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Post by Emery on Nov 9, 2023 21:29:45 GMT -6
It wasn't Emery's intention to get dragged into a quest today- it was simply the direction Pyrrhos had picked while they were on their walk. He wasn't fantastically trained yet and she couldn't exactly put a lead on him (what with how he would set it on fire), so whenever she took him out Emery just pointed him in a direction and walked after him. She had heard fire elemental golems could reach impressive speeds in their adulthood, but Pyrrhos certainly wasn't there yet, plunking along the sidewalk, one foot in front of the other. As she walked past the quest board though, she heard the speech the person there was giving- something about comets? A sighting tonight? Hm. Emery stopped, trying to listen a bit closer over the din. She couldn't hear much, but it was enough to pique her interest- she was very scientifically minded, after all. "Pyrrhos, come here." She said. Emery 1 Pyrrhos 4.1/4.1 1 (This is Emery's first time completing this quest.)
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 11:53:17 GMT -6
She nudged the elemental in the right direction so he would cross the street, and by the time they made it across the crowd had cleared partially. Good- it would be a rude surprise for anyone who might accidentally step on him. Slowly but surely she made her way to the front, where a cute young woman with a ribbon and coke bottle glasses was passing out flyers. "Here's one for you, and you, and- oh, would you like one?" She said, flashing a dazzling smile and offering Emery a flyer without so much as blinking at her screen. "...Yes. Thank you." Emery said, a bit surprised. She read the flyer briefly. Once in a lifetime opportunity, looking for volunteers (Of course. Why else would the Astronomer's Association be at the quest board?), Palston's Comet- wait. "Palston's Comet is coming tonight? I thought it was next month?" Emery exclaimed, turning to face the woman again.
Emery 2 Pyrrhos 4.2/4.2 2
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 12:16:39 GMT -6
The astrologer's face lit up. "Oh, you've heard of it!" She said, suddenly far more enthused than Emery thought possible. "Heard of it- yes, I've heard of it! I've been trying to track it down for months to study its mana pulses and the effect on-" "-On terrestrial leylines, yes! We had much the same thought!" The woman said, clapping slightly. Emery was a little irked. "But it's supposed to be coming next month, correct? That's what all of the almanacs say." The woman nodded, her face changing to a slightly more serious (but still somewhat excited) expression. "It's a last minute thing. The Labs... isn't really interested in extraterrestrial entities, especially not ones that come so infrequently, so it turns out the research that produced that prediction wasn't as extensive as we thought. There was a miscalculation with the mana pulses that made them underestimate how quickly it was arriving."
Emery 3 Pyrrhos 4.3/4.3 3
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 12:23:43 GMT -6
"What- so they were just WRONG?" Emery said in disbelief. "This is one of the most stunning comets in history, with an incredible amount of scientific potential, and they just don't care?" The scientist shrugged. "Hey, I didn't publish the studies. We got lucky in that we managed to figure it out in time- but it means we're a little short on preparation and manpower, hence why we're looking for volunteers." Emery stammered. "I had made preparations as well, but- my tools- I'm not FINISHED yet, I-" The woman patted her on the arm. "Yeah, we're having the same problem. That's why you should come though! Help us set up, and we can lend you some equipment! Just tell me what you need and I'll make sure its earmarked for you- provided you actually help out, of course." She said. Emery was very quick to agree- this was something she had been waiting for for years.
Emery 4 Pyrrhos 4.4/4.4 4
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 12:28:49 GMT -6
Emery quickly traded information with the woman- her name was Tal, apparently- and rushed home to get ready, toting Pyrrhos along with her. She grabbed what little equipment she had already- a few telescopes, mana detectors, notebooks, pencils. It wasn't enough to get the readings she needed, but it was going to have to be. What a mess. Palston's comet was an incredible phenomena- a comet so big that it bore its own magical signature, almost like it had a soul of its own. The moon was intrinsically linked to the planet's mana pool, and the planet itself was too big and too close to study its leylines and natural mana pools easily. That is to say, it was impossible to see the forest because of all the trees in the way. But Palston's comet was perfect- it had its own aura, its own leylines in miniature, it was a perfect tiny model to study how those sorts of things worked.
Emery 5 Pyrrhos 5.0/5.0 5
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 12:59:11 GMT -6
Perhaps even more importantly, the comet had unique effects on Pethia's aura that she was sure all kinds of alchemists, astrologers, and mages alike would be trying to make enchantments out of and harness in crystals. It was an affair that only came once every two hundred years, making these sorts of things incredibly rare. And if she didn't hurry, she was going to MISS it. Once she finished triple checking her bag to make sure she had everything (as she wasn't going to have time to come back to get anything tonight), she slung it onto her back and went to pick up Pyrrhos's "carrier". It was really a lidded cooking pot that she had tied a rope around, but she didn't have the funds to get anything fancier and anything actually designed for animals he would burn right through. The little golem wasn't bothered though, and was happy to simply sit there at the bottom.
Emery 6 Pyrrhos 5.1/5.1 6
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 13:05:19 GMT -6
With everything in place Emery hustled off, the pot bumping against her leg. (She quietly hoped it wouldn't set her pants on fire.) Her goal was to make it to a massive hill in the center of the public park, with artificial darkness spells cast up around it to prevent light pollution. It would be quite easy to see as a result- just look for the spot that was eerily darker than its surroundings. Sure enough, as she got close it was quite obvious what she was looking for. When she arrived the sun was starting to slip below the horizon, though she couldn't see the comet quite yet. And yet, the area was already cordoned off with signs explaining what was going on and someone with a clipboard checking people in. Emery got in line and took the opportunity to catch her breath. Her respirators were wheezing even though she had only walked at a pace that most would consider "normal".
Emery 7 Pyrrhos 5.2/5.2 7
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 13:24:07 GMT -6
By the time she got to the front of the line she had stopped making the worst of the noises, though a few of her neighbors in line were still giving her odd glances. The man with the clipboard gave her a brief glance. "You're here for?" "I'm Emery. I'm here to research the comet." The man flipped through some pages. "I'm not seeing you on the researchers' list." Emery's heart sank. Ah. Right. "...I misspoke. I'm here to volunteer to assist the researchers. From the quest board." She said. That was right- she wasn't one of the researchers in any official capacity- Tal had just offered to hook her up out of politeness. She had work to do first if she actually wanted to get anything done. Emery tapped a finger against the strap of Pyrrhos's carrier as she waited. After what felt like an agonizingly long time, the man finally handed her a sticker that read "volunteer".
Emery 8 Pyrrhos 5.3/5.3 8
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 13:32:03 GMT -6
Emery quickly took it and slapped it on her chest. The man directed her towards someone else to receive a task that would be suited to her. Within a few minutes Emery found herself in front of a ssashirk... woman? That was probably a girl. Who was directing people to different tasks and handing out tools. She didn't seem like the type of person that Emery would want to waste the time of, that was for sure. "What can you do?" The woman said suddenly, jabbing a pen in Emery's direction. "...Ah. I can read an astrolabe, set up and launch stymphalian arrays, calibrate magic star charts- or at least, the WELP ones-" Emery said, wracking her brain for the different kinds of equipment she actually knew how to use. The ssashirk stared at her for a moment before laughing. "Finally, someone who knows what they're doing! You wouldn't believe how many people I've had to go send to "guard the perimeter" because they didn't even know how to hold a starmap."
Emery 9 Pyrrhos 5.4/5.4 9
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 13:37:20 GMT -6
Before Emery could even reply, the ssashirk continued talking. "You said you know stymphalian arrays, right?" "Yes. Old lab or WELP variants." "Perfect. You see that guy with the red shirt over there? He's been fumbling over them for like, half an hour now. Give him a hand, eh?" She said before turning to the next person. Emery raised a beseeching hand. "Of course. Only... I talked to Tal this morning? She said that after I helped set up, perhaps I could... borrow some equipment for my own purposes?" The scaled woman's eyes squinted for a moment as she tried to remember. "Oh yeah... I think I remember her mentioning something about that. Come back here when you're done, I'll see if I can get you hooked up." She shrugged. "You don't seem like the type to break our stuff either way." Satisfied, Emery trudged up the hill to help.
Emery 10 Pyrrhos 6.0/6.0 10
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 14:06:23 GMT -6
"I've been told to help you." Emery stated in a matter of fact way while gesturing back down the hill at the ssashirk. THe man looked at her helplessly for a moment before replying. "It's fine! I'm fine here, really. I'm just not used to this brand is all, and it's dark." Emery nodded, sidestepping his refusal. She was going to get her equipment tonight, damn it. "I can help with both." Finally, Emery set down Pyrrhos's carrier, allowing him to step out onto the grass. It sizzled beneath his little feet and his flames lit up the area a bit better with warm yellow light. "Stymphalian arrays are difficult to set up. Allow me to help." She said, approaching the equipment and not taking no for an answer. The man stammered a bit but stopped as she picked up the cases. Luckily, she knew these like the back of her hand.
Emery 11 Pyrrhos 6.1/6.1 11
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 21:16:15 GMT -6
Stymphalian arrays were... odd looking, to the average individual. They looked almost like folded tripods made out of bronze, but you were meant to insert them in the earth in a manner that would appear to be top down, with the "claw" formed by the legs of the tripod pointing into the sky. Emery got the man's assistance to arrange them properly and at the angles he guaranteed would be correct. Once ready, they would be activated, using wind magic to fire staffs into the sky at different angles. Each of them would then analyze the comet from a different angle, using the triangulation effect between their different locations to build a three dimensional map of the comet's surface, trajectory, and various magical effects. The staffs had to be picked up after they ran out of wind magic, but considering they had trackers built in they were easy enough to find afterwards.
Emery 12 Pyrrhos 6.2/6.2 12
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 21:23:33 GMT -6
In fact, in the brief conversation she had with the scientist, Emery found out that these arrays had automatic recall. That is, once they were done recording they would fly back to the location where they were fired of their own accord. Very clever. The light cast by Pyrrhos gave the world a pleasant tint as they worked, making it easier to see but making it cozy as well. Emery's screen gave her a heads up display of the angles as well, which came quite in handy in making sure the stymphalian arrays were set up right. The scientist she was assisting was quite grateful in the end, and between the two of them the work went quite quickly. Soon the last of the arrays was set up. They were all arranged in a wide circle on the hill, set at slightly different angles to account for the tilted ground beneath them.
Emery 13 Pyrrhos 6.3/6.3 13
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 21:37:38 GMT -6
"Well, are you ready then?" The scientist said, and held out a device. It was a tube, about six inches long, with a big red button on the end of it. Emery looked at it, and then back up at him. "What, really?" He nodded. "Sure, why not? Might as well let you do the honors for all the help you've given." Emery reached out hesistantly, taking it from his hand. A deep breath. And she pressed the button. Instantly the arrays responding, opening with a sudden snap, like the blossoming of spring loaded flowers. The payloads moved too quickly for her to see, but Pyrrhos's flame was practically flattened to the ground from the whoosh of air as they took off. After a few moments Emery could see them in the sky, glimmering like stars. Pyrrhos quickly righted himself again, shaking himself off and sending little tendrils of smoke into the air as he did so.
Emery 14 Pyrrhos 6.4/6.4 14
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Post by Emery on Nov 10, 2023 21:43:17 GMT -6
As Emery gazed into the sky however, she realized that something was... missing. "It's cloudy tonight. Will we... even be able to see the comet?" The man just shrugged. "I don't really care. I'll get me readings regardless- it's about the scientific value, not getting to see a shiny light, right?" He said. Emery paused for a moment. "...Right." She said, and trudged back down the hill to claim her prize. He was completely right, of course. Clouds were easily accounted for with their equipment. These astrologers weren't going to let a night of studying a comet that only came once every two hundred years be ruined by something as simple as a cloud. And yet, something still bothered her about it all. All that work, for nothing but some numbers on a page. And what of the volunteers? The people who came to help with the hope that they'd get to see something beautiful? It didn't seem fair.
Emery 15 Pyrrhos 7.0/7.0 15
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