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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 20, 2024 21:34:22 GMT -5
"There is no perfect phrase for it....Fish uses code signs for people because it is faster than signing names and in the guild people only ever had code names or titles, so Fish just adopted that." They would have to think awhile before they had a proper call sign for Buttfellow, golem seemed too obvious.
Fish had never actually met the trusty golem or any golems for that matter. None that weren't trying to turn them into bird paste for stealing from another tomb. Golems hate it when you steal from their tombs.
The fingers of the prosthetic are screwed into place, then that hand is attached to the forearm, then the upper arm at the elbow as Astrid progresses with the runes. They are fine taking it slow and at Astrid's pace, there's no need to rush the project anyways. Plus it gives Fish time to look over some of the parts and just refine the work as much as possible. Joints are tested and moved to make sure they have the right range of motion and that the connections are secure.
"This is more complex machinery, so Fish estimates at least 5 prototypes before something works. This is meant to get us a good base measurement for what works and what needs to be improved. For instance, the fingers wont bend as much as normal fingers, but it would allow you enough grip to pick things up if it is working properly."
When this version of the arm is done, Fish gives it one more look over. If they had the time or care, they would polish it and file away the rest of the edges. This seems functional though.
"How should we test this to make sure it is working?"
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 20, 2024 21:57:49 GMT -5
Astrid tilts her head thoughtfully. All this time, she thought Fish was using special signs for people’s names, or at least with what she’s learned from the avianfolk, each person she named had their own sign. But thinking on it more, she realizes that she did find some confusion when studying the language outside of her interactions with Fish. Huh. Well, that makes sense, she supposes.
The actual assembly of the arm is faster than inscribing runes on the various parts. Both processes are meticulous, just in different ways, so it leaves Fish plenty of time for additional polish. Astrid does a few shake tests to make sure things won’t come loose with fast or jerky motions, and finally the thing is done. It’s not pretty. Maybe it’s functional. Five prototypes still seems optimistic to her, but with their heads together, they can probably get something that’s fairly useful by then.
“Well, I s’pose the best way ta test it is ta just do it,” Astrid says with a shrug. “I ain’t sure the runes are gonna work in the way I want ‘em ta. Golems just have ta do what ya tell ‘em, an’ this needs ta respond ta what yer mind wants. But once we get it powered up, I might be able ta test it with it sittin’ on the table since it won’t be like… ah… Connected inside a’ me? If that makes sense.” Some of her designs definitely involve some surgical applications, which Astrid does not think she’s quite ready to attempt. “I think I’ve got the runes alright fer this bit that sits against me here, an’ I’ve got a little bit of an ability ta magnetize metal stuff if I zap it, so that’ll help it along.”
Hoisting the arm up, she takes it over to the lightning forge and sets it inside before putting her goggles back on and pulling the lever. The dull thrum of electricity turns into a loud buzzing as sparks fly behind the thick metal door. When she turns it off and pulls the arm out, various runes carved into the arm are alight with bright blue energy. Astrid pulls her goggles off and grins, looking over the runes as she carries it back to the table.
Without touching it, it takes an intense amount of focus to try to get the arm to do anything. Even with her elementalist abilities,[1] getting it to articulate is a challenge. So, after a few tries, she abandons that and pulls off her glove with her teeth, setting her bare hand against the shoulder of the arm. It springs more to life, responding more to her efforts to control it, though the movements are jerky and rough with very little control. Still, that’s a start.
Picking it up, Astrid takes a seat on a low stool with the most optimistic expression she’s had since Fish arrived. “Let’s give it a good test run!” And she offers the arm with its dangling strap to Fish to help secure it.
1. Elementalist - Magnetism
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 20, 2024 23:14:16 GMT -5
"In a sense, that is already how an arm works. Your brain tells the nerves what to do and the nerves makes the muscles move so your arm does what you want. The difference is there is little latency in the response from brain to muscle, but it is the same concept."
They pause a moment, thinking about how to best go about working with this arm, "Fish can set up some practices that Fish learned from Kvasir when people have to rehabilitate an arm. Simple things that can give us a good measure of how the arm is functioning....Fish imagines even then it will take practice for Astrid to move fluidly with it again. Therapy and practice will eventually make it second nature."
A set of goggles are clipped around Fish's eyes as well when Astrid gets the forge set up. Safety first. They watch the forge alight and zap the arm with excitement, not even noticing the little bounce in their step. This is the science Fish had been after, this is the work that Fish could be doing that would be good for the world. This is something they can do that Del and Cyran would be proud of....wait...why would they care about that? Focus!
Fish blinks as the process comes to an end, getting lost in their own thoughts a moment. They hop over and help tighten up the strap on the arm. They flick up the lenses of their goggles to look over the arm and see if there are any issues yet.
With non spotted, they hope down and do a bit of rummaging. After a moment, a board with a nail is set in front of Astrid and then a hammer.
"Fish thinks this is an appropriate starting step. Simple movements, grabbing then moving up and down. Accuracy is less important...Fish would not recommend holding the nail in place."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 20, 2024 23:35:30 GMT -5
Just like everything else, practice is going to make perfect. Or at least functional, in the case of the prosthetic. Trying to sit still while Fish gets the arm strapped in place and fit snugly against her torso where her arm used to be, Astrid feels a bit of a sting as the runes of the prosthetic light up around the socket for her shoulder. The skin around the scar tissue is still tender at times. A spark of blue crackles in her excited eyes, and Astrid shifts her shoulder a bit.
The arm moves with it, delayed and unsteady, but it is movement. A bright smile crosses Astrid’s face as she looks at Fish. This thing might really be a good start! Astrid looks down and focuses on the arm more, letting lightning course through her body and focusing it into the arm. The design requires some mana to power it, but that can be an endurance test as time moves on. Slowly, the fingers start to curl, one by one, into a loose fist. Somehow, her smile brightens more.
“Alright, I’ll test it!” With a great amount of effort and doing her best not to help the arm along by twisting, Astrid makes it reach out and pick up the hammer, willing it to lift the tool with all her might. How she misses carrying both of her fighting hammers. How her hammers miss the thrill of battle. How she didn’t even lose her stupid arm to something cool like a monster! All of this energy she puts into picking up that one little tool, and after minutes of focus, it finally rises into the air in front of her.
The phantom limb effect that makes Astrid desperately want to just go to town with this thing linger but don’t translate into the prosthetic. It’s better that it doesn’t.
She repeats the process of setting down and picking up the hammer time and time again until the movement is at least smoother. It takes so long and so much effort that she works up a sweat doing it, but eventually, she moves on to trying to pick up the nail. This proves to be significantly harder and requires a break later in the day for them to both eat and rejuvenate.
At least through all of this, they’re taking notes on the process and how to improve the functional parts of the hand later. This arm isn’t particularly complicated, but Astrid thinks that they could get something with shifting parts similar to the way that the plates of Blue Raspberry’s armor are able to flex and move. The hand itself will probably require more pieces, almost like how an actual hand has many bones and tendons, but this will need to be made of metals and something that can articulate precisely without interior components. A more complex hand than even Charles’ hand.
Heck, making another construct like Charles might teach them both more about golemancy, and Astrid brings this up while studying the golem’s hand and arm components and eating a snack. “Wonder if we could use some a’ these design ideas,” she says, pushing Charles’ hand over for Fish to inspect. “Less mechanical bits though. It’d make it too heavy.”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 21, 2024 20:41:14 GMT -5
It is hard for Fish to derail their brain from this project now that they are set on it. Even when Astrid breaks for the moment, their mind is running away with ideas. More and more designs are scribbled into the edges of their notebook, crammed into any space Fish can find around other blueprints. They need to get the designs out onto the page before anything else comes to replace it.
Fish does wonder about adding more articulation to it, this rough arm is good at basic movements but it needs a lot of work to do anything more. The formulae arcanum can make up for a lot of the mechanical work that needs to be done if they get the method right. The bird makes little chirps to themselves as they look over the blueprints, the moment making Astrid one of maybe three people in Charon to hear the natural noises of Fish. It's as close to a voice as they have.
"Fish thinks we can remove a lot of the weight, but Fish thinks leaving some heft in it for durability's sake is best....Fish will have to do the math, but Fish would aim for twice as strong as a regular arm....It will be tricky for Fish to figure out the right alloy to make it light, but tough and receptive to magic."
They plop down into their seat grab a piece of chalk to start doing the math right there on the table.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 22, 2024 21:24:17 GMT -5
With great interest, Astrid watches Fish while she takes a break to recoup some of her energy. It’s so odd to seemingly watch their mind in action with how quickly it moves from one thing to the next. There are times when Astrid’s own energy threatens to overwhelm the people that she’s with, but Fish is on another level in this moment. Their normally calm and collected personality fades away to reveal this surprisingly cute side of them. Astrid smiles to herself, but she doesn’t dare point it out for fear of making them self conscious. Instead, she just appreciates it.
“Well, don’t forget, we can use magic ta help bulk it up if it needs it,” Astrid reminds them as they start scribbling on the table. She pulls over some fresh parchment and charcoal sticks for them then procures her magical parchment[1] that might be faster than them writing down all their formulas, especially with how fast they seem to be thinking. “I don’t think leanin’ on magic ta help us is a bad thin’. Make it mechanically solid, but if magic’s gonna make it move anyway, then why not use it fer the extra umph it needs? Could get the final product ta do some real neat stuff, I bet. Like changin’ the way the pieces are held together an’ form somethin’ different than just a hand.”
Resting her chin in her hand while she watches Fish, she adds, “So about that craftin’ guild thin’... Seems like ya’d be real good fer it.”
1. Wanted Poster
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 22, 2024 21:43:59 GMT -5
The focus and the dedication to the immediate task is both a blessing and a curse for Fish sometimes. They want to solve a problem so quickly that sometimes the right answer is missed in favor of the quick answer. It's probably why people were so worried for Fish sometimes. It also doesn't help that Fish sometimes rudely assumes what they are doing is just too far above people's heads so Fish shouldn't waste time explaining it.
As much as they don't realize it friends like Astrid who can keep pace with Fish when tinkering, and this guild as a whole, is probably the best thing they've ever decided to embark on. They can consider that when these calculations are done.
"Adding utility would be good...once we perfect Astrid's new arm, we could use that as a template for other models. Not everyone will need the same capabilities.....though including all of them would allow us to sell it at a higher price." They may be moving away from crime, but they will never move away from making money.
They are in the middle of writing out a few more things when Astrid's next stement hits them. They blink and pause a moment before looking to her.
"Would Fish be good for it?"
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 22, 2024 22:37:35 GMT -5
“Whaaat? Ya wanna sell it?” Astrid says with some feigned surprise. She’d be lying to say the thought hadn’t crossed her mind, but it’s been so far at the back of her mind, that she hasn’t been seriously considering it. They kind of need something that actually functions in order to do that. Still, it’d be a pretty cool thing to offer people.
“Well, if anyone’s good fer testin’ somethin’s durability, it’ll be me,” she continues with a satisfied smirk. Her expression falls a little then she sighs. “Ya know, when I’m done bein’ grounded at home.” Granted, Cantio can’t exactly force Astrid to stay at home, but she respects that he wants her to take a break. Besides, she’s the one who wanted a parent, and that comes with the full experience, grounding included.
Seeing the surprise on Fish’s face, Astrid’s eyebrows perk up. “Yeah, why wouldn’t ya be?” she says. “Yer smart, good at inventin’, ya could probably teach others ta think a bit more practically about the stuff they’re buildin’.” She shrugs and pulls her elbow off the table. “I’ve done a bit a’ lookin’ into makin’ a guild or somethin’ similar. Thadda says I’d have ta put together a pitch document with information about it an’ have another foundin’ member. We could get a guild hall an’ build it up real nice. Have lots a’ materials an’ tools an’ teach people how ta think like us, plus we'd get funds an' space ta do some crazy experimental buildin'." Astrid grins at the thought. "I think it’d be fun, but if yer not all that interested, that’s alright. Seems like it’ll be a lot a’ work, but Da wants me ta stay home more, so figured it’d be a good way ta do that fer him.”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 23, 2024 14:00:19 GMT -5
"Grounded?" The concept is absolutely foreign to Fish, likely because Fish's adoptive parents probably realize there is little purpose to that kind of punishment. Fish is a trained criminal who does not like being confined, grounding Fish is just telling them to run away.
When Astrid goes through her pitch for Fish to join this guild, they quietly listen. When they joined the thieves guild, it was less by choice and more by force. Davril was smart enough to trick Fish into thinking it was their idea, but with hindsight Fish knew they didn't really have another option. They were an abandoned chick in Zeinav City, it was the guild or the gutters in some respect. A place to sleep and food was a hell of an offer when Fish first started...before they even became Fish.
This was a wildly different situation...they were being invited in, not just to join, but to help build it in some respects. Thankfully for the both of them, Fish's career as a criminal is relatively short and has been spot free. There wouldn't be any legal hang ups, even if their were Fish and Morrigan could draft up some fake documents if need be. Not having it be needed made things much simpler.
"Fish would not be against the idea. It is hard to build in the small workshops Fish has in the shed and the tavern. It would also likely worry Kvasir and Cyran less if Fish were working in a proper space.....Fish will consider this."
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 23, 2024 19:40:36 GMT -5
Astrid tilts her head at Fish for a moment before realizing that Fish probably wouldn’t know what that is. To be fair, Astrid only loosely knew of the concept of being grounded and had to have it explained to her. “Ah, yeah, like… bein’ put in the corner or in time out or… I dunno, maybe home jail?” She struggles to explain it effectively. “It’s when ya get in trouble with parents an’ can’t go nowhere 'cause they say ya can't.”
After making her pitch, Astrid watches while they consider her offer. Finally, their hands move, and her face breaks out into a smile. “Consideration is good enough fer me!” she says. “An’ aye, I think Da would worry less about me if I had some stuff ta do close ta home instead a’ like fightin’ gods an’ monsters.” Astrid sits back on her stool, relaxing a little bit with the idea that she might have a perfect partner in this. “I s’pose let me know what ya decide. I won’t be upset if ya don’t think it’s fer you. An’ yer always welcome ta come over an’ build here with me. It’s nice workin’ with someone that ain’t… me. Kinda run out a’ new perspectives when it’s just a bunch a’ Replicants.”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 24, 2024 10:45:35 GMT -5
"Fish cannot be put in jail, Fish is too clever." They ruffle up their feathers with pride. Clearly, they still don't understand what being grounded means.
"Working with others is a good way to accelerate scientific progress. One person only knows so much....Fish reads a lot, but Fish prefers learning with Uncle Kvasir for instance. Hands on learning is more efficient for Fish and Uncle Kvasir can provide context that books can't. In medicine, engineering, chemistry, mathematics, any science is an evolving process. Books are good for learning what we already know, but innovation requires learning what we don't know. Fish does not know golemancy, but Astrid does...and Astrid doesn't know the engineering Fish does...both sets of knowledge needed for the prosthetic. It could be done alone, but it is faster and more efficent to collaborate with others."
They flex their hands a moment after that, it isn't often if ever they philosophize like that. With a more stable adult group around them, Fish has been encouraged more to think about themselves and what they like. How they think, not how they were taught to think. This is one of the few times where Fish has had the opportunity to actually expand on those thoughts.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 25, 2024 0:30:11 GMT -5
Astrid can’t help giggling at Fish’s boasting. “Aye, I know ya are. This ain’t real jail, it’s just when yer parents say yer in trouble instead a’ guards or somethin’. Ta me own credit, I agreed ta this just ta settle some a’ Da’s worries. Losin’ an arm ain’t exactly easy ta deal with. Fer either a’ us.”
Nodding along while doing her best to keep up with Fish’s rapid signing, Astrid takes note that they call Kvasir their uncle and a small smile creeps across her face. She’s glad to see another orphan like herself adopting people into their found family. They had to have met Morrigan, and she puts a pin in asking what their opinion of the charlatan is.
“Heyyyy,” she sings, softly chiding them. “I know some engineerin’. Mostly what I figured out an’ read in books. Obviously ya know more than I do, but I’ve built mechanical stuff before! Maybe it ain’t perfect, but still.” However, she lets it go with a small wink, especially since her most complex project she made as a gift and no longer has possession of. “Two heads are better than one, but it don't help much when both heads are yers. The ideas ya brought ta the table today have been real helpful. An’ yer hands, obviously. Yer real good at this stuff, and I’m havin’ a good time workin’ together with ya. I like how ya think. Makes ya a good partner, ya know?”
Astrid rolls her armless shoulder a little and looks at the hammer and nail on the table. There’s no way they’re going to get a final product today, but they’ve made more progress than she has in a couple of weeks. It’s a reassuring relief that reinvigorates her passion. “Hope yer plannin’ ta stay a few nights,” she says with a smile. “We got lots a’ space.”
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 25, 2024 10:50:43 GMT -5
"It is fine, Fish will be up most of the night finishing these calculations and running some tests. Fish does not want to waste time tomorrow figuring this out if Fish can do it tonight."
Fish may be slowly untangling themselves from the criminal underworld, but the work ethic and let's call it dedication are something that seem inherent to the bird. They have a puzzle in front of them and they want to solve it as quickly as possible.
They are at least better about taking breaks and remembering to take care of themselves, but prying them away from work? You'd have an easier time removing a Cthonian parasite with nothing but a spoon. One day Fish will invent a way to feed themselves while they work so they don't have to lose time. Or maybe some nutrient dense paste they can just eat once and then not eat for the rest of the day.
The bird shakes their head, too many distractions. Focus.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Feb 25, 2024 19:39:06 GMT -5
Astrid leans her face in her hand again, watching Fish’s focus start to take over their mind. “Ya ain’t gotta rush this project, ya know,” she says. “I’m the only one needin’ it done at the moment, an’ sleep is important. Comin’ back with fresh eyes ain’t a bad thin’ either. I had plenty a’ projects I worked on through the night an’ when I came back, I had ta backtrack ‘cause it ended up not bein’ me best work. Not that we ain’t got enough time left in the day ta keep workin’ on the next iteration for a while longer. Ya shouldn’t stay up late by yerself though. Part a’ this is doin’ it together. Plus…” Astrid trails off, considering that she’s not sure how Fish will respond to what she’s thinking. “...I was thinkin’ maybe it could be like a sleepover?”
Of course, Astrid isn’t sure if Fish even knows what a sleepover is. She’s only had a couple of them before, but it’s a thing she’s found that is kind of fun to do, especially with friends. Fish may not exactly be the right friend for that. They don’t much know how to relax, but maybe this is a chance to learn. They seem like they’re trying to get away from working with the shadier entities of the world, and as far as Astrid can tell, much like her, they didn’t have much time before to just be a kid. If she’s gotten to have those experiences and likes them, maybe her friends will too?
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Post by Fish the Tinkerer on Feb 28, 2024 21:03:44 GMT -5
"Fish is not rushing, Fish is operating at Fish's normal pace." Well maybe they were a bit more invested in this project. They enjoyed making things as much as the next tinkerer, but this was a project for a friend. Even if Fish did not fully understand what friendship was at this point, making something for someone they took an interest in made them work harder.
"Sleep over what? Fish usually sleeps over things, Fish likes to sleep in a hammock or in the trees if Fish is traveling." Maybe it was the ancient desire to be in a nest or just being a kid it was one of the things they found fun, sleeping in a weird hanging thing and swinging around.
In any case, it's clear that Fish has not had such an experience. Even with all the help of the Council of Fish parents, Astrid is the only friend Fish has that is anywhere near their age. If anyone had a good shot at teaching Fish how to do kid things, it would be a fellow kid.
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