>>1078097
Seems fine.

Units cannot take fall damage! Directive 1 currently violated!
Emergency Override: "F***ING PARACHUTES, NOW!"

All of the above, plus “ow, there are spikes in my brain.”

>>1078097
Seems appropriate.

Nalthar 2023/11/28(Tue)21:31 No. 1078256 ID: de5cb4
File 170123587181.jpg - (155.55KB , 1000x800 , a visual representation of telepathic communicatio.jpg )

Enigma: (Whoa, voices! So you're spirits, huh? Well don't worry, I've got this! This guy talks like one of those robots from back home, lets try this:)

Enigma: (Unsafe velocity detected, request correction!)

Wurm: {PASSENGER; REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGED. GRAVITATIONAL DAMPENERS COMING ONLINE.}

A wave of visual distortion washes out from the wurm. The titan and the cloud of debris begin to slow their fall.

Enigma: (That's great! Now can you get us down to the ground?)

Wurm: {DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OFFLINE; EMERGENCY PROTOCOL IN EFFECT. HOLDING PATTERN ESTABLISHED; PORTAL STABILIZATION IN 4 MINUTES.}

Enigma: (Well that sounds promising. You're doing a great job, uh, what's your name big guy?)

Wurm: {THIS VESSEL IS DESIGNATED... ERROR
THIS VESSEL IS DESIGNATED... ERROR
THIS VESSEL IS DESIGNATED...
THIS VESSEL... THIS VESSEL... I... I am...
Who am I?)

Error!

Null`); DROP TABLE Entities;--

Jormun.

What happens when the portal stabilizes? Does it close? Well, we can get down to the ground by turning the dampeners off and on repeatedly. Or... lowering their power output?

He probably is a robot! In fact he probably is a flying ship! That's what a vessel is, right? He's so cool!

Jormun seems to be a suitable name.

1/3 Nalthar 2023/12/05(Tue)18:03 No. 1078745 ID: de5cb4
File 170182819675.jpg - (274.92KB , 1000x800 , sad backstory.jpg )

Enigma: (You're an... Error?)

Wurm: (I do not know. I remember... stars. Traveling between stars and carrying people within myself.)

Enigma: (So are you some kind of machine?)

Wurm: (yes, but... I did not used to think like this. I was asleep for a very long time, somewhere cold and dark. Longer than a vessel is supposed to be in storage. I think many of my systems have degraded. I think... I'm not supposed to be thinking at all. A lot of data is missing, even my name.)

Enigma: (Where I came from there were machine workers, and they would get in a lot of trouble for thinking. But I think you're safe here, these rat guys don't have any machines that I've seen.)

(And its okay if you don't have a name, I don't have one either.)

Wurm: (Hmm, I think I would like a name though.)

Enigma: (Well how about... Jormun? It's the name of a shipping crate company. Maybe it's silly, but finding one of their boxes in an alley, it always made me feel safe knowing I would have somewhere sturdy to sleep for the night.)

Wurm: (Jormun... yes, it sounds right. I am Jormun!) The wurm lets out a joyful keen that rattles Enigma's bones.

Enigma: (G-glad you like it, big guy! Um, about that 'portal stabilization'?)

Jormun: (Ah, yes it should be powered up. Brace yourselves!)
{PORTAL STABILIZATION IN 3}

2/3 Nalthar 2023/12/05(Tue)18:04 No. 1078746 ID: de5cb4
File 170182825241.jpg - (308.50KB , 1000x800 , split jaw.jpg )

{2}

3/3 Nalthar 2023/12/05(Tue)18:05 No. 1078747 ID: de5cb4
File 170182832002.jpg - (337.95KB , 1000x800 , portal stabilized.jpg )

{1}

A beam of brilliant emerald energy shoots from Jormun's maw, roiling the air in front of them and sending bolds tumbling away. Martah holds Enigma close as they dizzyingly spin. On the ground below the energy wave resolves into a second portal. Martah has a brief, disorienting view through it of the wurm from behind, before he blacks out.

He comes around to find himself in a small tent, oddly feeling as though he is still falling.

Jormun: (Oh good, you're finally awake.)

We were trying to cross the border, eh.

Step outside. Did the whole village get placed in an infinite loop between two portals so nothing ever hits the ground?

>>1078747
Well, that was a ride. Might be time to get something to eat.

What's going on?

Check your own brain for any unexpected spikes of metal.

Nalthar 2023/12/12(Tue)17:17 No. 1079223 ID: 76615e
File 170243023352.jpg - (598.45KB , 1000x800 , waking to a new paradigm.jpg )

> Check your brain for metal spikes
Martah: (I think I would know if... okay no, there is no metal in my brain. I'm going to have to talk to her about that later.)
(Also my body has reverted back to no wings mode. A shaper tends to lose minor changes they don't think of as 'normal' while they sleep.)

> What's going on?
Jormun: (Sorry you guys got all knocked around, but you're safe now! Your friends set up a little tent village on my tail. It's very cute. Oh, I'm Jormun by the way. I've been able to think for one day!)

Martah: (Oh, uh... I'm Martah. You can talk to us now then?)

Jormun: (Yes! After you helped the little one talk to me I was able to adjust my wavelengths. Now I can talk to anyone! Don't worry, I won't be listening all the time, too many voices gets confusing.)

Martah: (Well, it's nice to meet you, but it feels like we're still falling?)

Jormun: (That's right! I've stabilized the portal so now we're stuck in a holding pattern. My thrusters seem to have been lost at some point while I was asleep, and my section joints are calcified. I can't move at all! So I have no way to actually land or reorient. But we aren't falling too fast, I've got a fair amount of gravity control left. We're now coasting at ten miles per hour, nice and slow.)

> Get something to eat
Martah: (Wait did you say it's been a day? No wonder I'm so hungry.)

Jormun: (I let the little one know that you are awake. She's going to bring you some thing to eat.)

> Step outside
Martah gets out of the bed roll and realizes he's still naked! Luckily it seems this tent is being used to store clothing.

Nalthar 2023/12/12(Tue)17:17 No. 1079224 ID: 76615e
File 170243025526.jpg - (138.24KB , 1000x800 , martah paper doll.jpg )

Suggest an outfit for Martah

Suggestion 2023/12/12(Tue)17:42 No. 1079225 ID: 462d8c
File 170243172654.png - (148.74KB , 1000x800 , matcloth.png )

How about something asymmetrical?
(colours can be changed)

So if I understand correctly, this is where we build a city by using a portal pair as an abnormal 'foundation' so that the city can literally fall forever or until the portal destabilizes and the whole thing crumbles into the ground as a medium-sized molehill.
Neat.

Dress: Coat made of tied, ripped-off sleeves.

>>1079225
Classical, yet subtle.
Pink with gray accents in his usual preferred colors should do nicely.

Nalthar 2023/12/19(Tue)18:27 No. 1079516 ID: 76615e
File 170303927887.jpg - (678.64KB , 1000x800 , sweet relief.jpg )

Jormun: (I'm going now, just call if you need me.)

Picking through a basket of clothes, Martah finds a toga under a pile of coat sleeves, and it's even in the traditional shaper colors. Pulling it on, it's a great fit. Wow, what a good find. Everything's coming up aces today.

Tears stream down Martah's face as the emotional roller coaster of the previous day catches up with him. After months of desperate flight, sweet relief courses through him.

Martah: (We did it... we're finally free.)

Enigma knocks, or rather paffs, at the tent flap.
Enigma: "Everything alright in there? I've got breakfast."

>>1079516
Everything is fine. Finally. Food.

>>1079516
Revel in this moment of peace. Soon we will descend onto a new world, and who knows what awaits there.

See what Enigma brought to eat and invite her in to sit, humble though the furnishings be.

Free from what exactly? Explore.

1/4 Nalthar 2024/01/01(Mon)18:17 No. 1080191 ID: 76615e
File 170416182754.gif - (7.77MB , 800x640 , moving-horizon-animation.gif )

Martah pushes aside the tent flap and is greeted with a brilliant sunrise. He can't help but stare as the mountainous horizon gently rises up, to be replaced in a flash with clear blue sky.

Enigma: "It takes some getting used to, huh?" she proffers a basket of oat squares and ushers Martah back into the tent. "Hurry and eat, there's a big leaders meeting starting soon and we're both supposed to be there." The little bold plops down on a basket and kicks her feet. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you without your mask. Is it hiding some dark secret?" she teases.

Martah: "Hrak kaf-kaf-kaf. Ah, no it's just a curse." The shaper flicks the clasp and slips off his mask to reveal bloody teeth framed by ragged lips. "A simple mouth sealing, but the caster was very powerful, so I haven't been able to get rid of it." Martah shoves oats into his mouth as the flesh at the corners already tries to knit back together.

Enigma: "Does... does it hurt?"

Martah: "I'm a shaper, I only feel what I intend to!" Martah states boastfully, thumping his chest and spraying oats everywhere. "It is annoying, but I get by. You seem to be dealing with your's alright."

Enigma: "My what!?"

Martah: "In your head. Isn't that a curse?"

Enigma: "Dude, we don't have curses where I come from. I was in an industrial accident."

Martah: "An accident that left perfectly spaced spikes in your head?"

Enigma: "Well..."

Martah: "Ah, don't worry about it. Maybe you can tell me about it later, we could exchange secrets? Anyway, lets get to that meeting."

Martah follows Enigma through the ramshackle camp to the largest tent. As they walk a thought occurs to him. "So uh, if your not from our world, do you even know what we've been going through?"

Enigma: "Some cult decided that your flesh magic was dangerous and needed to be destroyed, right?"

Martah: "Yeah, that's pretty much it." The two enter the tent to find a dozen bolds seated around a large table festooned with hastily scribbled maps and lists.

2/4 Nalthar 2024/01/01(Mon)18:18 No. 1080192 ID: 76615e
File 170416192929.jpg - (251.03KB , 1000x800 , council 1.jpg )

Note: Spirits get special dispensation to attend leadership sessions, since its not like anyone could keep them out anyway.

Martah: (Since you spirits are new around here I'll introduce everyone.)

(The tall bunnbold is Pitreh, our de facto Chief. When everything went down she was the one that lead us to escape. I used to think she was just a crazy radical, but she's really proven herself getting us here. )
(The Chief is usually the eldest in a family line, but given the disarray we are currently in, I guess it falls to whoever is willing.)

(Mishkah and Grishkah are our Hunter Bosses. People often call them the twins, even though they aren't even related. These two have a real happy-go-lucky attitude and love to play tricks, but they are more than capable hunters. My childhood friend Murdoc is here too, she is our most capable scout after all.)
(The hunters provide us with meat and foraged vegetables, though lately they've had to do a lot of fighting as well.)

(The absolutely ancient mouzbold over there is Pokkul, the Master Runescrivener. He's eccentric, but I guess he knows his way around runes. To be honest I've never seen him do much of anything. Donvan is here too. He certainly knows a lot about magic, but his focus on the Ancients has never been very useful, until now.)
(Runescrivening is an ancient tradition, but as a nomadic people we always put more stock in Fleshshaping. Runes are a more permanent thing, and robolds tend to live in the moment. The few who take up Scrivening are viewed as equal part weird and wise.)

(Hossul here is one of the enigmatic hoggbolds. He's a Master Fleshshaper, and I've been training under him for a while. I've learned a lot, though he does tend to be a bit... mystical about things.)
(Fleshshaping is.. was our tribe's specialty. So many family and friends turned their back on us, now we're all that's left.)

3/4 Nalthar 2024/01/01(Mon)18:19 No. 1080194 ID: 76615e
File 170416199025.jpg - (215.64KB , 1000x800 , council 2.jpg )

(Next is Mirrak, this cute bunnbold is our current Master Trader. She's young and to be frank, not the image of a ruthless bargainer you would expect. Given that the traders were the first to abandon us, that's probably a good thing.)
(The traders have long been the go-betweens for the tribe, negotiating with the towns and cities to get us work and sell our crafts.)

(This nondescript mouzbold is Crafter Representative Lohmul, here to speak on behalf of the various artisans of the tribe. They have long been in the background, greasing the wheels of productivity. Looks like the dearth of leadership has brought them to the forefront, which they don't look too happy about.)
(The Shapers support the Crafters, the Crafters support the tribe. That's how it's always been. The crafters that didn't come with us... without shapers to perfect their bodies how will they maintain their craft?)

(Master Courtesan Sillah is a squirbold. They're amazing, just one speech and they convinced almost the entire Courtesan's Guild to come with us! Such a caring and warm personality, they've personally helped me with quite a few issues.)
(Shapers can deal with bodily problems, but its the Courtesans that heal our minds and spirits. And yes, that includes more carnal issues sometimes, but its really not as lewd as the rumors would have you believe.)

(Also this guy, Marten I think his name is? As far as I know he's just a regular bunnbold, not sure what they need him here for.)

4/4 Nalthar 2024/01/01(Mon)18:21 No. 1080195 ID: 76615e
File 170416208311.jpg - (387.89KB , 1000x800 , pitreh looming.jpg )

As Martah and Enigma take their seats, Pitreh slaps the table and springs up. "Right, lets get started!" She leans forward, fixing each bold in turn with a fierce stare as she speaks. "Every bold in this room knows why they're here. When our enemies surrounded us and our leaders betrayed us, you stepped forward. By your efforts we have escaped a dark fate, and a bright future is in our grasp!"

Pitreh begins to pace around the group. "You know what I see, out there in the camp? I see youth, vibrant and ready to build a better life. Our parents and leaders chose to give in, to give up the soul of our people for false safety. Save for our wisest elders, of course." Saying this she claps a hand to Pokkul's shoulder, who cackles in response, and Hossul's, who merely nods.

"And so!" She returns to the front of the table, slapping both hands down and looming over those assembled. "It's time we reject the rotten ways of our predecessors. I am declaring Damnatio Memoriae on the tribe's old name!" This bold declaration elicits murmurs, but no objections.

"Its time for the people to control their own fate. A vote will be held once we establish a foothold here, to choose what form our society will take, but until then we're still in charge. We'll get to your reports on our situation in a moment, but first!" She jabs a finger towards Enigma, who starts and glances about nervously as the room's attention shifts to her. "While we were getting dropped out of our bunks this one swooped in and saved us all! I'd say that deserves more than our thanks. I say we make her a full member of the tribe!" The room is hushed for a moment at this unprecedented announcement, then Enigma is showered with congratulations and pats on the back. The little bold's expression of shock slowly shifts into one of joy while tears prick her eyes. The assembly return to their seats as Pitreh kneels down beside her and grasps her hand. "Time for you to choose a name, in the traditional robold way. Just close your eyes... quick say the first two syllables you think of!"

Pip Pip!

hoohaa

Sol Far

>>1080195
Kulnaym

Bungus

Kiwi!

Nyg ma.

>>1080199
Seconded

>>1080195
Klatu

ligma

>>1080452
... Steve Jobs is just two syllables

1/2 Nalthar 2024/01/06(Sat)20:55 No. 1080516 ID: 76615e
File 170460330434.jpg - (0.98MB , 1000x800 , map jormun.jpg )

And a roll of the dice gives us...

Enigma: "...Sol...Far?"

Pitreh: "And is that a name you can live with?" Solfar thinks for a second, then gives a confident nod. "Then welcome to the tribe!" Pitreh gives her a hearty slap on the back that nearly bowls her over. "But no time to celebrate, our position here is not yet secure."

Pitreh: "So to begin, by our last count we are 300 bolds strong. We haven't run a full census since arriving here, but I am pleased to announce no reports of casualties. Sillah, how is moral?"

Sillah: "mmm, better than it was. I think it will take some time to sink in for most, that we are truly free and clear. Having things to build again should help, aye Lohmul?"

Lohmul: "Yes, the crafters are eager to create once more, if we have sufficient supplies."

Mirrak: "Ah, um, we've some good luck there! When the wurm opened that second portal, it undercut an entire mile of forest. We haven't recovered everything yet, but, um, at a preliminary count we've gained at least 200 timber, 75 beasts, 12 tons of stone and dirt. Also, many bushels of mushrooms and small plants but, eh, those might not be useful. I'm sorry, there's just so much to go through, and I don't know any of these plants and-"

Pitreh: "Hey hey, its okay Mirrak. We all know you're doing your best. Sounds like we've got plenty to work with for now. And that dirt will help Marten get our farming going."

Marten: "Ay Chief, I told you I only worked on a farm as a laborer for a season."

Pitreh: "Then you've got more experience than any of us! Hey twins! What's the situation on the ground?"

2/2 Nalthar 2024/01/06(Sat)20:57 No. 1080517 ID: 76615e
File 170460343331.jpg - (0.96MB , 1000x800 , map valley.jpg )

Mishkah: "Oh man, this place is great! The hunter teams that set out barely made it back. None of em got more than a few yards before getting attacked by crazy beasts!"

Grishkah: "The beasts that got portal dropped are quite interesting. Most of them seem similar to salamanders, but so big and fierce! I can't wait to get down there and encounter some myself."

Murdoc: "Ahem, as for the actual scouting, we've had to rely on what we can make out from up here." She points to a rough map on the table. "We seem to be in a valley surrounded on two sides by mountains. The main feature is a dense forest, with our portal right in the middle. The forest is surrounded by grassland and flanked by two small rivers from the mountains. Past that is hard to make out. It appears to be desert on the other side of the mountains, and to the south dense greenery, perhaps a jungle. There are no signs of civilization visible from the air, save for what looks like a structure on the highest peak."

Pitreh: "Alright then, looks like we're on our own for now. Lets get this camp running again, and we'll reconvene in a week."

As the meeting breaks up, Mastershaper Hossul takes Martah aside. "Feeling recovered are you lad? Good, good. Lets discuss what you'll be working on."

What should Martah do today?

A) Study Jormun
B) Study the captured beasts
C) Study the gathered plants
D) Assist the crafters
E) Assist with farming
F) something else?

Start by studying the local plants and animals. We need to get a rough understanding of the ecosystem so we can start industrial-level farming for 300 people.

>>1080519
This. Anatomy is your specialty, so studying any they've managed to obtain will help us determine what parts are safely edible. Don't want any polar bear incidents, where people eat an organ containing lethal doses of a vitamin or mineral.

>>1080517
E. Let's get that sorted pronto.

>>1080517
C. Local plants should survive better than imported so if we can identify edible ones it should boost farming efforts

So we are...currently falling through the air? And exploring Jormun's back? Or what?

Nalthar 2024/01/13(Sat)15:52 No. 1080934 ID: 5ebd37
File 170518993748.jpg - (693.65KB , 1000x800 , pile of green.jpg )

Note: Just to clarify, Jormun is currently falling face first between two portals. The robolds have set up camp on his tail end, the currently top-most part of him.

>Study the plants

Martah: *hrk* "I would investigate the plants we've brought in, if that's alright master."

Hossul: "hmm, yes, an astute choice. The bulk of it has been stored in one of the warehouse tents. Look for Mirrak, she is in charge of sorting and storing our supplies."

Martah steps out of the meeting hall into a camp bustling with activity. Bolds are everywhere, carting about boxes and sacks. Even in the air overhead figures can be seen, pursuing the last falling resources in what appear to be basic wingsuits. High above it all is the looming visage of Jormun, watching the industrious bolds with his ever present grin.

Past the enormous piles of timber, which crafters are already busy sawing into boards and beams, Martah finds the large storage tents. He walks past a giant pile of dirt, where Marten is poking about and scratching his head. Entering the closest tent, Martah is confronted with an immense tangle of vegetation. Even as he stares, a couple of bolds brush past him to toss armfuls of vines on the mess.

Circling around the greenery, Martah sees many familiar forms among the gathered plants. Leaves, stems, flowers, mushrooms, it seems this world's foliage is not too far off from what he is familiar with. On the far side of the pile teams of bolds are attempting to sort the many plants, but they haven't put much of dent in the mound. Mirrak stands off to the side, furiously scribbling on a clipboard. She spots Martah and rushes over. "Shaper, you're here to help right?" she bites her lip in frustration. "The chief's counting on us, but, oh gods there's just so much!"

>>1080934
Shape them some extra limbs to make faster work sorting.

>>1080935
Not a bad plan

>>1080935
Great idea!

>>1080935
green is one of the colors humans can see the most shades of so how good are we at doing eyes?

>>1080934
Shape some extra sensitive noses and tastebuds, should help with finding plants that are edible and/or medicinal

Nalthar 2024/01/19(Fri)16:18 No. 1081392 ID: 5ebd37
File 170570989215.jpg - (557.21KB , 1000x800 , beastie parts.jpg )

>Shape them some extra limbs
>Shape some extra sensitive noses and tastebuds, also eyes

Martah: *hk-hraak* "Looks like your team could use some enhancements. What are we looking at for numbers of spare parts?"

Mirrak: "I told you at- I forgot to mention it at the meeting, didn't I?" she groans and rubs her face. "Check in the next storage over, old Lindsaw has her take-apart team set up with the beasts that couldn't be recovered intact. Only 30 at last count, but there should be something you can use."

Martah: "Got it, I'll be right back."

Entering the next tent, Martah finds it to be just as bustling as the last. Bolds are busy slicing apart corpses into neat piles of limbs and organs. The shaper walks over to a familiar spindly rattebold overseeing the work.

Lindsaw: "Ah, Shaper Martah. I do hope you have come to take some of these lovely parts off my hands. We haven't the proper supplies to preserve them, and I would hate to see them go to waste."

Martah: "What have you got in the way of strong arms and sense organs, Dismantler?"

The elderly rattebold waves a hand at a selection of limbs and heads arrayed on tarps on the floor. "Take your pick, its all salamanders down there, apparently." She pats Martah on the shoulder and leaves him to it, heading over to assist some bolds wrestling open the ribs of a particularly large beast.

Martah: (Well well, look at this spread. What can I do with these, I wonder?)

Heads:
A) 4 in stock: a nocturnal looking face, with big eyes
B) 5 in stock: a long snout, with a tongue to match
C) 3 in stock: a broad head, some odd sense organs have replaced the eyes
Limbs:
D) 10 in stock: three-clawed grasping hand on a short, scaly arm
E) 12 in stock: wide foot with sticky pads
F) 10 in stock: a runner's leg, with wicked claws
G) 4 in stock: a thick tail, good for balance

Martah: (I only have time to mess around with three of these, I'm supposed to be looking at plants after all.)

Check out A, D, and E

>>1081392
We can use the tongues from B to allow sorters to taste test samples without exposing themselves to ingested toxins using their true tongues.

D seems to be a suitable additional limb for dextrous sorting.

The rest are interesting, but probably not useful to our immediate task. If we want to investigate any of them, C is a complete unknown so its strange senses could hypothetically turn out to be helpful?

Agreed that C has the potential to be valuable (or trash)

1/2 Nalthar 2024/01/30(Tue)23:42 No. 1082184 ID: 5ebd37
File 170668694428.jpg - (468.24KB , 1000x800 , working smarter.jpg )

>A,B,D,E

Martah: (Yes these seem the most useful. I'm not sure about A though, let me check.) He plucks out one of the large eyes and peers into it. (Mmm, yeah these are just good for night vision. I would have thought they would have broader spectrum, but these receptors are surprisingly simple. Oh well.)

Martah tugs out the long tongues from the B heads and bundles them up in a large basket, alongside the D and E limbs. Taking a moment to ask Lindsaw to set the C heads aside for him, he lugs the basket back into the plant warehouse.

Martah: *Hrak-Koff-Koff-Koff. Ahem* "Hey! Who wants a body change? Chief says we're not bowing to tradition anymore so we can change whatever we want! But you'd better want extra arms cause that's all we got." A curious crowd gathers around, and soon a number of bolds are kited out with grasping claws and sticky feet hands. A group of bolds is brought from the kitchens and given the long tongues. They set to work taste testing various plants, amassing a pile of potential crops.

Martah: (Phew, time to get to work.) Martah gathers up a collection of samples. (I'll show you guys an old shaper trick. If you squint really hard, you can see the tiny bits that make up an object. Like take this, for example.) he holds up a small brown lump and squints at it. (Looks like we've got carbohydrates, starches, some vitamins... wait this is just a potato!? Like just a regular potato like you get out of the ground? On an alien planet? Huh.)

2/2 Nalthar 2024/01/30(Tue)23:44 No. 1082186 ID: 5ebd37
File 170668707142.gif - (247.59KB , 1000x800 , new-vision.gif )

After a long day of peering at vegetation, Martah has found a handful of promising candidates that could be modified into useful food crops. Alongside the pseudo-potato there are also what appear to be onions and portobello mushrooms, so the farming team will have plenty to work with. Feeling famished, he heads to the cafeteria, bringing along one of the C heads to study.

Plonking the flat head down on the table beside his bowl of stew, Martah pulls out a small scalpel and begins dismantling. (Oh wow, I've never seen something like this before.) Eagerly drawing out one of the unknown sense organs and setting it aside, Martah reaches a hand with gently glowing fingers up to his own eye. Carefully, he removes the orb and connects the nerve cord from the sense organ into the socket. Instantly the bolds in his view are lit up with scintillating auras. (Whoooooooaah)

Solfar: "eeeeehhhh, Martah? Wh- whaaat are you doing?"

Wow. Is this... some kind of ridiculously fine-tuned electrosensing? You can see their nerves. Hmm, then again, that's a bit far fetched. If it's emitting that blue glow it might be some form of flesh-piercing radiation that the eye is tuned to pick up reflections off of. It only reflects off of nerves for some reason?

You can cure cancer with fleshcrafting, right?

>>1082186
Remind me why your people weren't preserved. It's clear that with enough funding you could have ensured shapeshifting and immortality for the rich and powerful.

...Also, how hard is it to gender-shift?

>>1082186
Looks like some sort of electric sensory system picking up on nerve signals. Damn useful for spotting hidden animals.

>>1082186
Squat under the table and see if you can sense her through the wood.

Is she just surprised at you doing self-surgery in the cafeteria, or is the sensing affecting her somehow?

>>1082187

You can cure cancer with a sharp knife. The problem is when little pieces of it escape into the bloodstream and make more tumors in worse places.

>>1082190

Just swapping physical organs? Because swapping hormones and biochemistry and chromosomes would require an awfully tiny scalpel, and a whole lot of patience.

>>1082235
So long as you've swapped in a complete set of reproductive organs the chromosomes won't really matter and the new organs should regulate the hormones

Nalthar 2024/02/16(Fri)22:25 No. 1083502 ID: 5ebd37
File 170815113697.jpg - (378.11KB , 1000x800 , dinner conversation.jpg )

>some sort of electric sensory system?
Martah: (I'd heard of sharks being able to sense electrical waves, but this seems to be far more advanced. And through the air no less! I really can't begin to guess what mechanism it's using and I'm a little scared. Range seems a bit limited, it fades out halfway across this room, but this could be a huge help for the hunters! And we've got a whole six of them to work with.)

>You can cure cancer?
Martah: (Hmm? Oh sure, just direct the blood cells to where the bad cells are. The body is actually quite capable of dealing with rogue cells on its own, it just needs to be shown the way sometimes.)

>how hard is it to gender-shift?
Martah: (That's easy! Well as long as you have a donor organ to swap out. If you're rebuilding the existing organ or making one from scratch it will take a while. Its not uncommon, though its too much of a pain to do everyday. Murdoc has switched a few times, whereas I've only experimented with more surface level changes. Now that we aren't beholden to the old traditions I expect people will get a lot more wild with it.)

>why your people weren't preserved?
Martah: (Oh there's no doubt the rich will be secretly making use of the tribes we left behind. Our former merchant are probably making horrible deals as we speak. But frankly it was our own hidebound elders that always held us back. I doubt any outsiders knew the full extent we are capable of. So many traditions of maintaining the proper bodily forms, of keeping changes temporary. We'll definitely be better off now, I just wish it hadn't taken an existential threat.)

>Is she just surprised at you doing self-surgery in the cafeteria, or is the sensing affecting her somehow?
Martah: (Ah, right, I forgot she hasn't been with us for very long. She probably isn't used to regular dismemberment and such.)

>Look through the wood
Martah: *hak* "Hey Solfar, I was just examining this beast's organ. I can put it away if it's bothering you. Ooh, hang on a moment..." Martah ducks under the thick trestle table, noting how the auras the organ shows are much dimmer through the wood. "Fascinating..."

Solfar stares for a bit, then shakes herself and sits down. "You guys are strange, but at least its always lively."

As Martah is just finishing up getting his eye back in, the pair are joined by Mirrak. The bunnbold sits down heavily and sighs "Ah, thanks for your help today, we should have those plants squared away in a few days."

Time for polite dinner conversation, what's a good topic? The day's work, evening plans, the harrowing situation they've only just escaped from, or something else?

For mental health, probably not task related. Ask what are some hobbies or possible group activities they might be interested in

>>1083502
Ask what they're looking forward to building in the new city. What facilities do they want?

>>1083504
This is a good one. Perhaps with some luck we can find a hot spring to draw from and make a nice bathhouse? What would they like to see develop?

Nalthar 2024/03/02(Sat)20:47 No. 1085176 ID: 5ebd37
File 170944127727.jpg - (355.07KB , 1000x614 , devouring stew.jpg )

Mirrak: "It's going to be strange, robolds staying in one place. I mean, we're moving down but that doesn't count. Ooh but just think of the stuff we can build now! Shops and stores, maybe even a market, we'll get so many new customers!"

Solfar: "Eh, what customers? We don't even know if there's anyone on this world besides us."

Mirrak: The bunnbold waves off the question. "Oh they'll come. I didn't spend years under the nastiest old traders just to end up in the middle of nowhere."

Martah: "Well that's good for the tribe, but what do you want for yourself? myself, I hope we get a good theatre."

Solfar: "And I'd like an arcade."

Martah: "A what?"

Solfar: "Oh, its a place with lots of games and activities. I've never been able to go in one, but they looked amazing." she sighs "I guess I'll never get the chance now."

Martah: "Hey don't say that. We'll build you the best arcade you've ever seen."

Mirrak: "Definitely, the crafters will be all over that as soon as they hear about it." she glances over to the next table, where several of said crafters are scribbling notes and pretending not to eavesdrop. "Ah, they're incorrigible. Well if we're shooting for the moon, I'd really like a bath house, with one of those outdoor steam pools. I've always wanted to spend an evening just soaking, watching the sun go down, holding her close while the world fades away."

Martah: "Ooh, that sounds romantic. I'm sure the Chief would love that."

Mirrak: "Wh- who said anything about the Chief?" she sputters, blushing.

Solfar: "Ee hee hee, so that's why you were so nervous at morning meeting, huh?"

Mirrak: "Agggh, is it that obvious? She was always the bad girl with the radical ideas that we apprentices couldn't be seen with, and now I see her everyday! And she says my name and tells me I'm doing a good job!?" She lets out a shuddering sigh, slumping onto the table. "How can I ever measure up to the bright, shining dream she has for us?" she mutters "I wanna kiss her so bad."

We heard that, silly.

For real, though, you need to start with your critical infrastructure - because you've got so many reality hacks that designing this otherwise-boring task is going to be awesome. Everything's literally falling, so you've got some powerful self-generating energy sources by simply hooking a dynamo to the ground and letting the mass of the city itself power it through gear contact. Same goes for water flow, which can literally be a stationary water tank/purifier that gets dumped wastewater at the top, flows through the filters using its own gravity, and then pours out freely at the bottom.
And that's just using dumb low-level tricks! There's so much you can do to turn this place into "The City That Cannot Lay Down And Finish Falling".

This city has the potential to be literally perpetual, because it involves a reality-defying hack that would likely cost multiple times its production in ongoing energy costs. But you have it, so put it to good use!

Start by getting a bath house built.

Be good at your job, and she'll take notice.

>>1085176
What about you, Martah? Have an eye for anyone?

>>1085180
Sideways windmills could also work as a constant energy source

1/2 Nalthar 2024/03/14(Thu)23:36 No. 1086465 ID: 5ebd37
File 171048457209.jpg - (1.13MB , 1000x800 , good ideas.jpg )

>Be good at your job, and she'll take notice.
>Start by getting a bath house built.
Martah: "Yeah, you're fine Mirrak. You just need a romantic moment to ask her out. So that's our priority then, building a bath house."

Mirrak: "Stop iiiit." she complains, but she's clearly smiling.

Solfar: "hee hee hee"

>What about you, Martah? Have an eye for anyone?
Martah: (Well, as you can probably tell, I'm not much of a kisser. I've spent a few hot nights with some lovely folks, but I just don't have that much drive, you know? I've got my friends, and that's enough for me.)

>hooking a dynamo to the ground and letting the mass of the city itself power it through gear contact
>Sideways windmills could also work as a constant energy source
Martah: "Wow, that sounds like something a people that weren't nomads would have the relevant skills to accomplish! Unless the windmills were made out of bones and tendons, which, hmmm. Maybe?"

Mirrak: "No, Martah. That would just start rotting, and we have more than enough vines and wood. As for this 'dynamo' even if we could make one, the edge of the ground is like a half a mile away. Might be a bit tricky."

Solfar: "I've only repaired machines, not built them, so I don't know how much I could help here. I don't think you have the right metals here."

Mirrak: "Its definitely something to discuss at the next meeting." she stretches and gets to her feet. "But its getting late, so I'll see you two tomorrow."

Solfar: "Good night! ... is that supposed to be a scribble of me?"

Martah: "uhhhh"

2/2 Nalthar 2024/03/14(Thu)23:38 No. 1086466 ID: 5ebd37
File 171048471878.gif - (3.97MB , 1000x800 , morning-two.gif )

An uneventful night passes into the dawn of the second day on this strange new world.
Martah: (You know, you guys don't have to just hang around me all the time. I'm going to be studying those sense organs some more, might be boring for you.)

Who do you want to follow today?
Martah messing around with flesh shaping
Murdoc and the hunters planning an excursion to the ground
Donvan and Jormun trying to figure out this wurm's whole deal
Solfar doing... something
>>1080192 Or one of these weirdos

>>1086465
>not much of a kisser
My brother in Christ, you are a fleshbender. Even if your normal mouth is cursed, life finds a way.
I suppose if you feel using a grafted mouth doesn't count, that's fair.

>>1086466
We may be of use to the ground expedition. Our third-person perspective can often help with picking up details in the area that might otherwise be missed, like threats hiding from the host's line of sight but not ours'.

Let's follow murdoc for a bit

>>1086476
I agree.

We can spread the knowledge gained but also there may be things more visible to spirits than the scouts.

...i wonder if there are local spirit forms too?

1/2 Nalthar 2024/03/29(Fri)22:17 No. 1087438 ID: 5ebd37
File 171177585212.jpg - (48.38KB , 1000x800 , edge of the wurm.jpg )

>Even if your normal mouth is cursed, life finds a way.
Martah: (Yeah well... no, you're right. I've had this curse for a long time, and I've let it kind of control my life. Sillah has been helping me build up my self esteem, but I keep falling into old habits, assuming folks will reject me and so isolating myself. I am getting better though, really.

So uhhh, I'm gonna go now. See you later!)

Martah scurries off to do weird things with organs. We now join the hunters' planning session already in progress.

Mishkah: "-didn't save his legs now did it? And how would we set one of those up when we're falling out of the sky? C'mon now people, we need good ideas, good ideas."

Off to the side of this rabble stand Grishkah and Murdoc, peering over the edge.
Murdoc: "I don't think these wing suits are going to be enough. Even if we clear the forest how will we land at that speed?"

Grishkah: "Couldn't you just" He mimes a shallow arc. "Like down and then up? How did you do it in the mountains?"

Murdoc: "About like that, yes, but never over such distances." She glances up. "Oh, its you lot. I don't suppose any of you have experience with flying? PItreh wants us exploring further out, but the forest is giving us trouble."

2/2 Nalthar 2024/03/29(Fri)22:19 No. 1087439 ID: 5ebd37
File 171177596179.jpg - (1.04MB , 1000x800 , map valley improved.jpg )

Grishkah: "The portal is about a mile across, and Jormun is a quarterish mile wide, so gliding to the ground is no problem. It's just that the forest is jam-packed with wicked cool beasts, which have thus far proven impassable. This entire valley is dense forest, coniferous trees and many mosses and ferns. It seems as though the mountains all shed their water on this side, so the plantlife is flourishing. It's practically a jungle! But that makes progress slow and gives predators cover."

Murdoc: "Exploration aside, if we can't hunt that's going to put a lot of pressure on the farm team. Robolds have never been farmers, so I don't expect we can rely on them so soon. We still have a fair store of food from the old world, so its not a crisis yet. I just don't like feeling trapped here."

>>1087439
The top portal is pretty high up... How far could a kobold glide if they exited the portal at the top and went as far out as possible?

Has anyone gone up above the top portal to see what's on the other side? Most likely case is that it leads to the ground under the bottom portal, which wouldn't be super helpful but at least gives us an option for how to land-- it's easier to use a bit of velocity to fly up above the top portal than it is to slow down and land normally from high up.

>Robolds are not farmers
Okay. How about ranchers? You can trade in optimized farm animals for crops from the local towns.
Ranching means you just need to set up defenses and boundaries for the grazing livestock. They'll do the 'farming' for you.

Probably not the best idea, but what about fire? It'd help clear out areas for excursions and keep predators away. Plus, the updrafts from the heat would help increase the distance one could glide. Wouldn't have to worry about the fire getting out of control if the area is so green as well. Would maybe take devising some firebombs and some designated spots to target

Why. yes. I have experience flying. First, you pay for your ticket... oh wait.

>>1087439
You need a staging post.

Pick a convenient natural clearing, expand on that. Wooden fence and minor earthworks like a ditch with spikes sunk and facing outwards.
A couple of rudimentary tents for rest and storage.
Torches around the perimeter at night.

This will give you a clear, safe landing point, allow for extended expeditions and provide a secure rest and storage point for gathered supplies.

Anything found, foraged or hunted could be stored there and left to a seperate team to ferry back to the city.
Hunter focus on hunting, loggers and foragers on their work.
A team of your strongest can respond to a raised flag from the camp and travel down to make pick ups or drop offs.
Specialisation for efficiency.

Yeah, expand a clearing and start fortifying it.

Is there any quick modifications on the workers you can do to help with tree chopping? Or maybe just beef up the hunters to help fend off beasts.

>>1087439
Getting back up to the portals might be a concern as well, no? Do you have any plans or equipment in place for that already?

If not, we'll need to establish some infrastructure below. Securing a landing site, building something like a lift and pulley system to get back up or transport supplies. A lift system that tall will take a long time and space to build safely.

1/3 Nalthar 2024/04/15(Mon)21:07 No. 1088886 ID: 5ebd37
File 171324047168.jpg - (69.71KB , 1000x800 , considering bodily harm.jpg )

>How far could a kobold glide if they exited the portal at the top and went as far out as possible?
Murdoc: "From the top portal we are five miles up. Or four? I can't really tell, but its quite high either way. So plenty of range, it's the landing I'm worried about.
Now I'm not one to shy away from dashing myself upon the rocks. Done it a few times, it's not so bad. But I'd just as soon not rely on a shaper being on hand to resurrect at the very outset of our expedition."

>what about fire?
Grishkah: "Not a bad idea, this forest is very wet so it wouldn't spread too far. But by that same token It will take some doing to get a good blaze going. Maybe just a torch fence to start."

>How about ranchers?
Grishkah: "Quite a few beasts got caught when the portal opened. We've got a team sorting out the ones we captured alive. They should have a report by the next meeting."

Murdoc: "I popped in for a minute this morning and its a madhouse. They'll have their hands full finding anything domesticable in that lot."

>You need a staging post.
>Yeah, expand a clearing and start fortifying it.
Grishkah: "Sigh, so straightforward, but its the best plan for the moment. Needs more action though, more beast fighting."

Murdoc: "No, shut it, it's a great plan. Establish a foot hold and work from there, and it will keep the hunters busy before they go tearing off into the woods for sport. Come on, we'll do a flyover now and pick out a likely spot."

>Getting back up to the portals might be a concern as well, no? Do you have any plans or equipment in place for that already?
Murdoc: "I mean, we'll be right next to the lower portal so, we can just hop back in. Jormun is falling much slower than terminal velocity, so it's easy to catch up."

>Has anyone gone up above the top portal to see what's on the other side?
Grishkah: "The top? Of course, why didn't we think to check before?"

Murdoc: "Well here comes the portal, lets go find out."

3/3 Nalthar 2024/04/15(Mon)21:09 No. 1088888 ID: 5ebd37
File 171324057509.gif - (534.15KB , 1000x800 , little-clearings.gif )

Grishkah: "Aghl-aghl-aghl-aghhh!"

Murdoc: "Well that's a no go. Guess it has a shield to keep people from messing with it.

Anyway, lets pick a landing point. There's a long, narrow clearing with a stream, a small clearing with dark spots, and a large clearing with a sandy area. Also there's a big square rock that might make a nice high ground."

Aim for the clearing with sand

>>1088888
Dont trust those spots in the open field.
Rock looks very defensible but very visible.
That said, jormy is probably getting all the attention so that's lesser of an issue.
Fresh stream might be a good start point for game trails.

I say go with the sandy patch clearing.
More room to work with.
There could be something lurking in the sand like some kind of horrific giant antlion, but thats a positive to some of the more hunthungry folk.

I couldn't quite tell what the shield does. Is it like a trampoline or something?
The sand seems like it might work for a landing zone. It's softer then landing on rocks that's for sure. How are we going to handle water supplies in the staging post? Regular deliveries?

You know, I just realized I don't know how close to the ground the portal down there is. Does it actually cut into the ground to make a "hole"? Where did all the stuff that was there go, in that case...?

>>1088899
Good point, sand would cushion the landing.

Hmm. I'm inclined to go with either the rock or the sand, though I'm wondering about things hiding in the sand. How's your water supply, though? Would the river be notably useful?

>>1088888
I say go with the rock, who knows what those dark spots are, the sand could conceal all manner of horrible burrowing monstrosities, and while fresh water is nice the stream isn't really shaped in a way to make for a good defensive barrier.