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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 4, 2024 17:45:06 GMT -5
To say that things have been hard lately would be an understatement. While Cantio could never truly stop Astrid from leaving the house, she feels almost compelled to stick around whether it be for fear or guilt or disappointment. Jumping around from place to place and getting into fights and adventuring is a lot easier to do when you’ve usually come home in one piece, but Astrid simply…did not. Of course, she had a good reason for what happened. All in all, it wasn’t the worst way or reason to lose an arm, but the look on Cantio’s face, the feelings she could pick up from him through their earrings… Something she gifted him about a year ago… Well, staying home is the least she can do right now. There are lots of projects to work on, things she has considered building but not put the time aside for because of everything happening, but now she has plenty of time because, as promised, she is taking a step back. Who knows how long that will last? Maybe until she gets tired of being at home or bored or until the next god-level threat shows itself in Charon, but for now she is home. The problem with trying to craft things with only one arm is that it becomes incredibly difficult to do the things that came with ease before. While Astrid can conjure Replicants to help (and often does) or use magic to move metal objects around the workshop like extra hands, it still isn’t really the same. So, she concocted a plan, but it’s complicated, and she needs more than just her brain power to make it work the best way that it can. This is where Fish comes in. She has invited them over before, but timing never really seems to work out. That’s significantly less of a problem now that she’s confined to her home for at least a few weeks until the guilt settles or someone manages to use what she and Askr gained to help Zarius. With dozens of notebooks and sketches laid out on the table and plenty of material to work on it, when Fish arrives, Astrid presents to them her idea: an Arcanatek Prosthetic, something that combines tinkering with golemancy, and who better to assist her with such a complex project than a very smart and determined little bird?
Hearth day quest details: Go on a date! - The topic can take place in any part of Charon - Each participant must post at least 3 times with each of those posts being at least 100 words - The topic can have as many participants as you like - You can do this activity as many times, with as many characters as you like - The reward is tied to a specific character (not a player) but can only be earned once per character - Once you have met the post requirement, you may claim your reward (the topic can continue IC if you wish)
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 5, 2024 22:33:15 GMT -5
The slow, slow, ever so slow transition out of a life of crime was an odd one for Fish. There were times they couldn't resist swiping something off a counter or doing a heist, but they were starting to realize that they did find joy in other things. It was hard to resist the urge to be out doing things and keeping themselves busy every single waking moment, but they were finding outlets.
Tinkering became one of those ways to do that. Fish heard word of Astrid need their help with some kind of special project. It sounded like the perfect kind of work that would make their parents worry less.....Less than normal at least. There's only so much you can do when they know you are making bigger guns and explosives.
When Fish arrives and is shown blueprints, they surprisingly produce a few of their own to cross reference. What good tinkerer hasn't thought of ways to make prosthetics? It's a pretty natural idea. There were even a few sketches for a bionic eye paired next to sketches of Cyran's face and what different options would look like.
"Fish's main concern would be the interface between the body and the prosthetic. Nerves are complex, we would have to be very careful with how the formulae arcanum is written...Fish is not familiar with any lightning-based magic."
The little bird was immediately distracted by the promise of a project that they didn't immediately realize who it was for. When Fish pauses to ask about lightning magic, they end up just staring at where Astrid's limb would be. They are stuck between their instinct to just ask the question and the etiquette lessons others have been trying to teach them.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 10, 2024 22:50:40 GMT -5
Looking over the sketches laid out throughout the workshop and comparing notes with what Fish already has thought of, Astrid taps her chin thoughtfully. If she still had her left arm, it would likely be rested across her body to prop her right elbow up. Without it, she really looks kind of unbalanced, especially because shirts and sleeves are a problem for her right now.
“Hm, would it even really need ta connect ta the nerves in any way?” she ponders. “Seems like we'd need a really, really good doctor, an' I know Kvasir's great, but that seems kinda advanced. There’s gotta be a way ta write the Formulae ta work more on the mind than anythin’. Maybe usin’ somethin’ from the Chthonian or… Well, I guess lightnin’ would work. Obviously, I know a bit about that meself.”
Rubbing at the empty shoulder socket, she says, “I think gettin’ the thin’ attached an’ stayin’ in place’ll be tricky.”
And then she notices Fish doing their damnedest not to stare. There’s a long moment of silence before she says, “You can ask about it, ya know. Don't bother me. Yer the one that's gotta deal with the answer ya get.”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 11, 2024 1:25:16 GMT -5
"Fish has been taking medical courses with Uncle Kvasir." Fish flips a few pages into their notebook to show some of the medical diagrams. None of them too gruesome or showing of anything inappropriate. Lots of notes about how certain bodily functions react to different poisons though.
"The nerves are how the body sends messages...Fish thinks that could be the easiest way to help optimize the prothestic and eliminate any delay in sending the signal....Ideally it would need to act with a similar reaction time to a flesh-based arm."
Fish flips back a few pages to looking at different designs of theirs. Adhering it to a person would be tricky...there's no glue or anything that would be reliable enough as a bonding again. On top of that, you would still want the mobility a shoulder offers.
The bird perks up, popping to their feet with an idea, "Fish has a potential solution...two parts...one part can strap onto the person with a metal plate at the joint, then if we can magnetize that and the arm itself, that should hold it in place, but also allow for easy removal in case of repairs or if it becomes trapped...it would also allow for the same range of motion. The only thing that would be left would be communicating with the arm. Fish would prefer not to use Chthonian methods, but Fish should not let personal bias stand in the way of progress."
They are a flurry of hand signs and ideas, part of it is fueld by the flash of inspiration and part of it is keeping themselves distracted enough to not ask. So far, the downside to making friends and family for Fish has been they have started to pick up on the bird's oddities and their intent even when they might struggle to communicate things.
"Fish has seen some come back to the guild missing fingers after bets or limbs after particularly dangerous missions. They raided tombs in Zeinav for treasure and those traps can be complex. Did Astrid get caught in a trap?"
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 12, 2024 23:20:15 GMT -5
“I don’t think we’d want glue fer this,” Astrid says, stifling a snicker. “But aye, it needs some sort a’ conduit, somethin’ ta help it fit an’ stay secure. I like the magnetization idea. Somethin’ that can pop on an’ off ain’t a bad idea, though usin’ golemancy ta build the prosthetic’ll probably mean that parts are kinda held together by magic. If we do somethin’ like that, then it’ll be able ta bend an’ shift like a golem’s arm an’ might just need somethin’ at the connection point ta have runes or somethin’ on it. Then if somethin’ breaks, ya can just carve the runes on the replacement piece and stick it in the same slot or so. I dunno. Lots a’ options. Bein’ me, I’m wantin’ ta try it with armor an’ see how it works out. First one ain’t gotta be too complicated, just needs ta work. Once I got somethin’ functional, we can keep playin’ with it.” She says the last part with an air of frustrated exhaustion, and given all the half-finished projects around her shop, it’s clear she’s been trying to figure something out for at least a few weeks.
Astrid isn’t sure why she’s at all surprised by seeing notes about poisons and their effects on the body in Fish’s notes, but she is. Or maybe she’s a little disappointed? Well, then again, knowing how poisons affect someone is necessary to making an antidote. It’s fine.
"Have ya spent a lot a’ time studyin’ with Kvasir since Del an' Cyran–” Astrid pauses, realizing that Fish might not know exactly where they are. “–have been away?” The hesitation is a bit jarring, but assuming anything right now might make things more complicated. She knows the kids at the orphanage have been missing them, and she hopes that at least Fish has heard from the elves on the run.
When Fish asks if she got caught in a trap, Astrid scoffs haughtily. “Can’t believe ya think so little a’ me,” she says with a smile, definitely joking. Though her tone takes a somber tone as her expression falls. “Nah, it weren’t a trap. I traded me arm as part of a ritual ta make a new body fer Z– …someone important.” Gods, she hopes she course-corrected fast enough and turns away to feign looking at notes.
“It was some… intense alchemical thin’ that I don’t got a whole explanation fer, but… We’re one step closer ta bringin’ them back, an’ that’s what matters most.” She sounds a bit resigned by the whole thing, like she’s not completely sure it’ll work but fully accepting that she made her decision regardless of the chances of success because any chance is better than no chance at all. Still, she casts a glance toward Fish, mentally preparing for the fact that they are very smart, and she might need to come up with another more intense excuse or explanation.
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 13, 2024 10:32:38 GMT -5
"Combining both mechanical and magical function could be useful. If someone encounters anti-magic measures, the arm would still be able to retain basic functions. Fish assumes in the process Astrid and Fish will find ways to improve the design and add magical attachments, Fish is just thinking ahead into the future."
They sit back down on their stool and overlook the designs a moment. Fish knows the frustration of starting too many projects at once and the stubbornness that makes it hard to admit you are overworking yourself. It was even harder when the projects were this complex. It took them a few weeks to fully develop the God Killer Poison and that has yet to be used for its intended purpose.
"The project can be handled in phases. The first and most obvious step is creating the arm and mount itself, that will be the focus today. Can Astrid start up the forge? Fish has a few different ideas for metals and alloys, Fish can start making the mold."
The mercurial nature of the family situation Fish has found themselves in doesn't hit them until Astrid asks after it. Fish couldn't remember exactly how long it had been since they'd seen the pair. Fish often so busy as well that time was hard to track if it wasn't correlated to an experiment.
"Fish has been away as well, Fish has a bar to run...work to do...Fish sometimes has time to study with Kvasir, but Kvasir also gives Fish books to read and Fish can memorize those."
The hesitation and the near name slip are not missed by Fish. They had noticed the growing...weirdness around the people in that fellblood's orbit. Shael and Eirynor both seemed to react strangely at the end of the last mission and now this. Had it been anyone but Astrid, Fish might get frustrated at being treated like a child, but the half-dwarf isn't that much older than the bird. If she is keeping a secret, then there is likely an actual reason for it. And if Fish's suspicion is right, then of course he would keep it secret. He couldn't let Fish know their greatest competitor was dead and not even by their hands.
"Fish was not aware an arm can be traded for a life. The last time Fish had heard about anyone using alchemy to bring someone back it cost one brother an arm and a leg...the other brother lost his whole body."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 14, 2024 15:18:38 GMT -5
“Thinkin’ ahead is the right thin’ ta do,” Astrid says with a nod. Their ability to not be caught up in the details to prevent forward progress while also considering future applications is admirable. Still, the thing Astrid wants to do most is find a way to use an arm that she doesn’t have again.
“Aye, I can start the forge. The lightnin’ forge’ll probably be best fer some a’ this, but I’ll get the fire one started too just in case. There’s clay an’ sand in those barrels over there fer mold makin’. An’ metal’s all organized by type on those shelves there.” As she speaks, Astrid motions to each of the areas with her various setups. There’s a lot of space to access each section of the shop, mostly because there can be anywhere between two and five of her working at the same time, and they have the tendency to bump into each other when there’s not.
While she goes over and pulls the lever on the wall to start up the lightning forge, which comes to life with a loud thrumming, Astrid listens to Fish talk about what they’ve been up to. “Well, I’m sure they’d be glad ta know yer stayin’ out of trouble,” she says with a hopeful note in her voice. “I’ve got all the time in the world right now, so if yer bored, yer welcome ta come over an’ work on stuff with me. There’s this old dwarven buildin’ at the bottom a’ the mountain, an’ I’ve been thinkin’ about doin’ somethin’ with it. Maybe makin’ it into a place where lots a’ folks can come together an’ build stuff.”
Her empty shoulder feels like it’s burning when she thinks about giving it up. The way that it simply just… disappeared was unsettling and painful, but she’d do it again if she thought it necessary. “It weren’t traded fer their life,” she says to correct, “just ta get a new body fer ‘em… Which… Aye, I s’pose was foolish an’ dangerous… Sorry ta hear about those brothers… I’m sure they had a good reason fer tryin’...”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 15, 2024 20:30:10 GMT -5
"One second." Fish takes a moment to grab measurements of Astrid's arm and scribble them into the notebook. "Fish wants to make sure it is accurate."
The bird starts to gather the materials to make molds, getting some help carrying over clay and sand since that would be far too heavy. A few different molds are made, breaking the arm down into a few different segments figuring that would be better than one solid piece...though Fish does make one arm that is a single solid piece.
"Moving building operations here may be easier for Fish, it is much easier to not have to hide health code violations at the tavern if those materials are not there." The sense of community interested Fish. It would be like the thieves guild again, but something more constructive.
Through the past few months Fish was starting to realize that maybe it wasn't the excitement of crime that Fish enjoyed, but that the guild provided a family. People who wouldn't forget Fish. These thoughts pass through their head as they set the molds up for Astrid.
"Fish thinks a mix of iron and cobalt will work...both are magnetic, iron is sturdy and will hold up well while Cobalt with help maintain flexibility and also give it a cool blue color."
Fish looks up to Astrid for her thoughts before adding, "Fish is unsure of how it went for them, but Fish will be curious to how it works for this person. Creating a physical body seems the easy part, attaching sentience to it seems more difficult to Fish. A body has a knowable chemical make-up. Fish is unware of what material a soul is made of."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 16, 2024 11:49:22 GMT -5
Astrid waits patiently for Fish to take her measurements of different parts of her arm. Luckily, Astrid’s notes have some of the most accurate measurements she could get because of Cantio’s help and expertise in gathering measurements for making clothes. It’s not something she would have been able to do on her own. Once the forge is on, Astrid starts pulling out pieces of armor she made for herself pre-arm loss and setting them out in an organized way, trying to identify which one she prefers for at least a prototype.
“Health code violations?” she repeats, giggling. “Ah, Fish, it really sounds like ya need a perfect place ta work.” While Astrid jokingly tries to sell the idea, she smiles. “Honestly, I bet if we got enough people interested, we could make our own guild. Some place fer folks that like ta tinker an’ craft or maybe wanna learn how ta do it.” It’s a lofty idea, but since she has plenty of time, it isn’t exactly outside of the realm of possibility right now. And it’d keep her home longer to help ease Cantio’s worries. “I’ve been workin’ on this sorta portable smithy fer makin’ repairs in the field. Figured since I found a way ta store armor in a pendant, why not store a workshop in a box?”
“Ooh… I am partial ta blue. Me greaves have kinda a permanent blue sheen to ‘em ‘cause–” Blue Raspberry spat them out for her, and the layer of ooze slime never did quite come off. “–a’ the enchantment on ‘em.” Not necessarily a lie.
While she lays out a reference sheet she made for golemancy runes, she pauses. What makes up a soul? She thinks back to what Askr gave up, and solemnly says, “Memories. Experiences. Stuff that makes a person who they are. That’s what makes up a soul, I bet.”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 16, 2024 23:40:50 GMT -5
"It defeats the purpose as a criminal front if Fish invites the attention of regulatory agencies." Granted...Fish never really used the bar to fund criminal endeavors. They didn't really do any crime that needed funding these days anyways. Well at least not regularly, they still had plenty of contacts and fenced plenty of items, but Fish is getting off track.
The first sets of designs Fish starts to carve into the sand are pretty practical. There is little more to them than the basic shape of on arm, a good standard for them to start working from. Easier to get the basics down first and add lasers or whatever other things they want to once they get the motion and basics down.
"They can also be painted depending on someones perference, Fish is mostly focused on magnetic materials at the moment....Fish doesn't want to make it too magnetic that it anchors itself to the joint, but strong enough it won't be lost in a fight."
Fish clips the molds together, lining them up again. Their little mind considers having a guild of their own when Astrid works on pouring the metals once its ready. Something like that could maybe work, even if Astrid was really in charge, Fish wasn't interested in power anyways. Plus it would make sense for Astrid to lead since she can talk and has more people skills than Fish does.
They tilt their head as she comments on what makes a soul, "These are not tangible things...if you are resurrecting someone...how do you know its them?....Rena was convinced she had raised her children.....Maybe it is the person's intent? Golemancy in a way is similar to that in a way, Fish thinks....you are animating something, rocks or a corpse, and giving it sentience. When making golems, you put your own intentions into it, but with resurrection, you are putting someone elses."
Fish realizes this may be a better conversation for Aunt Kamille or Rena at a later time, but when they get a little idea it is hard to stop them. Their eyes are alight with ideas as they sort through the questions and answers flying around their head.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 18, 2024 13:36:54 GMT -5
Again, Astrid should not be surprised by Fish’s other hobbies, yet she still finds herself tilting her head at that. Still, she doesn’t press the issue. Fish gets to make their own decisions just like she does. Sometimes your decision is crime. Sometimes it’s giving up an arm.
“Dependin’ on how we do the runes, we could probably change the strength a’ the electricity powerin’ the magnets,” Astrid says. “Keep it strong when ya don’t want it ta come off but have the magic holdin’ it together turn off when ya want it to.”
While the forge heats up, Astrid starts preparing the different metals selected by Fish for smelting, then she pulls her goggles over her eyes and opens the door on the lightning forge to set the thick smelting cup inside. Once everything is heated to temperature, she pulls it out, gives it a little mix to test the viscosity, and then when it’s ready, she takes it over to pour it in the molds that Fish lays out for her.
It’s a tricky process with one arm. Despite her strength and capability of holding it with one arm, Astrid lacks the proper control that two arms would give her, which is evident in some of the half-finished projects with less than stellar quality laying around on side tables in the shop. One table is cleared of parts and tools in exchange for sheets of parchment, quills, and envelopes. It seems like the only thing Astrid’s been able to do easily since losing her arm is write letters.
Once the hot metals are poured, Astrid steps back and ponders what Fish says. Her brow furrows, her eyes cutting down to the side while she considers. “Well… I… Don’t know then…” she admits. Resurrection is tricky business, something only the most powerful of healers and clerics can achieve perfectly, and Astrid’s understanding of it is limited. She knows there’s a time limit on it when you do have the body. Maybe that’s to make sure the soul isn’t too detached.
The furrow in her brow turns to worry when she considers the situation with Zarius. He’s been gone for months. Sure, she and Askr got a new body for him, but… How do they bring the real Zarius back to it? Does Zarius’ soul even exist anymore if he died when Vulcadreaus awoke? What if he turned into one of the Charred wandering Zeinav? These are things that loosely crossed her mind before, but she didn’t have answers for them. She still doesn’t. Maybe Anselm was right that this kind of thing would be a fool’s errand.
Astrid swallows the lump in her throat and shakes the negative thoughts from her head. No. They did this, and they’re going to make it work, no matter what.
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 18, 2024 22:01:13 GMT -5
“Fish is admittedly only theorizing. Fish has never had an interest in resurrecting anyone, so Fish has never looked into it. If someone dies, that is just poor luck or natural causes.” They also hadn’t ever really had anyone close to them they’d consider it for.
Now they have plenty. Beyond the obvious, Fish would like to not lose Astrid, Morrigan, Kvasir, even Zarius. Ebony can go, Fish won’t resurrect her they decide. The bird sits on their stool watching the molds cool. For the time being they have nothing else to do. Perhaps in the future they can find a way to speed up the process, but for now Fish is not keen to complicate things.
So their little mind drifts to the small family made for them….the growing family that could be made with a guild. It’s a strange prospect to sit with and process. It has been almost a year since Fish had taken any work from their former thieves guild. Fish was choosing their own work or being invited out to do things. It was confusing sometimes how Del would refuse to do things until Fish made a decision. Others tried to make sure Fish knew they weren’t being told to do things. It was an odd switch that they still didn’t fully understand at times. Reprogramming is hard.
After the long and extended silence, Fish blinks and seems to snap out of it.
”Fish thinks they are ready to cool in the water if we pull them out.”
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 19, 2024 21:39:09 GMT -5
“Wasn’t anythin’ I thought I’d be a part a’ either,” Astrid admits herself. She doesn’t often spend a lot of time worrying about what losing someone to death would be like because she really does try to live in the present and not worry so much about the future. But the situation with Zarius just…caught her so off guard. Admittedly, it’s her own fault, but still… That wasn’t losing someone to old age or natural causes. It’s unnatural if anything.
They sit in relative silence, both lost in their own thoughts while the metals cool in the molds until Fish mentions they might be ready for a dunk in the bath. Astrid grabs the thick metal tongs while Fish opens the mold, and she pulls the pieces out and quenches them for a moment before setting the rough pieces on the table for assembly. They repeat this process a few times with the rest of the molds that they need for this particular version of the prosthetic until a disassembled arm is laid out. Some pieces interlock mechanically and others will need to be secured by golemancy magic.
“If ya need any references fer some a’ the way pieces might need ta fit together with magic, Buttfellow’s sittin’ in the backyard under the awnin’,” Astrid says. For now, she pulls out a few chisels and files to start engraving runes into the metal alongside Fish. “Think we’ll give it the initial power jump start with the lightnin’ forge?”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 19, 2024 21:50:06 GMT -5
"It will take Fish a moment to file things down and make sure it fits and articulates properly, prototype or not, Fish would like to make it as close to the final model...Fish's gun took only 3 prototypes."
Fish lays out the arm in its disassembled state to look over it. The design certainly isn't pretty, but it is functional. The secret aim Fish had for this first arm was to get something Astrid could use. The quicker that could happen, the better she could assist in the future. Fish also imagined just having a second arm again would help their friend, even if it can only do basic movements.
A few files and tools are set out before Fish looks back to Astrid, "Fish will defer to Astrid for the runes. Fish has not attempted Golemancy yet. Astrid's experience with..."
They pause and look at their hands a moment. There is no sign anywhere in Charon, even in Fish's hodge podge sign language, for the name 'Buttfellow.' Fish is frozen for a moment as they think.
"Buttfellow." They opt for just mimicking Astrid. Probably the most tragic part of Fish's upbringing is not learning to enjoy the simple pleasures of how funny the word butt is.
"Once the runes are done, Fish will assemble while Astrid starts the forge....Fish likes putting things together. It is Fish's favorite part of building....everything fits into place as it should." A rare little glimpse of fun and enjoyment from Fish.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 19, 2024 22:24:19 GMT -5
“Only three??” Astrid says with surprise in her eyes. Then her brows fall back to a neutral position as she nods in understandin’. “Actually, I ain’t that surprised. Yer pretty smart.”Looking over the different pieces of the arm, Astrid thinks this thing is going to be clunky and isn’t as intent as Fish is on having an actually working prototype. The runes are going to be tricky, especially on the fingers to get them to articulate properly. Buttfellow’s arms are large and simple shapes, and while the golem can technically pick things up, his fingers aren’t exactly made for much more than what’s necessary for some magic casting, throwing rocks, and punching people. They’re metal bratwursts more than fingers. For a moment, Astrid completely forgot that Fish can technically speak, but it’s only in the form of mimicry, and realizing that Fish doesn’t have a word for Buttfellow is almost as funny as hearing the ridiculous name repeated from them in her own voice. The somewhat dour mood lightens as Astrid stifles her giggles. “Ah, how would ya say that with sign language?” she wonders. Then she makes the motion for the word ‘butt,’ and attempts the word for ‘companion,’ since that’s the closest approximation to the word ‘fellow’ in this context. Unfortunately, it requires both hands to sign properly, which brings them back to the reason for gathering here today. “It’s silly, just playin’ on the name Buffalo, which is where his head comes from. This golem that tried ta beat the snot outta me. Stole his head and made him my own helper.” Astrid wonders if Fish has ever properly met or seen Buttfellow and she considers that besides being here today, they might not have. “Fair enough on the runes, I s’pose they need ta be pretty precise. I might have ta walk ya through ‘em on some a’ the pieces.” Otherwise, those pieces will be going in a vice, and Astrid will be super focused on not messing up the runes. “I’ll show ya how I put Buttfellow together later. He’s pretty simple. Can’t quite mimic the complexity a’ Charles, but bein’ me first golemancy project, he turned out pretty good.”“I’m pretty keen on smackin’ stuff with me hammer,” Astrid says. “Gettin’ a good rhythm goin’ is like music ta me ears. Though fittin’ stuff in place once yer ready is real satisfyin’. Seein’ the finished product? Even better. Might take me more than three tries ta get it right, but part a’ the fun is figurin’ out what ta do different next time an’ watching the previous attempt melt away in the forge. Next one’s always better, so I don’t never settle on just one.”
Butt: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWvKJ5RB750&ab_channel=LeprosyCompanion: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l3P5nsjk8c&ab_channel=ASLDictionary
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