View source for Artifice-al Difficulties

Monday, August 16, 2021, 7:37 PM
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Tuesday, August 17, 2021, 9:49 PM

Venom is at the Guild Hall to collect her promised pay from a prior 'fools errand', when she encounters Vaera, actually seeking her out. Aryia, noting Venom, decides to indulge in some light sport, sneaking up for a harmless jump scare, but is noticed by Vaera, who sounds a warning. This, in time for the arrival of a second Mul'niessa, Aya, who proceeds to join the group by the notice board for her own perusals.
There is some tension from the Redscale Sith and the Mul'niessan pair, and Venom makes some small effort to keep things calm. There are introductions and some explanation before they find common ground in their disdain for Charn before the Mul'niessa, in turns, must take their leave, one exit less spectacular than the other. The two remaining women commandeer a meeting room so that Venom can honor her offer of looking at Vaera's weapon, and offering some further insight into the proper feed and caring for the Charnish device. The unique linguistic fusion in the artifice inscriptions makes for extra difficulty. Discussions are had about teaching, not just in gunsmithing, but perhaps artifice in general that the Sith may replace her prosthetic leg, though Vaera notes something in her words about War Golems reveals something beneath Venom's veil. Even so, the pair part amicably with well wishes for their respective endeavors.

-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A05: Adventurer's Council, Great Hall *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-

         As the phoenix is Alexandria's national symbol, so too has its Explorer's Council, often called the Adventurer's Council, risen from the ashes of its destruction. 
 
         Guards and mercenaries fill the interior of this huge building, one of the largest in its immediate area. Strong, metal walls divide its interior, crafting halls, briefing rooms and offices. A large space near the front has been set aside for mingling and stocked with comfortable chairs to wait in. 
 
         This area is catered by one of the Society of Arcanists' more famous chefs, a small lucht with a predilection for otherworldly cuisine and tentacle soup. Security here is as tight as it is anywhere in Alexandria, even more so now after its recent destruction. Sharp eyed sentinels and guards are ever-watchful and all manner of security contraption is said to be residing within the walls of the building. The walls are pristine for now, though not for long, and artfully decorated with murals depicting heroic adventure by members of all communities and races of the region. 
 
         The windows to the Council Hall are now stained glass, artfully decorated to depict famous moments in Alexandrian history, ranging from the death of Altima at the hands of the Phalanx Falcis at the end of the Sorceress Wars, to the city triumphantly emerging from the Mists to a changed world. Many spaces have been set aside for new stories to be added, with numerous tale yet to be written. 
 
         No matter how many times the Hall has been rebuilt, the statue in the front remains the same: a lone warrior facing off against what is presumably thought to be 'Cuddles the Otyugh Queen', with the Council's motto, below: Anything for the right price.

                                EXTRAS: +view                                 

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Aryia        37s     4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female 
   
    A heavily scarred mul with a tired look about her.         
                
Aya          2m      4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female 
   
    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.                  
               
Vaera        1s      7'0"     262 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    

    A tall, dark red Makari with a wooden leg.                          
       
Venom        0s      5'6"     130 Lb     Human             Female    

    A woman(?) about 5'6" in a ragged black veil and poncho.         
         
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Scene Logger by Venom(#1382I)
[Archives] Dun Morden War Stories
The Plank

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= Exits -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Out <O>                   

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It's the usual kind of day at the Guild, lots of would be Adventurers milling about looking for work, talking about work, or one-upping each other about things that probably would have been work if they'd really happened.

Amongst the throng moves the silent figure of Venom considering the bursar's voucher in her hand, a bubble of sidelong looks and whispers travelling in her wake.

If she minds, it doesn't show, as she stops over to one of the bounty boards to see if anything's worth doing.



Vaera decided to take up the offer another day to take a look around the adventurer's guild, hoping to find what was to be done there, and more hopefully, to see if the veiled person from the other day was around. She seems to find her after hearing the various whispers, and she tilts her head, watching the sources a moment before she continues on. 

"Peace, Venom. I was wondering if I would run into you here." She greets, gesturing to the voucher. "Your work went well?"



Amongst the crowd of people trying was a familiar face, though they were a bit busy trying to parse some of the jobs that were posted. Though, the wave of murmurs makes her long ears twitch, her looking over to see what the commotion was. 

Aryia's face brightens for a moment, some of the exhaustion she had previously abated, looking like she got a decent night's rest since then. She gets a playful thought in her head, one that makes a smirk cross her lips as she shimmies over to Venom. Aryia stops beside her, looking up at the bounty board with her and pretending to be pensive, like she didn't even spot her earlier. 

To Vaera, a heavily scarred mul'neissa stepped up beside the veiled woman. Looking like she had some petty ulterior motive, should the light smile on her face betrayed anything. 

 GAME: Venom rolls perception: (4)+10: 14
 GAME: Aryia rolls stealth: (5)+13: 18



Venom comes to a stop as she is suddenly hailed and turns to look toward Vaera, lowering the paper in her hand. She thinks about things for a moment, then nods, but signs, "Fool's errand. Still paid."

The sudden presence of the smiling Mul'niessa seems to have eluded the veiled woman's notice thus far, her focus having been on the Sith, who gets a once over on the sly. <handspeech>



The red makari looked back to Venom, and nods. She had the jacket from the other day. "You were still paid for the time looking into it, which is good, and fair." 

Then she sees the figure appearing at Venom's side. Vaera knew mul'niessa well. And one thing she knew, was that something that would make one smile was rarely anything good. From behind Aryia, Vaera coughs, but it comes off with a deep, guttural growl almost.



What could possibly be more suspicious and concerning than a mul'niessa?

Perhaps two?

Aya steps into the hall via the main entrance, taking a moment to look over the guild hall. It may be her first time, or perhaps simply a significant amount since her last visit.



Aryia blinks, the sound coming from behind making her crane her head backwards until she saw a tall redscale looming over her. She blinks again, raises one hand in greeting, then lightly prods Venom on the arm with a knuckle. 



Venom nods in agreement with Vaera's remark, gesturing, "Good business."

She cocks her head a mite as the redscale suddenly has a tickle in her throat, which turns into a half twist toward the tall(er) Mul'niessa at the bump to her arm.

Recognizing her makes the veiled woman nod and reach out to lightly touch a knuckle to Aryia's shoulder, then sign, "Hello, You look better." as the other Mul'niessa enters line of sight via the front door. <handspeech>



Vaera twists around, looking to the door now with the noise being picked up. She offers Aryia the briefest bow of her head as she steps back and away from the door to keep the two mul'niessa in view. "Most of these listings are vague. Good that they hold themselves to what is asked." She states, looking back to the scarred Mul and Venom. "You two know each other, then?"



Aya arches a brow as her eyes slip across those present. "Was a new listing posted? Something not involving the sewers, perhaps?" she asks generally. Her eyes do linger on Aryia at the end, and her other brow lifts in query.



Aryia's light smile returns as she's greeted, her answering the question with a dip of her head. "Finally got some sleep," she mentions with a gesture. 

She turns to address the redscale, her, again, nodding her head. "We do, yes. I don't go poking random strangers." <Handspeech> 

Her attention shifts to Aya, Aryia relaxing further as she see's they're just fine. She raises a hand in greeting before shaking her head. "Good to see you again." <Handspeech> 



Venom waves her hand so-so to Vaera's observation, "You don't pay, you don't get volunteers." she notes in sign.

Aryia's gestures draw her eye and she patiently waits for the Mul'niessa to finish before she deigns to respond in kind, "Likewise."

Her attention turns to the other dark elf, now, a shift in posture and angle of her head saying as much before the veiled woman gestures toward the board and shrugs. <handspeech>



"A new listing? I could not tell you due to only seeing them once today, but they should have the dates they were posted." She states, turning back to Aryia. "No, but poking strangers is not out of the question." She adds, taking another step backwards with a dull thunk against the floor.



The scarred mul'neissa gives a crisp nod to Venom, her standing beside them with her hands on her hips. Many a factors fell into place that helped give her more than an iota of rest. She squints up at the sith-makar, her tilting her head to the side. "O... kay?" she gestures, stretching out the first part by dragging the 'o' across the space in front of her. "Didn't mean to interrupt. Who are you?" <Handspeech>



"It's good to see you as well, and well-rested," Aya responds to the scarred mul as she steps towards her. Were she to take a different direction, the redscale might need to back completely into a corner, from what Aya observes. "Peace on your nest," she offers with a nod, followed by one to the woman.



Ignorant of how much their previous talk actually helped Aryia's wakefullness, Venom nods and stands about as casually as the veiled figure generally does next to her, letting the two get acquainted. It's easier this way, after all. The hail from the other Mul turns her head slightly in that direction, preceeding a short little bow that way.


Vaera was aware of the surroundings, and another step to the side put her with at least enough room to move if she had to. "You did not interrupt anything, but I would not wish harm upon Venom." She states, the spines on the back of her head lying flat. The greeting makes their eyes narrow as they face Aya, their tail flicking several times behind them. "There is no peace. I would hear your names before giving my own."



Aya's countenance firms and her lips purse somewhat at the sith's response. "I intended respect, not offense. I am known as Aya." She takes another step, a somewhat less casual sidestep, towards Aryia. All the better for the sith to face them on a singular front, rather than perhaps feel flanked or attention split.



Aryia frowns a bit, her gesturing. "Peace on your nest, I guess? I never mentioned anything about harm. I'm A-R-Y-I-A." <Handspeech> 

Confused slightly, she looks to her veiled companion for guidance. 



Venom signs a simple "Steady." at first, looking between the particulars as she holds the sign between them.

She looks between sith and the newly introduced, then bows her head to the latter.

Back to Vaera her overt attention turns, and she starts to sign, "She would not be here without challenge if she weren't supposed to be." There is a trailing moment as she pondrs the protection the gunslinger affords her so soon after their acquaintance and isn't entirely sure what to make of it, but is at least savvy enough to know that she should sign, "Thank you." and thus she does. <handspeech>



Vaera stops as the other mul steps closer, and she takes stock of the two, scanning the room for others. 

"You did not see her approach. They are naturally more adept than most at moving quietly." She states simply. "You did not mention harm Aryia. Again there is none. My name is Vaera." She finally offers.



"Now that that is settled," Aya dips her head to the now-introduced Sith before turning her attention to the previously-mentioned board of postings. A step or three is taken to bring her to it and a few moments taken to skim over it.



Between Aya and Venom, the pieces finally click for the scarred mul'neissa as she sighs and crosses her arms, her making space for Aya to join the line in front of the redscale. Aryia just rolls her eyes. She had nothing to add on the topic. 

Still, it didn't dampen her mood too much in the grand scheme of things. 



Venom seems content that things aren't going to turn noisy/messy around her, and edges slightly aside so Aya can examine the board at leisure. She regards Vaera, then starts to sign, "How's that Thunder-Belcher treating you?"

The veiled one reaches aside slightly to gently tap Aryia's arm. <handspeech>



"Yes, it is settled." Vaera nods as Aya goes to look at the listings. "As well as I can hope, all things considered." She replies to Venom, reading the signs and watching the movements. "Good enough to use if I needed to, I would say."



Aya turns from the board soon enough, having either found what she sought or nothing of interest. She steps directly to Aryia, stopping adjacent to comment, "If you will be rested, we can train on the morrow. Do be mindful that you don't step too silently when you leave here." One corner of her mouth lifts in a half-smile.

A blink later and she is no longer present, with only dispating wisps of dark miasma where she once was. <sildanyari>



Aryia's attention slid off to look at the board as well, only to find the requests on there lacking, or things she could not understand. The gentle prod makes her look back to the veiled woman, head tilting to the side. A beat passes before she offers a light smile and returns the gesture, tapping Venom on the arm in turn. 

She glances to Aya, her spotting the ribbon in their hair and silently hums in approval. More of a nasal droning sound than anything. Her idle attention sharpens as she's addressed. 

Despite not knowing how to read the language, still still understood the tongue. Aryia sharpens up and gives a quick nod of the head and a thumbs up, her smiling back as well. And she felt like she was getting a good guess at when the elf would vanish, as the puff of shadow did not phase her. 

"That was the person I was worried about the other day," she mentions to Venom, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder where the shadows were settling. <Handspsech>



Venom nods to Vaera's reply, signing a, "Good. Keep practicing." then turns back toward Aya in time for-

Banf.

Venom straightens some, and one of her hands locks into a fist as the shadows dissipate like smoke.

She relaxes and nods twice to the return nudge, then goes still, watching Aryia reply, then gives a slower nod.

Her hands flash a question, "Not enemy?" <handspeech>



"I will keep practicing and repairing." She nods, catching the flicker of movement and magic just before Aya vanished with what appeared to be a smirk on her face. A hand had snapped to inside her coat, not where the weapon was stored Venom would remember, but, Aya was just gone. Vaera sighs, and stows the small bag back into her jacket. 

"I am am not sure if she is. Though she is gone now. I know that was not directed to myself, though." She replies.



Aryia reaches out and settles a hand on Venom's arm, her shaking her head. "Not enemy," she affirms, before continuing. "She's going to help train me some." <Handspeech> 

Though, Venom could feel Aryia tense as Vaera moves quick. She squints at the small back, her gaze flicking up. A thumb flicks her chin. Two sharp signs: "Not." Point finger trails away before an open palm cuts down. "Enemy." She sighs, pointing to herself. "She was just talking to me about training, relax." <Handspeech> 



Venom tenses some as she feels Aryia does beside her, half turned between the remaining women and the veiled face turns to look between them.



"Syldanyari is too rusty couldn't make out half the words." She states to herself, shaking her head. Though she did catch the signs, and she relaxes, as much as she seemed capable of. Still wary for certain. "You say you are not the enemy, I will accept that for now. I'm sure Muls might have their reasons for being here. Maybe."

"I wasn't talking about just me, I was talking about her," she gestures towards where the shadows have settled. Though, the statement seemed to make the scarred mul'neissa's eye twitch. "Yes, we do. And those that are here tend to want nothing to do with Charn. Mind your words." 

Realizing she was still holding onto Venom's arm, she forces herself to relax and gently lets go. <Handspeech>



Venom holds up a hand and wag-wags her finger in the air in a chiding fashion, then starts to sign, "Let's not stir up a riot, here."

There is another look between them, a scan of the adventurers about in general, then, "Charn drives out a lot of souls of various types." <handspeech>



"I'm usually minding my words. Not her too, correct." Vaera nods with the smallest dip of her head. Just the word, audible or not, made them stop for a moment. "Most I met were pretty content with the place, you know. Least that's the front they'd put on, but enough probably believed it."

"Not intending to start one," she gestures, looking away after being lightly scolded with a small pout to her lips. Aryia continues signing without looking, "Consider me the first that thinks it's a shit hole." <Handspeech>



Venom nods, reaching out to either woman and lightly tapping a knuckle against each's arm. She doesn't sign anything at first, not for a couple seconds, then, "Better. Looking for work?" <handspeech>



"It is indeed a shit hole." She agrees finally, with a puff of air escaping her mouth. "Curious. But yes, I was perhaps looking for work. Was mostly hoping to see if I could find you here, so I could learn more. Perhaps another time."



Aryia returns the tap with one of her own before stepping back. "I was here just to deliver something. I'm heading out." 

She looks at the veiled woman for a beat before reaching out and patting their arm. "I'll see you later." She lightly smiles, gives a short nod to the red scale, and steps back into the crowd. <Handspeech>



Venom nods to Vaera, "I can take a look and see what you're working with." she replies to the Sith woman.

Aryia's response brings another nod, and a clap to her shoulder, "Alright. Be well." <handspeech>



Vaera says, "Well, I hope the delivery was alright." Is all the red makari offers, returning the nod somewhat. She considers the offer, looking to her coat. "If you have the time, I could show you. Should find a table to set it down on.""



Venom watches Aryia walk away for a few steps, then turns back to the red sith. There is a little toss of her head, "Come. There should be a reasonably quiet room around here."

That said, the veiled woman starts to trail her bubble of interest down one of the halls. <handspeech>



"A room near here? Very well." Vaera agrees, turning to watch the Mul'niessa until she was sure she had disappeared. She turns and makes her way down the hall, keeping a hand close to her coat as she walks.

Venom continues on, testing doors here and there until she finds one that opens, and she sticks her veiled head inside for a moment. As she straightens, she looks back to the sith and gives another toss of her head before stepping into the room.

The room is lit as most are, one clearly meant for meetings and the like, though there is a sturdy looking table.

The veiled woman approaches this, and reaches back under her poncho before withdrawing a fairly good sized roll of well tooled leather, fitted with brass, passing it to the other hand before she reaches back again, and pulls out what looks like a large wad of a similar material to what shrouds most of her body. This, she spreads out on the table, then taptaps it with two fingers and stands aside.



The red sith-makar pokes her head in afterwards, taking a look around before she moves inside, closing the door behind her. She steps to the side so she could keep the entrance in her peripheral vision, as she watches the space unrolled. When Venom taps the table, Vaera nods, and from her coat she pulls out the firearm It was a strange block of wood and metal, with a visible stock. 

"I can't answer much on how it was made." She explains, using her free hand to unfold a hinge. When she secures it on the side with a latch, there is a whirring of hidden gears that pull it snugly together, extends a barrel out the far end, and flip a rudimentary sight out of a few hidden panels.



Venom cants her head a little as she watches Vaera's approach. She tracks the weapon as it's presented, and the camber of her head increases minutely as it unfolds into it's proper working form.

"Complex. Ammunition?" she signs, then turns briefly to start fiddling with some cordage on the leather bundle. Once the spindles are unwound, she unrolls the leather, revealing an array of well crafted tools before looking back to Vaera.



"Pretty complex. Maybe a bit over designed.Think the biggest problem is something getting stuck with the barrel." She replies to the veiled woman. from her jacket she pulls several metal objects from dedicated loops in the fabric. They looked, needlessly sharp, with more metal wrapped around it. 

"There's a slot on the side you load them into." She explains, tapping a hinged window on the side and offering a round to Venom. "Pull the switch on the side to set it back into place, and the mechanism inside sets it to fire when you pull the trigger."



Venom accepts the collected shot and brings it close to the veil for a lookover. Hmmm. She turns, then to pull out a small folding piece of metal and glass. She sets that on the oilcoth spread, sets the round next to it, then starts to set up the contrivance, ultimately framing a magnifying lens and adjustible calipers. She puts the ammunition into the device and leans down, draping her veils over it.

Without looking away from the subject at hand, she holds a gloved limb out toward Vaera and signs, "Where did you find this?" <handspeech>



Vaera watches curiously, every piece set out, tools prepared, and she stows the extra rounds back into her coat. There were a few runes inscribed onto the bullet, mainly on the metal wrapped around the jagged projectile. 

The question makes the red makari pause, the spines on her head flattening some. "Long story, found in Charn, will leave it at that for now." She offers in explanation. "Can't make the ammunition myself. I buy from shipments seized on the seas from the place now, which is rare. So I stock up when I can."



Venom's head pivots slightly Vaera's way for a moment, holding then, then back to what she's doing. Her hand returns to the task as she spins the bullet slightly, then reaches in to pivot it tail upward.

She offers the projectile back the redscale's way, but doesn't 'say' anything with her hand full, yet.



Despite the jaggedness, it was surprisingly balanced, clearly made with care. Care to make a wound as violent as possible, perhaps. Vaera takes the round back, slipping it back into its place. 

"Theres a few ways to open it up. when the latch on the side is undone, you can undo a few more hidden where the hinge is to separate it into two parts." She adds, gesturing to the parts. From there, you can open it up, but I prefer not to unless it's acting up a lot. Still don't understand the back mechanism that well."



"That ammunition will take time to replicate." Venom concedes with a little shrug and looks up to the Sith, then continues, "Figuring out an ideal process will take longer."

She steps aside, closer to the weapon and reaches out to examine it in turn.

Heft, balance, even the feel of the stock against her shoulder before she holds it in one hand to her and signs with the other, "Shoulder it. Tell me how it feels." <handspeech>



"Ideal process, yeah, it might be hard." Vaera nods. "But being able to remove that unreliable source would save a lot of concern and trouble." "I've tried a few alternatives I've come across in my travels. Not sure if it's the metal, the runes, or a combination of them, but they react with something inside when it fires." 

Despite the intial size, it looked the shape and part of any thunderbelcher, if any general rules did apply to the weapons. It was still heavy, balanced, and the stock fit comfortably in Venom's shoulder. Likely less so with how tall the Makari was. 

She reads the signs, and brings up her hands to a stance that would put the stock at her right shoulder if she was holding it. 

"It's kind of like a crossbow. The metal on it, use it as a sight, even if the range isn't nearly as long as a longbow. You can get it pretty accurate that way." 

She blinks. "Oh, did you mean, actually hold it?"



Venom takes that in, nodding faintly here and there during the explanation, even well into the Sith's advice on how to operate it. It's good that she knows this much in any case, but, on the request for clarification, she holds it up again and nods, "Show me."

There's a moment of thought after, and her free hand starts to signing again, "With artifice, even at the fringes like this, everything is chosen for a reason." <handspeech>



"It is best if I have a round in it." Vaera suggests when she takes the thunderbecher in hand. It looked a bit small actually in her arms, but that was mostly due to the Makari being so tall. She pulls out a round from her coat and shows it to Venom. Though this one did not have any runes on it. "Had this commissioned one time, to see if I could figure it out. It won't actually fire, but it's the right shape for the mechanism." 

She shoulders the thunderbelcher with practiced ease, lining it up with her right eye. There was a light creaking from her right leg at the movement. "Just like that, you can pretty much line anything up to forty feet. Anything after that, it loses momentum and you need to account for it dropping more." 

She points the firearm down, and pushes the side panel up with the round, before pulling the switch behind it backwards. There a brief click. "And it would be ready to fire, if it was the proper ammunition. When it jams, sometimes it does, you just pull the switch from before back a bit more and up, and it'll push it right back out." 

She demonstrates, pulling and moving the switch with another click, before she fishes the non working round out and stows it back into her coat. "Yeah, realized quick shape wasn't enough to get it to work. Need to understand whatever magical components make it work inside."

"As for how it feels, it's strange. Not quite like a crossbow, the weight is more to the back, and It flies straighter up to a point, but after that, it loses impact even quicker even faster than a quarrel or longbow arrow. But I got used to it, after a while. Said that before, but it's the thing that I find the strangest."



"The easy answer is to copy as exactly as you can." Venom returns, finges a twining, then, "The shell shouldn't be too hard, in itself. Some molds should suffice for that. The trick will be the runes, I imagine, but I would like a look inside to be certain of the mechanical aspects."

The veiled woman considers the motion of dropoff and, after a brief pause to figure out how to explain Kulthian concepts within the limits of handspeech, she gives it a go, "There is no word for the concept, outside of the artifice language. It considers energy and weight and speed in one formula." She brings her hands together, fingers interlacing as they clasp, before parting to continue the description, "Take two rocks, the size of a bird egg. One weighs as much as steel, one weighs as much as wood. Whith the same strength, which stone goes farther?" <handspeech>



"But if the runes are what is necessary for it to work, perhaps it would be possible to put them on ammunition that is less, cruel." She suggests, glancing to her coat. The question seems to make her think for a moment. She picks up one of the rounds from inside her coat, flips it between her fingers. "It is hard to say. I would say that with the same strength, it is easier to throw the wooden egg, yes. But the metal one, it would resist the air better." She finally states.



Venom nods, shrugging, "Charn engineering." then starts to fiddle with the actual weapon, fiddling with the controls a bit and rolling it over in her grip to look to see how the casing is secured, most likely.

She lays it gently down on the oilcloth, away from the edge of the table, then steps over to her toolkit, plucking a probe from this pocket, pliers from that, collecting them in her right hand, while the left frames a continuance of her reply, "Altering the ammunition should be possible, once we know what is acting off of what."

She straightens and turns her head toward the sith, then, "That understanding about the rock is related to what you were noting about crossbows." <handspeech>



"I think I get what you mean. Even if the thunderbelcher round is moving quickly, it is small. The crossbow is a bit slower, but the bolt is designed to fly straight and cut through the air for as long as possible. It is the heavier egg that once thrown, will keep going." She notes, nodding and hoping she understood it correctly. 

Further inspection revealed the way to open the outer housing, above the stock and wooden grip. The latch and hinge hid parts which could be pried out of their inserts, and a few sliding bolts finished holding it in place. Once that was out of the way. The inside could be seen. Numerous gears, especially around the break in it that were connected to the outer latch. And the rather complicated mechanism which moved the insides into pace, extending the barrel and sliding the round into the firing chamber, with several parts inscribed with runes that looked similar in structure to those on the ammunition. 

Vaera watches with a brow raised, watching how someone who seemed to know much better than she did handled it.



Venom nods as Vaera replies to her point, turning back to the toolkit to pluck out a few more tools to array next to the weapon.

She dips under her poncho again, and sets a notepad and scriber on the other side, then brings over the magnifier, setting it near the paper. She spends a couple moments scribbling something, then steps over to grab a pair of engraved calibers.

"What kind of tools do you use to maintain this?" <handspeech>



She watches, seeing what was done with hall the tools. It is only when she catches the movements of the hands that she stretches, and begins pulling out a large leather tool bag from somewhere, which she sets down on the bag. 

"These are the tools I've got for them. They seemed well made enough." She explains while opening up the bag, and she puts things off to the side, out of Venom's work space. A few sets of pliers, various sizes of wrenches, small prybars and tweezers, and other tools for the more intricate work on the assemblies of gears, and a few small flasks of oil." 

"Basically, my maintenance is just by memory." Vaera says. I don't know entirely how the parts go together on the back, so I mostly just tighten and loosen everything until it's the way I remember it the first time I took it apart, clear out and debris."



Venom seems to be spending a few moments scanning her inventory, finally nodding, "Seems to have it all covered."

She nods and starts to very meticulously open the casing to get a better look at the internals, especially the runes. These, she starts to scribe onto the notepad, appended with more little scribblings like the symbols she used for her inquiry about Kulthian.

"It would be simpler without the collapsing function. A useful feature, but you pay in maintainance." <handspeech>



"Much simpler." Vaera agrees, watching what was written down and putting it to memory. "Not only do you need to make sure that the firing mechanism is functional, but all the hinges and latches need to be secure, and the separate mechanism for pulling and securing the parts together, and moving the metal tubing out the front needs to work as well." 

"I can't speak for certain, but I think someone was trying to prove a point when they made it."



"This would be hard to work with a chemical launch system. It could be done, but I wouldn't want to rely on it." Venom signs.

She starts to open things up a little more, and begins to employ her calipers in turns, the samplings of each scribbed in Kulthian, with some notes in Trade.

"Before you wonder if you can, be certain you should." <handspeech>



"Like the gobber made ones, you mean?" Vaera asks, leaning in near where the weapon was split in two. "I think you're right. Even if it could be converted, the seal probably isn't tight enough in spite off how much effort they put into it. Black powder would break half the gears in there, and the air escaping in the hinge would lose too much of the speed, if I'm not mistaken." 

They sigh , watching the work. "Was that directed at me thinking about their intent, or the maker for trying to do this? Or maybe both?"



Venom nods snapping off a quick, "Exactly." as she continues making her notes, then looks up at Vaera at her followup questions.

Headtilt.

The veiled woman starts to sign again, "More the designer, but still valid advice. Balancing cost to gain before committing time and resources." <handspeech>

"Well, I'm glad I have at least some manner of understanding." Vaera says with a puff of air, watching, and returning the head tilt. Then, they nod. "It is from Charn." She begins, as if that was enough explanation already. "It likely isn't a matter of cost, or time, it's about making something above and beyond what would be available to those of lesser means. The rounds from the shipments, they likely fit several different weapons. And status is important there."



A nod, and Venom scribbles some more annotations before looking back up at Vaera, signing, "Reasonable for an army. If your squadmate is killed, you can use his ammunition."

Or, you could kill the squad and your enemy is supplying you. Very generous.

She starts to sign again, "Most of this is the proper language, but there's some flourishes here that don't fit the script. I can make educated guesses about most of them, but the rest will take more study." <handspeech>



"That's true. Wouldn't have gotten as far as I did if I wasn't able to gather enough. Easier for supplies to have less different options, less waste. Despite all the flourishes, it still works the same as any other. Oddly fitting." 

There was one of the first signs of emotion from the strange makari, a slightly bitter chuckle.It was brief. 

"So, there's something to go on, and that's promising, at least. Since asking the people that made them is out of the question. I think the flourishes you're speaking of, like, here?" 

She points to some of the more distinctly non-Kulthian runes. "Those there are a mul'niessa dialect of Sildanyari. The purpose though, I can't say."



Venom pauses her work, and there is the slight sensation of being watched from within the shroud. Several times the chambers of the heart cycle, then she begins to sign, "That makes sense, considering where it was made." <handspeech>



Vaera watched back, the veil where she assumed the eyes would be. "Seems in line with what you said earlier. But knowing that it's partly, Kultlhian, was it?" Vaera asks, looking at the notes taken on the runes. "I thought it was all Sildanyari that I didn't recognize, so that's already a big step. So thank you, Venom. Is it alright if I ask, or is it a secret by the way, but why are you helping?"



Venom gives a little thumbs-up and nods. She is still for a moment, as silent is a given, then turns back to lock a couple of pieces back in place, then signs a reply, "We may work together, sometime. Or, one day you might help me." 

She makes some final measurements of one of the working parts, getting angles of it 'closed' and 'open', to finalize her notes on some of the runes. <handspeech>



"That's pretty a pretty broad hope for what you shared." She notes, watching the veiled woman curiously. "But, I appreciate it. Hope I'm not wrong, but you seem like a good person. And I suppose I did offer to help you in return, anyways, but by the sounds of it, you know more than I do. Still, if you ever need someone or something tracked, or, I don't know if you eat but a lot of the time I end up with extra food, maybe there's something I can do. Don't hesitate to ask if you see me around." 

She looks down to her foot she didn't realize was tapping against the floor. "If I can work this out with help, maybe I can work out more eventually. I want to get this leg fixed some day."



Venom shrugs a little as Vaera notes the expansive scope she'd laid out. She probably concedes the point, without occupying her hands. She doesn't have a lot to say on the other musings for a goodly while, as her hands busy themselves with reassembling the weapon.

After testing to make sure it behaves as it did before she cracked it open, she sets it down and signs, "You understand a large chunk or it. Once I have the rest of these runes figured out, I can fill in any gaps more reliably, then you should be more or less self sufficient."

There's a angle adjustment of her head to probably regard the Sith's legs, "It should be possible." <handspeech>



Thankfully, the maker had intended for it to be relatively easy to put back together, perhaps anticipating a need to do so. The larges hang ups were ensuring the outer metal housing where the panel opened, and where the latch interfaces with the inner assemblies. Vaera watches, seemingly ready to help if needed, but it seems Venom managed fine enough. 

"But I should learn how the runes work myself. Which means, understanding Kulthian. I'll have to look into it." 

At the way her head seemed to look down, she moves the jacket on her right leg out off the way of the wooden leg. It was made out of some hardwood, and scribed with realistic looking scales, though the color, sheen and metal joints gave it away at more than a cursory glance. And while even the clawed foot was replicated, it was mostly to hide the flat sole beneath it. 

"I've been meaning to talk to some war golems about it. But, it's something I'd do for myself."



Venom nods up to Vaera as she speaks of learning the artificer's tongue, giving a little thumbs-up. The consideration of the leg seems to take some thought. The remarks about the golems moreso, and a huff sets the veil fluttering some. She turns to present the Thunderbelcher back to her.



She takes the weapon, looking over it in her hands, flipping it over and checking all the fastenings. Seeming content, she undoes the latches, collapsing and stowing the weapon back away. 

"Been a while since I've learned so much from someone. You need any help putting everything away?" She asks while re packing her tool bag. "Hope I didn't bother you with talk about the war golems. I didn't mean anything bad by it."



Venom shakes her head, "It's alright, I can manage, thank you."

She carefully folds up her magnifing contraption, then her calipers before carefully slipping them into their places in the pack.

She starts to sign again, "You're welcome, I'll leave a note with the desk if I figure out the runes before I see you again." <handspeech>



"Then, I'll have to keep stopping by now and then to check in. Works well for you too, doesn't it? That way, if I find any notable job listings, I can let you know." Vaera suggests, with just the barest hint of a chuckle as she stows the bag away. "Don't focus too much on deciphering them, though. I'm certain you've got your own goals that need meeting."



Venom gives a little thumbs up and nods, slipping the last of her tools into their places.

Once that's complete, she rolls it up and twines the cordage around the little pegs to keep it closed, about halfway through, one of her hands signs anew, "Some, but if inspiration hits, I will let you know." <handspeech>



"That is important for invention, is it not? You need the passion and drive behind something to truly advance. At least, I think so." Vaera replies. An odd comment from the makari who seemed even more emotionless than most. And not once did the exit to the room completely leave her gaze. She gives Venom a thumbs up in return. 

"Peace, Venom. I hope your work continues to go well."



Venom nods again and turns to look at Vaera straight on, begining to sign, "It is. Some advancement is brought by need, but inspiration is in there, too."

She affords the Sit a neat little bow and extend her own valediction, "Peace. May your endeavors go well." <handspeech>



"Hopefully so." Vaera agrees. She moves to the door, opening it and removing something from the doorway, before she looks around. Only then does she turn and nod again to Venom, before the tall Makari is on her way.