[[writing similar but not identical to Lelouch's... it's a lot to copy out]]

[1imited_edition]

Today is day 22.

Comments

[bprd_fishman]

Oh dear. I thought we'd done away with him.

[An arrow is drawn to the man with clockwork]

I believe I know this one, or someone like him, the mask and sand for blood sounds familiar. Does he look something like this, and possibly wear Nazi paraphernalia? [A brief sketch of the mask is attached.]

[1imited_edition]

I cannot confirm myself, but given the unusual elements they share any information you could share would probably merit provisional addition to the entry and would be appreciated.

[lostonlifesroad]

I'm not sure what Nazi paraphernalia would look like, but the mask is right.

You managed to beat him? Would you mind sharing how, just in case he shows up again? He's not exactly easy to fight.

[bprd_fishman]

Your suggestions are good ones. Damaging the clockwork should hurt him, although if you manage to restrain him and wind down his clockwork heart or remove the key he should be reduced to a comatose state. Dropping very large objects on him also appears to reduce his threat level, as that's how my partner defeated him last time. If you actually are trying to talk to him or catch his attention for some bizarre reason, his name (should I be right) is Karl Ruprecht Kroenen. He might respond to it, I believe he has something approximating sentience as well as a sense of humor.

Actually killing that which probably died decades ago...aside from cutting him up into very small pieces I'm out of ideas. He shouldn't be functioning without his master's sorcery in effect and his master is most definitely gone, but it's possible someone else has taken control of him.

[bullygeneraleva]

Like a Doll's Contract, is it?

If the energy utilization framework imbued in the clockwork is robust enough the maintenance rituals can be made completely trivial.

[bprd_fishman]

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that terminology. Any of it.

As for Kroenen's exact connection to Rasputin, we're not sure. He was seemingly killed in the 1940s and dental records from his grave seemed to identify him as deceased, but then he popped up again in the service of Rasputin. We didn't exactly have time to interview him as to what happened in the interim.

[bullygeneraleva]

If you build it the right way any 5th-rate mage could reactivate it. Using a corpse is in pretty poor taste, though.

[lostonlifesroad]

This person is right. There's specific jutsu--or techniques, if that makes more sense--that allows someone to manipulate a corpse like this in my world as well. Though I've never seen anything on that level, I'm at least glad to have a better understanding now.

[bprd_fishman]

...reanimation is a bit more difficult where I come from than in your world, I'm guessing.

[bullygeneraleva]

I just make it look easy.

[bprd_fishman]

I'm not sure about the rules here, but I find that raising the dead is frowned upon in most cultures. I would appreciate if you didn't do it here.

[bullygeneraleva]

I just said I find using corpses to be in poor taste, didn't I? I mostly animate dolls.

[lostonlifesroad]

The key? I'm guessing that would involve getting inside his chest cavity.

I think he has some level of intelligence--and he made a noise. It might have been his attempt at a laugh, but it's hard to say.

I wouldn't doubt it. This place seems pretty unlimited in terms of what they can do.

Thanks for the help.

[bprd_fishman]

Or simply removing the key. Removing the mask might do something as well, I expect his face might be far more vulnerable.

My partner said he'd made some sort of laugh-like hissing noise before, that's probably it.