Wind-up Mammets

[emet_sulk]

Type: Video
Sender ID: emet-sulk (Emet-Selch)
To: Public
Subject: Wind-up Mammets
Warnings: None save for it being the spoopy time of year

[ Greetings, Escordvi. It's your resident recluse, sorcerer, and magitech tinkerer, Emet-Selch. He has two mechanical figures on display in front of him, about the size of one's open hand: a bluebird and a tortoise. The bluebird goes through the motions of pecking at the ground strutting a few steps whilst the tortoise ambles at a more sedate pace. ]

As All Hallow's Eve is approaching, so too does the end of the year. I've developed these mammets lately together with the clockmakers of the Forge. Should you wish to commission a gift, I suggest you do so sooner rather than later.

[ The bird and tortoise abruptly go scattering as a copper, clockwork T-rex jumps on to the table and begins playfully snapping at them. ]

Oh, for the love of--

Comments

[empyrean_mirror]

...Are they all quite this playful?

[Sorry, Emet, Kaveh thinks this is hilarious.]

[emet_sulk]

[ Mr Dinosaur is getting picked up bodily before it can cause any more destruction whilst Emet-Selch responds deadpan. The T-rex wriggles in his grip. ]

This one isn't my creation. But I did consider adding a simple personality to their cores to make them more appealing.

[empyrean_mirror]

[Mehrak leans into frame behind Kaveh and makes a curious Beep-Boop?]

...I'm not sure anyone I know would want one as a gift, but I'm quite curious to see how these clockworks are made by your design, as opposed to what I'm used to.

[Because clockworks and robots are something Kaveh's very familiar with, but his world--and Emet-Selch's world--are so different. How different, then, is their technology? Their clockwork? How similar is it?

He's not been around the Forge as often as he'd like. Then again, he's an architect first and a machine specialist a distant second.]

[emet_sulk]

[ The T-rex perks up and voices a metallic rawr, wriggling harder to get out of Emet-Selch's hands like an excitable cat (it's about as big as one too). He carefully places it down and the T'rex's snout immediately fills the camera's view. ]

They are called 'mammets' on my star. Each has a core which is vital to its function, serving as a power source and a...'soul' of sorts.

[ There are tinkling sounds as he picks up the scattered bird and tortoise before Emet-Selch reclaims hold of the T-rex. ]

I haven't scribed any instructions on these one's cores yet save for simple movements. I could demonstrate for you now, if you like.

[empyrean_mirror]

A soul...[...] If it's not too much trouble, I'd love to see it.

[A 'soul'...full sentience. Even he hasn't gone that far (If Mehrak's core already had that spark of sentience, that was there when he got her core, and Kaveh didn't do shit, okay?)

But Kaveh understands that such things are banned by the Akademiya because of the damage caused in the pursuit of it. If the danger isn't present here...then he has no reason to object, either.]

[emet_sulk]

Not a true soul, mind you.

[ No man can create a soul... Not even someone as powerful as him.

Having said that, he sets the T-rex down outside the camera's view and picks up the bluebird. A small click stops its movements and opens the chest cavity, inside which is a small crystal. The 'core', one can surmise. It glows a faint, pale green.

Emet-Selch extracts it with a pair of tweezers and places it on the table. Then he cups the air around it whilst leaving plenty of room for Kaveh to observe. Glowing symbols draw themselves in the air above the crystal. ]

As it is a bird, its core is primarily wind. I will add an enchantment which will allow it to fly as well as walk and peck the ground.

[ It doesn't take long for him to adjust the core. The symbols vanish into the crystal like water vanishing down a drain. Once he replaces it inside the bird, closes its chest cavity, and switches it on again, it's quick to perk up look around curiously.

Wait a few moments more and the bird will flap its wings then hop into the air, gliding a lazy circle above the table. Not entirely realistic but still enough of a marvel considering its construction. ]

video;

[phoenixdominant]

[Oh... How cute. Joshua is very charmed. He tries not to laugh at the antics.]

Might it be presumptuous of me to request one for myself?

[obliviscere]

You made those? That's very impressive! I think they'd make such a unique gift!

text; un: makoglow

[makoglow]

[ Pfft ]

You really like keeping busy, don't you?

[emet_sulk]

Not at all.

[ Excuse me, Mr Dinosaur, you stop ruining his promotional video! He pulls it back and keeps one hand on it as he sets up the two fallen mammets. ]

Do you have a creature in mind?

[emet_sulk]

Why thank you.

[ He lifts the wiggling clockwork dinosaur away and sets it down off camera. One can still hear it click and whirr as it tries to 'roar'. Ironically, it isn't even one of his creations... ]

To be clear, 'tis the bird and the tortoise which I made. Not that misbehaving thing which interrupted me.

[emet_sulk]

'Tis either I keep busy or I keep very still indeed, six fulms under.

[ ... ]

You didn't think your motorcycle was the only thing my workshop was developing, did you?

un: reindered

[reindered]

Toys? They're cute...!

[He's about to consider asking how much they might be, before.....well. That's....???!!]

Aaaahhhh?! A dinosaur?!

[obliviscere]

You're very welcome!

[ she's... Going to try to not laugh at that. Unsuccessfully. ]

They're all cute. Who made the mischievous one? Are they programmed to have different personalities?

[phoenixdominant]

[On the contrary, Joshua thinks the little mechanical dinosaur is absolutely a plus for the advertising effectiveness.]

Hmm... A bird of some sort comes to mind at first.

[How typical of him!]

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch grabs the T-rex and hauls it back from the camera. He keeps it tucked against his chest as he tries to right the two demonstration clockworks it tipped over but the T-rex wriggles like an excitable cat. ]

Mammets, the people of my world call them. But the behaviour of these ones will not be so erratic.

[emet_sulk]

That little bitey fellow hatched from a bronze egg I found, if you can believe it. I'm still unsure how or why when it clearly isn't a living thing.

[ He sets the bird and tortoise upright and checks to make sure they aren't broken. ]

I haven't added a 'personality' to these just yet but I can add something which mimics it, if you were interested in something for yourself.

[emet_sulk]

Let me guess: a phoenix?

[ Smiling wryly here. ]

[obliviscere]

Maybe it is a living thing? Just not in the way you're used to something being alive?

[ she feels a bit silly after suggesting that. Almost regrets it even, but she's said it and she does have a kind of personal interest in things being 'alive' in unique ways. ]

I might be! But... Do you teach people at all? How to make things like that?

[phoenixdominant]

[He tucks his head down a bit.]

Am I so predictable?

[He laughs a bit.]

Honestly, anything would do. Even a finch.

[reindered]

Mammets? They're so cool! Even dinosaur ones!

[Was he more scared or excited initially? Probably both.....]

video;

[crack_shots]

How much would you like for the bitey one?

[ Sorry Sir. You can't just let the coolest one out like that and not get an offer. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ Perhaps it is alive. Perhaps it is not. Emet-Selch has his own rigid definition of what constitutes a living thing, however, and merely offers a vague hum in response. ]

I could teach if someone is willing. I will accept no half-hearted efforts though.

[makoglow]

Nah, I knew better than that. It was a side project.

It just feels like you always have something new for people to try out.

[obliviscere]

I don't do half-hearted in anything! Don't worry, I'd give it my all.