/monster/ - The Last Bastion of Romance★

>>345837

Most of my paperwork is related to documenting tech testing so you'd basically have to do that too. While it would be hilarious to see you writing up the wear on an array of different servomotor assemblies that have been engaging in repetitive motions for a week straight, it'd probably work out better if we just give Kurt two months.

>>345839

Honestly, the fact that you don't like it says plenty about you. You are the choices you make.

As for the meeting with the Sabs, I guess? I mean, it sounds like what they want. I'm planning on dual-sleeving for it. I'll wear the heavy-duty conversion I wore for Gaz's wedding, and something more appropriate to the Sabbath sensibilities as a gesture of peace. I'm thinking something looking like a wooden ball-jointed doll. Something I can dress up all cute.

Archive of previous thread: http://archive.is/wzPn3

>>345839

>herding cats advice

Confound it all. That's been my entire strategy so far.

>warlocksmithing avoidance

They're more trouble than they're worth. Cheap, technically, but that little price is itself far too high.

>cosmetic choices

No problem, easily done whenever you're ready. You still have one slot left, though; runners-up/bonus prize, remember?

And you still need to collect your gold.

>>345849

>paperwork, IT preference

Understandable. I'll take care of what you're willing to send.

>>345851

>paperwork details, choice

…I see the logic in this. Your choice.

>>345853

>>345856

<SERVERS

>gold

I could have sworn I already got it. Eh, on my way. We can get the cosmetics out of the way at the same time.

>one more slot

Oh. Uh, I might as well copy Kurt and go for perfect pitch, get really good at karaoke.

>mad scientist not yet driven out

We really should get on that, I think. Given that our previous CEO, uh, "left the company on bad terms" as a result of the actions he took…

>>345856

Hmmm. How about a month of casting tutoring?

>>345856

I'll be sending you a number of forms for IT requisitions related to some hardware tickets, along with said tickets.

>>345851

That would be hilarious.

>>345861

I know, right? He wouldn't even know where the muffler bearings are.

>>345858

Enhancements done and dusted, here's the report:

>endurance, dexterity, pitch

Passive effects, not much to say.

>low-light vision

This one's a bit trickier. I could have just put it in as another passive akin to cats' eyes adapting to darkness, but that tends to backfire when you get into lightened areas. Instead, I went with an active effect set, the same thing I've got.

Technically your autonomous systems will trigger the basic nightsight as usual, cones and rods being what they are, with just a bit more clarity. You do, however, also have the option now of forcing improved sight for periods of time based on your spiritual capacity. Need more clarity? Just "focus" more. It's a lot like a mental squint. This will drain your reserves, obviously, and once they're near depletion you'll lose the enhanced sight, but it does act as a sort of exercise akin to active casting, with all the costs and benefits thereof. Yes, that includes commjer. Good luck figuring out how to apply it.

>>345860

Possibly. Elaborate, please?

>>345861

>paperwork details

Gotcha, will do.

>>345861

>>345866

>hilarity

I'm so glad I provide such amusement. But yes, that's about right.

>>345867

It'll be nice to not catch heat from that Dryad who hangs out in the copy room for printing digitally filled scans of paperwork rather than filling out the forms by hand.

>>345867

Not talking the full Yoda here with extreme training running laps in a swamp, just your basic entry-level crash course pointers. Maybe twice a week sound good?

>>345867

>eyes

>I CAN SEE THE ENDLESS VOID

Woah that's freaky. And now I don't have to turn Receiving into a disco to practice. Excellent.

On to work: Audit is complete, the Frans have been let loose upon the world, so everyone watch out. I've sent a full report to legal and finance, but the short version is I have assembled evidence of fiscal malfeasance of the part of a finance employee or employees. This person has been ordering personal items through receiving with company funds and on company time, taking advantage of the safety precautions I take regarding infohaz and hazmat orders. The crate of fuzzy handcuffs that came in a few days ago is the work of this employee. I noticed this during my shallow audit earlier, but now I've got it down.

I'm going to be reviewing all incoming orders for a while, just to make sure this stupidity doesn't happen again. If you're ordering infohazards, live animals, or anything else that doesn't like being opened and manhandled, meet with me beforehand. If I get an infohaz order I don't know about it's getting destroyed without review, everything else is getting opened and the invoices backtraced.

>>345869

Is she still doing that? Could have sworn she got told off months ago.

>>345871

Not what I meant. I'm unclear on what exactly "casting tutoring" means. Who's casting? Who's tutoring? And what's on the lesson plan?

I'm not opposed, but I'd like to know what I'm getting into, is all.

>>345872

>Finance. AGAIN

Who else thinks that it's the person who was behind that illicit account on the old finance mainframes?

@Benny: deine freundin is in for several stressful days. Brace yourself.

>>345873

Oh, duh. You, teaching me. I figure we'll start with Elementalism and see what happens from there depending on my progress?

>>345877

Sounds good. Whenever you're ready, bring the "Playpen" plane to my office and we can get started.

>>345880

No time like the present. Be right over.

>>345876

>illicit account

I can neither confirm nor deny that without speaking to legal. What I can confirm is that this goes beyond just abusing ordering privileges. It's more than enough to end in an actual legal case, which is why I'm being so coy about what happened. It's also why I went to the trouble of compiling such a massive collection of evidence - I hate going to court, and if I have to go because someone got greedy I'm going to make sure to ruin the day of whoever's making me do it.

I'm sure legal's going to have a fucking field day. There's nothing quite like the evil smile a lawyer gives when he gets a smoking gun dropped on his desk.

>>345882

Sounds like you're giftwrapping an early birthday present for the esteemed Mister Worthington.

>>345881

Alright, let's begin. You've read the primers, so I assume you know how Elementarist patterns are based around the change and transfer of energies. Various forms of electromagnetism - warmth, light, that sort of thing. Take your spirit, form Vis, and determine what sort of energies you want to see, the change you want to effect. Simple enough.

See that target? Using what you understand of Elementarism, go through the steps one-by-one, describing each, and attempt to use a simple thermal ray to spark it.

>>345882

>massive collection of evidence

I'll throw legal a fresh copy the data from the mainframes just in case.

Herr Worthington, expect the relevant data packet in digital and paper format, along with an analysis, on your desk soon. Please make sure it gets to the appropriate colleague of yours if you aren't the one responsible for that case.

>>345885

Okay, just reach in and form the Vis… The energy is thermal… the change is the excitation of the matter in that target, namely paper. Aaand…

Hmm. Great thing about eyes tuned to infrared is I can see exactly what I did wrong. I raised the temperature in a large patch of the target, but not enough to ignite it. Too spread out, I didn't get a coherent beam. Give me a second to re-think the Commjer.

>>345890

Okay, take two. Spirit, Vis, heat, target… There! Scorch mark!

>>345890

>>345891

Well done. You've only made three major mistakes.

First mistake: assuming that the matter is an issue of spread. A better spread focus is good, true, but you really want the cast itself to be focused so that the energy that does cause effect is sufficient.

Second mistake: assuming that it should be a "beam." Realistically speaking, the only travel time is what you're willing to allow - magic is less bound by physics than it seems. It should happen as soon as you decide, since you're causing effects based on the world's love for you and therefore its willingness to adapt to your desires. You're not "sending" energy, you're stating that energy "is (or is not) now at a place." If you want a beam, fine. It'll be more costly, and more obvious.

Third mistake: assuming that Commjer solves everything. Commjer makes for efficient casting, the pattern makes the cast itself. Design the pattern, then use Commjer to improve its cost. Being more efficient means little if the spell itself is ineffective.

All in all, not too bad. But try again without making a "beam" or worrying about "spread." It's not fire. The name "thermal ray" is a misnomer, an intentional mislead. I apologize for that, but it's necessary. Need to break assumptions. This time, focus on the idea of "the target should be scorched," instead of "the target should become scorched by something." Then cast.

>>345893

>You're not "sending" energy, you're stating that energy "is (or is not) now at a place."

Hah! It is a programming problem! "=" versus "==". Okay. What I want, is for the target to ignite. Paper. Good old Fahrenheit 451, not that I specifically need to focus on that. Set target equal to ignited… aaaaand… poof! Fire!

>>345894

Excellent. Simplest part of magic - and also the first great hurdle to overcome - is figuring out that one bit of logic, and taking it into yourself on every level.

Now try again, but this time attempt to remove energies rather than add them. Add some ice to the next target. Or go further, if you feel up for it.

>>345894

>= vs ==

Ammit's thighs you're making me flash back to college

In all seriousness, this sounds a bit like Realitwisting, from what I'm hearing. Convince the universe that that thing over there is on fire, and the universe goes "oh you're right, let me fix that" and makes fire.

>>345886

>mainframe data

Much obliged. I'm pretty sure I already have that - the Frans were quite thorough - but insurance never hurts.

>>345896

Fundamentally speaking, yes. What sort of spell it is is all a matter of how you go about setting up the patterns. The whole "school" thing relates to "school of thought" rather than anything else. Do I simply add or remove energy? Do I focus on entropy instead? Do I outright change what it is? Maybe I just make believe it did or didn't happen. Or █████ if going Warlocksmithing. You know the bit, and why posting it plainly would be a public disservice rather than an infohazard or confidential matter.

Ultimately, all kinds of magic are at their core the world's love attempting to accept and enhance your life by adjusting to meet what you believe life should be. The spiritual energy cost has more to do with making that argument about how much it means to you rather than being a true price, since the world replenishes it over time, and the Commjer is your ability to eloquently state your desires rather than simply babbling that you "want fire."

>>345882

>>345884

>>345886

In the immortal words of a great man of the legal profession, "I have an erection… Denny Crane."

>>345876

Oh drat, now I HAVE to let her in. Would you believe Ms Tatsuyokai has been raising merry hell outside my office for the last hour? Apparently she caught Benny and Jonno engaging in some ritual in an unoccupied space on the docks. Apparently it involved burlap and knouts, with which they were, apparently, beating themselves with a somewhat disturbing fervour. Machiko is, as you may have already surmised, not too thrilled at the prospect of her paramour engaging in this kind of activity, is demanding I do something official about it.

(Honestly she's touchy and there is so much in here which is flammable. I might be good at a lot of things but explaining strange religious rites of self-mortification to histrionic dragons isn't one of them. Thoughts on how to manage this?)

>>345903

>religious rites of self-mortification

Assuming you haven't already come up with a better explanation, perhaps this might work:

"Just as base metals must be smelted and cleared of impurities over and over before properly being viable for use, the slag being removed over time, so too must the body of a man be worked and purified in an effort to prove worthiness before that which he holds most dear, weakness, falsehoods, and uncertainty of faith purged through great effort."

Probably make it a bit more pretty of language, you're the one what knows how to word good. It's their way of showing their mortal weaknesses aren't limits on the truth of their love, among other things, maybe. Or something. I'm no Paladin, I don't know their rituals; the Source doesn't bother with such requirements, it just knows what's true.

>flammable

I can have a sweep of drones mark that room for additional anti-incendiary wards any time you like. The standard set should really keep things safe, but hey, more won't hurt.

Notice to all Finance Department staffers:

When this post is approximately seven (7) hours old, all workstations in the Finance Department will begin updating to deploy and redirect to the latest version of the financial software which is currently in use.

In the half-hour preceding this update, all finance workstations which are actively running software that will be affected by the update will display notifications reminding the user to save and close their work before the migration takes effect. Any data which is unsaved and open when the update begins WILL be lost.

As part of the update, all filesystem links and shortcuts referencing the previous version of the updated software will be redirected to reference the new software, preserving workflow to the best possible degree.

In the event of loss of properly saved and closed data resulting from the update, backups will be accessible for restoration. These will NOT preserve data that is not saved and closed in accordance with this bulletin and the notifications which will be deployed to the affected workstations. The IT department is NOT responsible for any data loss that stems from failure to comply with the notice to save and close all open documents before the beginning of the update.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and apologies for the disruption.

>>345903

>erection

You'd better be wearing pants at the deposition.

>self-mortification

And here we see one of the reasons I am not a member of the Temple. I was never really able to see the logic behind it. Seems to me that the world is pretty good at beating out the 'slag,' as Shura put it, and I don't really think it needs the help.

>>345933

Finally getting that system update thing you've been on about, eh? Congrats.

Maintenance Bulletin:

As part of our ongoing mission to ensure safe and reliable functionality of basic systems throughout the building, the Maintenance Department has performed an overhaul of the building's safety and transit options.

The elevator systems have been inspected top-to-bottom for flaws in the mechanisms. Any problems have been dealt with and faulty parts replaced. Immediately following this, the entire framework was warded for smoothness of ride, strength of cable, and reliability of timing. Special warding was provided to ensure Slimes and similarly amorphous employees need not fear losing mass during entry or exit of elevator cars.

All staircases have been warded for slip-protection, maximum-effect fire retardation, and clean oxygen supplies. This will simultaneously ease transit in case employees prefer the exercise between floors, as well as ensure a safe method of egress in case of emergency.

In addition, all hallways have received warding similar to that found in the stairways, along with additional emergency lighting and pathing guides leading to exits.

Garage-specific modifications include guidelights leading toward empty parking spaces, and automotive damage prevention wards. Similar improvements can be applied to the loading docks, pending approval from the Receiving Department.

Further modifications will be documented as they occur. Any issues or feature requests should be reported to the Maintenance Department in a timely manner. The next set of systems scheduled for deep inspection and overhaul are the electrical, plumbing and ventilation frameworks.

>>345933

Any finance staffers currently working on documents at their workstations should now be receiving alerts on a regular interval reminding them to save and close their work as this hour draws to a close.

>>345988

Could you do anti-moisture/anti-static/anti-dust wardings in the server rooms? It'd cut down on the chance of those causing issues in the future?

>>345992

>ward requests

Easy enough, that's the librarian's best friend. I can be down to set it up whenever.

>>345993

Let me know when you're headed that way, I'll have to let you into the server rooms. It's a data security thing.

Updates are now running on all finance workstations, expected runtime one hour.

>>345994

Ready. Lemme in and I'll get to work.

>>345997

Thanks, this should make keeping the servers in good shape a lot easier.

>>345999

Right, here's the report in case you need it:

Anti-Static wards are in place, diverting ambient electricity to a ground point away from all the electronics; I've chosen to use an object with the appearance of the classical "Thinker" statue, with a dunce cap.

Anti-Dust wards are set to catch particulate matter smaller than a human hair before it lands on any surface, and shuttle it into a dedicated decay generator setup. I've marked it as a cheerful plasticky potted artificial daisy. It'll light up and sing if things start getting too dusty, which is essentially the point where you can't breathe anyway.

Anti-Moisture wards will do much the same thing as the dust wards, depositing any liquids into a novelty desk toy before forceful decaying. If there's nothing to collect, the toy'll be empty.

I've added an anti-thermal ward because I noticed some heat buildup. It'll shunt excess heat into yet another novelty desk toy, with the appearance of the good old "forest fire warning" sign you might see in a national park. It'll only work on heat levels above relative room temperature - anything more would need a significantly heftier setup.

>>345988

>approval

Granted. Just give me a few minutes forewarning before you close stuff off.

Speaking of work: R&D, you've got some sort of heavily-warded package - I actually couldn't get into it to check it. Whatever it is, it's waiting here.

>>346007

Does it have a return address or an invoice?

>>346009

>return address

Yes. It was ordered by one of you guys in R&D, and the return address is one that I recognize. Trust me, if I got an unmarked warded package I couldn't trust I'd have called Shura in to nuke it. This one looks legit to me.

>>346007

>approval granted

Be on it in a few. Won't take more than a moment.

>close off

What's to close off? I'm just setting up some detectors, light emitters, and damage shunts. Only reason I specified a need for approval was because it would involve directly altering a department's specific workspace, and doing it without warning would be a bit impolite.

Also, separate thing entirely: Zuzi, when you have a moment I need to pick your brain regarding some ideas I've got for improvements to the electrical infrastructure. Might have a way to make the building nice and green.

>>346011

Sorry. Just had to ask, considering recent events. I'll send Margie down for it.

>>346012

Pick away.

>>346013

You know how I go on about subplanes, and how using them can get crazy effects? The stuff that actually does exist in reality is surprisingly easy to make subplanes for. I've been designing a set, multiply-nested for safety, at the center of which is one containing a cosmic body of some kind - singularity versions are the most convenient to access, oddly - firing off an astrophysical jet. Using portals, I've managed to reliably, safely siphon off a decent portion of the jet. The arrangement of the portals and planes renders the possibility of contaminating mainstream reality rather unlikely - any failing on the system, and it just closes off. As part of testing, I've been using it as a means of carving up new rooms in my mountain; once I figured out how to limit the amount I siphoned and the rate it channeled through, it turned out surprisingly controllable. It's also become my go-to method of cleaning up the restrooms - those tiles have never been so clean.

What I need to know is this: assuming I could provide a safe, reliable, reasonably cheap and accessible method of gaining access to a constant stream of near-lightspeed ionized matter, would you be able to design a way of converting it into power? And if so, would it be worthwhile?

>>346014

I'm just spitballing here, but maybe the charge on the ionized matter stream could be used to create a magnetic field that could then run a generator? Also, mention of singularities reminded me of embed related.

>>345922

I went with that, but she didn't buy a damn word of it. I would not attempt to stymie a dragon with florid language in future, were I any of you. As providence would have it, Benny was quite aware of his erstwhile observer and came to my rescue before she had started shaking me too hard. Believe it or not the answer is much simpler.

>>345934

Jade, you might find this interesting.

They are literally beating themselves 'clean', as one would a rug. As I understand it, a certain portion of their training renders them rather 'Sensitive' to the energies of both Celestial and Infernal entities. An overabundance of one, (say… from a long exposure to an Umbral Slime or a weekend in hell), negatively affects their ability to interact with the other. Hence the beating. The body reacts as natural to perceived injury, the Infernal energy seeks to harmonize with it, enhancing the body's healing ability, and the flagellant draws in Celestial energy to replace it via a chanted prayer. The symbolism is all very pious and selfless but at the end of the day it's a spiritual oil change.

Machiko asked if there was any other way to draw the energy out. Benny looked very hard at the ceiling and Jonno managed to blurt out 'Not while staying on Heaven's good side' between lecherous giggles.

Ah well, fun times. Oh, the reason I was so long in replying is because it seems the Senior Partners have put the wind up the Directors on possible company liability stemming from little Maria's situation. (How IS the little treasure, anyway?)

Management should be handing out various NDAs to various departments. These have been very SPECIFICALLY worded. Every one is individually marked, and no photocopies, notarized or otherwise will be accepted. Managers, in case you don't read your e-mails, if you misplace or mismark any, you are to contact my assistant via the usual channels for a replacement. You are not to doctor a 'spare' in its place. Any deviation from these instructions will result in at the very least, a stringent Performance Management rendered by Director Nullstricken.

(I don't think I need to tell you that old Nully's a bit of a brute on those things, do I?)

>>346030

Oh, and before anyone mentions the unspoken question "What about Gaz?" I did ask it. Both gentlemen went very quiet. It's a horrible thing to suggest but I don't think they expect him to remain Human for very long.

One of these days I'm just going to set the drones to look like messenger pigeons in quantity relevant to the amount of server troubles we have in a day.

>>346023

That embed was far more enthralling than it really ought to have been.

And maybe? I know magnetism and electricity are interconnected, but I've no clue how to mix the systems with technology. Completely relying on you and R&D for this one.

>>346030

>a better explanation

So it was a far simpler explanation after all. Fives, fives, everywhere. Makes a lot of sense, come to think of it; certainly explains a lot of their prior remarks, and definitely makes me glad for the simplicity of sourcing my energy straight from, well, the Source, instead of worrying about energy alignments.

>nda, nullstricken

Given as I still have absolutely no clue what my official title even means - all I can derive from "Maintenanceomancer" is either a description of a guy what practices magic related to janitorial duties, or a janitor what practices magic - I'm going to stick to safety's sake and request that if I do have some sort of NDA or similar document coming my way, that I receive it in hardcopy. My email-inbox is an absolute nightmare, and chances are high it would get lost in a sea of junk. I've been holding off on getting a ticket sent to IT on the matter simply because so many more-relevant items have been coming up, but I'll send one in when things quiet down a bit.

Really, what even is my standing these days? I had to be told last week what my actual security level was, and apparently it had been in effect for months. For all I know I've been either overextending my reach, or not doing nearly enough of my duties. Considering the acronym'd itemizations on my paysheet and the obscene number of zeros, I'm a bit worried about the latter. Going to need to meet with Tatsuyokai at some point to discuss things, not even hazard pay explains this sort of wage.

>>346031

>gazza, de-human-izing

Well, I suppose there's a bit of a loss on one front, but if it helps in any way I guarantee it'll scrub away any remaining gunk off his soul. Whatever effects the change has on him besides that, at least he'll be fully healed.

@all

I lived bitch.

>>346050

>hardcopy

Everyone's receiving it in hardcopy. Apologies if that was unclear (And if any of your direct reports are lazy enough to e-mail yours, do let me know, they received explicit instructions.) I do believe a few employees are even receiving theirs on basalt tablets carved with screaming elder-runes. (Those were delegated. I do not play with madness, thank you very much.)

>Really, what even is my standing these days?

I believe the word is 'Irreplaceable', or as close to it as to allegedly have a theoretical note in your supposed HR file Which-I-Have-Not-Seen that apparently says 'If he threatens to quit, keep adding zeroes until he stops.'

>>346054

>I lived

Bully for you, sport. So do the rats on sublevel two, and, like you, only because they're deliberately avoiding the things designed to kill them. If the epitome of your existence is making Rattus Vulgaris your new spirit-animal then may Ammit grant you many, many more years of furtive scuttling for scraps.

Honestly Bile, go buy a volcano or something. I know you've got the scratch, and it would stop my department from the minor-yet-contant irritation of having to do checks on the endless stream of bounty hunters looking to collect this or that price on your head.

>>346014

Sweet Tesla, he tells me he's got Niagara Falls in his back pocket and asks me if I could do the dishes with it.

>>346023

That'd be the simplest way. To generate electricity, all you need is a magnetic field moving through a conductor. Make a coil, shoot the jet through it, have another subplane catching the jet on the other side.

>>346050

>My email-inbox is an absolute nightmare

I'm sending you an AI assistant, she'll help you with that.

>>346061

>screaming elder-runes

Oh, that takes me back. The scribes got the punctuation right, I hope? One ██ in the wrong place and you get a "buy more chickens" instead of "do not speak of such things."

>repl…add zer

What?

No, seriously, what. I'm fairly certain that's either gone corrupt, or my mind's treating it as an infohazard.

>>346067

>sweet tesla

So is that a yes, or should I stick to using it against grout residue?

>ai assistant

…She's going to quit or need psychiatric aid in a matter of hours, I just know it.

>>346071

It means you're presenting me with something that could easily power a city, maybe the state, and asking me if I could use it to power these buildings. Not only can we use it, the company could sell the excess to the city.

>>346071

Zuzi's saying that you said something akin to "I've go a direct line to The Source, do you think I could power a dream-link unit?"

>inbox

If it would mess with an AI's mind that badly, perhaps a dumb script on your terminal would do the trick. Let me know if it's needed.

>>346081

Alright, that makes a bit more sense. How many kilometers do you think you'd need for coils to be able to get a worthwhile output?

>>346082

>direct line to the Source

Literally true, and the only reason I'm even remotely able to keep up with my spellwork - with my capacity as middling as it is, I need the constant recovery it affords.

>speculation on ability to power a thing

That's the thing, I don't honestly know how to safely convert between the output of a pulsar/singularity/whatever and the wall-socket power stuff. Or setting it so that it's viably transmissible. Besides, my direct line is parsed through my soul, I've already got a conversion system.

>ai hazard

I don't know, maybe? Admittedly I was being a bit flippant on the matter, the inbox is likely more insane from my perspective due to my technological incompetence than anything else I haven't met her yet, so for all I know she could have things handled without any issue.

>>346084

I was referencing a deity-style direct line to The Source.

>>346087

…Hindsight being 20/20, I see that now. But you get what I'm aiming at, right? I mostly suggested the original idea as a matter of "hey, maybe this could be useful" and did not expect to get a response on this level. If I'd known this would get the reception it has, I'd have made the offer a week ago.

>>346082

>>346084

Don't worry about the AI, Emali is insulated against infohazards for this very purpose. As for the generator, give me a bit to work out the details. Because once we start inducing a current in the coils, they're going to heat up like nobody's business.

Maintenance Bulletin:

The most recent building-wide warding scheme overhaul has been met with a majority acceptance and approval, and we thank you for your support. Certain concerns have been raised, and we would like to take a moment to address them.

In response to complaints filed regarding the recent wards' effects upon cigarettes and similar chemical pastimes, the Maintenance Department has this to say: get over it. The stairwells are, and have always been, a non-smoking zone. There is, as usual, a breakroom dedicated to this purpose on the fifth floor.

With regards to Igni and similar fire-tuned employees, the department would like to apologize for any discomfort you may have experienced as a result of the new schema; the wards have been adjusted to mitigate these effects. Any employees so affected may file a grievance report and expect appropriate compensation for their troubles.

Any employee attempting to use the slip-prevention warding in the staircases for jumping between flights does so at their own risk. Gravity is a harsh mistress, and we have yet to truly divert her wrath. Really, now, this is not primary school.

The garage parking assistance features, while generally well-received, have been noted by some as slightly nauseating. The color and light patterns have been tweaked to avoid this issue in the future, although we still will gladly accept feedback toward further improvements.

Automotive damage warding, while effective at protecting from scratches and dents, is not a true invulnerability, and any employee attempting to play at "bumper cars" to get a better spot does so at risk of both the cars involved being damaged and a report being filed from automatic alarm systems. There are plenty of spaces, you don't all need to have the one next to the elevator.

On other business: at the top of the hour, the drone network will be taken partially offline for a routine systems check; functionality will remain as standard, but response times will likely be far slower. This will last approximately one hour's time, after which point full capabilities will be restored.

>>346090

Thank you, and thank Emali, for this help. I can actually use my inbox again! I tried asking what I could do to repay her, but she wouldn't give a real answer; any suggestions?

>>346030

>spiritual oil change

Ah, so there's an actual reason to it. Fair enough, then.

>NDA

I've seen a fair number of these things, and this is by far the heftiest one I've ever had to sign. Senior partners ain't screwing around with this one, I see.

>>346061

>Rattus Vulgaris

>capitalized species name

>no such species exists

I get what you were trying to say but the long-dead scientist inside me has reanimated and is screaming for your brains

>>346110

>all these improvements

You ask why you're getting paid so much cash, and then you go and do all that, not to mention providing a supernova to power the building with.

>>346135

…I thought I was just doing my job. Making sure things are in order, ensuring the facilities are a safe, clean working environment, having a reliable, uninterruptible power supply to avoid working in the dark, that sort of thing? It's easier to deal with messes and hazards by preparing ahead of time rather than cleaning up after the fact. The tasks would have to be done, eventually; I figured I might as well get them dealt with in a manner I could keep track of. Considering how many times I have to go around and fix or undo things I've tried, I can't even really say I've done that good a job, yet. The bulletins may paint things in a shiny light, but realistically that's more an attempt to limit foolhardiness and improve likelihood of reports being brought around when things go wrong.

And I'm not "providing a supernova to power the building with." Zuzi's the one making the power possible, I'm just opening a few doors - as in, that's the way opening the portals and access points looks on my end. That sort of thing's been possible for ages, and honestly, any caster with half my skill could do that much.

>>346110

She may be too soft-spoken and modest to tell you outright, but this is the kind of stuff she lives for. You did her a favor.

>>346143

Yeh but They didn't.

You did.

In other news, due to the extended absence of Benny and the likely 'resignation' of Gazza from assets and logistics management, I'm appropriating my fiancee to assist with the day-to-day. Marketing, if you don't like it, feel free to come down and argue with me. I've just had to clear three oomakude out of the My Cuddle Boyfriend prototypes though, so your argument better be stronger than my stress-headache.

Message from Assets Database: <3<3 <3 Eeeeeeeeeee! <3 <3 <3

>>346151

Huh. First time my utter incompetence proved to be the means of making someone happy. Well, if that's the case, great. I still say thanks are in order.

On a different note entirely: in considering the options for cooling systems, what sort of materials would you be looking for? Transmutation isn't a thing I can do, but I'm reasonably certain that if it's just raw ore I can get a point-access to a quantity of the stuff easily enough, if only for testing which would be best for the final product's heat sink. Source knows there's a lot of the stuff in potential states of existence, so it wouldn't even be as difficult as getting at the jet.

>>346157

Yeah, well, that's purely circumstantial and you know it. "They" haven't had the chance to do or do not, so you can't quite say yea or nay on whether "they" would or would not have done.

That being said, I do have a bit of a problem I'm trying to solve, one with potentially semi-religious connotations. Given as the Source doesn't have much more intelligence than a puppy - and never returns my calls besides - I'm going to have to turn to you for advice: what, in the modern day, would you say is the relevance of the concept of "godparents?" And if it does have relevance, do you two feel fit for the task?

>>346160

Life is circumstantial. Anybody could have invented the paperclip, only one actually did. As for the heat, do you know how a nuclear power plant works? The nuclear reaction is just a means of generating heat to create steam pressure that pushes a turbine generator. It's the turbine that moves magnets through coils to make current. (And because the magnetic fields there are weaker heat isn't a problem.) It's just a huge kettle attached to a water wheel. We'll do the same thing here and use your particle jet as a way to generate heat.

>>346169

Could the ionized matter flow chamber have some kind of coils attached to it to capture a small part of the energy directly from the matter stream? Maybe with the cooling for said coils acting as a preheating system for the boiler?

>>346171

So, rather than worry about dissipating heat from the generator, the heat will be used for the generator. Neatly solved. Let me know when you're ready for jet setting.

>>346169

I can have a secondary portal set with the same parameters I use for my cleaning torches - decreased volume, decreased rate, decreased overall energy - if you'd like to try this one as well.

>>346171

I was considering that at first, but we can get more output from a single purpose machine. Plus, if the cooling goes, a coil around the jet would be stuck there until it melted.

>>346030

>How IS the little treasure, anyway?

Sorry I missed that, "the little treasure" and I were in the middle of Long Awkward Talksville. Apparently some time ago she discovered her internet connection and has been finding all sorts of things. And I can't just install parental censorship software in her brain because I'm not absolutely evil, so we had a good long talk about it. Mother of delirium, I can't even.

Maintenance Bulletin:

As noted in a prior bulletin, on the list of systems up for checks and overhauls are the ventilation networks. The Maintenance Department has been setting into place for the framework a complete refit, through which the old vent systems will be stripped out and replaced with new ductwork, fans, cooling and heating systems, and improved safety features.

Notable is the complete restructuring of the ductplan to incorporate changes suggested by the surprisingly insightful mofucores. Their habit of scurrying along through the vents has borne fruit in an inherent understanding of the various weaknesses of the old ducts, of the leakages, and of the points of wastefulness. As thanks for their assistance, the department has included a secondary track specifically for their use to both grant them dedicated transit routes - which they would be making anyway, let's not pretend they could ever be contained - and to limit the content of mofu stuck in the ventilation.

A second set of changes have been made to the air conditioning and heating systems. The main units have not been altered, and will function as usual, but each room's ventilation ducts have been outfitted with series of thermal ward arrays attuned to a modified thermostat dial. This can be used to adjust the temperature in each individual room without impacting the total system on a building nor a floor basis. Please note that these modifier wards are limited in their effectiveness; you will not be able to turn a full-blast heater venting into an arctic wonderland, but you will be able to at least reduce down to a reasonably comfortable level at will.

These changes to external features have already been put in place, while internal duct systems are currently being modified and will be finalized by morning. With any luck, the only change employees will notice at first will be a reduction in noise due to the new insulation.

Next on the agenda is the plumbing, followed by the electrical-wiring systems. As usual, any complaints, requests, or suggestions should be reported to the Maintenance Department in a timely manner.

>>346174

Just as a precaution, I think I'm going to install some thermal wards on the actual output coils themselves. Even if we're going with a less-stressful boiler style, I'd rather minimize the risks.

>>346188

<One of the finest parts of parenting.

<We're looking forward to seeing how Dreamer tries to sputter his way through dodging questions before giving up and begging us to take care of things.

Hey!

<You know that's how it'll go, love.

<But yes, I can imagine it would be awkward for a former Human, especially towards another.

<Even with your new nature assisting the process.

>>346188

I'll be introducing Maria to some old honeypot VMs tonight, followed by a talk on the subject of responsible internet usage and a bit of reinforcement of your discussion of the content one can find.

>>346195

You're fantastic, love.

>>346199

I'm an IT professional. No verdammt way I'm going to let my daughter get into the internet without a clear understanding of how to safely and responsibly do so.

Management,

There's been a massive avalanche/landslide in the Himalayas, cause yet unknown. The growing number of casualties has brought to bear a demand for all available healers, myself included. I'm uncertain when I'll be permitted to return; the absolute worst case scenario I can imagine involves my being back sometime early tomorrow, the best case being significantly later on in the week or further, phrasing is deliberate. My wives, the other members of Maintenance, will be able to handle the department in my absence, the drones dealing with most issues. I apologize for the lack of warning, but this is an emergency situation. I'm attaching the relevant information for records.

Maintenanceomancer Shura

>Attachment: Email Transcript

>

>from: <dispatch@corps.med.wiz>

>to: <Shura@maint.mamonocorp.int>

>subject: ACTION healing required

>

>Corporal Shura,

>

>Report to Triage Camp Lima outside ████, ██████ for service as healer.

>Further orders will be delivered on site.

>

>Source light your way.

>

<Jade, or Fran and Fran, or whoever's in Receiving?

<There should be a rather large package arriving for our department.

<According to this, it'll be octuply-warded with gold-scribed bindings, with no return address or invoice.

<When you get it, could you send it up to Maintenance? Please handle with care, it's more fragile than we can properly explain.

<@everyone: According to Dreamer, the relief work is going well. Afterward he has a mandatory recovery period before he can return from Nepal. In his words:

"I'll be stuck in a delightful little nook of the world with far too many shops and not enough silence. It's bloody noisy and I won't be allowed to do much else than shop and sleep. If anyone has anything they want me to look for, please let my dears know so they can pass it on."

<He has this message for Zuzi and Kurt:

"Sorry about the sudden dissapearance, came out of nowhere for me too. Got to meeting with some folks in the nearby monastery during a forced off-hour, and I've a few ideas for…things. Good ideas, you'll like them. Gonna need to talk with them a bit more, but with a bit of luck I might just have found the final piece in the answers to two major problems."

Notice to all staff in the advertising department:

Per the user agreements signed during your hiring process, adult media sites are not to be viewed on company networks.

IT may have been lenient on the subject in the past, but the malware incident in your department means an end to that.

Most of you will be unaffected by this change, as you followed company policy without it being heavily enforced. The rest of you: you know who you are, as does IT, and some very displeased managers.

>>346213

>>346289

Pass Shura my regards, and let him know to stop by a temple of Order of the White Lotus while he's in Nepal. He should ask to speak with the abbot, and mention that he was referred to them by a student of the Abbey of the Iron Bones.

>>346289

>package

The thing came in about five minutes after I read this. It's on it's way as we speak, bubble-wrapped to high hell. Do I even want to know what it is?

Also, tell Shura that if he doesn't teleport to the top of Mount Everest just for giggles I'm going to be very disappointed in him. And, y'know, regards and all that.

>>346291

>adult media sites on company networks

Is that why I have a bunch of Sidhes in here, trying and failing to raid the orcs' booze stash?

>>346293

All I have are the names of the individuals behind the mess I had to spend today cleaning up and a strong desire to inflict serious trauma upon said individuals. I don't know if those Sidhes are the individuals responsible, but if they are they'd best make themselves scarce before I arrive down there to check if the rush order of keyboards rated for Raiju bolts has arrived yet.

>>346291

<We've passed along your message. Thank you for the reference.

<Wielder won't be able to see them for any extended period until the morrow, but he feels the initial meeting went well.

>>346293

<Jade, this question was anticipated:

"What's inside the box is delicate in both the physical and metaphysical sense. The big reason for all the seals is so nothing happens to what's inside, not that it gets out. I'll explain later, when I'm actually there to do so."

<As regards the Mountain of Everest, well, teleportation is quite the cheap method.

<Running from base camp to the summit, on the other gauntlet, is apparently quite good for early-morning exercise.

<It's invigorating, for those with lungs and muscles, at least, and sets the mind in gear for healing practices.

>>346295

>rush order

Coming off the truck as we speak, I think.

>sidhes

I mentioned you were coming and they fled for the shelves. Please don't play whack-an-artfairy in here, a lot of the stuff in here is unwarded and delicate.

>>346298

>box

Now you've got me curious.

>running up mount everest

>early-morning exercise

I guess if you can bend the laws of reality to your whim, you can ignore stuff like the air being too thin to breathe and there being at least one section that's too steep to run up…

>>346300

If I catch them, they'll wish I meant to play "whack-an-artfairy". They seem to have an intrinsic grasp of how unpleasant I can be when introducing someone to the concepts of cybersecurity and not being a verdammter idiot. My daughter had a better understanding of cybersecurity and safe internet usage than those kretinen before we talked about it, and she's about a quarter the age of most of those schwachköpfe.

>>346300

<The package will, as mentioned, be detailed in good time. It was only brought to attention now as a matter of ensuring you knew it was not a hazard.

<Believe me, I want to know as well what it is. Dreamer's only told us to keep it safe at all costs, not what's inside.

<As for Everest, that sort of run is also apparently the only kind of exercise that does any good for a dedicated practitioner, if the man's memories are anything to go by:

"Healing is only a part of the school's practices. It's more a matter of making the body better, with all that entails. To give aid to others, you must first know yourself. So yes, at some point you are going to have to regrow your organs, you are going to give yourself strength to lift cars and jump buildings, and you are going to drop and give me five hundred complete pushups without taking a breath. Because that poor fool who will be relying on you to keep him or her alive may not have that much luxury. So give me those five hundred right now, maggots!"

<So, yes, if you do attempt to learn that school, don't expect a simple jog or weight-lift session to help you much.

Zuzi, I've a ticket in for prepping several R&D workstations to resist Raiju bolts. Something along the lines of an intern getting headpats from one of the staffers? Regardless, I've gotten the requested upgrades done, let me know how it works out.

>>346321

That should do it. Fortunately, everything where raijus work is periodically and frequently backed up to the mainframe so nothing serious was lost.

<Receiving? Got a message about some more deliveries, three more packages arriving for the department.

<No real warding or fragility instructions, they're just - wait, the size of loaders on their own? Moon's Gaze, Dreamer, what are you planning…

<Anyway, don't worry too much about wrangling them around, according to instructions they'll be fine even on the docks.

<Only thing I know about the contents comes from this note for Jade, specifically, regarding the set:

"If he asks or expresses curiosity, just tell him they're building materials of a sort. They're meant for use in research and development…and possibly by Research and Development."

<Cryptic notes aside, he'll be back sometime tomorrow, so you can hound him for details then.

Maria and I built a little drone for her together, so if you happen to hear "deja vu, I've just been in this place before…" and something zips by overhead, don't panic.

>>346354

If things stay quiet in terms of tickets, I just may put my new ornithopter drone design through its paces, have a little race.

>>346350

>packages

…okay then. I'm not even going to try to logic this one yet.

>cryptic note

He's having too much fun with this.

>>346354

>eurobeat

Yeah, the little treasure is zipping around my warehouse, running down Sidhe and bouncing off the steel. I'll keep an eye out to make sure she doesn't throw a propeller or something.

<Maintenance Bulletin:

<The ventilation system overhaul, completed yesterday, has received a few minor adjustments today to deal with the following issues:

<The thermal ward thermostats have been tweaked for more precise measurements. We apologize for the initial inaccuracy.

<The mofucore passages have been expanded per requests, and will double as drone passages. Overhead drone traffic should be notably decreased.

<Minor ventilation insulation adjustments for improved climate control.

>>346354

<I wish I'd seen this notice sooner, I thought we had an intruder for a moment.

<Deepest Night, your little one put us through a merry chase. She's gotten quite good with that little device.

<We almost had to engage the actual thrust portals, she was so quick about things.

>>346356

<Considering what she's been up to, I'd say you may have a good idea there. We can prepare a course if you need clear flyspace.

<In addition, Dreamer's contact with the Seelie sent the following:

>from: <BardicKnowledge@advocacy.SumCourt.com>

>to: <Shura@maint.mamonocorp.int>

>subject: re:art and the artist

>

>Prospective Artist, please forward this missive to the pair Our lesser creators have been less-than polite with.

>

>To the two of you, We send our greetings.

>It is Our wish that any misdeeds on the part of Our lessers be made amends.

>Their desires for creation have been benevolent, perhaps, but without consent of the Commissioner there can be no proper Art.

>To the two of you, We extend an offer that the Work previously begun might be at your decision entire.

>We shall await your choice on the matter.

>As a demonstration of goodwill, We offer you this boon:

>We know those under Our domain have been less than polite unto you, and so We grant you jurisdiction over them and their decisions.

>Yes, We are aware of those who made attempts to "prank" you and yours, outside of the ones who in your office are employed.

>Your choice of their discipline will be given Our approval, for the sake of mutual peace.

>

>May your creativity never end,

>

>Merryway the Titania

>Summer of the Early

>>346360

Expect an oversize mechanical dragonfly down there soon, should help keep her out of trouble.

>>346361

>flyspace offer

If needed, we'll use the subplane that was set up for this sort of antics.

>email

Is that in reference to the intrusion we had by way of the glamered package? If it's in reference to the sidhe who caused trouble yesterday, then all they're due for is a severe lecture in the form of mandatory computer safety training that I got their manager to approve.

Honestly, I've been getting so much more use out of the R&D workshop perk where you can use the shop for whatever if you pay for the materials since I stopped needing to eat. Seriously, you don't realize how much you actually spend on food until you don't need it anymore. Then again, I guess I'm what, just the fifth person to have this particular opportunity to make that observation.

Wait a minute, that's right, Zuzi said before me and Maria there were three other cases of women becoming Automatons through the natural transformation process without outside intervention, what are their legal situations and could that help Maria?

>>346370

<Rust if I know what that Fae's on about, I stick clear of their grime.

<Last time a user got involved in of their deals, I ended up stuck at the bottom of a drake's goldpile for a decade.

<Dumb broad really should have considered the implications of riches, power, and glory - Fae like fairness in deals, but aren't concerned with wording.

<If you want to ask Scabbard when he gets back, by all means, but I won't blame you if you leave this one alone.

>>346373

<Silly meatbags and that silly need for resources. Hah!

<Not that it's much of a big issue for some.

<Get far along enough in castery or hermitage and you don't bother eating or drinking or even breathing - or at least that's the way it seemed when I got stuck listening to one natter on for a year straight.

<Grimy cusser seemed to think he could make me stop liking war. Me! A sword!

<But yeah, welcome to Artifice, enjoy the lack of fleshy needs.

<Shame you can't say the same for other things. What's even so difficult to come by that you have to pay for it, anyway? Spiritual iron? Star-borne diamond?

>>346375

Well, if I use the supplies in the shop I have to pay for them. I could also bring in my own if it's something we don't usually have on hand.

>>346383

<What sort of materials, though? Anything other than currency-only stuff, like gold, is pretty much free for the taking if you can get it, by planar law. I mean, there's a subplane of the less-metaphysical raw metals and minerals Scabbard's been holding open for company use. He's been wondering why nobody's been drawing from it.

<Or did that pacifist of a server decide to muck up that bulletin?

>>346385

This is the first I've heard of it. Might have to have a look.

>>346385

You mean I could just walk right in and get a chunk of aluminum or steel? Friggen sweet! Won't replace most of the electronic components we use, or materials that need to come in a certain processed format to use like filaments for FDM printing, but I too will definitely be having a look.

>>346386

>>346390

<Where did you think we get the resources we use for the drones' extruders? Receiving's already got their work cut out for them, this sort of throughput would cut even that warband to the quick.

<Help yourself, it's supposed to be used. Just make a note of what you pull out so it can be acquired on the next supply run, the "warehouse" isn't auto-restocking. We've only got about a thousand tons of most types on hand at any given time, and it's best to not need to refill the lot at once.

<And if one of you tech-sharp sorts decides to go about giving the server what for after having let this slip by, we'd appreciate it.

>>346392

So we've got metal and mineral resources, what about wood?

>>346393

<If you can't find anything you need in the generic stores, go to the specialist.

<One of the "warehouse's" doors will be marked with a tree symbol, it'll be obvious. Just tell the dryad inside what you need.

<Before you ask: yes, the dryad. Wielder's got a deal with her with regards to plant-sourced materials.

<She was given a forest that would never die, comprised of trees from all types, and in return she provides lumber and other resources on a regular basis.

<Single most difficult subplane Wielder's had to figure out tunneling to, but worth it. Nice to just wander around in, too.

<And before you ask, yes, there are other resource types available. Metals and minerals were just mentioned specifically because of the shop reference.

>>346392

>>346396

I think I may put together a simple tracking system for monitoring the stockpiles and generating supply run manifests.

>>346373

I also found one instance of a woman becoming a Golem, but that was a really bad case where she was locked up and abused and I don't think that's going to help us any.

>>346375

>Spiritual iron? Star-borne diamond?

Something like that, but that sort of thing I don't just keep on the shop's supply shelves.

>>346397

<Dreamer's going to be glad to hear that, I can tell you that much.

>>346399

<I don't blame you about not stocking those materials plainly. Not the sort of

<Oh dear. Please brace for impact.

>>346400

Was zum teufel war das? I was in the middle of hashing out a quick-and-dirty prototype for that warehouse tracker and all of a sudden I felt something shake the floor with enough force to knock over my monitor.

This is an announcement of an arrest carried out on a doctor by the alias of Bile, formerly an employee of this facility. The warrant itself will be publicly available at any house of law for view in full by any and all.

The arrest has been carried out by means of physical removal of the laboratory complex itself. Said laboratory has been placed inside a subplane chamberset seventy-seven layers deep for security purposes. The arrest was carried out by the Six Sevens, the casters assigned to military and police activities with regards to planar law for this region.

The laws broken by the individual are many and varied, but the catalyst for the arrest was the confession of a Daemon whose missing contracts, post loss-corruption, were signed and put into effect by aforementioned doctor. The corrupted fine print led to unexpected consequences including a sudden destructive force in the Himalayas. It is only that there were no deaths involved that a more severe penalty was not immediately enacted.

The trial for a full sentencing will commence in ██ days' time at ███ in the █████ Court. Full details, including the redacted information, will be available upon request alongside the initial warrant. No bounty is to be dispensed for this arrest as it was a matter of law. Any damages to the facility or its employees' work will be reimbursed in full. An apology is offered for the sudden effects and lack of warning, but the degree of preparation on the part of the doctor meant an element of surprise was critical.

Again, full details on the warrant, the arrest, the trial, and all matters of reimbursement can be acquired from the local house of law. Thank you for your patience. Source light your way.

>>346404

About verdammt time that ekelhaftes arschloch was removed from the premises. Let me know where to send some booze in order to get it to these "Six Sevens."

>>346160

>Godparents

Wow… I mean… Wow! Shura I'm flattered. I know the Old Faiths used to put a lot of stock in Godparents being responsible for ensuring the children's religious education and taking care of them should anything happen to the parents. It's not something the Temple really puts any stock in, considering if members of the Laity leave children behind with no instructions as to their care, the church gladly takes them in. They're given a choice when they reach the age of majority as to whether they want to stay in the seminary or go their own way. likewise there's no such thing as an 'orphan' when you're dealing with children of the clergy.

If you want me and Telia to fill such a role with your little ones, I think we'd probably better discuss it when I get back. The first and most pressing issue is lifespan. We worked it out and Telia's only got a stable operating span of about a hundred thirty years, and even with the Lord's Blessing I can't forsee myself living much past one-twenty. From what your wife mentioned about the Dragon, I get the feeling the kids will live much, MUCH longer than that. The other is faith. Telia's interested in this 'Machine Spirit' philosophy but more as a thought exercise than a matter of religion, and me? Well, that's obvious. Do Spectral Arms have a faith?

Boy I rabbit on… Long story short, I am touched and humbled, thank you, but I think it's something we should all sit down and discuss.

As to where I am? Well… Telia and I are currently in the airport at Honolulu, waiting to make the last hop over to Zipangu. Marketing got rather stroppy that 'their' AI got pinched, and someone managed to convince Drirectors Lightfull and Gremory that the company was just wasting money having an assets AND a Receivals department, and nobody'd seen the Slav at a management stand-up in weeks.

Jade, I'm so, so sorry, but you're now essentially running Logistics, top to tail. I wish I could find you but I kind of had to pull in a couple of favours to yank Telia out of there before she filled every server in the building with Yottabytes of Matango conversion porn. So now I'm on "Departmental Administrative Leave" While they work out if we're worth keeping. So we're going on fucking holiday. Someone mentioned Akihabara to the Robutt and she couldn't book the tickets fast enough. I even had to de-sleeve her because she wouldn't stop bouncing and 'Eeee'ing in the plane.

Speak to you all when we get back.

>>346406

None of us drink, but we appreciate the offer. Besides, we have this wonderful tea you've already provided access to.

>>346409

>holiday

>godparents details

Looking forward to the talk when you get back. Enjoy your vacation first, I'd say you deserve it.

>worth keeping

…

@Management: Do I have to file a resignation form?

>>346412

>resignation form

I can hear the collective "Scheisse!" already.

>>346413

If Management can afford to throw boatloads of money my way for whatever insane reason, Management can afford to keep on the people I consider friends for so long as they wish to remain employed.

Also: Kurt, R&D, the items I ordered will be of interest to you. Need to go over them when we have the chance. Not time-critical, but definitely better soon than later.

>>346409

Jonno, you know you missed the perfect opportunity to sit in front of the Venetian blinds and talk about the eve of weddings and such there…

>>346404

>Ripping out a whole chunk of the sub-basement.

Will the reimbursing party cover psychological damage caused by Director Nullstricken currently blowing a damn gale in the legal department demanding heads? I did ask her why she was so incensed about the whole matter, she glared at me, and once I got the screaming under control she told me it's where she kept her candy… I have no idea what that means.

>>346417

Sir, I was part of that task force and can verify that only the portions directly related to "Bile's" lab were removed. I know this building like the back of my hand, I can guarantee the action was surgical. If Nullstricken wants answers, she can come see me in Maintenance.

>>346409

>Marketing got rather stroppy that 'their' AI got pinched

If the whiny babies need an AI that badly, though I don't see why they would, I'll requisition one for them.

>>346416

No time like the present.

>>346418

ITS IN MY HEAD IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURT=

Ah… Needless to say she's aware. I would advise arming yourself. She's not quite 'sterilize a continent' pissed, but she's well into 'sink a city or two'.

>>346417

Best for now to take it at face value I think. There's a rather nice candy store not too far from here if memory serves, I've been thinking about taking Maria there to get something sweet.

>>346416

I'm almost done with V1.0 of an automated system for tracking requisitions from your warehouse subplane. If nothing of import comes up, I'll be there in ten minutes.

>>346417

Show her the list of crimes Bile committed down there and tell her that anything stored close enough to Bile's lab to have been removed was irredeemably tainted anyway.

>>346420

>arm myself

Sir, I have several hundred drones equipped with portals leading to multiple singularity-borne astrophysical jets. As well as the singularities themselves. How much more armed do I need to be?

>>346419

>>346421

Let me deal with meeting Nullstricken first, then see me in Maintenance.

>>346422

She's aware, Madame Zuzi… the potential loss of… something… down there has made her angry enough to disregard it, however.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to stop the Paralegals from clawing their own eyes out in a sacrifice to… EXCUSE ME! What did I say about non-euclidian geometry in this office?!

Wait. Wait wait wait.

>>346424

Was the word she used "candy?"

>>346427

Yes, which is why I suggested visiting the candy store I mentioned.

>>346404

>arrest

Illias's minuscule tits that means I'm probably getting a subpoena since those contracts came in through my warehouse, under my supervision. Fuck. I'll have to talk to Worthington on the subject at some point.

Relatedly, the effects of Bile's arrest knocked down half the shelving in Receiving. I've been working with the orcs to get it back up, and now I learn that I'm running the entire Logistics department, so now I'm neck-deep in the paperwork trying to figure out what in the nine hells this trainwreck I now manage is, as well as fixing THAT warehouse too. Then I discover that one of the "special interest" groups Worthington mentioned when the whole Maria thing kicked off is actually the exact same group I split from back in the day, and now I get to spend all night coordinating to drown them in harpies if they try to make a move.

If whatever you need isn't time-sensitive, wait until tomorrow to come get it. The life you save may be your own.

Regarding the fae: If we're talking about the Sidhe, I don't really care. If we're talking about the fairy infiltrators from last week, I need to send them an email post-fucking-haste. I've got a list of assholes that need a thorough pranking.

>Jonno's predicament

Fuck it, if I'm running Logistics, that means I have hiring powers. Worst comes to worst you come work for me for a while, and if admin has a problem with it they'll have to deal.

>>346428

Then she'll be happy to note that in the process of securing the area, I located, scrychecked and placed in containers a certain quantity of sweets. I had originally intended on putting their whereabouts in a bulletin with regards to them being in an unsecure location, but if she's the owner I can simply hand them off immediately.

Seriously, that was possibly the worst place one could think of to store foodstuffs.

>>346430

>cleanup

Want some experimental drones to help clean up? I need to test the new upgrades, including ease of use for first-time users.

>arschlöcher from your past

I appreciate the help with keeping Maria safe, let me know what kind of booze to pick up for you next time I get groceries.

>>346431

With that disaster averted, expect my arrival shortly to look at those materials you ordered.

>>346430

>subpoena

No. The only court willing to even consider treating him to a full trial was the Red Court of Wonderland. There will be no need for anything else.

Besides, you did everything by the book. Your side of the matter's been managed.

>damages

Drones dispatched, just let them know if something's too intricate to handle automatically.

>paperwork

Month's not up yet.

>prior group

Five of the Six are headed your way. That group's been on the radar for ages.

>fae

You've got Merryway's email, hopefully that's enough contact info.

>>346433

>>346422

Whenever you're ready.

>>346433

>>346435

I'll be there in a sec myself.

>>346433

>drones

Please.

>thanks

None needed. I'll be thrice fucked if I let these fuckers tear apart another family. I won't turn down some good bourbon, though.

>>346435

>no subpoena

Thank Ammit. No offense to Legal, but I hate going to court with a fiery passion.

>paperwork

I need to read it myself, to figure out what the hell they were up to in here. Whoever was running this warehouse has atrocious handwriting and only the barest understanding of the purpose of a paper trail. I genuinely can't tell you what orders I'm expected to send out right now.

>Six

I somehow doubt the Church of Illias has done something obviously illegal enough to get on the Wizards' radar. They're assholes of the highest caliber in my opinion, but they tend to keep their noses clean.

I've CC'd you on my email to Merryway. Short version for the observers is I'm going to waive punishment in lieu of favors owed, and slid her a list of people I might want to experience the full Seelie treatment in the near future. These are the people I think might be agitating when the treaty thing kicks off. Some of these people are related to me, biologically if nothing else. This is the real reason I'm having a bad night.

>>346437

Bring an empty synthsleeve.

>>346439

You got it, Mr. Cryptic.

>>346438

>illias church, radar

Clearly you don't know what sort of nutcases we Wizards are with regards to Love. Even the possibility of it being fervently denied to others is enough to garner a watchful eye. We do our level best to avoid getting involved simply because our own beliefs are by nature defensive and protective matters of healing, but the possibility of hostile action merits a response.

Jerrun's good with Psionomania. If you think you could use a bit of mental reinforcement, let him know. And they've got some of Yom's brew if you need some. Just act fast, they like the stuff a bit too much.

>Merryway

Received. I imagine you'll be getting your response shortly with details on what she intends. Make sure you confirm what you want and do not want. Fae, after all.

Alright, Zuzi, Kurt, to the matter of the packages.

First things first: the heavily warded fragile box…is a lie. Everything inside might as well be indestructible and unscryable for all the good attempting to harm or read them would do. The contents are, let's see…two featureless metal spheres, and one with microscopic levels of intricate detail. It's this last one who merits the warding - she does not like being unnecessarily woken. Speaking of…

Τζένναρι. Είναι ώρα. Wake up.

<…

Yes, I know. It's not a good time. But it's time nonetheless.

<…

What do you me- oh, of course. I look like I'm just talking to a metal ball, they can't hear you. Hang on, let me set you up with something to work with.

<…

Yes, it's bland, it's a generic sleeve. What, did you expect the porcelain and gold filigree?

<…

Look, just - let's make sure the core slot is empty, and slide you in. There, better?

<Mediocre. But it will suffice.

>>346442

It'll take time if porcelain and gold filigree is what you want. Mog's probably more suited to the artsy stuff than I am.

>>346442

Pardon my confusion, but what's going on?

>>346442

>nutcases

I mean, if they want to help, I certainly won't stop them. All I'm doing right now is setting contingencies in place, though. I'll have to grab their emails for when this thing goes down.

>Merryway

Oh yeah, I know how this works. Not the first time I've pointed the fae at someone.

>>346445

What he said.

>>346445

Entity in an enchanted artifact, of course. It happens more often than you'd think.

>>346448

I gathered that much, I've more sense than those sidhe in the advertising department that so thoroughly provoked me yesterday.

>>346444

<It is unnecessary. This Crafter is merely being…

Facetious?

<Stupid. Too many words, not enough content.

Fair point, I suppose.

>>346445

>>346447

>>346448

Getting to it.

So: you ever hear or read about Pinocchio? Old story, living doll, not necessarily a Living Doll, but you know the idea. It was also made up by -

<Time waster. Shush.

<I am "Pinocchio." I have a sister. These cores are possible others. We are like Living Dolls and Golems, but compatible with your "Synthsleeve" system due to what our cores are.

<Enchanted artifacts…smart Architect. These were made centuries ago. Four at the start. Only two left. No way of making more.

<We do not know how they were made. Only that they were, and are, and may always be.

<Things that tried to kill us…failed. Many things, stronger than you know.

<We started young, as children. We grew. Our cores grew with us. Old now. Old mind, disregard body. Kept learning. Will always keep learning.

<This is an offer. A chance. Our father is dead. He can make no more of us. You may have the remainder for your work. Test if you can use them for the child. Or do not. Your choice.

>>346450

The child? Maria already has a housing, why would we need to move her to a new one? Especially since there's unknown magic involved in it.

>>346450

>>346451

I suspect the thinking is that she'd be able to grow and develop in a more natural way in one of these housings, if she can be moved into it. That's certainly the conclusion I've drawn.

Tee, I like the possibilities this could open, but we need to talk about it and weigh the potential dangers with extreme care. Your thoughts?

Not that I'm not honored by the chance to study these cores. I assume they are yet to be initialized? Shouldn't they be allowed to grow into their own beings?

>>346454

"Possible" others, she said. Like an empty AI core, maybe? Nothing in them, therefore nothing to grow.

>>346454

>>346455

>like an empty AI core

That's my understanding as well. Can Pinocchio (let me know if you'd rather be called something else) confirm?

>>346451

<Need? No need. Moving unnecessary. Choice.

<Plain words: the offer is made for you to research the cores. If you find things that can help the child, good. What you do is your choice.

<The cores are no more or less magical than the soul within. Than the soul in the child's own housing. Pure soul reinforcement.

<Make no mistake: this is an offer only. I have lived well, from youth to now. The empty cores are empty entirely. They have never lived. If they never do live, so be it.

>>346453

<Cautious. Smart. All should be tested. No rash decisions. Time enough for this at least. Even for you as a mortal.

>>346454

>>346455

>>346456

<I am Jennari. "Pinocchio" is the title of the book our father used for our bedtime stories. It sold well.

<These cores are empty. Entirely. Any possibility of life stirring within must be brought from without.

<We were children. There was plague. Our father wished that we might not die. This was all he had to hand.

<The parallels between my sister and myself, and Maria, are why I make this offer.

<Your choice what to do next.

>>346453

That's a fairly colossal "if" we're talking about here. I mean, my studies thus far on the subject of magic are basic, but I'm pretty sure we'd have to know everything that was done to put her in her current core in detail before even considering this. What I think should be done… well, Maria already has a body, but there are other children in dire situations like hers. It'd have to wait until after we get this legal status situation nailed down, but these cores… they could save a life each.

>>346457

Thank you Jennari.

>>346458

>missing info

I imagine that the Sabbath members involved in the process might be willing to help given the new context.

>saving lives

You're right…. We should start by gathering as much info as possible on the process that would go into it, including attempting to figure out how to replicate these empty cores.

>>346458

<Farsighted. And shortsighted. Curious combination. You believe this is permanent? That it is the only path?

<Limited in view. Your bias confirms your thoughts. Think further. I would not have made the offer if I could not offer safety. Child's life is too much a price.

<The core is alive in the sense that it grows. It is also mere metal. A paradox. I have considered this long myself.

<Your "AI Cores" are inefficient for development. Too focused on hard-storage. Admirable effects regardless.

<These cores are focused on living memory. It is why they allow growth. My sister is not using hers actively. She is testing using your "AI Cores," as well as learning about these. It is why I know they allow removal and insertion.

<I only remain within mine because I wish to retain what is left of my father. These others are not that.

>>346459

<I have no thoughts on the Sabbath. They ignore me, and I ignore them.

<The process was simple. I held the core in my arms. My father gave me a last embrace. Then the plague ended me, and I awoke in this metal shell.

<I do not recommend using this method for others. Let them take on the form through your Architect's device, if that is suitable. It hurts to die.

<If you wish to chance making more, my sister is working doing just this as well as her other work. She has had no luck so far.

>>346459

I'll definitely be trying to replicate them, but no guarantees. It would help if we could get any notes he may have written, but if it was a plague then all his belongings may have been burned. As for Maria, I will say that she doesn't seem to be having any problems developing so far. It may be the equivalent of unnecessary surgery.

>>346460

You're right that our AI cores are inefficient for development, but she's not in one of our AI cores. The materials it's made of are like something out of Zuzi's stash, it's covered in some kind of eldritch runic or hieroglyphic spells, there's layer upon layer of enchantment that even experts have been hard-pressed to analyze completely. As for the method hurting… shouldn't the choice at least be offered if it's there? The conversion chamber that worked on me only facilitates a natural magical process of becoming mamono. It could easily be used on a woman as well as a pre-Alp, but the process isn't a cure-all. Someone with an aggressive terminal illness doesn't usually get cured when becoming mamono.

>>346461

>unnecessary surgery

You might be right, we're flying damn near to blind here. The limitations inherent in an AI core may have been overcome by the process that the Sabbath used, and we need to know if that's the case before we decide with regard to Maria.

>>346460

Are you referring to the chamber which facilitated Tandy's change, or the Dream-Link device that Zuzi and Shura came up with?

>>346461

>>346462

<Apologies if the tone was off. Was unaware of the child's container type. Only knew she was human turned AI.

<Not saying to deny the offer option. Merely recommending against it. Any other method would be better. Death is painful. I cannot adequately express it.

<Again, only sought to offer the cores. The offer is made. Your choice entirely what to do with them.

>>346463

<I am uncertain. Crafter, commune.

<…

<…The latter might suffice. Specifically a modification of the larger version. The smaller is meant for viewing, the larger for true change.

<Would not even need those useless angels. Only transferring the soul, not acting as medium for recombination.

<Regardless. The offer has been made. Make your choice on your own time. The cores are yours to work with.

<If you wish to work with my sister's research to gain any notes, this Crafter can provide the information.

<As for you, Crafter. I will not demand any more of these peoples' time. Remove me from this temporary shell, I wish to return to sleep.

>>346464

>>346463

The full-size dreamlink could probably be adapted to give a soul a path into one of these cores without having to experience death. Instead of having to wait for the moment of death as a catalyst event, a bridge could be made to make the transfer less painful.

>jenarri's speech style

…Cress? If I start talking like that in a few centuries, slap some sense into me, would you?

>>346466

Sounds like a good plan. Let me know what, if anything, I need to adjust from the mystical side of things.

Well, that's Jennari's show out of the way. Frankly, I'm still scratching my head as to why she didn't just contact you three given how she must have found out about the situation. Still, I'm not going to complain if it means more lives get saved, you know?

The other packages are a bit less exciting. They're mostly just some building materials I'll be using for my work on the Gen 3 drone prototypes. It's this substance called "Soulclay," stuff that interacts with your soul and takes on a form based on your will. Got it from an old colleague who asked me to try it out. Being as my tests showed it can be both sturdy enough to hold up a car and flexible enough to be flow around it, I thought it might be worth investigating further.

>>346469

>Soulclay properties

Look into the behavior of mundane ant colonies, it may provide some useful inspiration.

With all that's happened in the past couple hours, I'm gonna take some time to meditate. Page me if it's an emergency, if I don't respond in such a situation you'll be able to find me in the Finance server room.

>>346471

>ant behaviors

Kurt, why do you do these things, where you tell me about new ways the world works, and I end up in a trance that lasts hours and leads to an unexpected subplane full of carved-steel abstract sculptures? Farthest Shores, I'm almost slightly disturbed at how flexible the application set for this stuff is after taking those ideas into consideration. I've been able to have it flow into place to make a structure, cause micro-etchings in metals, and transfer signals from electrical wiring. It's even been viable as a set of manipulators; I made a backpack from it and extended some tendrils, and they're more precise than I've ever been able to manage with my own hands. This isn't just moving building materials, it's almost like that "mini-machine" stuff Zuzi mentioned a while back. I kinda wonder what an AI could do with it…

>>346543

>ant behaviors

My drones have incorporated this data in a cruder form this whole time.

>new ways the world works

"The universe will never cease offering lessons. May I forever pay them heed." That's the first lesson the Order of the White Lotus teaches a novice, and I learned it at a time when I needed some serious guidance.

Additional tests on the Soulclay have revealed organic applications. I can verify it allows for functional replacement vital organs, sensory organs, and limbs, with marked improvements over the baseline. No cellular rejection, and all manipulation characteristics are retained, albeit at greatly reduced capacity in organs requiring fairly static form. I might keep this new arm, honestly.

>>346570

Don't get me wrong, it's great help and I welcome it gladly. I just wish my own schooling had involved some of the lessons you seem to have already learned. I'm hoping I might still be able to learn them when I get to sessions with the monks.

Notice to all Advertising Department employees:

Due to the recent incident of policy breach and subsequent network breach, management has approved a mandatory training session this coming Monday for all Advertising staff on the topic of safe computer usage.

Failure to attend will be grounds for administrative reprimand.

>>346572

> replacement organs

Something blow up in your face or was trying that a just knock on the sky?

>schooling

That's the thing. The lessons my temple-dwelling brothers and sisters will have for you have one goal, to teach you the Lesson, capital "L" intended. I learned very little beyond basic schooling and spirituality directly from my teachers at the Abbey of the Iron Bones. The Lesson is paramount, and the part of it that led to me knowing as much as I do is expressed in the first lesson of the Lotus, which I quoted earlier.

>>346573

>replacement organs

Neither, I just had the stuff make replacements to test whether I could use them. Heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, one eye and one ear were a matter of direct cellular replacement, the left arm was a simple case of "chop off and make a new one." I mean, I can just pop 'em out and regrow if they go wrong, so it's not really any hazard, and if the data I gather goes toward medical use, it's worth it.

>>346573

>schooling ideology

More and more I'm looking forward to the sessions. Always happy to learn.

>>346572

Now that is pretty damn sweet. You're right that we could do much the same thing with a nanoswarm in terms of the gross material effects, but the organic ones? Basically, you might as well be part shoggy with that stuff. You're going to hook me up with some to play with, right?

>>346424

Heads up Worthington, I'm sending you all the information I have on the three prior Automaton transformation cases. The first one I have the most info on, because it happened in a GremTech facility in New Jersey. In 1979. Agnes Hagar, technician, 43 at the time. This one I do know the legal status of, GremTech stepped up as her legal Vendor. Next one was a victim of that 1998 incident in Texas where a shipment of grapes was replaced with a corrupting demon realm variety. Martha Hines, 29. And the third was in 2012 in Tokyo, Haruko Ueda, and this sentence is literally the only info I have on her.

>>346574

"Just a knock on the sky" is from the concept that one sounds an idea against the universe when they test it. The sky (specifically the night sky) being our view of the universe, one sounds an idea against the universe by knocking it against the sky and listening to the sound (observing the results). The connection was apparently inspired by a scene from a movie, where a man who is considered by many to be a spiritual leader called his meditation "Knocking on the sky, and listening to the sound."

>>346576

I swear the name "Ueda" sounds familiar. Wo zur hölle do I know that name from…..

>>346578

You're thinking of the director of the Team Ico trilogy, I think.

>>346576

>part shog

Don't be silly. I mean, just because fairly heavily involved in the insane underpinnings of reality, currently in direct control of most of this building, and actively replacing parts of my body…oh dear Source it's not that far-fetched at all.

>hook you up

What do you think the other two crates are there for? Help yourself.

>>346578

>knock on the sky

Ah, see, I hadn't heard that one before. In that case, yeah, that's pretty much my entire method of operations.

Also, is that training session available for drop-in? I don't think I've been making any errors on the comp usage safety thing, but I'd rather be sure than sorry.

>>346581

Maybe, I honestly don't know.

>>346582

>training session

I'm working with management on setting up a non-mandatory training session for a week or two out. If your department gets scheduled for a mandatory computer safety training with me, you're in trouble. Mandatory department-wide training session means enough people in your department demonstrated financially damaging levels of incompetence with computers that I've been told to drag your entire department kicking and screaming out of their own arschlöcher and set them straight by force.

Maintenance Bulletin:

Continuing the Department's work in updating the building's facilities and resources, the electrical systems of Building A will soon receive a complete overhaul. All facets of the access plugs, wall wiring, and general transfer cables will be inspected and any necessary repairs made. Immediately following, all parts of the grid will be reinforced with multiple redundancies, the wiring itself tripled in capacity, and hospital-grade uninterruptible power supplies installed on a per-floor basis.

In an attempt to ensure smoothness and stability of improvements, before the overhaul takes place the IT and R&D departments will be provided a series of forms for the purpose of more efficient, reliable systems re-configuration. Any additions or subtractions they wish to see made should be noted for inclusion.

Aside from the upcoming rebuild of the power systems, the Maintenance Department has been hard at work replacing the recently-removed sublevels formerly occupied by Doctor "Bile." The surrounding sublevels have been scrubbed clear of any and all contaminants, new rooms constructed to fill the void. All remaining abominations have been either destroyed or provided minor documentation and recommendations to psychiatric aid facilities as appropriate. With one exception there are currently no plans regarding what to use the newly-cleared space for, so any suggestions will be considered. The exception is a dedicated candy storage room, equipped with dedicated dehumidifiers for preservation of aforementioned candy. Boss Nullstricken, you can pick up the key from Maintenance at any time.

Additionally: as part of our desire to see that the next generation receives every possible opportunity, a modification to the Daycare paperwork has been submitted. Pending approval, the added condition will involve the creation of a trust fund of one hundred thousand dollars per individual enrolled. Control of said fund will be granted to the child's parents or guardians until the age of majority.

>>346584

>degree of incompetence

Fires of the Seared Stone, and I thought I was terrible with these things. These must have been actively, intentionally destructive if it was really that bad.

>later voluntary session prospects

Consider us signed up for the first set.

>>346584

This soulclay stuff is absolutely fascinating. I'm borrowing some to use as a sleeve for testing, things'll get weird later, love.

>>346585

>wiring upgrades

Pending managerial approval, I'd like to request that preparations for a transition from copper network cables to fiber optics for the building trunk lines, to prevent localized power surges from cascading to other areas as easily.

>terrible with computers

A) You're aware of it

B) You ask for help with it when needed

C) You're not a randy deviant visiting shady adult sites on the company network (Stallman's greasy beard I did not need to know what those girls are into)

D) You actively try to improve

>>346586

After what I had to see in the process of filling out the incident report, "weird" may be a breath of fresh air.

Also, Maria got her hands on an old prototype for one of my drones, and has started treating it like a pet. Just a heads up so that you don't have to worry about where it came from.

Jonno said I'm 'essentially' running Logistics. Disregard the 'essentially,' I am running logistics. This includes authority over Assets, Production, and Purchasing, among others. Got the pay raise to prove it and everything. Now that I've figured out what I'm doing for the most part, a few bulletins:

Production: I've sent you guys the list of what I think I need to send out in the next week. I'm pretty sure you guys already have this information, but I like to be sure.

Maintenance: Consider your stores raided. Simplifying our supply chain, and saving us some monies in the process. Relatedly, Purchasing, please stop purchasing things. I've sent you guys a list, stop buying these things until I say otherwise. Some of this stuff is stuff I can get from Maintenance's subplanes, some is just stuff we have a massive backlog of. Do I even want to know why we have so much silicone lying around?

Directors: I've submitted a list of changes I've made, including projected workforce changes, in accordance with our verbal agreement. You'll note that, by my projections, we're going to be making a bit more of a profit; I wish to note that this is due almost entirely to the aforementioned changes in the supply chain.

>>346587

>advertising deviancy

One of the little deviants left their phone open and playing in Receiving before the Bile Removal. They weren't looking at anything I hadn't seen before, at least not on their own devices. Now you've got me morbidly curious what they were watching on a monitored company workstation.

Soulclay test results set three: I have successfully transformed my soulclay-replaced left arm into an exact replica of a basic synthsleeve arm, complete with circuitry and electronic connections. I have absolutely no idea how it operates on the technological level, only that it functions and integrates through the 'clay with my own biology, and is viable when directly transplanted onto an empty synthsleeve frame and basic system diagnostics are requested. I then reconverted the 'clay arm into a basic organic variant, as well as varieties of simple metal prosthetics; currently using a bizarre flowing metallic-substance. Possible additional bridge between organics and synthetics? Definitely requires further testing. Considering testing partial brain modification with contingency dependent on self-destruct and LRS activation, but I'll need to think on it.

@Zuzi: Sorry about stealing the sleeve, needed it for a hypothesis. I made sure it was empty first, promise.

>>346587

>fiber optics

Ordered. I'll be needing your assistance in planning their routing, so be ready with diagrams.

>>346588

>stores raided

Glad you're able to use it. Anything greater than a two-thirds depletion will require two days for restock, bear that in mind.

Also, expect a shipment of fiber optics in the near future.

>>346589

If it didn't protest you taking it, then of course there was nobody operating it at the time.

>>346588

>left their phone open and playing

Embed related. Those idioten are unable to view certain sites on their phones because the sites in question are eitrige eiterwunden of code too poorly written to be opened on a mobile device. And the content is worse than the quality of the site code.

>>346589

It'll be a 1:1 replacement of the current copper trunk lines between floors with fiber optic trunks, only changes from existing network wiring are the type of trunk lines and the interfaces used to connect said trunks to the IDFs they link to..

>>346589

>restock parameters

Good to know.

>fiber-optic cables

Order received, estimate's three days out.

>>346592

>embed related

I figured. That remedial lecture they're about to get is absolutely justified.

>site quality

One of those websites where the source code is in all caps and overuses <marquee> tags? Say no more.

So, I've been taking stock of the warehouses, and apparently we just happen to have a bunch of mimics hanging around. I know for a fact that none got shipped in through Receiving, because I'd have caught them. So where did they come from? Are they on someone's payroll? Far as I know they're not under my aegis…

Soulclay test results set four: I've decided to completely forego brain modification. That sort of thing is best left to a team of Gremlins and Mindflayers; I'll stick to what I can safely manage with my meager understanding. Instead, I've focused on testing making a mind-machine interface through the 'clay. So far, things are working realttttively smoothly…going to leave errors in for reference when fine-tuning the interface. Regardless, as everything in this report has been "typed" by way of a connection from the left arm to a standard(?) comadfputer connector and a visualized keyboard, I'd say there's aaaaa measure of success to be found. Definitely could be useful for the next drone generation. Integration with other systems? Possible spread of drone control and programming between departments? Potential indeed, have to investigate yet further.

Moving back to physical hardware now, because the unconfigured interface is still a headache to use.

>>346590

It's still technically gaffing stuff from your department, and I really should have submitted a request first. Either way, all results of these tests will be available for your reading when I get around to properly writing them up. I'm going to be ordering more of the soulclay for my use in future projects; do you think it's useful enough to merit a more regular supply?

>>346592

>cabling details

Got it, should be easy enough to swap in. Expect to see the work begin as soon as the shipment arrives.

>>346593

Regarding restock: if we're likely to need anything in quantities larger than currently stocked in the near future, you can either use Kurt's tracking system to make a request, or simply make a note and let me know. Depending on the situation I might be able to rush the stockpiling, but I make no guarantees at this time.

And thanks for getting on that order so quick, it'll make the upgrades much smoother.

And on that note, I feel I need to take a step away from all this work and focus on my family for a bit. I'll be back in as usual on the morrow, but I might be a bit late depending on how the little ones behave. They've been good, and deserve a bit of a treat, I think.

>>346593

They came in on some Chinese shipment, hiding in a pallet of assorted consumables, I thought they were adorable so I kept them, mostly to fuck with Gaz. They've got remarkably good memories. Not to mention buy them a present every now and then and they're more than willing to 'pop' at any bored trespassers wanting to fuck with things.

>>346595

>adorable

Given that the first one I opened started singing something about her "tits in a box," I think they've graduated. Got me to laugh for the first time in a while, though. They can stay. Hell, if they want to earn a salary, I can use more hands picking orders.

>>346594

>cable swap

Let me know before you start, I should be the one to bring the IDF connections offline and back online for the changeover.

>tracking system

I've pushed an update to have the reports it generates also include forecasts of demand for each tracked resource based on previous demand. Should get more accurate as time goes on.

>>346593

>bad source code

It was written in some language from another plane. Damn thing's layout made BrainFuck look readable by comparison.

Hello!

First time logging in and using the system. First day too! Anything I should know about working here? It's my first job with a large company, and I'm kind of nervous. Used to provide one on one care for the elderly, but the company was bought out.

A friend referred me to this place and warned me of the more… aggressive employees. he also said that I personally shouldn't worry about being molested due to my pudgy physique. any truth to that, or should I pack some mace just to be safe?

>>346615

You'll definitely want some kind of protective measures during the full moon. Personally, I'd say to keep your preferred defensive tool on you go build good habits. You probably won't need it, as the only time the kind of aggression your friend warned you of is common is the full moon.

The most aggressive approaches in non-full-moon times are typically built around people trying to schedule unneeded one-on-one meetings with an alternative motive. See >>341764 for an example.

>>346615

>>346626

Also, willkommen an bord.

>>346615

The Yeti in HR likes cuddly guys. Hell, as long as you're not do big as to require a forklift to get to your desk you're gonna get some second looks. Doubly so when they hear about your previous role. Male nurses melt monster panties for some reason.

Goooood morning, everyone! Sorry I'm late getting in, but hey, I did say I might end up delayed. The kids just loved romping around that forest, took me forever to work up the will to call them in. Gonna have to replace the trees at some point.

>>346598

>cable warning

Can do, and will do.

>tracking update

Are you sure you're not a mage? Because you read my mind.

>>346615

Welcome, good to have you on board! Hope you enjoy working here, it's a great place.

Things to know? Let's see. With regards to physical matters, stay out of the sub-sub-sub basement tunnels, the ones with all the salt and chanting.

With regards to the employees… Our R&D group have turned an employee into a robot and intend to make a more streamlined, reliable method for others to have the same sort of fun time; IT is capable of single-handedly wrassling dragons (purely for company matters) and will ensure proper tech safety is followed; Logistics is a guy powered by raw force of will and known for wrangling Cheshires to a prank-free working environment; Legal is run by a man you will address as "Sir;" Management are alternately wonderful people and terrifyingly willing to possibly use continent-scorch levels of power over candy; and Maintenance is headed by an absolutely insane technologically-impaired Wizard who may have accidentally started becoming a bizarre imitation-Shoggoth in his attempts to ensure this building never needs to be cleaned again but can be distracted by paperwork and discussions of magic and Love. It's all great fun, you should see the parties - that's when things really get wild.

Oh, and we have an ongoing battle with the Sabbath over their constant efforts to infiltrate the facility, there was a mad researcher here for a while, and whatever your physical characteristics, chances are you will get "proactive date" attempts one way or another. They're Mamono, that's just a thing that happens - either find a relationship you want, or prepare relatively-peaceful means to avoid one you don't.

>>346635

>Are you sure you're not a mage?

I may be getting close to a point where I can use some of the supernatural techniques of the White Lotus, but I'm not there yet. A good tech can and will anticipate the needs of a project to the best of their ability, and usage forecasting is an incredibly useful metric to have for future improvements.

>>346615

Your friend is definitely messing with you, if the ladies aren't interested, be worried. And if they're giggling behind your back on top of that, get your Spirit output tested right away, because it's probably already too late.

>>346626

Thanks! I'll Keep all these things in mind. So far the only worrisome thing I've seen is a few glares at the human pinup I hung in my cube. And someone stole it when I went to lunch.

>>346634

I guess that explains the hug. TO be honest, I'm from a small boonies town. Only non-human in town was a Harpy who owned a bookstore. So, I'm a bit unaccustomed to being around non-humans, and want to be as unoffensive as possible.

>>346635

Well… That is a lot to take in at once… I'm just here for data entry. Didn't know we did this kinda stuff.

Well, I'll post again later. A nice lady with horns just told me I have some new-hire paperwork to finish, so I have to follow her.

>>346640

>new-hire paperwork

Well, that was fast.

Maintenance Bulletin:

Recent Developments with a substance known as "Soulclay" have led to a breakthrough development for Maintenance work. Tentatively dubbed the "soulforge" (name pending, will accept better titles), this device is capable of using the willpowered aspects of soulclay to more efficiently manipulate and set materials into place e.g. taking a block of steel and extruding filament wire or sheeting.

While useful for the drone network, this new system has a far more important use: item duplication through equivalent material recombination. The full-scale soulforge is capable of taking an input example item for comparison and a set of ingredient materials, and through reading the user's will the device crafts additional instances of the example. In order to take advantage of this system, a subplane dubbed the Forge has been opened alongside the Warehouse, and three soulforge devices are currently available for use.

It should be noted that the devices are still only roughly fifty (50) percent efficient. When making use of the Forge, be prepared to bring a bit more than double the raw resources. Also, there are currently no pre-set options for recreations, and a sample will be required for any forge session. Both of these limitations are being worked on, and with any luck greater efficiency and possibility of presets will be made available for the next iteration of the devices. However, despite these flaws there are currently few apparent restrictions on the complexity of the duplicated item - testing on minor circuitry all the way up to a test-dummy synthsleeve have shown complete effect. The one caveat is that organic material cannot be replicated - so no, you can't go about making a bunch of food with the forges.

>>346641

Surprised it took this long, honestly.

>>346641

Well, I think HR saved my ass. I was about to sign some papers when the Yeti in HR ushered me back to the cubicle and told me there is no new-hire packet. She also said to be careful about signing everything in sight.

I've gotta go. The Hellhound across from me is leering. Did I piss her off or something?

>>346594

>It's still technically gaffing stuff from your department, and I really should have submitted a request first.

Shu, you're doing more actual researching and developing than half of my staff. Please use my supplies for whatever you need.

>>346646

On the one hand, I don't think the new guy is likely to alp, given how much attention he seems to be getting. On the other hand, he seems a little slow on the uptake in regard to situational awareness.

I think I'm gonna have some of my drones take steps to keep this guy from getting taken advantage of too quickly, give him some time to learn.

>>346648

Like I said, I have little experience with non-humans. Just trying to figure out the difference between hunger, anger, and desire. If that is even what I'm seeing. Not used to being looked at like that.

Don't worry about sending drones to watch over me. I think I'll be fine. Other than a few scandalous looks, nobody has tried anything. Looks like my friend did indeed over exaggerate.

>>346647

If you say so, still feels a bit odd. Should have a proper draft of the testing results ready in a few hours.

>>346648

>new guy

He'll be fine. He's no Zeke, but his soul's definitely on the brighter side.

>drones

…Can I borrow maybe two or three of yours? Don't need to be in any sort of heavy functionality config, just need to test some things.

>>346654

>drones

Expect a few different configurations to arrive.

Also, I need to update my previous statement on the subject of supernatural abilities. I just succeeded in producing a Ki Surge whilst doing my exercises.

Soulclay test results set five: I've made use of the datalink ability afforded by the soulclay arm in "synthsleeve format" to once again pseudo-directly link my mind with a technological device, this time drone units provided by the IT Department. While not quite so true a connection as that afforded by my own network, I've been able to get the tech drones to take off and land without crashing into things, see through their sensors (albeit with great headache afterwards), and with some luck I may be able to transfer what I've learned through the connection into development of a minimally-invasive nervous-system bridge for direct links between organic, magical, and synthetic networks. So far all I've been able to devise is a means by which the Network drones can interact and communicate with tech drones. They're slow in response to commands entered from either side, but a bit of practice and perhaps some programming/arraywork should make integrating systems possible in the future. Golemartistry tends to lead to intensely personalized systems, whereas technology generally focuses on standards, so this may take some time. Haven't gone about testing any sort of control over the "test dummy" synthsleeve unit, a bit leery of direct manipulation of that sort. If required, however, I can set up a testing environment, although I will need assistance from R&D for the matter.

Secondarily, and on non-soulclay testing, I've begun work on preparing a variation on the AP Jet power system in line with ideas suggested by the IT Department. A minimal-output jet portal has been set in line with a coil system on which every possible form of thermal ward has been cast, outputting electrical energy to a capacitor bank (appropriate term?) from which power is drawn for use as needed. This has been attached to two of the tech drones, and after some tweaking they have been capable of constant flight without appearing to deplete charge. More intense trials will be necessary, as the system is yet inefficient and only provides a trickle charge compared to the full potential available to a larger generator, but it does show promise.

>>346662

>multiple drone configs

Extremely helpful, made it possible to test more than I was expecting. I'm sending a couple of the test units with the preliminary AP Jet induction generators attached for you to look at. Thanks for the inspiration on that front. I'm also sending some of my own drones back to you with a basic dronetype bridge-interface for you to try when you have time and inclination. I've removed the various tool implements, so they're just "birds" that can move absurdly fast if need be, but I imagine you could figure out ways to make them do all sorts of things. If nothing else, having a separate eye to compare the way

>ki surge

Congrats? No clue what this could be, but I imagine it's something useful if it's got a dedicated name.

Zuzi, got the first draft of the test trials ready for you to look over (this and the prior, in full-detail format), sending it to your inbox. Sorry the notes are all over the place, hopefully, they'll be legible enough for use. Also sending a copy of the jet-induction generator, should help with getting the big boiler generator calibrated.

Bloody messenger pigeons, confound it all.

>>346670

*If nothing else, having a separate eye to compare the way the "VR" systems operate and overall performance of the drones in general would be appreciated.

>new guy

Welcome aboard. Friendly reminder to all staff that Receiving, and now the full set of Logistics warehouses, are refuges for anyone that feels they are in danger. Just ask any of Shura's drones for an escort.

>>346635

>raw force of will

I see we're trying flattery.

So, apparently I have to handle the claims from Customer Service now. There's a job I thought I was done with…

R&D: I have a distressingly high number of returns of the new My Cuddle Boyfriend. Some return ticket highlights include:

>A Sabbath-aligned customer is complaining that the Boyfriend attempts to grope her breasts

>A ghost that says the Boyfriend's internal mechanisms are not ectoplasm-resistant

>A kraken that says the Boyfriend failed to work at a depth of 1000m underwater despite being "waterproof"

>>346670

>Test results

I'm sending down a prototype monarch unit, should play nicer with your soulclay interface after the tweaks I've made based on the telemetry. It's also got a design for a multi-stage hybrid induction/thermal power plant designed to interface with the AP Jet in a more efficient manner.

>drones

First thing on the testing docket is going to be getting them to seamlessly mesh with the hierarchy for my network.

>ki surge

To put it in terms you've used before, it's a basic manipulation of spirit energy. Putting enough force behind it can produce waves of raw kinetic energy, thermal energy, magical energy, or other energy.

>>346674

That's pretty much par for the course. Behavioral issues like the first we send to Programming for firmware updates, and we're actually working on the second in the next-gen version. The third goes to Marketing to be covered on the packaging and instructions because while we could make something that operates at that depth but it wouldn't operate as well, and many other features would have to be sacrificed.

Unrelated subject, how's your Spirit energy holding up with all the magic practice you've been doing? I want to know if I should have the isolation pod on standby up here and a mana donor on call.

>>346676

>prototype: interface

Much better at interactions, next to no headache. Still a bit woogy on the controls, but that's just because I'm used to direct spatial repositioning as opposed to the various hardware thrust systems. A bit of practice should get that hiccup dealt with.

>prototype: power plant

Aside from the expected need to calibrate the jet and add thermal wards, it works like a charm. Plenty of surplus power, honestly; I'm going to include a tweak that transfers additional power via portallink to networked Nobles and Workers. It's still an early pattern and will need adjustment, but with a bit of work it might eliminate need to charge, making standard models more viable overall.

>>346687

Try letting the onboard processors handle the micromanagement of thrust, and watch the way they do it.

>>346678

Zuzi, expect to receive telemetry data from all this drone testing soon.

>>346687

Even for digital folks it can take some time adapting to differently configured bodies. You'll get better with practice.

>>346678

>spirit

Still dangerously low. Is Spirit affected by one's mental state? If that's the case I can explain why I'm still a step away from alphood at the moment. Otherwise, I've got nothing.

>prototypes

Oh I know, can't plan for all the failure modes and all that. It's still funny to see how users can break things.

>>346688

>>346689

Funny you should mention that…

Embed related (assuming I did it right) is very much an example of what just happened. I tried linking in and using that advice, and eventually got fairly deep into just…flying around, basically dancing. Even just closed my eyes for a while to enjoy the feeling. Momentum-based propulsion was never something I could get into, so gaining a better understanding…it was nice.

Then Test Dummy ends up crashing into the drones without warning, because apparently either the prototype Monarch is too bloody powerful for its own good, or my use of a direct replica of Dummy's arm led to a sympathetic link that meant it was part of the pseudonetwork. Its eyes were closed, I'm guessing, because mine were. So I guess now we've got some test data on soulclay-linking a human mind and a sleeve. I'm not sure whether to be more confused, disturbed, interested at possibilities or horrified at the prospect of possible mindjack. Better make sure the wireless systems don't go overboard on the next iteration.

>>346696

It sounds like you were linking directly to the sleeve like AI do. Poor Zooz, all this work she's been doing on VR-to-sleeve interface and you've just gone and made it completely obsolete.

>>346696

>collision

You somehow overrode the collision avoidance protocols on the drones without noticing any of the warnings. The monarch's control software interface must not have found all the right data connections in your control setup.

>>346698

>direct linking i.e. subsuming

…I'm going to be hearing rumors that I'm a secret Shoggoth by the end of the week, aren't I.

The bizarre part is, I can't seem to make the link stop. I'm not connected to the monarch, and I've tried resetting the 'clay arm to something else, but it's still active…and I think the arm is stuck this way. Not a bad thing per se - part of the point of making the new arm a techbased thing was having access to the tools - but it being stuck is worrying. As it is I'm having to divide my attention to keep Dummy from straight-up replicating my movements. I mean, it could be useful, but it's a little unnerving.

>obsolete

I doubt it. The degree of ease-of-use and accessibility of Zuzi's system means that my little cheat with the replacement arm will never catch on.

>>346701

With how deep I was in just enjoying having finally gotten it right, that's probably the case. I'll make sure to keep my head in the game for the next set of tests.

>>346703

Try powering down all the devices connected to the arm and then resetting the arm itself.

Always heard data entry was boring. And it is! Every now and then something chuckle worthy has to be processed, but what saves this job for me is seeing what goes on in other departments.

Sat down with my Hellhound coworker who sits across from me and we chatted a few things out. Found out her name was Angelina, discussed my country bumpkin level of knowledge about mamono, and why everyone is interested in me.

I also took the time to explain that I prefer human women and she snorted. Said I didn't know what I was missing.

Question time. If one were to theoretically take one of these mamono up on their offers, would that stop with the constant attempts at seduction? It's kind of interfering with my job.

>>346706

Yep. Most of the mamono around here won't go after you if you're taken. So if you are theoretically finding yourself interested in a theoretical someone, you should theoretically go for it.

>>346705

>turn it off and on again

Tried that. Even took the ruddy thing off at the shoulder. Dummy nearly ripped its own arm off before I caught the action. No change, aside from being half-disarmed. Only reason I'm not more worried is my lovely three seem to find the whole situation absolutely hilarious and they tend to know better than I what is and isn't safe for me.

On that note, R&D? I'll be down shortly with this arm and the Dummy, hopefully you'll be able to figure something out as to what's happening.

>>346707

Alright challenge accepted. I'm tired of the single life, human or no. Angelina says we could make an event of it. So, I'm gonna let her plan it out.

>>346708

First thing's first, we need to get you disconnected from everything you've been casting into, especially that dummy. We'll get you into an isolated room, that should stop the connections to anything outside of it.

>>346711

>disconnect, isolate

I've pulled myself off the drone network, and you've got my arm and the Dummy. Ready when you are.

Attention to all you singles out there! Harlen has agreed to move in with whoever wins our little contest (says he lives in a hotel right now) so get ready!

Scavenger hunt! First to find him wins!

P.S. Mind that you don't damage the building, Maintenance will not appreciate it. Everyone remembers the Christmas Party….

>>346712

Okay, now that there's nothing connected, and shutting the arm down isn't working, it's still soulclay so try changing it. Make it less technological, less complex.

>>346714

>change it

I've been trying to do that without any luck ever since Dummy started moving. I mean, I can give it another go for good measure, really put my full force of will behind it. Gimme a second, need to focus on

<the thing.

<…

<…Clearly I messed something up, because I didn't intend to telep - oh by the Third Strain you have got to be kidding me.

>>346713

Yeah, thanks for sending every single girl in the company through my warehouses. Bulletin to all: The Mimics don't like intruders. I may or may not have given them flashbangs. Take due heed and govern yourselves accordingly.

>>346716

>sudden gender change

Oh this ought to be good.

>>346719

<Oh, please, I'm just apparently accidentally remoteusing the Test Dummy sleeve. No real difference from the False Golem interfaces I've used in the past for the drones, I just didn't expect it to happen so suddenly. I'm guessing it's because of the metaphysical sympathetic magical connection. One moment.

That's better. Considering that dropping focus on the relevant item - specifically the arm - drops the connection, I'm thinking it's simply that - metaphysical sympathetic in nature, not technological. Hmm…

Testing, testing, yadda yadda.

<Testing, testing, yadda yadda.

>>346720

Let's bring up the wards then and get you actually isolated from it.

>>346722

I don't know, this could be useful. I mean, having access to multiple perspectives on a reliable basis would be an immense boon to getting the magical and technological sides of things merged, you know?

>>346719

>Singles Parade

Sorry about that. Angelina thought it would be fun to blow off steam.

Unfortunately the hunt is over. I thought I was clever by not hiding, but taking a smoke break by the dumpsters. Something heavy and wet knocked me down and formed into a woman. Definitely odd. She did a fistpump and tapped away at her own phone. Upon looking up at me she began speaking, but I don't understand a lick of it. My head also hurts.

What am I dealing with here? And why are there so many eyes?

>>346723

I thought you came here to get this disengaged, but if you're happy with the way things are then have a nice day, I guess?

System message: Voice Recognition activated

Sorry about the voice rec, got my hands full of dragon shoulder at the moment. Machiko's tense as all hell after the Danuki Finance Union meeting this morning. Ow. Well you ARE…

>>346674

>In charge of Customer Service claims

Oh FUCK no. They tried that when The Preceptor and us first lobbed too. We have a whole team dedicated to customer relations. Likely whoever told you is a member of said team, otherwise they're on the org chart.

Tell them to stop chasing the new guy and do their damn job or I'll put them over my… Hey! You know you really need to work on your concept of personal sp…

Ms Tatsuyokai here. If my Benny is forced to spank any of you harlots I'll incinerate you, that is all.

GIVE IT! Right, do that again and I'll put YOU over my knee… I don't care, I don't have to sign for the insurance… Right, speaking of new guy…

>>346706

>I prefer human women

Have you heard about the Word of the Lord of Light?

>>346709

>challenge accepted

Bugger… Ah well, don't wear your good pants mate, and dialing 222 from any internal handset will put you in contact with the duty first-aid officer.

>>346724

…Shura does that count? I thought Li'ir was on duty this week.

>>346727

Everything is cooling down now. A winner has been declared, and what the fuck…

She just turned into a tent. Still speaking gibberish. More eyes. Fuck it. I wanna see where this goes. Message back in a bit. Going inside.

>>346724

>slime

>eyes

>eldritch language

Shoggoth. No experience with shogs myself, beyond favor trading. Good luck, mate.

>>346730

I'll say a prayer for your pelvis. And send you some Gatorade, Ammit knows you're about to need it.

>>346727

>people passing off their jobs on the new guy

Good to know, thanks. On a totally unrelated note, I need to make a detour to a certain office, it seems someone ordered a large shipment of dildos and I will be delivering it personally..

>>346725

Frankly, I was just trying to figure out what was happening. I appreciate the help, definitely, but I've never been one to blindly throw away potential new tools and abilities if they're not hurting other people.

And I can think

<of a lot of ways

to use this for

<quite interesting ideas.

If nothing else, I might finally get one over on the Cheshires.

>>346727

Hey, if she can manage her duties and still have time for her own business, I'd say she's doing exactly what I'm doing.

Also, could you please get your significant other to get around to either approving or denying the Daycare trust fund thing already? I can't send off the checks until the document's finalized.

>>346733

>Daycare trust fund

This is new, I don't even think I've seen it come across her desk. I'll bring it up with her.

Oh… On a completely unrelated topic. Jade, Gazza left what looks like an old nintendo power glove in the office in assets, could you get a drone or suitably useless employee to nip that one up to us? Cheers mate.

Whazzat hun? Oh… Nevermind what it is, nothing you need to concern yourself about…

:^)

>>346731

I'm back in the cube. Either the eyes drove me mad, or she's speaking English now. I'll take that Gatorade, I feel so… dry. She tried to tell me her name but the headaches came back, so she said to just call her Prudence.

Not sure how I feel about what happened, but on the plus side I have somewhere to live besides the crappy hotel.

And now I can actually get some work done. Prudence returned to her duties doing… something. and banter with co-workers is more in line with what I expected it to be.

Don't tell management I effectively had a 1 hour smoke break. Most of which was spent getting to know another co-worker/future spouse.

>>346735

>loving the power glove

but its so bad

In all seriousness, I've delegated that to one of Shura's drones. Have fun.

>>346739

Gatorade airdrop en route. I recognize the name Prudence, actually, I think she works in HR, of all places. Keep an eye out, they've been known to try to order manticore venom in bulk.

Maintenance Bulletin:

At the bottom of the next hour, the drone network will be taken offline by portions for another inspection and revamp of systems in line with improvements developed with assistance from the IT Department. This overhaul will take approximately the remainder of the hour, at which point the network will be brought back online in full with a projected near-doubling of effectiveness.

Secondarily, a synthsleeve responding to Test Dummy has been added to the Maintenance Department staff, and will be available to assist with all the same functions as standard drones in a more humanoid package. And don't call it Shirley.

In addition, @Angelinam: I'm going to let this one slide because no actual damages took place. Don't do it again without checking beforehand.

>>346740

>delegated

Order received.

>>346735

>"power glove"

On its way, and if you need details on the "trust fund" check one of my prior Bulletins.

Kurt, I need your assistance setting up an additional mail account for Maintenance, for use by my three dears. With everything that's been going on they've been asking me to get them their own communication platform. Really, it's been a bit long in coming, anyway. They've requested the username "Warband" for whatever reason; would it be available for use?

On a separate note: IT, R&D, I think I'm going to take a bit of time to read through roughly all the tech manuals in existence. Let me know if there's any in particular I should get to studying for actually understanding my new situation. I mean, it's bizarre, but it should make for a whole mess of new and unusual learning opportunities and research chances. Just gotta figure out what I'm bloody well doing.

>>346741

>warband

>mount and blade

My inner nerd is squealing in delight.

>>346739

Management tends to look the other way in cases like this because, as you noted earlier, single workers tend to have lower productivity around here.

>>346740

Thanks. For the drink and warning. I've got to catch up on work I missed today. Though distractions seem commonplace here.

>>346744

Noted.

>>346741

Sorry for the delay, account should be now active under the name Warband@maint.mamonocorp.int

>manuals

I'm sending primers on the fundamentals of computer technology, computer networking, and wireless data transmission to your office. They're hardcopies of the industry standard instructional materials on the subject, I highly suggest you familiarize yourself with them at least to the point that you could explain the basics to one of your wives.

On an unrelated note, I can now produce a Ki Surge with a moment's concentration beforehand.

Hell of a first day, but Prudence and I are headed home. Can't wait for tomorrow. May dig through the archives tonight, see what kind of shenanigans I've missed out on in the past several days.

Catch you all later!

>>346741

Magic tutoring question, I think I've got a pretty good start on Elementalism, where do we go from here if I want to protect or shield someone from harm?

Test Dummy research log one:

Most functions are online, due to only the core not being installed and therefore my mind taking those duties. Dummy is reasonably strong, sturdy, and can parse through data quite quickly. Sadly, without a core installed I don't have access to permanent memory storage methods, only the randomly-accessed portion, so I'll need to either rely on my own brain for this purpose or purchase a dedicated hard-drive. Have to decide how much capacity I'd need.

Based on the manuals, I think I could get a great deal more control over the Network by tying into Dummy's own systems. If nothing else, it's built with that capacity as part of its inherent abilities. Additionally, I might be able to split the network into an additional Monarch unit to take advantage of this increased dataflow power.

<As regards how it feels to work from within Dummy, well, it's just amazing how much more quickly I can think. Is this how Tandy felt when she first woke up that day? Might have to work on constant-enhancements to my own brain's thoughts to keep up.

<Also, moving around is incredibly precise when not done automatically. Not sure how I feel about that yet.

<Could definitely do with some customization, though; this is most definitely a basic model, and nothing like the enhancements I'm used to.

With regards to why I ended up bonding with Dummy, I've got two bits I've worked out. First, there's the sympathetic bond made when I directly copied its arm for my own. That much established a link between it and myself. Second, there's the reason I've come to believe explains the permanence of the bond: the clay baked. To clarify, I believe that the soulclay is only malleable for a certain amount of time after a particular form is decided upon, and after that point additional affirmation of the form's worth to the subject strengthens and hardens its existence. While I was just messing around with having a plastic arm, it was fine with changing constantly, but when I decided I very much wanted a means to interface with technology, that started the hardening process. Have to consider that for future soulclay applications - that it's only malleable until given purpose.

>>346751

Thanks for the manuals, they're proving immensely helpful. I think I'm starting to understand the very basic early fundamentals for once.

>email created

Believe me, my three are appreciative. Unfortunately, well, we're also going to need to get a new terminal in here…or I'm going to need to start posting from Dummy. Might do that anyway, if it proves convenient enough.

>>346760

First, a bit of a nitpick: it's ElementaRism, not ElementaLism. The elementals are picky about their race name getting used for the purpose.

Syntropomancy and Realitwisting are the way to go for this. Realitwisting lets you make the shield, Syntropomancy makes sure nothing that ends up getting through causes any harm. Realitwisting is what you should start with for this purpose, and I'm available for the matter any time.

Also, at some point we need to meet regarding Test Dummy. It's nice enough as it is, but I need to pick your brain regarding possible modifications…and admittedly appearance, as my dears have demanded I get it looking at least partially presentable.

Notice to all staff:

As part of the consolidation of Assets, Logistics, and Receiving, the Mimics that were until now residing in the orders warehouse have been officially hired as security guards. They have all marked their outer shells with specific symbols for identification; I have attached a few images for reference, please do not show these to anyone outside the company. The Mimics have been armed with nonlethal incapacitation devices - tasers and the like - so be sure to check any suspicious box for these marks before opening it.

They have advised me that they will open up without blowing the opener's eardrums off if you knock on the lid in a specific pattern. They neglected to reveal this pattern to me. Open at your own risk.

Unofficially, the Frans are basically running Receiving for the time being because I can only do but so many things at once. May Ammit have mercy on your packages.

>>346762

>ElementaRism

Noted. I've already been reading up on Realitwisting and the synchronicity with Discordian philosophy is startling. What exactly is the scope of Syntropomancy?

>>346764

You know how Gremlins have two questions? Syntropomancy demands two of its own: "Can it be restored?" and "Can it be improved?" Originally, the school's intent is the reversal and prevention of Entropy, although the most wide-spread effective uses are simply Healing and Enhancement. The required mindset for a proper Syntropomancer involves a deep understanding of the inherent desire Love has for bettering the world and all in it.

With dedication, a Syntropomancer has no biological limits, and few inorganic restrictions. Realistically speaking, once you get to my level of the school you might as well be immortal - telomeres never degrade, anything more than a third of your vitals and brain remaining intact is enough to regenerate in a minute, and anyone in a roughly twenty-meter radius is pretty much guaranteed automatic moderate-rate healing regardless of situation. So long as they've got Spirit for Vis, a Syntropomancer can stand against the world. After all, they embody what the Source wants most of all: protection of potential Love.

So what is the scope of Syntropomancy? Love, Life, and the value found in all its forms.

>>346767

So to make a defensive shield, Realitwist would define the volume and topology of the shield, and Syntropomancy would tell the volume what it's expected to do?

>>346770

In a word, yes. That's basically all you need to get started.

"Realitwisting makes the shield and the aspects that provide its nature of 'protection.' Syntropomancy reinforces this both on the shield itself, and above, and underneath." Realitwisting lets you decide how the shield manifests, how complex it is, how its physical and metaphysical natures interact with what you're protecting against; Syntropomancy makes the shield a protective barrier. They work well enough apart, but best together.

>>346762

>terminal request

New terminal inbound.

>storage

I may have something you can use temporarily.

>>346763

>cheshires running receiving

Heads up to the Frans, IT orders expensive equipment and components on a regular basis. If you break it, the bosses will likely take it out of your paycheck. Please have your fun without doing any permanent damage.

>>346767

>Syntropomancy effects on practitioners

I wonder if that's related to the capabilities of some of the older monks of the White Lotus. Ever have your arsch handed to you on the sparring mat by a human with three or four centuries of age on you before?

>>346772

Peanut gallery here, just making sure I understand: Realitwisting creates a physical barrier with certain properties, in a certain position, etc., that might be useful for defense, but Syntropomancy specifically makes it a metaphysically protective barrier, instead of a barrier that happens to be protective based on its physical properties. That's an interesting division of labor; why couldn't I, hypothetically, use Realitwisting to achieve the same effect? That is, to say, "I have a barrier here; it is both metal (or whatever) and metaphysically protective," instead of just "I have a barrier here, made of whatever" and Syntropomancing it together. Is it just a matter of efficiency?

>>346774

They're under strict orders to not screw up the important stuff. Your components will remain undamaged, or there will be consequences.

>>346774

>terminal, storage

Thank you kindly, should make both general operations and further tests much smoother.

>beat up by an old guy

Once a day, every day, for about ten years. Twice if I was lucky.

>>346775

Realitwisting alone can make a shield of multiple layers with counterrotational properties and various materials that blocks most things. It's also horribly inefficient, since you have to focus on making the barrier alongside making it stay up and intact. But it could be done, certainly.

Where Syntropomancy comes into play and full form is taking that shield you make, and turning it from a basic block against something into a metaphysical

NO

that you shout against the hostile force. Where instead of it merely being a ward against danger, it's a declaration of the light of your Soul and the value of your Love that you and those you protect are worth more than the desires of the incoming hazard.

>>346775

Realitwisting in the specific example here tells a specific volume of space, "hey, pay attention, I'm going to expect something of you." Syntropomancy then is used to inform it of the protective nature you want it to have.

>>346775

I figured as much, but the Frans have yet to give me real reason to be less than friendly. Since there's no emnity between us, I thought I'd ask nicely.

>>346767

Wait, if Jonno and Telia could learn this, then they could maybe be able to act as godparents to your children.

>>346781

While our reasons for their acting as godparents are less a matter of being there in the event we are not able and more a matter of providing a more complete moral upbringing, yes, this is something I believe they most certainly could use. Mind you, it'd still have to be their choice. I know Jonno's deep in his faith, and if they have teachings against such greatly expanded lifespans I imagine he'd be less than willing to go that far. But if they - or anyone, for that matter - are willing to learn and practice the school, I believe it would be a pure benefit.

One of the major reasons I'm keeping Test Dummy linked is an interest in finding out just what sort of effects Syntropomancy has on synth bodies and minds as opposed to those of organics. I only know the deeper details of biological and non-living inorganics, so being able to experience both sides of the equation on this front simultaneously will make testing things far more viable. If I, or someone with more wisdom and access to my notes, can use the research to make this sort of magical effect viable regardless of format, I'd say it's worth the effort.

>>346785

Speaking of TD, I whipped up a quick component for it that should help you out. It'll give you some onboard memory and let you automate it a bit so you don't have to focus so hard.

>>346777

>>346778

>NO

That's about what I thought. Realitwisting to deal with the physical aspect, Syntropomancy for the metaphysical, in this instance at least.

That raises an interesting point. Warlocksmithing is essentially reverse Syntropomancy, then - the Warlocksmith's ██████ for something overwhelms the universe's love for something, if I remember that primer right, whereas the Syntropomancer's love for something/someone overwhelms the desires of the universe, for lack of a better term.

This implies that Syntropomancy, then, is a battle of wills in this situation. The universe, Warlocksmith, whatever, wishes to do something, good or bad. The Syntropomancer responds by saying "NO, I love this thing/person/whatever more than you ████ it," and whoever 'wants' their desired outcome more makes it happen.

This sounds like something I'd be good at. Willpower is my thing. Or maybe I'm rambling and horribly misunderstanding the underlying ideas.

>>346787

And what a battle it is. "If evil were a lesser breed than JUSTICE, after all these years the righteous would have freed the world from sin".

>>346786

Thank you. That plus Kurt's assist should make getting used to Dummy far more viable.

By the way, my three have been using their terminal to browse design ideas they want to demand I test on Dummy. I tried asking what they've picked out, but all i could get was a single word. Does "Seibah" mean anything to you?

>>346787

That's pretty much the way of it. Although the universe side of the matter is less "overwhelming" and more "directing it to your truth" since the core of the universe is, after all, also Love. Still, you've basically nailed it in one.

Never giving up, never accepting anything less than the concept of Love and Life.

>>346788

Exactly. Death and suffering are still a thing, after all.

>>346789

>Seibah

I'll put you in touch with Mog, she should explain it well enough. If she's confused, "Seibah" is actually a phonetic spelling of an accented pronunciation of "Saber." A Zipangan-accented pronunciation if memory serves.

>>346787

Reply to the wrong post there? I didn't talk about Syntropomancy there.

>>346789

>"Seibah"

I'm not even surprised.

Regarding magic: Do you mind if I borrow a tome or two on this subject? I've been focusing on Realitwisting in my studies so far. Might as well branch out.

>>346790

>wrong post

Servers.

>>346790

>seibah=saber; mog

Thanks. Managed to snag a look at the various images while Nu was looking away…and of course one of the alternate models has a suit and tie. Go figure.

Guess I'm going to be getting some sleeve outfitting done at some point. Not sure when.

>>346791

>magic, tomes

You mean I didn't send you a set? Better fix that then. One full set of primers and starter patterns coming up. Minus the Warlocksmithing, of course. Let me know when you feel up for another batch.

Also sending a similar set your way, Tandy, just in case I haven't.

>>346762

I wonder if you can include "can be remolded" or "retains malleability" in your assertion of a form and avoid that baking.

>>346792

Speaking of primers, let me know if it's needed and I'll provide my best explanation of White Lotus teachings on topics like spirituality, as well as how Ki abilities work.

>>346793

<Maybe? I'm currently starting a run of tests, so I can try and add that to the list.

<I know I associated the concepts of "technology" and "connection" with Dummy's arm at the point I think baked them in, so if I associate a changing-form with the concepts you mentioned and then try to make it the idea I want to finalize…hmm.

<Also on the list: a barrage of tests on just what sort of fine-functionality I can expect similarly complex soulclay-origin constructs to manage. If my actual arm is in this form permanently, I want to know how long it'll last considering what its original material was.

<And I might as well see if I can't go about thoroughly breaking my limbs in this form and "healing" them. Worst case I just replace them, right?

>>346795

>explanations

<As much as you're willing to expound on.

Test Dummy research log two:

Test Dummy has pain recognition active. I did not think of this before taking a sledge to "my" leg.

<In a word: ow.

On the other hand, I know now that it takes a greater degree of force to crack "my" limbs than I would have originally thought. Synthsleeves are constructed far more sturdily than expected.

Beyond that, going about applying healing and "healing" patterns have roughly the same effect - the damage is repaired, pain removed. I'm not certain if the magic considers the sleeve a form of life on some level, or if it recognizes the partial presence of my soul enough to mark it as still being "me." Unfortunately, counter testing would require getting a secondary participant, and I'm less willing to smash someone else's limbs purely to see if I can heal them.

On a less-painful test, I've made a set of limbs for Dummy out of the soulclay and done my level best to "bake" them into shape, then run them through every range-of-motion test I could manage in a time-dilation plane set to roughly 30:1. They handled approximately the same level of stress as Dummy's original joints before giving up, all a degree of magnitude beyond what I might have expected from baseline organic gear.

<I also now know what "metal fatigue" is like from the inside. Again, ow.

Further, I've begun work on seeing just how flexible I can make the concepts I "bake" into an object. I'm starting with "can be remolded" and "retains malleability" as per Tandy's suggestion, using a replacement for one of Dummy's right arms as the base. I figure I'll run this particular until morning, see how it turns out.

<Hours of just waving my fake arm in my fake body. Won't this be fun.

>>346796

I'll start with Ki abilities, since the teachings on spirituality are a much longer writeup.

Ki is, if not the White Lotus name for spiritual energy as used in "conventional" magic, then very closely tied to it. Ki 'abilities' are based around the manipulation of the natural flows of Ki within the body and soul, and in the instance of more powerful abilities, the Ki of others or the universe itself.

The effect of this is that Ki abilities are very "fuel-efficient" so to speak. However, this efficiency is limited by the fact that a Ki ability must propagate from the user to the intended target.

A prime example of this is the Ki Surge. When I create a Ki Surge, I adjust the way my Ki flows so that when I strike out with body, my Ki radiates from it in the form of an energy wave. Depending on how exactly I adjust my Ki flow, I can control the type and intensity of the energy, as well as fine-tuning its direction.

For an example of this in action, let's consider the act of lighting a candle. If a mage wants to light a candle, they can simply direct their energy to create a flame on the candle. In contrast, a Ki user must channel their Ki into some part of their body, and (assuming they use a Ki Surge) create a wave of energy that ignites the candle.

Other common uses of Ki are enhancement and healing, though the way they work seems to differ from Syntropomancy. Ki healing works by causing the body to heal faster and more effectively than it would naturally, boosting the repair of the damage done rather than undoing it. Enhancement using Ki techniques is incredibly common, allowing a practitioner to perform superhuman feats and prolonging the natural lifespan exponentially (the oldest recorded human Ki user is a current member of the Order of the White Lotus, at nearly a full millennium in age).

In terms of combat use, Ki abilities are weakest when attacking at range, being limited by the need to send the effect from the user to the target. Closer in, a sufficiently skilled Ki user can be incredibly dangerous, as being able to face an opponent hand-to-hand allows for the possibility of manipulating their opponent's Ki as well as their own. On the defensive side, such as guarding against magical attack or harmful energy discharges, a Ki user channels their Ki to redirect the harm in question in a way to render it ineffective.

A sufficiently skilled Ki user can not only manipulate the flow of Ki in other living things as stated above, but also in the universe in general. In addition to using certain Ki abilities which are based on manipulating the target's Ki, this allows for effects to reach their destination as disturbances in the Ki of the intervening universe, which is far more efficient.

In addition to all of the things that I just described a proficient Ki user as being capable of, as one learns to manipulate the flow of Ki, they also learn to perceive it. This can, with training, allow for things like a near-telepathic levels of empathy, a degree of perceptiveness that gives near perfect clarity, and rumor has it even true precognition.

Before I write up a summary of the spiritual teachings, I'm gonna take some time to meditate, sleep, and be a family man. I'll answer follow-up questions on this after I do the spirituality writeup.

I need a Boyfriend? How can I find a boyfriend?

How to get man as friend

Am years old don't have any friends

I am stalking man on facebook. I don't have any fucking friends.

I love to stalk every man from 18-40 on internet.I am doing this from 20XX and was age. I do alone secretly.

It is my favourite hobby no ones knows it because if my parents found out they won't be happy.

I stalk all 18-40 mans on the internet.

I want to make f**k with sexy 18-40 man with their consent

Help me find hot sexy boyfriend.

I am not matango.

Good day everyone! Bounced through the archives a bit, and I have to say… magic, not even once. Shit looks complicated. Not to mention all of the crazy things that go on here daily.

On another note, just spent my first night with a mamono. Moved in with Prudence from HR. Positives? Much easier than regular dating, great cooking (I burn water) and no need to worry about the advances of others. Questionable? I don't need someone to wait on me hand and foot. I can feed myself. Negatives? Dehydration. All of those eyes staring at me makes me a bit uncomfortable. And my skin feels strange when she touches me. Not bad, but strange.

Learned a few things about Shoggoths as well. They can replicate objects. Prudence's house was bare, but she went around furnishing it with constructs of her own form. Part of me wants to measure her density, another part thinks that would be rude. So much to learn it seems.

But, I've bantered and gushed enough. Crazy how much your life can change in a day.

Greetings unto you all. How fare you this day?

Thanks go out once again to Kurt of IT for setup of the additional account and terminal for the department. Communications and interactions should improve dramatically, assuming they are required; Maintenance can now be reached reliably at both @Shura and @Warband.

Maintenance will be at a slightly diminished capacity due to a minor…event, shall we say, occurring within our department. Nothing too debilitating due to recent improvements on the drones, nor meriting concern, merely a small, somewhat amusing matter. The children discovered Test Dummy, and wanted a demonstration of its capabilities. Blade decided this would be a good chance to spar with Wielder, and Mount has elected to referree the resulting fisticuff-wizard vs sword-robot battle. This should resolve in a matter of an hour or so, as it appears Wielder and Blade are more concerned with an exhibition match - pun recognized - than anything more serious, with a definite attention to detail regarding various classical forms.

>>346821

>I am not matango

Great. Now we have to get the CDC involved. Hope everybody likes quarantine.

Also, the buildings are all now on lockdown as we are legally required to respond on suspicion of matango infection.

Maintenance Bulletin:

LOCKDOWN

In response to a possible Matango infestation, the facility is now under a lockdown event. Employees are requested to stay in their offices, and will be provided drone escort to said offices if needed. Employees are requested to cooperate with all CDC personnel in this event.

>>346851

>>346850

Location trace indicates that >>346821 was sent from one of the areas of the sub-basement that has been quarantined thus far due to the presence of malevolent eldritch entities.

>>346854

Yeah, I figured it might be. Drones hadn't sent a warning earlier or I'd have thrown a lockdown hours ago, even before arriving and seeing the message. Confounded server, not sending me alerts on these keywords…

Still keeping lockdown in effect until the CDC clears main building safety, I don't want to risk the chance it got out at all.

Maintenance Bulletin:

MAIN BUILDING LOCKDOWN: DISENGAGED

PERMANENT SUB-BASEMENT LOCKDOWN IN EFFECT

The recent threat of Matango infestation has been investigated, and no spores of any strain have been detected. The main building has been declared clear of infection, and all employees may resume normal activities. However: per information provided by the IT Department, an uncontrollable factor has been detected as part of the deep-basement tunnels' menagerie of unthinkables and so the relevant sectors are under a semi-permanent lockdown alongside the prior quarantine. This should not impact personnel as the region had already been marked access denied, but be advised that attempts to breach containment from either direction will be met with increased force.

>>346863

Oh good. Wasn't looking forward to being stuck here after shift.

>>346851

Gotta love how all the doors slam shut right after Kurt's remedial computer safety lecture lets out and all the Sidhe in the building descend upon me. Why the hell they've taken a liking to me, I'll never know.

Speaking of, what did you even say to them? They looked like you systematically kicked each and every one of their beloved childhood pets into a volcano. I'm torn between being impressed and being concerned.

>>346882

>sidhe taking a liking

You're working with them and one of their Queens on a matter of pranks, your most common method of office retaliation involves dildos, and you deputized the Mimics; are you really surprised you've gained their interest?

>>346882

>upset Sidhe

I put their actions into terms they could understand, and commenced to verbally beat the entire department about the collective head with that explanation to ensure the severity set in. After making sure they knew how severely they had screwed up, I explained in detail why each individual transgression was bad (with examples pulled from the mess they made), before instructing them on the correct way to so all the things they were doing wrong. And once the instruction was done, I made them practice it until I was satisfied they'd do it right on their own.

Test Dummy research log two (results):

Test set two has been ongoing with minor breaks over the course of the day. I believe I've collected enough data points for at least a preliminary analysis of the specific test set.

With regards to limb repair:

<Doesn't really matter what sort of damage I take. Blunt force, severing, acids, weight-wear, that sort of thing - injuries this body sustains can be repaired by both organic healing and inorganic "healing" with similar results. Also, still looking for the "pain off switch" function.

Again, limited reliability of data due to single participant, but it's something I'd have to figure out at the time of application. Not interested in intentionally causing harm just to see if it can be undone.

Similarly, the various wear-and-tear tests done on baseline and soulclay limbs in the time dilation field have proven not much difference from the initial run.

<It's just time, really. The 'clay gets enough of a replication that it might as well be the original item.

As for the "baked-in" concepts…inconclusive. I simply don't have the means to make enough test sets to get any meaningful data regarding ensuring the 'clay holds concepts I choose over those I subconsciously choose.

<The test-type arms in question aren't all that great anyway, too…something. Just don't seem to fit. Dummy's got better default equipment - I'd have to consult with R&D maybe before I'd have a sense of what makes a worthwhile 'sleeve limb.

>>346919

>concept testing issues

Perhaps you could isolate the data you need by having several people deliberately impart the same concepts upon the clay, and using the deliberate concepts as a sort of control to measure the subconscious concepts?

Also, I'm gonna hold off on providing a full writeup on the spiritual teachings of the White Lotus until you're ready to move on from Ki abilities.

>>346928

>ideas

Now that sounds like a plan I can get behind. More possible forms if imagination and subconscious effects would definitely improve the sample size.

As for the Ki stuff, it all seems reasonably "straightforward" in the sense that your explanation is sound, but I won't pretend I would be able to practice it without a great deal of study. The concepts themselves make a great deal of sense; that focus on flow and connection rather than calculative change and declarations does impart a certain sort of natural feel to the idea.

Honestly, I almost wish I'd learned this path than that of Wizard's magic. Almost, because I don't regret a bit of the road I did follow, but this structure seems like something I'd be able to take in more readily than the heavily mathematical patterns I did learn.

Soulclay test results set six:

In an attempt get around a possible testing strategy flaw, I've taken Kurt's advice regarding getting a larger sample size. I sent for a group of alumni to each take a sample of Soulclay and form identical copies of a simple wrench with the specific characteristics of "can alter composition," "can alter shape," and "will not break." The participants were only informed of the form, the concepts involved, and the purpose of testing, so as to limit possible subconscious effects. A sample size of twenty such wrenches taken from one hundred individuals made up the tested items for this set.

I then spent a good sixty time-dilated hours testing the wrenches, attempting to modify their shapes, sizes, and structures to match various fittings, both standard and obscure. I then attempted to destroy said wrenches with a variety of increasingly-destructive measures. The sample with the explicit concepts most fully baked-in has managed to take every possible form of fitting I could apply it to, match every material strength I tested it against, and has yet to melt under a constant-burn mid-output AP Jet blast.

So far, it seems that subconscious understanding of the device's function does have an impact on the 'clay's ability to hold a Concept, but at the same time a degree of open-mindedness also factors in. Those samples drawn from imaginative and/or naive individuals proved immensely malleable in their aspects. On the other hand, the samples crafted by knowledgeable or simply purpose-driven folks proved quickly stuck in one form or another.

Ultimately, this test set implies that Soulclay should be initially handled by individuals either unaware or unconcerned with the created object's final purpose, especially those with strong imagination - or a lack of concrete foundation in reality. At some point it might be useful for a group of AI to perform the same test, see what sort of effects their minds have on the 'clay.

Test Dummy research log three:

This time I've elected to focus on Dummy's ability to process and store information, followed by passing it through to my own mind.

<I read through ten manuals, cover to cover, and stored them to onboard memory kindly provided by Kurt and Tandy. Then I loaded up the files and attempted to visualize them with my own organic brain.

It's going to be a headache for a while as I get used to it, but while my own brain does not have the manuals stored, it does now have links generated that pull up the relevant data from Dummy's own memory banks.

<That's ten hefty tech guides down. With a bit of work I may even catch up to modern society by the end of the month!

In addition, I've taken a page out of Tandy's book by using Dummy's processors to handle Commjer calculations.

<Light of the Moon this is so much simpler. I can actually manage Elementarism on more than a cantrip level now! Might even be able to pull of a Psionomania pattern for once.

Actually, that's a thing to think about; I end up thinking in different styles with Dummy's brain. Different mindsets lead to different casting strengths - might have to consider what that means for casting potential with both brains active.

As usual, these test results will be available in full-notes format for R&D. With any luck, it might be useful. If not, I imagine the "delete" tool is a simple means of clearing the space.

>>346889

>Sidhe

…oh hell, you're not wrong. They're good company, though. Can't complain.

>>346909

>lecture

Ah. Full-on military you-have-dun-goof'd lecture. If you have a recording, you should totally send it to me.

On the magic front, I have achieved basic object levitation. I felt like I ran twenty marathons while being chased by horny hellhounds on the night of the full moon, but damned if that pencil wasn't hovering in space. Just gotta tweak the Commjer some more, make it less draining…

>>346958

>levitation

Congratulations! I guarantee, manipulative magics will become easier.

Out of curiosity, what did you use for the base of the levitation pattern? There's a few I know of - anchoring a surface and pushing on the object, anchoring the object and pushing on a surface, and simply declaring the object's relative-absolute location - and they've got different patterns and associated Commjer.

>>346959

>pattern

Declared the object's position. Given my laser-focus on Realitwisting thus far, it was the most intuitive to start with.

>easier

Oh dear Ammit I hope so. Spirit depletion is not fun.

>>346958

>recording

One of the C-levels sent a minion to record it. I'm supposed to get a copy soon, I'll share when I do.