Pre-Flight (Not-Quite) Jitters

Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider is here in the bare desert just southeast of Breg Epona in a small encampment. A ring of tents houses crafters who are currently working on a 15 meter longship held up on a frame. It can be boarded by a long ramp, and features a central mast and air bags fore and aft. Well, the attachment points for gas bags. The bags themselves are being worked over by the tailoring teams, reinforcing and double-reinforcing all the seams. The shipbuilders are attaching large leather bales to the hull at several points, using belts that look like they could be loosed quickly if the need arose.

Schneider is in the middle of all this, at an easel with a plan taked up on it, directing some other clerks and sending them off scurrying. He looks over the plan, frowns, looks up at the overcast sky, and shivers in the cold desert air. There is a small fire nearby, where workers who've gotten too cold can go take a break next to, heating up tea and such, but Schneider is used to huge fires, which isn't really appropriate near the airship.
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

The last time the Scale Emblem Alliance tried to conquer the skies, the skies promptly responded with a strongly worded cease and desist letter carried by a pair of very angry gargoyles. It was only the relatively low altitude of the flight in question, and the rapid response of the ground team, that kept it from being an absolute disaster. But hey, when at first you get accosted by angry stone devils from beyond the clouds, try somewhere where there isn't an obvious place for them to be pouncing down from!

Prophylaxis is, naturally, interested in making sure things go a little more predictably this time around. "So," he says from his seat atop a nearby crate of supplies. "Looks like you've got a bit of a sturdier design this time around. Are the parachutes all ready too? We'll need to make sure to account for those getting ripped to shreds, too."

Safety first, after all...!
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider nods about the parachutes. "Those are already packed and onboard. One for each crew member. I'm hoping that if we're attacked again, they'll go after the ship and the crew will be able to jump to safety in time." He explains further, "I did the test jumps at 100 feet, so I know that works, and so we'll fly at 100 feet, where we ought to be safe if we do have to bail out. And at 100 feet, we land almost immediately, even with the parachutes."

As far as things going more predictably, he can only shrug. "We'll focus on fighting at a distance from the airship, if we have to fight. I couldn't find a ballista to commandeer or buy anyplace, and the time the crafter gave me, it wouldn't be ready for months, so I'm biting the bullet on that one. Players generally do for themselves with ranged combat. At 100 feet, Navigation should be basically like land navigation. The leg over the water, it'll just be a matter of trying to hold a steady course."
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"Ah, planning a more longitudinal journey this time?" Prophylaxis asks, scratching thoughtfully at his cheek. "Hm. Well, if you're going over sea, you'll probably want to make sure to do something to account for storms. /Especially/ if you plan to take this thing across the sea to the Palace Lands. Last time I made the trip, we hit this wall of storms that tore us up pretty bad. I can't imagine it'll be much safer above the water than on top of it."

Especially if the balloon gets hit by lightning, or something.

"We might want to think about life vests as well..." Always thinking about safety this guy. Can't exactly blame him though, given his occupation. "When do you think we'll be able to use one to explore the spires of Dun Loireag or the inaccessible areas of Fort Ouph?"
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider nods about planning a more longitudinal journey, but he shakes his head about the Palace Lands. "Not that far. Just a short overwater leg to Takamatsu in Fourland." The comment about water life vests draws a nod, and he scribbles LIFE VESTS on his list of needs. It's a long list, and only a few are lined out.

"I'm hoping that using an actual ship would do for us if we go down over water. The bales of wool underneath are to pad the landing if we go down overland. Once we're overwater, we'll jettison those." Much to the surprise of any fish. As far as storms go, he says, "It's going to be a bit ironman about the storms, but I'm holding out for a streak of good weather. Should be some coming up in a couple weeks."

As far as being able to explore inaccessible areas, he shrugs. "That'd be phase three, when we get this to go off without a problem. Those things that came off the tower were tough opponents, but hopefully we're far enough away that they won't care. Or can't get here in time to make a difference. If we can go a week without interference, I'll risk that altitude."
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"If you want to be doubly sure about the storms, you might want to get some light metal caging around the balloon. You know, like a lightweight Faraday cage? That could be a good idea overall anyway, help give the thing some structural support, you know?" The last time, monsters were just able to rip straight into the balloon, and that was obviously no good. "For the next design, you could consider convincing an alchemist or two to figure out how to polymerize styrofoam for floatation. But that's all in the future."

Prophylaxis seems relieved to hear that this particular iteration of airship isn't going to be going all the way out to the Palace Lands. That could have been quite the disastrous journey.

Regarding the other bit, though--

"It'd be interesting to see if the Root Towns have similar anti-air defenses to the Tower. Though if any monsters do attack us, they'd probably have to deal with other security measures-- unless they /are/ part of the security measures..."

He thinks for a moment, but decides ultimately that it's too early to say for sure what kind of resistance they might run into.

Well. Almost.

"We're going to have to figure out how to sell this, you know," he says, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the airship. "To the Landers, I mean. If we're going to be flying these things around, they'll probably want to know that we're not going to be dropping fireballs on their heads. Maybe on the undead's heads, but certainly not /theirs./"
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider shakes his head about a faraday cage for the gas bags. "The lightest covering that's more than a couple thin wires would weigh too much, or I'd pur solid steel plates over the gas bags." He hrms about styrofoam, though. "That's an interesting idea." He looks concerned about the Root Town thing, and admits, "I didn't even think of that. Hopefully we're far enough outside town it won't matter. We will be heading directly away, too. What I'd like to do is fly with magic, but I don't even know where to start on that. Which is why we're flying with Physics. Which is just one type of magic, I guess."

He shrugs about selling flying to Landers. "Why? What do they care what we do if it doesn't impact them? On the first flight, when we got attacked, the monsters broke off after the ship went down."
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"Flying with magic is admittedly what I want to investigate the Root Towns for, among other things," Prophylaxis says with a shrug. "Especially Fort Ouph. The way Alvish seems to directly modify the rules and state of the world, and the fact that it seems to turn up around important parts of Root Towns... I wonder if Fort Ouph is being kept afloat by some of those mysterious words? If we found them, could we make use of their power as well?"

It's all kind of... up in the air...

With regards to Landers, though--

"Oh, well. That's easy." Prophylaxis wiggles a finger in the air. "You see, if they think we're up to no good, there's an increased chance of them deciding to just start flinging fireballs at us or something, especially given our less than sterling reputation among many of them. Heck, they might even think we're some kind of sky monster and open fire! Better to at least inform them 'hey, we're going to be flying,' or something of the sort."
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider hrms about flying with magic, and about Fort Ouph. He says, "That's probably City Magic, only the Root Towns have enough population to do it, but there's ways to tap off the life force to harness for magic power. I was looking into something like that for Tolbana, but everyone would be bleeding from the eyeballs to power the simplest enchantments. Root Towns are large enough to spread out the drain to not hurt anyone."

As far as the Landers, he shrugs and says, "We can give them all rides, once we get things working. But sure, we can let them know. Maybe have a big festival and generate some PR out of it? I don't understand why everyone hates us. It's not like we -cause- the Waves. It's a game mechanic. May as well blame us for NWA arming the goblins. Speaking of which, why does no one care about -that-?"
Setsuna
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0


    Setsuna was taking his dog for a walk, of course his dog was a large dire wolf that was also big enough for Setsuna to ride on. So this is a family outing, as the knight is riding along with them and Demon, he is running along side. On the Cerberus's back is a small saddle and there sits a quacker slime. Setsuna's MP is almost non-existant. He had heard there were fellow alliance members out here and well he had to get away from the fourth floor of the tower, he didn't feel clean after that whole thing. So a cloud of sand and dust they are before slowing just as they approach the two. " Well well well, what a pair of tumble weeds I seem to have ran in to. Unless Doc...would you be a Catcus? "
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"Mostly because it doesn't affect anyone outside us in the tower," Prophylaxis answers. "For those Landers /in/ the tower, though... Well, we've never seen if monsters can travel between floors, but I'd be surprised if they /couldn't./ We've already had one travel up from floor zero to Tolbana, so if the goblins on the fifth had gotten out of control, it could have threatened the sixth and fourth, too."

But of course, they no longer need to worry about that. Or rather, they won't have to worry about that anymore, soon enough.

He shakes his head, then. "No, I think it's something we can probably accomplish with Alvish. There was a Traveler using Alvish to do permanent magic, who claimed that his method was somehow not... requiring any energy to maintain. So I have high hopes that we'll be able to find a way to make it work."

Or maybe not! Maybe he's totally wrong and his hubris will get them all killed. That's a risk you gotta be willing to take!

And then, a Setsuna. "Ah, back from your meeting, are you? How did your chat with Mayor Roswaal go?"
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider looks up as Setsuna arrives with his little entourage. He just kind of boggles. But he shrugs about being a tumbleweed, says, "It's as good a place to launch from as any. He points to the airship and all the ancillary trappings."

To Proph he says, "I never thought about flying -in- the tower, I thought the trains were fine for that. Though I guess flying would avoid some of the things we'd like to avoid there." He can only shrug about Alvish. "I have no idea about that. I did research on spells that would affect a city, and how much mana that would take normally, but I know zilch about ALvish anything. Is there something to learn from, or is it all giess work?"
Setsuna
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0


    Setsuna shrudders at the name and the cerberus growls and lets out a lot of barking as if they too knew who Prophylaxis meant. Sliding off the dire wolf he gives a few whistles and they begin to scatter about and wander a little. Setsunas magic doesn't seem to be recovering though. Looking over at Prophylaxis the necromancer finally gives an answer , " If they had a school on that floor I would of measured to make sure he was living 500 yards away. In all your interactions with him you never mentioned the creep factor. "

     Setsuna plays some catch up on conversation before adding, " Uta and June. They are both heavily interested in languages. Merek too if I am remembering right. I think they each know a few words. There was also that mention on the root town boards about the chaos gates. I don't know who is behind that. " Stopping he pulled out a bottle and begins to drink and his mana bar goes up before it begins to trickle down more. " Alvish spells, you will need alvish words. "
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"I've learned a few phrases," the doctor says of Alvish and its mysteries. "But nothing that's managed to do anything of note other than make a few glyphs light up here and there." But that means it's gotta be doing /something/ right? If they learn enough, it might be useful in the long term. "Other than that, though... Yeah, it's mostly guess work. Matching glyphs with known sounds, figuring out how the alphabet works..." He looks to Schneider then, "I mean, if you wanted to help out, I'm sure that Scripture skill of yours would come in handy."

But then, Setsuna. Prophylaxis arches a brow at the sight of that potion and performs a quick Inspection. "Huh. Your mana's looking a little... Anemic, there. Trying to tame too many monsters?" He shakes his head, "Anyway, Roswaal's weird, but I didn't find him /creepy./ Maybe I'm just too used to... that kind of personality?" Or maybe Prophylaxis hung out with one too many chuunis in his day. "Well, anyway. What did you guys talk about? Is he offering you Rem's hand in marriage in exchange for your services?"
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider peers at Setsuna whose MP regen appears to be overtaxed. But he has no idea beyond that and hasn't been invited into that conversation. As to the magic words, he rolls his eyes as Setsuna mentions those individuals interested in languages. "Uta, June, and Merek? Talk about Larry, Moe, and Curly. June's at least not completely bent, apart from the barbarian princess cosplay. Lots of people dressing up funny and playacting. I dress funny, too, I guess. But Uta's wrapped around the axle on /slimes/," he says, making a face, "And Merek .... is Merek. The poster child for poor decision-making." He nods to Prophylaxis, "I hadn't realized this was real research you were entrusting them with, I thought it was just busywork. Of course Ill help."

As Proph speaks with Setsuna, he quiets down, he's got no idea what that's about.
Setsuna
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0


    Setsuna listens to the doctor and looks around, " Handling monsters is a magical feat where you impose your will over those you are handling. A lot of times the handler will impose it to the point where their actions are chosen by the user. I have some tricks to lower the mana amount used but well a handful is a handful. Lets just say with the full crew long term use takes its toll. Since I can't really stop till at least near the slime lab, well topping off the mana every now and then isn't bad. " Looking out at his crew for a moment, the knight is practiing it's sword swing, the dire wolf Roki is being taunted into playing by Demon, and the slime is being a slime. They don't do much.

     " Uta isn't that bad Schneider, in fact if you walked in and said hey I am looking for Alvish words and your intern that absolutely needs a promotion says you are the best source of info. " Setsuna says with a chuckle before remembering the doctor actually asked a question, " He wantss us to clear out those wolfgarm creatures from around Rovia. He says he hopes for me to be the ambassador between Scale and Rovia, whatever that is about. " WIth a shrug Setsuna doesn't seem to thrilled as he watches Demon, " All because Rem saw me with Demon over their that night. "
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"I've got no comment on Merek or June, but Uta is probably smarter than you give her credit for." Though he can't exactly comment on what sort of circumstances allow her to /do/ smart-Uta things. Confidentiality is kind of a pain sometimes, but it's something he respects. "It's one of those things that would be foolish to ignore. I've seen too much evidence that it's... something integral to the very make-up of this world to leave be."

And if one of the other Alliances finds out how it works... Well, that could leave the Scale quite disadvantaged unless they keep pace.

Setsuna explains his circumstances and the doctor nods, before producing a brace of rather potent-looking mana potions and chucking them over his way. "That should keep those creatures under control for a while," he says, before the monster handler brings up the... details. "I see, well! It sounds as though you'll be dealing with mister Roswaal more often from here-on, doesn't it? Fufufufu~"

Prophylaxis pushes up off his perch and... clasps Setsuna's shoulder reassuringly. Pat-pat. "We've got a vested interest in keeping them on-side, considering our situation. And we can hardly afford to let an outbreak of /new/ monsters cause trouble in the tower, so just say the word when you're ready to head in and clean them out."
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider looks at Setsuna skeptically. "Well, she's crazy slime lady in my book, but I'll ask her about Alvish words if you think it's a good plan. But you can arrange your own promotions and tell me how that works out. I hear she values a pet slime or rat or something over you, so I don't know whether that's a reflection on her or a reflection on you." He can only shrug as Proph backs her up, though. "If you say so, I'll believe it." But he doesn't know Uta very well, so there's that. "I'll work with her, then, if it comes to that. I didn't even know it was a thing, though. Were you planning on telling me at some point?"

As to helping the Tower people, he's good with that plan, and says, "Just let me know how I can help with that, too?" He gives Setsuna a helpless look about the summons and the mana thing. He has a big pool, though he skips potions, but he's a different caster type, so the mana, itself, doesn't really transfer. It's one of the game mechanics he doesn't understand.
Setsuna
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0


    Setsuna nods his head with closed eyes , " Yeah yeah for the alliance. I already swallowed that hard truth while he was looking down at my Cerberus and skeleton leg. " With a sigh he looks back over to Schneider and thn to the doctor, " Uta has collected more information then one could imagine , she is the one who set up all the libraries even. Past the slimes , and even her slimes are ... Soggy no don't eat that." Setsuna trails off as he goes to pick up the quacker slime and retrieves the rock it was trying to dissolve. " I swear you would eat the puppy if he was still small. " Putting the slime with a beak down he looks back at the otherss, " Right as soon as I get a somewhat half way decent location of the monsters I will say ..the word. " Sensing the sudden moment of a potntial awkward silence he adds, " So whos going to compete in the tournament? "
Prophylaxis
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

"Mostly just come with us when we go to massacre some werewolf things," Prophylaxis answers, "The more firepower we bring, the merrier."

He looks to Setsuna then, and shakes his head, "Iiii've been considering it, but with my attention kind of tied up in the Palace Lands... It'd be tough to jump back just to do fight in a tournament, you know? Ah well, I'll think about it. But for now I think I should probably prep for the trip back over." He nods at the pair before moving toward the nearby campfire, "You two take care. Send word over chim if something terrible happens that needs me to come running."
Schneider
Yamato - -44 - 1 - 0

Schneider nods slowly as Setsuna mentions Uta and the libraries. He had forgotten about that. "It's true, I worked with her on getting our libarary set up," he agrees. "The slime thing is wierd, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. You guys both speak up for her, that's worth more than my opinion."

As to the tournament, he admits, "I'm signed up. But I'm not very good at the PVP fighting."

He nods about supporting Proph with the werewolves, and says, "Take care. I'll get back to my stuff too. A million freaking details. Who in Westelande's desert is gonna have life preservers?"