[18:54] Stede Emeraldi says, "Come, follow along."
[18:55] Brynn Ahlstrom asks, "Where... Are we?"
[18:55] Tate Brier says, "...we can just use the arkwright's guild"
[18:55] Stede Emeraldi says, "Somewhere proper."
[18:55] Kindle Sandsker says, "Well, I feel suddenly very luxurious being in here."
[18:56] Stede Emeraldi says, "It is made of Fortune Alloy."
[18:56] Stede Emeraldi says, "It's.. not true gold, mind you."
[18:56] Kindle Sandsker says, "My feelings still remain."
[18:56] Tate frowns, not having seen the rooms past the bars, nor is she sure this falls in line with what she saw of Stede previously.
(Tate Brier)
[18:56] Ala Emeraldi says, "It's real pretty."
[18:56] Ala Emeraldi says, "I agree with Kindle though."
[18:56] Stede Emeraldi blinked, peering towards Tate.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[18:56] Ala Emeraldi says, "Nicest place I've ever set foot - er... floated o'er."
[18:56] Stede Emeraldi says, "This is one of the crafting rooms."
[18:56] Stede Emeraldi says, "Unlike the place further inside.. "
[18:56] Stede Emeraldi says, "Which we will -not- be going near.."
[18:59] Brynn marveled at the sights, clearly quite curious as to the exact makeup of the alloy under her bare feet. For a second, she was worried her bare feet might muddy the floors, but her resonant earth magic kept the dirt clinging to her, and the floors spotless.
(Brynn Ahlstrom)
[19:08] The old captain moved forward, turning around once he'd reached the counters.
"This is the Gilded Facility.
Some of you have seen the door outside. Gilded in a golden metal.
This is the interior, one of the rooms used for crafting.
Considering this is a project related to state defense, and the need to deploy sea mines by boat? We are right by the docks. A good locale. With good equipment and.. it's relatively away from any populations if we have an.. 'oopsie.' But that won't happen."
He gestured behind him, retrieving a variety of implements - from forging tools, to burners - that kind of thing. Alchemical brewing implements were nearby, although unneeded today.
"Firstly, things are well stocked here.
Plenty of tools and such to go around.
I am going to describe the plan, on how to build these, and then make an example for you all to follow."
He held up a paper, beginning to read off of it.
"Each mine shall consist of:
Ten units of Iron and Copper.
One unit of Orichalcum
A fire crystal, and an air crystal.
The Iron is intended for shrapnel, and will be shaped into metal balls to fill the interior of the mine. We have molds available for easy casting.
Each ball will be about the size of the gap made by your thumb and index finger when you touch them together to make a circle.
Copper will be used for the exterior housing, being somewhat rust resistant and relatively light. It won't take much to cast sheets of it - then forge them into spheres.
Orichalcum will be used for etching runes into the inside and outside of the mine. For activation and explosives. Fire runes will be added to the etchings. I will provide an example so that Kindle can also etch them in - with her mana.
The crystals will be pulverized and mixed, then triggered by said runes when needed, as the exterior runes will be set to activate upon collision.
Does this sound simple enough?"
He would wait for a response. Before he made any moves to begin creating the first - of many mines.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[19:16] Tate nods, waiting for the others. She had already been filled in on half this project, from a supply sheet Rio had handed her previously.
She looks around, taking note of what would be useful. A smelter, moulds, lots of bench space. All the tools for the job, with conveniences from advanced technology.
(Tate Brier)
[19:19] Well, the name was self-explanatory if nothing else. Still, Ala's azure eyes slid across the rooms golden-tinted interior with obvious amazement at the level of detail which had gone into it's construction. Stede's explanation had... more than likely gone over her head, but she also pretty much understood the assignment which had been given to them.
She'd already been given the paper to read, after all, so she knew what was to be expected with the mines. They would take quite a while to make the number they likely wished to have, but that time was a sacrifice they had to be willing to make in improving their chances at surviving the likely inevitable eventual assault Atrellyans would press upon their islands.
Already beginning to make a few measurements by using her fingers as comparison for the smaller metal balls to stuff inside the mines for shrapnel purposes, commenting was something she didn't feel quite necessary to do until it came tothe point in which he finished describing the instructions which they were to be following.
"Already got it!" Ala's confident grin proved to echo every bit of the words spoken aloud, her voice proud for having the opportunity in contributing something to their Island's simultaneous offensive and defensive measures against the demons.
Next was measuring the tools she'd need to shape the plates. But, as Stede had said, that was hardly necessary. Everything that was needed sat before them on a golden platter, awaiting their hands to begin the process.
"Oh, there's gon' be an oopsie alright. It just ain' gonna be for us."
(Ala Emeraldi)
[19:19] Brynn was, admittedly, in awe - of her gilded surroundings certainly, but far more so was she enamoured by those around her. Indeed, though she'd spent the many years of her childhood striking crimson-hot ingots and forging this and that, and had grown quite proficient in her own right, she was far from a true master at her craft - she simply hadn't the years of her peers.
Still, damned if she wouldn't keep up, neverless get in the way! There was, after all, only one way to begin.
"Sir, yes sir." She replied plainly, less a militaristic recognition of rank, and more a time-earned respect to achievement.
She kept rapt, fixed attention to details as he ran briefly through the steps, as if she was both drinking from a font of knowledge itself, and knew that the cost of an error in this was far graver then simply striking one's thump with a mallet.
'I forge tools of war today, so tomorrow I may forge tools of peace', she thought to herself.
A further question, however: "Sir, are we each to create these mines after your example from-start-to-finish, or shall the labor be subdivided by task?"
(Brynn Ahlstrom)
[19:20] Kindle gazed around the gilded interior with a smile before her focus was purely upon Stede. She wasn't an artificer so she will be on stand by. Naturally the hare moved to be close enough to Stede in reach. As he spoke? Kindle began to put on some really heavy armor. "I'm wearing this nyeshk armor and helmet in case there is an 'oopsie'." She'd phrase it at Stede had.
"I suspect this to be effective. Unfortunately, this may make the seas a lot more dangerous to traverse during the war, but I imagine we'll be fine." She sighed, it will be tough.
With that stated, the hare would ready herself with the combination of magic. A gentle s ball of air and fire balanced upon her finger tips. She'd away Stede to get working.
These efforts, she wondered how much they will be, if impactful at all. She held high hopes all the same, believing it to be one of the best methods. After all, none could get to the isle without going through the sea! It made the most sense to her. Unless the demons held riftmancy, but judging by the armies she saw? They didn't. In fact, the army in the east as naval based. It made sense to her, she just hoped there were no surprises.
(Kindle Sandsker)
[19:34] "To be clear, any little mistakes outside of dealing with the mixed crystal powder? Will be minor. More or less.
As for sub-dividing things? Not everyone is an artificer. Kindle will.. contribute her magics for the explosives, though I could too with my own."
He turned to start up a burner - that which would heat the metal for casting, and later light forging.
Copper was deposited into the crucible, and whilst it was heating? Stede prepared another for iron.
"This will be the example mine. I will speak as I go here.. Perhaps a sub-dividing of things would be good, aye.
Who's feels confident at doing what - anyway? I best ask.. and will cover anywhere nobody feels confident. If that happens to be the explosive, no matter. I specialize there."
Continuing to speak as he worked, the old timer moved to collect a large square tray - made of metal, but contained a thin layer of sand, enough to cover the inside.
"This, can be used for casting sheets - simply and quickly. Once heated we will merely pour the metal in, wait for it to cool and flip it over, the sand will prevent sticking to the tray itself, but it may require some.. 'percussive maintenance' so to speak."
It was set aside for the time being, he moved over to another contraption.
It looked like.. a bullet casting tray?
A hinged device, that when folded together had an opening on two corners - one for metal to be poured in, and another for air to escape. It seemed simple enough, able to be unhinged and hammered open if stuck.
"This device, although simple can be used to cast bullets. It's a large caliber, large.. size, it will work well enough for the mines. Simply pour the iron into one end, and be careful not to spill."
Speaking of pouring? He moved over to the crucibles of Iron and Copper - grabbing tongs fit for holding them and quickly pouring each into their respective molds.
While those would cool - he moved onto the etchings and orichalcum.
"It'll need to be warmed, but once done so.. you can thin it out and apply it like a thin wire to the mines, the shape matters so be careful."
Being a fire magi, it wasn't hard for the man to lightly heat the golden metal and thin it into small wire, which was then shaped into a typical artificer's fire enhancement rune.
"I'm sure there are more questions - we're still.. partly through building one, but you get the idea, eh?"
(Stede Emeraldi)
[19:37] Tate quickly taps her staff to the floor, swishing the sand from the head around. Not that she'd use her own sand for this. There were supplies, after all.
"I can manage the casting if you'd like. Either the sheets or bullets. If you feel I can help more elsewhere, let me know though."
(Tate Brier)
[19:46] It was like an artisanal chef demonstrating his secret recipe, the confident and capable hands of a skilled mage and artificer with years far behind her own. It was rapturous.
"Oh, goodness - apologies all my own for not explainin' where my familiarity lies. I am a blacksmith by trade, have been since I was a wee lass." She didn't pay much mind to the now seventeen year old woman still being somewhat of a wee lass herself. "Magically, I follow the gifts and teachings of the four creator-dragons, water, fire, earth, and air. Perhaps not unlike Kindle's own magic, albeit far, far less trained and schooled. I'll leave anything overly likely to explode to more practiced hands of fire mages such as yourselves - best to make sure my first time isn't my last."
Truthfully, the nascent blacksmith was simply happy to be a part of it - both happy to feel her dream of becoming a blacksmith of repute and renown starting to work its way towards fruition, and happy to finally be able to stand for the defense of her nation, in her own way.
"When coating the mines", she asked inquisitively, "How do you set them to avoid detonating accidentally, while still being sensitive enough not to end up being duds? Is there a trick to it, or is it all in a steady hand?"
(Brynn Ahlstrom)
[20:06] "Melting and casting can go to Tate, simple enough."
He fiddled with a number of orichalcum pieces, shaping them into little sigils and runes, each a purpose - each a place.
"I'll make these.. and then show where they go soon enough."
He held up three separate orichalcum runes, one by one - separate from the dozen or so he'd made.
"This is the Arming rune - it's the thing that the Sailors will activate just before they dump the mine in the water. It'll turn on the others.
This is the Detonation rune - it's sensitive to sudden shock, but only a big enough one from a ship - generally.. of course. It's a sparker, and a sensing rune in one.
Finally - this is a fire rune, more akin to an explosive once inside though, it'll amplify the crystal dust mixture as well as add it's own explosive power. These won't go off without the Detonation rune.
I believe Ala can make and place these, eh?
Kindle can add her magic to the fire runes once they're crafted."
Each shape a unique, albeit simple design. Easy enough to replicate a hundred or so fold and press into the side of the copper shell.
"Now.. the copper and iron.. ah.."
Having waited long enough, and metal cooled - he flipped over the sheet of copper, dumping it out and hammered slightly on the bullet mold - a large.. webby looking piece of iron fell out.
Stede would simply hammer it to break it into separate bullets, simple enough.
"I will have you.. Brynn, forge the sheets into half spheres, for assembly."
He spoke, as he took his own hammer from the counter, giving the newly cast shiny copper sheet a simple spherical half dome shape. It wasn't long as he followed up with a second half moments after.
It didn't take long for him to scoop up the myriad bullets and place them inside one half of the mine shell, leaving the other empty for the time being.
"Now, crystals.."
He grabbed a simple mortar and pestle, placing one fire crystal inside and grinding it to powder, before transferring it to a different container.
An air crystal was ground and soon followed, but into the same container as the fire crystal dust, he took a small spoonish tool and lightly mixed the two together.
"It's important you grind them separately, and mix them afterwards. If this is left to me? I have no issue here."
Once done? The mixture was placed in the empty half of the copper sphere, before being sealed in with a light papery film.
Runes were placed - The detonation rune laid upon the now sealed half, and a myriad fire runes accompanied it.
The two halves were then placed together - and welded. The explosive mixture wasn't anywhere near close enough to the welding points to be dangerous. Plus it was sealed.
The final rune - the Activation rune was stamped to the outside of the mine, close enough to reach the Detonation one inside
Thus, the first of many mines would be created.
"Alright. Did .. I miss anything? I wonder..?"
He peered between each of them. Then the mine.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[20:15] The Drakanite rolled her shoulders a little, stretching to herself as she breathed an admitted sigh of relief - she would be within her wheelhouse. After all, hers was an art that drew upon consistent, strong, yet measured strikes of hammer-on-metal, and work with foreign and explosive ground powders was something she was well and truly ignorant of.
But this? Yes, this was a task her practiced hands were well suited to tending to.
She did her best to follow his guidance on the other steps of the process, of course - for a craftsman who does not know the nature of the fittings he works with is one likely to perform sloppy work indeed. No, though she was glad to avoid working with any of the more sensitive components, she would give them each the respect and attention they deserved.
"It would be my pleasure, Mr. Emeraldi. My hammer shall strike each into a fitting invitation to oblivion for those who would take our homes from us."
Of her place,she felt certain and confident, granting an approving glance towards Tate, who would handle the casting of the plates her hammer would find soon after.
(Brynn Ahlstrom)
[20:16] Tate sets to work on the copper sheets. She starts smelting the first batch. Sand swirls into place as she prepares the sheet moulds.
Fortunately many of the tools in the facility were rather hands off, able to simply flip switches and buttons rather than all manual. A tedious task laid ahead, and there was certainly going to be nobody else to help in the depths of the Gilded Facility.
The copper was finished smelting. She quickly cleans off any impurities by drawing them out with her earth magic and dumping it to the side. A push of a button and the crucible poured into the mould and back. The next mould being pushed by machinery, and repeating. Tate took a position at the end of the line, waiting for each sheet to cool before flipping them over to release and stack the sheets, ready for Brynn to process further.
(Tate Brier)
[20:17] Kindle kept listening on. For the most part this was a task for the artificers to follow, and something that the hare wouldn't partake in until the very end. Metals and the like, yes Kindle knew the element of metal well and what it represents but actually working with it? Forging something from it? It wasn't the same.
Passively she'd await, Kindle looked onto the first mine created after a given demonstration. Her fire and air magics fused as one. "To ensure the explosion is proper and water doesn't get in the way of things, alongside the velocity of the shrapnel? I will be also infusing the detonation rune with air too." Kindle explained further. Something to beat the resistance that water brought with it.
When the runes were placed onto the mine? Kindle followed suit with the runes, infusing air mana into it alongside the fiery mana! The first mine would be completed with given time. They weren't the most expensive to make, they weren't the most powerful but having so many cheap and dangerous mines had still been proper. So long as they can bust a hole in the ships? It worked out.
"Alright! Once the mines are complete, hand them over to me so I can get to work. I'll need a lot of mana for this so-.." She sighed, before grabbing one of the spare beakers in this craftsman room and filled it with water from her finger, she was a water magi too after all.
"I'll need this."
(Kindle Sandsker)
[20:22] Ala's eyes followed the process, but as someone who had previously read the entire thing? This seemed like a fairly simply thing for her to do. To put such intricate commands in a single item might be a tall task, but one Ala certainly didn't mind putting herself up too. A nod was given to her Grandfather as she would have moved towards a chisel that could be used to knock off some larger pieces of orichalcum and a finer smaller one.
Flipping them between her fingers, the Drakan seamlessly guided the chisel across all of her fingers whilst using the other hand to pick up a hammer to begin the process - it wouldn't really take a whole lot to carve into it considering magi's generally greater levels of strength and tirelessness compared to the average craftsmen. Pieces of orichalcum were carefully taken from their shelves and pulled down to the side, placed upon the table in even amounts.
It was like watching her prepare to work a conveyor belt of runes simply from her own hands. The golden-orange ore was quick to be slammed into as she would have begun with the most basic of the three runes.
Firstly working on replicating a large amount of the arming runes, she began chiseling away at the ore with rhythmic strokes of the hand. The one in which had been displayed by Stede was to be used as her display and the guide for which she would be using to shape hers. A hum would resound through alongside a hammer's fruitful clink against the chisel;
Every single stroke made from the Artificer's hand proving to be another piece of the puzzle brought together in order to form the rune. But she could only put so much effort into making one thing at a time. The detonation runes were set off to the side so that those who needed to use them in the creation of the bombs could put them in.
"Nothing like a long day at the forge! I do love th' smell of sweet saltwater, but nothin' beats blood n' sweat and the sweet sound of a hammer. Except maybe a brewin' alchemy pot once a potions been cleared up." Ala stated aloud, though seeing that Kindle was waiting, she would have worked on the fire runes next.
Once again, hammer met chisel as she would have made sure to pass along the runes to Kindle as they came. "Orders' up, fire away! Make it nice n' magical for us!" Grinned the Sailor-woman.
(Ala Emeraldi)
[20:39] Close and still, Kindle watched from under the protection of her helmet. As the others began their work bending the melt, shaping and mixing the crystal powders. Kindle awaited until the first of the runes arrived.
She'd look down as an orichalcum piece was slid to her, and with a motion of her hands of absolute smooth and effortlessness, Kindle pushed forth the fiery and airy mana! The magic combined as two, yet not cancelling each other out. A mastery of the elements on full display, effortlessly did the mana stay within the rune, and Kindle ensured they were charged. With the fire and air, would the crystal powder be empowered by the rune, both the fire would be charged to burn hotter and erupt faster, and the air would expel out those flames even further!
One by one, Kindle kept infusing the metals with her mana. Passing the runes off to the mines to have them completed. "The atrellyans will find their ships in ruins, the elements will overtake them. Should it be required? I can snap the chains from the mines when they sail over and push the current hard enough so the mines move directly onto their ships.
Kindle and her elemental prowess, able to affect any part of the physical world. With more than half the magic runes made, she would pass them off to be completed by the others.
"Attach the runes and finish the job." She'd speak out, the hare getting somewhat tired as she was using a lot of mana for this. A swig from her water would tie herself over. She'll persevere.
(Kindle Sandsker)
[20:41] The group would get to work.
Stede would mix the explosives, the crystals crushed to dust, then mixed and filled each one half of the mines. It would be a lot of focus.
Ala, prepared and placed orichalcum runes, Activation, Detonation, Explosive fire runes - each would find their place among the spheres and explosives, each a chiseled and focused effort.
Kindle imbued each of the explosive runes and mines with her fire and air magics, as well as ensuring water wouldn't interfere, a vital piece - for there had to be no duds.
Tate, with her precise control over sand was rapidly cooking batches upon batches of copper sheets and iron bullets - enough to make and fill the ninety-nine more from Stede's first example.
Brynn, hammered away at the freshly molded sheets and iron bullets, giving the flat copper sheets their spherical shape so as to be the housing holding it all together, as well as filling one half of each mine with the proper amount of bullets for shrapnel.
It would run like a well oiled machine, an assembly line of four artificers and a very helpful assistant, with requisite magics churned out ninety-nine more sea mines.
As time passed, mines were made, Stede had called over his transceiver for Navy-men to come and retrieve the mines.
"Now - ah.. be sure to follow the instructions I've written here, aye?" He spoke as he scribbled quickly onto paper the proper instructions for activation of said mines, best practices - limits, and placement. Making sure they had everything needed to place them without issue.
It would be a sight to behold, the Gilded Facility - for all it's dormancy would find use once more, at least semi-publicly. In the defense of the nation.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[20:51] Brynn's approach was entirely unlike Tate's before her on the assembly line. Whereas Tate leveraged both magic and machine to work elegantly and quickly in bulk, clever techniques used to save time and work smoothly, Brynn's work was driven by a practiced, steady hand and a raw grit and willpower, without machine or magical assistance as her father would have done before her.
Her hand moves down to her toolbelt to grab her father's hammer, yet she hesitates, and leaves it on her belt. Some things were not to be tarnished by touching the needs of war. Instead, she grips a pair of hammers from the shop tightly in her hand, and begins to work quickly, situated between several pressing-domes, working the hot copper plates into dome shapes over granite half-circles meant for pressing it into position.
The Drakanite glanced over to Ala with an unmistakable grin, her two-fisted hammering shifting in rhythm slightly alongside hers, as if the blows of there hammers were themselves a percussive melody, keeping their spirits up over the long hours turning spry muscles into sore ones as the day turned to eve.
"HA! As if the tender ache of your hammer-arm and the sweat on your brow could ever be matched by the bubbling of a Cauldron, Ala. A hammer in your hand is as good as it gets!"
For a second, she almost forgot it was implements of death she was bringing into being.
(Brynn Ahlstrom)
[21:00] Kindle moved off as her runes were finished, with deep breaths she'd drink more of her water as she watched the final runes be attached, the mines assembled and the men taking away the dangerous objects.
Kindle clasps her hands together and spoke further. "Perfect! The mines have been completed, the efforts made. Now we just need to set them off. I recall Meri saying she would be the one to lead the placement of the sea mines, so let's update her on that and go from there." A conclusion to their creations!
"I am glad I thought up of this. Considering I know of their ships, they are not easy to repair once damaged. Black steel warships, thick. I knew we'd need the extra punch of crystals so I'm glad we did this."
Kindle was there for the initial conflict and just how dangerous those demons were. She would see to the fall of them, especially the Delaynie…
"Huff... alright, that's everything then."
(Kindle Sandsker)