07.08f Upside Down

[khadjair]

Cameron will follow along, Osmund in tow. "Well, I've only spent a week or two there myself. It is... medieval, definitely. Castles and courts, not much sign of mechanisms and the like, an there i high magic, of a strange sort. Including the gift to walk between worlds. There's courtly politics I'm trying to stay out of, but.. well, it's difficult, given... things. Though I have plans for a great workshop and perhaps even a fortress in grand design, but before that happen... I need another pair of skilled hands. An asistant, though I apologize in advance that most would refer to you as my apprentice. Which I suspect... well, while I haven't seen you work, I suspect that would be far from the truth, at least in matters of metal. Perhaps in stone and other, stranger materials, and mechanisms I have much to teach.."

Cameron doesn't even realize he's headed intot he tavern until he's already taking a seat, his cadence nervous and quick.

[Joshua]

"I suppose then, this calls for a challenge." Zunkar will offer. "A design challenge. If you can work something I cannot, then this will be worth my time. Also, I do have some family here. If you are setting up a great workshop, will there be room for them?"

The barmaid will come over, offering drinks, before going to get some basic food. It's a small tavern, seems to serve the entire town in one sitting, so they're gearing up for that at the moment. Still, they have bread, and some appetizers.

[khadjair]

Cameron smiles just a bit and nods. "That, I think, is a challenge I'd look forward to. Just design, or actually construct?" he sits down and orders an ale, considering.

"As for space... we can make as much space as we need. I'm pretty sure the court of Ht'gon would be more than alright, and I am certain the palisade community I am working with will welcome you and yours on my word. They are all orcs for the most part, but I don't see that as a problem." He watches people file in and blinks. "Though I have to ask.. how large IS your family?"

[Joshua]

"Well, two brothers and my parents. Not sure if they'd want to uproot everything, but, I'm the one who earns a living for them." He grunts a little. "Oh, and my uncle, the priest. I'm sure the town can take care of itself... They just won't be nearly as high profile as before."

He thinks about the challenge. "Construct, actually. Barely worth the time if it's all in theory. Beyond that, I will let you choose what we will make."

[khadjair]

Cameron nods, "Well, there's some beast in the neighboring forest but there's an entire encampment so safety isn't a concern. And the plan is to build a proper fortress and town anyway, so at this point any hands will be useful, though I perosnally need someone with skills..."

He considers. "This doesn't need to be a fair test, so I pose this: As close a facsimile to a living animal as you can forge. Any materials, any animal but it must be a living beast." He smiles, leaving just those parameters for the challenge, knocking back his ale.

[Joshua]

He will nod. "Very well." he will say. "Overnight then... I will offer my entry in the morning."

With that, he will nod and smile. "I suppose then... did you wish to know anything more? clearly you are strong, if your companion can fight the Father, he must be strong indeed."

[khadjair]

Cameron nods softly. "He is among the strongest men I have met, to be honest, though I have known those who are physically stronger. I count myself lucky for his counsel. And overnight? I can do that..."

He smiles and stands, offering a hand. "May the best artisan win." He finds himself looking over the great white bull for a moment longer, then blinks, planning on reconstructing the gift he made for the ball last night... was it really only yesterday? Such eventful happenings...

(OOC: I'm figuring that recreating it from memory will go fairly smoothly, with the Star and a travellign pack of tools, and he'll adjust this one to sing as well)

[Joshua]

o/~ The hour's approaching, to give it your best
And you've got to reach your prime.
That’s when you need to put yourself to the test
And show us a passage of time
We're going to need a montage (montage)
Ooh it takes a montage (montage) o/~

So... Zunkar will retire to his place and work through the night. (Thankfully, you don't get a trump call, so... the time difference is good.)

Morning breaks and when Cameron enters the forge, he will find Zunkar finishing a bird sculpture. It's made of gleaming mithril, and fully articulated. He's finishing up the foot joints, putting them together. It has a lot of detail in the feathers, and gives the impression of flying with the wings extended. It is abstracted, but it's clearly a masterwork piece.

For those of you curious, he has two much larger brothers who are sleeping in the corner, not quite having Zunkar's endurance*.
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*: He had been working the entire day before... so, he did this after a 12 hour shift.

[khadjair]

Cameron will peek in, hi work complete but hidden under a cloth. The fact that it can be carried comfortably in one hand may be suspicious. He'll peek in and look appraisingly and apreciatively at the work.

"It's funny that we both chose birds, but I guess if you want to express an attention to detail you can be hard-pressed to choose a better subject than a bird..."

And with that he'll reveal his. Tiny feathers made of intricately forged and carved metal dyed in various hues, feet of bronze and eyes of carefully cut quartz. However, the trick will be when he turns one of the tailfeathers, which is more rigid than the others, and the bird will begin to sing, flap its wings, and walk around. The movement is pre-programmed; it's far too small to have a proper difference engine. But the point to the illusion is that of facsimile to reality.

"It dawns on me that... we don't have an impartial judge..."

[Joshua]

Zunkar will whistle. "That's impressive." He will say, finishing the one joint he's working on and handing his bird to you. He will take the time to examine yours, and unless you stop him, will go so far as to open it to examine the workings. "You made all these gears overnight? I thought I was being impressive with the joints."

He will look it over. "The detail is impressive. I think mine might have slightly more detail on the feathers, but... you have better captured the color*. The articulation is very good, I think mine has more joints... but... To make it move... and the sound... These are things I never thought to build. I think I could make these parts but I never imagined to put them together. I would have to enchant the bird to make it move."
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*: Being pure mithril, his is only silver colored.