Interpretation

[electronicly]

Is anyone familiar with the workings of large-scale clockwork engines or clockwork in general? The machine Underground appears to be most similar to an analog clock and I would like a second opinion on my analysis of the notes I've gathered before posting the data and analysis on the network for all to see; I'm afraid that's one of the types of

Comments

[urbandev]

It's not my area of expertise, but I'd be happy to look over your notes.

I want to know more about that clock, anyway.

[electronicly]

Thanks.

Here is a copy of my notes. I’m afraid it got a little long, but I decided to take advantage of being an approximation of safe. Hopefully, even though I couldn’t go beneath the surface, the notes contain something that you didn’t already know.

…I can’t hear the ticking despite having been that close, by the way. I don’t know whether that will help or hinder my research, or even why the clock is silent to me.

[OOC: IC there can be a clickable link to the notes where the underlined sentance is? The basics are: it is very similar to the inside of a watch, seemingly modified to cause something to move, either metal or metallic on the surface, and touching it leads to being knocked out by some kind of shock before being sent to the surface next to the carousal; the actual notes would be a huge wall of text of measurement approximations, and basically every detail that caught her eye. Saves time and screenspace this way.]

[urbandev]

Unfortunately I do not know enough -- yet -- to answer all of these questions.

At a preliminary glance, at least, these look mechanically sound. Perhaps it would help us to build a scale model? We could see what would effect the clock, and track our research that way...

[electronicly]

There’s evidence that people return to the exact point in time which they were taken from, so there should be enough time to answer at least a few.

A test model may help, though anything that could not be seen from the outside should probably be replaced by whatever variant of conventional clockwork would both fit and allow similar motions of the visible parts. The materials should be easy enough to come by, and using my equipment to analyze it once it is built would save time and a wide enough battery of tests can be conducted that it shouldn’t be necessary to make arrangements to use the forensics lab… Starting building on a curse day should be out of the question, though…

How much experience do you have with building models, or at least completing three-dimensional puzzles? It would make sense for whichever of us has the most experience with models to create the blueprints, don’t you agree?

[urbandev]

I seem unaffected by the curse, but I agree; it would be better to wait. Also, I agree that it we can hypothosize the parts of the clock that rest beneath the city, at least until we can get more information on them.

...I have not built a model in... well, a very long time. It used to be a hobby of mine, but I've since moved up to scale animatronics... I have no idea what that counts for, if anything.

Perhaps it would simply be best for us to work together.

[electronicly]

How one would open it without touching it is going to take quite a bit of thought. I do not believe the jolt would be good for machines, but I did not take anything to test whether non-living things were affected at all since I had assumed that the monsters were the defense mechanism of the clock.

…neither have I. I had built entire cities with small building blocks called legos as a child, and model airplanes as a preteen, but the only things I have built for years were electronic devices of varying scale and card towers.

It counts for that you, too, have built things before, with or without directions, which would mean that once the parts are in hand we’ll be able to go from collecting pieces to testing quickly.

Yes, it would, in this case.

[urbandev]

At some point, if this is to be successful, we will need to get inside that clock. I may have some ideas for getting around the defense mechanisms. I'll work on it.

Legos? Some sort of toy for building cities? I had blocks like everyone else -- were these substantially different that -- Never mind, this is a conversation for another time.

If you would like to start on the model, I'll see what I can do about building us a reconnaissance agent. In this, I do have expertise.

[electronicly]

True. Good luck with your theories.

Another time, I will see if there are legos in the City and show you an example if they are.

Alright, I’ll start work on the model and I think I might be able to find a way to simulate the defenses after a few tests and prototypes. I’m glad you have skill at that; you might be able to make your reconnaissance agent out of the same materials as you would have used in your world, if you search enough and have enough coins since some might be rare in the City.

[OOC: I now have a mental picture of Cait Saith sneaking ninja-style through the Underground and around the clockwork in a variant of the stealth with Cait area from Dirge of Cerberus. ^_^;]

[urbandev]

Thank you.

...I would actually appreciate that. Greatly.

I will certainly look around. I'm sure I can find something to build a prototype out of. They have microwaves here, after all.

[OOC: Teeheehee. I now have a mental picture of Reeve getting sidetracked by Lego model kits and completely forgetting about this project. ^^;;;; Seriously, she would could keep him busy for hours.]