This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Messages - Stug3
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 16
61
« on: June 05, 2008, 03:13:40 pm »
Volga meet udder giantkins...he got big name...Volga call him Ark...Volga not gud wif names..Ark easy too members...
Ark have majiks...Volga like da majicks Ark haves...Volga wants majiks toos...mebbes Volga too dumbs to have majik...Volga sill haves ax...dat gud nuff fer Volga...Ark majik make Volga srong...Volga ax make tings ded...Ark say win win situation...Volga not know wat dat mean but Volga tink it gud toos....
62
« on: June 05, 2008, 03:04:22 pm »
Volga now wurk wif poisun...dat hard too doos...Volga not dat gud yet but makes lottsa tries to get dem right...Volga gott big hans and da wurk is smalls...make meny bad wuns and haves to start over lots...not get many poisuns too keeps...Volga get boxes of spidr bits too wurk...spend lottsa time making not much but Volga keep working...mebbe gets better soon...
63
« on: June 05, 2008, 02:55:29 pm »
Volga not llowed in town wif big door anymores...walking man tell Volga too leaves...tanks fur stik but you not welkom heres...Volga ebben kills da ting dat make pipes clugged...still haves to leave town...
Mebbe Volga leaves dem sumting in pond wif no fish...sumting toos rember Volga bys.
Volga find place he llowed...dey not mind Volga dere...
Volga get lottsa praktis wif ax...goblns and stuffs make fer gud wacking...dey ebben got coins make Volga have lotts to spends on tings...have toos meet fer tings outta da big door...stills not go in ebben to buys tings...
Volga have place toos put tings now...have small room in house...not like Zero house but gud house annyways... Volga get nue helmut dat gud...trade funny ting for helmut...Volag tink dat gud deal...man want corpseses to wurk wif...pay Volga gud fer dem...Volga not mind dig dems up...dey ded annyhows..not tink dey minds effer...Volga wurk for coins not care wat wurk bes...
64
« on: May 31, 2008, 05:13:36 pm »
Happy B-day!
66
« on: May 30, 2008, 12:04:46 am »
//Thats small spiders he's wanting.
67
« on: May 29, 2008, 02:37:16 pm »
Good to know....consider him 'told'
68
« on: May 29, 2008, 02:31:30 pm »
What if your character cannot read?
If they are not told about being refused access they how would they know? Volga is not the brightest bulb on the tree and often visits Hemp, not only does he visit but every time he passes the guards he waves or greets them in some form. There is NO way he could sneak into Hemp; he's way too big and dumb to get away with that. I don't consider it metagaming, on the contrary if he were to know what the sign says then that WOULD be metagaming... If anyone tells him to "stay outta here Giant" then he would simply not come back...no harm no foul. But until then how would he know he is not welcome?
* I'm not trying to start anything or stir the pot, just giving the reason Volga does frequent Hemp...He simply doesn't know any better.
69
« on: May 28, 2008, 03:56:00 pm »
Research continues...and continues....and continues...
Progress has slowed greatly in the past weeks. My stockpile of supplies dwindled to zilch and I was forced away from my work by the necessity of gathering more components, not that I mind. While wandering the Silkwood I again came across a scene of destruction and death similar to the one by the lake some weeks ago. Just as before; bodies mostly dismembered, showing large ax wounds and many missing the head. Also present were the large tracks I had seen at the other site but unlike before I could tell these were clearly Gnoll corpses even without the heads. While poking around I also found several broken skulls; two of the skulls appeared to be Goblinoid and the third I could not hazard a guess as it was little more than scattered fragments. Where had the Goblin skull come from, few Goblins venture the woods and I have never seen Gnolls keep the heads of any foe...How had they ended up here and why? Were they a message, perhaps a warning of some sort? ....more questions than answers...Time is precious and time away from research or testing is time wasted...
I continued my replenishment efforts...tracking and dispatching insects by the dozen. With my pack filled to capacity I headed out to purchase the pouches, flasks and vials I needed to continue working.
I was stopped in my tracks by the bellow that boomed out of the darkening forest...somewhere in the gloom two groups blundered into one another and battle had commenced. From the sound it could be my 'mysterious' ax man, metal clanged, great roars of rage and pain rippled through the wood. Moving cautiously I approached just far enough to see the fight...
What a fight it was; the mystery ax man was no man at all, from all appearances he must be giant kin at least...around nine feet tall, six hundred pounds and carrying a shield so big it looks like it might have been a door... (so help me gods it looks like a tavern door)...adorned with skulls of all sort. I could not see an ax; in fact I saw no weapon at all save for the shield, a formidable weapon nonetheless...
As I watched Gnolls were smashed with the huge shield, grabbed by the neck, stomped under foot and I even saw one yanked off his feet and swung into a tree...then I saw the ax; imbedded at an odd angle in the trunk of a large tree several feet behind the fight. Perhaps an over swing or a back swing had caused it to become wedged and instead of wasting time trying to free it they just continued with hands, feet and shield...
While I was contemplating the loss of the ax the fight had come to an end. All the Gnolls were down and the 'giant' was now seated among the carnage applying bandages to its wounds. Still sitting among the corpses it produced form its pack and ate what looked like a skunk...maybe a badger?
Seeming content with the meal it got to its feet and began to check the bodies for valuables. Once this was done it began to my revulsion, remove some of the heads. It looked over each carefully and with some calculation decided which to take. The heads were not cut from the bodies or even hacked with the more than adequate ax...each head was ripped free...
Placing a foot on the back of the corpse, the head taken in a vise like grip the body was then arched back over the foot and the head wrenched free with a deep, wet pop...
Several times this scene played out; each head in turn was placed in the pack... (the same pack the 'food' came from)... Having chosen and removed the acceptable heads it moved to retrieve the ax. Several kicks to the handle were required to free it, I can see why they chose to leave it imbedded and fight without it...
Twice now have I come across the remains left in its wake, I had been hoping to meet the one responsible for such destruction and carnage. After observing the fight however I was having second thoughts...
I moved quietly away from the scene...perhaps if I come across this 'man' in town I may approach but here in the wood...after witnessing the brutality of the fight and the taking of heads...I will keep my distance till then...
70
« on: May 22, 2008, 05:46:47 pm »
Caerwyn's idea about using the caltrops got me to thinking about tangle foot bags...
There has been no actual testing only theory at this point. Why not combine tangle foot bags and firebombs? If the tangle component is flammable it will wrap the target in tendrils of fiery ouchyness (is ouchynees even a word?). Holding them fast and inflicting serious burns to the now immobile target, allowing you time to make your escape or fill them full of arrows. (your choice)
Between the caltrops and tangle foot additions I find it hard not to try these new ideas out. Maintaining my stance that the initial designs be fully completed prior to testing these new ideas is taking more and more restraint... (maybe just a few preliminary tests...Here chickie, chickie, chickie......)
71
« on: May 22, 2008, 05:26:14 pm »
There is much work to be done... Flasks of fire, bags of choking powder, vials of acid and hundreds of loose caltrops litter my working area, what a combination to be messing around with. If something goes really, really badly I hope there will be enough left for someone to identify... The limestone seems to be a very promising avenue of investigation; so far I have had no spontaneous detonations! The limestone seems to decrease the acids instability making it less likely to 'brew up' on its own. The firebomb needed little actual work; any alchemist worth his salt can make firebombs. The acid-vial trigger required much more work; finding the right combination and amounts of components, the constant issues with seal failure on the acid vial and the probability of unintended activation of the device. Took considerable amount of time and tinkering to overcome, not that they are completely eliminated but I seem to be on the right track. - Simply adding a bit of Gum Arabic to the vial seal has so far been successful in reducing accidental detonation. (still not 100% but close...very close.)
- The addition of limestone to the acid has decreased the accidental detonation rate considerably, while remaining potent enough to react favorably with the fire components.
- Replacing the bronze wire with copper wire has also shown it's effectiveness at staving off the corrosive effect of the firebombs contents, further reducing the likelihood of premature acid/fire contact.
Promising as these new developments are there is much more testing to be conducted. A working weapon is easily still months (if ever) away from possible production...
72
« on: May 22, 2008, 03:21:34 pm »
I have made what I think to be the 'breakthrough' that has been up to now eluding me...
Limestone; powdered limestone to be exact, such a simple 'fix' I feel almost foolish to have overlooked it in my trails. Why had I not tried limestone before? I tried everything I could think of. Chicken blood, powdered silver, mushroom powder (this last one had some very strange side effects...) charcoal, sand, sponge, ground corn and wheat. The limestone was accidental, fortunate but accidental...what is not accidental with me?
While trying all the different combinations I found that some of the materials react badly with each other and 'unfortunate results' were common and frequent. I found that a thorough cleaning with water and limestone seemed to neutralize the reactive action between the components. Right there under my nose was the possible answer to many of the issues that plagued my research.
So close I had overlooked it, not only will I be looking at it...I will be scrutinizing it.
73
« on: May 21, 2008, 06:08:13 pm »
Caerwyn gave me the greatest idea; "Skip the powder...use caltrops."
Now that was sheer genius, fire AND fragmentation! If I can get the fire/powder combination to work adding the caltrops should be a snap. I am still plagued with failures and setbacks but I will continue the experiments.
Accidental and spontaneous detonations are still occurring regularly, I have concerns with adding fragmentation elements to the unstable test designs. Fire, acid and choking powders are all dangerous as is, I think adding the caltrops until I have a stable and reliable delivery platform might be a bit reckless. The occasional fires and a few minutes of walking around dazed are nothing compared to being perforated by high velocity, nearly molten metal...(testing this combination might be fun...now, where did I put those chickens?)
74
« on: May 19, 2008, 10:30:39 pm »
I believe I still have a large chest of coal in my house...contact me.
Balthazar Woll
// I'll look to see how much is there and send you a bird.
75
« on: May 19, 2008, 09:58:24 pm »
My investigation and experiments into combining both fire bombs and choking powder have progressed. After finding another suitable location to conduct the actual distilling and bottling I have made several field tests of possible combinations and delivery methods. None so far have been satisfactorily deployed nor have I found the correct mixture... The idea itself is sound, of that I am sure. The difficulties lay in getting both fire and powder to work simultaneously at their "normal" potency. - The powder itself in not flammable and has the odd effect of often interrupting the detonation of the fire bomb.
- The powder when sprinkled directly into the flames of a fire causes the flames to temporarily dissipate (not the greatest of reactions while working to develop a flame weapon.)
- If detonation is retarded the spread of the powder is minimal, far less than just using the powder alone.
- If any of the firebombs liquid seeps into the powder it cakes and dispersal is impossible.
- If too much liquid seeps into the powder it has nasty inclinations to spontaneous detonate (also not helpful.)
- Often only one of the components work as they are intended; the firebomb goes off or the powder is dispersed satisfactorily.
- The ratio of single component failure to total component failure is considerably higher (while troublesome it is still encouraging.)
- Finding the right measure of fire to powder is critical to achieve maximum detonation and dispersal (this can be tricky as not all the bugs are exactly alike.)
- Too much fire damages the powder, reducing its potency.
- Too much powder diminishes the blast radius of bomb.
The deliver method has, after many combinations and trials also given me troubles. The glass and cloth combination required have been problematic. - Placing the glass vial inside the cloth bag of powder cushions the glass, total failure often results (approaching the unexploded sack is always nerve-racking.)
- Placing the bag inside the vial causes the powder to soak up the liquid, becoming caked and dispersal becomes impossible.
- Tying the pouch to the vial usually results in 'single component failure' be it the powder or fire, neither have had satisfactory results.
- Powder packed in to a vial seldom disperses well.
- The accidental detonation rate of the liquid / pouch trials have themselves concluded the infeasibility of continuing this avenue of delivery.
I have been tinkering with the idea of acid induced ignition. Small scale trials have shown some success in the application. A single drop of acid when placed in to a similarly small quantity of firebomb produces a fantastic reaction. The acid ignites the liquid 100% of the time and with tremendous force. The resulting reaction seems much hotter than just the standard firebomb and it burns with such intensity that it 'spits' flaming globs in all directions. I have undertaken many attempts to harness the triple combination into a useful and stable weapon. As with the double mixture the triple components only compound the problems. - The more powerful ignition always destroys the powders effectiveness.
- Increasing the powder decreases the explosive yield to below minimum acceptable requirements.
- The meticulous precision that must be practiced while placing the vial of acid in to the firebomb exclude the possibility of mass production on the scale of arrows or other "disposable weapons"
- Any leaks or unintentional combination of acid and firebomb have 'unfortunate results'.
- The tiny acid 'detonator' is extremely fragile and prone to failure and premature detonation.
- Any defect in the seal of the acid vial result in 'unfortunate results'.
- Accidental reactions are common as are spontaneous detonations.
- Once suspended in the firebomb the fragile acid vial often breaks as a result of sustained movement with in the liquid.
- The power of detonation is exponentially linked to the number of devices involved, two have the power of four, four the power of sixteen and so on (I have not tested the explosive yield of more than four...I am a bit fearful of the result.)
- The previous two points have great bearing on the feasibility of this weapon; the accidental detonation of ten jostling bombs in a pack would have a kill radius of possibly several hundred yards.
The issue of instability is the major setback to this practical yet for now unfeasible weapon. The idea is sound and testing has showed the potential of such weapons. Many problems remain yet to be overcome but I will continue testing and retesting until I have solved these issues or the stability of the device proves unachievable...
76
« on: May 19, 2008, 09:44:32 pm »
While fighting the fire I had the most interesting idea; seeing how the fire spread the choking powder to affect nearly all the people in the room I wondered about the possibility of encasing a firebomb inside a pouch of powder?
The detonation of the flask would release the powder incapacitating any within range. Unable to escape the flames they would suffer greater damage from the fire than if they could escape quickly. This one-two punch might increase the potency of both flask and pouch weapons and open a new market for the seldom used items. Perhaps they might go from being a last ditch effort to a formidable frontline weapon. What could be better than to incapacitate and then reduce to ashes a would-be attacker?
...very little in my opinion...
After the unfortunate events of my last alchemy session I had decided to forgo any more work with explosives, powders or acids but I feel this possible application warrants further investigation. I have no doubt however that I will have to find another location to do the work...
77
« on: May 19, 2008, 09:42:34 pm »
I have long dabbled in alchemy, although I have not recently as stone cutting has consumed the time I could have devoted to dabbling...
Recently I did go back to it. I had been collecting a bit of silk and to leave the beetles seemed so wasteful... (perhaps it is the pack- rat in me) so I stuffed em in my bag. The beetles sure do repopulate fast, much faster than I remember. I soon had dozens of 'bits' before I even had half a box of silk. Taking up nearly all my space I decided to sell them off for a bit of coin but while departing the Silkwood I decided to process the 'bits' into throw able weapons. They can be very handy in a pinch, more than once my hide has been saved by one of these last-ditch attempts. I bought the necessary containers both vials and pouches, not expensive but it took sometime to move things around my pack to get them all in. Looking back it had been some years since I last bottled and bagged any beetle bits and I was surprised by how forgetful I was to the actual processes for each. I mistakenly put the acidic liquid from the bombardier beetle in a leather pouch...not the best of ideas or a pinnacle of brilliance on my part. After much cleaning up and more than a few blisters I was back on track...or so I thought.
Things were bubbling away happily while I worked on filling the pouches with the powder I had prepared; I had filled thirty to forty pouches and was preparing to put them in my pack when I was distracted by the madly bubbling concoction. Easily twenty-five vials worth of fire beetle was on the verge of detonation, I tried not to slosh it while quickly removing it from the heat...
The ensuing conflagration will be talked of for years... (thankfully there were survivors)
While concentrating on not sloshing the boiling and insanely flammable contents I stepped on a glass eye someone had carelessly left laying on the floor. I danced around trying to keep my balance and not splash 'hell in a cauldron' around the place but to no avail. Fully half of the brew poured out on to the pile of filled pouches I had meant to put away earlier. Time seemed to slow down as the liquid dropped towards the harmless looking pouches; I almost had enough time to say to myself...'OH...CRAAAA....'
With a blinding flash and a wave of intense heat the pouches went up like...like...well like a bunch of leather pouches suddenly soaked in a boiling flammable liquid. The fireball reached the ceiling and thick green-black smoke pushed ahead of it spread to all corners of the large room. The blast had cleared the table I'd been working on and flung everything to the floor. Flasks shattered splattering acid several feet from their point of origin and the rugs disappeared into smoke as I watched. I tried to stamp out the flaming pouches but that only increased the cloud of choking dust that was emanating from them and being spread throughout the room by the smoke and rising heat of the fire. Several of the remaining people were walking around dazedly and I realized they had been affected by the powder and stomping on the flaming bags was doing more harm than good. Thankfully I remained unaffected by the effects and was albeit unsuccessfully able to continue my attempts to extinguish the now raging fire. I had to get the affected folks out, if I was unable to douse the flames the whole building might be lost and they would not be able to save themselves in their current state. After rounding them up and herding them out I went back to do what I could...
All my efforts...save for getting people out... had been useless if not increasingly detrimental to the whole situation. How was I going to get the fire out now, the entire area I had been working in was now ablaze. I needed water and plenty of it; a well would have helped my efforts greatly but not having foreseen a firestorm indoors one had not been dug... (who would have guessed there may be a need for it?) My only recourse was the enchanting pool...
Emptying the contents of my lion bag I began to fill it with great scoops of water from the pool. (I knew it would hold water from my attempts to relocate fish) I first made a perimeter of wet rugs to keep the base of the fire from spreading further; next I soaked down the biggest carpet I could find and when I was sure it was wet enough I pulled over as much of the burning materials as I could. This cut down the size of the fire considerably and I was beginning to think I might have a chance of getting it put out. The rug steamed furiously but had smothered the flames underneath. The plaster of the ceiling was holding up fairly well under the intense heat, small portions had cracked and fallen but the majority was still insulating the wooden beams of the floor above. Between the waterlogged carpet and the now soaked floor there was little the fire could spread to that would still burn and slowly I was able to drown the rest of the flames. The smoke was heavy and very irritating, but once I opened the door the room was free of the majority of the smoke very quickly. I could now see the wreckage that had once been the alchemy work stations...
Waterlogged, soot stained and reeking of smoke the entire area was a total write-off. Charred tables, melted glassware, distorted metal shapes that had once been alchemy equipment and rugs partially dissolved by acid lay scattered in heaps or puddles... sometimes both...
The entire length of the ceiling was the ugly greenish-black color of the smoke and a smoke line extended down from the ceiling about six feet. Sections of plaster had dropped free and a few of the beams were slightly charred, it appeared to be minimal. Closer inspection verified they had taken little to no actual damage and the floor above was in no danger of being the floor below.
The crunch of glass underfoot caused me to turn around and I was staring at the soot blackened face of Moraken...
The vein on his head was in severe danger of explosion; I think he had actually lost the power of speech, and he simply vibrated on the spot. His eyes quivered and the vein continued to pulsate threateningly. He simply pointed to the door...
I left him a very large bag of Trues for damages...how much I do not know I simply took everything I had and gave it to him. I believe I will go back to cutting gems, there is little prospect of massive destruction working with stones....
The next one to use the enchanting pool may find it a bit....low.
78
« on: May 19, 2008, 09:38:25 pm »
Opals and giants seem to consume much of my time nowadays; Giants topping the list is little surprise, I seem to have a penchant for felling giants and with my continuing endeavors in fine gem work I find the two of them quite favorably linked. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the opal veins are located in a cave system inhabited by giants, as are the surrounding forests. So I find two of my greatest pleasures in one location, fine red opals and big ugly giants. What can be better than assaulting the giant encampment in the forest and continuing to the cave bristling with giants eager to splash their blood on your shield and die on your weapon? Little except being able to cut magnificent red opals from the veins that run the depths of the cave... (perhaps the coal as well, I do like to dabble with fire bombs from time to time... Speaking of fire bombs; I had an interesting idea while putting out the fire...)
I am certainly becoming a better gem cutter, nothing in the caliber of the greater smiths around but proficient enough to cut the stones I gather, which is all I am aiming for anyhow. (maybe I'll try fletching next, make my own arrows...) Now that I no longer smash my fingers and lose my fingernails the work is much more enjoyable, not exactly profitable but enjoyable...
79
« on: May 18, 2008, 04:54:21 pm »
If the Dorand's Brace is still up for sale, I put 70,000 for it.
Balthazar Woll
80
« on: May 15, 2008, 12:49:02 am »
The world is a funny place...not so much 'Ha Ha' funny, but odd funny. Granted it does have its moments of humor and I for one try to increase the percentage as often as possible... (some find my timing poor... oh well.) Many of my past entries indicate a peculiar trend of misfortune and serious cases of 'wrong place at the wrong time'. Many of these events, unfortunate as they are truly seem to show an uncanny ability to get out of serious trouble unscathed...mostly. My poor rear might disagree with that initial 'unscathed' assessment. If I look back through these pages I find may times I have come off much better they one could expect... Cases in point; - I was set on fire while I slept by a woman who shall remain nameless...
- The bear that crashed...quite literally...in on me while bathing.
- The errant arrow...painful as it was...had only struck me in my buttocks.
- My immensely foolish attempt to take on the Minotaur's.
- Surviving the implosion spell...cast by said Minotaur's.
- The unfortunate run in with the ship captain and his entire crew
- The Swamp Troll I had to dispatch with nothing but my shield.
- The sacking of my fishing camp by the Giants.(and the resulting explosion)
- The arrival of the (thankfully) dominated Hill Hounds whilst surrounded by Kenku.
These 'happenings' beg the question is my luck good or bad? I seem to have an unfortunate aptitude for attracting theses events; therefore my luck must be bad? While on the other hand I often come away with little or no major difficulties; therefore is my luck good? Do you see my dilemma...is my luck good or bad? Does karma keep score, if so does she like to keep the books balanced...or balanced in her favor?
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 16
|
Forums
Show Posts