Llama 19

[sciencegirl]

Video

[Entrapta is in the gym car again. Even if Claudette is complete, she still likes to play, and she leaves her there when she's off mission. The little dinosaur looking robot with purple lighting is running around in the background of the ICPs view when she has it on, chasing a ball with little dancing emu kicks.]

Hi! I'm Entrapta if I haven't met you yet! I've been doing a lot of research into magic to see what similarities and dissimilarities exist between worlds. So I was going to ask if anyone could do me a favor and allow me to record you. If I find more general similarities it might be able to help us block specific types of hostile attacks, specifically mental ones. [Because their last encounter was so specifically mentally targeted she wants to help in the protection department. But maybe as generalized as possible.]

This includes qi, aether, traditional magic, any sort of energy that can be manipulated by living beings into solid objects, methods for healing, or offensive attacks.

[Claudette moonwalks through the background balancing the ball on her head.]

I also really need to speak with some people that might have experience researching souls attached to items. I want to see if it's possible to re-establish the connection to the original body. It's a relatively new idea to me, but in my world most Princesses are inherently connected to their Runestones. It's a trait that passes down through generations. But our Runestones can be destroyed and we still maintain some of our magic, though not at maximum capacity. I still have powers even though Dryl's stone was destroyed long ago.

[She points to herself with three different locks of hair as if to say, 'Yes, this person with these hair abilities, that's me.']

I've also recently integrated an atmospheric analyzer into Claudette. If you see her on mission and she starts making a siren noise? Then you might need to seek safety. I'll write out a list of the new sounds I've installed.

[Claudette honks in the background. And Entrapta looks exasperated.] They all know you can make that one! I'm talking about the ones you can only make when there's trouble.

[Honk honk.]

...Also if someone can take the time to come by the gym, could they use her for target practice? Don't destroy her or anything, please. She was very difficult to make. But she has good shields and can regenerate some injuries and she loves to play dodge. Just be sure to tell her she's a good girl.

Comments

[gathersnomoss]

For the first, I can demonstrate what effects I'd consider safe indoors. 'Offensive magic' covers a lot of effects I wouldn't use in a place that is protecting me from a hostile outside.

Second, can you clarify? Because I've heard of people's souls being moved from their bodies into objects, but not some sort of connection to an object where your soul stays where it is.

[He's going to ignore the woman's weird golem for now.]

[sciencegirl]

I mean the soul has been removed and placed into an object, but the body still operates and receives sensations. If the object breaks? The person dies. That's the really inconvenient part. Objects don't usually heal without a little help.

Uuuuuh, little offensive magic. I think fireballs are okay so long as you don't burn important train stuff. Offensive magic against small angry carnivorous beasts.

Claudette has pretty good magical shields too, so she can absorb something like that.

[gathersnomoss]

The spells I've heard of have the opposite effect on breaking the object -- the soul returns to its original body.

[which... makes sense as a failsafe, though it assumes the body is in a condition to not die.]

How far do her shields extend? And do they redirect energy or absorb it?

[sciencegirl]

Anywhere from a few inches to a few feet from her body. She's also meant to protect Orange Team during missions, so she can get in front of them and raise her shields more distantly and cover a larger distance!

That is curious, though. Would you mind telling me about them?

[gathersnomoss]

I only had observational evidence. I didn't exactly get to pick the brain of the person who developed the spell. Not about that, at least.

[sciencegirl]

I'm at least interested in hearing what it is you observed. Maybe there's something still useful in there.

[gathersnomoss]

You wouldn't mind answering any questions I have later? I don't mind sharing information with people who are willing to share what they know.

[sciencegirl]

Sure! Sharing data maximizes efficiency. I would prefer it to keeping people in the dark.

[gathersnomoss]

Useful to know.

Right, what I observed. Four cases. In all but one case, people's souls were put in constructs -- a stuffed animal, or a suit of armor. They could control the construct. For the non-construct case, his soul was in a jar and he could talk, but not do anything else.

For two cases, their original bodies were in some kind of suspended animation spell; the one that wasn't in a construct had his original body die; the final one was unknown -- she wasn't particularly coherent about what the hell happened to get her into this situation. Or much of anything else about her.

[Zelgadis took a deep breath because he's trying to keep this clinical and not have feelings about this.]

The one whose original body died, that would be the exception to the 'break the object binding them, soul goes back to the original body'. Because his body no longer existed.

[sciencegirl]

Do you think in a case where the original body was gone, the soul could be moved into a more appropriate construct?

I really need to get better at robots. Right now I use very metallic chassis but the ones with organic components or at least the simulation of organic contact seem much happier and the stimulus keeps them from feeling so isolated.

[She feels for those stuck without even the artifice of comfortable contact. She's seen what it can drive people to, now.]

[gathersnomoss]

[Zelgadis considered]. I wouldn't rule it out. But don't ask me how, since I don't understand the spells in the first place.

Also, that last thing you said went right over my head.

[sciencegirl]

Robots and constructs seem happier if they can touch stuff or feel hugs. [She simplifies away from the needlessly complex.]

[gathersnomoss]

... I hadn't thought of that.

[Science stuff aside, it sounded like something Amelia would say.]

[sciencegirl]

Well, people usually enjoy hugs because it provides some social benefit to us. I'm... a little oversensitive, I admit, I don't enjoy them as much as other people. But! the need for input and stimulation across social lines still is very important.

[gathersnomoss]

It's not something I'd expect most people who build golems to think about.

[sciencegirl]

Most people who build them aren't building them with friends in mind! [And she most definitely is.]

They can be excellent company if you construct them properly and give them advanced social programming.

[gathersnomoss]

I don't think my world has that capability with golems. Or no one has tried.