Golem Party

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A05: Warehouse District *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

         The freshness of the Tornmawr River cuts along this section of Alexandria. Its broad expanse creates the district's eastern border. Ships and barges dot its surface. Some make deliveries here and up the river, while others dock for repair. These vehicles move slowly over the water, their sails colorful and proud. No few bear a nod to Rada, or three, for luck's sake. Many also bear the colors of different nations and city-states, all of them coming here to bring trade to Alexandria.

         Warehouses line the district's streets, dotted with the names of shipping companies and various industries. These, mixed with the occasional sailor's tavern, set the tone for the area. Overall, it's bustling, busy, about what one would expect for a city of this size.

         To the south, the great Sea Wall and the Port of Alexandria. Both are considered wonders of the modern world.

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MAC-B1G - 6'6" 303 Lb War Golem Neuter

   Drab gray primarily metal humanoid with cyan-lit optical receptors.     
  

Toha - 6'2" 282 Lb War Golem Female

   A woman shaped contrivance of leather and steel, with oruch weaponry.    
 

Victor - 6'6" 290 Lb War Golem Male

   Pale humanoid War Golem in a cape.                             
          

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Bridge <SE> Adventurer's Guild <AG> Ox-Strength Tavern <OX>

West <W> North <N> South <'S'>

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The mild precipitation runs from roofs, overhangs, and over the chassis of the large golem located outside the Adventurer's Guild. MAC-B1G scans the posted notices and requests affixed to the board before it. One, already wet, is scanned repeatedly as charcoal on paper is not so easily legible when doused.

The rain hisses softly off the sleek shell of another golem, come visiting the guild postings looking for something to do. Seeing her kinsman and recognizing him at once, she quickens her stride and lifts her hand in a folksy, "Hey, Beta, how ya doin, tonight?"

MAC-B1G's faceplate rotates to pan towards the vocalization. "Greeting protocal activated," it announces, followed by a lifted and oscillated manipulative appendage. This despite that its chassis remains faced away from her. "Greetings, unit designate Toha." It then parses its error and several thumping steps follow as it rotates chassis under faceplate so that all are aligned without changing the orientation of its faceplate.

Toha considers the golem's movements as he greets her, as he later makes his corrections and she nods, "Has my work helped with your system's efficiency?" She pans her gaze top to bottom then back up to meet his eyes, "Are you seeking something to occupy yourself with?"

"Affirmative," MAC-B1G confirms Toha's inquiry. "Current system efficiency: 98.301%" Its faceplate tilts down to scan her. "Unit designate Toha's chassis status: 100%"

Toha holds her attention on Mac's head as he surveys her outer shell whilst they stand near the Guild postings board. His observation warrants, "Correct." She pivots her head, slightly canted to regard the board, "Were you looking for a particular kind of task, or just curious about what was written here?"

Victor appears at the end of the street. He's walking towards the Adventurer's Guild, and slows to a stop when he sees the others. Then he approaches again, this time his direction altered slightly so he stops next to them instead of the door. "Greetings," he nods.

"New directive acquired: exterminate extraplanar and re-animated threats within municipality," MAC notifies Toha. "This unit requires data of threat locations." Its toro then pans to the latest vocalized greeting, appendage still lifted and oscillating. "Greetings. Request: Unit desgination?"

Toha turns to the sound of incoming, familiar footfalls and dips her head in a little nod and lifts her hand to greet, "Victor, hey! How've ya been?" She looks toward MAC on his query, "Beta One Gee, this is Victor. One o'my longest friends. Victor, this is Beta One Gee, my newest." The inquiry about the engagement zones brings her a curious cant of her head, "That's a good question, big guy, I'm not currently aware of any specific threats." She gives that a second, then clarifies, "I know there are some hostile agents, but I don't currently know where they can be found."

Victor inclines his head to MAC-B1G and then Toha. "I agree, finding threats to the city is sometimes quite a challenge." He hesitates and then goes on, "Although sometimes not so much - often because they choose to reveal themselves. But then the threats themselves prove to be challenging, and all too often exact a toll on adventurers who attempt to deal with them," the last is accompanied by a slight gesture towards MAC.

MAC-B1G's appendage oscillations cease and the appendage lowers. "This unit concurs. Threat units cannot avoid detection during attempted hostile action. Threat units to be terminated upon detection. High threat units may necessitate multi-unit taskforce."

Toha nod, "Yeah. I run into one of those the other day." she says, a little crestfallen, "Got destroyed almost outright, barely scratched the demon." She gives a little, articulated shrug, then, "I was reactivated at the Temple of Vardama the next day. I'm working on upgrades."

Victor turns his head to look at Toha again. "...I was also destroyed recently," he admits. "I was incinerated by a pair of efreeti. The Temple of Eluna arranged for me to be revived, on behalf of the Acquisitioners." He pauses and then asks Toha, "Upgrades?"

MAC-B1G pans its optics and faceplate between the others. "This unit's primary systems were rendered inoperable until repairs were effected." Now it locks on Toha. "Query: What upgrades does unit designate Toha require?"

"I would look into structural reinforcement, but mobility remains a priority. Perhaps I can get some enchantments." Toha replies, "My primary weapon did very little, despite how hard I hit the demon, I'm considering augmenting it with mroe magic as well. Balancing means against requirements is proving to require more thought."

"Mobility is useful in combat," Victor nods. Then he looks over Toha. "What is your primary weapon?" his gaze switches between the swords, helmet and hands, and even stops briefly at the chain-like hair.

"This unit's design does not include mobility as primary priority," MAC announces. It now scans over Toha's weapons in attempt to make the determination of their priority.

Toha reaches up over her shoulder to draw her greatsword, the blade vaguely see through as it gets near the edges. She turns toward Victor to present the weapon and, "It has an enchantment on it to deliver thundering damage when a blow is particularly telling, and is aligned to even affect things like spirits. It will also become certain other types of weapons on command. Sometimes slashing isn't the way to go. I tend to keep it in this mode for storage sake."

Victor studies at the weapon for a few moments. At first he stares at the tip. Then he slowly turns his head to examine the length of the blade. Finally he examines the hilt. With a slight nod he looks up at Toha's helmeted head once more. "I'm surprised to hear it was less than effective. With the abilities you have already added, or had added...I would think it extremely versatile."

MAC-B1G's evluation results in a similar conclusion. "Unit Toha's weaponry is advanced, efficient. Low effectiveness highly improbably."

Toha nods, "I was destroyed too fast to be disappointed at the time." she replies drly, "I'm going to see what can be done to further augment it's ability to pierce supernatural defenses. It has proven quite useful against other targets." Her face turns toward MAC and her tone brightens, "Thank you. If I have ta face that demon again, I at least want to hurt him."

Victor turns his eyes to the dragonspitter. "A suggestion, if I may a perhaps a ranged weapon with more...well, range? I have seen those used to great affect. More at times than mobility, or the various enchantments for melee weapons that I'm aware of." He pauses and then adds, "And they can keep an adventurer out of range of retaliation."

"Particle projection cannon superior to chemical-propelled projectiles," MAC advises. The cylinder on its chassis lifts from the storage position and pivots over its shoulder as the weapon telescopes to increase its length. It is caught and braced with one manipulator near the muzzle end.

Toha hmmm's softly to Victor's observation as he makes them, "That stands to reason." she notes, then turns to MAC, "I use a magnetic resonance based accelerator, though my energy projective weaponry is still under refinement." She reaches behind her back for the cannister and, with a twist and a pull, extends it into a roughly thunderbelcher shaped arrangement of black rings along telescoping guide rods, "This works on entropic dissonance to cause target object to dissemble, as of exposure to a caustic agent."

Victor looks between MAC-B1G and Toha's energy weapons. "Interesting," he notes. "I've read about mana-powered weapons, but these appear to be...custom." He glances between the two weapon wielders now. "Did you make them yourselves?"

MAC-B1G's weapon collapses and retracts, stowing itself against its rear chassis once more. "Standard complement for this model. This unit modified weapon for additional utility and efficiency. Increase of nethercite intermix to maximum highly effective against persistant mana effects."

Toha nods, twisting the weapon to collapse it back down to it's more convienient form before returning it to it's storage spot at the small of her back, "Yeah, though in broad strokes I based it on one I've seen Kaelyn use, though I think we took very different avenues on metallurgy an' the energy projection itself." She looks to MAC and and while she could technically gape, she wouldn't know to as they go into how the weapon works, "Oh.... I'd love to see that work in the field...!" She turns to Victor, then and wonders, "So what have you been up to, lately? Had any better luck talking with people?"

Victor considers the question. "Yes. Using contractions and local vernacular has helped." He pauses for a moment and then goes on, "As has reading the thoughts of others around me." Another pause and then he adds, "Only of willing subjects, that is."

"This unit will demonstrate in suitable environment," MAC states before its faceplate rotates between the two at the subsequently offered topic. "Request additional data to optimize interaction procedures. This unit possesses data concerning:

• Greeting
• Identification
• Friend
• Flirt"

Blinking is not amongst Toha's current features, though it is something she's encountering a need for with.. exponentially increasing regularity, lately, "Oh. Alright." She looks between her kinsmen and, "That could be interesting. We can try that sometime." she offers to Victor then, turning her face toward MAC, "Which areas of interactions would you like to adjust, first?"

"Or," Victor remarks, "Are you looking for additional areas to add to your list of interaction procedures?" He doesn't seem the least bit surprised. In fact, he seems quite familiar with the concept.

MAC-B1G could, conceivably, temporarily dim one or both cyan optical receptors. Currently, however, there is no tactical nor system mecessity to do so. It takes several moments to process their questions. "Unknown. Insufficient data. Advise."

Toha is curious, really, but, she wants to help MAC out, so she decides to indulge herself, later, once that's been accomplished to some degree. She sparse a quick glance to Victor for a moment, then back to MAC, "Well, I suppose fine tuning can't hurt." she muses, "Flesh beings have a preference in spoken formats. It's not the most efficient, but then again, they also leak stuff a lot."

Victor nods as he listens to Toha - who he considers to be something of a teacher in his own studies of interaction with others. But now perhaps he can also be the teacher. "Yes, they do leak a lot. For example, from the eyes." He traces lines down the sides of his own face, from the outside edges of his eyes. "That is a good time to excersise, compassion. And comfort. You can ask if something is wrong. Offer assurances. That things will get better, or that they are not alone in their struggles."

"Biological units lack sufficient sealant. This unit will increase sealant reserves," MAC confirms its initial conclusion and coure of action before making inquiries. Request: Clarify preferred vocalization format. Clarify compassion. Clarify comfort." This unit... may require a large amont of additional data.

Toha turns to Victor as he begins to chime in as well and there's a little cant of her head as he's come so far since their talks. The feminine construct nods, "Compassion and comfort are complex support concepts." she says, looking to MAC again, "Flesh eyes leaking moisture is a sign, called tears, of physical or emotional distress. Known colloquially as being in pain. Or being hurt. The process of leaking moisture is called crying." She nods again back to Victor, "As Victor says. Most commonly employed to noncombatants or allies. Use with enemies is... to your discretion, but not advised without more interpersonal experience."

Toha turns to Victor as he begins to chime in as well and there's a little cant of her head as he's come so far since their talks. The feminine construct nods, looking to MAC again, "Flesh eyes leaking moisture is a sign, called tears, of physical or emotional distress. Known colloquially as being in pain. Or being hurt. The process of leaking tears is called crying." She nods again back to Victor, "As Victor says. "Compassion and comfort are complex support concepts. Most commonly employed to noncombatants or allies. Use with enemies is... to your discretion, but not advised without more interpersonal experience." (fixed)

Victor nods in agreement. "Yes. Complex support mechanisms...but fortunately, I have found many acceptable methods, and virtually any are at least somewhat effective. There is an expression. 'Its the thought that counts.'"

MAC-B1G is silent for some time to store, collate, and pre-process the data received. It then announces, "Records updated. Compiling additional protocols. Calculating..." Another pause. "Estimated time to completion: 7 hours 57 minutes 27 seconds." Processing bandwidth may be another aspect marginalized in favor of resiliency. It -was- noted that compassion and comfort were complex concepts.

Toha nods again, glad Victor is here to help with this, that their ilk are inclined to help each other. She considers MAC as he reponds and nods. Whoah, boy.... this could take time. She isn't sure how much of his awareness is taken up during this process, but she decides to change her position slightly to assume a guarding posture, so no one gets to any mischief, and looks to Victor, "I'm really glad ta see you again, Victor. I'm sorry you got hurt, too."

Victor considers MAC-B1G's estimate. He nods slightly. He can easily see it taking that long to even begin to understand an emotion. Then he turns towards Toha. "I am likewise pleased to see you. And that you've recovered from your own trauma." He glances at the greatsword once more, then at the dragonspitter. "Supernatutal affects can also be highly effective in combat," he notes. "If you can create artifice weapons, are you also able to create other contraptions? Based on specific arcane effects?"

Toha nods, "Yes, though I can only power a small number at a time, and their efficacy is better lent to the utlity than destructive potential. I'm carrying three repair devices for us, and one for flesh."

"Interesting. I haven't encountered any strictly arcane spells that heal ogranic beings," Victor admits. "But a focus on utility, and effects that can provide support to others for that matter, would be an effective approach. And a versatile one."

The feminine construct nods, "There are certain energies that interact with the chemical and biological restorative processes differently. I grasp them on a very... fundamental level, but most of my understanding more closely parallels arcane effects." She taps a knuckle to her mouthseam then, "The best I can explain is..." and the braided golem starts to try and explain the energies involved, though there are some Kulthian terms she has difficulty translating along the way.

This could take a while...