Word gets out that Factotum Sixthfinger has a project that needs doing, requiring crafting expertise of both magical and mundane nature. Namers are encouraged to register their interest on the faction noticeboards if, to quote the factotum:
"Yer innerested in a break frem mendin pots an' pans an' wanna chance ta 'play god' in a more literal sense."
An Act Of Creation - Namers Wanted
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*Jiv
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Dipi worked with great care as he maneuvered the last of the four red glowing steel ingots into place. Once it was set he paused, barely breathing to prevent undue oxidation in the rapidly cooling bars, and leaned in close to carefully eye each ingot for proper alignment, gauging their arrangement closely against the measurements etched into the metallic tray on which the ingots now rested. His skilful gaze slowly shifting from bar to bar and bringing his tongs to bear he made slight adjustments here and there as required.
Ingots properly in place to his satisfaction, Dipi shifted his focus to the annealing machine on which they had been arranged. Moving around the machine with caution and stepping carefully over its railed track Dipi spent several minutes checking, adjusting, and rechecking the pulley belt for the proper timing. Finally, machine and ingots both ready, he stepped back from the device and pulled the lever to activate it.
With a ringing clank of metal on metal the thick chains connected to the machine tightened and its ponderous movement cycle began. The onset of this motion pulled free a large cover on the ground from which vibrant orange fire roared up to engulf both metal and machine. These flames bringing everything within to forge like temperatures in mere moments.
Dipi took a few steps back from the searing heat and admired the annealing machine. Its trays, wheel track, fire jet, pulleys, and rolling "A" frame were still a marvel to the little kobold. An absolute mechanical wonder that could save a craftsman days worth of work by accurately controlling the decline of heat in any type of metal. Achieving a degree of post smelting crystalline alignment which was utterly unparalleled by methods such as ground or ash cooling.
Best of all, Dipi thought, was the joy of working with metal so thoroughly normalized. The lack of internal stress when performing the initial folding and drawing out of the steel was nothing short of miraculous. Far and above the capacity of prior forge work he had been able to do before coming here. With tools like these at ones disposal, it was the skill of the smith that shined forth in every final product. Here, the smith was not battling against the forces of randomness in the nature of a metal's contents or crystal structure, or even from the lack of availability in specialized tools to craft an item. The quality of a piece of work was only limited by the smiths own capacity for crafting. The lofty dream of every smithy was a common place reality here...
Lost in such fanciful thoughts on the functioning philosophy of his craft and the amazing realm of creation in which he now existed he caught only the passing end snippets of conversation regarding some special project. Something to do with one of the Foundry Warren's elder members it had sounded like. Excitement coursed through Dipi and he found himself instantly intrigued by the idea of doing any kind of special project! Especially at the chance to learn more about the capacities of his new Foundry Warren.
Having plenty of time between now and when his ingots would be done "baking" the kobold decided to see what he could find out. He briskly removed his craftsman's apron and made off in the direction of the upper levels of the foundry to seek out this Sixthfinger individual.
Ingots properly in place to his satisfaction, Dipi shifted his focus to the annealing machine on which they had been arranged. Moving around the machine with caution and stepping carefully over its railed track Dipi spent several minutes checking, adjusting, and rechecking the pulley belt for the proper timing. Finally, machine and ingots both ready, he stepped back from the device and pulled the lever to activate it.
With a ringing clank of metal on metal the thick chains connected to the machine tightened and its ponderous movement cycle began. The onset of this motion pulled free a large cover on the ground from which vibrant orange fire roared up to engulf both metal and machine. These flames bringing everything within to forge like temperatures in mere moments.
Dipi took a few steps back from the searing heat and admired the annealing machine. Its trays, wheel track, fire jet, pulleys, and rolling "A" frame were still a marvel to the little kobold. An absolute mechanical wonder that could save a craftsman days worth of work by accurately controlling the decline of heat in any type of metal. Achieving a degree of post smelting crystalline alignment which was utterly unparalleled by methods such as ground or ash cooling.
Best of all, Dipi thought, was the joy of working with metal so thoroughly normalized. The lack of internal stress when performing the initial folding and drawing out of the steel was nothing short of miraculous. Far and above the capacity of prior forge work he had been able to do before coming here. With tools like these at ones disposal, it was the skill of the smith that shined forth in every final product. Here, the smith was not battling against the forces of randomness in the nature of a metal's contents or crystal structure, or even from the lack of availability in specialized tools to craft an item. The quality of a piece of work was only limited by the smiths own capacity for crafting. The lofty dream of every smithy was a common place reality here...
Lost in such fanciful thoughts on the functioning philosophy of his craft and the amazing realm of creation in which he now existed he caught only the passing end snippets of conversation regarding some special project. Something to do with one of the Foundry Warren's elder members it had sounded like. Excitement coursed through Dipi and he found himself instantly intrigued by the idea of doing any kind of special project! Especially at the chance to learn more about the capacities of his new Foundry Warren.
Having plenty of time between now and when his ingots would be done "baking" the kobold decided to see what he could find out. He briskly removed his craftsman's apron and made off in the direction of the upper levels of the foundry to seek out this Sixthfinger individual.
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*Xndar
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Dipi runs into Factotum Sixthfinger as she is returning to the Great Foundry from elsewhere in the Cage. She addresses Dipi in a friendly, but somewhat brisk manner, as though this project is just one of many things on her mind at that moment.
"Ah perfec'. Wha' I wan' ye ta do is ta read up in tha Archives on anatomy an' metalcraft, an' come back ta me wit schematics or a detailed proposal as ta tha mos' expedien' way in which one might craft a humanoid shell outta metals wha'd allow fer tha maximum in flexibility an' movemen' possible."
"Think ye kin do tha'?"
"Ah perfec'. Wha' I wan' ye ta do is ta read up in tha Archives on anatomy an' metalcraft, an' come back ta me wit schematics or a detailed proposal as ta tha mos' expedien' way in which one might craft a humanoid shell outta metals wha'd allow fer tha maximum in flexibility an' movemen' possible."
"Think ye kin do tha'?"
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*Jiv
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
As the Factotum explains her requirements for the project, Dipi's mind is already off gathering ideas on what to design. From a belt pouch he produces a small, leather bound sketching booklet, along with a slender length of edged charcoal. He flips open the booklet then dives directly into sketching. His small but skilled paws fly across the sheet of parchment with the charcoal. In mere moments an image takes shape in the center of the page. Alongside this rough sketch, Dipi makes several notes to accompany his preliminary design.
Flipping to another page he moves straight into a barrage of questions about the project...
Mm, yous say humanoid shell. This for wearing or is just animating with clockwork mechanics or magic?
And.. Dipi assume yous not just wants a very good articulated suit of Mithril platemail? Something like though?
Then when says maximum amount of movement and flexibility, yous means like multi joined device can do? Or this more biological and Dipi should just be concerned with range humanoid musculature able to do?
Um, wants how much of device to operate magical assistance? Does thingy needs to work in magic null zone too?
Need to be air tight or insulated against elements?
Just to know, yous says yous concerned with speeds and range of motion rather than protectiveness? If needs to choose. Goes with speed?
What yous mean by expedient? Yous wants make single thingy with efficient design or.. wants make many of thingy?
What size thingy yous wants?
And um..what resources Dipi have for making design with? Gots special materials for building?
After the final question is fired off, Dipi looks up from his sketching book towards the Factotum with obvious anticipation of her answers. His paw ready with the charcoal to make the proper notes at her word.
Flipping to another page he moves straight into a barrage of questions about the project...
Mm, yous say humanoid shell. This for wearing or is just animating with clockwork mechanics or magic?
And.. Dipi assume yous not just wants a very good articulated suit of Mithril platemail? Something like though?
Then when says maximum amount of movement and flexibility, yous means like multi joined device can do? Or this more biological and Dipi should just be concerned with range humanoid musculature able to do?
Um, wants how much of device to operate magical assistance? Does thingy needs to work in magic null zone too?
Need to be air tight or insulated against elements?
Just to know, yous says yous concerned with speeds and range of motion rather than protectiveness? If needs to choose. Goes with speed?
What yous mean by expedient? Yous wants make single thingy with efficient design or.. wants make many of thingy?
What size thingy yous wants?
And um..what resources Dipi have for making design with? Gots special materials for building?
After the final question is fired off, Dipi looks up from his sketching book towards the Factotum with obvious anticipation of her answers. His paw ready with the charcoal to make the proper notes at her word.
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*Xndar
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
The Factor ticks off responses to each of Dipi's questions in turn, replying succinctly as she wiggles a finger for each question.
"Animatin wit magic."
"Mithral platemail will likely be a good 'nuff startin point from which ta improve 'pon."
"Maximum mobility. Biological anatomy shouldnae limit yer design, but rather inform it as ta some good methods o' accomplishin an' structurin certain functions an' parts."
"Theoretically it'd be preferable tha' it coul' work inside o' null-magic zones...but I think tha'd be tha matter fer tha enchantmen'...creatin a self-sustainin animation wha' cannae simply be severed by tha righ' spell or anti-magic."
"Both if possible, but wit a preference toward tha latter."
"Aye, goin wit speed nay weighin it down wit plate an' armor."
"Fer now, single construct."
"Model it after me height an' build as a baseline."
"If ye got specific requests fer materials, jes' lemmie know an' I'll see 'bout providin ye wit wha' ye need."
"Animatin wit magic."
"Mithral platemail will likely be a good 'nuff startin point from which ta improve 'pon."
"Maximum mobility. Biological anatomy shouldnae limit yer design, but rather inform it as ta some good methods o' accomplishin an' structurin certain functions an' parts."
"Theoretically it'd be preferable tha' it coul' work inside o' null-magic zones...but I think tha'd be tha matter fer tha enchantmen'...creatin a self-sustainin animation wha' cannae simply be severed by tha righ' spell or anti-magic."
"Both if possible, but wit a preference toward tha latter."
"Aye, goin wit speed nay weighin it down wit plate an' armor."
"Fer now, single construct."
"Model it after me height an' build as a baseline."
"If ye got specific requests fer materials, jes' lemmie know an' I'll see 'bout providin ye wit wha' ye need."