video;

[survival_isnt_living]

[This, ladies and gentlemen and anyone between or outside those definitions, is what you call a boyish grin. Septimus' green eyes gleam with light-hearted pride.

Someone is definitely far too pleased with himself.]

In the wake of the announcement about vouchers, I have a related one. [He holds up a stone, flat and about the size of his palm. Of course, he's six-four, it's quite respectable. It also has a faint tint, not quite a warm glow.] This is a firestone. Not too creatively named, I admit, but it does about what you'd expect: provides warmth.

It's not as hot or quite as pervasive as a fire--my people use the related coldstones to keep storage cool in summer, or these to keep plates warm for serving, simple things. But they ought to do just fine for smaller--and less intrusively smoky--sources of warmth. Piling a few may bolster the heat enough to let it radiate a little more, I haven't tested it.

[He feels a little bad for not thinking of the coldstone thing in summer, but those are also far more difficult to make. Firestones are fairly quick and easy.]

Anyone caring for the eggs found in Sinbrilee: if you have concerns about their well-being and want a way to provide them a little comfort, just let me know. I'll get you a few. The same offer goes to the clinics, though it may take a little more time.

It does take time and effort, including away from healing. Those I can provide. Everyone else [and here the grin turns mildly lopsided and chagrined, this whole working for a living still feels foreign after a lifetime of privilege] one or two juulan per.

[Okay he totally won't ask for it from kids or in extenuating circumstances, and probably reduce it if someone wants a lot. The offered variance is for individual discretion.]

I also have vouchers like the other clinics. As ever, come by WA-3A whenever you need to.

[[ooc: feel free to action here or handwave; if you want a log, he has a catch-all here.]]

Comments

video;

[cowled]

[Fingersteeple.gif. Of course, he does nothing so obvious when he's on camera, instead he just looks curious.]

That's quite the trick. Is there any sort of limit on how large a -- stone? You can create?

[Bruce has his fingers in the pies relative to most of the clinics, and he's interested in being able to heat them without the massive drains on the electrical systems it currently requires.]

video;

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus looks mildly disconcerted. For all that he's an improviser by nature, tradition is a powerful force.]

I'm not wholly certain. We've always used relatively small ones. The smaller ones are warmer, and large doesn't radiate any better--often worse. [Inverse law of surface area to usefulness, but he doesn't have that vocabulary.] Pouring more energy might do that job, but it would get dangerous volatile.

Multiple smaller ones work better for larger scale heating. Easier to distribute them evenly, too.

video;

[cowled]

[Mental notes. Mental notes everywhere. Bruce, of course, dislikes all sorts of magic on principle alone, so this is nothing new.]

And no possibility of harm to those that touch it?

[gathersnomoss]

How do they work?

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus officially hates this question more than any other. Nothing personal, it's just that no one knows or really gets furycrafting, and besides while his crafting still works... he can't actually feel any furies around him.

So how it works is something of a mystery to him.]

Ah, I pour energy into the stone, and it gets warm depending how much is in it. The warmth eventually dissipates, but it takes a while.

[gathersnomoss]

[Zel would put that down to 'we don't really know how the Turtle duplicates everyone's abilities, even the ones that aren't consistent with one another'.]

I take it there's another element, that makes it different than just putting a stone in a fire for some time.

[fearlessherosheart]

I wonder if I could duplicate such a thing with sorcery. It is not unlike a flashstone, but releasing its energy slowly instead of all at once.

[survival_isnt_living]

[Thank the furies finally someone uses sorcery rather than that bizarre word 'magic,' and flashstone sounds more reasonable. He's no theorist, but...

He sounds somewhat curious.] Well, barring accident it's a slow release. You're familiar with something similar?

[fearlessherosheart]

They were a weapon, used in my youth, allowing those who were not sorcerers to create a blast of energy that was often lethal at short range and when aimed correctly. I had often made them for my friends when we were venturing into danger. And, indeed, myself when I was less skilled at the use of sorcery in combat. Discharging a flashstone is far easier than working a spell.

I recall that other sorcerers were studying ways to prematurely discharge an enemy's flashstone. It is the nature of developing such things for use in warfare. But, well, bandits were unlikely to have access to a skilled sorcerer, and often attacked in such numbers as to overwhelm those who relied only on their blades.

[Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

Do the stones eventually...cool off and stop making warmth?

[Victor is very interested in these firestones both for himself and the egg he's helping care for.]

[Video]

[survival_isnt_living]

They do, but I can recharge them if necessary.

[Regular little magical battery, this one.]

[Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

[He nods.]

And about how long do the stones last before they run out of power?

video;

[zerotoawesome]

How many of those can you make?

video;

[survival_isnt_living]

As many as I get stones for. The time it takes is more of a limiting factor than the amount.

video;

[zerotoawesome]

Sooo... Say I wanted to make my body out of them. How long would that take?

video;

[hulkintraining]

[So Teddy is a new co-parent to one of the turtle eggs and aside from a few tips from his fellow egg parents...he doesn't know the first thing about caring for an egg. But this actually sounds useful. It sure beats having to cuddle the egg to give it warmth via body heat.]

I'm caring for one of those eggs. I mean, I don't have it with me now or anything, but I'll be my turn in a few days. Do I need so show proof of egg for you to give me some?

video;

[survival_isnt_living]

[He smiles.] I'll take you at your word.

[Not to mention if the kid is actively trying to take advantage, well, some emotions are hard to hide from watercrafting. But Sep doesn't think that will be necessary anyway.]

Video;

[parallels]

I think you're going to be everyone's new favorite person on the turtle.

[She laughs and wraps her arms around herself. She might be from the North but this is quite chilly even to her.]

Wouldn't mind one for the egg. No idea what the hell I'm doing for it.

Video;

[survival_isnt_living]

[He can't help it; he laughs richly.]

I'll admit, the general society here is refreshingly straightforward.

Well, the eggs and clinics are my first priority, so that won't be a problem. If you need clothing voucher, you can get whatever you need coming to pick up what you need for the egg.

[And he might just give her some extra for her. He's a nice guy.]

video »

[dow]

I am willing to pay for two fire stones. Additionally, may I request a voucher?

video »

[survival_isnt_living]

Of course you may. Stop by whenever you can. Hopefully the sign will make it clear if I'm in or not.

[Video]

[fuzzyelf]

I have an egg and would be incredibly grateful for any help in keeping it warm. I have it wrapped in blankets and cushions, I just don't know if it's keeping it warm enough.

[Video]

[survival_isnt_living]

I had the same concerns. [He nods.] Hopefully these will help with that problem.

video; basic encryption

[duelkatana]

[Colder weather is exceedingly difficult for poikilotherms that need to stay on their feet; can't exactly tuck a campfire in your pocket to take with you outdoors, you know. Keeping physically active helps, but having something to help boost and maintain temperature would be invaluable. These 'firestones' - a source of heat that seems reasonably unobtrusive in both size and visibility? It sounds almost too good to be true. That a distantly familiar face is making the offer only paints it as even more attractive.]

[The video is encrypted out of habit; Septimus has seen him already, but he likes to attract as little attention as possible to himself. As it is, the reason for his interest in the firestones is likely transparent - through the feed it's visible that he's dressed for the outdoors, bundled up in a thick coat that settles awkwardly over his shell. Likewise his tone, while businesslike, is unmistakably hopeful.]

What about direct contact with skin? Would it be safe to leave them over long periods of time?

video; basic encryption

[survival_isnt_living]

[He sounds mildly dubious.] I'd want to use less heat for that, direct the stone to skin. I'd generally suggest keeping a cloth between the two, just for safety.

That would be for a human, though. You-- I honestly don't know. I'd be a lot more cautious without being sure how your body responds to heat.