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Post by Veliky on Jan 29, 2023 8:00:05 GMT -5
Wooden wheels, rolling and rolling for hours and hours. It's a sound of many parts: the mechanical strain in the boxings, the grinding of gravel underneath, and the subtle creak of the wagon's weight upon them. After days of travel, the sound becomes so ingrained into Veliky's mind that she can hear it in her sleep. Though its quality has changed somewhat as it passed from Zeinav's sands to the arid dirt of Dragon's Cradle, it has been with her on every step of the journey.
There are many sacrifices that she makes in the name of business, and this scrap of sanity is one of them. But she nonetheless yearns for a more decisive silence.
Of course, there're also the Blixtbots™. The sibilance of their every movement adds to harsh ambience, but theirs is a cacophony that she's long-since grown accustomed to, to the degree that she's less comfortable without them. As she's seated in a side-bench in the wagon bed, kept company by the trio of autonomous bodyguards that make up her personal escort; a Pawn is at the reins and a Vampire hangs from the bows. The wagon's crimson bonnet permits so little light that the entire is like the inside of a cave, lit only by what silvery sunlight maneuvers through the uncovered gaps at the wagon's front and back.
Pulling the wagon is a unit that Veliky has nary deployed, as it's a somewhat new development. To call it 'brand-new' would be a stretch, as it uses the same equine frame that her other Steed-Model bots do, but with notable features that make it look rather festive. Namely, its head is adorned with large lanterns, lending it the image of a reindeer. Someone who'd call these 'cute' would likely do so without knowing that they were forged from XPlatinum, and could pierce a skull as easily as a warpick.
But that shouldn't be necessary for this venture, barring unforeseen encounters. Because this particular mission is as peaceful as Veliky could imagine. On invitation, she's visiting Astrid at the foundling's new house. Well, 'peaceful' probably isn't the right word; knowing Astrid, this 'surprise' she has in store will probably entail some untold chaos, and Veliky will be made to clean up. Yes, the foundling may be a smithing prodigy, but... no, 'peaceful' is most certainly not the right word.
Veliky banishes an upturning at the corners of her lips. Whatever this is, it's still business. And she's getting close, now; less than five minutes from finally arriving. It's strange; a few months back, Veliky was dragging Cantio down this exact path, and to the same destination. She hasn't seen him since then, which should be a matter of some concern given how easily kidnappable Veliky demonstrated him to be, but she's been keeping tabs on him from afar. If he or Astrid were in real danger, she'd know.
Ever the paranoiac, Veliky envisioned literal hundreds of possibilities when Astrid first sent this invitation. Could it be that Astrid's made some new device to show off to Veliky? Could it be that she's finally completed that mission Veliky gave her? Could it be something totally mundane that Astrid just wanted Veliky around for? Any of these options are equally plausible, given Astrid's mischievous nature.
And it's finally time to find out, as the grinding of gravel comes to a halt - welcome silence - and the wagon does the same. Veliky hands the stack of paperwork she'd occupied herself with to one of her bodyguards, and allows another to safely ferry her to the ground. She breathes in that static-charged haze that's so emblematic of Dragon's Cradle; she'd been breathing it all along, of course, but it smells somehow fresher now that she's free from the cramped space of the wagon.
With her mechanical bodyguards close behind her and the little toy bat fluttering nearby, she makes her way up the steps and to the manor's front door. It feels like she hasn't moved her legs in weeks; the ascent is both painful and refreshing. And now, under the afternoon sky, days of travel across some of the most perilous lands in Charon culminate into this single moment: she knocks on the door.
"Alright," Veliky breathes to herself, "let's see what this is about."
Bringing Minions Bishop-12 (Warlord) Knight-04 (Warlord) Rook-13 (Warlord)
Bringing Pets Stalker-03 (Prismatic Spider) Vampire-04 (Vampire Bat) Vixen-01 (Reindeer) {Sleigh Bells}
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Jan 29, 2023 19:48:16 GMT -5
It's been a couple of weeks since Astrid invited Veliky over, but ever since she sent the letter out to the courier (with some help from papa Cantio because she never once sent a letter in her life before then), she's been buzzing with excitement. The letter was wrought with spelling errors and only half-decent penmanship, but Astrid worked hard to make sure it was legible and sounded about as official as she could manage.
Needless to say, her enthusiasm for inviting Veliky to visit was not one bit hidden behind the fanciful words she used. It was a childish attempt to make herself sound like as much of an adult as possible. Still, Veliky is important to her, and the opportunity to see the quarterling put an extra pep in Astrid's step a bit more than maybe she expected. In the months since she last saw Veliky, a lot of things have happened.
But she didn't invite Veliky over for tea. No, she invited her over for something a bit more important that that. Despite being done with her projects, Astrid anxiously continues to tweak them, looking for any opportunities for improvement with each moment she spends working far too late into the night in her basement workshop. It's become a minor obsession at this point. All the coin she made adventuring went straight into her various projects.
Luckily, Cantio made sure she ate considering the hyperfocus made her forgetful.
The knock at the door nearly goes unnoticed until Charles opens the door to the basement and calls down. "Mistress Astrid, report: There is a knock at the door. Additional report: Conscript Cantio is not home. Query: Do you wish for me to answer it?"
"Do ya know who it is?" she calls back, twisting a tiny screwdriver with care.
It takes a moment for Charles to peer out the front window then return to the top of the stairs. "Report: It appears to be Mistress Veliky."
Suddenly, Astrid is sent scrambling, throwing things into drawers, collecting blueprints and sketchbooks, and organizing the table in the center of the workshop before throwing a sheet over it all.
"...Mistress Astrid?"
"I'll get it!!"
This isn't how she wanted to present all of this, but it's all she can do in such a short time. She scrambles up the stairs into the foyer with heavy footfalls and flings the door open. Luckily, it's a heavy door, or it would threaten to warp and shatter at the force.
"Veliky!" she exclaims with breathless but genuine excitement. Her familiar gap-toothed grin is plastered across her face. She's flustered, but it's obvious she's been working away, bits of grease stain her face and white sleeveless shirt. Her bulky gloves look disproportionate to the rest of her body, and the coveralls she's wearing are peeled back and tied around her waist, held up by a tool belt missing a few tools - things she threw into drawers in a panic. As always, her favorite goggles are perched on top of her head.
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Post by Veliky on Jan 31, 2023 14:13:34 GMT -5
Thump Thump Thump Thump
Veliky's calmness wavers at the encroaching sound from beyond the door. 'Is that...?'
The door's flung open, and Veliky's nearly blown off her feet by the force (which is especially impressive, given that it was swinging away from her). The hinges shriek, as if startled themselves, and Veliky can't help but whince as the door nearly smashes into the wall on the inside - several solars in damages, only barely avoided.
Veliky can recall when she gave Yoci the specifications for the door. The Gnome had said something like "Why does it need to be so durable? It's just a door; anyone trying to break in would just take a window" (albeit spoken far less succinctly). Veliky had said "It isn't the intruders that I'm worried about." It would seem her concerns were valid.
And now, with the door very nearly removed from its hinges, and after Veliky has gotten over the sheer surprise, she stands face-to-knee with the source of those concerns, sporting an attire that speaks to hours of tireless work. This certainly narrows down the possibilities: whatever this 'surprise' may be, Astrid's been putting her all into it. Most businesspeople would prefer their associates to be dressed to the nines, or at least somewhat more tidily than Astrid currently is. But to Veliky, the sight is a welcome one: productivity manifested in clothing. It reminds her of her younger self, marching out of alleys with dirtied clothes and findings to peddle. Veliky is not a nostalgic person, but she recognizes when traits are to be admired.
She does have to avert her eyes upon seeing Astrid's youthful grin, however. 'She's just excited to show off something she's made.[1]' Veliky will just have to ignore that shine in the little orphan's eyes.
"Astrid." A simple greeting, spiteful in the face of strange circumstances. Her icy eyes are still averted, though the rest of her form is straight-stance and seemingly prepared for a far more formal conversation than Astrid is. This image is only aided by the fact that she's still clothed in her military-green regalia, as if there's some political census waiting for her in the house. "I understand you have something to show me?"
1. Smooth Talking
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 1, 2023 23:46:02 GMT -5
There she goes again, being perfectly prim and disaffectionate. It's been a long time since Astrid last saw Veliky, but the quarterling before her is no different than ever before. Astrid notices her eyes averted, and her grin shifts into an amused smirk. Each corner of her mouth stretches her lips and turns her cheeks up. The kid actually looks pretty smug, as if she's just figured something out or confirmed something for herself.
"What? Ya ain't excited ta see me?" she teases, letting her shoulders relax as her breathing settles. "Guess that's just like ya. Do somethin' nice then go away fer a while so ya don't hafta think about it fer long." Veliky's gone out of her way to do nice things for her on more than one occasion, even if the businesswoman would prefer to call them investments or doing her duty or something. "That's alright, I'm excited ya came!" Part of her wondered if Veliky would come, but the other part of her was absolutely confident in the fact that she would. Astrid didn't lose much sleep over it.
Though her posture remains upright and uptight, there's a twitch in Veliky's brow. What does this girl think she's saying? There's a word in Goblin for kids like her: talikahn. And while Veliky wouldn't say such a word to Astrid's face, that smug grin certainly brings it to mind.
And the worst part is that she can barely argue with her, since most of Astrid's jabs were implied. If Veliky says anything, she's likely to just get a 'Well I never said that.' Clever girl.
"For your information," she begins, subtle heat radiating from her tone, "I am a very busy woman, so it's only natural that I shouldn't stick around for extended periods. Now why is it that you're so excited?"
Oh, that touched a nerve. Best not to test her luck too much. Astrid lets the smug expression fall away from her face for one that's more genuinely pleased at the quarterling's presence, and she straightens up a little bit. "Aye, yer right..." Her eyes perk up a bit though when she meets Veliky's again. "Guess I missed ya a bit. Can't promise I'll be quick. I've got some stuff ta show ya!"
Astrid beckons Veliky inside, looking out at the bots for if they're going to follow or not. She decides to leave the door to Charles, who tromps over to stand beside the open door. He offers a greeting to Veliky and her bot posse. Since Veliky's first and last visit to the house, it seems Astrid and Cantio have finally gotten really settled in, though with the addition of Blue Raspberry, which Astrid isn't totally sure she'll mention considering Veliky's interaction with Blue wasn't exactly a pleasant one. Luckily, Cantio spends a lot of time keeping things tidy.
Heading down the stairs into the basement workshop, the room is warm, and on the surface it appears to be all in order. A particularly observant person might notice a few tools missing from their hooks or a drawer left slightly ajar. Various journals, large sheets of vellum with charcoal drawings and notes hang on one wall and decorate the desk. From the dings in the various workbenches and wear on the anvil, it's obvious this workshop has seen a lot of use in the few months since Veliky gifted them the place.
"I tell ya, I dunno how ya made that lightnin' forge, but it's really somethin'!" Astrid says, admiring the dual forges on the opposite wall from the stairs. "It gets stuff real hot real fast, makes it faster ta work with some stuff! I've been testin' metals that work best with it, too."
As Astrid skips over to the table in the center of the room, she's buzzing with excitement. A canvas sheet covers the table, and the fabric rises and falls around some odd shapes hiding beneath it.
"Ya haven't forgotten our deal, have ya?" she asks, parroting Veliky's question last they met in front of this very house.
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Post by Veliky on Feb 4, 2023 17:33:37 GMT -5
Veliky would be lying if she said that she wasn't annoyed. She had to travel across Zeinav's blazing sands and Dragon's Cradle's lightning-blasted prairies to get here, and she's welcomed with a barrage of jeers from Astrid, implying that Veliky's attitude is unprofessional and saying things like 'I missed you' just to provoke a reaction from her[1].
Of course, lying isn't something Veliky's typically averse to. And so, without a word or a fuss (and leaving her constructs to watch outside), she follows Astrid through the now-open door, into the manor with which she was acquainted before the finishing touches. It's largely as she remembers it, though she can see Cantio's handiwork in the tidied shelves and dust-free surfaces. She'd half-thought that the house would be in ruins by now. And seeing that Astrid's clean, safe and happy... She'll have to congratulate Cantio. He's done good work.
It isn't long before they're standing in the basement. The warmth is a welcome change, even if the air is rife with static. She remembers that this room was a particularly time (and money)-consuming endeavour, thanks in no small part to the accommodations that had to be made for the Lightning Forge to be housed. Of course, the Forge's construction was a process in itself; when Astrid and Cantio were first dropped at the doorstep, Yoci was still making the final calibrations.
And here it is: fully functional; fully intact and, by the looks of things, very well-utilized. Yet more evidence of productivity. It's a pleasant sight. There are definitely some flaws, but they might just be the result of Astrid being in a rush. Besides, it's more organized than *some* of her employees.
"Ya haven't forgotten our deal, have ya?"
Veliky hears her own words passed back to her, some months after she first spoke them, snapping her attention back to Astrid - and to the table she's standing beside. A table of veiled curiosities, a wide grin and an eager presenter? It's like the beginning of a pitch meeting. Whatever Astrid's about to show her, that ecstatic expression tells that it's been months in the making. She's obviously put no shortage of thought and effort into it, whatever it is.
But one of those shapes... Veliky thinks she might have an idea. She can't share the child's excitement - not until she sees results. After all, this could just as easily spell disappointment as victory. But this has been a long time coming. This meeting could change the course of Astrid's life, and even Veliky's life. Excited or not, she's certainly glad she took the trip.
"No. I haven't." Her voice carries a sense of finality as her blank expression glows in the firelight. Her eyes take on a geist more scrutinous. "Show me."
1. Smooth Talking
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 5, 2023 3:11:54 GMT -5
An even wider grin spreads across Astrid's face. There's a certain amount of anxiety hiding behind the confidence. Months of work culminated into this moment with Astrid standing in front of Veliky about to present her projects. The businesswoman only challenged her to make a helmet, but in that pursuit and throughout her travels, Astrid had other ideas come to mind. More than one leatherbound journal tucked away in her drawers are full of ideas and sketches. How many pencils has she gone through to get to this point? How many jobs did she do to afford the materials? What if it's not good enough for Veliky?
No, it will be. She wouldn't have called Veliky here if she didn't think it was good enough.
Taking hold of one edge of the canvas sheet, Astrid peels it back to reveal the contents laid out neatly on the table. In the center of the spread sits a helmet with a half-face visor shaped like a mask imitating the form of a bird - specifically a raptor - with the beak creating a protector for a nose. The visor has blue glass lenses fitted into the eye holes in the visor. A plume with red-dyed horse hair falls back like a ponytail. Interlocking plates along the helmet's form create a sleek shape with additional visual interest. Beside the helmet sit what appear to be variations in brow reinforcements that could be interchanged, specifically to create configurations for fighters with horns. The one currently fitted on the helmet crests back and comes to a rounded point along the top.
The metal looks polished to perfection.
While Veliky expects to see the helmet, there are several possibly unexpected projects in addition to it. Laid out on the table around the helmet are two small boxes, a soft package wrapped in burlap and tied neatly with a cord knotted into a perfect bow, and what is unmistakably a large drill. The basic design is similar to the one Astrid created out of the broken minecart months ago, however, there are obvious improvements. A chain powers the rotation of the pointed metal bit rather than rope, which is turned by a sturdy-looking crank with an ergonomic handle. The drill bit itself looks to be formed from large metal pieces twisted together to create a proper screw form and tapered into the perfect point. To support the weight of the drill, the entire thing is mounted around a gauntlet that fits up to a forearm. It could be holding more secrets.
One of the small boxes is wrapped with twine much in the same way as the soft package. The other has an open top to reveal the contents. Sitting on top of loosely packed hay is what appears to be a mouse made of metal with a key to act as a crank neatly inset in a space carved from the lid.
With the sheet drawn back and some of her creations revealed, Astrid watches Veliky for her reaction to gauge if she should bother explaining what any of it is or how exactly it works. What will Veliky show interest in first? Will she care about the other objects laid out? If not, Astrid won't waste her breath, but it doesn't stop her from holding it in this moment.
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Post by Veliky on Feb 9, 2023 1:13:32 GMT -5
...
Veliky has never been a warm person - not that Astrid's seen, at least. If it's said that Astrid wears her heart on her sleeve, then Veliky's must be worn somewhere beneath that forest peacoat and at least three other layers. It would've been sanguine to expect a gasp and a hug. But, even with that knowledge, her silence is... Perhaps 'concerning' is a sufficient descriptor. She just observes. Not a word, not a flinch, not an inch of room for optimism. Just an objective stare. One by one, she gives each item a moment of her attention before moving on to the next. Her eyes are as scrutinous as a jeweller's, without any of the passion.
'They look fantastic.' Her thoughts are guarded, unspoken, not only because she wants them to remain hidden but also because she doubts them herself. Astrid's clearly done far more than she was asked, but Veliky is a skeptic at heart. The helmet is immaculate and the adjustable plates are not only innovate, but considerate; but she doesn't know a helm from a tabard. The drill looks ingenious and refined leagues beyond that makeshift device Astrid had thrown together in the mine, and even that was an achievement; but Veliky doesn't know the first thing about artifice. The little clockwork looks to be an astoundingly accurate recreation of many of the mechanisms used in the actual Blixtbots™; but Veliky barely understands even her own artificial minions. She can't speak to the quality of any of these items. She's no expert in craft.
But she's an expert in results. She'll just have to see how well these tools actually function. But first...
"Those other two things - the package and the box - what are they?" Finally, she breaks the silence, and her tone is as dreadfully plain as the wholehearted nothing that preceded it.
Astrid watches Veliky, trying to pick up on something, anything, from the quarterling's stare. She gets nothing. "Oh, um, those? They're just extra... N-Not part of the presentation, per se..." She's hesitant. The things unopened are gifts, and with Veliky unwavering, she's suddenly a bit anxious to reveal them.
'Not part of the presentation...?' Veliky has to wonder what Astrid's definition of 'extra' is. They're probably just other things she had on the table, seeing as this presentation was a rushed affair. No matter; if they aren't part of it, they're not Veliky's concern.
Another moment of silence as Veliky offers a final glance to each product. And then she finally steps off her little observation stepstool and begins walking toward the exit.
"Bring the other three topside. We'll conduct some tests, and go from there."
In spite of the nonchalance in her tone, there's something final about her strides.
Though Winter's nearing its end and the worst of its rage is past, a nip remains in the air, reminding of itself with the occasionally breeze of chilly air. The afternoon sky is a bright, but lustreless blue, fettered by a smattering of wispy clouds. There's still a bit of frost, crackling underfoot as Veliky and Astrid exit to the yard. A duo of Pawns (Charles and a nameless peon) are sufficient to carry the equipment up the stairs and outside; where those more combative bots remain on guard, keeping close eyes on Astrid, Veliky and any potentiality for unseen threats. It's funny that entities so unwaveringly bent on the safety of their mistresses can be so disconcerting. But for Veliky and Astrid, who are accustomed to them in varying degrees, there's little to fear.
In a secluded square at the side of the house, Veliky stands with the same straight, business-incasual posture that she always does, looking with the idle severity that she always possesses. Astrid is beside her, dwarfing the minuscule CEO like a hound beside a pup even as the reverse is true in their demeanours.
"The bots will grab some tables, and other equipment to test the drill and the helmet. In the meantime..."
She turns to face Astrid. She's holding the box, with the little toy mouse, in her hands, and looking down at it expressionlessly.
"What am I looking at?"
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 11, 2023 2:37:16 GMT -5
With everything revealed and Veliky's discerning eyes falling on every piece on the table, Astrid launches into her explanation of each thing. It's obvious she's holding back nervous energy, but she likes Veliky, and she's practiced this presentation with Cantio more than once. Suddenly, she understands his stage fright.
Regardless, Astrid presses on, demonstrating the build and practicality of each of her creations as she designed them. After a few minutes, she makes it through her initial pitch, and it goes well in her opinion. After all, she poured her creativity into these things specifically to impress Veliky. She worked through every design flaw she could possibly see and tested them all herself. They're as flawless as a girl working in her basement can make them.
Veliky's expression is unwavering. Astrid's confidence is not.
"Those other two things - the package and the box - what are they?"
"Oh, um, those? They're just extra... N-Not part of the presentation, per se..." Crap. Her voice falters. Veliky's going to notice that. What if she insists on seeing them? Well, that won't be too bad, she's going to see them regardless, but they're a separate thing for the businesswoman. They're not part of her test. Really, only the helmet is part of the test. Everything else is just extra. What if Veliky thinks they're all distractions? What if she's disappointed in the helmet and blames the rest of the creations for detracting from the helmet?
No! The helmet is perfect! Astrid tested it herself! It could survive just about anything!
"Bring the other three topside. We'll conduct some tests, and go from there."
She didn't linger on it? They're going to testing stage??
The first hurdle is cleared!
Gods, it's chilly outside, especially compared to the warmth of the forge. Spicy Pawsage prefers the basement to the rest of the house. Astrid never lets the forge go cold when she's home, especially not when she's working on projects. The hound sits at the door watching the scene unfolding before him.
Meanwhile, Astrid is doing her best not to fret. When Veliky asks about the mouse, it gives her something to focus on. "Oh, that? I was lookin' forward ta showin' it ta ya!" Astrid says, regaining a bit of confidence. That's right, Veliky just pretends to be scary.
Astrid takes the mouse from the box and the small key which she plugs into a slot on the side. She turns the key like a tiny crank. Each turn is accompanied by a series of clicks. When she removes it, the little mouse springs to life. It animates to mimic a living mouse. It looks around as if checking for predators before looking to Astrid, sitting patiently in her hand.
"Alright little guy, time ta show Miss Veliky yer stuff!"
It takes a second to process the request then scurries up Astrid's arm, down her body and leg then onto the ground. It darts across the dirt and over to Veliky, crawling up her leg to her shoulder. When it reaches a position for presentation, a tiny compartment in its back pops open to reveal a small scrawled note carefully tucked inside. The note isn't anything to write home about when it's unfurled. There's just a tiny handwritten, "Surprise!" on it.
Astrid's a bit sheepish about its purpose. "I did me best te replicate a BlixtbotTM, but I can't figure out how they stay powered, an' the think machine's a bit too complex fer somethin' this small. I managed ta get somethin' inside workin' properly fer some basic stuff, but with a bit more engineerin', it could operate on the same scale as any other bot. Good fer stealthily deliverin' information. It startled Cantio a couple times..."
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Post by Veliky on Feb 12, 2023 17:35:54 GMT -5
As Astrid winds the little toy-mouse to life, Veliky's eyes retain that scrutinous glow. Their icy heat can be felt, even when they aren't seen. She absorbs every detail, with her pupils unwaveringly focused on the little clockwork creature, following it as it skitters down Astrid's body and across the ground.
'...That's impressive. Incredibly so.' are thoughts that go unspoken, despite how much they may be coveted. With the image of a pondering scholar, she has a hand to her chin as she observes its movements. 'The fact that it can process at all is an achievement. Its patterns look similar to the Hunt/Scav SCD that the BF and Vampire use; might've been cobbled from them. Would've needed some calibration to fit the new body, though, unless she somehow got her hands on a pilgrim module. Either way, could easily get it fitted with a proper CD. Or could just have it run SC...? No, it'd need something beefier to operate as a Technician at this scale. Is...' Her eyes begin to widen as it grows closer. 'Why is it coming toward me?!'
She takes a step back, but it's too late. To her great dismay, the toy mouse scurries up her leg and up the fabric of her dull-grey coat. She's petrified: in face and body, she's as still as a statue, and remains so for several seconds after the mouse perches upon her shoulder. In fact, it's only when that little compartment opens in its back that she even move her eyes to look at the creature. It's... really not much smaller than Veliky's whole head.
As lifely movement gradually returns to her limbs; she reaches one of her arms and scrounges about in the compartment, with her fingers. Eventually, she manages to fish out the little slip (slightly crumpled by her scrounging), unfurling it to look at the singular word written thereon. Her eyes narrow to slits, and a deathly seriousness is written upon her face.
...
'Fuck,' she curses silently, 'what does this say? I could just use Fluency, but... no, Astrid's not that oblivious. Is it Common or Dwarvish? It's short, but I've heard dwarves have singular words that curse your entire bloodline while implying that they banged your mom. For all I know, this could be one of those. Or it could be some kind of encoded message, a plea for help. Or it could say...'
She cancels that thought like a chef cancels an order, tucking the slip into her coat pocket without a word. 'It's probably nothing important.'
Now, she's left with this little, clockwork rodent, listening to Astrid's somewhat uncertain pitch. A stealth unit, specializing in clandestine deliveries... that compartment certainly helps. And the windup mechanism is innovative; might help it to last longer without refuelling, although it'd require an activation period with each use. With a bit of tweaking, it could easily make up for the Vampire's shortcomings.
But first, some proper tests are in order.
"Get off." she eventually commands, that same zero-tolerance authority having returned to her.
And it does. Apparently having become immune to the startle in the way that one becomes immune to a sickness, she doesn't even flinch as it scurries down her body and onto the ground before turning to face her.
"Attention!" She stamps her foot, standing with the posture of a general. It takes the mouse a moment to process the abstract command, but it eventually rises to its hindlegs, facing her dutifully.
"Jump." The mouse gathers all its strength, and then hops approximately a sixth of an inch into the air. It lands on two legs, then wobbles and falls to four. Veliky doesn't seem bothered by this.
"Spin." This one is easy for the mouse; as such a task were its destined purpose, it begins to revolve in an imperfect circle with all its vigour. In fact, it seems to be speeding up...
"Stop." It does. It also falls onto its side, but it quickly scrambles to its feet.
For a while, Veliky's eyes are locked with the mechanical rodent's. Her face is cold, unfeeling, as if trying to intimidate the poor thing - like a drill sergeant testing their soldier's resolve.
Just one more should conclude the test. But it'll need to be a challenge.
"Go steal a pair of Cantio's socks."
...One can hear the cogs grinding in the little toy's head. The ability to recognize an individual by name is difficult enough, as was demonstrated during the incident with BF just a few months back. Not to mention the ability to ascertain that individual's associated items using context clues alone, a task that even young children would find great difficulty with. That Veliky would give it such a challenge may be considered an act of cruelty.
But, to its credit, the mouse will try. After a moment, it turns around and scurries off, toward the front door of the house. That's a decent omen, at least.
All in all, there can be no doubt that the mouse is an achievement. It can move, it can hear, it can see, it can think: every one an incredible accomplishment of technology, a miracle in mechanism. If this were shown to anyone else, they'd be absolutely astounded, or they'd accuse Astrid of some sort of heresy. But how will Veliky react?
...
Nothing. Not a word, not a shift in her stone-cold expression as she watches the mouse scurry off. By her reaction, it may as well be a dead body in Darkveil: an ordinary sight.
'Best to reserve judgement.' A mantra in her creed.
Instead, she just looks over to the group of gathered bots. One of them, her Pawn unit, is lugging the newly-devised drill with only some difficulty. That one, Veliky beckons over, and it quickly clanks over to meet her. Its movements, and the movements of Pawn-Series units in general, make it almost seem excited - more excited than Veliky appears, at least.
And as it approaches, Veliky hands that little box off to a by standing construct, and crosses her arms again. "Alright. Tell me about this next one."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 16, 2023 23:43:31 GMT -5
As much as Astrid likes the drill and is proud of the updates to the design she made, seeing Veliky not even bat an eye at the mouse –which was a special project and a surprise gift design for the quarterling– really makes her enthusiasm for the whole presentation take a nosedive. It took the most research and thought and effort, and sure, she didn’t have to make it at all, but of all the things she’s ever made, it is the thing she’s the most proud of.
Maybe she should have saved it for last.
There’s a sudden swelling of anxiety in the half-dwarf, more than just the nervous energy that comes with excitement. This kind of thing has happened before. Her hard work, her first projects, the things she’s so excited to present only met with a cold, unwavering stare that couldn’t care less. In this moment, Astrid sees the uncaring eyes of her mother in Veliky’s harsh stare, and she falls silent.
Why does she want to impress her anyway?
Why did she ever want to impress her? Why is she putting in all this effort just to be noticed by someone who doesn’t seem to care or doesn’t want to care? Veliky only looks at her as a tool, an investment, something to make her profit. That’s why she gave her a babysitter bot. That’s why she built this house. To protect an investment.
A chirp from one of the bots pulls Astrid out of her head, and she blinks away the tears that started welling up in her eyes and puts on a big girl face and pulls her goggles over her eyes to hide the stinging, salty wetness. There’s time for crying later. She wishes Cantio were here for support.
“Oh? That ol’ thing?” she says, waving it off with a fake smile. “That’s nothin’ all that impressive. We can skip it, so I don’t waste anymore of yer time. The helmet’s the main event, ain’t it?”
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Post by Veliky on Feb 17, 2023 18:48:36 GMT -5
...
It isn't difficult to see. It wouldn't be for someone else, likely not even Cantio, and it certainly isn't hard for Veliky to notice Astrid's despondency. The sudden diminishing of her confidence is like the pride and strength of a knight, buckling after a single strike from a hammer; standing, but wobbling; smiling even as they falter and laughing even as they retreat.
'She was expecting praise.' thinks Veliky. 'Wanted me to see what she'd made, and immediately shower her in congratulations, give her affirmation for accomplishment. Like Cantio does. Like she deserves. But... I'm not Cantio. I'm her employer, not her parent. I Can't have that kind of bias...'
She holds her eyes on Astrid for as long as she calculates, not saying a word, expression as unchanging as the mountain face. And then, as she becomes truly deep in thought, she closes those ice-blue eyes.
'Plan doesn't change. Astrid needs to be able to handle this sort of pressure if she's going to work here. Making exceptions would only hurt her later. No preferential treatment, no excuses...' She lets in a long, congested sniff, and opens her eyes. 'No flaking out.'
And for a few moments thereafter, she continues to stare at Astrid, casting that rime upon her: ice uncracked, however thin it may be. Staring into the lenses of her goggles, a little attempt to hide her dejection... that's good. Building skills early. Veliky just wishes the little cracks in her expression weren't so familiar.
"I'd like to see the drill first." Calm, but heatless courtesy: a formality. Her tone is not a kind one.
Beside her, the Pawn adjusts its clutch upon the drill, the machine weighing upon its joints. It's an impressive thing, of this there can be no doubt. But it isn't what Veliky's looking at.
"Will you be using it for the demonstration, or will a bot?"
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 18, 2023 1:16:55 GMT -5
Astrid looks at the drill in the arms of the Pawn and decides it’s better not to disappoint Veliky anymore than she already has, so the girl puffs out her chest to feign confidence and marches over to collect the drill. It’s surprisingly lightweight despite its size, but that could simply be Astrid’s disproportionate strength. She hefts it up and puts her arm into the gauntlet where she grips a handle inside closer to the wide base of the twisted metal. After a few iterations, she found that holding it closest to the center of the weight and having the additional support of the gauntlet able to rest on the forearm if needed.
“Alright, pick somethin’ ya want me ta test it on,” she says. Being that Sky Peak is on a mountain, there are plenty of rocks around. Looking around the yard, there are definitely a few patches of grass that are a bit deader than others from some sort of tests or experiments. Not too far off the property, there’s a rocky area that Astrid took to testing things in after realizing she was tearing up the yard and making more work for Cantio. Cantio did his best to keep the yard looking nice, and Astrid helped clean up her messes.
Having made his way outside, Charles stands by the door with Spicy Pawsage to watch. Astrid looks over at him. “Oi, Charles, there’s a couple of breastplates an’ a shield in there. Will ya bring ‘em over ta the test area?” The nannybot gives an affirmative and heads inside to collect the requested materials while Astrid makes her way over to the area with plenty of pock marks from drill testing.
She turns to Veliky, holding the drill in a very official looking pose. “I’ll show ya how it works, then one of the bots can try it out ta show it ain’t that hard ta use. Ya just hold it against what ya wanna drill, put a bit of pressure on it, and turn the crank. Shouldn't require that much effort. I went through a few versions ta make sure the crank turned easy.” Then she turns to the rock, presses the tip of the drill into it, and grabs the crank and turns it at a fairly even pace. It doesn’t look like she’s straining, and the twisted metal spins faster than Astrid turns the crank – it appears she’s figured out gear ratios.
In no time at all, she’s made a decent dent in the rock, and by about that time, Charles has brought the requested metal equipment over. At her request, the BlixtbotTM offers the materials to Veliky to inspect for quality briefly. They may be test pieces, but they’re sturdy enough to be worn in combat if necessary. "I was workin' on some armor designs ta go with the helmet, so we can break these, an' I'll just smelt 'em down and reuse what I can later. Figured I used ta first drill against a big bug, so some armor can't be too different from that." Once approved, Astrid demonstrates the drill on the breastplate. The spinning metal, once pressed into the cuirass, punctures the surface and starts ripping it apart. This takes a bit more effort than drilling into rock, but the metal is a different kind of surface.
When she’s satisfied, Astrid strips the broken breastplate from the drill and offers it to whichever bot will try it.
"So, yeah, it's a bit different than the one made from a broken minecart, but this one works a lot better, an' it'll stand up ta some abuse. One of the prototypes I dropped off the mountain ta see how it'd fare. Then I fixed the next version. They don't rightly like bein' dropped a thousand feet, but not much stuff does."
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Post by Veliky on Feb 18, 2023 22:25:23 GMT -5
Just as before, Veliky is completely attentive. She sees how the artfully complex mechanism is able to generate more force than she actually contributes - a feat that even magic finds difficulty in. She sees how efficiently it burrows through the stone, breaking through with more ease than most hammers (let alone mundane weaponry). She watches as it does the same to a metal breastplate with only slightly more effort, though she must grimace and cover her ears at the atrocious sound it creates. And thereafter, she listens as Astrid recounts the time she dropped one of the earlier versions off a cliff.
And through it all, there's still yet to be a reaction of any sort. Nothing bad, but certainly nothing good either. The blue, afternoon sky has more comments, more questions, more praise.
'...It's definitely an improvement over the last one - a startling improvement. Innovation, refinement and experimentation: the three principles of the Inzhener column. And she exemplifies them all: the first she demonstrated when she first conceived the machine in that vermin-infested mine, the second she's now demonstrated with a vastly improved model that utilizes other existing technological strides to enhance itself, and the third she demonstrated by... well, what else would you call dropping something off a cliff? We'd need to leash that creativity if we hired her, and she probably wouldn't like the added restrictions. But even that just goes further to show that she's an exemplar, just like Yoci. But still...'
Now seeing that Astrid is trying to hand the drill off, Veliky looks to her assembled bodyguards, sweeping her gaze across them before stopping at Knight[1] (the whip-wielding construct, and undoubtably a replacement after the 'incident' below the desert). She studies it for a moment, silently weighing its merits, and then beckons with a gesture of her head.
"Knight, give your equipment to the Pawn and come grab the machine from Astrid. Prepare for testing."
...It's funny. Somehow, her tone toward the soulless construct isn't so stern. And it does obey, unquestioningly, detaching the shield from its arm and placing it atop the Pawn's outstretched hands like a platter. Adding to this platter-esque appearance, it places the whip atop the shield, in the curvature of its steel basin. And then it comes, slowly and methodically as any of its clockwork kin, and takes the drill into its arms. To call it 'gentle' would seem inaccurate, but it affords some modicum of care, knowing as well as Asrid and Veliky that it's a valuable and potentially delicate machine.
Veliky paces with crossed warms, eying the drill as it changes hands. "Get used to the feel of it. Make sure you know how to operate it."
And, with her command spoken, the bot is faced with a task that requires quite a bit more cognition. It noisily cranes its neck downward, to look as if it's only just noticed the machine in its arms. Whirring and grinding emanate in tandem, from inside its steel skull. And it just stares. Stares... for quite a while. Perhaps ten seconds. Long enough that Veliky begins tapping her foot impatiently. And only once she seems to be growing truly bored does it make its move, carefully maneuvering its arm into the gauntlet and tightening its spindly fingers around the handle until it finds the proper force to hold it aloft. And then... another span of silence, at which point Veliky rolls her eyes.
"Alright, let's just set up the rest of the test while it's figuring this out."
Reaching into a pocket, she produces something (it's difficult to tell what, with it clasped in her hand). She then strides over to a plot of land that's relatively unmarred by detritus, earthly blemishes and other evidence of Astrid's handiwork. 'Has she been testing everything outdoors...?' she wonders as she walks. 'Will need to make a proper space for her, downstairs. Can't let her experiment somewhere she might be seen.' But that's a thought for later. For now, she places the item on the ground; revealing it to be a little figurine[2] of lead that depicts monstrous, winged form; and steps back before speaking aloud in a clear and concise voice.
"15-7, False Prophet."
The moment she says this, the figurine begins to crackle with arcs of lightning! And the eyes begin to glow with a familiar crimson! Its exterior glows with an arcane light, and the whole shape suddenly grows to a towering, humanoid shape with curved claws and a fanged snout. It's a Blixtbot™, no doubt; its hissing joints and mechanical movements are a clear indication. But its hull, like the figurine it arose from, appears to be built from lead rather than tin. A significantly heavier material, albeit not much more durable. It widens its stance and allows its fabric wings to unfurl, looking to Veliky for instruction.
But she doesn't give any quite yet. Instead, she looks to Knight. "Knight-04, progress?"
To its credit, the Knight is no longer awkwardly finagling. It's become able to turn the crank with some degree of dexterity, if not proficiency. But its attention quickly shifts to Veliky as it hears its designation spoken. "Mistress Veliky, report: I have reached a proficiency rating of approximately seventy-seven-percent."
She nods- "Nominal." -and goes to stand some distance away from the two constructs, who are themselves poised at opposing ends of an open space. "Now, Cherub-01 and Knight-04: when I say 'begin,' you're going to fight to incapacitation. Knight-04, you are prohibited from using any weapon but the drill for the duration of this duel."
...No complaints from either side, not even Astrid. The two constructs turn to face one-another; the so-called Cherub even appears somewhat excited, though this may simply be due to its monstrous stance, steel claws raised and steel claws bared. Meanwhile, the Knight simply points the drill forward, adjusting its stance in several minute ways before it finally becomes still, prepared for combat.
It's strange. Both combatants are of the same allegiance, so why does this standoff feel so tense? Even Veliky can feel it, though she doesn't let it show. She looks to Astrid, off the side...
...
No time for that. For the time being, she must stand and watch, as impartial as the listless clouds. Straight in posture and clear in tone, she declares, "Begin."
It took twenty-two seconds. In the first one, Cherub launched forward and knocked the drill aside. In terms of defense, there exist weapons that are poorer than others; axes and hammers are notably ineffective when compared to swords and especially spears. But the drill makes axes and hammers look like bastions, for it is truly and quintessentially poor for defending. What ensued after was a violent, messy struggle as claws and fangs pierced Knight's hull. Its Blixt™-blood still stains the soil.
But that isn't how it ended. Because it didn't take a violent struggle to finish the fight. All it took was a single strike - a strike followed by many seconds of cranking, and the ear-splitting screech of metal. While Knight's blood has become a decoration, it is the Cherub's body that now lies in a heap, with a massive hole bored clean through its chest. Its eyes have gone dark. Indeed, it seems they went a bit further than incapacitation, though this fate was decided the moment the drill pierced the Cherub's hull. The machine may be useless for defense, but its sheer brutality is something to behold. And now the Knight stands, oozing Blixt™, but triumphant.
...
And she still doesn't react. Not a word, not a gesture. Not a token of approval from Veliky. She just observed. And still, she stares, and ponders behind irises of cold, cold ice.
'...It does the job. A direct strike from that thing is a bastard; can only imagine how long it'd take to clean up if it were used on a person. But one miss, or one decently-planned attack from the opponent, and there's nothing it can do. So the ability to get through tough hide, like it did against the tyrant, is seemingly its only upside. Overall, it'd be unusable on the battlefield. How could it be modified to fix that...?'
Indeed, while such impressive lethality is enviable, no fighter could ever wholly sacrifice defense and expect to survive. But of course, that wasn't even the drill's intended purpose, but merely a side-effect of its impressive burrowing capabilities. So its relative inefficiency in this field should be no quarrel, right?
...Veliky's face gives no affirmation. And by the way she turns to Astrid, it seems she's already moved on.
"Are you ready to perform the final test?"
1. Knight-04 [Warlord] 2. (Gargoyle Rook) Cherub-01
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 27, 2023 1:12:16 GMT -5
Well, Astrid didn’t exactly expect a full combat test of the drill, but she did what she could to test it for these kinds of situations on her own with her duplicate. It’s a bit too unwieldy for normal combat; a real weapon makes a better choice almost every time, but for those strange situations like the one with the Kruthik Tyrant, it’s not a bad option to have. Maybe if she can find a way to make it easier to carry around… The gears are already turning while she watches the demonstration, and she pulls out a small notebook from her pocket with a pencil to take notes. ‘Find a better way to defend. Make it easier to use.’
Veliky speaks up, and Astrid’s attention snaps to her. “Aye, we’ll test the helmet now.” With that, she heads back to the yard where the bots have set some things up. Astrid looks around at the setup and decides that to impress Veliky, she’s going to need a true, live demonstration. Astrid heads inside and collects the helmet and all its parts, including the interchangeable plates for the brow before exiting the workshop. She takes a moment to properly explain the plates and how they’re secured and easily changed out or replaced, how the lenses in the visor help protect from blinding effects or debris, and a few basic details about the design and construction.
After fitting a specific brow plate on it, Astrid puts the helmet on.
“Fer this, we’re gonna do a real demonstration,” she declares confidently.
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Post by Veliky on Feb 28, 2023 1:42:44 GMT -5
Veliky was worried. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even herself, but she was concerned that Astrid would crack under the pressure. The child had already been dejected, however much she tried to hide it behind glass goggles and glass smiles. And if she couldn't make it through...
All the more reason that the sight of a dutious Astrid, already scribbling away in her little book, is a pleasant one. At the brink of tears, and then bouncing back; Veliky can't tell if that youthful quality is a boon or a curse, both to Astrid and to herself. But for now, at least, she's thankful for it.
The explanation of the helmet, as with the explanation and demonstration of every other item thus far; is a quiet event, from Veliky's side. She listens silently as the little smith speaks on the helmet's design, as the little smith demonstrates the mechanisms and functionality of the adjustable brow-plates, as the little smith shows the visor that would protect from detritus and flashes, and as the little... puts the helmet on her own head. And declares a demonstration.
The implications are... what's the Common word... grim?
And for this, Veliky cannot stay quiet, nor can she allow her expression to retain that statua. Her brow furrows into a shape normally indicative of concern (or confusion, at minimum). Indeed, if the intent was to provoke a reaction from Veliky, then Astrid has succeeded. Looking into those eyes that shine so pridefully from between those metal plates, Veliky voices an investment that hasn't been demonstrated since she creations were first unveiled.
"Astrid," she begins with an unassuming simplicity, "I don't think that's a good ide-"
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