Category: Technology

#Lore 24 – Entry #118 – Sci-Fi Month II #27 – BDSM Cybersystems Model S/M-02 Scouting/Mapping Drones

From the Personal Journal of Chiasa Charity Chiasakaniki, Systems Analyst and Programmer, IT Division, assigned UEF-04, Maharani Morgiana.

I’ve always enjoyed playing with drones, and now that I’ve finally had the chance to mess around with these bleeding edge scouting drones they’ve loaded us up with on this mission, I’m like a kid again.  These things are just awesome!  Is the name of the manufacturer a bit on the shady side?  Absolutely, but there’s no signs of whipped asses or kinky shit here, just the unfortunate naming scheme these people settled on way back when they just did custom tech mods.  Or maybe it was fortunate?  Certainly gets a lot more diverse crowd on your product, that’s for sure.  I looked’em up before, seems like they do good work, and they hit it off big time back when Aphelion Station was barely a year old with their security bots, so I reckon they were brought in to handle some new drones for these exploration gigs too.

Anyway, these drones are preem!  Their bodies are light weight and durable carbon fiber, and they make use of micro-grav field generators so they can fly around without worrying about getting propellers stuck or broken.  They kinda look like little black flying saucers, about a foot in diameter, but once they’ve activated their adaptive camo, you won’t even notice.  You can take control of them directly through a comm app or dedicated controller, and they’re packed with multiple small sensor packs, high-def multi-spectrum cameras, and an all-round laser mapping setup that’ll create super-accurate 3D maps of whatever they’re scanning.  I almost couldn’t believe the amount of hardware they’re packing in these little things; total super-spy stuff right here!  Curiously, I did get the sense there was magic in these things, so I’m thinking that maybe they’ve taken normal equipment that is usually much larger and micro-sized it. 

Talk about one hell of a price tag!  When I asked exactly how much these things cost, all my boss would say was that I’d better not break one, or I’d be paying it off the rest of this trip. 

Luckily for me I didn’t have to be the one who broke one to get a look inside; once we arrived in the Vellion sector and picked up the scout teams, we found out a couple of the drones had been damaged, and I convinced one of the BDSMC techs to let me help out, being the super-talented IT tech and leet hacker I am and all.  So, that’s when I learned these things are using the same kind of advanced AI as the security bots, specialized for evasion and recon operations.  They’ve not really been field tested in extreme conditions, so bugs are bound to show up, and that’s what happened here.  Some of the local wildlife didn’t like these things getting close, even if they are silent and almost invisible, and were able toss some rocks or bash them with sticks.  Pretty lame way for these things to go down, but it’s a harsh world out there, I guess.  Can’t make them invulnerable and this light; those electronics are protected from the elements, but an angry monkey with a rock is just too much.

So, like, I kinda maybe managed to make a copy of the AI code…not that I really intended to, of course, it just kinda happened when I wasn’t paying too much attention to what I might’ve been doing while running a diagnostic with the tech.  I’ve been pouring through it, and like, holy shit, this is advanced stuff!  There’s all kinds of options in here that aren’t even in the official specs, just waiting to be turned on or off or applied to different type bots!  I am going to have so much fun playing around with this code!  I gotta get my hands on some parts now, build my own little buddy bot!

You know…thinking it over, I might actually hint at the BDSMC techs that I could improve the AI on these things, make their evasive routines more responsive, that kind of thing. Or at least help them with the debugging stuff.  I’m pretty good at running code, I’d say.  And it’d like, be a lot less suspicious if I wound up building my own little bot, right?  Seriously, sometimes my hands just do things without my mind even being there!  I blame my tail-brains, lol.  They’re always getting me in trouble, moving on their own without me realizing it.  Kerryns and ferians probably get it.

#Lore 24 – Entry #114 – Sci-Fi Month II #23 – RestrainTech Trustee Work Release, Onboard Disciplinary Measures, ASD Concerns

From the Personal Logs of Vyrmeth Rashryth, RestrainTech, Expeditionary Over-Warden, UEF-04, Maharani Morgiana.  Decryption algorithm successful; translated from original dark elf script.

Perhaps this voyage will result in great things.  Today was witness to a dark elf and an aerian coming to agreeable terms, so the very heart of the Demon Sector is surely within reach! 

I had wondered exactly how long it was going to take the security chief to finally approach me about the trustee work detail and other security concerns; I will give him credit, it was nearly a month since we first set out, a true testament to his kind’s stubbornness.  I suppose he was rather civil for an aerian, though I could tell he was not pleased to actually have to speak to an elf, regardless of their nature.  Understandably, his concerns were the integration of our SealTech monitoring and control systems into the ship’s security network, and the interactions between the prisoners and regular crewmembers during the construction of the hyperspace relay in the Charvis system.  I don’t think he appreciated my offer to test the SealTech for himself to test its security, but I found his reaction amusing nonetheless.

I believe he may have been somewhat surprised to find out that I was not the type to be easily pushed around; likely that he had assumed I was like the typical dark elf girl, demure and submissive.  I wouldn’t have earned my position were that the case, nor would my boss have even considered me for the assignment had I been so weak willed.  I know my place in the hierarchy, certainly, and will defer to the men when required, but outside of my own people, I need not behave in such a away. 

Regardless, I allowed Security Chief Scharaiden to tour the Morgiana’s prison facility at his leisure, and though he was somewhat taken aback at the fact we were letting our trustees lounge about and enjoy some level of freedom during their leisure time, without further restraints, a demonstration of the effectiveness of the SealTech in stopping them in their tracks seems to have satisfied him for the moment.  I’ve known the prisoners for years; they wouldn’t be here if we couldn’t trust them in some capacity; some were even handpicked by the CEO himself to be here, and with good reason.

Curiously, after Scharaiden had finished his tour, he inquired about the renewability of our SealTech and future requirements in the case of bad behavior during the journey.  It seems he’s already had several disturbances of the peace aboard, and has the idea that implementing some public humiliation measures may assist with improving behavior.  Perhaps he has more in common with me than he is willing to openly admit?  He certainly seemed interested in the discipline cubes as a means of publicly displaying troublemakers, and likewise inquired about temporary SealTech suit assignments for repeat offenders.  I’m working out the details; we certainly aren’t lacking in our ability to generate more SealTech, though I’m curious just how far he’s willing to go with enforcing his idea of proper discipline, and whether the Captain will approve.

Following my meeting with the CSO, I met with the Arcane Support Division’s director, Primula Tallfoot and her assistant, Kiara Mizutani.  She’s rather well informed, I must say, and has excellent taste in whom she chose as a personal plaything; Mizutani is quite attractive, both physically and in his submissive nature.  He certainly seemed to have no qualms being bossed around by a woman, and my well-trained eye says he was enjoying every minute of it.  I may have to look into getting to know him in a more personal manner during my leisure time…

I personally found Tallfoot’s personality to be on the abrasive side, and I am concerned with exactly how she was aware of some of the lesser known details of SealTech, specifically its “Rampancy” mode; I am only aware of that having been used on a handful of occasions, and against DSM targets at that.  Ah, F3…one of my favorite playthings during my tenure as a regular prison guard…who would have thought she would have risen so far as to be trusted with developing that particular function?  I certainly wouldn’t have; I figured she would have remained in the production facility for some years, honestly. 

Still, how did Tallfoot know about the rampancy programming?  She didn’t say, and seemed to enjoy lording the fact that she knew over me.  I’ve assured her that that particular function is only meant for particular types of security breaches, specifically attacks against the encrypted systems controlling the SealTech application systems, but she didn’t seem convinced.  I will have to alert the boss during my next report regarding this, see if there’s a hole in his security that needs to be addressed and to see if I can get more details about Tallfoot; this kind of thing never happens with him…usually nothing escapes his notice.  Quite curious indeed; perhaps getting to know the kerryn boy will be more valuable than simply indulging my own fancies…

#Lore 24 – Entry #109 – Sci-Fi Month II #18 – The Obstinate Phoenix

From the Personal Logs of Captain Durgen Silvercask, decryption algorithm successful, translated from original Dwarven Script:

She is certainly a decorated vessel, that I cannot deny, but were I to say that I had no reservations about her being attached to this expedition, I would be lying to myself.  She has nearly reached three consecutive centuries of service, so I suppose the brass wanted to give her an easy assignment before they may finally decommission her.  I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t met that fate sooner, given her rather…unique record.

Let’s see…in the dozen battles she’s been part of during that time, she has been severely damaged in all of them, even crash-landed on a planet’s surface twice.  And yet, somehow, each time, she’s been able to recover herself enough to get back home, even turning the tide of two battles that she returned to after getting knocked out of the fight, one of those having been after she crashed. 

I’m not sure if the gods of fortune are blessing her or cursing her, but her name is certainly appropriate regardless. 

She’s a rather unique vessel even without that remarkable record; I’ve spoken to her current captain, Raryliss Steelforger (with a family name like that, I’d almost have thought she was a dwarf, given her build, but she’s undeniably a kobold, of the silver-scaled variety), at some length about her history.  Somewhat experimental when she was constructed, the Phoenix is a rare joint construction effort between the dwarves and kobolds.  Though we’re certainly not as hostile to one another as we used to be, we still don’t mingle too often.  Still, that’s a dwarf-designed skeleton inside the Phoenix, the bulk of construction made using that unique kobold dragon’s breath forging process combined with tried-and-true dwarven construction methods.  Was and still is the largest such construction made with the kobolds’ breath, and what an endeavor that must have been.

She’s been refitted multiple times, but the Phoenix remains a battlecruiser at her heart.  She’s something of a hybrid with her current configuration, what her captain has dubbed an “assault carrier”.  She’s packing the biggest guns of any of the battlecruisers in the fleet and has a pair of (admittedly small) hangar bays for launching escort fighters; she’s got her own fighter group stationed aboard, the Summer-Flame Dragons, I believe is the correct translation, all kobolds.  Most of her crew are kobolds, with the bulk of the others consisting of rattenvolk and gnomes, and after her first refit, that’s historically been the case.  Suppose that would make sense as to why she’s been able to overcome such terrible damage time and again; credit where it’s due, those folk can certain repair anything if it’s at all possible.

Whatever the makeup of her crew, the Phoenix is a fine vessel, and though I’m still not sure what to make the exact nature of her record, I’m certain she will prove to be a valuable addition to the expedition.  I was a bit concerned when I was made aware of a certain technician who has a reputation as something of a jinx being aboard her, but Captain Steelforger assures me that, now that Engineer Longtail is aboard a kobold ship, they’ll have nothing to worry about.  Doesn’t exactly deny what the security department had uncovered about the tech, really makes her record seem a bit more like intentional sabotage, but perhaps there’s more to it than that.  I’m hardly an expert on kobold culture, after all, so I’m not aware of what other connotations the captain’s statement may have.

 

#Lore 24 – Entry #95 – Sci-Fi Month II #4 – Robotic Security Drones

 

From the Personal Journal of Kiara Mizutani, Arcane Support Division, assigned UEF-04 Maharani Morgiana

All things considered I think the date went fine.  Nothing serious of course, just a little hook-up to pass the time before heading out, that kind of thing.  Martin was pleasant enough, a bit nervous after I showed up with a crop top, my new fancy shorts, a pair of those super-long slouchy socks I used to wear back at the Academy, and my super-sexy heels.  Apparently I did tell him, and he was totally okay with that, just didn’t think I would show up looking so hot.  He just couldn’t keep his eyes off the shorts.  I think I’ve got a winner with these!  Anyway, after he bought dinner we slipped off to his motel room for a little sexy time.  I think that was his first foot-job.  Pretty sure I blew his mind with that one 😉

I had to take care of some work stuff today, so I didn’t get to explore too much, not until I was given an updated list of items I was expected to have along for the expedition and realized I was missing a few things, so off to the Big Bazaar and the shopping modules for me!  But I wasn’t expecting that security alert at all!  I had my defensive ward up before I realized it!  I guess that’s a good thing, though?  I mean, it seems like a good thing to me, anyway.  I guess there was some criminal or something like that got spotted or tried to rob someone or something, I never could get a straight answer, but I did not expect that kind of security!  Like, robotic drones!

But not the ones I’m used to, like, nothing of the sort!  There were several of the flying camera drones you see everywhere, yeah, but these, I thought they were big guys in heavy armor, but these were robots!  Humanoid robotic drones!  Turns out, I’d seen them before, just standing around here and there when I was exploring, but they never moved, so I thought they were some kind of fancy statues or something for decoration.  Nope!  These things kind of put me in mind of old-style armored knights in a way, like a bit on the bulky side, and with heads that were a bit too squashed to fit a standard humanoid, with some angular antennas on the head and glowing red monoeye scanners.  They even had the shields too, but were using stun batons instead of swords.  They had stun guns, too, and I think some other weapons for restraining targets, but I didn’t get to see them in action.  The group of them just came through the street, scanning all over, and then continued on, followed by some regular meaty security and some technician I think.

I had to kill some time waiting for the module lockdown to end, but once I got back to the office I asked around about them.  Turns out they’re pretty new, still a little experimental even.  I really have to give it to the company head!  Ms. Veylani isn’t the least bit afraid to push the envelope and try new things!  Apparently there was this little startup company who wanted to test these new style drones out here in the Demon Sector since so many places back across the Barrier are against the idea, but once she’d found out about it last year, she totally jumped on the idea!  There are even some experiments going on relating to arcane enhancements and golemcraft, but I couldn’t get much on that; top secret company stuff, so yeah, a newbie like me just isn’t going to have that kind of clearance.

Still, pretty neat!  I wonder if we’ll have any of these onboard the Morgiana for our big trip?  Apparently since VTC partnered with the SealTech people, these things even carry some kind of proprietary restraint tech, too.  Like, some kind of “goop” grenades to immobilize several people at once and some are equipped with guns that shoot bullets made of the same stuff.  I guess they won’t give them actual lethal weaponry.  Not that I’d expect something like that on a station, of course.  I mean, what if one of these things went crazy and started shooting up the place?  There are supposedly precautions in place to stop that kind of thing, but you know…robotics haven’t really developed much for reasons…but I guess that would make sense why they’re looking at ancient golemcraft then, wouldn’t it?

#Lore 24 – Entry #94 – Sci-Fi Month II #3 – Aphelion Station

 

From the Personal Journal of Kiara Mizutani, Arcane Support Division, assigned UEF-04 Maharani Morgiana

Wow!  Just…wow!  I knew heading to the Demon Sector was like, the thing to do these days, but I didn’t think it was this popular.  There were hours-long lines waiting at Perihelion Station just to get registered to take one of those super-huge transports through the Barrier.  Thank Saressh I was already fast-tracked through on a Veylani company ship, or I’d still be there!

But if I thought the lines were bad outside the Barrier, was I ever in for a surprise!  Even though Aphelion Station is bigger than its sister, I think it’s even more crowded!  I guess it’s not called the “Gateway to the Demon Sector” for nothing!  Even the company docking module was packed, people coming and going.  Once I’d checked in, I found that the ship I’ve been assigned to, Maharani Morgiana, was headed to the Valefar system for some tests, so I had some time to explore, seeing as my supervising arcanist was along for the ride.  I wonder what she’s like?  I tried to look up some information on her during the trip here, but didn’t really find much; guess she’s not a very outgoing kind of person?  She did look a little grumpy in her employee ID photo, but everyone has a bad day, I guess! 

Anyway, the station…just…it’s so overwhelming!  There are so many people and races and cultures all mixed together here, like one big bazaar!  Well, I guess that could be a little confusing, considering that there is a module here actually called the “Big Bazaar”, where all the smaller merchants are housed.  I just wanted to take a little stroll through there, but I wound up spending almost the whole day there!  Even Arcavarlon during its new year festival season was nothing like this!  There was so much stuff for sale there, and most of it was found or made in the colonies that have already started up in the Demon Sector.  I got to try actual food from Valefar, real food from the Demon Sector!  It was some kind of big bird or something like that; I didn’t want to ask too many details, but it smelled so tasty!  It was pretty good, but it was really hot, like, spicy hot, but the rattenvolk vendor assured me that was all natural.  Something with the local wildlife, I think he said?  I’ll have to look into it later, maybe.

Other than that, I think I was pretty responsible!  I’m getting a good paycheck and all from the company, but no sense spending all my money just yet, right?  I only bought like a dozen or so little souvenirs, and half of those are jewelry, so memorable and functional!  Those earrings I got really set off my eyes, I think!

This morning I took a trip to the entertainment sector.  Just…wow!  I don’t think this station sleeps at all, especially not in those modules!  There are plenty of fancier restaurants and bars there, gambling and betting parlors, theaters, sports facilities, gosh, just everything!  There were a lot, like, a huge amount of sex clubs there too.  I got a lot of offers to stop in for some playtime and for some serious work, and the looks I kept getting from passersby…if this job with Veylani falls through, I’ve got options, I guess!

There are lots of places to shop, too, selling the kinds of things you can find across the Barrier, like name brands and the latest releases and stuff!  Guess that kinda makes sense, given all the corporate representation here, and the fact that the shops are right off the main passenger offloading areas.  Total tourist trap!  By the way, I just had to get this sexy little pair of pink booty shorts I found in one of the stores there, even if I might’ve spent a little too much on them.  I mean, next payday is just a couple days from now, so I should be fine… Gods, they are so cute! And they fit purrfectly!  Not even a bit pinchy, not even around my tail, and just a bit squeaky, but in a sexy way!  And that pocket for my man-bits has like the most comfortable snugness ever!  I just had to change into them right then and there, and I’ve been wearing them since!  Kind of wish I hadn’t worn a skirt today so I could show them off, actually…but my top wouldn’t match, and I’m trying to be responsible with my spending here!  I’d heard about these SexyTech clothes but hadn’t seen a lot of them around, and these were on sale (still super expensive, though!).  Guess maybe that’s that whole bad reputation thing at work since they’re from the same parent company that makes SealTech?  I mean, if this stuff is good enough for the head of Veylani to wear, then it can’t be that bad, right?  Hmmm…maybe I should look into getting a loan so I can get a full outfit?  The sales clerk did mention financing was available, for any financial bracket, after all… I mean, this stuff is self-cleaning, or it’s supposed to be, and the more expensive versions have color changing and shapeshifting properties, so maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea?  I mean, having a whole wardrobe in one outfit would be super handy!  We are going off into the unknown for a few years, and that means I’d have a lot less laundry to do… But maybe it’d be a bad idea, too?  I am feeling a little horny wearing these shorts, but maybe that’s just those delicious little oysters I had for lunch at work? 

Oh, so, after that, I just had to go visit the gardens.  As expected of a place managed by the Greenwhiskers, they were beautiful!  Like, so peaceful and calm, and located at the uppermost level, so mostly above the hundreds of ships and the bulk of the station.  Somehow the Barrier from this side seems a bit less threatening, maybe a little calmer, even.  Pretty neat!  And not very crowded, so that’s a good thing! 

Gosh, look at the time!  I have to get going; I’ve got a date tonight!  Did I mention I met this really cute human guy fresh out of the Barrier today?  Well, I did, and since we’re both new here and we kind of hit it off, I figured what the heck, why not give it a shot, even if it’s just a quick little hookup?  He’s outbound on a cargo transport in a couple days, I think he said, but I can’t remember where he said he was going.  He might not know I’m a guy, though…I don’t think I mentioned it?  Maybe I did?  I might’ve been thinking with my other head at the time; I’m still feeling pretty horny, and I’m really feeling the tightness of the bulge in these shorts right now… Oh well, it’s a chance at a free meal, so I’ll take it!

 

#Lore 24 – Entry #93 – Sci-Fi Month II #2 – UEF-04 – Maharani Morgiana

 

From the Personal Logs of Captain Durgen Silvercask, translated from Dwarven Script:

For all the ridiculous things those idiot engineers have done to this ship, at least they weren’t daft enough to rename her.  This mission has enough bad luck piled onto it already, we didn’t need that to deal with too. 

In spite of all the issues I have with Veylani’s current leadership (who in their right mind wouldn’t have problems with a child running a megacorporation?  I don’t care if she’s an adult by human standards, she needs a good forty or fifty years of experience before tackling something like that!), I will have to admit that Veylani has certainly proven that their modular design philosophy actually works, at least as far as this refit is concerned, anyway. 

The Morgiana herself has a respectable enough service record, having served well in her role as a carrier for over a century, and has flown under three separate flags in her time, only suffering fairly minor damage in her various engagements, the worst being from a fighter that crashed into one of her launch bays and took another half dozen fighters with it, but the main structure of the ship itself wasn’t harmed.  It seems that her list of mostly human commanders hasn’t abused her, though I suspect that’s more due to proper maintenance, and that’s been mostly dwarf and rattenvolk teams.  Since all eyes are on the Demon Sector these days, and nobody has decided to start up another conflict just yet, she was selected to be designated as UEF-04, fourth in the line to lead an expeditionary force into the unknown.

She was already a formidable carrier at a thousand meters, but now she’s become something else entirely.  “Super-carrier” doesn’t seem to do her justice.  Those Releana-class ships that ferry people and their vessels across the Barrier are super-carriers (figures that little twat running the company would name the first new class of ships after herself); these UEF motherships aren’t even space stations, more like mobile space colonies!  She’s been expanded to a mind-boggling 7500 meters and loaded with habitation, research, cargo, manufacturing, garden, docking, and power generation modules.  I might as well have taken a boulder straight to the head when I first laid eyes upon her; I thought she was just another part of Aphelion Station.  And that engine block! Gods, I can barely fathom how much power is in there, and just how large a TK-drive it takes to propel her into hyperspace! 

I’m not certain they’ve even fully calculated her maximum carrying capacity yet, and here we are in her final shakedown before she’s loaded up and sent off into the unknown.  She’s currently packing a hundred starfighters and probably as many troop transports.  Hells, she’s even been fitted with an outer docking frame that will let her support ships connect up with her and travel through hyperspace as one large unit.  This seems ludicrous to me, but somehow it’s working; I’m looking out at the Wyvern’s Fang from my cabin window right now, and there are four other battleships just like her around the superstructure, and we’re maintaining a constant velocity through hyperspace on the way to the Valefor system.

I have my reservations about this mission, as I’ve mentioned before, and as far as I’m concerned, the Morgiana, while at her core is a time-tested vessel, her new incarnation is unproven and dangerous.  As I look at the internal sensor readouts, I’m seeing everything within expected ranges, but she’s not had enough time to grow into her new form.  Who knows when some poorly connected module is going to break loose, or when one of these skyscraper-sized engines is going to develop a fatal flaw and explode?  There should be months if not years of further testing on her before she’s ready to face what might be waiting out there in the Marchosias system. 

And yet, here I am, already resolved to see her into the unknown, untested, and highly experimental, with thousands of lives riding on my decisions.  Somehow, though, even with all the personnel issues and this unproven vessel, I have to admit that I am…excited to go out there, into the void.  This will be the greatest challenge I’ve ever faced, and for all I know, I’ll never see home again.  I won’t say I can feel something calling me, but it’s almost like that, that sense of knowing something is out there that will make all this worth it in the end.

Gods, I’m a damned a fool!  May the Greatfather watch over me!

 

#Lore24 – Entry #80 – Fantasy Month #20 – Staff of Many Bindings

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

“Yes, that one,” Felaria said after she saw the look I gave her in response to the topic this morning.  She seemed quite amused, too, giving me that sly, smug grin she sometimes wears.  Sometimes I feel she’s got quite a sadistic streak within her, because it seems to me that she takes great pleasure in my humiliation, however infrequently it seems to happen.  Perhaps it’s simply a form of affection in dark elven society?  I’ll have to research that later; women in their societies do tend toward the submissive, and worship of Yurisaya is quite common, after all.  As for myself?  I’m not nearly as enthusiastic to bring up these memories, but if I must, then so be it. 

As the name suggests, the Staff of Many Bindings is an arcanist’s staff which is used for binding the target in various ways, simply or more intricately depending on the will of the caster employing the staff, usually not only restraining the target but also silencing them via some form of gag, perhaps even blindfolding them; these are quite effective against arcanists, priests, and druidic types as one would imagine.  The staves are not especially rare, at least within the Empire, as it is seen as more beneficial to capture targets for interrogation or enslavement than simply destroying them, though I’m sure such arcane creations exist elsewhere within the world.  I would be quite surprised were I to learn that major temples of Yurisaya wouldn’t have at least one, the same with Erisaya’s holy sites.  As I understand it, arcanely gifted bounty hunters also routinely employ these staves to capture their prey, if they are successful enough in their trade to afford one, of course.  Not infallible by any stretch of the imagination, one possessed of quick enough reflexes can avoid the conjuration of the bindings produced by the staves, and those who are particularly dexterous can still work themselves free given enough time to do so, though against your average person, these will prove quite effective in immobilizing them until properly secured.  The bindings themselves are magical conjurations, and while just as sturdy as their mundane counterparts, are just as vulnerable to the same methods of destruction (ropes and straps can be cut, gags can be tugged free, chains can be broken, given proper leverage, etc).

The particular staff Felaria referred to this morning belongs to one Regina Houslin, a noble-born arcanist of no small talent (even if said talents are greatly misfocused in my opinion) who visits the Great Library from time to time.  Mother seems to get along quite well with Lady Houslin, and both seemed to very much enjoy educating me on the nature of these staves.  Quite rigorously and repeatedly.  For an entire week I was used as a test subject for Lady houslin’s staff in the Library’s arcanum workshop as she fine-tuned the staff’s matrix and enhanced its functions beyond the standard version of the staff.  Mother said it was because of my reflexes and agility, but I feel that’s probably not the whole of the matter.  Houslin’s enhanced version of the staff featured an additional effect that she believes will quickly become commonplace, specifically that it instantaneously disrobes the target when the bindings are successfully applied; I’m honestly baffled that this hasn’t been an established feature of the staves since their inception. 

And yes, her experiments were quite successful; I spent much of that week quite naked and writhing on the floor or hopping around the workshop in various states of restraint.  I was also tasked with dressing up in various outfits of steadily increasing complexity and coverage during the tests; wearing layers of insulated, fur-lined winter clothing in the summer here is quite unpleasant.  Thank you very much, Mother; I’m sure the other arcanists visiting that week were quite thankful too.

That’s not all that Lady Houslin added to her personal staff, however.  She was quite specific that I should try the staff on her, and while initially excited for this chance at revenge, I was quickly humiliated once again.  She has placed a very secure enchantment upon the staff that has essentially turned it into a cursed item in anyone’s hands but her own.  Try as I might to bypass this feature, I was unsuccessful, and was subjected multiple times to having myself restrained in random ways by the staff.  Were I not certain the staff is not sentient, I would swear that it took pleasure in my suffering, for it quite often made itself part of my restraint when this feature was triggered.  “For ease of future transport,” as Lady Houslin said.

Mother, if you’re reading this, I’m not delving further into the details; you saw quite enough during Lady Houslin’s visit, and if you require more, perhaps I can recommend some tawdry reading for you instead?

 

#Lore24 – Entry #77 – Fantasy Month #17 – Thundering Dawn

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

The long lost legendary holy sword, Thundering Dawn, the Searing Light of Lashana, the Scorching Terror of Demons and Undead, has been sought after by holy knights, exorcists, treasure hunters, historians, and many an Emperor for centuries.  The blade itself was forged during the years before the Great Cataclysm and first wielded by Melisande no Synstralia de’Rashnikova herself, founder of the Holy Order of Rashnikova, known for their dedication to the goddess Lashana and their mission to see demons, undead, and other such fiends and supernatural creatures driven from Andyllion. 

Though Rashnikova would survive the Great Cataclysm, her line supposedly still continuing to this day, in fact, in the form of the aptly named Brightblade family, her famous sword would go missing in the centuries following the upheaval of the world, and has remained but a legend since, though many stories of heroic knights, kings and queens, seekers of justice, etc, have been written in which this blade features prominently.  Some theorize that it was stolen by demonkind after its final wielder was slain, hidden away within the Horrid Abyss in order to corrupt its very nature, while others suggest that the blade still remains hidden upon Andyllion, resting within the heart of an ancient evil that will awaken should it ever be removed, while others still would believe that the blade lies safely within the treasures of the Emperor, and the very power of having it so close has been responsible for the continuing prosperity of the Empire.

Thundering Dawn was, or perhaps, is, a bastard sword of exceptional make, forged from the purest mythril supposedly collected from a fallen star sent by Lashana herself by a remarkable combined effort between the master dwarven and kobold smiths of the era.  Thusly forged, the blade was then anointed by the clergy of Lashana through dozens of sanctifying rituals and finally bathed in the “blood of Lashana” to infuse the sword with its legendary power before it was given to Lady Rashnikova as she led the crusade against the demonic incursion. 

Though a weapon of remarkable power against any bearing ill-intent to its wielder, in the hands of a dedicated champion of Lashana, the true power of the sword was brought to bear.  When drawn in the presence of the demons or undead, owing to its namesake, thunder would shake the skies, and the sword’s blade would radiate with the light of the sun, searing such creatures that would be caught within its radiance.  Only the strongest of demons or undead could survive more than a single strike from the blade as its holy energy would spill forth and burn them into ashes, those that were not driven to flee by its powerful aura alone, that is.  Those evil supernatural creatures who were slain by Thundering Dawn were supposedly seared into oblivion, their vile essences burned away permanently by Lashana’s justice. 

Though I certainly would like to believe that Thundering Dawn exists, or once did, I find myself leaning more toward the sword’s supposed power being the stuff of legends.  Perhaps there was a sword with that name, and perhaps it was in fact wielded by Lady Rashnikova, but likely its powers and exploits were greatly exaggerated through time as the stories were told and retold.  Still, I can’t deny that I do enjoy many of the tales involving Thundering Dawn, and were it to be found, I would very much like to lay eyes upon it at least once.

#Lore24 – Entry #74 – Fantasy Month #14 – Bookish Bulwarks

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

If Mother thinks she’s getting a long entry on this topic today, she’s got another thing coming.  What can I really say to fill a page when it comes to bookish bulwarks?  Not that I have time to waste, of course; I will be tending to General Kormides within the hour and I overslept after all of the preparations I put forth yesterday.

Well, to put it quite simply, these are special frames, typically composed of forged iron or steel, which are built with a reinforced face that serves as a quickly accessible shield, thusly named because the frames themselves are meant to be secured around larger-sized books.  These bulwarks are generally employed by traveling scholars who frequently venture into hostile areas and may not have time nor inclination to properly store their tomes when a battle breaks out.  While a bit bulky and more awkward than a standard shield, with proper training, these bulwarks can be employed with the same effectiveness as a standard shield.

Variations on the design exist of course, and within the Order, it has become something of a custom for us to craft, or at least, to design, our own variation on such a thing, for when we venture out from the Great Library, we are expected to properly detail our journeys.  Some examples exist in which the bulwarks have been crafted from mythril to lighten the burden, while some of the more talented arcanists amongst us have adapted Rings of Shielding to work with the premise, instantly creating a shield of magical force that encompasses their tome with a negligible change in weight while offering equal, if not superior, protection, as a standard shield. 

I’ll finish by saying that I am at once fascinated and horrified by the concept of bookish bulwarks.  While they are certainly practical from a specialized usage standpoint, the idea of using a book as a shield just sits wrong with me.  Granted, there have been many instances on record in which a book, even small ones, have saved the life of an individual from a sudden dagger strike, or been used as a weapon of desperation, but still…to mistreat a tome in such a way?  It just seems counter to our goals, but, I suppose, pragmatism wins the day in the end. 

 

#Lore24 – Entry #64 – Fantasy Month #4 – Bands of Grounding

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

 

Perhaps this is Felaria’s way of grounding my expectations of travel?  It would certainly fit her sense of humor.  Was I a bit too hopeful yesterday, a bit too eager to explore?  Perhaps I was; I did speak a lot about lands beyond the library, perhaps too much, though I heard no complaints from the others, and Gray Tiger was quite fascinated with what I had to say.

Anyway, Bands of Grounding, also known as Grounding Bands or mana-siphoning restraints, while a bit on the archaic side in terms of aesthetics, are no less effective at their intended purpose, restraining those who are capable of casting spells and constantly draining their energy reserves so they cannot cast spells, even with the use of their hands and mouths.  At the core of the design of these items are heavy-duty shackles and collars, often stout enough to restrain even the strongest of orcs, beset with numerous iron spikes, and multiple attachment points for chains and locks.  Securing even one such band to a spellcaster can result in diminished casting ability as their most powerful magics are siphoned away and their overall capacity for magic is reduced.  A full set of these restraints (consisting of bands on ankles and wrists, and a collar around the neck) will completely nullify even the most powerful spellcasters in minutes. 

Some observations regarding the design of these devices: 

1) The spikes, while instrumental in safely discharging the captured arcanist’s magical reserves, can be harmful to an overly animated arcanist or to those around them, should they know how to defend themselves without the use of magic, as was told to me by Gray Tiger, who has witnessed such things himself during his time training within his clan in the capital. 

2)  These devices are typically made of the densest metals, and/or with little regard for their overall weight and bulkiness; many spellcasters are physically weak due to long years of study, and thus encumbering them will further hinder their abilities. 

3)  The use of chains on the bands is entirely optional, and usually serves only to further restrain the wearer or secure them in place for transport or incarceration. 

4) The older designs of the Bands of Grounding had separate locks, which proved to be a security risk for spellcasters capable of picking locks, and though still in use in some distant regions of the Empire, have been replaced by the newer design, which rely upon spell-coded locks, their individual keys kept secured in another location until needed, or by the newest modification, which creates a kind of magnetic seal powered by the wearer’s own magical reserves, only removable by a separate control device.  As an additional security feature, the keys on the more modern designs are attuned so that if one restrained by the Bands attempts to use the keys, on themselves or others who are contained within the bands, they will receive a severe electrical shock, stunning them and causing a significant amount of pain.

5) A significant portion of the wealthy of the Empire often have sets of these created without their mana-siphoning enchantments as decorations for their kerryn slaves, perhaps with more refinement to the design, as something of a fashion accessory, some in silver or gold, or even encrusted with jewels in the case of the exceptionally wealthy.  The audacity of the wealthy nobles and merchants who make such displays is truly staggering.

Speaking from my personal experience with these devices during the course of my training, the feeling of having your magical reserves siphoned away is unsettling, leaving you with a distinct numbness within.  Given the high mobility style of swordplay I’ve adopted, the additional bulk of the restraints made it quite awkward to mount a proper defense, and I wound up poking myself several times with the spikes as I tried to move about, much to Filaria’s amusement, I might add.  I certainly could not think of a more insidious way to restrict magic users from using their abilities.