Crafters Stranger than Usual

Since the invitation had been offered out for some members of the Uncrowned to join the Scale Emblem Alliance, Tian had been largely quiet over the Chimlinks. Perhaps most dismiss this as having an obvious reason behind it. Afterall, the Palace Lander is deaf, afterall. Perhaps the Chimlinks simply don't work the same way for them.

However, there is likely other reasons that the unusual individual has decided to remain on radio silence. It is kept relatively quiet, perhaps to avoid having word spread to the enemy, that crafters from across Yamato are now seeking ways to disable the Crowns of Control without the dangerous side effects of the current techniques.

Tian has been set up within Mithrilscale Ironworks, along side their current companion, Haru. The two crafters being provided this space to prepare their studies and experiment away from the eyes of the public.

Tian sits, a variety of books surrounding them, their wolf mask hung up on the wall but their face still painted. Then again, much of it has run with sweat beads from the heat in the room. The Cait Sith doesn't seem to notice all that much. Their usually well-groomed and carefully painted features intense as they seem to be... reading four books at once, turning pages between them randomly as they study.

Schneider enters the Ironworks for a completely unrelated reason. He's considering trading in his starter sword, and wondering if they have any upgrades that aren't too pricey. So, he walks in, whuffs at the steam and heat, but what else did he expect in an Ironworks, and takes a look around.

Seeing someone there working, he'll approach, but the fellow is obviously up to his elbows, as it were, in some project, so he'll hang out and just sort of watch until Tian reaches a stopping point. Anyway, there's all sorts of swords and things, and he ought to get to know them. He's not useless in a physical fight, just not particularly good, and he's thinking about maybe training, too.

He's chosen his place as an Exploder Wizard, but the class he picked is more of a Generalist, and he's maybe thinking about branching out, as moving up with BOOM is not working out so well for him. Well, it's fine so far, but he's hit kind of a stopping point.

Despite her initial tomboyish insistence that she didn't like it Vertina was still wearing the maid outfit. Just not all the time. But some of the 'dress for the job' aspect had stuck with her, and frankly it was more comfortable than her training outfit for working around the kitchen, or in this case, making deliveries.

So the Salamander in Maid Attire strolls into the smithy with a couple of bundles under an arm. "So this is where they put up shop for you guys."

If nothing else, Tian and their circle of books looks distinctly out of place amongst the rest of the Ironworks. It seems very odd, a person just sitting there, flipping pages, with the roar of the forge behind them. Then again, Tian likely can't hear it, anyways. There is an array of what looks to be fine tools, far too delicate for the normal work that Miho does. These likely belong to Tian and Haru.

Unfortunately for Schneider, Tian doesn't seem to come to any sort of natural 'break' in their research process, at least not any time in the reasonable span of someone's patience. They just continue to flip the page of one book, then another, gold eyes reading a third as they seem to not really notice anyone or anything around them.

It isn't until Vertina steps in, the strange outfit just catching the edge of Tian's vision, that the Cait Sith looks up, tilts their head, giving the Salamander a peculiar look. Perhaps maid cosplay isn't as common in the Palace Lands. There is a dazed expression there, as if it were slow for Tian's brain to boot past whatever they are currently working on.

After a pause, their hands raise to sign, "<That is a strange outfit to wear to a Forge.>"

Schneider is starting to get impatient waiting for Tian to get to a pausing point, and a couple of ahems go untranslated, and so unanswered, so he's considering his options regarding just shouting, or shaking the fellow out of his reverie, as it seems, but either one of those is poor manners, and Schneider's not that far gone yet. Anyhow, he can sort of work out what the subject matter is, having been involved in the original decrowning, and so he's eager to find out if there's more possibilities.

He turns around as he hears a familiar voice, and smiles to Vertina, "Oh, hey!" A lizard in a maid outfit is too funny for words, but he tries not to laugh, because she's taking this so seriously. He's not the type that gets all huffy at maid outfits anyhow, so he's mostly amused inappropriately. He has clearly not seen Black Lagoon or he'd know what a maid is capable of. Tian's comment gets a smirk of agreement, but he can only shrug. "It's .... traditional, in ... some places." Maid cafes, anyhow. Do we have those here, now? Is Vertina's place now a Maid Cafe? It would be if Gwen got her way, he's pretty sure. That would be kind of strange.

"Hello Schneider. Checking on things too?" Then a soft chuckle at Tian. "You're not wrong. But it's perfect for food prep and making sure people are taken care of."

The look in Tian's eyes just confirms it. "I've been in this crafter mood. It's hard to find time to eat even when you want to." Vertina holds out the bundles. "So instead I brought snacks!"

That 'confused puppy' sort of look lingers on Tian's features as their head tilts one way, then the other, oversized ears flopping slightly as they seem to try to make sense of the explination from both Schneider and Vertina, reconciling that with the outfit. "<If you say so.>" Then, after a pause, they add. "<It is pretty.>"

One hand reaches forward, flipping the page of one of the books, even if Tian's eyes are not really reading at the moment. All the books seem to be studies of strange relics or guides to crafting jewelry.

Tian's stomach growls at the mention of food, and with the distraction, the Cait Sith swallows and gives a nod, reaching out to accept the bundle being offered their way. "<I can eat.>" Then, looking down at the books and then back again, it seems to be a struggle to not dive back in to the research.

Scooting themselves back from the books, the crafter wipes some sweat off of their forehead, neatly removing a good swath of their makeup in the process. It becomes clear that they have a normal skintone underneath the makeup that seems ever-present, but the individual seems too distracted to care about keeping it immaculate right now. Touching a hand to their chin, they extend it outward. "<Thank you.>" Their gold eyes flick between the two of them, seeming to try to maintain focus.

Schneider is checking on things? There are things to check on here? "I actually came to look at swords," he explains to Vertina. He's got a sword at his hip, but Vertina will probably recognize it as a starter sword. If they had the same style of starter swords in the Palace Lands, Tian might recognize it also, but normally things like starting gear seem to be regionally based, so Palace Lands starter swords look Chinese.

He takes a look at what Tian is studying, and ohs as he finally gets an idea pf what's going on. He's only a bit slow on the uptake. "You're researching the Crowns thing, then?" he wonders. "Yeah, that was a giant pain in the ass, the way we had to do it. But it was cool that we could. But if you can find another way, that's even cooler." He nods gravely, distracted now from his sword shopping. Which it seems isn't Tian's side of the business in any event.

Vertina nudges some books aside with her arm so she can set the packs down and open them. They contain various dried fruits, rice balls and grungy jerky. Healthy snack foods. "Help yourself ~"

With a blink, pupils widening slightly and then narrowing again as they shake their head, Tian offers: "<You should speak to Miho about swords.>" The most notable sign they utilize looks as if they are motioning someone drawing a sword and swishing it through the air. "<Normally I could help, but no time.>" There is a motion of the hand towards the books before grabbing one of the rice balls and unceremoniously chowing down with abandon.

Eyes half-lidding over, there is a look of appreciation on the Palace Lander's features, and an instinctual sound of appreciation. For someone who doesn't usually make sounds, it may seem surprising, perhaps.

Then, at the mention of the Crowns, Tian's eyes open again and shift to Schneider with a laser-like focus. "<Yes. There was a rebel Accessory Crafter I knew in Rosenheim who knew a way, but I can't make contact.>" Tian touches the middle fingers of both hands together, shaking their head. "<Trying to reverse-engineer what they did.>" One hand still holding the rice ball, they tap at a book with the other, the food already forgotten for the most part.

Schneider nods to Tian about speaking to Miho. "Right," he agrees. As far as not having time, well, with four books open, even Schneider can figure out that Tian's up to his eyeballs in some project or other. He looks intrigued at word that an Accessory crafter knew a way to remove them. "Hopefully he's not ..." Well, the Palace Landers have lots of ways to hold people, he expects. Or the person could have, himself, been crowned in the meantime. He nods about reverse engineering the process, and says, "If I can help, I will, though I don't know what I can do. I don't do any of the crafting business."

Though now he's thinking about rescue missions, and whether he could /airship/ over to the Palace Lands, and ... "Does anyone have paper?" he asks, the math has quickly become too much to keep track of in his head.

The look of appreciation is enough thanks for Vertina. "You're welcome." Then turns her attention to Schneider for a moment. " I know some weaponsmithing but it's mainly fist weapons and martial arts equipment."

Miho was up late working and had passed out face first in her bed. Tail up in the air but the smell of food wakes the sleeping. She's not fully awake clad in shorts and a tank top she'll wander out sniffing at the air mumbling about food. Her big old mine dog follows concerned trying to guide the zombish Miho to the group. Someone needs some food and coffee..

Tian seems to consider the propsect that their contact might have fallen, but then shakes their head. "<I removed key contacts from my friend list before coming to Yamato. In the case I was captured and Crowned, it was best I could not be used against them.>" This makes some sense, and likely also explains why there isn't as much communication from the Uncrowned to their allies back in the Palace Lands.

"<We make contact in-person. Safer to ensure no one has been turned.>" It may seem a bit strange for friend lists to be used in such a way, but they do allow people easy access to the location of their allies, which could be dangerous for the resistance as a whole.

It is only then that Tian remembers there is food in their hand, as they reach for something only to find that they are bumping a rice ball into one of the books. Confused, they raise it up, then start eating again. Unfortunately, with Miho wandering out in a state of what some might consider 'undress', Tian just stares, mid-bite of riceball. First Vertina, now Miho. This appears to be the day for Tian to be surrounded by women in outfits that make them double-take.

Coughing, Tian averts their eyes and motions towards one of the work tables, focusing on answering Schneider. "<There is paper there. Just do not use any with designs on them.>" They awkwardly sign, the rice ball getting in the way a few times, but the system seems to translate, regardless. It's somewhat like talking with your mouth full for deaf people.

Schneider nods to Vertina, and smirks about fist weapons and martial arts gear. "I ... that's not really my style, though," he says. "Though if you know any kendo, I might wind up training that a bit?" He looks over as Miho emerges from the back, but ... it looks like she's not in any shape, at the moment, to discuss swords.

He nods as Tian explains about using Friend lists for nefarious purposes and winces. "Uh, that's awful."

He follows Tian's glance over to Miho, but a lizard in shorts and a tank top iss just ... kind of like someone in a mascot character suit, it's really not a sexy thing, and he doesn't understand people who think it is.

Vertina turns her attention again as Miho staggers in. "There's some snack food and jerky on the table." Pigtails flick as she shifts focus back to Schneider. "Wisteria is the one to ask about Kendo."

Miho is not awake enough yet to clue into the situation there she seems to start noticing people however at the very least. "mmmm Tian? Vertina? Schneider...?" She's making for the food though she is waking up more and what's been said does seem to register to her groggy brain. "Wait you had to do wha...." Then it hits Miho she looks down for a moment turns bright red and speeds back to her quatters to change. The dog just has this oh for the love of look on it's face.

Finishing off the rice ball, Tian dusts their hands off and adds: "<I have experienced what it is like being Crowned.>" This is a revelation that Tian has not brought to light previously. Perhaps being quite so distracted, they are more apt to letting their tongue slip on certain matters. "<So I am very careful about not creating situations where I can be used against my allies.>"

Mention of the Crowns, however, immediately has their attention turning back to the books in front of them. The Cait Sith looks down again, starting to read one of them, another hand turning the page in one of the other books.

The quick movement of Miho running back to her quarters has Tian looking up again. Likely, they are used to reacting to visual stimulus like this more than to people's words. There is another brief look of confusion. "<Is something wrong?>" They stare in the direction Miho had gone.

Schneider hrms and nods to Vertina. "I will talk to her, then," he says thoughtfully. And that's as far as he can go with that plan. He looks blank as Miho turns red dashes back, mumbling, "What was that about?"

He boggles at Tian having been crowned, but if he's not, now ... but that also explains how he knows a guy in the Palace Lands that can uncrown people. "Ah, that's amazing," he says. "What criteria do they chose for crowning? Rebels, malcontents? Randomly? How many people /are/ crowned? About how many, I mean? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?"

Vertina blinks as Tian drops that bomb. "Explains why you're so invested in this project." She watches as Miho turns red for a Salamander and flees back to her room. As a fellow female she gets the feeling even if she doesn't have the 'build' Miho does. "She woke up enough to realize she wasn't dressed for work." She is polite about it though.

She takes a bit of jerky and tosses it to the dog. Then looks back to the others. "Those are all good questions Schneider but don't overwhelm him all at once."

Miho comes back looking less flustered and ahems. "I'm not used to anyone other than my dog behing here in the morning! So good morning to you all." She quiets down to listens as Vertina gets the right of it. She's going to get some food for herself now as she does not add more questions to overload Tian with...

It's obvious that Tian's mind has trouble switching topics, something that is quite common for those under the effect of a Strange Mood. They seem quite puzzled, even with Vertina's offered explination of Miho's behavior. "<What is there to be ashamed of? She is beautiful.>" Tian motions a hand around their face, still uncertain about the behavior.

Whatever the case, questions about the Crowns seize their attention again easy enough. "<Yes.>" Tian raises a fist and bobs it forward, nodding their head in agreement with Vertina's assessment. <"We need more who can remove crowns if we are to save my people.>" The Cait Sith doesn't elaborate on how, exactly, they escaped that fate, and since no one had asked directly, that remains unknown. Instead, they blink as the barrage of questions comes their way.

After a moment of hesitation, those gold eyes seeming to consider briefly, Tian answers. "<Hundreds of thousands. In Kallamore, less than other places. Those who act openly. Those who wish to have roles or positions trusted in the kingdom. Those who wish to fight in the arena.>" Tian explains. "<All are watched. If there are signs of any negative action, they are Crowned.>"

Tian, of course, is from Kallamore, so can speak more aptly about that Kingdom more than others, it seems. "<In Rosenheim, nearly all Adventurers caught are Crowned. In Thor... those that remain Adventurers are crowned. Those who are not...>" Tian hesitates there, the signs seeming to trail off as their hands drop into their lap. "<They don't know any different life and live as Landers.>"

Schneider shrugs to Vertina, but it seems like Tian has all the answers. "Hundreds of thousands?" he repeats, and mouths a silent, "Wow." He nods as Tian breaks it down. "That's .... wow, that's incredible. To /have/ that many crowns in the first place is amazing, to be honest," he says, but then thinks back. "Wait ... were the Spriggans -all- Crowned, back during the Scrapped Princess War time?" That'd explain how they had so many now....

"Its more about being presentable for a work environment than beauty. Lots of ways a smith can hurt themselves." Vertina doesn't go farther on the subject because it's going to be forgotten as soon as ... Yup, the Crown related stuff got him going again.

The explaination of Kallamore's take on things has her cup a hand thoughtfully to her chin. "So even if they willingly took the Crown, they didn't know what they were really getting into..."

Miho wakes the heck up at Schneider "If that is the case they ended up freed did they not? Also to think the minds of so many have been enslaved or destroyed....Also where did these vile things come from in the first place? If your idea it right? This could be something from the Scrapped Princesses

"<Very many Crowns, but not unlimited.>" Tian confirms with a nod of the head, the sign that looks like putting on a crown now a familiar one from the Cait Sith. "<When removed by a Lander noble, the Crown remains intact.>" The Cait Sith goes on to explain. "<Other methods, even by skilled Crafters, destroy them.>"

Brows furrowing, the Cait Sith's tail thumps once behind them. "<I prefer them destroyed.>" The set of their features shows just how much hate the Uncrowned have for those devoices and what they can be used for.

"<Where and how, I do not know.>" Flattening a hand on one of the books, Tian seems to emphasize the point. "<All that matters is finding a way of getting rid of them and freeing my people.>"

Schneider nods to Miho about the Spriggans all getting free. "It'd be a good precedent, if it's true. But Ascheriit hasn't been around in forever, and he's the one who'd know."

He nods to Tian, and smirks, "Yeah, we got one off and BOOM. It almost went badly, but we had planned ahead." And had tons of healing ready at the instant. He nods agreement with Tian wanting the crowns destroyed, though he says, "That's a long-term goal at best."

Miho says "The crowns need to be destroyed and the way to make them lost into the sands of time as such a hrror should be." She looks to Schneider. "That's wonderful news, still it's so starkly differnt. I'm in decent standing with the noblity in Ninetails they seem really pleased with the weapons I forged for their elite knights who were fighting the undead...but who knows now..."

Haru is in the workshop. The tuft of white hair on the tall human makes him difficult to miss. He is absorbed in his work to the point where the amount of air he takes in and when he exhales influences the small taps of the lapidary hammer used in faceting an azure gemstone. His part of the workstation is painfully neat. Four books are fanned open like monitors in front of him in a curved arc and leave the area in front of him for his work. What tools can hang are on the wall. What cannot are at his feet, as well as a small black cat that is coiled and sleeping there due to the warms of the forge. Curiously enough, Haru doesn't acknowledge the levels of heat exhaustion that come with his work schedule. Pale skin is more reddish. The prespiration on his brow has crystalized into salt. It takes his arms trying to shape a band of metal in a prototype before he realizes he is both dehydrated and, probably, hungry. His stomach growls. Yes, also hungry.

The Artificer pushes back from the chair and stands. Haru hasn't needed to communicate as much with Tian. One, as he assumes it would take the other crafter's hands away for signing a response. Two, it never seemed necessary since the way they are approaching the research appears effortlessly understood. Like a kite to the open air. It surprises him that he missed the entrance of Vert and Schneider as he goes to rub his one visible eye. "Thats one way to look at it," he says. Its one of those generic statements that works in almost any situations.

Vertina was never big into lore so this is news to her. "So you're telling me the Spriggan get a bad rep for something they had no control over? Harsh." And then Haru finally joins in. Vertina smirks. "You get a chance to test out that new move yet Haru?"

With a bit of food in their stomach, even if it doesn't amount to much, Tian seems to take all of their various words to heart and looks back to the books scattered about in front of them. "<I need to get back to my research.>" There is a glance over towards Haru, inclining their head before pulling one of the texts into their lap.

"<Leave the food. I will eat more later.>" They'll probably forget, let's be honest. Still, at least the group offered a bit of a momentary distraction. In return... they got a bit more insight into the situation.

Schneider nods to Tian, and says, "Thank you for your insights." And, completely forgetting his original purpose for being here, will head out, taking his leave.

Haru's eye drifts to Schneider as they leave. He gives a slow blink of the eye. It is true he is not from Palace Lands and therefor his perspective isn't as interesting, but he didn't expect an evacuation the moment Tian was unavailable. A head turns to the Cait Sith with an incline back of the affirmative. It will allow them to get back to work sooner. He almost forgets that Vertina acknowledges him there. Like a ghost that was surprised someone could see him. A genuine hop of shock. "I did," his voice draws on like a hand brushing over a series of folders in a filing cabinent. He did test it out, didnt he? Of course he did. When was it?

"A few times," Haru admits in the longer drawl again. "I had one version where Terra did the striking, but the drills broke it up. Which reminded me of Rylen's Meteor Shower more. Which was helpful at the defense at Eas. And they mentioned they can help show me that move too. So I can mix those two together. Along with the Phoenix Featherstorm." He has wandered far away from the topic now. "If the metals are applied with heat and struck," his brain takes a transfer train in another direction. "Or alchemical methods," his blue eye is looking off into the distance. It snaps back to Vert, "Thank you for teaching it to me. It has been no shortage of both inspiration and utility." A head tilt to the head and one of those grateful, if not a bit manufactured, smiles.

Vertina sighs softly as Tian sinks back into his work. "This is why I brought snacks that won't waste quickly." Her focus goes back to Haru and she chuckles a bit at the reaccounts. "As long as it's useful I don't care how you put your own spin on it."

Haru's eyes flick back to trace where Vertina is looking. "Noted," he says in the briefest of replies there. Its true, it doesn't matter. He goes back to his workstation to get his navy blue jacket that is slung over the chair. The human is just wearing a white shirt up top with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow. He notices that the black cat, Eve, is still asleep by the foot of it. He kneels down to pet her on the head, only to be greeted by a set of sharp teeth on his hand. Monster Summons are not fren. Red eyes look up at Haru as he continues to pet while the red pixels form on his other hand, dismissing Eve for the time being as he stands up.

The jacket is slung over Haru's shoulder as he makes his way out for some fresh air, a meal, and a drink. He figured the snacks were for Tian and doesn't engage to clarify it.