But what does it do?

But what does it do?

SUMMARY Yelrona's ongoing investigation into the Artificer's Binder she recently received has led to her possession of an apparently useless Contraption. Murder, Kaj, and Iskandar try to find out more about the item, and Murder suggests talking to her twin sister, the Artificer Mayhem.

A fair day with a chilly breeze sees people moving about with some haste, to escape the nippy chill. Outside the Ox-Strength, a couple of giants and a midget watch the crowd go by, though they are in conversation with each other. "So what brings you to Alexandria, er... what was your name again?", says the Gobbo sitting on the Giantborn's shoulder, the taller of the two.

Iskandar looks surprised. "Ah! I'm known as Iskandar!" He chuckles. "What brought me to Alexandria? Adventure!" He puts his hands on his hips and straightens up into a classic pose of heroism. Then he deflates slightly and returns to his previous, slightly-more-casual posture. "I suppose. It's been a while now, long enough that I wonder if my outlook has changed a bit since I first arrived.

Yelrona steps out of the Ox-Strength, contemplating with a puzzled air a complex artifice device that looks vaguely like a flute. Noticing some familiar faces, she puts the item away and joins the group. "Well, there's certainly no shortage of adventure of late. To be honest, I find myself wishing for a bit of peace and quiet."

Murder peers at Yelrona for a moment when she steps out of the Ox-Strength, the artifice device catching her eye. "Whatcha got there~?, Yelrona?"

Yelrona pulls the item back out, handing it to Murder to inspect. It is a hollow tube, about half an inch in diameter and eighteen inches long, with a row of artifice discs connected by wires to a set of switches along the side. Moving the switches causes the discs to light up different colors, and sometimes to open, revealing a hole in the tube.

"I wish I knew," she replies. "It's... well, it's a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Iskandar says, "After dropping a hint like that? Of course - otherwise the suspense is sure to drive us mad!" He gives Yelrona a smirk. "Are you taking up the ways of the bard now?"

The Gobbo peers at the mechanical flut, and sniffs at it. Then tentatively licks it. She then takes a deep breath and blows into the open end. To the sound of rushing wind. "Well that's disappointing.", Murder says, offering the flute back. "Did anyone die to bring it to you?", she wonders of the Elf.

Yelrona grins at Iskandar. "I am, actually! I've been practicing with the Flightwright improv troupe Tariday and Korday evenings. I might start performing with them one of these days. And, yes, that's one of the first things I tried... it sure does look like a flute, doesn't it? And I certainly hope not! Nobody I know of at least. But given where it comes from, I suppose someone must have. And since you asked..." she takes a deep breath, as though preparing to tell a long and well-practiced story. "My father, Avourel, belongs to an Elunite organization called the Acquisitioners, who specialize in acquiring dangerous magical items. He left home over three decades ago, when I was just seventy, searching for a demon-summoning device known as the Hand of Ildris... and we haven't seen him since. That's why I first came to Alexandria, hoping to track him down." She pauses, looking unusually grim. "With no luck thus far. But a month ago I received a mostly-destroyed Artificer's Binder, I'm not sure from whom. And the Artificers have identified it as belonging to a pre-Sundering necromantic artificer named Ildris. And one of the few non-standard contraptions it included a complete blueprint for was this thing... which, the Artificers assure me, doesn't really _do_ anything. Still, it's the only lead I have, so I had them construct one for me. I was hoping it would inspire some new ideas, but thus far I've drawn a blank."

Iskandar watches and listens intently. His eyes may glaze over for a bit in the middle - but of course he still smells of ale and wine, so perhaps he has a good excuse. Finally he holds out an open hand. "Can I see it?"

Yelrona takes the flute back from Murder and offers it to Iskandar

Murder blinks at Yelrona as she delves into the story, and though it has interesting points, demons for example, Murder seems disappointed at the lack of deaths. "It doesn't make for a musical instrument. What's it supposed to do?"

"Well, like I said, according to the Artificers, it doesn't really do anything at all. Like, it modulates the flow of mana, but.. not to any particular effect. They think it might be part of some larger contraption, maybe?" Rona shrugs. "I honestly have no idea."

Iskandar takes the flute and turns it this way and that, peering at it. He holds it close to his lips as if he's going to play, but stops. Then he shifts his grip so that he's holding it like a torch, raising it. Then he turns it in his hand and holds it like a dagger, waving slowly. Finally he hands it back. "I have no idea," he admits.

Murder nodnods, "Maybe it is part of a pipe organ or something?" She sits up and climbs down the Giantborn she was settled on. She move over to stare at the object once more, and hmms. "Well, maybe my sister would know something about it? I could ask!"

Yelrona shrugs. That theory makes as much sense as anything else. "Your sister?"

Murder nodnods. "Mayhem. She's my twin and the only blood family I have left. She's an artificer."

"Oh!" Rona is suddenly intrigued. "Absolutely, yes! Where would I find her?"

Murder shrugs. "She's pretty busy at times, but she's around somewhere. I could send her your way when I run into her next."

Yelrona nods. "I would appreciate that. I've been trying to learn what I can about Kulthos and the Artificers, but it's not easy."

Murder nods and looks away, "Yeah, you kind of have to be an artificer to learn about artificing and Kulthos. My sister couldn't really talk about it with me."

"Yeah, that's the impression that I get. Not that they're prevented from teaching it, but... well, it just doesn't make much _sense_ to anyone else. I've been reading a history of Kulthos for a while now, and, well, I understand maybe half of _that_. Even understanding the language, I just don't understand what they're talking about half the time." She shrugs. "So I'd welcome the help."

Iskandar says, "No, I think it's more then that. Artifice are dark arts, with a dark history. Anyone who studies too deeply into them risks a special kind of madness. Like the werebeasts are unknowable, and the undersea monsters are unkowable, to those who aren't one of their kind. It's like that with Artificers."

Murder grins brightly. "I'll point her your way when I find her. She's around. Just likely holed up with an invention that's caught her interest. You know artificers." She stretches then, several joints popping noisily. "Aaah." She peers at Iskandar, and nods. "Truth to that, yes."

Kaj blows a smoke ring over the proceedings. "How is it that I've not met your sister yet?" he asks of Murder, but he's focusing on the artificy thingy.

Yelrona nods. "Yes, I've heard that too," she agrees. "Though the Reosians would tell you it's more complicated than that." She shrugs, then "Perhaps we have!" she suggests to Kaj. "If they're twins, her sister miight pretend to be her."

Murder blinks up at Kaj and shrugs. "She's my twin. Tis entirely possible that you've seen me running around, and it was her, and vice versa. Except that she generally has artificer stuff on her."

Iskandar goes Adventurer's Guild <AG>.

Iskandar has left.

Kaj shrugs, frowning. "It could be the case," he says, parking the pipe in the corner of his mouth after giving Yelrona a smile.

Yelrona chuckles. "So if you start wearing artificer stuff, should we start calling you Mayhem?"

Murder shakes her head, "No, my sister would kill me. Or try, anyways." She grins. "She does the Mayhem. I do the Murder."

Kaj nods, "Let's not talk of fratricide or whatever the sister equivalent is? Sorocide?" He squats down, "May I see that, just out of sheer curiosity?" he asks Yelrona, holding out his dinner-plate sized hand.

Yelrona tilts her head to one side. "Who have you murdered recently? And, sure... help yourself." She hands the item to Kaj.

Murder peers up at the Giantborn while he takes up the object again. "Maybe you can play it better than I?", she offers, helpfully.

Kaj ponders and fiddles.

GAME: Kaj rolls use magic device: (12)+5: 17

Kaj hummms and whistles, tilts his head. Several spiders that have been hanging out in his massive mane come out and do a weird up down movement.

"It is a most interesting thing, creating a vibration in the manasphere like a string does in the atmosphere...notice the spiders, who are sensitive, and their reaction. Fascinating." He returns the device and smiles, pleased at having experienced yet another wonder of the world of Ea.

Yelrona blinks. "The spiders?" She hadn't been paying attention to the spiders, though Kaj being Kaj, she's unsurprised that he noticed more than she did. She returns the item to her pack with a shrug. "Anyway... I'm still curious who you've murdered," she adds amused.

Murder squeaks and hides behind Yelrona for a moment or three. She peers up at Yelrona, "Well, it wouldn't make for a good murderer if they admitted to it."

Yelrona shrugs. "Depends on whether they deserved it, I suppose."

Murder giggles at that and shakes her head. "There are few things in life that require death to be a punishment."

"That's an interesting attitude for someone named 'Murder' to champion," Rona muses. "Maybe you should change your name?"

Murder grins toothily, showing off lots of teeth. All the teeth. "Nothing in my name means I have to be immoral about it."

"Well then," Rona replies cheerfully, "who have you murdered morally?"

Murder snorts and shakes her head. "Toldja, wouldn't make for a good murderer to kill and tell."

"I suppose. Though arguably that ship has sailed, what with the name and all."

Murder giggles. "You can always change your given name, but you can't change your true name. Ask any ol' demon, they'll tell ya that."

"Sure," Rona agrees, "but they'll also tell you that babies taste best when mesquite roasted. Which is part of why I try to avoid taking advice from demons. Anyway... lovely as always to see you, but I have an appointment I should be getting to with a tropical fruit shipper. Do you prefer mangoes or pineapples?"

Murder cants her head to one side, and her ears stand up. "MANGOS!", she says, enthusiastically.