Iron Kingdoms: Innovations

[EdroGrimshell]

"Welcome to home for the duration of the war preparations. Here you will be inventing and working your @$$es off creating what's needed to get the enemies dead and twitching." The commander called over the din of the other recruits.

"You will each be assigned a group and given a number representing your barracks. You have today to prepare, the fun starts tomorrow maggots."

You are in a large courtyard, three tables are to your side. Each of you are called out, given the names of the rest of your group (each other plus one Gareth Lanxton), and a metal plate labeled "Division 6".

(Describe your actions)

[Drewski]

Nick turns to the group.
"I guess that means we're stuck together for a while. I'm Nickolas Felton. Don't call me Nick.
Edit: Added green font

[tiny tim]

A short stock man with two bladed pistols approaches you.

The name's Rhaid. I guess I'm gonna be making the guns for you guys.

[Drewski]

"Good. If anything I have heard is true then you will be needed. Do you have any inventive ideas? It would look good if we started off with funds."

[Gunther]

Alphonse kept himself professional even with the man barking at him. He knew it was all for show- they were scientific and military minds here, and though he did not expect to be treated like some conscript, he at least knew that there was coin here. Coin for his boy, who he now felt content at leaving behind. It wouldn't do the boy good to see such a bloody awful place, so full of eagerness to perpetuate murder and death. The workshop was a more appropriate place- a calm setting, one where the focus of work helped keep the mind concentrated.

Speaking of concentration...

The mechanic lit up a fresh cigar, snipping the bud as he approached the work tables. Such scraps of metal arrayed before him- the standard tools of any basic mechanic. They rang to him of the Cyriss testing chambers, and he was quick to spark the cigar's tip. Taking a few puffs, he felt calmness reign over him, his mind slowly re-orienting to the immediate task at hand. These...men wanted weapons.

He waved to the members of his group, "Here," He said to Ivan, producing a cigar for his companion as well, "It's Khadorian- good stuff, or so I'm told."

Walking closer, he began his inspection of the materials presented, nodding to the men of the group, "I am Alphonse Halder."

He gave a polite bow to the woman, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have a few schemata I can...conjure up, do any of you have any conflicting plans or ideas?"

[Guardsman]

The much larger Ivan Bukolov stood behind and to the side of Alphonse the man whom' he was protecting. He wasn't that tall as others but being from Khador he had some decent height advantage. He didn't often say much to the other mechaniks of this place as he was not even knowledgeable of these strange mechanical devices. It was often shadowing Alphonse and keeping him well guarded, as was his job.

Ivan looked to the cigar for a moment and took the Khadorian made delicacy in his hand. Using a match from his pocket, lit the cigar, and began to smoke the lovely thing. With a grin from the bearded muscular fellow he gave Alphonse an armoured thumbs up.

"Da it taste well of homeland, warming me with pride. It taste pretty good and have good flavour, da it was good buy."

Puffing on the cigar he went back to folding his muscular arms against an iron breastplate and standing guard, as was his job. The Khadorian Beast didn't expect anything bad to happen but you never know around mechaniks, their brains filled with smoke, oil and soot.

[Drewski]

"I have a meeting to atend I may be a while though. Go set up shop." On my way back i will chack for useful shops."
Nick sets off in the direction of the door.

[Gunther]

Al smiled at the approval of his comrade, nodding to Rhaid as the...other Khadorian departed. He assumed the other man was a Khadorian, but his accent- or rather, lack thereof- threw him off slightly.

"A pleasure to meet you, friend- I've met many gunsmiths on my travel, and actually have some skill with the matter myself. If it wouldn't be too troubling, do you think it would be possible for you to improvise a large-bore blunderbuss for me, designed for grappling hooks? It won't be shooting those, but a grappling gun has a close enough barrel size and firing power to what I have in mind."

He gave a short pause, "Err, that was quite rude of me, actually. I am Alphonse Halder, as I said before. I'm...a general mechanic, though I mostly work with Mechanika and similar components. Have to feed my family somehow, after all!" He gave a short laugh, taking another puff of the cigar.

[Fable Wright]

Uh, commander? Most of my supplies are at my house. My specialty is working with specialized equipment from there. Could me and my barrack-mates work from there? Shaeldath asks, using the invocation entropic warding as he does so. It never hurts to be ready, in case of an ambient firefight. He had made the gun of one of the people here, and did not want to be on the other side of that barrel.

[Gunther]

Seeing the man suddenly cast a spell, Alphonse jerked back in response. He wasn't the most proficient in magic, and the last thing he liked seeing was a man suddenly start shooting off magic in a crowded area. Magic could go awry in very bad ways.

After the initial shock, however, he tapped a bit of loose ashes off of his cigar. "Why would you leave them there? Ah well...I suppose we could requisition some servitors to transport them back on-site." He said eventually, "Don't want to go experimenting in the civilian district, now do we?" He asked.

[Fable Wright]

Unless you can transport a complete alchemical lab, mechanikal lab, and a forge here, I doubt it. The property is a fair distance away from the town, a little bit past the outskirts. It's conceivable that we could work from there, as the material there is good, there is a nearby town to purchase materials from, (and I have discounts on all Ironworkers-approved mechanikal objects) and the place holds some memories. It's where I made his gun, he says, gesturing to Jaral, and Cerberus.

[Guardsman]

Ivan looked at the man casting and raised a brow, not exactly to keen on magic. He knew it was wielded by wizards and witches from his homeland. He looked to Alphonse and then back to the magic caster and decided to think of it strange but not threatening. Deciding to bring the flaps down on his ushanka and to smoke more of the cigar he did just that.

He looked to the man asking other "commander" if they can go to his home. Hopefully for a drink. "Uh'...vhat is meaning of casting of magic? I think mechaniks not need magic trick da?" He gave a curt chuckle, not really certain what was the point of casting magic during a conversation.

[Fable Wright]

I'm just protecting myself in case of an assault. In my experience with dealing with the military, it never hurts to be ready. This way, I'm protected, at least in part, from anything that happens.

[EdroGrimshell]

Uh, commander? Most of my supplies are at my house. My specialty is working with specialized equipment from there. Could me and my barrack-mates work from there? Shaeldath asks, using the invocation entropic warding as he does so. It never hurts to be ready, in case of an ambient firefight. He had made the gun of one of the people here, and did not want to be on the other side of that barrel.

"If you have a specific need that can only be fulfilled at your home then by all means work there. But you are to report here or we will send a representative to keep tabs on your progress, if your home is able to house all seven members of your team then they may house their as well.

That reminds me," the commander turns to one of the souldiers, "Bring Gareth Lanxton here immediately," he turns back to you, "Now what exactly is it that you require from your home that cannot be produced here?"

[Fable Wright]

I need my alchemical lab, my custom made mechanikal lab, my forge, and my clockwork/gunsmithing tools. My house is indeed large enough to hold 7 people, and we'd be happy to check in at regular intervals. He says, dismissing the spell as he did so.

[NecroticPunch]

" Ohhh, we get to go have fun? Cool, we get to jointhearmyandhavelotsofunandshootpeople,andIgetto continuebunkingwithShaeldrathand -- " Jarral says, as he takes a deep breath, " we get to improve Cerberus! " Jarral finishes, as he takes out his Tri-barreled weapon, and presents it.

[Gunther]

"Well, I'm certain they have mechanikal labs on-site, not to mention a forge. This is a military base." Alphonse replied, "As for being able to hold all seven of us, thank you, but no thank you- I have a home of my own to stay in. I'd rather not burden your own home."

He smiled as he thought of his own home, and the loving family he'd be able to return to, "Provided, of course, the commander here has no issue with me living at my own residence in town. I'm quite the early riser as it stands, so I'll be more than able to get where I need to."

As he saw Jarral enter such a tizzy, he took an unconscious step back. The man actually enjoyed shooting people? And he bunked with this Shael fellow and...part of him felt an instant repulsion to the idea of someone who actually embraced violence. He had his own weapons for self-defense, but he still took a step back as the man drew the bulky, unholy tri-barrel weapon. Such a tool was meant for one thing and one thing only: Massacres.

"I...see." He said, "Well, I'll work in your own laboratory, renovate it as I need. What projects do you have in mind that might require specialized equipment, however?"

[EdroGrimshell]

I need my alchemical lab, my custom made mechanikal lab, my forge, and my clockwork/gunsmithing tools. My house is indeed large enough to hold 7 people, and we'd be happy to check in at regular intervals. He says, dismissing the spell as he did so.

"Acceptable. I will have the paperwork done by noon and a convoy to escort you by 1400 hours. Until then you can order supplies you may need for any minor projects, just speak with the clerk near the barracks." After hearing Alphonse's response, "We would prefer to have you all in one location, it makes things easier on us and joint projects, as for labs here, we are limited, especially with the number of mechanics, alchemists, and mages here. If we can use an external source we use it, now i have other matters to attend to."

As the commander turns to another group of mechaniks, the soldier from before escorts a rather odd looking man to your group. He is tall, lean, extremely pale (whiter than white), has pitch-black hair, dichromatic eyes, one red, one blue, and wearing a black suit of leather armor with a scythe hanging across his back.

"Greetings, I am Gareth Lanxton, a pleasure to make your acquaitence," he speaks with a Cryxian accent, which causes many nearby to stiffen slightly.

[Fable Wright]

"Well, I'm certain they have mechanikal labs on-site, not to mention a forge. This is a military base." Alphonse replied, "As for being able to hold all seven of us, thank you, but no thank you- I have a home of my own to stay in. I'd rather not burden your own home."

He smiled as he thought of his own home, and the loving family he'd be able to return to, "Provided, of course, the commander here has no issue with me living at my own residence in town. I'm quite the early riser as it stands, so I'll be more than able to get where I need to."

As he saw Jarral enter such a tizzy, he took an unconscious step back. The man actually enjoyed shooting people? And he bunked with this Shael fellow and...part of him felt an instant repulsion to the idea of someone who actually embraced violence. He had his own weapons for self-defense, but he still took a step back as the man drew the bulky, unholy tri-barrel weapon. Such a tool was meant for one thing and one thing only: Massacres.

"I...see." He said, "Well, I'll work in your own laboratory, renovate it as I need. What projects do you have in mind that might require specialized equipment, however?"

Most likely, specialized equipment, like Cerberus. But with larger practical applications. For example, 'smart' bombs, which can position themselves where needed, without risking troops to plant them. Or, perhaps, construction of automatons. The possibilities are endless.

Turning to Gareth, without even a hint of being perturbed by the accent, How do you do? And what do you do?

[NecroticPunch]

Why are you scared of this? Would you prefer it for people to attack your homes? To utterly and completely kill both your family and your friends systematically? Don't hate someone who kills for good. Jarral says, as he puts Cerberus back in it's holster.

[Guardsman]

" Ohhh, we get to go have fun? Cool, we get to jointhearmyandhavelotsofunandshootpeople,andIgetto continuebunkingwithShaeldrathand -- " Jarral says, as he takes a deep breath, " we get to improve Cerberus! " Jarral finishes, as he takes out his Tri-barreled weapon, and presents it.

Ivan looked at another Mechanik with his strange fast talking and his love for his gun. What was there to love a gun with more than two barrels? Mechaniks were always strange, even Alphonse was strange to him sometime.

"Is gun named Shaeldrath? You seem to love gun, does gun love you? I kid, I kid. So vhy does gun of three barrel? Vhat does last barrel do..?"

And this...handler. Whoever was his father and mother surely were terrible people, to make this boys life a living hell by looking like a bad Khadorian joke told by a rather drunk Khadorian with brain damage. The handler also wielded a scythe? He didn't think they needed a farmer with strange eyes and a love for black to be the handler.

"Da you are velcome although I have question. Vhy scythe? Do you farm vhile guarding mechaniks? Because I vas thinking you could teach me how to grow wheat and things for alcohol because I had drink in mind vhere it has grain and also a sort of burning taste for good warm time. Da I vill call it "Spirits of Bear"."

[EdroGrimshell]

Turning to Gareth, without even a hint of being perturbed by the accent, How do you do? And what do you do?

"I specialize in materials, my father actually invented the first magelock pistol. I also have a talent for prosthetics," he lifts up his right sleeve, revealing a metal limb, fully connected and fused to the rest of his body, "and i have been assigned as the cleric for your team."

To Ivan, "My scythe is an heirloom, its been in my family for generations, and is of a... unique design."

[Fable Wright]

Shaeldath nods and asks, Who is your Patron?

[NecroticPunch]

Ah. I see. Well then, welcome, my comrade. And why should I use Cerberus? She is the most beatiful gun in the land - far more so, than anything that I have ever seen. Jarral says, as he greets the Cleric.

[Gunther]

Alphonse looked at the newcomer before giving a smile. Even those physically disadvantaged, like the man with the strange eyes, deserved politeness. "Greetings!" He told the man, offering his hand for a brief shake, "I didn't know we'd be having a farmer join our group, but welcome all the same- I am Alphonse. A pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

He then turned to the mechanic, "A...smart bomb? Pardon my saying so but...that seems a tad strange. But I suppose to each his own, my newfound friend."

An explosive that didn't need a human touch to kill? What sort of mad weapon was that? This man and his companion obviously had a fixation on complex weapons. Then again, weren't all weapons complex in this day and age? Perhaps his ideas had some merit.

It took him a moment before he actually registered what Jarral said, and the meaning behind those words.

Taking the cigar out of his mouth, he blew out a puff of smoke, fixating the man with a single cocked eyebrow. "You seem like a nice guy, so I'll just give you a fair warning- don't bring my family or friends into this. I don't really care that you like your fancy three-shooter there, or if you believe there is a 'good' or 'bad' kind of killing. I'm here to make weapons, and leave it up to others to do the killing."

He took another puff before smiling, "So! When do we depart, my friends?"

[Fable Wright]

Shaeldath nods appreciatively at Jaral's comment and whispers to the nearest soldier/barrack-mate who seems interested about the gun, 3 barrel action, a rapid reload system, and alchemical shots that can injure any creature. Cost a bundle to make, and he's still paying it off.

[EdroGrimshell]

"My patron is Cyriss," he says, then to Alphonse "I am not much of a farmer, my skills are more... esoteric."

[Gunther]

Hearing that the newcomer was a Cleric, Alphonse cocked an eyebrow almost in reflex. "Ah, well, never seen a scythe used in a battlefield before. Interesting concept, though! As for your father...quite curious. I always heard that Gun Mages simply craft their own pistols- never knew that a singular person actually invented such devices! Unless you're speaking about a specific brand of pistol, that is." He remarked, taking a puff, "I've actually seen some particularly curious pistols in that regards- a Pepperbox pistol with a rune plate built into it. Produced four fireballs in just as many seconds...terrible device, really. Never wanted to see the likes of it again."

The mechanic almost gagged on his cigar when he heard Cyriss mentioned. He burned through another quarter-inch of it with a long puff, the bright embers burning white hot as more ash flicked away in the breeze. "You serve the Lady of Gears?" He inquired, "Never seen a Cleric of the Lady beyond the monastery walls without some pilgrimage in mind...let alone in the service of another army. But I suppose that times are changing after all, and 'every man must do his part'." The mechanic quoted half-heartedly, twirling the stub around his lips from one side of the mouth to the other.

[Fable Wright]

Shaeldath nods and says, Cyriss is an intriguing enigma. I think we may get along just fine. Although I'm not religious, Cyriss certainly is the most interesting of the gods.

[Guardsman]

Ivan wasn't exactly certain what the hell estoric meant, but it sounded like ecstatic so he must be happy with his work. The large Khadorian man puffed on his cigar and scratched his beard while thinking over the weapon the man wielded, a heirloom? Guess he must've been born into a family of gunmage farmers!

"Da veapon is unique for farmer tool, I am sure it has done much wheat killing in its day. I kid, I kid and yes vhen do ve go off? I am hungry and I think all of this gun talk is making me thirst for drink."