August 2011/12/05(Mon)23:04 No. 370147 ID: 79586b
File 132315508301.png - (259.47KB , 900x600 , 733.png )

The gun seems a poor bet, assuming I could even reach it before being apprehended.

I'm not sure I can pull the power 'out' of it either, or even target whatever force is keeping it alive... becasue that thing, is very much alive. No dead verhimen would have the latent thaumagathemic field up so long after death, even, or especially so in the case of reanimation.

Takkaya apprehensively tries to shrink away from me when I turn to her, but I grab a hold of her and whisper my plan, to which she dumbly nods in acquiescence.

August 2011/12/05(Mon)23:14 No. 370149 ID: 79586b
File 132315564580.png - (219.15KB , 900x600 , 734.png )

I would not use her as a distraction. No, I think it more fitting of my abilities and my person to be the distraction myself.

Seeing our own preparations the Inquisitor puts away his rosary and pulls a revolving springun from his coat.

August 2011/12/05(Mon)23:20 No. 370151 ID: 79586b
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Each of us spring forward wordlessly, nothing but breath and the sound of footpads in thick dust to herald my opening strike.

I lash out furiously at it's chest, keeping the light in it's squinting eyes to disorient, to distract... to blood my blade.

August 2011/12/05(Mon)23:34 No. 370153 ID: 79586b
File 132315688913.png - (229.11KB , 900x600 , 736.png )

I draw it away from Larcen's prone form, backpedaling and weaving to keep out of it's grasp, it seems wearier, heavier than before with it's flighty pirouettes of careless devastation.

Not slowed enough to miss me forever though... a glancing blow finally connects, rattling my teeth before I feel it tugging at the mane I let grow too long.

August 2011/12/05(Mon)23:51 No. 370163 ID: 79586b
File 132315789096.png - (180.10KB , 900x600 , 737.png )

"Ο αιώνιος Θεός,"
*CHOCK*
"Οποίοι είναι οι μόνοι μας ρολόγια,
Και τους κανόνες τις παλίρροιες και καταιγίδες,"

August 2011/12/05(Mon)23:58 No. 370164 ID: 79586b
File 132315833571.png - (181.88KB , 900x600 , 738.png )

Να είστε συμπονετικοί στους δούλους σου,
Να μας διαφυλάξει από τους κινδύνους!"
*CHOCK*
"Ότι μπορεί να διασφαλίσει στον τομέα των ανδρών!
Αυτό μπορούμε να το ρίχνει έξω απατεώνες!"

The corpse-beast shudders, roars and flings us at the offending little kobold with the nasty gun, the Inquisitor calmly sidestepping as a matter of routine while continuing his methodical chanting and firing.

August 2011/12/06(Tue)00:03 No. 370168 ID: 79586b
File 132315859543.png - (204.84KB , 900x600 , 739.png )

*CHOCK*
"Αυτό μπορούμε να αφαιρέσουμε την ασθένεια!
Ότι μπορεί να θεραπεύσει με φλόγα και σιδήρου!
Είθε όλοι μπλοκ whichs το μονοπάτι να αφαιρεθεί,
μπορεί να το-"

I hear a loud crack and another roar of pain as the beast twists and punts away this annoyance.

August 2011/12/06(Tue)00:08 No. 370170 ID: 79586b
File 132315888282.png - (166.72KB , 900x600 , 740.png )

I recover myself before it draws near again-

August 2011/12/06(Tue)00:11 No. 370173 ID: 79586b
File 132315908663.png - (266.13KB , 900x600 , 741.png )

-springing both trap and signal. Predictably it withdraws, hopping backwards from the unexpected, albeit minor, explosion of ionized dust, light, and grit.

August 2011/12/06(Tue)10:56 No. 370226 ID: 79586b
File 132319778753.png - (3.60MB , 900x600 , 742.png )

Takkaya makes short work of the ankle tendons and I leap up to take advantage of it's helplessness, lashing with my blade upon it's torso as I bring to mind the 'Ocular Pentacle of the Flaming Frond'.

If we cannot break it's body quickly by brute force, nor easily draw out it's power, then perhaps drive out whatever presence or dark device lurks within it's shuddering shell.

Line by line I lay it down, as I've done so before in dust, wax and parchment, but never in a medium of living flesh... the outer lines are the easiest... but the details...

August 2011/12/06(Tue)10:57 No. 370227 ID: 79586b
File 132319785881.png - (269.43KB , 900x600 , 744.png )

With startling suddenness Takkaya looses a pained, and stifled cry, and the corpse-beast lunges against me with a groan, snatching at my forearms and reversing the blade in my bloodsoaked hands towards me. I try to force it away as I feel my back meets a pillar, but I was trained a scholar, not a soldier-grenadier or knight fit to match the obscene musculature such a monster.

August 2011/12/06(Tue)11:09 No. 370229 ID: 79586b
File 132319856311.png - (221.89KB , 900x600 , 745.png )

It's distorted face, skull now perched on what resembles more a twisted stalk than a neck, leers up at me as I'm forced slowly up the wall. I was so close, if only I were stronger, or faster, I could, with but another cut, finish the Pentacle or... even resist...

I can feel it's fetid breath, flecks of foam and blood standing out on it's lips and nostrils as it leans in, the scents of blood, raw flesh, rotten peaches, milk and sour musk...

It gurgles, or chuckles... and licks it's teeth.

>>370229
Knee to chin.

Finish that rune as soon as you're able, you may need a distraction first however.

>>370238
Finish it how? With his mind? He's kind of being forced to stab himself with the impliment which he'd need to use to finish carving it.

use your other hand and put us on it, maybe we can distract it long enough for you to finish.

I think you should kick its torso in the side while shifting your weight to the side, in an attempt to destabilize it. Its mangled foot-stalks seem like they would be much less stable than actual feet. If you can get your back off the pillar you can move away from it or to a more favorable position.

>>370229
August, it's got hold of your arms, not your hands.
Drop the knife.
Then totally catch it with your tail and finish the pentagram off because that's a thing you can do right :V

>>370264
Or just use your rat-like toe claws to finish the job.

Dropping the knife is a good idea, especially since it keeps you from getting stabbed. If you can find and pick it up with your tail do that, and if you can finish the rune QUICKLY, do that. But if you can't, it might just be better to stab his tail, maybe he'll drop takkaya. Also continue to push against his chest with your legs. I don't want him biting you or opening his mouth and you seeing that it's a gateway into the lovecraftian abyss.

>>370229
OH! By the way, we have an idea that could stop Lucidia from going blind and make you quite wealthy and famous in your own right, but it requires the services of a chemist with some industrial strength lab equipment.
Something to toss on the 'to do' list after this corpse is dead.

August 2011/12/10(Sat)20:36 No. 371267 ID: 79586b
File 132357819411.png - (187.06KB , 900x600 , 746.png )

The beast forces my arms, and I drop the blade.

August 2011/12/10(Sat)20:38 No. 371269 ID: 79586b
File 132357831950.png - (112.02KB , 708x600 , 747.png )

To be plucked up by my waiting tail.

ERROR, STATIC RUN LINKAGE DISINGAGED... August 2011/12/10(Sat)20:46 No. 371276 ID: 79586b
File 132357876206.png - (302.32KB , 900x600 , 748.png )

To finish the waiting sigil and finish our struggle...

At first it's as if he doesn't even notice, his foetid breath filling my lungs as it extends it's reptilian headstalk and snaps it's teeth, centimeters from my own neck. I earnestly press him away, knowing how tenuously my life hangs here.

ATTEMPING SYNCHRONICITY... FAIL... [UNHINGED NODE] August 2011/12/10(Sat)20:51 No. 371278 ID: 79586b
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The beast tumbles like a load of bricks, a thrashing, bloody load of bricks perhaps.

For a moment or more it tears at itself, trying frantically to remove the sign of it's undoing, to no more avail than to rip itself open and collapse in a steaming mess.

SELECTING NEXT MOST VIABLE ENTRY POINT August 2011/12/10(Sat)21:07 No. 371286 ID: 79586b
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The remainder of the week proves to be, fairly uneventful by comparison.

The Inquisitor, of course, seized the remains and an unsustainable rumor was started about an encounter and destruction of a changeling spy by our hands. His personal opinion however, was rather less assured, declaring to me that this matter warranted further investigation into 'exactly' what, or who this monstrosity was.

We all were in some way shaken up by this battle, but the worker 'Loric' suffered the worse of it, with extensive burns leaving him hospitalized for at least the week, Mariana, his mate, had some teeth cracked and a nasty headache when she awoke. The inquisitor and Takkaya walked rather more gingerly than usual, but otherwise are in good health.

'Larcen' however, presents a problem, he recovered well enough with little more than a day spent whining and wine-ing about it bed. For now I've been keeping him around the house in some of my old clothes telling the family he is an old friend of mine, I've mentioned and noted nothing more of his unusual strength.

Lucidia finds the whole matter a very exciting and heroic story... those parts I elect to tell her later over a picnic anyhow. My family also takes note of the matter and seems to have ramped up security.

RE-ENTRY POINT SELECTED, ENGAGE >/QUEST/ PROTOCOL August 2011/12/10(Sat)21:17 No. 371294 ID: 79586b
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Soon enough, the week draws to it's inevitable close. I've opted to leave on my father's buisness on the same day as her... albeit not the same aircraft.

I'm still, wary of her, but I suppose I must put some thought to the idea of our mutual future. It feels 'cliche' to think that I'm not very good with farewells... but I'm really not.
"August... you will of course, come to see us this summer, will you?"

>>371231
And it seems my necklace of mysteries has conveniently awoken from it's slumber... I guess?

A pity we missed the chance to have 'Larcen' list the important people he has robbed recently, particularly which ones would send agents after him. If the Sperenzes were indeed the ones who sent the creature, that would mean that they have more than just advanced medical devices at their disposal.

I think you should half-jokingly reply "Well I might be a bit tardy from digging out of a pile of Fey, but I'll try to be there."

not our fault, apparently the sign messed with our systems.
"of course, what kind of man would i be if i didn't visit?"

>>371294
Wait wait dammit we missed the chance to get her that eye protection! Uh uh uh... is there a delivery service? We could mail them to her later.

I'm still not sure if they should be goggles or fitted lenses in a mask. If the latter, it'd probably be best to send more than one in case the first gets lost/stolen/broken.

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't visit. Question- did anyone investigate those ghosts?

Whats this about eye protection?

>>371323
She's albino, and thus has less UV protection in her eyes. She'll go blind in about 20 years or so without shielding.

>>371294
We weren't asleep; you used a dispelling sigil, and we're linked to a magical artifact.

Hug her, and promise you'll visit as soon as you've fulfilled your obligations.
Also ask her to give your regards to Steelsplinters, and tell Lucidia you'll rest easy knowing she has Steelsplinters keeping her safe.

>>371306
Goggles, since they're much harder to break and easier to fix. She can wear masks over them, although goggles themselves might be enough for social needs.
Also, we need a chemist to handle the Zinc Oxide coating. We don't know any chemists that could do that.

Well that would be good to tell her, but it wouldn't involve invention. Tinted lenses appear to already exist; Takkaya has some in her mask.

>>371418
Er... really?

Then why isn't she wearing any? August, have you ever asked why she doesn't wear eye protection? If this wasn't a problem because the tech or medical knowledge wasn't available... then maybe we're approaching the subject completely wrong.

ANYWAY

She looks down. Often people in this situation try to reassure the person they're saying goodbye to. That they won't be separated for long, or that they can still communicate in some manner.

I do think you should tell her you'll visit. Be a gentleman. Kiss her hand if you feel that's not too intimiate.

>>371418
Tinted lenses? Yes, those exist.
Coatings that filter out specific bands of radiation? That's MUCH more difficult.

August 2011/12/15(Thu)19:29 No. 372740 ID: 79586b
File 132400615884.png - (244.22KB , 875x476 , 752.png )

>>371452
I kiss her hands and try to reassure her.
"It won't be long before we meet again I'm-"
>Lenses? albanism? zinc oxide? glass? goggles? money? inventions? chemistry?
I take a moment to try and absorb the information and thoughts streaming back through my head.
"I-I might be able to... perhaps if I can get something together, actually... you wouldn't happen to have any goggles?"

"Goggles... August? It started talking again didn't it?"

August 2011/12/15(Thu)20:19 No. 372755 ID: 79586b
File 132400918656.png - (323.95KB , 900x600 , 753.png )

I nod and she draws in close, I respond and hug her to my chest.
"It is, we are just concerned... for your vision, all the light outside. It could eventually-"
"August, I know, I'm not- While I can do so, I enjoy the light, but hold little fear of inevitable night. I cannot, but August, that thing... I worry about you and it now. It's dangerous.”
"Lucida, I just wanted to make sure you are okay, it was suddenly worried and-"
She sighs, and shudders in my arms for a moment whilst I caress her hair.
""Everything is angles August, everyone... is angles. A blade is but an angle applied, the paths are not straight and what light to be seen is obscured in the heat. Even curves... an infinity of angles. So why do you wear the roadmap to your heart, written in angles for his reading?"
"Lucida, stop it. Now! I 'will' see you this summer. Still, we both must part ways, our separate angles to intersect again. Both of us have our duties to be attendant to."
...
""I'm sorry... I just."
"Shhh shhh~, it is okay, just breathe. Breathe and smile, cry if you must, but smile. I won't send you off with frown, what could be thought of me then?"
I hold her for just a bit longer, till she seems calm again.

August 2011/12/15(Thu)20:28 No. 372760 ID: 79586b
File 132400970910.png - (235.39KB , 509x598 , 754.png )

"Eheh Augoust I vhas...
"La-
I catch myself before I let slip any name, he's been staying on as 'an old school friend'.

Oh... am vherry sorry. Oh ello lady, vhe are... erh, Augoust introducing us mehbe?"

>>372760
Stick with your story, unless you aren't comfortable with lying to Lucia. I suppose she's leaving today, so it could be less of an issue?

Larcen's something of a womanizer isn't he? I'm not sure if it'd be a very wise thing to do to introduce him to Lucida. Plus Lucida's not exactly someone you want to be lying to. And there's the consideration that she might figure things out by herself anyway. However, since you've said your farewells and Larcen seems to be better, maybe you ought consider taking him where you're going? After all, he does owe you for taking out that monstrosity, considering it was after him. At least, the guy was back when he was 'alive.' Speaking of, we need to be sure what your plans are. You've got your duty to attend to with your father's mission, but Sirius's message seemed much more urgent and potentially life-or-death, so if you have to pick one or the other I'd help out Sirius. But if you have time for both...

August 2011/12/18(Sun)23:09 No. 373477 ID: 79586b
File 132427859136.png - (288.81KB , 742x573 , 755.png )

Hmmmm, he is a womanizer, but she's leaving only momentarily so he can't be too much trouble in that respect, also likely they would also meet regardless eventually by mutual association.

"Larcen, my good school friend, come, please meet Lucidia de Sauterelle. A lady of title and first cousin on my father's side."
"Ahhhh! mahlady, tis gud to meet more of family, sucha fine an delicate reprzentation of des nobles too.~"
"Lucidia and I have been close friends since childhood, and we've been visiting and... courting."
"I, ahh, vhell den milady, an ow as de country been treaten hew?"
"Quite fairly, I- oh my... you do have such strange eyes, gold tossed upon the sands of the shattered shores at sunset.."
"I- erhm... all de better for de beholden of such beauty as valks de earth."

Okay, awkward...

August 2011/12/18(Sun)23:12 No. 373478 ID: 79586b
File 132427876362.png - (293.68KB , 900x600 , 756.png )

Fortunately however, Takkaya's sudden interruption diverts any further awkwardness towards their immediate preparations for departure.

August 2011/12/19(Mon)00:11 No. 373497 ID: 79586b
File 132428227940.png - (276.06KB , 656x600 , 757.png )

...and so, with some fanfare, Lucidia and entourage are bundled up warmly and readied for the skys, the civilization and refinement of the homelands.

That comment about his eyes though, I didn't even recognize him at first becasue...
"Vhell den, shes seeming lika nice ghel, fancihen a leddle 'old family breeden' in your futures hmm Augoust?"
"Our family branches have been considering drawing closer again, suffice to say, there are various parties with a vested interest in our relationship progressing smoothly to a mutually satisfactory arrangement. So, we are getting to know the other again, having grown now since we were last frequently together."
"Baaah leaven eet for hew with taken to write a book vhen simple 'mehbeh' would be sufficing, so, is all set to go, what did hew pack?"

>>372972
I have roughly nine more days until my appointment at what I believe is Nenetor Cove.. which by some older maps is currently situated in the awkward little coastal kingdom of Rotolamentolo, bordering the 'Peak of Dispute', our current destination. Now then, what did I pack? I do hope I got everything we should need.

>>373497
I wasn't aware yellow was an unusual color. Can you think of an explanation?

No idea what you packed, man, we weren't awake then. Find out and tell us, and we can suggest things.

There are quite a few diseases linked with yellow eyes.

checklist:
all your magical doodads and trinkets.
more rope
two chunks of wood that can be fitted together.
flash powder

If I recall correctly, you need to dope common soda-lime glass with cerric oxide to turn it into a very good UV filter with acceptable visible spectrum performance.

Hm. You'll need a UV standard to measure against, too, when you're testing formulations. An easy one is to use a chip of diamond and put an electric current through it. Diamond is a natural UV light emitting diode. A low voltage battery won't do, use your house mains, you want at least 60 volts. The UV light won't be visible, but you can fix that by using a solution of quinine. Quinine is very optically reactive to UV and will absorb the UV light and re-emit it in the visible range.

If you prefer, instead of a light emitting diode you could use a mercury gas lamp. Evacuate a glass tube such that it is as perfect a vacuum as practical, and then fill it with mercury vapor. Run a high voltage electric current through it and you have a UV lamp.

I'm PRETTY sure our main concern right now is NOT on Lucida's eyes. That can wait for quite a while. Our main objectives are to accomplish this task August's father has given us, and then to back up Sirius. I'm really not sure of the distances involved and how long it'll take to get from one place to another, but we should bring as much advantageous to our cause as we can.
Larcen's definitely someone we ought to bring, considering how much he owes us and how much he might profit from getting out of the country for a while. Your kobold manservant might be useful as well, if just to have someone to hand you your gun or whatever. Sirius's message mentioned things that sounded like he wanted you to bring a lot of guns (or prepare for foes having a lot of guns) which suggests a large enemy... so whatever favors you can call in and reinforcements you can get your father to send, perhaps as an 'advance' for services rendered (even to family) would be advisable.

August 2011/12/25(Sun)23:43 No. 375165 ID: 79586b
File 132488541202.png - (235.52KB , 627x555 , 758.png )

Larcen and I wander indoors to work on last minute pre-flight preparations. He wrapping his feet against altitude chill (protesting that boots make him itch) whilst I check our supplies for anything I might have missed: Clothes, Knives, Pistol, 5 Shells, Larcen's Sword, Compass, 76 Silver Tears.

>>373595
Trinkets and Doodads? Check...

Rope? Check...

Flash Powder? Check... good idea to cover for an magic, regardless of actually finding a chance to utilize it.

Wooden Chunks? Perhaps you mean a wooden board, or some wooden blocks? I suppose we could pack something like that, but to what end?

August 2011/12/26(Mon)00:11 No. 375167 ID: 79586b
File 132488708906.png - (236.51KB , 600x600 , 759.png )

>>373667
We do manufacture some glasses out here, I could ask around, see if any of the craftsmen are familiar with such. Cerric oxide... never heard of it, should ask a chemist.

What about impregnating the lenses with gold, assuming some loss in optical clarity perhaps? Gold sharing lead's quality of being 'radiatively resilient' while lacking any possible toxicology problems.

>Diamond Diodes...
Erh, a diode is something like a more advanced thermionic valve is it not? Those fashioned of diamond sound like an exotic 'Old World' treasure, wouldn't a simpler-
>mercury vapor
Ah, a Cleansing Lantern, yes, I could get one of those easily enough. It would not surprise me if Sirius already owns one.

August 2011/12/26(Mon)00:28 No. 375169 ID: 79586b
File 132488812018.png - (294.80KB , 643x597 , 760.png )

>>373498
>>373529
Verhimen coat coloration generally ranges from dusty tans and golden, to an almost greenish hue of black endless shades of gray being most common (especially among those of highlander blood.)

Our eyes are most often shades of brown, green, or blue, with the rare albino pinks and crimsons making up a not insignificant minority of some families. Yellow, or should I say amber, is not unheard of, but generally does indicate some illness, perhaps a lineage disorder, poisoning, or simply heaving drinking and drug us.

Needless to say, it therefor does not hold a healthy association for us, although it 'is' a trait, mentioned once or twice in passing song or rhyme, of Larcen de Scarlette. Although there goes the legend that it's the reflected sheen of his treasures gained.

August 2011/12/26(Mon)18:21 No. 375279 ID: 79586b
File 132495247422.png - (408.78KB , 900x600 , 761.png )

"Sir Weldendon, brother."
Ahh, I do hope this day finds you better than when last we joined company?"
"Hello big brother, come to join us on a fight or flight?"
"Something like that, thought I do hope not simultaneously, Knight Weldendon has briefed you some yes?"
"Some, yes."
"What of it you need to know boy."
"Please, meet an old schoolmate of mine, Larcen, and of course Baldrekgus..."

August 2011/12/26(Mon)18:23 No. 375280 ID: 79586b
File 132495260832.png - (511.58KB , 900x600 , 762.png )

>>374189
Our airship is a smaller freight/passenger model, technically able to be crewed by Kurtail and Sir Weldendon alone. However, after informing my father that I suspected there to be some trouble in reacquiring Sirius he send along four more Verhimen vanguards alongside ten combat-hardened kobolds.

My father doesn't fancy the idea of losing such a valuable asset as a friendly magus, even a frequently drunken one.

August 2011/12/26(Mon)18:35 No. 375282 ID: 79586b
File 132495335675.png - (428.09KB , 622x600 , 763.png )

Sir Welendon lays out the plan he's arranged before me, he accounting for our detour to the 'Peak of Dispute' as Kurtail, Welendon, Larcen, and I separate from the main investigative group while in Sealucid territory and take a fast train to the Peak (as the humans in residence apparently both distrust kobolds and demand a clear airspace.)

After either spending most of a week in fruitless investigation, or having actually aquired the treacherous mechanic and his ill gotten gains, we hop on another train through the kingdom of Rotolamentolo down to the coast and meet up with airship and crew, to lay in wait for 'anything unusual' at the cove.

Upon finishing his short spiel he meets my gaze and asks quite seriously if I have any questions, suggestions, or modifications for his considerations.

>>375167
Yes, that would be one way to describe a diode.
With time and resources we could tell you how to recreate almost any ancient wonder. UV-protective glasses are a minor practical application of this information.

An issue occurs to me. When we capture the mechanic, he is likely to claim that we are attempting to kidnap him and steal his equipment. Were this to happen, safely using public transportation while carrying him would be quite difficult.

Uh, could you ask him to explain the map to us? Or, if you understand it, we don't, so could YOU explain it to us? Which places are which, what scale we're looking at, what the lines and rings mean, etc?

Also it occurs to me that if yellow eyes are part of the legend of Larcen De Scarlette, calling Larcen 'Larcen' in front of everyone is rather unwise. Call him by the name you knew him by in school. You know, his ACTUAL name.

the fitted wood is for making runes upon. by making the symbols on them while it's whole and then splitting it into two, it makes a very quickly accessible rune without being whole all the time so no one can tell it's there.

We started calling him Larcen and he didn't object- I think we'd better stick with that unless he tells you otherwise.

Might be a good thing to bring up in private? I dunno. Oh! We still need to experiment with that wand. If you have some spare time, try pointing it at a rock or something and activating it.

>>375167

Cerric oxide is also called Cerrium(IV) Oxide. Cerrium is the 58th element, part of the lanthanide series, also known as the rare earth series of elements. If you identify it to a chemist as the 58th element there will be no question about what you are talking about.

Your ceramic craftsmen are more likely to know cerric oxide as ceria, a white-yellowish powder added to glazes to help stabilize their colors over the long term (UV light can cause fading in certain types of glazes, and the ceria keeps nearly all the UV light from hitting them).

Gold would provide inferior visual spectrum qualities, and would eventually go opaque once it got warm enough, but if you can't find any cerric oxide, then photosensitive glass made with gold ions would be better than no protection at all.

Cerric oxide is really among the best choices.

Incidentally, gold-ion treated glass is useful for photosensitive plates suitable for high quality printing and image reproduction. Expose it to UV light, then use a heat treatment to make the latent image develop.

A diode operates by nature of its chemical composition. I chose diamond because it's easy to find chemically pure examples naturally. For other colors of light emitting diodes you will need a chemist to help you, but a diamond diode you could build yourself so long as you observed safe practices in working with electric current. It is literally as simple as building a suitable power supply and then putting the positive and neutral ends of the circuit on either side of the diamond chip (smaller is better here, actually, given the geometry of how the light is emitted in the first place). If you like, the entire assembly of circuit ends and diamond chip can be encased in a light-condensing glass, that you don't need to do so for the simplest application of this technology as a known UV standard.

I trust you're familiar with quinine. Bitter stuff, but optically a very reliable standard to measure against.

August 2011/12/30(Fri)19:50 No. 376353 ID: 79586b
File 132530342422.png - (218.77KB , 900x400 , 764.png )

"Yes, but while I'm not familiar with the term quinine, spectral imaging plates via gold doping are a known matter among educated circles, as well as the use of mercuric gas 'cleansing lanterns'. Diode creation and other mecha-electrical miscellanea however are hardly my area of expertise I'll warn as the damnable Kirchoff Laws failed me out of Electrik Mechanics when I-

...

"Erhmmm."

August 2011/12/30(Fri)19:59 No. 376354 ID: 79586b
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Sir Weldendon clears his throat politely whilst I shake myself out of the reverie of thought back into the here and now.

"I'm sorry, I was just-"
"I've worked with your family for decades young master. I am... familiar with some of the eccentricities they are taken with. Indeed, if I recall this is your first possible 'command mission', a heady, albeit rather lately applied burden in my opinion. If you would prefer I can-"

August 2011/12/30(Fri)20:17 No. 376361 ID: 79586b
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Baldrekgus scrambles from under the cot and offers his services.
"Should get water bucket?"
"No, no.. really. No. Sir Weldendon, I notice this map is not labeled at all. Also, another issue, we could expect some difficulties in transporting the mechanic if using the public railways? Speaking of which, do we have a picture of him, at least a sketch?"
"Ahh hold on one moment.

August 2011/12/30(Fri)20:25 No. 376362 ID: 79586b
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"Ahh sorry, pilots. If you labeled the map with everything we could want there'd be no room for finden anything, so we just use overlays"

He slaps down and aligns a sheet of waxpaper with some labels, smoothing it out before withdrawing a photograph and some notes from his pocket.

August 2011/12/30(Fri)20:49 No. 376366 ID: 79586b
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"The lines are the most common routes and times, but the circles?
"Emergency Air Response Times from airbases participating in the Airspace Policing Accord. Green within 10 minutes, white within 20, and crimson within 45. Now, as to the picture.
"Hmm, looked vaguely familiar, he's Lagoan?"
"By dress, and by claim he's the disowned nobility of one of the noble families about The Lake, but that may amount to so much hot air."

"Mmmm, and what forces do we have arrayed? I imagine we want to keep the mission at the Peak low profile, hence the division of forces?"

August 2011/12/30(Fri)22:25 No. 376384 ID: 79586b
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"Well, first there's, Viria. She's the type to axe you a question, I rather suspect she was a priestess of Mari until she found she just liked dismembering things more than keeping them together.

Tinnedul is big and quiet, he favors a retooled fairy bow he's aquired as well as well as grenades.

The Iotis brothers use long rifle repeaters, with a healthy does of bayonet. Clever sharpshooters, though it has more to do with their good teamwork than individual skill.

If we really needed to we could press on the services of 'Captain' Rylora, I doubt she would appreciate it as she is not a combatant but she's a good technical and can pilot fair enough.

The bolds are a fairly evenly mixed lot, two armed with sharptrips and another two with sturdy steel blowpipes. One is actually a freelance worker, a petty 'adventurer' we took on a few months ago after his close encounter with a rabid Otton.

The rest are a handful of Pekendrijus' more promising crossbow trainees under his direct supervision."

"And the locations?"

"I don't know much about this cove aside from it's location on a map... I wasn't aware of that area having a particularly steep shoreline so calling it a 'cove' maybe a misnomer. The peak is divided into heavily controlled interior, an old human fortress guarded with some nasty weaponry, the verhimen terrace city and the shanty strew foothills. Airspace is pretty tightly controlled as the the humans can be a bit paranoid of anything flying up from the south of them but aside from that the only demand that you use the 'special gates' when entering the city proper.

"Scanners to prevent Fae infiltrators, similar to their restriction on kobolds? Hmmmm, what other transportation do they have aside from the trains?"

I would suspect they may have a Helical platform at the summit but am unsure personally. Regardless 'we' almost wouldn't be cleared for it."

Hmmm, I suppose that covers everything I can think of, given the information, my personal feeling is to just approve the knight's plans, unless you see otherwise?

Hmm... I suppose if we have any intelligence as to the resources available to our target, as well as what skills or other assets he might possess, those would be useful. Also maybe a map of the Peak. Is it just a single city-state or is it an entire country type deal? Need to know how much area we'd have to hunt him down in.

Other than that, though, maybe you could ask to borrow one of those blowguns for your kobold manservant, disguise it as a walking stick or something, and get some tranq darts for it, so that you can incapacitate him from range before retrieving him. But other than that, it seems simple enough.

The term "nasty weaponry" is as concerning as it is vague. That is to say, "very". Ask what manner of nastiness is involved there, just in case.

>>376542
In particular, list these possible types of damage:
>Massive holes in personnel and armor out of seemingly 'nowhere' (Snipers or long range armor-piercing sabots/railguns)
>Vehicles exploding from within (HEAT rounds)
>flashes or beams of light creating explosions (High power lasers)
>Big explosions from ground level (Artillery)
>Big explosions otherwise (Rocketry)
>Sudden pain, blindness or other inexplicable impairments mental or physical (directed microwave weaponry)
>Sudden and lasting semi-fatal or paralyzing illness (Toxic gas attack))
Talk about any known communications in or out, talk about usual radius for the 'death zone' in the air and on the ground, and ask if there's anything else we need to avoid doing that might make the humans target us.

>>376679
Don't forget magical armaments. They are already likely have this 'Helical Platform', which sounds like a teleporter.

>>376449
On this note, is there a chance there might be local information brokers or bounty hunter that might be found?
We plan on doing the legal way first, at least to find him and confirm his location, but 'news' from a few 'locals' would be useful.

>>376682
I didn't want to even get into magic, because that's a boatload of spiders I'd rather stay out of.
If you'd like to know why:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_wandering_spider

I may be a spiderbro, but not all spiders are humanbros.

>>376685
Unfortunately, not getting into magic rarely stops the magic from getting into you.

>>376384
All those things we're expressing confusion over? What are they?

"Helical platform" holds most of my interest, personally.

August 2012/01/02(Mon)17:54 No. 377069 ID: 79586b
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"Helical platforms?"
"Ah, erh Helicles... you know, flying machines, big propellers, can land them on sturdy enough buildings."
"Ah, those things, yes, I've read about them and Sirius says he has flown in a few. What about these 'nasty weapons' that sounds concerning to say the least."
His descriptions paint me a picture of guardians clad in ancient armors taking watch from the shaded apertures of old stone and concrete edifices, of steel watchtowers slowly rusting and creaking in the sun except the city is disturbed at which they crackle to life over radio and electrical channels, building up to pour forth a torrid radiance of energy. Hollow eyed men and women with long rifles rivaling autocannons lurking behind high windows or parapets, or suited squads with cleansing lanterns and thermal lances lurking behind iron doors.

August 2012/01/02(Mon)18:28 No. 377073 ID: 79586b
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"Okay then, so causing trouble is not compatible with a long and healthy life, where should we expect to find our troublemaker then? Do we have contacts, something to narrow the search area?"
"Well, the city manages only the bare minimum of the land surrounding it, and the slums are surprisingly safe as most of the really 'heavy' buisness wants to benefit from the potential protection of the locals. If they catch you shooting or causing trouble for something no good reason they fine you and kick you out of town if you're lucky, or you spend a few months in a collar if you aren't."

August 2012/01/02(Mon)18:53 No. 377083 ID: 79586b
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"So, you are saying you have to go father up the mountain to get more dangerous buisness? What about mercenaries, or information brokers?"
"Anyone useful is going to be in the midtown, the slums being too easy for foreign powers to influence, while the fortress is not open to regular entrance. Thus anyone who would be in the market for communication or sensory array components would be there. As for mercenaries, almost everyone is going to be carrying a weapon, however smaller spring-guns, crossbows, or just some simple swordsmanship would be recommended for trying to cause trouble, and get away with it, unless you happen to be very good at explanations or running and hiding.

If you had the purse, patience and keep your ear close to the ground one should be able to acquire just a little bit of most anything our shared peoples could want, aside from possibly servants or faerie goods."

Well then, we could follow Welendon's plan, break off in Sealucid territory with the soldiers heading to the Cove in the airship while Larcen and the Knights accompany me to the Peak?

We could take some of the Verhimen with us to the Peak?

Try to get some sort of diplomatic finagling run through with the locals to try and track down and acquire our target with their help?

...or even hire whatever help or trouble my 76 Silver Tears could purchase on the streets to some end?

Wow, that is a lot of tech they have. It makes me wonder if they have actual manufacturing capabilities instead of just a stockpile.
You might want to ask how we found out about those. Do we have spies there, or did we actually fight them, or did they have some sort of military demonstration at some point?

Looks like we're done with info, time for decision making. While we're currently assuming that nothing changes by the time we arrive at the Peak, it seems to me that >>377113 makes something of a valid point. If these humans have an advantage in technology, they've got to get it and maintain it somehow. The verhimen we're after stole some piece of machinery from your family, yes? It may be that he plans to sell it to the people running the place, so trying to get buddy-buddy with them might be a bad idea. Better, I think, to try to make friends with the black market dealers, see if we can make a friend who might tell us who's selling our piece of equipment and where he might be.

August 2012/01/09(Mon)14:26 No. 378759 ID: 8bae5c
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"Hmm."
"Hmm?"
"Hmmmmm."
"Ahuh..."
"Well then, I approve your plan, we shall send the soldiers northward along the coast with the vessel after we disembark and take the trains."
"Very Good-"
"With the addendum that we contact with the local merchants, if the locals have such sophisticated defenses they surely need regular merchants for upkeep, repairs, replacement parts, ect... indeed, our device may have been acquired for just such a market. Thus we cannot expect much help from the prospective buyers, but the other merchants our target is in competition would find our intrusion much more desirable."

August 2012/01/09(Mon)14:48 No. 378771 ID: 8bae5c
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"Ahh, no honor among thieves as they say?"
"Let us hope not, honor is expensive and we don't have a purse large enough with which to pocket all noses involved."
"Yes needing lots of leather for that, maybe whole herd!"
"Erh, thank you Baldrekgus for your astute confirmation. Now, was that all Sir Weldendon?"
"Yes, I should be going. Must ensure your brother doesn't try piloting us all under a bridge, or heavens forbid, spot a troll and try to strafe it."

August 2012/01/09(Mon)14:55 No. 378773 ID: 8bae5c
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As for me, it being about midday, I think I'll curl up with a nice old text I get the 'nice cabin' to use for the duration of our short trip. Likely the captain uses it otherwise.

Now, let's see, 'Ancient Traces: Drawing Lines Between the Piltdown Digs and Austri-erh... Australian Archeology'.

August 2012/01/09(Mon)15:02 No. 378776 ID: 8bae5c
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Baldrekgus soon enough settles and curls up in blankets at the foot of the bed. It's so still this high up, the only sounds are the creaking of the wood, flutter of canvas, whistling of the breeze at the windows.
>>377113
*yawning*
"Mmm, spies, no... need. Allies... sorta. Probably make the stuff... Old fortresses farther north."

August 2012/01/09(Mon)15:04 No. 378777 ID: 8bae5c
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*pat*pat*pat*pat*Fwip*

>>378777

Suddenly an idea struck you and you sat straight up in bed!

>>378777
"You're terrible at being stealthy. You know that, I assume?"

BRACE FOR IMPACT

August 2012/01/12(Thu)20:40 No. 379577 ID: 818a6a
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"You're terri-"
*kthunk*
"AHHHHDAKKADAKKADAKKADAKKA!"
"Ppptthwha?"
"Man your stations, Moon Pirates Attacking! We must protect the Sybarite Shipment!"
Arrgg, get off, this is no time to indulge in your penny picture dramas! Especially not with real weaponry!"

August 2012/01/12(Thu)20:47 No. 379578 ID: 818a6a
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I move to roll Kurtail off when I spy the havoc he's wrought to my manuscript, my magnified annoyance punctuated with an indrawn hiss.

"Ssshit, look at what you've done. This book does not even belong to me!"

August 2012/01/12(Thu)21:04 No. 379579 ID: 818a6a
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"What?"
"Look at what your roughhousing did here!"

Kurtail shifts uncomfortably, ceasing his mock gunnery to consider the bunched and mangled pages for moment before turning back to me.

"You... can iron those out right?"
"That's not the point, this isn't my book, I can't return it like this."
"Who's is it?"
"Sirius, and he got it from..."

I flip to the back of the book in search of a dedication and find a faded library stamp.

"Erh... Ouroboros Anthologies... about 48 years ago... in September."
"I... guess you really wouldn't want to return it?"
"Well not like 'this'!"

>>379579
48 years ago? I wonder if there are other copies? Mayhap we should stop by a book store about it. Unless of course the subject matter of the book is taboo...

He isn't going with you into the city, right? He seems rather young and over-energetic for a job involving discretion.

August, lay off your brother. He's your little brother, he's family, and he's been a squire for this Knight for who knows how long. He came over because he's missed you, don't be a louse and make him regret trying to keep his big brother (though not as big as BIG Brother) in his life. I'm not sure what his equivalent age is, but try to make the effort to be less self-absorbed and think about other people, not just about your books and interests.

August 2012/01/20(Fri)15:47 No. 381246 ID: 818a6a
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>>379582
Not so much taboo, as esoteric, it is the transcription and collation of a few pre-Verhimen texts regarding some archeological finds of even more ancient, theoretically pre-human markings and tablets... this copy could be repaired I suppose, but I doubt there were a plethora of printings.

>>379585
I'm afraid he is. In order to hope to become a knight one must have begin training from one's youth to shape the body and instincts to excel in the most demanding of martial disciplines, his specialty being aeronautics and rocketry.
>>379791
I sigh, and remove him from my shoulder in an attempt to explain my frustration.
"I... don't mean to be a spoilsport, it is just... our family background, our secret histories, they are tied to such books, to their acquisition, their study, their preservation. I mean, even you collect those erh... graphic novels... you still do that, right?"

August 2012/01/20(Fri)16:28 No. 381252 ID: 818a6a
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"Yeah I do... but... August, that was the 'old' family. We, we are are the products of war, founded in conquest and fire."

"*sigh*... Mmmm, I suppose so."

"Uhm, we should probably be getting ready to land soon, I was actually sent down to wake you up. Oh and your friend keeps annoying Miss Rylora."

August 2012/01/20(Fri)16:45 No. 381257 ID: 818a6a
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"You coming?"
"Just a moment. Thank you Baldrekgus. Oh, and while I'm away, I want you to see if you can't acquire a nice sturdy blowpipe, I expect we will need all the firepower we can muster upon my return."
"Oh, yes master."

He leans in close while adjusting my collar and somewhat lowers his voice.

"Has walkystick wiff secretholes and stingingstiff darts."
"Erh, good, good. That is quite clever of you Baldrekgus."
"Mmmmm, yes, is veerrry goodclever."

August 2012/01/20(Fri)17:17 No. 381260 ID: 818a6a
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I give my brother's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as I pass him in the hold and shimmy up the command tube on my way to the cockpit. I am somehow unsurprised to find him sitting on the floor, in the middle of the room, only preserved from a lethal fall by a thin hull of aluminum and impact glass.

"Ahhah ello, come to see de veiw? Ez so nice up ear, de vields, rivers, sky an course, our lovely lady capitan."
"Gawd, get rid of em, e's a navigational hazard."
"I heard we were landing soon?"
"Yeah, if e'll stop with the shenanigans, not a momment's peace wiff e's follies round here."
"Folliez, oh see ow she ez vounding our image so, such barbs.."
"Just ignore him, he will be out of your hair soon enough, won't we?"
"Ahh, fearfuly spoke true, ez sadness heavy to leave sech fair golden forests. Still, mayhaps shall be visiten again?"
*harumph*

Chapter 6 End August 2012/01/20(Fri)17:19 No. 381261 ID: 818a6a
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"Well, we'll see 'bout that..."