Byerly Vlad Rutyer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bouchonne) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
faderiftooc2023-07-04 08:09 am
bouchonne) wrote in faderiftooc2023-07-04 08:09 am
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DIPLOMACY / RESEARCH WAR TABLE MISSION: Worlds' Fair
WAR TABLE ASSIGNMENT: WORLDS’ FAIR
WHAT: New technologies aren’t just about creating new weapons or getting an edge in battle. They’re also about improving people’s lives. Riftwatch has created dozens of new innovations — so isn’t it time to share those with the world?
Welcome to the Riftwatch Cultural Exposition, held on the campus of the University of Orlais. The Exposition is going to be a three-day fair in which members of Riftwatch demonstrate friendly levels of technological advancement and partake in Rifter-oriented cross-cultural sharing, designed to intrigue and entertain. These demonstrations can be foods, dances, simple inventions, fashion, and so on.
The purpose of this event is twofold.
One: we love money, sympathy, and a positive image. An event such as this is designed to build up Riftwatch's rapport in a different setting than just pure heroics, and garner some goodwill and curiosity that will have the effect of investing in our little operation over here.
Two: we wish to shake loose some potential academically inclined alliances that can, in the future, be used to leverage more advanced world-improving technology and theory into Thedas.
HOW: This plot will be run on a points system, in which you’ll be able to earn points to buy quality-of-life improvements based on meeting certain criteria, as well as earn interested parties who may assist Riftwatch in introducing more advanced technologies and scientific theory to the world. These criteria will involve threading and hitting specific goals.
There will be two ways to approach threading in this plot:
You can either ask us for an NPC suggestion or come up with an NPC to play yourself. If you're inventing your own NPC, we'd encourage you to focus on creating the sort of Thedosian who Riftwatch would want to impress. Obviously academics are the primary target here, but we'd also be going after artists, nobles, rich people with deep pockets, mages with social capital, and the like. (Just don't do anything wild - don't NPC the Empress dropping by or something like that.)
WHO: All can participate (with Diplo/Research characters extra encouraged to do so). Sign-ups are mandatory if you want to present culture/technology and/or play an NPC for points; however, characters are welcome to attend the Exposition with no sign-up necessary.
WHEN: Sign-ups will close Saturday, 7/8, and the plot log will go up the next day.
SIGN UPS: Show and tell
SIGN UPS: NPCs to go "holy shit wow so cool"
Wow I love making up npcs, a plot for me
Do you have an NPC in mind you'd like to play, or would you like a suggestion?: I have one, though if you have anyone premade it'd be helpful for someone to play, I'm not married to my idea
If you have an NPC in mind, give a 3-sentence description of them here: Julius has a longstanding correspondence with a junior academic who, it turns out, got into academia the traditional way: having rich parents. I'd propose to play her mother, Jacqueline Fioranati, a widowed Orlesian noblewoman who married into Antivan money and now has the time and the cash to idly investigate things like this cultural fair. Jacqueline is a mid-tier Game player, but solidly loaded enough to make up the difference.
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Character: Jayce Talis and Viktor Tendercrisp
Division: Research x2
Technology or cultural artifact they would present: Jayce and Viktor approach Tony with their proposals the day after the expo is announced to Research, dressed suspiciously similarly to how they were dressed during the announcement. None of these items are complete as of the pitch; they bring written notes (messy) and diagrams (rough) and are prepared to start immediately.
- Non-magical tools to help with every day life: rotary egg beater (metal), manual hand drill (egg beater: drill version), apple peeler/corer (metal, also for potatoes!), churning clothes washer (think WonderWash, also metal, thin drum), grabby reachy claw tool with serrations on the length of the jaw for traction (metal and wood).
- Flashy crowd-pleasing centrepiece:
- A few ornamental but functionally useless knick-knacks, e.g. metal wind-up rose that blooms.
- They may have submitted several ideas of variable absurdity that were either not realistic (lyrium powered skateboard or scooter, anyone??), unachievable within time constraints, or deemed inappropriate for the target audience. Viktor also took the opportunity to show Tony his concepts for a ventilation/exhaust system for Darktown, powered by wind turbine(s). (Also plans for a [revised] potato cannon may have accidentally been included for review, please disregard.)
They're both ridiculously skilled and can crank out machinery quickly, but we're open to cuts if this doesn't fit within however much time they were given to prepare. (Hopefully at least enough to source a huge fishbowl and commission some quick and dirty enchantments.)A high-intensity thaumo-electroplasmic discharge lamp, aka the Thaumosphere.
The Thaumosphere is a large, hollow globe of thick glass seated on an engraved plinth, with a tiny fragment of lyrium housed in the center. Spectators are encouraged to touch it; as they do, plasmic filaments will be attracted to and follow their fingertips along the inner surface of the glass. If one's whole palm is touched to the sphere, one's hair (if present) will stand on end. Essentially a cross between a plasma globe and an electrostatic generator... but ✨magic✨.
Caution: extremely heavy; mage interaction may result in electric shock; measurably fadeioactive within acceptable range; prolonged contact with anchor and/or pelvic area not recommended.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: For the tools, more efficient use of time and convenience for the common man. For the rest, we can make cool and/or pretty things, please fund us. The Thaumosphere also showcases the enchantment work of Viktor's artisan of choice, a surface dwarf named Hedda Ferredin.
Note: Viktor and Jayce worked together on the items, but Jayce will be the one presenting. OOC, earned points will be evenly split.
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Character: Stephen Strange
Division: Research
Technology or cultural artifact they would present: After needing to be reined in and have a few ideas scrapped as too dangerous/ambitious (Stephen you’re not doing a live blood transfusion for demonstration purposes) or magically frightening, he would have finally pitched gypsum casts using plaster and strips of linen. Fun practical demonstrations throughout the expo could involve covering a volunteer’s arm in plaster, having it dry in half an hour, showing how it keeps the bone safe and immobile for healing, then they can cut them out of the cast afterwards. If Research might be able to get a hold of an old clean skeleton for Medical Display Purposes™, he’d also like to have it bound up in casts & splints as in the linked drawing/diagram to showcase proper technique for stabilising bones. If the presence of an actual skeleton would be too alarming, they could have drawn posters. Strange’s eventual lecture would be a little showboaty, but he’s used to talking in front of crowds and giving presentations at conferences.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: Better, clean healing for bone breaks & fractures. Maybe increased trust in Riftwatch for medical advancements so they can keep tackling germ theory!!
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Character: Tony
Division: Research
Technology or cultural artifact they would present:
Climbing gear and sticky gloves. The climbing gear is a collection of modern-inspired equipment, harness and smooth rope and carabiners and so on. The gloves are a semi-enchanted piece of equipment using giant spider hide and an electrical charge that creates super-friction. He's targetting the adventurous but will probably get some 'why.' responses, to which his reply to 'just cuz'.
Pizza. There will be a pizza stand with all the classic toppings available, which is a part of the overall catering of the event. Tony isn't manning it, but does take the credit.
The ARRIVED system. A construction of a vane is brought in for demonstration and an outline on how the system works. This information is public enough that it isn't strictly sensitive, but has gone off the radar with this specific crowd. Tony dedicates some time walking relevant people through it.
I may think of more things beforehand but I can approve that myself dohoho.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: It would be my personal dream for pizza to become a fad overnight. Also maybe a more advanced appreciation for Riftwatch's safeguarding of Thedas, vis-a-vis ARRIVED system.
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Do you have an NPC in mind you'd like to play, or would you like a suggestion?: I would like some help
If you have an NPC in mind, give a 3-sentence description of them here: I'd do better with an artist or musician vs an academic maybe? idk I just wanna play and Eli would not be interesting here lmao which leaves the NPC route
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Character: Jude
Division: Forces
Technology or cultural artifact they would present: Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: A revolution, obviously.
Character: Ellie
Division: Scouting
Technology or cultural artifact they would present: Her stiletto switchblade.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: Though she won't be showing HOW it works (she refuses to take it apart so the innards of the switchblade will remain a mystery) it's possible that someone might endeavor to copy, or even steal it.
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Character: Cosima Niehaus & Stephen Strange
Division: Research x2
Technology or cultural artifact they would present: Being extremely careful because they only have the one, but they would present Cosima’s microscope. Marvel at the tiny bacterial world within yeast, water, a blade of grass! An introductory lesson to the very tiny organisms which can only be seen through compound lenses! Some are good (yeast), others very bad (disease), and this, folks, is why you should boil your water and wash your hands before handling food/wounds.
Anytime Stephen gets too hectoring about germ theory, Cosima can draw their guests’ attention back to “look at these cool shapes though”. Cosima would also suggest sourcing some small bars/cakes of soaps to give out as favours, because if she knows anything about fairs, booths where you can get a free thing are more popular!
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: First order of business: Hopefully getting some trade connections with glasscrafters willing to reverse-engineer the technology with Riftwatch; starting up a partnership to obtain materials, grind down lenses, and follow the rifters’ rough schematics. Goal is for Riftwatch to eventually obtain a couple backups for their own use, and open up possibilities for Thedosian researchers to start looking into microbes as well.
Second / long-term order of business: Hopefully someone will listen re: the germs warning, so might be a bitty step towards understanding it, fewer infectious diseases & plague, preventing another Cledwyn, etc.
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Do you have an NPC in mind you'd like to play, or would you like a suggestion?: boy I sure thought I'd have an idea by now but brain keeps giving me that loading circle like a computer so...
If you have an NPC in mind, give a 3-sentence description of them here: n/a
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Sometimes people make fun of his outrageous style (he has bleached-blond hair that stands up in spikes and wears jerkins emblazoned with flames) and his loud and uncouth manner. But all he's ever done is chase his dreams. And right now, his dreams are of finding something delicious and exciting from Riftwatch.
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Do you have an NPC in mind you'd like to play, or would you like a suggestion?: suggest the hell out of someone.
If you have an NPC in mind, give a 3-sentence description of them here: no YOU.
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Character: Joselyn Smythe
Division: Research
Technology or cultural artifact they would present: Hand sanitizer with a side of basic for babies germ theory.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: Improved hygiene and lessened transmission of sickness.
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Character: Wysteria
Division: Research
Technology or cultural artifact they would present:
- Wind Machine; the wind generator mini-prototype built for a prospective airship. Plays with the combo of hot/cool air to generate wind, and is basically the equivalent of an enchanted box fan. For fun/to disguise its airship properties, Wysteria has a model of a central pivot irrigation system driven by the fan's rotation.
- Summer Skates aka Roller Skates; two pairs, to be strapped over the wearer's ordinary shoe.
What, if any, changes might result in Thedas from sharing this tech/cultural artifact?: Hopefully landing some contacts for advanced enchanting work, and generally expanding Riftwatch's reputation for making innovative enchantment-driven tech. University hooligans take to skating.
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Please feel free to play either or both of these NPCs, singly or together.
QUESTIONS
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