Flipz

I've been reading the archived Mafia games. And really, it seems like Shadows being Scum has evolved into almost a sort of meme here.

Well, at least it inspired something for that project I've been working on. Speaking of which, if you could hang out for five minutes, that'd be awesome, I have part of it ready to show you.

Why wait? We can start now! I think Shadows will end up as Scum. That was just a joke, in case it wasn't immediately clear.

Seriously? Did you even READ the first post in the library, or, you know, the backstory for Heroica listed in the rules???

Wow...simply stunning. Gorgeous model, it's simple yet detailed. Quick, get this on CUUSOO so we can have Silmarillion LEGO sets!

And what would the -mancy for tampering with dimensional gateways and portals to other Planes be? Planeomancy? Spacetimeomancy? Arthur'sfamilymancy? Although "Familiomancy" actually sounds pretty good...but whay would that represent? Some sort of magical adoption spell?

At the Emperor's words, Arthur remembers where he is. He puts on a calm facade, but the other Heroes can plainly tell he is beyond unnerved. "Thank you, sir. Perhaps with effort from myself and some of the other scholars in Eubric, some of that knowledge may be regained. When there are less pressing matters at hand, we must surely try to arrange some sort of correspondence between Dastan and the Free Islands, that we may collaborate on such efforts." "But, on to the task at hand. I believe I speak for all of us in saying we are ready to move forward."

You do realize that that thing is essentially a Mead, a Nostrum, a Smelling Salts, AND a potion all in one? Why NOT keep and use it?

Harriet the Slut Mafia??? You're awesome, by the way!

THANK YOU WBD for giving me a perfect opportunity for me to do that. I think all of the QMs appreciate that. Do note that, when/if it DOES ever work again, everything will appear at once. Feel free to use that if you wish, though I do look forward to the massive confusion that will occur if everyone makes it back to the Hall and that happens.

"True. It would be nice to have one available, perhaps if we had some sort of signal...wait, I have the perfect idea! Skrall, my friend, would you mind lending the Emperor that journal I gave you? This will be a good chance to demonstrate it, for both of you." Standing so both Skrall and the Emperor can read over his shoulder, Arthur pulls out his own journal, and, after checking to be sure he had the correct one, he began to write. It is then that Arthur notices the disturbing lack of response. "Emperor? Skrall? What's wrong?" "...Arthur...it's not working. Nothing is there." Taking the journal, he flips through the pages, all resolutely blank, before handing the book back to Skrall. "No...no..." Arthur drops to the floor, pulling all four of his journals from his robe. He spreads them on the floor and begins frantically scribbling in all of them, oblivious to the fact that the pages lack their characteristic sheen, that the ink spreads not within each sheet of paper. None of the precious journals were responding. As Arthur's scribblings grew more frantic and incoherent, Count Knyghton steps between the panicked mage and the Emperor, blocking the former from the latter's view. "I think it's be best if we got moving. Please do let us know if at any point you need anything else done." Knyghton surreptitiously gives Arthur a swift kick, and the mage gathers up his scattered belongings, still muttering incoherently but, mercifully, much too quietly for the Emperor to hear.

"Once we are successful in our mission, if we have any time before returning to Eubric I would very much like to speak to the dragon trainers and breeders, and to study some of this remarkable art." "Very well then. Would you think it wise to, perhaps, have a dragon rider make a pass around the city, to inspire the troops and intimidate the enemy, and perhaps to launch the opening salvo of the battle before returning to base? If not, then I can think of no further preparations at this time, I am ready for battle. Unless you have any additional, less pressing tasks you wish us to accomplish?"

Arthur appears pleased with the praise. "Yes, sir. However, I'd still recommend the construction of this mechanism, particularly within the inner city, in case we flush the Rebels out of their hideout and they attempt to lose us in the inner city. The best defense truly is a good offense, but the rebels know this as well, and may attempt to stage an attack out of their retreat."

I've GOT to use Wikipedia more before I open my mouth. I think I take the professors' admonitions that "Wikipedia is not a valid source" just a tad too seriously. In other news, I think I've outdone myself for wild ideas.

Arthur whispers a couple of words to Count Knyghton, who mutters back in a voice just loud enough for everyone to hear. "Yeah...yeah...oh, I get it! Most ingenious. But ye'd best let me explain it, your way is a bit...complicated. I still don' know half o' these 'scientific principles' ye're always on about. Ya must've spent too much time with them scholarly types when ya were younger, my friend..." Arthur begins copying the dragon-breeding books onto a scroll for study back at the Hall, while Count Knyghton explains his idea. "Well, Master Arthur's idea goes somethin' like this: We build a bunch o' walls that're slightly thinner than most, but reinforced so as ta be as strong as any regular wall. These walls'd be linked by gears or belts, dependin' on where they were placed, through tha sewers to a central command center, where this clever arrangement of pulleys and gears here--" Count Knyghton sketches a crude drawing of a large clutch system "--would allow operators to direct the power of the gear turned by these three steam engines to the various moving walls. Now, in tha inner city, it's rather easy; rich folk love ta put slidin' walls in their houses ta hide hidden vaults or secret labs or things o' that sort. This'd be pretty much tha same, but built on the outside to block of alleys an' streets. Out at tha edges of the city, on tha other hand, this arrangement o' gears here would let tha entire wall sit flush with tha ground and then pop-up vertically when required. He's also got a bunch o' tubes here that I really don't understand--" "It's OK, Count, I'll take it from here. The scientific principles of hydraulics can be difficult to express. This part here, the cylinder with an airtight seal--I've got a cloth treatment that will do an acceptable job until your alchemists can develop something better on their own time--is identical to the one found in the steam engines in the control center, they allow steam to generate physical force. I won't bore you with closer detail unless it interests you, my lord. What's really important is this assembly here, which forcibly compresses the gas--the intake gas enters the suction manifold, then flows into the compression cylinder where it gets compressed by a piston driven in a reciprocating motion via a crankshaft, and is then discharged into the piston you saw here, providing more than sufficient force to raise and support the wall." Arthur goes back to copying the book. "Uh...right. Anyhow, as ya'd imagine, tha large walls'd be a rather complex work, I figure we might be able to finish one or two walls o' tha city in time. For tha smaller walls, on tha other hand, we could get a fair portion of tha system within the immediate vicinity of a central location (presumably your stronghold) finished within days, provided tha stonemasons and workers be quick about it. I do not know exactly how useful it would be to us particularly, but I hope at least it would help somewhat, and we would be honored to know we have made some sort o' permanent contribution ta this city's defense even if it is not completed during our stay here." "My lord, this style of script is fascinating and quite beautiful. Is it commonly used in this region, or is it an archaic form of writing?" OOC: This concept (at least for the inner walls) comes to me from a spy book I read when I was younger, it was set in labyrinthian catacombs instead of mazelike alleyways, but the concept is the same, and would be similarly effective unless the bad guys can somehow jump over a 9-12 foot tall wall. I fully expect us to have to chase someone into this labyrinth we'd be creating, and for them to somehow have the advantage. The outer walls idea just came to me out of the blue, think of a wall of bricks with flat gear strips attached by SNOT to the edges, and raised and lowered by subterranean gears. The rest of the description simply justifies how to power the system.

OOC: I understand. Boy, those have been happening a lot lately, haven't they? Arthur looks up from the book he was examining. "So all of the dragons of the land are either trained or in training? That is good to hear. Even the smallest of dragons, if wild, are a grave threat." "I understand. If a likely course of action is an assasination, do you and tha other Emperors have a defensible stronghold where ya may be kept safe? And, er, if ya have separate strongholds, erm, *cough*, uh," Knyghton looks extremely uncomfortable as he says this, "Which of tha three Emperors would the Rebels most wish to take out first? To be sure, we'll most definitely protect all o' ya, but if we choose correctly we may have tha chance ta take out tha Rebel leaders instead o' just drivin' em off." Arthur marks his place in the book, and drops it to his side, returning his full attention to the Emperor. "Your Excellence, if you wish to fortify this city, or even just a single stronghold, I believe I have an idea for a purely defensive fortification that may be activated or deactivated at will, giving both the solid defense of a walled city, as well as the advantage of surprise, as invaders will not be able to see the fortifications until they are active. Even within the dense inner city itself, this mechanism would allow your troops to open and close streets and alleyways, diverting hostile forces wherever you wished. Does this sound like a useful plan to you, sire? Oh, and while I'm asking: are their any other, more incidental tasks you wish us to perform for you while we pursue the main mission?" OOC: Arthur is totally reading about the art of breeding dragons. Mind posting an excerpt for flavor? (Like me, he'll stop and read pretty much anything that catches his interest.)

Oh, I just realized why everyone in the Hall drinks all the time! No one knows what to eat! In all seriousness, though, if I want to roleplay having a drink, there are a number of medieval-era drinks that have survived to the modern day, so I can just pick something off the top of my head and have that (though I can't roleplay the taste or anything, as I've never had a drink). If I want to order something, though...well, I'm sure many of you are familiar with medieval cuisine, but I am not. It would require substantial research and preparation for me...and usually I'm plotting planning other things.

Same. I actually do better if I've strolled through midlands first. I actually manage to deal damage to a minion or two before I have to Nexus out. Also, should I go ahead and try that Tutorial challenge one last time, or just give up on it and play normally? I have yet to try Paladin...

Actually, sword class with a RHeart is pretty decent. I have unusual luck in dodging the enemies there. Also, it is TONS of fun to lure Mixcoatl away from his towers in the last phase.

Arthur nods. "Right." His attention wandering, he examines the books on the shelves, looking in particular for anything related to local legends, customs, and history.

Arthur does an extremely hammy quick double-take, but says nothing. I should ask about that later.

Too cute. It's dangerous to us all. Vote: Hinckley/Admin who is too cute

"My liege, what can you tell us of the natural hazards of the area? I have heard rumors that here there be dragons, might we have to contend with any wild ones? Are there any other dangerous creatures that may be in the area? And what do you think the rebels' first target will be? Is there an ideal point of ambush we may use to keep them back?" "Your Excellency, I'd like ta enquire as ta tha sort o' supplies for siege weaponry we have available. Master Arthur and I are both well-versed in tha assembly and maintenence o' such things, if we have sufficient supplies we might be able ta improve upon some o' tha designs we used in defense o' Bric'bay Fort. Gunpowder, masonry supplies, some minor metalwork if ya could spare a blacksmith or two."

I'm REALLY tempted by this, but I think I'll be able to hold out to get the VIP points for it. ...when will these be available from LEGO again?

[handwavesuccessful]This is not the sign-up thread we're all looking for.[/handwavesuccessful]