Category: Technology

#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.

 

 

LORE24 ENTRY #39 – Supers Month #8 – Clean Sweep

 

From the files of Cyber Seer…

 

Villainous Name

Clean Sweep

 

Real Name

Mariska Hathaway

 

Description

Wow, almost didn’t have a chance to get a good look at her!  I was totally taped up and at her mercy before I could blink, ya know?  Like, I’d never been mummified that good before!  And the way she was choking me while holding me hostage totally got my juices flowing too!  OMG, it was so hawt!  Oh, right, what does she look like, though?  Well, she’s a total hottie with that uniform she’s almost wearing, right?  Dark hair, amber eyes, and ‘attractive’ would be putting it mildly; she’s got some amazing…tracts of land.  Like, does anyone else wonder how she can like, move that fast without fallout out of it?  (Note from PP:  double-sided tape might be a thing here.) Or how she can run in those heels?  Ohmygawd!  Right, right, what does she look like, though?  Well, thanks to MM’s data, we have one sexy maid with a seriously bad attitude!  Lotsa boobage on display in that totally skimpy maid uniform, big bows, lacy frills all around, sexy lacy garters and fishnets over some amazing legs (not as nice as yours, GB!), and some flashy red high heels.  Sounds like she’s from New York Jersey, maybe?  Anyone else gettin’ those kinda vibes?  Like maybe she’s mafia or something?

Update From Gun Bunny:  “SCPD records indicate she is a native of New Jersey and does indeed have ties to other criminal operations on the east coast, has a list a mile long of minor offenses, nothing concrete as far as convictions on more serious issues. As of now, we still don’t know where she’s getting all the heavy weapons.  There must be another source we’ve not managed to track down.”

 

Known Lairs and Hangouts

So like, does anyone know where she hangs out when she’s not doing B&E and theft and property destruction and stuff?  You’d totally think it’d be easy to find a few dozen maids hanging out with the hardware these chicks pack, right?  I totally would, anyway.  Like, they gotta have a place to store that arsenal.  Seriously, nobody got a clue?  

She’s locked up in the Edgewater Institute for now.  Seriously, they must have some amazing tech in there to hold someone like that!  Like, has anyone ever been inside there?  I’m totally curious what they’ve got in there!

 

Why She’s Bad news 

Super-speed, dudes!  Like, wow, can she move!  Even Mecha Musume’s sensors couldn’t keep track of her!  Best she got was something like an incoming missile warning, but by then it was already too late to react.  And she hits like a Mack truck!  Totally sent MM flying with just a steel pipe!  Like, wowza!  According to MM’s armor, she can hit with the same force as a missile, and could actually do some major damage!  And like, she’s super-skilled with tape, too as I can fully attest (with detailed, moment-by-moment records of exactly how I was feeling at the time), and probably other restraints if given the chance.  Like, maybe I can get in with Edgewater somehow for some more tests?  Would be a good idea I think.  Hey, maybe I could like, reach out to the director of that place?  Wow, she looks hawt…

Update from Mecha Musume:  In all seriousness, Clean Sweep’s speed cannot, under any circumstances, be dismissed.  She can be in one place, then somewhere else in the blink of an eye, and can even bring people with her.  I still haven’t managed to calibrate my sensors in a way that can track objects moving at that speed.  Were it not for Black Cat’s timely arrival, I do not think we would have made it out of the situation unscathed.  I also have my doubts that Black Cat could have even managed to stop her if Clean Sweep had been aware of her presence.  Based upon what we witnessed, I can say with a high degree of certainty that Clean Sweep is possessed of a remarkable metabolism, but must still consume a high volume of oxygen when she uses her powers.  She almost immediately used up all the remaining air in that force cage Black Cat made trying to escape it, blurring as she did.  Perhaps she can move so fast as to resonate her body in a way that she can pass through physical matter?

Update from Gun Bunny:  Given that she can move fast enough that none of us can keep track of her, I don’t think Clean Sweep’s motivations are pure greed.  She seems to have a sadistic side to her, given how she treated Cyber Seer and was toying with Mecha Musume while her girls did the heavy lifting.  Her criminal records from New Jersey include at least two assaults, though she has been implicated in many more that couldn’t be confirmed.  

 

Known Accomplices

She’s got a whole gang backing her, dudes!  Like, how many have there been now?  A couple dozen at least!  And she’s got some special one too, like more talented or whatever, like that Little Suzie chick and that creepy pink-haired one with the knives and the gas mask.  Like, totally uncool vibes coming off them, no girl boners here.

Update from Mecha Musume:  She goes by Pinkie the Knife, btw.

And then there’s whoever she’s getting the guns and explosives from.  Like, I looked into some records and stuff (no, I totally didn’t hack any federal databases or anything!  That would be bad and wrong and I’m totally a good girl!), and like, there’s nothing on that load of guns and stuff reclaimed from those robberies.  Guessing that a lot of them came from overseas somewhere?  Totally should try to track down where these are coming from!

 

Comments

Mecha Musume – The fact that you were getting excited by her threatening to slice your head off with a garotte is troubling.

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  I’m a very horny girl, babe.  What can I say?  It was a heat of the moment thing!!  Totally won’t happen again.  Probably.  Maybe.  Maybe not…

—-Reply from Mecha Musume:  It had better not!  

——Reply from Cyber Seer:  …But, like, what if it does?  I mean, you know how hot some of these baddies are, right?  Like, especially this one.  Total dommy maid fantasy stuff going on here!

——–Reply from Mecha Musume:  Do you need to speak with Mecha Mistress regarding this matter?

———-Reply from Cyber Seer:  Yes please!  <3 <3 <3

 

Pink Pussy – Wow…I get a little excited when I do my crime fighting thing, but you’re on a whole new level, Cyber Seer.  So thirsty…

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Such is the burden I must bear as an avatar of the internet!  it’s for porn, you know?  Like, totally.  They even wrote a song about it.  By the way, have you seen some of the art of you out there?  I’m getting all hot just thinking about it!

—-Reply from Pink Pussy:  Si, chica!  I get it, absolutely!  Also…uh, you mentioned more details about the taping thing?  

——Reply from Cyber Seer:  I totally did, and it is soooo hot!  Like, sent you a link, babe 😉

 

Gun Bunny – I haven’t faced her myself since she’s safely tucked away in Edgewater, but I don’t even think my speed could keep up with her.  She could easily outrun bullets at that speed, perhaps even have all of us in a bind before we knew it.  Anyone have any suggestions on how we could deal with someone like her without Black Cat’s magic?

–Reply from Mecha Musume:  Perhaps we would need to focus on roundabout ways of dealing with her.  At least based upon Black Cat’s handling of the situation, if Clean Sweep cannot perceive the threat, then perhaps even she cannot react to them.  I am considering a reactive power surge through my armor as an option; the moment she makes contact, a stunning blast would trigger, basically.  Traps of some kind to slow her or pin her in place would be an option as well.

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  *raises hand*  I volunteer for testing any and all traps, the stickier the better.

—-Reply from Gun Bunny:  Yeah, I agree with your line of thought, Musume.  I’ll see if I can come up with any bright ideas on my end too.  

 

LORE24 ENTRY #38 – Supers Month #7 – Dollface

 

From the files of Cyber Seer…

 

Villainous Name

Dollface

 

Real Name

Unknown (Probably some stuffy British name or something, based totally on that holier-than-though posh accent of hers.)

 

Description

Like, oh my god, this lady is totally into the whole doll fetish thing!  Like, super seriously, you know?  Those masks of hers are totally bad news!  Creepy and porcelain-looking and stuff!  Then there’s that stuffy old Victorian dress thingy she wears, sitting on her throne and having all those creepy dolls waiting on her, totally loyal pets, like some kind of modern queen or something.  You know, I can totally understand why she’d like that kind of thing and could like, you know, maybe get into the whole ‘doll-like plaything’ angle, but only if, like, it was on my terms, you know?  Not like mind control and stuff, that’s just not cool.  

 

Known Lairs and Hangouts

The Dollhouse – It’s totally just a warehouse with some fancy interior, you know?  Like, nothing that special.  Especially since Black Cat gave it a new sunroof and I kinda totally fried all the electronics in there.  Think she’ll hold that against us?  I totally bet she does.  If she ever wakes up, anyway…

Edgewater Institute – Dollface is currently being held here for medical care and possible treatment.  They’re like, the only place in the city that can restrain supers right now, and like, oh my god, I can only imagine how they do it!  Like, seriously, they’re security is next-level, you know?  Like, I can’t even break through the firewall; whoever their IT is, they’re GOOD, like super-good, ME kinda good, you know?  

Update from Gun Bunny:  My sources inside SCPD have confirmed that Dollface is still in a coma at this time.  She is in the intensive care unit currently, and so far has shown no signs of waking up.  Brain activity is a mess, but that’s about all we’ve managed to get.  It seems the facility’s director, Jennifer Tempest, is VERY big on patient rights and protection.  Will let you know more if I get anything else.

 

Why She’s Bad news 

Those doll masks, dude!  Totally jacked up!  Like, those things are gnarly in the worst way!  Like, they’ve got some seriously intense tech going on there.  It’s a lot of what Pink Pussy was stealing and stuff, but with like, so much more beneath the hood!  I couldn’t like, get a full tech-spec on them before I burned everything down, but these things are like, wet-dream territory for the globalist nut-jobs trying to control the world, you know?  Not only can they totally control your mind, but they buff you up, too!  Like enhanced strength, toughness, all that kind of thing!  She made them out of like titanium and carbon composites, and that’s why even Musume had trouble busting them up.  But the way she like, made those special masks just for us is kinda creepy?  Or maybe its more like, the masks could shape themselves to us somehow, like, you know, customization based on the target or whatever?  And just how many of these things could she pump out if she had a bigger operation?  There were like, two dozen dolls there already!  What was this chick planning?  Like, world domination?  A kinky dollhouse kind of kingdom?  

Good news is that my brain is like, not totally compatible with her tech, thankfully, so she couldn’t get me to do the whole loyal doll thing, buuuuuut it totally messed with my head, like splitting headaches and jacked up senses and junk.  Not that I could, like, see or hear anything besides her anyway; totall sensory deprivation helmet.  Maybe I could’ve done more at that point, but she totally had me strapped down and at her mercy and stuff, so great save there, Gun Bunny!  Also, your legs…OMG, your legs!  Would totally let you crush me with those someday if you wanted!  Walk all over me with those heels of yours…mmmm…

Oh, oh, more about Dollface!  Like, her control mechanism was totally wireless tech, like a suped-up Bluethooth kinda thing, so maybe I could make something to disrupt that signal?  But if what Black Cat said holds, then maybe not?  Cause its like, magic and stuff, and I still don’t get how that works?  Might be something that Kitsune lady did, too.  She was magical too, and not just because she wore that sexy latex outfit.  She was pretty hot, though, right?  And that outfit she put Black Cat in?  OMG, SO HAWT!  And so cute!  Not cool though!  Not cool at all!  Bad Cyber Seer, bad!  Punish me, Mecha Mistress!

Update from Pink Pussy!  Like, apparently Dollface can teleport, too!  That’s totally how she managed to snatch Pussy (hehe…heheehehehe….I said snatch pussy…) and get her in that mask!  Creepy doll-faced lady with teleport powers, totally not cool!  BUT apparently it only works through mirrors, maybe?  At least, that’s what PP remembers, so everyone be totally careful of anything like that!

 

 

Known Accomplices

Kitsune – The sexy fox lady with very naughty and advanced illusion magic, per Black Cat.  I added the naughty part.  And totally not from Earth, apparently, not even this plane of existence.  Major unknown quantity here!  Like, she totally helped to free me when Dollface took that bullet to the head, but what’s her game?  Who’s she working for?  Where do all those tails connect, and are they real or just kinky accessories?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Anyway, she stole some seriously bad vibe magical artifacts that could mean…well, bad news.  Still waiting on Black Cat to figure out something there with her mysterious order or whatever (by the way, what little I’ve gotten out of her indicates there are totally a bunch of sexy mages in there…).  And apparently Scheherazade could do more than tell fun stories!  Who knew?  Certainly not I! 

 

Kitsune’s Boss – So, like, she’s working for someone.  No clues as to who, what, when, where, or why, but that’s like, the nature of mystery and intrigue in the superhero world, amiright?

 

Others – I couldn’t get much out of Dollface’s records, but I totally think there were others working for her or with her, maybe not her doll squad, but like, more influential or powerful types.  Something is amiss in Sentinel City, y’all!

 

Comments

Mecha Musume – I fixed the formatting for you; less thought-streaming, more factual and to the point.  Also clearer headings and more serious nature to the database.

Edit:  I see you’ve reverted most of my changes.  I’ll assume that’s just an error from the update you performed earlier and change that again.

Edit 2:  Ah, you’ve reverted my changes once more.  >:(  Well, fine, have it your way.  Mecha Mistress will be seeing you this evening, and she will not be pleased.

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  Insert eager panting noises here

 

Pink Pussy – I’m not proud of what she made me do, but can attest to the danger of those masks.  I could restrain myself in some ways, like when I took down Shadow Lynx and left her strung up under that streetlight; I had been ordered to kill her, but thankfully resisted the order.  I was out of it for a pretty good while afterward, though; once that mask came off, I was starving and exhausted.  No clue what longer term wear would do to a person who wasn’t a super.

And…who is this ‘Mecha Mistress’ chica?

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  That was totally hawt, btw.  Edit:  The Shadow Lynx thing, not the other stuff!  Also, Mecha Mistress, i can’t say anymore atm, I’m a little tied up 😉

—-Reply from Pink Pussy:  …with you, I’m not sure if you’re being literal or not…

——Reply from Cyber Seer:  Totes literal.  Ohmygawd, so hawt!

 

Gun Bunny – Appreciate that you appreciate my legs 😉  Also, I’m not seeing any comments from Black Cat; does she not have access?

–Reply from Cyber Seer:  The offer to crush me between them thighs or walk all over me is ongoing, btw.  Ummmm…baby steps with Black Cat.  She’s like…not really down with the electronic age, y’know?  She’s totally retro, but in a cool way!  

—-Reply from Gun Bunny:  Perhaps you should confer with your Mecha Mistress first?  

——Reply from Mecha Musume:  I’m certain she would not approve; I’ll be sure to inform her about this.

——–Reply from Cyber Seer:  I totally approve of this!  Eagerly awaiting whatever punishment Mecha Mistress has for me!  I’m totally a bad girl and absolutely 100% need it. XOXO

 

LORE24 ENTRY #35 – Supers Month #4 – Mecha Musume

 

Hero Name

Mecha Musume

 

Real Name

Emi Koike

 

Description

Emi is a young and pretty Japanese woman, with dark hair and a pleasant face framed by a pair of glasses, standing just barely at five feet tall.  She wears her hair at shoulder length in a plain cut, and typically dresses neatly, usually wearing a proper skirt, blouse, hose, and sensible shoes.  She’s still getting over her more introverted nature, and doesn’t go out of the way to draw attention to herself.  She does dress more casually when at home, though this usually means she’s wearing some kind of coverall and covered with grease and metal shavings as her favorite hobby of late is tinkering with her armor.

As Mecha Musume, she stands nearly seven feet tall, broad and bulky in the humanoid powered armor.  The current Mk. I design is painted in dark gray and black until she decides on a proper color scheme, the armor several inches thick in most places.  The backpack unit resembles that of an astronaut’s pack, equipped with powerful thrusters that enable her to fly and leap much further than the weight of the suit might indicate it is capable of.  The weapons are likewise much too large to use by a regular human, a large directed energy cannon that she uses like a pistol, and the energy sword stored in the backpack resembling a good sized pipe.  

 

Powers and Abilities

Though Emi doesn’t possess any flashy superpowers, her mind is her greatest asset.  Though she can’t process information at the speeds that Becky does, she has a far greater ability to grasp complex concepts and a far deeper understanding of engineering and robotics, and can learn practically anything if she applies herself.  Her true passion is robotics, though, and that shows in her armored alter ego, Mecha Musume.

Initially appearing as something of a walking tank, Mecha Musume’s armor is continually being refined and modified to adapt to new situations and the ever-changing face of super-powered villainy in Sentinel City and beyond.  The armor itself is extremely dense and heavy, but manages not to overburden most of the city streets, and is capable of shrugging off small arms fire without a scratch, and can even absorb anti-tank rounds to some extent.  The armor is incredibly strong as well, allowing her to lift several tons without putting a strain on the suit’s mechanics.  Having modeled her designs after her favorite mecha anime, Emi’s initial loadout of weaponry were decidedly too much for dealing with most of the criminals she would initially encounter, the powerful energy cannon and sword easily tearing through anything up to an armored truck like a hot knife through butter, even on lower settings.  Emi would adapt her arsenal as time went on, expanding and tweaking it like the rest of the armor.

Though she was never one to get into physical altercations growing up, Emi has had to learn to fight now that she’s embraced her heroic side, practicing with both guns and in various weapons, though she still relies mostly on absorbing damage and providing heavy firepower against more dangerous villains.  She has become something of an amateur martial artist while she’s not tinkering with her armor, learning  unarmed techniques and how to use Japanese swords and naginata, modifying her techniques to better serve her inside her armor.  

 

Background Info

Emi was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan as the only child of her parents, dutiful government employees, though her father was often absent due to travel requirements.  From an early age she displayed an amazing intellect, a child prodigy, though her interests always leaned toward the sciences.  Though placed in accelerated courses in school, Emi was not entirely out of touch with pop culture, having fallen in love with the giant robots seen in various manga and anime.  It was perhaps no surprise that she would begin delving into studies on robotics as she rapidly advanced in school.  She had attained a college-level education by the time she reached puberty, and had attained doctorates in engineering and robotics by the age of sixteen.

Though still dedicated to her field of study, Emi also had a desire to see the world and experience American culture, and, against the wishes of her parents, though they would still support her decision, Emi went to America to see the ‘college experience’ first hand, even though she had already surpassed anything they offered.  It was in college that she met Becky Dodgers, who was a couple years older than her, and the two became fast friends and more, sharing a love of technology and her favorite mecha anime.  It was during a summer trip back to Japan after that first year that Emi would learn the truth about her father, that he was actually a highly trained operative performing various clandestine missions for the Japanese government, perhaps even with some lingering ties to the Yakuza, and that he had worked and even clashed with Becky’s father several times over the years.  Though her father was adamant she severe ties with Becky, Emi refused and returned to America, though she learned that Becky was completely clueless about the nature of the work her father did, and to this day, still doesn’t grasp that he’s not a simple accountant.

In the days following the world’s awakening to super powers, Emi worked with Becky to learn the extent of her newfound ability, and for a time thought she hadn’t been gifted with any such changes.  However, she would soon begin to work out designs for technology the likes of which were only in the earliest conceptual phases, and had envisioned her very first powered armor, the early-phase prototypes following in secret soon after, with only Becky aware of what she was doing.  Later, following their graduation and arrival in Sentinel City, with a little help from her father’s contacts within the government to obtain a few particular materials, the two would develop the first working prototype power armor, just before Emi started her new job as a teacher of robotics at Sentinel City University.

As fate would have it, the first test of the armor’s functions would also be the pair’s first encounter with the criminal element of Sentinel City in the form of the Clean Sweep Gang.  Though there would be some trouble during this encounter, the two would emerge victorious, and Emi would tirelessly refine and improve her design from there on, though there always seemed to be an underlying cooling issue for the inside of the armor, one that she has yet to puzzle out.  It would be after an encounter with Clean Sweep herself that the pair would join forces with the mysterious mage Black Cat that would put them on the path to confronting the thieving Pink Pussy, and eventually confronting Dollface and learning of her otherworldly boss.  

 

Known Enemies and Rivals

Clean Sweep (Enemy)

The Clean Sweep Gang (Enemy)

Dollface (Enemy)

Grover Bloomenthal (Rival)

Demon Lord Kurae (Enemy)

Kitsune (Enemy…?)

 

LORE24 ENTRY #27 – Robotics

Category – Technology

Robotics have advanced in some amazing ways since space travel became commonplace, though still seems lacking in other ways.  The most common types of robotics are those dedicated to mass-production, laboring away in factories on massive assembly lines to build starships and other vehicles.  Other robots have, in the many prosperous regions, taken over the less desirable manual labors, such as farming or janitorial services.  Robotics are more commonly seen in the form of cybernetic replacements for limbs, or in the form of powered suits or exoskeletons designed to handle heavier cargo.

True robots have seen a rather limited advancement due to the unreliability and lack of advancement of artificial intelligence that would govern their behavior.  Beyond basic functions with a limited scope, such as farming and assembly, advanced AI has proven unreliable at best when governing the behaviors of these machines, and a liability and danger to living beings at its worst.  The general consensus is that artificial intelligence should be limited in scope and reach, and with limited decision-making ability.  There have been multiple instances throughout history where more advanced AI has led to loss of life and destruction of property when the AI outright fails or goes completely rogue and has to be destroyed.

Autonomous robots do exist in some limited roles.  Some corporations make use of robotic sentries for security purposes, though these act as little more than armored, mobile gun turrets with target-identifying abilities, as well as small, highly maneuverable drones meant to patrol or search a wide area.  Some groups see modern robotics as bringing back the ancient golems, creating loyal, if mostly unintelligent, servants and guardians, though even those were often only tasked with simple orders, limiting their purpose.  The size of modern robotics is likewise limited, with the largest examples being slow-moving and often limited to factory spaces; physics still applies to larger robots, after all, and the secrets of creating truly massive golems that could actually move about without necessarily destroying the streets they walked upon has been lost to time.

 

LORE24 ENTRY #20 – Seal-Tech

Category – Technology

Amongst the most controversial and feared arca-tech (arcane technology) in the known galaxy is Seal-Tech, unique to the dark elves, its secrets fiercely protected behind walls of secrecy.  Used primarily in the dark elf-controlled prison system (a lucrative business in its own right given their successful business model), on its surface, Seal-Tech is used as a means of controlling the prisoner population.  At first glance, one could assume that Seal-Tech was simply an advanced form of latex, typically seen in the form of a skin-tight bodysuit prisoners are placed within, sometimes with attached restraints, and able to be recolored at a signal from a controller to indicate various statuses of the wearer, even report back on their general state of health.  It is known to be much more durable than standard latex, and generally is reasoned to be used because nothing could be hidden on a person wearing it.

Below the surface, however, Seal-Tech is much more advanced and insidious.  Having gone through multiple advances over the centuries, Seal-Tech, while indeed latex at its core, is far more than a simple rubber compound.  The reason behind the name is primarily from the most powerful of the material’s abilities, namely the ability to seal away the magic of those wearing it, completely blocking the ability of arcanists and even divine or druidic casters from casting their spells.  The ability of the material to reshape itself on command also makes it perfect for immobilizing hostile prisoners and limiting their ability to cause trouble or even use basic implements, able to form a variety of restraint devices (straps, cuffs, mittens, gags, an inescapable sack to immobilize the wearer, and more).  In the most recent iterations of the technology, the dark elves have managed to incorporate a life-sustaining magic into the mix, which serves to keep a prisoner wearing the suit nourished without the need for actual food (though once their sentence is complete and the suits removed, they are ravenously hungry and must eat immediately), as well as self-cleaning functions so that the suits never have to be removed.

The truly nefarious nature of Seal-Tech is tied to its near-indestructability; once a person has been placed within a suit of Seal-Tech, they cannot remove it.  If the suit is damaged, even with cold, fire, or other means, to the point of being completely burned away, somehow, the Seal-Tech will regrow and reform itself in a matter of minutes (older iterations of the technology took much longer to reform itself, hours or days).  Though outwardly able to affected by magic, it is highly resistant to magical analysis, and the nature of its legendary resilience has yet to be determined, though many arcanists surmise that it is tied to a very advanced form of curse magic.  Others have theorized that Seal-Tech is somehow related to the dark elves’ patron goddess Yurisaya, as her faithful followers often make use of the material for their own purposes, and are known to work closely with the prison system to provide care, discipline, and spiritual guidance to prisoners.