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Harthacnut
Jul 29, 2014

Bran Owain

Bran steps forward somewhat sheepishly.

"I'll admit, the Sergeant and I had something of a... difference of opinion regarding the matter of armed response, but I think my advice should have sunk in. Might want to keep an eye on him though, I may have been a bit firm."

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Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

"To make things slightly clearer, the target the Sergeant was about to fire upon wasn't dangerous like the men captured earlier. The guy the men were about to fire upon was playing an absurdly ill-timed prank, which would've resulted in some irritated eyes and runny noses, and the perpetrator likely didn't realize we had captured the three potential-bombers earlier. The sergeant was working to combat a non-existent threat, and, uh, Mr. Owain decided time was of the essence. The perpetrator needed less a firing squad, and more a stern talk about how to handle older boys trying to get you into trouble."

"Fortunately, between Mr. Owain and Ms. Portman, the Watch was prevented from opening fire in a crowded area. Hawthorn was quick to dissolve the pranking solution, I saw Cha giving the guy the book earlier, and Unit Nine probably kept the civilians at bay. Things are tense these days, it's good that, good-intentioned as they were, the watch was prevented from... over-reacting slightly."

F.R.E.D. looks to the others, considering waiting to explain that the boy was going to be used as a martyr until out of earshot of the traumatized boy

Gharbad the Weak fucked around with this message at 21:56 on Sep 12, 2014

ProfessorCirno
Feb 17, 2011

The strongest! The smartest!
The rightest!
Cha Ravah

"Furthermore."

Cha begins to harangue.

"Our job is to ensure the safety and stability of this nation. How are we to do that when the city watch are doing everything they can to rouse discontent and hate amongst the commoners?! Were the Sergeant to open fire, how do you think the crowd would have reacted to a dead child with a simple prank? Perhaps if the city watch were more eager to do their jobs properly and reached for their whistles before their rifles - perhaps if they did not spend their spare time attacking innocents and fouling our city's good name - we would not have this problem in the first place!"

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

F.R.E.D. says quietly

"And... uh, I was gonna mention there might have been a whole plot to get a child martyred by the police.... yeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhh."

"..."


"...yeeeaaaaaaahhhhh."

Gharbad the Weak fucked around with this message at 00:55 on Sep 13, 2014

ProfessorCirno
Feb 17, 2011

The strongest! The smartest!
The rightest!
He was already taken away! We changed scenes!

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
my bad, yo! I'll change what I said, then

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

The force and splendor of Cha Ravah in full blown harangue washes over the Assistant Chief like a burning sirocco. His hair visibly ruffles.

"...ahem. Flint has boomed in these recent years, and new growth brings growing pains. New opportunities bring new opportunists. Bureaucracy is always slow to catch up to the spirit of the times. That will be where you come in. Sometimes the needs of the Crown will take you elsewhere, of course, but I will certainly have a great deal of work for you in reconciling the numberless power groups at play in this glorious overflowing cat-sack of a city."

"Many Watchmen join up quite young, you know...often merely for the sake of a steady salary, with a bed and a suit that they don't have to share. Their heads are filled with tales of glorious heroism, of standing up for what's right, of Cleaning Up This Town. Then they get through training and people spit on them in the street for some terrible thing that happened years ago and miles away. They spend weeks standing guard, or writing tickets. They deal with the same people committing the same crimes, day after day, year after year. And when they do finally fetch up against some dastardly villains like they'd always dreamed of, they find that the villains have all the advantages."

"It is all too true that many cease to care, because caring in the face of all this is more than the mortal soul can bear. Others are small-minded fools who will see us as rivals. Still others have given in to corruption and abandoned their oaths completely. But not all, Constables, not by a long way. Would you truly dismiss every last one of the Watchmen who aided you here today? The officers who secured your perpetrators for you? The unlucky members of Sergeant Baugh's squad, who earlier expressed to me their gratitude and relief that they had no chance to carry out the awful, idiotic order they were given today?"

"That is why you are here, Constables. It is my fervent hope that you will all set an example, to restore hope to these poor broken men. We have the ability and the will to succeed where they feel they have failed, to shake Flint's ponderous system up into real change, to search out the villains who think themselves above the law and drag them down, and many among the Watch will be overjoyed for the chance to aid you in this. They will not let you down at need. That, Royal Homeland Constables, is my promise to you."

"Now as for our...prankster, here. You could have hurt a great many people here very badly, my lad. And we can't just make that go away. You understand?"

"...yes, sir."

"But I won't just throw you to the lions, either. Let me see now...ah, yes."

Inspector Delft casts his eye over the crowd, and whistles sharply. Nearby, you see the hulking form of dragonborn Constable Donnerschritt stand up and begin pushing her way through the crowd, with rather more success than Grimsley showed. Anything that Donnerschritt pushes tends to stay pushed.

"YOSS?"

"Please take our young friend here back to HQ and look after him. I'd like to have a talk with him as soon as possible, but tonight I have a boat to catch. Let him eat if he gets hungry, and let him bunk down in the barracks when it gets late."

"YOSS."

"She's quite good with children. Motherly, you know. They should get on well," says the Inspector as he watches Donnerschritt plow through the crowd with Mickey seated on her shoulder.

"So. Back to the task at hand, yes? You're not finished here yet, Constables, not till the Coaltongue weighs anchor. Keep up the good work."

"...and as for the kicking of faces, Constable Owain. Sergeant Baugh was most furious and made a great many demands upon me for your badges, or failing that, your heads. So I am hereby giving you a caution to not do that again, Constable, due to the fact that I am currently out of medals. See you again at the christening."

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 01:06 on Sep 13, 2014

Harthacnut
Jul 29, 2014

Bran Owain

Bran relaxes slightly, he hadn't anticipated having a foot-to-face meeting with a Watch sergeant when he woke up this morning but desperate times and all that.

"Of course sir, sorry sir. From now on I assure you I will save my boots for those who deserve to meet them."

Bran sighs, he hopes there'll be no more trouble today, but until the ceremony's over he'll have to stay on his toes.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005



Another blessedly uneventful hour passes, and the first of the noble carriages draws in sight of the Royal Shipyard. Already the crowd on the bridge is doing its job admirably, cheering, throwing flowers, and showing their support with folk songs and dances. You find Inspector Delft near the docked ironclad, leaning on his cane as he watches a halfling chef manhandling a huge tray of bonbons up the gangplank. When the chef pauses to ship the tray into a more comfortable position on his back, Delft quietly walks up behind him and steals a chocolate.

"Only the best for our King, eh? I hope you aren't worn out from today's work yet, because I've got a bit of a surprise for you."

Inspector Delft leads you down the length of the pier to a tall, elderly but hale human in red and gold robes, who appears to be carefully scrying the surface of Coaltongue's hull.

This man is Principal Minister Harkover Lee, King Aodhan's bodyguard and chief of staff, quite possibly the most powerful mage in the land. He speaks with the deep, rich voice of a man half his age and twice his weight, tinged with a Berish accent. "Well met, Constables. I understand we have you to thank for today's proceedings going smoothly."

"I know your original orders were to return to HQ after we depart, Constables, but the situation has changed. The old man here wants a few extra eyes and ears on board, so now you get to join us on the Coaltongue's maiden voyage! That'll be something to tell your grandkids about one day. Or, well...friends, I suppose," he adds awkwardly towards Cha, F.R.E.D., and Unit 9.

"Indeed. I'm confident that security is in order, but His Majesty is planning a major announcement. I would be grateful for some assistance in gauging the reaction of the attendees. Additionally," the Principal Minister sighs and rolls his eyes, "some recalcitrant guests may require corralling, and I suspect they will not condescend to answer to 'mere' Royal Marines."

Turning towards the arriving coaches to see what has elicited Minister Lee's annoyance, you spot King Aodhan's sister Ethelyn, Duchess of Shale, accompanied by a young elf maidservant. A gifted druid and staunch follower of the Old Way, Lady Ethelyn is well-loved for her leadership of Shale's beleaguered defenders in the Fourth Yerasol War. Sited on the north coast, the city of Shale has always been the kingdom's bulwark against Republic aggression. In the last war, though, Shale's primalist citizens adjusted poorly to new-fangled firearms and they suffered heavy losses as a result. Many say that were it not for Her Grace, Shale would now be an outpost of Danor.

"At any rate, I must complete my preparations before the King arrives. I'm glad to know we can rely on you, Constables." The Principle Minister gives you a bow, then turns away to resume his inspection of the ship.

"Once we get underway I have to handle some...well, call them 'high-level negotiations.' We can't support the RHC through our good looks alone, alas. You've already learned a little about what a drinking chum in the right or wrong place can do for you. Anyway, I'll be trusting you to handle things on your own as well. This ought to be a pleasant evening, but don't get too relaxed, eh? The very crustiest of Risur's upper crust will be watching. If they see you behaving yourselves and working well, it'll be very good for our--your careers."

The team's Risur prestige is now Rank 2. Among other things, you may now dragoon a single City Watchman or Royal Marine for up to half an hour, at a moment's notice. Also, if you have any questions for Delft or Lee, we can just sort of pretend you asked them before they left here.

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 17:31 on Sep 13, 2014

Harthacnut
Jul 29, 2014

Bran Owain

"Only one question from me, Inspector, before we get started. How many guests are we expecting this evening?"

I'll let other people ask any questions they might have before acting any further

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

F.R.E.D. considers what he's learned about Ethelyn, and anything he may have heard about the elf.

History: 1d20+9= 18

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

"Should be about a hundred civilian passengers, all told: about twenty-five VIPs, double that for their personal attendants, and the rest waiters, caterers, and other event staff. There's also a Navy band, perhaps thirty in all. The ship itself will have only a skeleton crew, no more than ten, but there's an escort of eight clippers waiting to join us out in the harbor."

As Lady Ethelyn and her maid approach, F.R.E.D. recalls that the duchess has made the news recently for her anti-industrialist stance, and her heated debates on the subject with King Aodhan and the Principal Minister. His arcane senses also identify an illusory disguise on the elf.

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 19:41 on Sep 13, 2014

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

F.R.E.D. quickly explains what he knows, including the disguise, before taking a step back, letting the more diplomatic members take the front.

frankenfreak
Feb 16, 2007

I SCORED 85% ON A QUIZ ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT RAW AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY TEXT

#bastionboogerbrigade
Cryss Portman

"A disguise? In these circles it might just be a vanity, but take no chances. Not on this occasion. We have to keep an eye on her!" Cryss opines on the new information.

"Sir, are we privy to the route of this maiden voyage or at the very least to how long it should take?", she asks either Lee or Delft.

Unless something comes up from other questions, I don't have any more of my own.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

"Tonight's itinerary is a simple one. The Coaltongue shall sail due north out to open water, perhaps two miles north of the Ayres. That is where we will stop to hear His Majesty's proclamation. We should be back in port here by midnight."

Does anyone say anything to the Duchess?

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
Man, F.R.E.D. is just waiting for an opportunity to duck out and check out the sweet steam engine, the others can talk to the duchess

edit: Though, if no one else says anything before the Duchess, I'll at least say "Good Day, Duchess" or something and get the conversation going.

Gharbad the Weak fucked around with this message at 22:43 on Sep 14, 2014

potatocubed
Jul 26, 2012

*rathian noises*
Unit 9's doing what he does best: standing around like a huge metal man and disapproving of Delft's theft of a bonbon. He's more than happy to leave the diplomacy to others.

VVV: Try 'obey the law, citizen' - it's the catchphrase that never fails!

potatocubed fucked around with this message at 22:51 on Sep 14, 2014

frankenfreak
Feb 16, 2007

I SCORED 85% ON A QUIZ ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT RAW AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY TEXT

#bastionboogerbrigade
While I can do diplomacy, I really wouldn't know what to say to her except a token greeting.

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
the party gives a token greeting to begin any conversation

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

"Something you wish to say, Constable Nine? Just giving the victuals a brief test, you know. For safety. Can't be too careful."

The Duchess curtsies in response to your greeting, and her maid follows suit. "And a good evening to you and yours, my dear Constables. It is actually fortuitous that we should meet you here. There are two matters I must raise with you. Firstly: please step forward, Miss Rell."

Lady Ethelyn waves a hand, and the elf's illusion shimmers, briefly revealing the nervous face of a young eladrin woman.

"These poor girls have it so terribly, you know. I am ashamed at what the world inflicts upon them. It is a cardinal rule of mine that Sokana does not serve guests or leave the household without a disguise, for the sake of her safety. I do apologize for the lack of notice. I had not actually intended to bring her tonight, but she simply looked so crushed when I said no." Ethelyn chuckles. "I am most certain we can trust your discretion in this delicate matter." The merest, barely-noticeable hint of chill enters Lady Ethelyn's friendly face and courteous tone there, an unspoken "Because you will live to regret it if we cannot."

"And the second matter: our journey has left me feeling somewhat poorly, and the prospect of an excursion on this metal monstrosity is doing my constitution no favors whatsoever. I am given to understand that you have some authority over proceedings here, or at least that such has been foisted upon your good selves. Might we intrude upon you for the use of a cabin or stateroom on board, until my brother enacts whatever he has planned for this evening? We would be most indebted to you."

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 23:51 on Sep 14, 2014

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

Oh heavens, an Eladrin female. Having her harmed on the King's own ship would be more than embarrassing. Plus, they really do have it rough.

"If it would make you more comfortable, one of us can keep a discrete eye out for her. Mr. Owain could likely do so without anyone even noticing. He's the quiet sort.

I'd offer, but... uh, well. I was once told I stand out a little."

Harthacnut
Jul 29, 2014

Bran Owain

Bran bows his head to the Duchess before speaking. Despite the Minister's reservations, and his own disagreement with her anti-industrial stance, he still holds great respect for her as a fellow follower of the Old Way.

"It would be an honour to serve you my lady, if you have need of me. For now, I will do my best to find a suitable room for you."

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

"Oh, well, if you got that, then I suppose I should...head off to the steam engine..."

Bluff: 1d20-1= 9

"...for total security reasons and not at all because I want to see it."

Ryuujin
Sep 26, 2007
Dragon God

Hawthorn pixie Warlock|Executioner Vekeshi Mystic

When introductions and greetings are made Hawthorn gives a bow to the Duchess and the Eladrin girl. He doesn't say much, he is supposed to be a man of law now, not a follower of the old way, whatever he may actually be.

He does stare at F.R.E.D. as the walking construct talks about the steam engine, then he shudders as a terrible mental image passes through his mind.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Lady Ethelyn beams at you. "A most gallant offer, but I would hate to impose upon you any more than we are already. From what I have seen of Aodhan's guest list, you shall have your hands full preventing drunken lords from trying to dance on the gunwales, and other such...merriments. Sokana's safety is my responsibility."

You are quickly able to find an ensign who reports that the gun deck has full quarters for both a battlemage and skyseer, and the duchess is welcome to either of them. "Ah, splendid," she says. "We shall wait for the proper time to board, of course. Thank you so much for your help, Constables."

As Her Ladyship and Sokana return to their seats, the cheers and flying bunting reach a crescendo for the very last arrival: the royal carriage bearing King Aodhan himself, leaning out of the open door to wave to his subjects.

Aodhan first won national acclaim fifty years ago during the Third Yerasol War. As a young Royal Navy captain, his heroic victories in the archipelago earned the adulation of the common folk. People in Flint still talk about Aodhan's greatest wartime achievement: his single-handed capture of the N.G.D. Proéminence, Danor's first steam-driven warship, which he sailed into Flint Harbor as a spoil of war.

Soon after that war's end, King Edward IV named Aodhan his successor. King Aodhan had seen great potential in the Republic's war machines and wasted no time turning a single plundered steam engine into a nationwide industrial revolution, centered here in Flint. New advancements have made life easier for many in Risur--and harder for many more. Despite the friction of these sweeping changes, King Aodhan remains beloved(largely) by his people.

After all of today's excitement, the ceremony itself turns out to be quite brief. His Majesty climbs a short scaffold near the bow, where a large bottle of champagne hangs down by a heavy rope from the main deck. As he takes hold of it, the power of the Compact amplifies his voice so that all present can clearly hear:

"I hereby dedicate...the Royal Naval Ship Coaltongue!"

The bottle is smashed upon the hull, and a steam whistle on the ironclad's superstructure sounds the boarding call.



Soon the R.N.S. Coaltongue is sweeping out to sea with her eight escort clippers in formation, black smoke and white sails billowing against the golden sunset. You catch a glimpse of Duchess Ethelyn glowering at the sight as she retires to the skyseer's quarters belowdecks, but you also see cheering crowds lined up for miles along the shores of Flint.

It is now seven o'clock. You have an hour before the flotilla reaches its stopping point in the Avery Sea. The main deck forward of the superstructure has been set with dining tables and a dance floor, where the Navy band is currently picking out a light waltz. You can see Inspector Delft in merry conversation with some nobles from Slate. The table for King Aodhan and his personal guests sits under a strange glass canopy near the bow, which occasionally flashes with energy. The cooking and wait staff have set up their mighty spits, vats, and ovens on the stern. The gunwales have been strung all around with delicate paper lanterns.

Your attention is drawn by a smartly dressed Danoran man, in conversation with a female human and a few high-ranking Royal Navy officers.

"...this ought to teach the damned cheese-eaters a thing or two, eh? Ooh, saving your presence, Jeffy. We know you're one of the good ones. Eh? 'HOHN HOHN HOHN!' Ahahahahaha!"

The tiefling gives a rather pained chuckle as the Risuri commodore guffaws and playfully boxes his stomach. The woman smiles sadly at him and gently pats his arm. He catches sight of you, and is almost indecently quick to excuse himself and his date to come talk to you.

"Good evening, Royal Constables. I hope you are enjoying the trip? It is my responsibility, after all. Geoff Masarde, head of design for this mighty vessel, and my dear wife Emmeline."

"Charmed, Constables. It's quite a smooth ride, isn't it, for a steamship? Geoff tells me this is only a tiny fraction of her top speed, of course."

"I have been instructed by your Inspector that you require a tour of the vessel?" There is a hint of pleading in Geoff's eyes as he glances back toward the carousing Navy brass, now amusing each other enormously with unflattering impersonations of various people, who all seem to have horns on their heads.

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

"Can we see the engine?!"

*cough*

"Can we see the engine?"

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

"Mais oui, but...hold a moment. You have the markings of a Danoran construction. Just like me, I suppose! Can you tell me please, who was your creator?"

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

"No."

*pause*

"We weren't really allowed to directly address her. Talking to her was generally punishable. So I never got her name."

*pause*

"I'm pretty sure she died in the explosion, anyway."

*pause*

"Pretty sure."

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

"Ah. Now that is familiar. You can only be a creation of Madame Faulkner. She was my mentor, you know, before her...unfortunate turn. Sadly I must echo your hope that she has, how do you say, gone to a better place. Still, she had a genius like no other, and it is wonderful to see one of her progeny doing good works, and fully vetted for safe working in the public!" Geoff turns the merest questioning gaze to the other Royal Constables.

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 22:55 on Sep 15, 2014

frankenfreak
Feb 16, 2007

I SCORED 85% ON A QUIZ ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT RAW AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY TEXT

#bastionboogerbrigade
Cryss Portman

The occasion should fill her with some sort of pride at the accomplishment of her country, constructing what must be the most advanced vessel to ever sail the sea, keeping Risur safe from her enemies. Yet Cryss won't allow such feelings. She can't allow anything happening to the ship or the assembled nobility. Not while she is responsible for their safety. Restlessly she patrols the deck, keeping her eyes open for anything suspicious. She's so uncomfortably tense she almost wishes for something to happen.

Perception: 1d20+6 17

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Not much is happening yet, but Cryss notices billionaire philanthropist Guy Goodson complaining about his new pocket watch. The hands of this exquisite silver timepiece are spinning back and forth like the needle in a compass. Fine machinery is known to malfunction in the presence of powerful fey magic.

Ryuujin
Sep 26, 2007
Dragon God

Hawthorn pixie Warlock|Executioner Vekeshi Mystic

Hawthorn nods to the tiefling. "Yes it would probably be good for us to be familiar with the layout of the vessel."

frankenfreak
Feb 16, 2007

I SCORED 85% ON A QUIZ ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT RAW AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY TEXT

#bastionboogerbrigade
Cryss Portman

This is an unpleasant, yet not unexpected development. Fey magic? Figures.

Cryss catches herself before she snaps into action without thinking the situation through. First, she tries to find Cha and asks her to investigate the magical situation on deck, especially where Mr Goodson was standing. Then she rushes to catch up Masarde to inquire about any magic incorporated in the ship's design that could have caused the effect she observed.

ProfessorCirno
Feb 17, 2011

The strongest! The smartest!
The rightest!
Cha Ravah

Cha, who has been silent through most of this on purpose and certainly not because I have been lax in posting, gives the tiefling a nod.

"Professor Masarde. Lady Cha Ravah, priestess. Ah, slightly renegade priestess. I hope my allegiance to the faith, if not the church, causes no discomforts, and apologize in advance if it does. I know relations between our kin can be strained, and hope our own time together suffers no such disagreements."

Warned by Cryss, she opens her eyes in a far different manner - eyes that once, centuries ago, so the greatest fey magics unweave in that last titanic battle.

Arcana: 1d20+9 14
Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes: 1d6+14 17

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Suddenly a cosmic wormhole RENDS THE FABRICS OF TIME AND SPACE. Cryss noticing Guy's freaky watch, and anything else, actually happens after your little tour with the Masardes is concluded.

"Not at all, Lady Constable. I begrudge no one their religions if it drives them to be better. My own Emmeline is a lifelong follower of the Old Way. I do not share this faith, but I accept how it has helped make her into the woman that I love. It could be said that my own hopes for this vessel, my hopes that she will help preserve peace despite being a formidable weapon of war, are an item of faith as well. In Danor they may joke at the idea of faith, but at the same time there is a very popular writer who insists that people are 'rational actors' who will always know and do the thing that is the very best for them. This to me seems like faith taken to the far edges of madness."


"Now let us begin!" Geoff claps his hands with enthusiasm.


"We may start with the main deck, of course. You can see clearly the fixed superheavy cannon on the bow, and the cargo cranes with bay doors that allow freight to be lowered down to any deck. The glass structure where the King is dining, now that, I am especially proud of: it is a thaumic capacitor!"

"The glass has been enchanted to be as strong as steel of that same thickness. The Macguffinite alloy strips draw waste heat out of the surfaces of the vessel, and convert it into bolstering mana for the ship's skyseer and battlemage. The cage is quite safe to stand in, even at full charge. It is also used for something very special as well. Back in port, you quite likely noticed the great glowing sigil on the Coaltongue's bow. When charged with mana from the capacitor, it launches a blast of fire that can instantly destroy ships out at a hundred feet or more! We are calling it the Brand, for it burns its image onto whatever surface it strikes."

"Now let us go into the superstructure and take the stairs down. Up from here are the bridge, and quarters for the senior officers." A Royal Marine standing guard on the upward staircase salutes as you enter. "That is off limits for us tonight, of course, and for good reason. Commodore Grumby and Captain Gilligan are hard at work, and it would not do to disturb them!"


"Here we have the gun deck. See how all those heavy cannon still shine! Let us hope they will not need cleaning for a long time to come. At either end we have observation decks, as well as the battlemage cabin at the bow, and skyseer cabin at the stern. I understand Her Grace Madame Ethelyn is resting there; we certainly do not need to disturb her. The cannon can be freely wheeled to either side for a full twenty-four-gun broadside, and as well the observation decks can be converted into firing platforms in only ten minutes. This here in the center, I mean the midships, haha, is a grate for ventilation, with ladders down to the crew deck."


"This is where the crew berths will be furnished. We have the galley and sick bay at the stern, and firedust magazine at the bow." In each of the dust rooms hangs an ornament about the size of a dinner plate, fashioned from a single length of copper wire bent into intricate shapes. Tiny arcs of crimson light slowly dance along the wire shapes, and F.R.E.D., Cryss, Hawthorn and Cha recognize runes of fire magic around their edges. Far from mere decoration, these are safety wards for the suppression of fires in the magazines. Geoff pokes at one a bit listlessly.

"These now, I am not so happy with: cheap things, really, they burn out in no time at all, I would much have preferred stronger permanent inscriptions, but there were budget troubles, you know. So instead I focus on something easy to produce and replace. I do what I can, though: each of the three magazines is armored so that a detonation in one will be focused outwards, and not reach the other two. Even if all the fire wards fail, only a cascade failure of the engine would be strong enough to set off all three at once, and by then you are already in troubles, no?"


"And last but not least: the engine!" Descending to the lowest deck is like walking into a wall of heat and noise. There are two sailors on this deck, clad head to toe in heavy leathers and ferrying firegems into the hellish maw of the furnace with red-hot shovels. "Here is my baby: the Vulcain Mark One! Largest and mightiest steam engine ever made! Monsieur Benedict Pemberton had three whole factories built just for it! I am confident that the Coaltongue will be able to reach thirty knots on the open sea. Between her speed, tonnage, and one-of-a-kind magical enhancements, no ship of the Republic will threaten her. We also have the fuel hopper here in the middle, of course, and the main stores are down here as well."

"So! Any questions?"

We'll continue after your questions.

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 16:57 on Sep 21, 2014

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

"Yes, I had a few questions about the engine."

*F.R.E.D. rustles in his pack and produces a few papers*

"Ahem."

"What combustible is used for fuel? And how much? What do you do to contain an excess of heat? What's the plan for waste heat? How much power can it generate, in general? How hard is it to maintain and repair? Where do you see the most wear and tear? Is this a single engine, a compound engine, or something else? Are the magical enhancements for propulsion, warding, or what? How about-"

Ok, I don't have 18 intelligence, but F.R.E.D. does. And it is entirely focused on this engine. F.R.E.D. sees this as a glorious opportunity to learn more about his own I.C.E., so that it can be repaired better.

"I can't tell you how interesting this engine is! I haven't been able to handle real tech in a while, now, and I would just love to hear anything you have to say on it."

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

"Well, as I have mentioned, the fuel used is firegems. You can see the amount we are using here. Burning is the crudest use of firegems, of course, and we heard arguments for coal, wood, oil, even pitch, but firegems proved superior in all respects. Excess and waste heat is drawn into the capacitor, of course. The Vulcain Mark One can theoretically output more than 12,000 megaspergs of energy. Nominal operation is 5,000. As you can see from the smokestacks, we have used a dual configuration here. The enhancements, as I said, are mainly the Brand and the capacitor. Oh! We have also lined each porthole of the Coaltongue with gold thread, to forestall a magical breach." Geoff answers politely, but he seems somewhat disappointed to see such a poor attention span on a Faulkner construct.

"Maintenance and repairs are relatively simple. We made the construction as robust as possible. You can also see the safety features here on either side of the furnace: these alarms and speaking tubes sound directly to the bridge in an emergency, and these relief pipes can safely vent any excess steam."

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 23:20 on Sep 16, 2014

Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

F.R.E.D. continues to ask 18-intelligence questions about the functioning of the steam engine as long as he's able, which, might I add, is pretty good for an attention span, MISTER. At various times, he'll bring up alternatives, ask why he didn't pursue them (in a polite and scholarly manner), ask about limitations, possible improvements (in ideal scenarios, sort of like "what if you had infinite resources" kinds of deals).

edit: I mean I'd ask more intricate questions to show focus and everything, but I don't really know anything about steam engines, so F.R.E.D. is asking those questions.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Your roll-playing seems to make up for your role-playing in Masarde's eyes. BUT NOT MINE.

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Gharbad the Weak
Feb 23, 2008

This too good for you.
F.R.E.D.

Ok, then, FINE. F.R.E.D. ask really super intensive questions about the safety features. With LASER LIKE PRECISION

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