Oh, I do plan on resuming or rebooting it someday; the other reason I stopped was because I got busy with college homework, and reading a D&D/ASOIAF story was much easier than writing one. So when I have time I'll definitely keep going. Though I do want to reboot the first "arc" as it were anyway.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Oct 25, 2019 at 2:18 PM, finished with 55 posts and 10 votes.
[X] Speak to Kalandragor's envoy -[X] Learn what the dragon wants from you before trying to set up anything. -[X] In the meantime, have Relath look for advanced maps of Plane of Water and any Lore on Deep Ones. He has proven himself capable of acting in our stead where trade is concerned. -[X] Have Rhaella and Breath-Taker go search for more mundane lore that you won't have to negotiate to access in the markets. Their remit for purchase is "anything we don't already know", or whatever they can find as far as that goes. The Libraries and your own archives won't suffer for it.
It is soon after the meeting with the Grandmaster that you experience the closest thing Vialesk knows to evening. The silvery light of the sunken star fades to soft twilight with the passage of an almost incomprehensibly large shoal of glittering fish from the depths. According to Breath Taker such migrations are uncommon, but not cause for alarm unless one spots too many large fish swimming with the throng for that must mean they are being chased by something larger still.
Intrigued, you bid him to seek out any more lore of that sort, or indeed anything that would be counted common knowledge in the Boundless Sea but might be missing from the shelves of your library. Your mother decides to lend a helping hand and you suspect to ensure the priest is not too hesitant to spend coin. Thankfully, that is not a problem you can imagine Relath having as you ask him to seek out any books and scrolls of note on the Deep Ones, be it the ordering of their strange castes, an accounting of their most common tactics or the nature of their uncanny mind magics.
After parting ways you swim through the darkened waters until you come again to Anora's chambers to meet Kalandragor's envoy, for while there is no specific law mandating how potentially rival Dragons are to conduct themselves within Vialesk custom inclines strongly towards open dealings under the eye of a neutral party, so that any draconic feuds have less of a chance of tarring the city. You find yourself cautiously optimistic at the fact that the envoy was content with the arrangement. Presumably whatever she wishes to ask you in her lord's name would not upset the Guild Council.
***
Your first sight of the herald of Kalandragor the Rune Carved is a ripple in the water far closer than you would have accounted for. A woman's face shows itself, as much animate water as living flesh, before growing more solid like a mirage suddenly gaining substance, sea-green hair flowing out behind her. She is a true Marid, not one of their scattered offspring, you realize, startled, though not so much as to waver in your greeting.
"Hail and well met, my lady, may the waves of our purpose flow together this day," you nod graciously, still weighing in your mind how the Dragon might have gained the service of one of the proud tempestuous genies.
"Bright fortune to you also, Lord of Fire. I, Ramazaof the House of Ifril, greet you in peace in the name of my lord, for though he has never seen one of your kindred in the flesh he knows well your strength and wisdom both," she replies, somehow managing to be both ornate in her language and blunt in her purpose.
No sooner had she sat down across from you that she draws forth an oiled scroll from a pocket of her sea-silk robe and unrolls it upon the table, keeping silent for a moment while you observe it. The being depicted there seems to be a Giant, skin ashen grey and hair the color of fire, bearing some kinship to the Fire Giants that make up the mailed fist of the Brazen Throne, but this Giant is different, not only in his armor, crafted with masterful skill and carved with seals of power and ruin, but in the lines of his face. You see nothing of the savagery you had come to expect from those who take the Sultan's coin for the chance to torment those smaller than themselves, there is a cold calculating purpose it its gaze. As you watch the subtly enchanted scroll the image move, revealing arcane markings not just upon the Giant's armor but his skin also as wisps of wild leashed lightning dance in his left hand.
"What am I looking at?" you ask at last, for no memory flickers to the forefront of your thoughts. Either a very uncommon being or a new one, perhaps both.
"That is what my benighted flame-crazed kin call a Rune Giant," Ramaza explains, eyes flashing with disgust at the mention of the Efreeti. "A warrior crafted as a smith crafts a fine blade. They unite the brute strength of Giants and the spark of arcane power slumbering within without the 'unfortunate' independence of those born to storm or cloud, in truth they are the finest slavers of other giants one could imagine. My lord has no interest in that aspect of their nature, his subjects hold to their oaths from honor and their pragmatism both, but he would much wish to study flesh-bound spells that he might craft his own script. Obviously he does not expect you to capture such a fearsome foe alive, bodies will be more than sufficient. He is willing to pay seven-thousand of your imperial marks for each giant corpse in gold or treasure from his hoard. My lord is of course willing to provide the locations where you might find and slay such Rune-Carved Giants if you agree to the a collaboration."
"Your pardon, my lady, but asking me to fetch corpses as a cat does dead mice seems less like collaboration and more like a mercenary contract," you reply in a carefully neutral tone.
"Should you wish a deeper collaboration in light of your demonstrated skills of shaping living things, my lord would be agreeable in principle," she responds instantly. She had obviously spoken to her draconic lord sometime after you had revealed the flesh-crafting to the mercenaries.
How do you respond to Kalandragor's offer?
[] Accept the bounty
[] Make a counter-offer
-[] Write in
[] Ask more questions
-[] Write in
[] Politely decline
[] Write in
OOC: Sorry this took so long, I had to crop the picture of the Rune Giant myself since the ones online had a bunch of text attached and that looked terrible.
...I'm disinclined to agree on principle.
Too many plates already, and too many places to visit/loot without adding body-hunting for a Brine of dubious trustworthyness.
No, seriously. There's a threadmark with Adventure/Looting locations.
There's a lot.
We'll get much more from mulching said bodies in Fleshforge than selling them, anyway.
Or studying them ourselves.
It's not like we can go wrong with runic magic, when one of our late-game goals os restoring Axis' Forge of Inevitables.
Sharing Fleshforging lore or doing joint research with anyone except our closest allies/direct vassals is moronic.
We don't have the time, or resources, to go grabbing bodies for him either, no matter the profits he may promise - and they aren't that great compared to use of such bodies for ourselves, even.
Ergo, I'd rather go and ask literally everyone else for support against Illithids first, and go to him with promise of bling rather than handling out ourselves for mercanary mission, or trading priceless knoweldge.
He's useful, but not that useful.
Also not trustworthy enough.
Sharing Fleshforging lore or doing joint research with anyone except our closest allies/direct vassals is moronic.
We don't have the time, or resources, to go grabbing bodies for him either, no matter the profits he may promise - and they aren't that great compared to use of such bodies for ourselves, even.
Ergo, I'd rather go and ask literally everyone else for support against Illithids first, and go to him with promise of bling rather than handling out ourselves for mercanary mission, or trading priceless knoweldge.
He's useful, but not that useful.
Also not trustworthy enough.
No need to shut the door here. We don't have time right now, sure, but this guy is a dragon. It's not like he wouldn't understand patience. We can just let the envoy know it's something we'll contact her for if we ever have the time to find one.
I'm damn sure we'll inevitably stumble over a Rune Giant in our coming wars with the Efreeti.
No need to shut the door here. We don't have time right now, sure, but this guy is a dragon. It's not like he wouldn't understand patience. We can just let the envoy know it's something we'll contact her for if we ever have the time to find one.
I'm damn sure we'll inevitably stumble over a Rune Giant in our coming wars with the Efreeti.
He really isn't offering much for them, compared to what we can get out of them by ourselves.
But even so, we can always decide on going to him if we actually get any.
I'm just not seeing a point making any deals outlined here, now specifically.
He really isn't offering much for them, compared to what we can get out of them by ourselves.
But even so, we can always decide on going to him if we actually get any.
I'm just not seeing a point making any deals outlined here, now specifically.
I think you're misunderstanding. Saying "we'll be sure to keep you in mind" isn't making a commitment, it's politely saying, "not right now, but maybe in the future."
I don't see the value in shutting the door here when it could come in handy a few months from now for all we know. Besides, this guy carved himself in runes. That's definitely of interest to me.
[X] Make a counter-offer
-[X] We will unfortunately have to decline at the moment on both the bounty and the collaboration due to a lack of time and different concentrations on our part. However, should we come across a Rune Giant or should our research shift appropriately we will be sure to consider a future deal. //Keeping the door open if an opportunity comes up in the future.
-[X] See if the envoy is willing to share how deep her master's runelore goes and if flesh-crafting is the only thing he uses it for. //Just intel gathering for the far future to see how good of a source he is for runelore.
-[X] Move on to the purchased lore.
Also, since it seems there is some talk about the Moonchaser and stuff, I used a little program to calculate that after getting sick of fiddling with the original Excel sheet.
If there are questions or design requests, hit me. I just need to dig up the editor.
Seriously? People have been wanting to hint down a dragon for fun. And out comes an offer of locations for where the Efreetinstationed CR17 GRune Giants that apparently allow them to control Giant Armies and we say no?
If nothing else the information on their locations would be worth a few of the corpses on it's own. It's a high class Efreeti raid target if nothing else.
Probably leading fleets or if we are even more lucky as head of another Efreeti Mine full of Giant Slaves. The kind the Efreeti can control for one reason or another.
Seriously? People have been wanting to hint down a dragon for fun. And out comes an offer of locations for where the Efreetinstationed CR17 GRune Giants that apparently allow them to control Giant Armies and we say no?
If nothing else the information on their locations would be worth a few of the corpses on it's own. It's a high class Efreeti raid target if nothing else.
Probably leading fleets or if we are even more lucky as head of another Efreeti Mine full of Giant Slaves. The kind the Efreeti can control for one reason or another.
We know they exist, we can find them now fairly trivially. Getting the location here and now would paint us slightly as a poacher if we use it solely to our own benefit, I'd rather people feel as free as possible in coming to us.
The price offered is absolute garbage, an insult to be frank.
[X] Duesal
@Duesal can you please change it to "be sure to consider" rather than "be sure to come in contact".
2x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x AG-Engine Block - The core block of a AG-Engine.
3
Spoiler
Engine Operator - Monitors and operates an AG-Engine. - 2 per shift
Air Supply System
Spoiler
Provides purified, fresh air and removes stale air.
9
21,420
9
2,380
Spoiler
Volume (m³): 10
Weight (t): 1
Air Generation: 100
Spoiler
2x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
2x Purification Ring - Removes poisons and contaminations from everything passing through it.
1x Decanter (Air) - Produces 5 gallons of air per second.
1x Anti-Decanter (Air) - Removes 5 gallons of air per second.
3
Spoiler
Air System Engineer - Operates and maintains a air system and the piping. - 2 per shift
Armament: Alchemical Launcher (Quad)
Spoiler
Can launch any item fitting into the barrel to a maximum range of 440 feet. This is a quad emplacement, allowing four items to be launched simultanously.
40
59,200
1
1,480
Volume (m³): 12
Weight (t): 6
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Targeting Optics - An enchanted farseer, that allows to target a weapon.
1x Mechanical Lubrication - Uses a Grease spell to make mechanical parts work smoother.
4x Launcher - A hollow tube that can fire items by using Launch Item.
1
Spoiler
Launcher Gunner - Aims and fires a Launcher. - 1 per shift
Launcher Loader - Lugs around the ammo for a Alchemical Launcher. - 2 per shift
Armament: Steam Cannon
Spoiler
Using superheated water, this cannon shoots super-sonic steel projectiles. (Rangeincrement: 400ft; 10d10 physical damage for standard ammunition; 20/4x crit)
40
38,400
1
960
Spoiler
Volume (m³): 30
Weight (t): 10
Heat Usage (HU): 2
Water Usage (m³ per shot): 1
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Targeting Optics - An enchanted farseer, that allows to target a weapon.
1x Mechanical Lubrication - Uses a Grease spell to make mechanical parts work smoother.
1x Environmental Protection - Using a Endure Elements to ease the strain on crewmembers working under hot or cold conditions.
1
Spoiler
Steam Cannon Gunner - Aims a steam cannon. - 1 per shift
Steam Cannon Loader - Lugs around ammunition for a Steam Cannon. - 2 per shift
Armament: Steam Projector
Spoiler
Point defense weapon that fires a stream of super-heated water at anyone coming to close to the vessel. (60 ft line; 4d6 blunt and 4d6 fire; DC 15 Ref for half; if failed, DC 15 Fort against prone)
20
19,200
1
960
Spoiler
Volume (m³): 10
Weight (t): 5
Heat Usage (HU): 1
Water Usage (m³ per shot): 1
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Targeting Optics - An enchanted farseer, that allows to target a weapon.
1x Mechanical Lubrication - Uses a Grease spell to make mechanical parts work smoother.
1x Environmental Protection - Using a Endure Elements to ease the strain on crewmembers working under hot or cold conditions.
1
Spoiler
Steam Projector Gunner - Aims and fires a Steam Projector. - 1 per shift
Steam Projector Spotter - Aids the gunner of a Steam Projector to find targets. - 1 per shift
Boarding Crew
Spoiler
An unattached crewmember taken along for boarding purposes.
100
1
Spoiler
Boarder - A warrior specialized in boarding combat. - 1 per shift
Bridge: Illusory Display, Advanced
Spoiler
This improved display must be used in conjunction with a mirrored hull. Then it can be used to project a full view of the outside into the bridge, creating the illusion that the entire vessel is translucent and allowing the bridge crew to see everything going on around it.
1
5,760
5
5,760
Weight (t): 0.8
Volume (m³): 8
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Illusory Display, Advanced - By incorporating Mirror Sight, this display allows to fille the bridge with an accurate view of the outside world, as if the the entire vessel was translucent. Requires a mirrored hull.
3
Spoiler
Display Operator - Operates an Illusory Display - 1 per shift
Bridge: Navigation Station
Spoiler
Using a Wayfinder, this station is used to navigate the vessel and get maps of the 50 miles around it, which can be projected with a Illusory Display.
1
2,290
9
2,290
Volume (m³): 8
Weight (t): 0.8
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Wayfinder - Used for navigation and to get maps of the surroundings.
3
Spoiler
Navigator - Plots courses and makes sure that the vessel stays on them. - 1 per shift
Bridge: Observation Post, Advanced
Spoiler
Unlike the simple version of this section, this uses Mirror Sight to not only observe the immediate surroundings of the vessel (provided it has a mirrored hull), but also to see through mirrors carried by crewmembers or aerial scouts.
4
12,240
5
3,060
Volume (m³): 8
Weight (t): 0.8
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Remote Viewer, Advanded - Allows to view remote locations through a mirror.
3
Spoiler
Observer - Operates an Observation Post. - 1 per shift
Bridge: Weather Station
Spoiler
Allows the operator to observe, predict and alter the weather within 6 miles around the vessel.
1
6,057
13
6,057
Weight (t): 0.8
Volume (m³): 8
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Weather Control Unit - Allows to observe, predict and alter the weather.
3
Spoiler
Weatherman - Operates an Weather Station. - 1 per shift
Brig
Housing prisoners.
10
900
1
90
Volume (m³): 60
Weight (t): 6
Prisoner Space: 10
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
3
Brig Guard - Guards the brig. - 1 per shift
Cargo Crane
Spoiler
Allows to lower a section of the hull to load and unload shipping containers. Can also be used to store one container while in flight.
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
1x Mechanical Lubrication - Uses a Grease spell to make mechanical parts work smoother.
Cargo Hold
Spoiler
Enough space to store a 2.5m x 2.5m x 10m shipping container and the necessary infrastructure to move them around.
Spoiler
Contains a warded Interplanar Whispering Brazier for long-range communication.
2
3,420
5,000
13
1,710
2,500
Volume (m³): 10
Weight (t): 1
Spoiler
1x Whispering Brazier (Interplanar) - Allows communication to any other Whispering Brazier on the same plane and to other interplanar Braziers across planes.
1x Divination Warding - Using a permanent Private Sanctum to secure an area against prying eyes.
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
3
Spoiler
Whisperer - Sends and receives messages with a Whispering Brazier. - 1 per shift
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
Crew Quarter (Regular)
Spoiler
A small room with a bed, a locker and a small desk.
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
Everflame Generator
Spoiler
Using an Everflame enchantment, this section heats water for use in steam armaments.
Spoiler
1x Everflame Steam Generator - Using the same principle as the Everflame Smelter, this component can heat large amounts of water to extreme temperatures.
2x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
3
Spoiler
Generator Operator - Monitors and maintains a steam generator. They also perform repairs on steam related infrastructure of the vessel. - 5 per shift
Mess Hall
Spoiler
Includes eating space and a small kitchen to prepare meals.
Spoiler
1x Purification Ring - Removes poisons and contaminations from everything passing through it.
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
2
Spoiler
Cook - Prepares food for crew and passengers - 5 per shift
Sickbay
Spoiler
Room for healers to work and sick crewmembers and passengers to stay.
Spoiler
1x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
Provides purified, fresh water and disposes of waster water.
8
19,040
9
2,380
Spoiler
Volume (m³): 10
Weight (t): 1
Water Generation (m³ per minute): 1.14
Spoiler
2x Communicator - By using Ghost Sound, this item can transmit sound to any other Communicator on the vessel and thus allows two-way communication.
2x Purification Ring - Removes poisons and contaminations from everything passing through it.
1x Decanter (Water) - Produces 5 gallons of water per second.
1x Anti-Decanter (Water) - Removes 5 gallons of water per second.
3
Spoiler
Water System Engineer - Operates and maintains a water system and the piping. - 2 per shift
Armor is Hardened and enchanted steel-lead-composite with a internal crystal lattice to diffuse planar energies.
It also has a Glamer effect for visual cloaking, is warded against teleportation effects to prevent anyone from teleporting into the hull or on the armor.
Lastly, it has special Mythral mirrors embedded into the outer layer that are part of the visual systems installed on the bridge.
The armor is 10% lead to scramble some of the lower-end divination spells and psychic powers.
The Dauntless class armor is 40cm thick.
Hardness per inch of armor: 21, HP: 243
Mercury: 24,576(t)
I think @MTB was on point and you get steel and lead usage by calculating the weight of 40cm of armor plating and summing 10% of that as lead and 90% as steel, and then for the weight of each component for the rest of the superstructure is also steel.
I would have to do some math to figure out those numbers though. I am near-certain Azel's program probably just gives the weight of both as part of the final calculations (mostly based off my impression of how he made the synergetic spreadsheets).
Also goddamn, one Dauntless is 200,000 IM of enchanting costs, or about a third of our current total throughput. The magi-tech industrial complex is still a distant future. Though we're pretty much there already with Alchemy.
