken seems too shaken to respond, for once.

>>16544395
>>16544419
Did Ghurken lose any limbs or suffer any major wounds in his life fighting dragons? I'm betting he did, so I'll prepare this little speech. If not, ignore it.

"Is the fire all gone?"

"You were just ready to jump straight out of the prothetics with enough vigor and energy to fuel a hundred homes with warmth, but now you're standing down?"

"You know what they say: 'the journey to slay a dragon begins with a single step'. Well, I think that there's a second part to that. 'That first step is across scorched land, so wear some sandals.' So Ghurken..." stare him in the eyes. "...are you ready to step across something a tad tougher than pins? The prize, though, is something tougher than a dragon."

>>16544551

"Is the fire all gone?" You ask him. Ghurken stays quiet for a moment. "You were just ready to jump straight out with the prothetics with enough vigor and energy to fuel a hundred homes with warmth, but now you're standing down?"

"It's not that!" He looks over at you, seeming still fairly acerbic. "I hadn't... I hadn't felt anything at all for a long time. It just surprised me, is all."

"You know what they say: 'the journey to slay a dragon begins with a single step'." You say, looking over at the prosthetic leg. "Well, I think that there's a second part to that. 'That first step is across scorched land, so wear some sandals.' So Ghurken..." You stare him in the eye. "...Are you ready to step across something a tad more painful than than pins? The prize, though, is something tougher than a dragon."

Ghurken pauses for a moment. "I have been out of the game for a long time. Hell, at this point, I could just give you that treasure and then relax for the rest of, well, forever." His brow furrows. "Maybe I just don't have a clue what you kids need nowadays. But all the same, why have the damn thing if I can't use it?" He indicates his body with an inclination of his head.. "May not be any dragons you want killed, but there is a rancid-smelling trog out to enslave you, isn't there? Sounds like a dragon to me!"

>>16544734
"Good to hear." Turn our back on him and begin pacing. "I'll look forward to seeing you dressed and fitted like a proper warrior." Glimpse back at him. "I hope that you're still good with a blade..." Smile.

>>16544828

"Good to hear." You turn your back on him and begin pacing. "I'll look forward to seeing you dressed and fitted like a proper warrior." You glimpse back at him. "I hope that you're still good with a blade..." You smile.

"Give me a hand, and I'll have a blade in it before you can blink!" Ghurken says, his teeth showing in a crazed grin. "Now give me that damn leg! If I have to make it hop over here I can assure you I'll aim to kick you in the shin!"

>>16545045
New friend in the party! Sweet.

"Well then, I'll leave you two to catch up while I go see how Dalak is doing." Exit promptly for some catching up with Dalak.

"Well then, I'll leave you two to catch up while I go see how Dalak is doing." You say to him, walking off to the other room.

"Hey! I wasn't joking! I'm all fired up!" You hear Ghurken shout, and you hear the sound of something metal hitting the floor.

"Just wait half an hour, I'll get them hooked up for you." Felix'hia grumbles.

You head past the construction workers, who seem to be talking about one of the local plays, and into the fitting room towards the back.

You see Dalak working over at a work table, with a fairly large mechanical arm disassembles and being cleaned. The kobold sitting up at the examination table is wearing the usual sleeveless garment of the builders. You can see that his right arm ends in a rather large steel socket, and that he's sipping coffee with his left hand. His eyes widen as you enter and he coughs some of it up. Dalak snaps over and looks over at you. "Oh, hello Mynthar."

The construction worker looks at you wide-eyed.

>>16545294
"Greetings Dalak."

Turn to the construction worker.

"I'm sorry; am I interrupting something?"

Hopefully, we're not.

"Ah, good."

"How are the renovations treating you?"

"Your brother seems more...relaxed than usual."

>>16545361

"Greetings Dalak." You say to him, turning to the construction worker. "I'm sorry; am I interrupting something?"

"Not at all." Dalak says, nodding over to the construction worker. "Sazikk just needed to have his arm cleaned up after that construction work. It's an older model, but even the newer ones sometimes have this problem."

"Ah, good." You nod to the kobold, who still seems flabbergasted at you. "How are the renovations treating you?"

"Well, they're for Felix'hia's new project mostly, but they did do some restoration work in the back, moved a few things around for me." He nods over at you. "I may know how to put this machine back together, but I'm no good with maintaining a building, believe me!"

"Your brother seems more... Relaxed than usual." You say to Dalak.

"Yes. I think it's the new space. He does do a lot better with the quiet." Dalak nods. "He's said he might sleep in it. In Felix'hia speak, that means I'd better put some blankets in there. Walls eat up sound like a purple worm in a quarry."

The construction worker grins over at you, a bit uncomfortably.

"Oh, Sazikk?" Dalak asks, holding up an exceptionally large piece of ioun muscle partially wrapped in strips of white cloth, attached to a steel bone. "What are these bandages doing over the muscle?"

"Oh, erm, there were some straining marks." The construction worker says, his accent giving a bit of a lift to some of his vowels.

Dalak unwraps the bandages. "Oh, Kurtulmak's tail, what were you lifting?" He shows the muscle to you, and you can see whitish straining marks along the deep blue. "Look at this. We get this kind of stuff during stress tests."

"Well, we needed to get a lot of stone moved real quickly. Needed to go up a hill" Sazikk closes around an imaginary rope with his left arm. "So I braced myself on a lightpost and yanked it up there."

"Well, here's the problem." Dalak sighs, holding up a small rounded bundle of gears. "This thing's kept the muscle clenched tighter than it's supposed to go."

"What can I say? It needed more power for some of the stuff I was moving, so I got a pal of mine to bypass your safety compressors."

"The muscle wears out very quickly without it." Dalak sighs. "You shouldn't do this. In fact, I might not be allowed to provide you with a replacement." He looks over at you.

Sazikk scratches the back of his head. "Which, ah by the way, nice to meet you, Mr. Magistrate, sir." He extends his hand. "We didn't think you came here. Me and the others, that is. We figured they came and looked at you privately for, um, security or something."

Bump?

>>16545774
"Though I'm a politician, I'm still a Kobold, just like everyone else; I have friends to visit, like Dalak here." Smile.

Giving a lecture to someone new isn't exactly the best way to make friends, so...

"How much you manage to lift with that arm? Safety springs off, of course."

"That much? Never managed to get above X with my arm; then again, I like my safety system. If it was off, I'd try to strangle one too many of my fellow politicians." Laugh.

Get level with him and talk the man-talk. How's work, the government is out-sourcing, did you see the rib on that grill, etc. We have to earn the hear to of the working man!

Also, sorry about the long response time; I was busy doing stuff.

Also (also), I'm heading to bed, OP. Look forward to either continuing this tomorrow or continuing this next Wednesday. If the latter, I'll see you tomorrow for Gargoyle Quest.

>>16545977

"Though I'm a politician, I'm still a Kobold, just like everyone else; I have friends to visit, like Dalak here." You shake his hand, smiling.

"And you should be visiting me for maintenance as well sometime here." Dalak adds.

"I can see you're friends, alright." Sazakk nods, chuckling. "He said some friendly stuff like that to me earlier."

"How much you manage to lift with that arm? Safety springs off, of course." You ask him.

"Off? Well, let's see, I never got to test it fully." Sazakk taps his chin, looking at the ceiling. "I'd say around maybe 3,000 lbs or so."

Your jaw drops. "That much?! I've only done about 65 with my arm; then again, I like my safety system. If it was off, I'd try to strangle one too many of my fellow politicians."

Sazakk laughs. "Maybe that would scare some sense into 'em." He points over to his arm. "But it's made for that kind of lift and pull. Had to get my back reinforced too."

"Can't be good for that, either." Dalak adds. "And the safety's at 1,250."

"Why not just put on more muscle then?" Sazakk asks.

Dalak sighs. "Give me a second, I'll show you." He walks out.

"So, how's the work?" You ask him.

"Well, can't complain." Sazakk points over to the disassembled arm. "Job got me the thing, and I've been doing well with it. Wonderful piece of machinery, you can really tell they're hand-crafted." He grins. "Of course, a hand would've been nice, but from what Dalak's told em the fingers had a habit of breaking off, and I'd rather not feel that."

>>16546255
"I've been hearing that the rates of accidents have gone up recently. Is it new workers ignoring safety protocols, or just bad luck?"

Maybe a worker who does the work every day might have noticed something the inspectors missed.

"Me neither." You say, remembering the occasion when your arm choked you during a dream. "You worked with any of the immigrants?"

"The little guys?" He asks, putting his hand towards the ground. "Oh yeah! We've got one who does good mortar work. Doesn't speak a lick of our language, but he gets pantomime." He jerks his thumb back over his shoulder. "They have some really crazy festivals. Put some vine wreaths over me and hung 'em off the arm when I was walking home. Lotsa bright colors and chanting." He half shrugs. "But then they gave me a cup of mushroom wine and sent me on my way."
"They seem religious?" You ask him.

"Maybe. I don't know their language." He says. "I do know they cook a mean beetle roast, though."

Your mouth waters a bit. "It's been forever since I had some of that. And a nice glass of fungus beer to wash it down..."

Sazakk slaps you on the shoulder. "Hey, you think the same way I do! We must be brothers in arms!"

It's delayed, but the terrible joke hits both of you as Sazakk realizes what he said. You both groan, simultaneously, then burst out laughing at the bad pun.

>>16546272

"We should go out for some, soon. If you, uh, have the time, sir." Sazakk manages, after you stop laughing.

"I may well take you up on it." You say to him, chuckling. "I do have something a bit more serious to ask you, though. I've been hearing that the rates of accidents have gone up recently. Is it new workers ignoring safety protocols, or just bad luck?"

"No, no!" He holds up his hand. "The workers are doing everything right by the book! Just things falling when they shouldn't, bad things happening." He shakes his head. "One of the mechanic boys was sobbing when I got stuck under a NAJA. I had to keep telling him it wasn't his fault. It was normally maintained and all." He scratches at his right shoulder blade. "That was what happened to me, anyway. Wasn't a full mechanic yet, so I was supposed to go back to farming. Figured I'd give construction a try." He waves his hand at you. "I'd say it's just all luck. No kinda coincidences this common. I wouldn't say it's all bad, either. Another few inches and it would've punched through my ribs." He sighs. "Poor Argam lost a toe the other day from a brick. One brick! Just fell at the right angle, I guess." He looks over. "Why, what're you thinking, Magistrate?"

>>16546368
"If it was the immigrants and new workers, I would have ordered mandatory re-training, but if it's just things falling apart, I'll have to talk with Unuk and some of the other Councilors about our raw material suppliers. These accidents are really starting to cut into our productivity."

Don't want to alarm the populace about possible saboteurs just yet.

>>16546587

"If it was the immigrants and new workers, I would have ordered mandatory re-training, but if it's just things falling apart, I'll have to talk with Unuk and some of the other Councilors about our raw material suppliers. These accidents are really starting to cut into our productivity." You say to him.

"No, I don't think it's the mechanical stuff." He nods over to his arm. "I leave that thing at the shop. If someone wanted to do some real damage, that'd be easy to tweak and make it break, especially with how I push it." He rubs his chin for a moment. "Lets see, there was the foot rot with the farmers, that gas explosion with the technologists, and the cave-in. None of those I could think were the fault of technology." He looks up at the corner of the room, where a curious wooden egg with numerous eyes, noses and mouths painted on it in rings sits. "It has to be something else."

"This is why!" Dalak comes back into the room, holidng what looks like a thick, bluish tube that you know is ioun muscle. It's roughly as large as your entire upper arm. "This costs about 250 gold!" Dalak tells him. "If you go through one a month doing this, in a year that's 3000 gold!"

Bump to the top!

>>16547318
Purse our lips, then pat Sazakk on the back.

"Yeah...I suppose bad-assery has a budget."

>>16547318
*sigh*
"Being a behemoth of strength does have its price. Try to keep the safeties on, will you?
"Though, if the problems and accidents weren't the fault of defective construction materials and equipment...I've already alerted the Councilors to the problem and we've got inspectors checking into it. I'm sure something will turn up. Keep your eyes open, alright?"

Bump.

>>16548875
>>16548895

You try to think of something to say as an objection, but 3000 a year is 3000 a year. You pat Sazakk on the back.

"Yeah... I suppose bad-assery has a budget. Try to keep the safeties on, will you?"

Sazakk shrugs. "Well, I did have some ideas about how to get around that problem, but..." He trails off.

You nod over to him before continuing. "Though, if the problems and accidents weren't the fault of defective construction materials and equipment... I've already alerted the Councilors to the problem and we've got inspectors checking into it. I'm sure something will turn up. Keep your eyes open, alright?"

"That's what you were talking about before, right?" Dalak asks, turning back to the parts on the table. "So, if it's not sabotage, and it's not incompetence, maybe it's just a spike in injuries? It does happen, from time to time."

>>16551353
Shrug at Dalek.
"Either way, while it hasn't slowed down production to any great degree, it's still an annoyance that needs to be looked into."

>>16551512

"Either way, while it hasn't slowed down production to any great degree, it's still an annoyance that needs to be looked into." You say to him.

"I'd say more than an annoyance." Sazakk points over at you. "However much that muscle's costing, multiply that by the number of newly injured that come in here. If it keeps up, the whole caverns will eventually need monthly maintenance on prosthetics and the cost per month will make that replacement muscle look like a drop in the bucket."

Dalak says nothing, focusing on a strange, curved part.

>>16551573
"Well, on to business. Dalak, how's the newest armaments for the suit coming along?"

"And Torvash's prosthetic perks?

>>16551713

"Well, on to business." You say, deciding that the matter must remain unsolved. "Dalak, how's the newest armaments for the suit coming along?"

"Well enough." He nods over at Sazakk. "Though if we had someone like him driving, there would be a lot more room for internal components."

"Huh? What about me would-" Sazakk begins, then stops himself as he looks over at the table. "Oh. That's what you mean."

"That aside, we have a stock room full of gently used weaponry sized for them." Dalak finishes.

"And Torvash's prosthetic perks?" You ask him.

"Just got them done today." Dalak says. "Assistants can't be trusted with theoretical weapons, nor with anything bigger than a kobold-sized limb, yet." He puts the piece he was holding back with the other parts. "When did you want me to install them?"

"Hey, uh, if you have any theoretical stuff, I can test it." Sazakk says.

"Well, there might be some issues with your mount. It's for heavy limbs." Dalak says to him.

"Just give me a big one, then." He raises his hand up. "I don't have the damn thing on all day, or anything."

>>16551898
>>16552024
"Sazakk, the tests could be dangerous, but if you're willing, I'll let Dalak or Felix'hia decide if you're needed."

"As for Torvash's installments, I hope to have them installed immediately. Keeping the Bullette in a cage elicits no hands..."

>>16552069

"Sazakk, the tests could be dangerous, but if you're willing, I'll let Dalak or Felix'hia decide if you're needed." You say to him.

"Naturally, I'm willing!" He says to you. "We've got to keep working through our lives, and if what's happened to me can help the Caverns, then by all means take advantage!" He scratches his head. "At the very least, I still know my mechanics. Just never got a chance to apply them."

"You are one of a handful of kobolds using this kind of prosthesis." Dalak nods over at him. "We can probably find a few things for you to test."

"As for Torvash's installments, I hope to have them installed immediately. Keeping the Bullette in a cage elicits no hands..." You say to him.

Dalak seems a bit taken aback. "I... I'm not sure what that means, but I should be done here soon. Just bring him on by when you want me to attach them."

>>16552195
For what I meant, I hoped to say something along the lines of:
-If we keep him cooped up, he'll get uneasy and possibly lash out against us. As for the Bullette (Land Shark), I didn't know of any other Underdark monster; perhaps an umber-hulk would have been more appropriate.

Anyhoo, let's go grab Torvash. I'm sure he'll be more than excited for his replacements getting the star-studded treatment.

>>16552225
>>16552195
Wow, that failed badly.
Don't try pithy sayings if this is the kind of stuff you bring to the table.

Before we get Torvash, ask about the remote killswitches.
"Dalek, what about the...extra option that I asked you to build into the test units?"

>>16552262
:'(

>>16552262

Was that really necessary?

>>16552303
>>16552427
Yes, because it was a really bad pithy saying.
The rest of his post was fine; but the saying just did not work at all.

>>16552262
>>16552225

"Dalek, what about the... Extra option that I asked you to build into the test units?" You ask him.

"They're in there. Though they might permanently bust the joints if they're activated during a intense activity." Dalak responds.

You leave the office and head over to the more secure prison.

On the inside, you can see a number of well-armed guards, their armor strapped to the exterior of white cloth rimmed with a dark greenish-gold trim. You explain who you've come for, and they lead you back to a rather nice apartment with a secure metal door. After they open it, you can see that the interior has a small bookshelf, table and chairs, a small chest in one corner, and a large bed. Torvash, who is now wearing a new-looking black loincloth, sits at one of the chairs, looking through a small plain book. He looks over at you, his gaze seeming to have regained its normal look. "Is this visit for business, or for pleasure?"

"Well, for me, it's business, and I assume for you it's pleasure." You say, waving him out.

He walk, haltingly, on his prosthetics. "Your doctor said that these might not be the best versions for me to be using. They're almost numb for me."

"Get in a chair, then." You say to him, and have the guards bring out a larger wheelchair for him to sit in. Torvash sits down in it, seeming tired from even the brief walk.

"Something the matter with them?" You ask him as you telekinetically guide him out of the building.

He pauses for a moment. "My... 'mounts' are shaped differently than normal ones. That's what the doctor said." He gestures out with his right hand, the metal clicking as he flexes the fingers. "Sometimes picking new things up is tricky. I enjoy the challenge."

>>16552452

Well, telling him not to try seemed kind of harsh. That's all I'm saying.

And Bulettes are totally down here by the way.

>>16552468
"Then you shall enjoy anew the challenge of learning new limbs, and the devices that come with them."
Refuse to elaborate until we get to Dalek's workshop.
"Dalek, this is Torvash. He will be testing the new prosthetics"

>>16552468
"It'll take some time, but trust me; you'll be back before you know it." Recall our card speech with the other prosthetic Kobolds from the hospital. "I recommend learning smaller motions, like card tricks."

"Now as you're well aware, you're now apart of a very elite aspect of our military. Some would say your position is highly privileged." Tap our fingers against prosthetic. "As a result, you'll be given some more tools to better help in your trade. And where better to place tools than in one's own hands? Never out of reach, never dropped, and always immediate."

"I chose some lovely additions..." Then, give him the list of what we gave him. I know we gave him some power legs, but I forget what else we decided on, specifically.

>>16552490
Actually, go with what this anon said; specifically, in regards to keeping the mention of what he's receiving specifically hush-hush.

"Then you shall enjoy anew the challenge of learning new limbs, and the devices that come with them." You say to him. "Now as you're well aware, you're now a part of a very elite aspect of our military. Some would say your position is highly privileged." You tap your fingers against your prosthetic. "As a result, you'll be given some more tools to better help in your trade. And where better to place tools than in one's own hands? Never out of reach, never dropped, and always immediate." You think for a moment. "As far as relearning things goes, I built my dexterity back up with card tricks I could do before I lost my arm. That said, just find something that tests your dexterity and keep working at it."

You get a few looks as you guide the trog through the city, though none seem to be ones of shock and betrayal. They likely think Torvash is a member of the local trog tribe, you decide.

Heading into the now much less crowded workshop, you see Dalak sipping some coffee that is no doubt cold by now as he sees you come in. "Ah, there you are. Come on back, I just got the table set up."

You head back into the mess of corridors and examination rooms to find a larger one, seeming mostly lit by a crystal lamp at the center above a large, complex-looking examination table. It seems to have a split down at about the middle, a long, arch-like piece down by the stand and a number of straps down the sides at various heights. The room has a number of prosthetics hanging from the walls, and some surgical equipment. You recognize it after a moment as the place where you had the mount for your arm installed, but looking much more advanced.

>>16552624
"Torvash, meet a very good and dear friend of mine: Dalak. Dalak, this is Torvash."

"Are you ready for the procedure, Dalak?"

Glide the chair over to wherever Dalak wants and give Torvash a few words.

"The operation shouldn't last too long, and the process should be painless. I hope you appreciate the lengths I had to go through to do this..."

"Torvash, meet a very good and dear friend of mine: Dalak. Dalak, this is Torvash." You say to them.

"Oh, we've already met." Dalak raises an eyebrow at you. "Who do you think installed the mounts?"

You feel a bit embarrassed. "Ah. Well then, are you ready for the procedure, Dalak?"

"Sure, we'll just be replacing the limbs with the new ones." He says, looking over at Torvash. "Now then, let's get you up there." Dalak says, helping Torvash up to his feet. The trog limps over to the table, his body seeming to move jerkily with each step. He lays down, his metal tail poking down through the middle of the table. Dalak places a few straps across the trog's midsection, and then across his chest. He cranks a couple of small wheel cranks near the split end of the table, and two small platforms wind their way up to the trog's feet until they are flat on them.

You step over next to him. "The operation shouldn't last too long, and the process should be painless. I hope you appreciate the lengths I had to go through to do this..."

Torvash simply nods, seeming to be a bit nervous.

"Here's the nice part." Dalak says, pulling back on a lever by the wall. The end of the table with Torvash's head on it slowly begins to tilt upwards, until finally the trog sits at about a 30 degree angle.

"With this new table, the patient can be more comfortable while any adjustments take place." Dalak says. "It's mainly for anything involving the spine, but might as well use what we've got."

>>16552723
"Impressive." Nod in agreement.

Now, let's watch the show.

Dalak reaches up, carefully behind the metal edge of one of the trog's hips, and you hear a click as he brings the heavy prosthetic off. Torvash grasps at the edge of the table, despite Dalak's assurance that he won't fall. The trog's leg mount seems a bit longer than the usual one, and you see the middle of it move slightly. He does the same with the trog's tail, revealing a mount of similar length.

Torvash clings to the table with both arms as his other leg is removed, and then relaxes somewhat as his arm is removed.

(Back in 30)

>>16552763
"Easy there; it'll all be over soon."

>>16552809
(I'll be back in 30 a bit later, I guess)

"Easy there; it'll all be over soon." You say to Torvash.

He seems to calm himself after hearing your words. "Just... Thought I might fall." He says.

"We may as well start with the legs then." Dalak says, hauling two light gray-plated prosthetic legs under his arms. The legs themselves are about up to your chest, and have a higher-set ankle like the hind leg of an animal, though still at a glance recognizable as the leg of a humanoid. Unlike a kobold leg, the trog leg has no "thumb" toe. The calves and thighs of both legs appear wider and powerful, and you note a small round piece like a joint on the outsides of the ankles.

Dalak reaches up, moving the small protrusion in the mount at the trog's right side to a particular position. "Hold that there for me." He says. You see the protrusion move a bit, but not far from the place Dalak set it. He lifts up the limb, setting it on the table with a clunk as he lines up the upper thigh with the mount, moving it inwards. He pushes it into the trog with enough force to make the trog's body shift upwards as the prosthetic makes a faint click. The prosthetic springs to life, the toes flexing and stretching as though after a long sleep.

"I'll explain it to you after we do this next one, Torvash." Dalak says, walking over to the trog's left side.

>>16553013
Go do what you need to do, OP. I'll be here, chilling.

As for the operation, help Dalak where he asks.

The other leg is attached in a similar manner, though Torvash's mount has to be readjusted a few times.

"Now, this is some heavy combination work." Dalak says, indicating the areas of the leg. "Small jets on each side and a flexible ankle allow for short bursts of rapid movement, while the shape of the legs plus some different musculature allows for faster movement overall. In the right calf, there is a small gun that can be fired directly forwards, unloaded at present and reloaded through an access port just below the knee." He gives Torvash's thighs a rapping. "There's also a fun little engine in here that can increase the effectiveness of momentum while running quickly. Suffice to say that's been well tested, but you should feel something rotating around the thigh bone while it's working."

Torvash is quiet, absorbing it all and testing the rudimentary functions of his new limbs.

>>16553097
If the operation is done, thank Dalak, and stroll Torvash to an appropriate testing field. Whether it's a park, a military training ground, or the workshop itself, let's give him some leash to test his new toys...away from the public, of course.

Will be back later.

>>16553260
Sure thing, OP. I'm probably going to take an hour or so nap now. I'll be back by 9:00pm.

>>16553097
Take Dalek aside and deeper into the workshop.
Use some quill and parchment to ask him how the remote killswitch works and how to activate it. Have him write the response so that Torvash can't overhear.
We should also send a note to Yuune to see if he has any magical items that could be used as tracking beacons of some kind, that we can have Dalek install as part of Torvash's next maintenance tune-up.

Once we know how to remotely kill/disable him, take him out to a military testing area and have him go through the paces.

>>16554070

"Can I speak with you for a moment, Dalak?" You ask him.

Dalak looks over to Torvash. "Um, sure. Just go through the stretches like we did with the last set, Torvash." The kobold leads you off to a side room.

You scratch out your first query on a piece of paper. "How does the killswitch for the limbs work?" You hand the piece of paper overt to him. Dalak looks over it sternly, adjusting his glasses. He writes the response after a moment.

"It's keyed to a safety switch. You have to unlock it with a small key, then flip the switch. Suffice to say the boys at the tech labs had a fun time with that one. Should work out to 3,000 miles, roughly the same range and timing as a message stone." He hands you a small tube-shaped object topped by a metal cap and with a keyhole on the front, with a key attached to it by a chain.

>>16554572
"Ah; good. You won't mind if I commandeer this?"

>>16554876

"Ah; good. You won't mind if I commandeer this?" You scratch back.

Dalak shakes his head at you, waving back towards the fitting room where you can hear Torvash's limbs clack against the table.

Dalak returns with you back into the fitting room, heading over to a lengthy chest, from which he pulls a lengthy, somewhat round and thin gray tail, with what looks like a clasp of sorts on the end. "Alright. Now, we have a unique piece here." He walks around to Torvash's front, showing the flexibility of the limb to him by wrapping it around in a tight circle near the end. "Something new to get used to. It can be used to balance, but it's all manual. You can also manipulate things with it, and there's a clamp at the end here," Dalak rotated the tail to reveal the end. It has a locking clamp on the end with a small cup, and he reveals a small, thin tendril-like protrusion on the right side. "You can lock a gun most easily in here, and use this to pull the trigger." He points to a few more closed off ports in the gap aside from that. "We can add more of those 'fingers' if you want to use something more complex, swap out the ends, mount something permanently, whatever works best."

"Lots of gun options for someone who's never fired one." Torvash notes.

"It's not too hard. Six-year olds learn how, after all." Dalak tells him. "Let me just get around an attach this..."

After a click, Torvash sways the new limb, the tail bumping into a few of the moving parts of the table. "An extra hand? I like the idea." Torvash says, looking over at you. "My old one always dragged on the ground, anyway." The rounded tail wraps around the front of the table, and back through the split.

"If he hasn't used a gun..." Dalak says quietly to you. "Should we go with the first one or the second one for the arm?"

>>16554921
"...remind me again; what did I exactly order? It's been so long, and I've been crowded with work."

>>16555011

"...Remind me again; what did I exactly order? It's been so long, and I've been crowded with work."

Dalak sighs. "Well, it has been a bit." He walks over to the chest, and pulls out two large prosthetics.

The first one, a whole prosthetic with extra black armoring on the shoulder and upper arm. There is a ring around the upper arm a few inches above the elbow, and below that is a ridged, vented forearm ending in a whitish, hand carved tube about as wide as its fist. "This one, or..." He digs out another arm (or rather an arm from a bit above the elbow) that is greenish-black in color and studded with a large number of small pistons in multiple spiralling patterns down the forearm, and a heavy-looking clawed hand. The ring around where the pistons join with the arm. Where the elbow should be, there is instead a large piston.

>>16555205

He shows off the finer details of the vibrocannon. The bottom of it has "scaling" in bands of metal witha slight v-shaped protrusion towards the center, much like the belly of a snake. He tips them forwards slightly, exposing numerous small vents. "This can take solid ammo too, in here," he points into the tube. "Essentially, it works similar to a chamber if you put something on the end. You could fire anything properly shaped, maybe even a small artillery shell. The kick on that is supposed to be mitigated by the vents." He points to a few more dotting the sides of the limb. "In addition, the can draw in ambient magical energy used to create the shots themselves. Up to a 20 clip before it has to draw from the user after an hour of charge." He pops open the area between the lower arm and the upper arm, and displays the internal workings. You see two very clear white ioun stones pressed up against one another, with a rod in the middle. "That rod can absorb and transmit electricity, and does so through a cable in the elbow. The back half of the forearm contains all of the important tech." He points to it, showing the small networks of ridges that seem to interlock. He pushes on them, and the back portion of the arm slowly rotates, rings of off-white metal moving in opposite directions as a low whir emits from the weapon.

>>16555205
>>16555544
"I see...perhaps the vibrocannon would suit his needs better. "

Sorry about the absence, OP; was playing some tf2 with friends. Also, Gargoyle Quest?

>>16555619

>>16554754

>>16555619

"I see... Perhaps the vibrocannon would suit his needs better." You say to Dalak.

"I wanted to show off the pistons though..." Dalak says, looking back over at Torvash, who is feeling around the table with his prehensile tail. "Well, I guess I can give you a quick look."

He holds up the noticeably heavier arm, the pistons making 3 spiraled patterns down the arm. Dalak points at them. "Each one of these on its own exudes roughly enough pressure to move about 50 pounds. Them contracting is powered by special muscles in the arm that are very dense." He runs his finger along a string of them. "There are six pistons per set, and three sets. Freshly upkept, if those all push, that's eighteen times fifty for a total of 900 pounds of pressure." He closes the fist on the hand, and after about ten seconds, each of the pistons lowers in order with a his, from the back of the arm up to the front. "Quickly doing that makes a lot of heat. I've measured an output of about 500 degree steam." He waits for a moment, pointing to the longer piston at the elbow of the arm. "This baby outputs about 1000 pounds of pressure on its own." He opens up the fingers, and you hear a hissing sound as the pistons retract to their outward position. "if I fired it, it could well knock my shoulder out of its socket just from holding it. Rapidly contracted though, the pressure from the extraneous pistons isn't lost, and creates a unique inertial pattern out of the fist. In normal air, it's visible as a small burst of heat." He points to the knuckles and plates of the hand, which are black. "Adamantine. It was necessary to avoid having the thing melt when it was used."

>>16555959
"Oh my...well, that does sound very...Torvash. I think the steam-fist will be the better choice, then."

>>16555997

"Oh my... Well, that does sound very... Torvash. I think the steam-fist will be the better choice, then." You say to him.

"Why is my name being used as an adjective?" Torvash asks.

"Well, they are meant to be interchangeable." Dalak says, detaching the cannon from the upper arm, and attaching the piston puncher in its place. "Alright, let me give you the run-down, and get you down from there."

You look over to see most of the straps undone from the table, Torvash's tail wrapped around the front. He looks over the side of the table sheepishly. "Sorry, I was enjoying the new flexibility."

Dalak shrugs. "Here, let me put this last one on." You see the flexible plug on Torvash's side straighten out as Dalak affixes the arm with a click. Torvash turns the arm over, flexing the fingers as he looks at the prosthetic. "What are all of these... What did you call them?"

"Pistons. Don't try to move them just yet." Dalak says. He goes over to the side of the room, lowering the end of the table down to the floor. Torvash is now mostly standing, his body held in place by a strap across his chest. "Now, take it slow. The balance on those new legs will be a bit different."

>>16556358
Let's see how graceful Torvash is on his new legs. I'm willing to bet he's about as majestic as a blimp. :P

"And, once again, don't try to pull on any new switches you might feel. Who knows what could go off."

>>16556404

"And, once again, don't try to pull on any new switches you might feel. Who knows what could go off." You say to Torvash.

The trog raises an eyebrow, as though to say "I heard that the first time." He removes the strap with his flesh arm, then reaches out at the air as he takes his first step. His foot clicks as it touches the stone floor, the trog wobbling a bit as his tail thrashes like a dying fish in an attempt to keep some trace of balance, bashing into the table a few times. He grasps the table with his left hand before taking a step off of it. He finally releases it, looking over at you. "The floor is cold." He says, looking down at it. He raises up his foot, suddenly almost falling as he grasps back at the table.

"Tail is manual." Dalak reminds him.

"Why do I feel like I'm going to be hearing that a lot?" Torvash grumbles, holding onto the structure as he lets his leg back down.

>>16556577
"Now then, let's try a few steps. Slowly now. Here." Hand him the closest thing to a cane we have on hand. If he still manages to topple, cast a Feather Fall spell or something similar to lessen the fall.

"It'll take a month or two, but you'll eventually be able to undergo some combat operations. For now, you're first order is to become acquainted with your new appendages. That includes exercises and tests every twelve hours or so."

"Now then, let's try a few steps. Slowly now. Here." You hand him a large cane. He leans heavily on it, shuffling forwards. "It'll take a month or two, but you'll eventually be able to undergo some combat operations. For now, you're first order is to become acquainted with your new appendages. That includes exercises and tests every twelve hours or so."

"I should be done in a week." Torvash says, walking slowly over towards you. "I practiced more with my hand than with my legs, and these are fairly different." He raises up the knee of one leg. "More responsive, more nerves. They feel extra light, but have a lot of power."

"I'll have to remember that." Dalak says to him.

"Much easier on the hips." He says, rotating one of his ankles as he keeps his leg firmly on the ground. The feet themselves are about twice as long as a regular foot, and the ankle bends out to angles that you'd think would be painful to either side. "What about this other thing you were talking about? A cannon?"

>>16556883
Let's leave the explaining to Dalak; who better to explain how something works than its creator?

>>16557111

"Well, it uses something a bit like that engine that's in your legs." Dalak walks over to him, reaching up to grab at Torvash's upper arm.

"Careful, I'm standing on shaky legs here." He says, looking concerned as Dalak removed his arm. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"Just give me a moment." Dalak plugs in the vibrocannon, and Torvash looks over at it.

"No hand." Torvash notes.

"No, but it is a weapon." Dalak explains. "Should be tied to a tensing of the forearm, but don't try it just yet. It uses residual energy from-"

"I'm just trying to walk right now." Torvash says, plunking the cannon end of the arm against the wall as he takes a step closer to it. "I'll mess with it later, I promise."

Dalak loks at how the arm is being used. "Don't- Oh, never mind."

>>16557422
"Well Dalak, thank you for your time." Get the wheelchair ready. "I owe you and your brother a gift for all you've done for me; dinner, at least."

"Let's depart, Torvash. There's a nice bed waiting for you back in your room, and you've been given a lot to get used to."

Assuming we have no other business with Dalak, Felix'hia, or Torvash, let's say our good-byes, get Torvash back to his room, and see what's next on our to-do list.

>>16557466

"Well Dalak, thank you for your time." You get the wheelchair ready, packing the arm on a small bin on the side. "I owe you and your brother a gift for all you've done for me; dinner, at least."

"Sure. Just, ah, let me know beforehand." Dalak says. "And Torvash, let me know if anything gives you trouble."

The trog nods, lowering himself into the wheelchair. "I will. Not like I'll be doing much else."

"Let's depart, Torvash. There's a nice bed waiting for you back in your room, and you've been given a lot to get used to." You say to him.

"Like guns, it appears." Torvash says, lifting up his right forearm. "Just hope I don't accidentally fire this thing if I fall or something."

>>16557722
>Just hope I don't accidentally fire this thing if I fall or something
Giving him the vibrocannon was a bad idea for someone who's just learning how to use all of these prosthetics. I only wish I was here to prevent that from having occurred.

Once Torvash is back in his room, we should go back to our office and take care of any work that has piled up in our absence. See if any of the investigation teams has finished with their analysis.
Also, have some GRU teams do internal security, half to keep the military safe, and the others to be on the lookout for sabotage.

Ask Yuune if we have any magical alarm constructs, specifically ones that can be hidden and arent' standard. The Golgremet sabotage team might be emitting a musk that actually alters the senses of those exposed to it to not be able to see, hear, or smell the user.

>>16558334

Torvash does, a bit before you deposit him in his room, detach the cannon arm and replace it with the piston puncher. He tells you that the heavier weight, plus having something to grab with should he fall, might help him balance better.

At any rate, I'm out. See you next week!