The Royal Artificery Society - OOC

[Prehysterical]

All right, cool. DeTess, I reiterate my earlier question. When Bolten receives the scrolls, can he make a Linguistics check to represent him learning the language?

[WindStruck]

Well, uh. I guess there is probably some DC of perception check to tell if the "clock" is what it appears.

perception: (1d20+7)[11]

engineering: (1d20+9)[17]

[Prehysterical]

Since this is just for RP:

Nothing immediately jumps out at Shandara, but she knows enough about how a clock is built to know that there are some bulges where there don't need to be.

Spoiler: If Shandara decides to physically investigate the clock

Show

She notices that the clock face can actually be depressed...

[DeTess]

All right, cool. DeTess, I reiterate my earlier question. When Bolten receives the scrolls, can he make a Linguistics check to represent him learning the language?

Oops, my bad for missing that! Yes, you can. It'll take a chunk of time either way, but a good roll will help cut down that time.

[Prehysterical]

Linguistics: (1d20+3)[23]

"Finally, a written language that makes sense."

[DeTess]

"Finally, a written language that makes sense."

Actually, no. It uses no fewer than two different sets of symbols that function more or less like the alphabet you're used to in addition to a far more complex (and large, several thousand of them) set of characters/symbols used for writing most words.

In addition, every single one of the characters in that last set has at least two different readings, and often it's closer to four. And that's not even getting into how these readings can change depending on the preceding character.

It is a pretty good language for making puns though, given the vast amount of homophones compared to dwarvish or the common you're used to, but how much if an advantage that is in learning it...

(what, no, this is a completely original fantasy language, and not a vehicle to make bolten share in the troubles I'm suffering learning Japanese)

Though it does take some serious effort, and Bolten thinks it'll take far longer to be anywhere near fluent in listening to or speaking it, about 6 weeks of regular study (about an hour a day) should have him have a pretty decent grasp on reading and writing it.

[WindStruck]

Doesn't mean the language is "easy" but I guess Bolten does pick it up pretty well.

...relatively speaking.

So uh, just checking. Too busy with work for the IC responses?

[DeTess]

Doesn't mean the language is "easy" but I guess Bolten does pick it up pretty well.

...relatively speaking.

So uh, just checking. Too busy with work for the IC responses?

Mondays are almost allways too busy, but I should have something up this evening. If not this evening, then tomorrow evening.

[DeTess]

@windstruck, the contract doesn't have any hidden catches or anything. If there is something you want me to spell out in detail I will, but otherwise I'll leave it at that.

[WindStruck]

Something I am wondering about is, what happens if the person they are supposed to protect dies anyway?

I'd think this means there is technically a breach of contract, but who does compensation (if any at all) go to?

[DeTess]

Something I am wondering about is, what happens if the person they are supposed to protect dies anyway?

I'd think this means there is technically a breach of contract, but who does compensation (if any at all) go to?

This takes up the better part of a page, but can be summarized as: 'if something does happen to you, they'll do an internal investigation to determine it's cause, or cooperate fully with an external investigation if you (if you survived) a close friend or family member of yours requests it and designates a reputable group to do that investigation. If the conclusion of that investigation is that your bodyguard could or should have done more to protect you, a suitable compensation and punishment is decided based on the severity of their failure.'

In other words, if Shandara gets shivved by a drunken sailor then the bodyguard is clearly negligent, and there'll be hell to pay all around. If Shandara dies because a dozen assassins jumped her and the bodyguard without warning and the bodyguard clearly did whatever they could to try and get Shandara out then it's a shame, but not actually breach of contract.

[WindStruck]

Yeah that seems fair enough.

[DeTess]

@prehysterical, the eastern empire refers to itself by a term that can be translated as 'sunrise empire'. You've seen this come up a couple times in the study text you've gotten.

[WindStruck]

Well we are still visiting over tea. Can only imagine at some point when we run out of meaningful stuff to talk about.

You can feel free to call it quits, or maybe Xavier popping in again would be interesting. I don't know.

[DeTess]

Well we are still visiting over tea. Can only imagine at some point when we run out of meaningful stuff to talk about.

You can feel free to call it quits, or maybe Xavier popping in again would be interesting. I don't know.

Feel free to end the scene when you feel you've discussed all you want. I might provide some background stuff with Xavier if I feel it fits during it all, but we'll see.

[Prehysterical]

I'm ready to move on, myself. I will make one last response post and then we can go forward.

[DeTess]

I'm ready to move on, myself. I will make one last response post and then we can go forward.

That's fine, what will Bolten be doing next then?

[Prehysterical]

When he's not studying the new language, he will be adjusting his schematics to take Shandara's water-generating addition into account. Want me to make another Craft roll to see if he does it smoothly?

[WindStruck]

I think during this time Shandara will study the spybug Bolten has left at her house, and she'll work on trying to get a tiny silence spell around it.

Oh yeah, and the ... optic mind link thing?

[DeTess]

When he's not studying the new language, he will be adjusting his schematics to take Shandara's water-generating addition into account. Want me to make another Craft roll to see if he does it smoothly?

Yes please. IF this does go smoothly I think you've got most of the serious issues worked out.

I think during this time Shandara will study the spybug Bolten has left at her house, and she'll work on trying to get a tiny silence spell around it.

Could you give me either a spellcraft or appropriate craft (small detailwork) check for that? You've done most of the preparatory work already, at this point it's just a matter of properly integrating it into the actual bug.

[WindStruck]

What would craft (small detailwork) be? Like would her work with jewelry count?

[DeTess]

What would craft (small detailwork) be? Like would her work with jewelry count?

Jewelry could definitely be used. Sorry, that description was vaguer than I intended, I meant that as 'use any craft roll that could reasonably be associated with doing really small and precise stuff.'

[Prehysterical]

Integrating the water supply

Craft (clockwork): (1d20+26)[37]

[WindStruck]

Thankfully I could use crafter's fortune and magecraft to boost this roll significantly.

(1d20+25)[41]

[DeTess]

@prehysterical, with that roll you've got a good handle on how to integrate Shandara's enchantment in the design. And with that, I think all that's left at this point is to actually build the prototype

@windstruck, that's a great roll, the silencing enchantment and related work all goes off without a hitch, silencing it's movement and clockwork operation without compromising it's spying abilities. You even manage to make it so that the whole assembly ticks as if it was a normal clock when in clock-form, but becomes completely silent when it transforms to bug-form.

[Prehysterical]

Well then, in that case, let's get this done... Also, Bolten is not going to forget to incorporate the experimental cable into the tail-winch of the design.

Craft (clockwork): (1d20+26)[35]

[WindStruck]

Nice! Glad to see we are making lots of progress!

Hm. Where do you think we'll wind up next..?

[Prehysterical]

I want to get these commissions out of the way so that Bolten can start interacting with Aiden's projects. Also, now that Bolten has more of a cash injection, I can finally start trying to build his familiar that I have been waiting so long for. I've got an idea for the flying bird spirit and I plan to make an armadillo chassis for the spirit who will become Bolten's familiar.

[DeTess]

@prehsyterical, I'd say that with that roll, combined with the other work you've already done in preparation you should be able to have the scorpion finished on schedule. You suspect that after the first field test you'll probably need to correct a bunch of small stuff to get it working 100% correctly, but it should go well.

Is there anything you or @windstruck want to do before the presentation of your work?

[WindStruck]

You mean a presentation of the clockwork tick and scorpion backpack thing to Dukkear?

I guess it depends on how long we have until then. Still got that ritual to go to regarding the crystals.. is it before or after?