Astrolabor

Jazz has found a barrel to sit on in the main square. It's not like there's an abundance of out door seating, but this is an MMO so there are TONS of crates. And barrels. And barrels with crates nearby. SOme of them look like they've been kicked by adventurers more than once in the hope loot might fly out in the early days of the Apocalypse. It didn't work.

In any event, Jazz is seated on a tall one and kicking her legs idly while she waits, hands tucked into the pocckets of her overcoat.

    It's not long until Giganpor arrives after the chimlink call. The Were Fang is in his human form, and carrying what looks like a large backpack that's probably pretty full of items. One particular item of note sticking out is some bread it looks like. He's definitely been doing some shopping.

    Looking around for a moment or two, he finally spots Jazz and heads over that way.

    "Hey, Jazz. You called?" He asks. Oh, and his outfit has changed from the noble, Wave hit knight armor, too. That's got to be a bit odd considering he was mostly known for that besides the smithing insanity.

"Yeah, I did," says Jazz, giving a nod towards Giganpor. She's squinting at him for a moment, but then she reaches into her coat. "You know how Shiroe and I have looking into making an astrolabe for navigational purposes, right?" She asks, glancing towards the sky and then back to Giganpor.

"Well, a Lander he knows gave us this." She unfurls a parchment and, indeed, it's a drawing. A drawing of an awstrolabe, a round disc with multiple interlocking plates. A primitive, analog computational device.

"/This is an astrolabe/. And what's more, they actuyally had the design. Which means ... I'm not sure *what* it means, actually." She frowns. "It's weird that there's a drawing of one and that he has it. Why was that... how did that..." She looks downb.

Squints.

"I don't know. But we have a design we can work from now."

    Giganpor hums, leaning closer to look at the design. He peers at it. "... interlocking plates... round discs... hm... copper might be best for light weight... it would take some skill to make the pieces and put it all together, but could work?"

    He rubs his chin, "My only question is if it would work as intended or if we would actually know how to use it? I'm not a seaman myself... my... real self couldn't handle it. But if it'll help out, I'm willing to get together with others and give it a try."

    The Were Fang looks considerate, then sighs. "We need to get copies of it made, I think. The drawing, I mean."

"Miyako seemed slightly familiar wiht it. They're inclometerss, after all, and there's only one way to find out the rest and that's trial and error. And a lot of it. If we're going to measure the heavqens and learn more about this world, we need to take our cues from ancient peoples. That's what I'm hoping to do. We're starting light years behind them and we have no idea what rules apply and /don't/. I aim to find out what I can." Her eyes flutter closed a moment and it just makes her look adorable.

"I can draw extra copies. I'm okaqy with a pencil." She rubs the back of her head, fingers tangling into her hair.

    Giganpor nods, "Go for it. Once you have the extra copies, send out word through the Alliance? You've got me to help at least. And if this lets us explore a good deal more, if not figure out if this is an actual Earth or similar to our Earth, we can use that."

    Giganpor looks thoughtful, "... I wonder if the other servers are a part of this world? I heard rumors other countries had them."

"...the stars are the same at a glance. I want to be sure." says Jazz, quietly, looking down. Her brim casts a shadow over her eyes as she does.

"They did. I had friends who played on the American servers. I heard things a little here and there, and about the Japanese servers too from the friends who played there, but I don't know jack about any of them, really."

    Giganpor shrugs, "We'll figure it out."

    He considers as he looks at the drawing. "But definitely need my own copy there. The more detailed the better. I also need to see if we can figure out what holds it all together and how that works into it's readings."

"Guess so," replies Jazz with a heavy sigh. She's still lookign dowwn. "All right. I'll get some parchment and maybe talk to Miyako. She might have some thoughts on how one is supposed to work. Between the lot of us we can probably make a go of it, but I'm not expecting an overnight miracle." It's Gonna Be Work.

She chews her lower lip, thoughtfully. "If we can make and then reproduce them, Shiroe's going to want us to make more of them for Fourlands probably."

    Giganpor nods, "I should have enough from whenever I do inlays on cross guards to produce a few. Plus, we can use it for those who want to learn forging to start out on."

    He shrugs, "The handicrafting way, anyways."

"Normally, astrolabes are made with brass. It might be worth seeing if brass is reproducable," remarks Jazz, "But for that we'd need to find out if zinc exists and, frankly, I'm not a metallurgist." She looks wry. "Sorry to be piling things on you here. Copper will *probably* do, but..." She raises her hands, wiggling her fingers along either side of her head, "who knows?" Her tentacles wiggle too.

    Giganpor shrugs, "I don't know. I need to find Kaydon and see if we can actually make new types of metals. I could've sworn I've seen something like brass before, but I'm not a huge expert on metals. I just used them before as requirements to make items, not study up on them."

    Giganpor rubs his chin, looking thoughtful. "The idea of having brass could be something to look into. Especially as it's more malleable and perhaps I can use it to make accessories. Maybe those will let me help ones like Shiroe and others who don't do the whole armor and weapon thing."

"There's a lot of things you'd want to use brass for in smithing," agrees Jazz. "And sharing that discovery with the Landers would probably prove of *immense* value, if it's not widely known." The Undine muses a moment, quietly tapping her fingers against her lips as she muses.

"I don't know how else I can really help with this. I know I'm asking a lot."

    "You're not. I'm actually happy to help with this. A part of me was worried that I wouldn't be able to help out as much if I had to rely on just weapons and armor. But figuring out brass... that opens a lot of possibilities. Not to mention figuring out if we can make this and make it work." Giganpor says.

    "Besides, for some reason I seem to be having a knack for creating things. Something that's making me quite happy so far."

Jazz yawns, nodding absently. Loset in thought. She does this sometimes. Just drifts off into distraction.

"Mmn," she says after a momewnt.

"Yeah, I guess it's good to havqe something tangible to hold onto," she adds after a moment.

    Giganpor shakes his head, "Not just something to hold on to. But to remind of the possibilities of this world as well. Of what we can do to try to make it better for us and the Landers, Jazz. That's my view on it."

    He shrugs, giving a sigh. "I should get these supplies back to where I'm staying."

"Yeah, sure," says Jazz to Giganpor, giving him a little wave. She seems to be losing herself thought once more. "...if the Landers *want* our help, anyway. If they're as real as we are, then perhaps we ought not mirror the patterns of our colonial earthly past..." She qcloses her eyes.

    Giganpor nods, "We need to perhaps take it a little slow. And in some ways not. Elements of the game are still here. The Tower, for example. And if those reports are right, we've got a new worry. So, perhaps, we can use what we know to give them more of a chance and to get general improvement on their lives."

    He smiles. "Keep at it, Jazz. Just because we're outsiders doesn't mean we can't at least find our own place in this world." The red-headed Were Fang gives a wave before he turns to go.

"Our own place " echoes Jazz, looking down at her shoes. "I do not know that that is possible but I expect we'll just have to make do." She seems ... thoughtful and distant, really, but then... when doesn't she?