Brockton's Celestial Forge (Worm/Jumpchain)

Nimeroni · Mar 31, 2023

Zakara said:
The fact that Safeguard, QA, Sting, and Queen Shaper all wound up on the American East coast of a single Earth is compelling evidence that Zion wasn't distributing his Shards properly at all.

Truly random systems have clusters, just look at the ~~fucking troll~~ Forge.

drvash said:
Given the emphasis on anti-Simurgh protection, how protected is Aisha's mind?

Does Psi-Operative conditioning automatically include Occlumency mental shields?

XCOM 2 psi-operative have a passive ability called "Solace". In the game, it's a small passive AoE that break and prevent every mind altering effect on allies, including panic and mind control. It's centered on the operative and permanently protect him too.

I think for the purpose of this story, Lord have gone on record saying Solace would merely be an extremely high resistance to mind effect, unlike the absolute protection from Joe's Mental Fortress.

Still pretty darn good, but Aisha really need to start her training.

AnaqiX said:
Since when did this happen? Did I miss something? I don't remember him getting it at all.

Victor stole a very small amount of Alchemy knowledge from Aisha at the summit. It was not enough to damage her (so no one realized what happened), but it was enough to steer him on the right path.

Well, the not-so-right path. He want to attempt human transmutation of his dead wife.

Nimeroni · Mar 31, 2023

Cazador said:
Wonder how strong spark would affect joe mentally bouts of mania maybe

Sadly, Joe have enough perk to avoid the worst of the megalomania.

(Sadly for us I mean. Sanity is boring.)

"What sort of effect will a fully actualized Mental Fortress have on Joe's mental stability while in the madness place, once he gets Strong Spark

Click to expand...

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Mental Fortress states "Your sense of individuality and self is so strong that invasive influences find your mind impenetrable.". The effects of the Spark aren't an invasive influence, so they wouldn't be fully negated by Mental Fortress. However, the strong sense of individuality and self will help Joe keep his awareness even through the worst stages of the Maddness Place. It's not going to negate it, but he'll be a lot more himself than any other Spark could hope to be in that condition.

"I remember I saw some people that wanted Joe to get the Strong Spark perk, but is it really that good? From the description it seems like a pretty bad perk for him, though I don't actually know how it works since I don't know anything about Girl Genius. To me it seems like he can make basically tinker tech for anything he can think of without maintenance, but at the costs of it being completely random, possibly feeling exactly the same way the new colours and their workshop do to Joe, possibly not using his skills (I don't mean the quality increase perks, just his actual knowledge) to make them or just being useless (If you make a death ray why not go the full mile and make robots or drones to use them instead of giving them to rats?) and not being able to control when he will go in or out of this state at all. Have I misunderstood it or is there something I'm missing since I don't know anything about the media to comes from ?

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

Strong Spark is a very powerful perk. 'Strong' in this context means Heterodyne, Wulfenbach, Sturmvoraus, or Voltaire. It come with massive boosts to technology level, crafting speed, and quality of creations. The random element can be managed, with full blackouts only happening early in a spark's career or when they hit stage 3 of the madness place. Joe's instability will never be as bad as it could be thanks to regulating perks like Sei Ki. The things he creates as a spark, even in a full spark fugue, will be actual works of science, even with the reality warps included. Sparks warp reality, but they do so in a manner that's (somewhat) controlled and reproducible, at least for themselves.

Southern Cross · Mar 31, 2023

For those interested, the Girl Genius story begins here.

Mr_Rose · Mar 31, 2023

Sparks… a Strong Spark is the kind of person that can produce a pistol weapon that can punch cylindrical holes through mountains at a range of several miles, while half asleep, and using repurposed torture equipment. This plus Joe's existing abilities….

UncleSadBedroom · Mar 31, 2023

stuck in workshop

please send help

Dur'id the Druid · Mar 31, 2023

Honestly, the Ashia perspective was not only great, but needed! It's showing just how Eldrich Joe is becoming. And highlighting the problems of getting so much power so quickly. I've said it before, but I'm actually more interested in everyone around and interacting with Joe than Joe himself at this point. 🤷

Nimeroni · Mar 31, 2023

Mr_Rose said:
Sparks… a Strong Spark is the kind of person that can produce a pistol weapon that can punch cylindrical holes through mountains at a range of several miles, while half asleep, and using repurposed torture equipment. This plus Joe's existing abilities….

Yeah, there are strong parallels between girl genius Sparks and worm Tinkers. Both craft wonders from crap by subtly changing the rules of reality, and they both take a toll on the sanity of their users.

UncleSadBedroom said:
stuck in workshop

please send help

We have at most one workshop segment before going into interludes.

goku90504 · Mar 31, 2023

LordRoustabout said:
Tetra was still pulsing red, and to a much greater degree than she had before, even when directly feeding. There was also that rainbow glow. Not a normal rainbow, but like you were actively watching the red light the bled off her being split into composite colors.

the red light that bled off her?

LordRoustabout said:
Plus, she had every thinker on the planet shitting themselves in fear whenever she wanted to skip a line or avoid an annoying person on the street. And her striker could take that further, opening up new possibilities beyond just hiding herself of someone else. She needed to practice with it, and that wasn't something she could do in the computer. At least not yet.

herself or someone else?

Because_i_can · Apr 1, 2023

Mr_Rose said:
Sparks… a Strong Spark is the kind of person that can produce a pistol weapon that can punch cylindrical holes through mountains at a range of several miles, while half asleep, and using repurposed torture equipment. This plus Joe's existing abilities….

Nimeroni said:
Yeah, there are strong parallels between girl genius Sparks and worm Tinkers. Both craft wonders from crap by subtly changing the rules of reality, and they both take a toll on the sanity of their users.

Don't forget, Sparks are also ridiculously charismatic, like mind-warpingly so, people who spend too much time around Sparks slowly warp into "minions" and become supportive wholeheartedly willing participants in whatever madness a Spark gets up to. They really put the cult in cult of personality

Anomalous Object · Apr 1, 2023

Because_i_can said:
Don't forget, Sparks are also ridiculously charismatic, like mind-warpingly so, people who spend too much time around Sparks slowly warp into "minions" and become supportive wholeheartedly willing participants in whatever madness a Spark gets up to. They really put the cult in cult of personality

The sort of idealism that is inherent to them is rather...I want to say "attractive" but that has sexual connotations that don't necessarily apply.

LightLan · Apr 1, 2023

Anomalous Object said:
The sort of idealism that is inherent to them is rather...I want to say "attractive" but that has sexual connotations that don't necessarily apply.

magnetic, perhaps?

It also is something that doesn't work on everyone.
(The inhabitants of mechanicsburg don't count. Those it doesn't work on got selected out long ago)

Anomalous Object · Apr 1, 2023

LightLan said:
magnetic, perhaps?

It also is something that doesn't work on everyone.
(The inhabitants of mechanicsburg don't count. Those it doesn't work on got selected out long ago)

It presumably depends on which specific ideals you focus on.

Flufferton · Apr 1, 2023

Can we talk about Tetra's 'Conceptual Teleport Bonding' power? Specifically how it relates to Matrix? I bring this up because Matrix' true body is the Omega Nanite which is connected to -every- nanite that is part of the Matrix Network...including those in Passenger Space.

Dracovictorious · Apr 1, 2023

Flufferton said:
Can we talk about Tetra's 'Conceptual Teleport Bonding' power? Specifically how it relates to Matrix? I bring this up because Matrix' true body is the Omega Nanite which is connected to -every- nanite that is part of the Matrix Network...including those in Passenger Space.

Oh that is a broken combo and I love it. Expanding on that, and admittedly trying to cheese a little, life fibers can emulate technology. A door is technology, any door that's been used to open the workshop can be used again in the future to exit.

If Tetra were to become an anchored door, have Joe open the workshop, teleport to Passenger space, and reform the door... would that be a way to get Joe into and out of Passenger space?

The Shallow · Apr 1, 2023

So I know that the next interlude arc will be covering the mess that is currently New Wave, but rereading the Chubster Interludes, I noticed that the whole point of the critical team roster was that they're on standby to ensure no contact between The Teeth and the Celestial Forge; To quote Alexandria directly;

Chapter 65.4 said:
"Given the potential of any member of the Celestial Forge becoming a host for the Butcher, the critical situation roster has been engaged to be ready to intervene."
[...]
"Nonlethal containment methods specific to the Butcher will be provided, with action drills for select members to commence this evening. In the event that containment proves infeasible additional measures have been approved, with briefings taking place on a need-to-know basis."

Tuesday is gonna be very interesting. If the situation breaks down significantly, the person most likely to be deployed, IMO, is Tybalt. Not only due to his combat capabilities, but also due to the fact that Tybalt has divine Authority over the dead spirits of warriors; Parahuman-Magic Equivalence turns the Butcher into a bizarre possession scenario, so Tybalt would be able to hold off/deal with the effect the best, until Joe could then extract the souls and deal with things (assumably Reincarnating Butcher III & VII).
However, if Tybalt leaves the Charity Event and joins the fray, the CSR are gonna swoop in, which is gonna be fascinating to see.

Aside from that, the S9 are showing up on Wednesday? I gotta say, I can't wait for Monday to end. I love that Alexandria might show up on Tuesday, only to get called right back in the next day

I also wonder what Legend is gonna think of Apeiron...

Whamodyne · Apr 1, 2023

The Shallow said:
Aside from that, the S9 are showing up on Wednesday? I gotta say, I can't wait for Monday to end. I love that Alexandria might show up on Tuesday, only to get called right back in the next day
I also wonder what Legend is gonna think of Apeiron...

My friend, you are a day behind. It is currently Tuesday night, April 26th 2011 in story. The Charity Event is Weds night and the S9 are a day or two after that. Lisa said that the Empire 88 would be making a move on the Teeth while the Charity Event was going on and while Joe (ok, really Survey) will be keeping an eye on that if it doesn't start to involve civilians in danger he will let it go.

I suspect everybody on Team CF who can away with it will have a robot double on standby in case they do need to go and handle something like Hookwoof becoming the Butcher and suddenly heading for the ABB neighborhoods.

I also suspect this won't happen as LordR has laid out the major plot points for the next week or so storywise and this is not one of them.

The Shallow · Apr 2, 2023

Whamodyne said:
My friend, you are a day behind. It is currently Tuesday night, April 26th 2011 in story. The Charity Event is Weds night and the S9 are a day or two after that. Lisa said that the Empire 88 would be making a move on the Teeth while the Charity Event was going on and while Joe (ok, really Survey) will be keeping an eye on that if it doesn't start to involve civilians in danger he will let it go.

I suspect everybody on Team CF who can away with it will have a robot double on standby in case they do need to go and handle something like Hookwoof becoming the Butcher and suddenly heading for the ABB neighborhoods.

I also suspect this won't happen as LordR has laid out the major plot points for the next week or so storywise and this is not one of them.

Huh. Woops, my bad there.

That last point is a good one, though I'm not sure I'm aware of all events you may be referring to? I know of
Wednesday - Bakuda's Deadman's Switch is finally decoded by the Spiritron Computer. The Charity Event kicks off, featuring Uppercrust's first public appearance since healing, and Gully showing up as a pseudo-PRT rep. E88 kick off coordinated action against the Teeth to try to drive them out of The Bay.
Thursday or Friday - The Slaughterhouse 9 are slaughtered. Apeiron meets the Triumvirate at the crime scene.
Does the tentative timeline extend beyond that?

Flarlix · Apr 2, 2023

The Shallow said:
Huh. Woops, my bad there.

That last point is a good one, though I'm not sure I'm aware of all events you may be referring to? I know of
Wednesday - Bakuda's Deadman's Switch is finally decoded by the Spiritron Computer. The Charity Event kicks off, featuring Uppercrust's first public appearance since healing, and Gully showing up as a pseudo-PRT rep. E88 kick off coordinated action against the Teeth to try to drive them out of The Bay.
Thursday or Friday - The Slaughterhouse 9 are slaughtered. Apeiron meets the Triumvirate at the crime scene.
Does the tentative timeline extend beyond that?

One thing that might be included is some case 53 healing or interactions because of Tetras change.

I'm looking forward to that personally, though I wonder how some powers will work after no longer being case 53.

Like Weld's power could potentially weaken with being cured or it could essentially just become a breaker or changer form.

The Shallow · Apr 2, 2023

Flarlix said:
One thing that might be included is some case 53 healing or interactions because of Tetras change.

I'm looking forward to that personally, though I wonder how some powers will work after no longer being case 53.

Like Weld's power could potentially weaken with being cured or it could essentially just become a breaker or changer form.

Well, spoilers, obviously, but Gully showing up at the Charity Event is gonna lead to her being able to secure a contract. Realistically speaking she's kinda the simplest to deal with, as her body's main problem is that it's a mess of super-collagen that isn't sure if it's muscle or skin. Her power is also generally separate from her biology, so no struggles there.

Whamodyne · Apr 2, 2023

The Shallow said:
Huh. Woops, my bad there.

That last point is a good one, though I'm not sure I'm aware of all events you may be referring to? I know of
Wednesday - Bakuda's Deadman's Switch is finally decoded by the Spiritron Computer. The Charity Event kicks off, featuring Uppercrust's first public appearance since healing, and Gully showing up as a pseudo-PRT rep. E88 kick off coordinated action against the Teeth to try to drive them out of The Bay.
Thursday or Friday - The Slaughterhouse 9 are slaughtered. Apeiron meets the Triumvirate at the crime scene.
Does the tentative timeline extend beyond that?

That's a good summary. Somewhere in there is erasing the S9 legacy so going around and dealing with Grey Boy bubbles. When? Might be right after the S9 curbstomp, might be a bit later.

What Joe does when Bakuda's deadman switch is fully broken is up in the air. I asked in a WOG that when this happens does Joe immediately make a move on the people with bombs in their head in Shepard's Park. He dodged the question so it's a definite maybe!

I'll also add "take care of Coil within the week". How that goes down depends on when/if the Undersiders have a meeting at Coil's base in the next week. If that happens Joe gets sensor data on both Noelle of the Travelers and Dinah. I suspect Joe frees Dinah within 25 seconds of finding out about her, not quite sure what he does about Noelle . If no Undersider meeting at the base, not sure how that plays out.

When Joe cures Gully I wish he gives her a soul bound shovel of awesome.

The Shallow · Apr 2, 2023

Whamodyne said:
That's a good summary. Somewhere in there is erasing the S9 legacy so going around and dealing with Grey Boy bubbles. When? Might be right after the S9 curbstomp, might be a bit later.

Given the way it's been talked about, I'm assuming he'll make it part of one continuous deployment. Like, after parlaying with the Triumvirate, he'll go off and start healing/fixing everything.

Whamodyne said:
What Joe does when Bakuda's deadman switch is fully broken is up in the air. I asked in a WOG that when this happens does Joe immediately make a move on the people with bombs in their head in Shepard's Park. He dodged the question so it's a definite maybe!

I don't know about that. Given the S9 operation being really close, I could see him delaying dealing with them for a day or two, healing them as part of the S9 deployment to minimize how disruptive it would be by itself.

Whamodyne said:
I'll also add "take care of Coil within the week". How that goes down depends on when/if the Undersiders have a meeting at Coil's base in the next week. If that happens Joe gets sensor data on both Natalie of the Travelers and Dinah. I suspect Joe frees Dinah within 25 seconds of finding out about her, not quite sure what he does about Natalie. If no Undersider meeting at the base, not sure how that plays out.

Noelle would be someone he quickly wants to deal with, I think. She'd be easy to heal, the power-shenanigens would be the only tough part.

Kirill · Apr 2, 2023

Flufferton said:
Can we talk about Tetra's 'Conceptual Teleport Bonding' power? Specifically how it relates to Matrix? I bring this up because Matrix' true body is the Omega Nanite which is connected to -every- nanite that is part of the Matrix Network...including those in Passenger Space.

Omega Nanite exists in superposition with Tier One nanobots only, but Matrix can exert his Divine Crafting to low-grade nanobots in Passenger Space, so who knows?

Slentoru · Apr 2, 2023

The Shallow said:
Wednesday - Bakuda's Deadman's Switch is finally decoded by the Spiritron Computer. The Charity Event kicks off, featuring Uppercrust's first public appearance since healing, and Gully showing up as a pseudo-PRT rep. E88 kick off coordinated action against the Teeth to try to drive them out of The Bay

Pretty sure that Joe also planing on meeting with Blasto on Wednesday.

90 Outreach said:
"We'll reach out to Blasto tomorrow." I said. If we couldn't reach him electronically then maybe we would pay a house call. After all, he did say 'any time you find convenient'.

Considering Lauren's interlude after Summit.

63.1 Interlude Lauren said:
"What about the miracle sensors?" Lauren asked.

"You mean just ask Apeiron if he doesn't mind us taking the first crack at his sworn enemies?" Rey joked.

She shrugged. "Can't hurt. He set up that contact info for a reason. It would also help when dealing with the old man. Let him think we've got things in hand."

There is a chance of Blasto and Joe working out something against ABB. Considering that at this point, Joe will already have Deadman's switch broken and would believe ABB to be not much of a priority, he might allow Lost Garden to act against ABB with some supervision from Survey and/or Tybalt, while himself focusing on discretely helping hostages and minimizing the damage to anything that's not ABB. That will allow to deal with ABB, deal with Lost Garden, frame everything as if CF did not have much to do with event (thus, avoiding throwing CF related panic into the mix), minimize the damage Lost Garden might cause to city in their mission of vengeance, and save some people while at that.

Sending other people to deal with problems, while providing them with so much support from behind the scene that they can't possibly fail, also sound pretty in line with Joe's strategy on discrete problem-solving. That strategy being - to work in mysterious ways.

Subrosian_Smithy · Apr 2, 2023

Tetra is a transwarp-capable living Bifrost; she could probably break into shardspace by force if she needed to.

Mordimera · Apr 2, 2023

So we have Matrix-Tetra combo for her getting into shardspace but after that I think Tetra will borrow Aisha's key (that she got from Garment) to hop over and open the Workshop from the ship.
Aisha might be reluctant to separate from it but she knows the stakes so she'll lend it for the minute it takes.

Brockton's Celestial Forge (Worm/Jumpchain)

Shallow, Yet Deep

Shallow, Yet Deep

Shallow, Yet Deep

Shallow, Yet Deep

endless