[Nexus] NO XIII: Do Clockwork Penguins Dream of Mechanical Fish?

[Halae]

[Lab]

"Glad to know I'm appreciated," she says, "What about you? What's the most impressive thing you've ever seen?"

[Morty]

[Lab]

Dipsnig rubs his chin, thinking.
"Most impressive thing... hah. I've been in the Nexus for a few years, so it's hard to pick. If I were to choose the most impressive piece of technology, I'd say the Remnant base. Remnant is the local police and military force, and their base can fly. Like, the whole complex. It's only done it once, though. I think it puts a strain on their resources to do it."

[Halae]

[Lab]

Rilla blinks, "Well now, that is impressive. I'll have to ask for the specifications on how the managed that; I doubt I could manage to get an entire complex to fly."

[Morty]

[Lab]

"I'm not sure if they'd tell you, to be honest," Dipsnig says. "I think they prefer to keep the details secret. They're pretty paranoid. They do have some goblins working for them, but I don't think they were let in on the specifics."

[Halae]

[Lab]

"Hmm, Pity that." Rilla says, "It could benefit a lot of people to have floating cities."

[Morty]

[Lab]

Dipsnig chuckles again.
"Which is why they keep it to themselves. They'd rather it was just them who benefit from having a flying base. Even their technicians are soldiers first and scientists second."

[Halae]

[Lab]

Rilla shakes her head, "So they're like charr then. This is why inventors shouldn't be soldiers. Too paranoid to let everybody benefit."

[Morty]

[Lab]

Dipsnig decides not to mention the fact that goblins as a race are also very possessive of their technological and alchemical advances.
"You've mentioned the Charr before. Who are they?"

[Halae]

[Lab]

To be far, she's a bit of a hypocrite in that sense.

"Large feline people, standing about eight feet tall. All of them have four horns and four ears. Very militaristic society."

[Aric Kale]

Main Entrance

Zane decides to knock again, a bit louder this time.

[Morty]

[Lab]

Dipsnig scratches his ear.
"Feline people... with horns. Weird. And they're also technologically advanced?"

[Main Entrance]

The door slides open for Zane.

[Halae]

[Lab]

"Yes, that basically sums them up. They're constantly at war on several fronts, so their society tends to be based around fighting a lot. To do that, you need to be more advanced than your opposition." Rilla says.

[Morty]

[Lab]

"Interesting. They sound a little like orcs, but smarter. You don't have orcs where you're from, do you?" Dipsnig asks.

[Halae]

[Lab]

She shakes her head, "No. Care to describe them?"

[Morty]

[Lab]

"They look similar to goblins... mostly in terms of ears and teeth. But they're as tall as humans and really muscular." Dipsnig strikes a silly pose in which his arms are set apart from the rest of his body. Sort of like a man pretending to be a big dumb brute. "They're also covered in hair and have flat noses. They're related to us, distantly. They tend to see us as ammunition for throwing contests, though," he adds dryly.

[Halae]

[Lab]

"Most bigguns tend to be pretty dumb, in my experience," Rilla says, frowning at the presented image of an orc, "I'd choose a strong mind any day."

[Aric Kale]

Zane enters and finds whatever constitutes as a lobby or main room. Afterwards he hides in a corner.

[Morty]

[Lab]

"Oh, of course," Dipsnig says. "Orcs are big enough to be able to punch through every problem. We have to stay sharp to succeed, which is better in the long run."

[Halae]

[Lab]

"I'm glad you agree," Rilla looks back towards her workbench for a moment, "Is there anything else? I should probably get back to what I was doing if not."

[Morty]

[Lab]

"There are two projects I'd like to interest you in," Dipsnig says. "I can give you a quick rundown before you get back to work if you want. Or I could send them to you later."

[Hattish Thing]

Outside NO

Captain Clegg returns to NO, excited indeed. He seems giddy with hope for his expedition. He moves up to the big doors and taps his crutch against the dor three times. 'ello?

[Halae]

[Lab]

"No, it's alright," Rilla says, "What do you need done?"

[Morty]

[Lab]

"The first, more important thing is to improve our base's defenses. We do have serveral turrets, but it's proven not to be enough. Last time a band of crazy people attacked, we had to step outside and get our hands dirty, which is less than ideal. I think some more automated defenses and barriers could come in handy."

[Main Room]

The door opens and Dipsnig is waiting there for Clegg.
"About time... we're ready to go here. The other memeber should be here shortly."

[Murkus]

[Main Room]

A tall, wizardly gentleman follows behind Clegg, and gives Dipsnig a bow of greeting. The tall man isn't really a man at all - he's a grey elf, and part machine at that. His limbs appear to consist mostly of pig iron and copper wire, with ball-based joints to ensure a full range of motion. A patchwork cloak hides an array of spell components and his modest tunic.

The harbinger of magitech smiles at their host, wrapping the cloak tighter about his thin shape. "I've been hired as the house wizard for this expedition. You are Dipsnig Razortooth, I presume?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Main Room]

Oh great, a wizard. Now we don't need anyone else. Dena thinks to herself as she see her fellow team member.
The drow (described in the link in my signature) enters the room, not looking too happy about the idea of working with a wizard. "I'm Dena." She says, figuring that was enough of an introduction for her.

[Morty]

[Main Room]

"The one and only," Dipsnig says. "Our employer didn't mention that he'd be taking anyone else along. But so long as our payment stays the same, it makes no difference."

[Aric Kale]

Main Room

Zane should be an assassin, his ability to find shadows and corners is almost eery.
After observing the entrance of his fellow party members, he'll step out of his hiding place and approach Clegg. Thenardier, care to introduce me to the rest of the party?

[Drakeburn]

[Main Room]

Forgan Shieldbreaker closely follows Captain Clegg and the wizard inside.
From he can see, he was working with an unusual group. He was a bit surprised to see a drow, but then again who wouldn't be surprised to see a half-giant in the group.
"I'm Forgan Shieldbreaker by the way, for those who haven't met me." Forgan announced before taking a deep breath.

[Halae]

[Lab]

"The first, more important thing is to improve our base's defenses. We do have serveral turrets, but it's proven not to be enough. Last time a band of crazy people attacked, we had to step outside and get our hands dirty, which is less than ideal. I think some more automated defenses and barriers could come in handy."

[Lab]

"With a little funding, I can procure the materials necessary for some autonomous golem units that could defend us from any interlopers."

Of course, she fails to mention the potential for problems...

[Morty]

[Lab]

"Funds shouldn't be a problem. Some golems ought to do nicely. Would they be like the one you brought with you?" Dipsnig asks, tapping his tusk thoughtfully.