"Wow." Ton breathes. "I dunno what any of this stuff is but I know something valuable when I see it. And another firearm..... you can go years without seeing one of these hit the market but seems like everyone had one on this ship."
"Incredible."
The dwarf whistled, looking over the tech they'd found and, for the heck of it, gave it a once-over to try to figure out how it works, especially the gun. "Aye, I've never seen as many in a place as we've seen here. LaRA, the people who you were on the ship before... do you remember anythin of them? Or why they were all so well-armed?" He tried to ask her with a straight face, but couldnt help but chuckle at her mathmatics inquiries.
He held up the gun, aiming it off in the distance, tempted to pull the trigger, but after the last one was a one-use weapon, decided against it.
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Wulf turns and spots LaRA looking at him. "Were you talking to me?" He looks behind him. "I kinda just tuned you out, no offense LaRA but I have no idea what a quadrettic or cube thing is. But I'm partial to a good drink and a good laugh if that's what you meant.."
Wulf then looks over everyone attempting to see whats in the chest but loses interest, nothing in there looked interesting to him. "Look this place is pretty crazy, but what can we use all that stuff for? Is that one like the one Garfulk has? It really hurt my eye's and I'm not sure how much that one helped." He nods to the firearm.
Garfaulk does his best, but without proper scientific training it is too hard to piece together the effects of this gear.
The group marvels over the new finds (except Wulf, he doesn't seem to share the enthusiasm!), but then decide to keep moving.
Where to next?
LaRA turns to Garfaulk. "No data available.", she says a moment later. "Analysis: Judging by technological superiority by entities inhabiting the ship, it is highly likely that significant breakthroughs in all fiels, including personal equipment has occured." Pointing towards the gun. "I postulate that at your current industrial development, weaponry such as bronze and obsidian would be considered 'primitive'." She blinks. "Hypothesis: Due to the size and weight of this object and correlating the size of the hallways, it is highly likely this is a small self-defense tool. Warfare implements would likely be greater in size.", she claims.
Turning her attention to Wulf, LaRA's eyes narrow for a moment. "Understood. I will redirect efforts into humour formulation.", before continuing, "The purpose of most objects in this area is an unknown quantity. Thus, to formulate a use suitable for this unit's objectives, further research is necessary.", she replies, taking a longer look at the armour.
Turning to Zeke, LaRA blinkers. "Statement: This unit does not require sleep in the conventional meaning of the word.", she answers. "This unit undergoes a maintenance cycle to reaffirm optimal operational capacity and recharge and re-assemble arcane circuitry. If necessitated by outside factors, this unit can remain operational and aware for as long as nourishment lasts, however damage to 'sanity' highly likely."
Blinking twice, she throws a glance at Wulf and Ton. Personal suggestion: Attempt breach of societal boundaries by sharing personal information. "Statement: During this unit's maintenance cycles, I find solving quadratic and cubic equations entertaining. Query: What is your favourite partial diffential equation?", she blurts out a moment afterwards, before opening her mouth for a smile with a few more teeth than necessary.
Giving the technological device a glance, LaRA bends down to pick it up. "Statement: Caution is advised when using unknown devices. Suggestion: Test device in a controlled environment for minimal risk."
** spoiler omitted **
"No preference." Ton grunts. "Father was an alchemist. He was pretty big into mathematics and how it could be applied to magic. I ended up being able to solve wave equations with a Bäcklund transformation or Lax pair before breakfast."
"Never stuck though. That was his thing and as much as he wanted to make it mine those weren't footsteps I wanted to follow in. Only thing I ever use it for now is calculating odds at the blackjack table."
Zeke considers. "My brain doesn't think about mathematical equations when I'm recharging-- or at least, I don't think it does. Maybe there is a deeper meaning to yours? Have you ever noticed particular numbers or sequences that often appear in your, ah, mental Gaussian noise generator?" His eyes sparkle a little like he is trying earnestly to be funny but not very good at it. "My sleep data troubles me, because I recognize patterns in it that I don't really want to face."
He looks at the trove of valuables and smirks. "I'm betting the purple-haired woman we're following would prefer we didn't have this stuff. Mr. Trett will be happy, though!"
LaRA's face turns towards Ton'iel, her expression puzzled for a moment. A moment later, a lot more realistic smile appears on her face. Social objective achieved., she notes to herself. "Statement: The application of wave equations and correlating expressions is widespread in physical interactions.", she says in an approving tone. Turning her head at Zeke, she thinks back. "I am unaware of this unit possessing such an apparatus.", she replies, her tone slightly confused. "Suggestion: I would advise bringing this topic up with other members of this societal unit. Data suggests that the best way of treating such issues is cohesive group discussion and emotional support. This unit's capability for the latter is limited.", she thinks.
The party enters the double doors to the east. It is another hallway. There is a door to the south, and a door to the east. All is quiet.
Zeke continues forward to the second pair of doors to the east. "Maybe," he thinks to LaRA in a tone that suggests he's not sure.
As you enter a round room, you realize it is the center of the level, and several of the hallways you have already been in lead to this place. You open up those doors to confirm that guess. Sure enough.
This unlit circular room is empty save for a panel of controls on the wall to the northwest. A coil of tubes dangling from the left side of the panel periodically flashes with sparks, while a single square window on the panel blinks with several lines of strange writing.
There is a hole in the ceiling. A rope dangles from it. If you peer up into the hole, you see a long empty vertical corridor leading upwards, and the rope disappears into the darkness.
Zeke points the light-gun into the hole in the ceiling, to try to see further through the darkness.
"Figure that's not an original feature." Ton says pointing to the rope. "LaRA, any memory of where that goes?"
Garfaulk grins, taking a celebratory sip of his own brandy again, glad to have some of the good stuff. "I think this is what we were lookin fer-aside form the way to relight the Torch. Unless I'm wrong this is tha way the half orc with that note got down ere-which may mean the top has Ulreth goons. or maybe it's just a nice, easy way back to the surface that doesn't require a swim every time we try ter come down to the ship.
"I only have two shirts and one is permanently wet at the moment so that's fine with me, Garfaulk."
"Yah stick to joke LaRA, make sure you tell me before you start one." He says looking back behind him as he continues to move on.
Looking at the panel he attempts to touch it doing the same thing he would with the other doors. "I'm guessing this one doesn't work and the rope is there to get around it, does anyone know what this says?" He hits the panel a bit more then steps back. "If Charles can't get this open, I'll go up the rope first."
Looking over the screen, then up at the sparks, no longer distracted by the exciting prospect of the rope.
Ton also takes a look at the sparking tubes.
LaRA curtly shakes her head. "Navigational data has been corrupted.", she replies to Ton. Joining the others in a stare at the sparkling tubes, the android's eyes narrow.
While Garfaulk and Ton apparently have other things on their mind, LaRA notices the problem with the exposed machinery. There is a loose connection between a two wires, and the sparks are flying out of that gap. Garfaulk or Zeke probably have the mechanical know-how to soder the two wires together, but they will need access to better tools.
"Warning: Exposed electrical current detected.", announces LaRA. "Warning: Please account for and relegate all electrical repairs to a qualified technician. Unqualified attempts may lead to serious injury, death, or further damage to equipment.", she summarises. "Assessment: Continuation down current path is currently unviable. Processing through alternate route advised."
Looking curious and a bit excited, Zeke turns away from trying to see what is up above them, and sees the sparking wires. When LaRA explains what is wrong, he looks around as if to say 'What technician?' Then he carefully examines the connection and attempts to remove the wires, after a brief prayer to his god for guidance.
Zeke doesn't pull his hand back in time, and with a flash of lightning he is jolted and blown backwards, dealing him and .
"Holy sh*t!" Ton exclaims as Zeke is hurled acorss the room only to come to a crashing halt against the far wall.
He does his limp-dash over to the stricken young man and tries to help him to his feet.
"Speaking in our heads make you deaf to what we say out loud or what? She told us to go a different way. Kid your hair is standing up in a hundred different directions, you ok or what?"
"You casters have a spell that mends stuff?"
Garfaulk laughed uproariously as Zeke got socked and flung back, before putting a hand over his mouth to stifle it. "Smooth move there kid. Ya alright?" taking a swig of his good brandy, he hands it to Zeke, partially so he could have some too, and partially so it wouldn't get broken if he failed. [B]
Nimbly abd deftly, the dwarf finally showed off his dwarven aptitude at dealing with something constructed.
Wulf moves over to Zeke. "Zeke! that was crazy. Are you ok?" He grabs on to his shoulder and shakes the boy. "It's my job to do stupid stuff like that."
Garfaulk removes the wires safely. You can take them back with you to Khonnir's foundry, but like Charles suggested, a spell might do the trick too.
Garfaulk fiddles with the wires for a bit, lining them up nicely before making his fingertip spark with a dark blue energy and, as if using a welding torch, started to use mending to bind the two halves together. When he was finished, they looked good as new, perfectly repaired. It took him about ten minutes, but it was well worth the time it took to do it. "Tha ought to do the trick, eh?" before going and trying to re-install the wires.
You feel.... a tingling in the air when Garfaulk installs the wires. The room lights up with a flicker, and the air hums around you.
A nearby panel lights up. It is covered in Androffan, but LaRA and Zeke can make out the words.
Deck 4: Engineering
Deck 3: Science (This line is lit up brighter than the others)
Deck 2: Crew
Deck 1: Docking
Next to each line there is a button.
Wulf turns from Zeke to see Garfaulk messing with the thing. "Garfaulk, should I get ready to catch you?" He says with a smile, but is impressed as the thing lights up. "Well... That was pretty impressive." Moving over to the panel. "What does this say? You think we should at least take a look whats up the rope first? before going through that door?"
"Nice job, Garfaulk. Wait, so this door is going to transport us to one of those areas?" Ton asks, confused. "Maybe the fact science is lit up means the rest are destroyed or inaccessible. Or maybe it means we are already on the science section." he shrugs, having never encountered anything quite like this.
"I don't want to make this thing fly again, so not engineering. Where should we try?"
Zeke is dazed for almost a minute, staring at each of his companions in turn. He blinks at each of them and looks confused when no one is reacting. He takes the brandy and holds it for Garfaulk. He smiles with embarrassment at Wulf, and cocks his head as if to say that life is fleeting. He looks more alert when the panel lights, and he approaches with LaRA to read the words. He points at Engineering and then up the tunnel with the rope, nodding. He is looking more and more puzzled at each of his companions.
LaRA, just about to correct Zeke as he begins working on the wires, is just quick enough to react as he flies backwards. Glancing over to see him raising up, a small pout appears on her face. Just in time for another warning, Garfaulk fixes the elevator. "Caution is furthermore adviced. Immediate medical assistance is recommended.", she says, seeing the bruised and battered Zeke.
Turning towards the elevator, she glances at Ton. "Hypothesis: The Kasatha being observed were on the present level, as test subjects, this leads to high probability of us being presently on the science deck. By extrapolation, since no traces of crew or sufficiently advanced engineering facilities were detected on this level, this leads to two distinct possibilities:", she pauses.
"That either we are currently on the science level, or we are on a previously unknown levels 0 or 5 and above. The former is more likely by a significant margin.", she finishes. "Observation: high-chance of ours and purple-headed entity's goals aligning on Engineering deck."
"It will take more than that to take Zeke down. He's fine." He slaps Zeke on the back. "I don't care where we go, but let's move. If LaRA thing Engineering then so be it."
Zeke nods vigorously towards LaRA, still pointing up the shaft. He looks at Wulf, a look of frustration on his face that he is having such difficulty communicating, and says in a slurred voice, ”Lvator! Gin eerie. Uhp?” He seems as startled at the sound of his disused vocal cords as anyone.
"Thank the gods. No offense, kid, but that was a weird feeling."
You decide to hold off on using the elevator, and proceed through to the south, to a new area of the science floor. As you step through the door, you find yourself in a quiet hallway, but the air is humid and musty. As you look about, you see russet mold growing freely on the walls and doors.
There is a closed door to your south, and a hallway that stretches to your west.
Charles checks out the hallway.
Wulf looks back and frowns at Zeke. "Um... Wait I think Zeke is broken." He moves over to him and pats him on the back as if he had something stuck in his throat. "Zeke whats the matter."