mythbuster | appointment post

They could do with some refining, but I'd say they could hold their own against one of the most powerful weapons in the game, yes.

[It was a really terrible game that made a Zillysanta so powerful.]

All four of them, huh? That's lucky. Okay, moving on.

[ He hops back off the chair and digs around in the equipment cabinet for five crucibles, which he lines up on the floor. He then manifests his staff and uses it like a giant magic marker to draw a rune in each bowl -- specifically the fire rune Kauno. ]

If you don't mind, I'm going to chip off a piece of your sword to compare melting points for the metals.

Go for it, L-man.

[Dirk doesn't steal the chair for himself. He knows Loki needs his height advantages. But he goes over to the crucibles and watches what he's going. He recognizes Kauno from last time.

He really likes watching Loki work? It's fascinating to him. He learns a lot every time.]

[ Bless Dirk for being the only person who seems to give a hoot...

With permission granted, he places the sword on the floor and gives the blade a sharp jab with the butt of Laevateinn. A small piece hops up into his hand, broken off cleanly. This he fixes to a clamp on a ring stand -- as he does with every other sample, each to its own stand.

With each bit of metal arranged over a crucible, Loki lets the runes ignite. The flames are intense and blue, not unlike that of a Bunsen burner. And now... they wait. ]

Do these metals have names yet?

[The metals melt in the order of 3, 1, 4, 2. The steel is just normal steel so that's fine at least.]

Not yet. I'm taking suggestions.

[Because clearly Loki and Dirk naming things could never go badly.]

[ Once the metals begin to drip and deform, he snuffs each fire out with end of his staff. The runes disappear with the flames as if they were never there, leaving only molten drops at the bottom of each crucible. ]

A lot of metals are named after people. How about some of our old crewmates?

[ Too morbid?? ]

You mean the ones that have gone missing.

[That is super morbid.]

Sure.

It would be a way of remembering them, though I wonder if others would see it as giving up. What do you think? People seem to avoid the topic, as if dwelling on it for too long might confirm their fears.

So you're deliberately making people uncomfortable with these names.

[beat]

Lavellanium for the one that reflects light.

You make it sound like I'm trying to antagonize people.

[ Geez!! ]

I'm not familiar with the name. Who was that?

My mistake.

[He doesn't sound like someone mistaken.]

Ellena Lavellan. An elf.

[ You'll wound his fragile heart, Dirk...

Has he seen an elf besides Merrill? Maybe he has. Okay. Accepted. ]

Lavellanium it is. The pink one can be Maionium. And don't expect any more from me, because I didn't know any of the others very well.

[ He rejects all further responsibility!! ]

Neither did I.

[Loki. Loki look at this grave you dug for them? How could you do this.]

Really? Damn. Okay, for these other two, this one can be Thatium, and that one can be Thisium.

[ Done. ]

[Wow.]

Good enough.

[AND DIRK JUST ACCEPTS IT]

[ He shoots Dirk a thumbs-up. If they both agree, it can't be wrong. Now to break down his little set-up. Leaving a mess behind is just irresponsible. ]

Anyway, none of these metals seem unsuitable, so pick what you like and get back to me when you find a proper source for the forge.

[ which is apparently lava now he guesses ]

I'd like to help break down the set-up.

[Since it was for him? It just seems polite.

Also honestly Dirk likes learning from Loki and doing reinforces learning CONGRATULATIONS LOKI YOU HAVE A STUDENT???? that you never asked for.]

Oh? Alright.

[ He's surprised, but pleasantly so. This is, after all, a friendship supported by pillars of assholery. There isn't much that is special about the cleanup though, since the runes vanished with the fire. He hands the bowls off to Dirk, for scrubbing and all that jazz. ]

It's been a while since we talked about runes. Shall I teach you another one while we work?

[Dirk takes them and starts scrubbing off with the same efficacy he brings to all of his work. His eyes flicker over to Loki.]

I'd like that.

[Look at Dirk, bringing out all the niceness stops]

[ this is getting creepy

But as always, Loki is happy to share his (non-personal) knowledge. Which rune should it be today? He conjures up a symbol. ]

Since we're working on your sword, I'll tell you about Thurisaz, the rune of destructive force. It's associated with Thor and his defining traits: protective power, tempered instinct, and kineticism. While centered around destruction, Thurisaz is grounded in enthusiasm rather than rage or fear.

[He can certainly see the link to Thor. His head tilts a fraction. While centred around destruction...]

You mentioned 'protective power.' Can you talk a little more about how that comes out of the rune as destruction?

I'm sure you can think of a few times in your life when you had to use force to protect your interests.

[ A few... or a few hundred. ]

The connection might lack intuition by the standards of peaceful civilization, but keep in mind that runes were born in an age of heroes and dragons, gods and giants. A mighty figure like Thor was by necessity destructive -- a weapon not unlike his legendary Mjolnir, always moving to smite the foes of gods and humans, loudly and violently. He was a great defender, and also a force of destruction.

[ Though Thor would simply call himself an ally of justice, because he has an unparalleled aptitude for simplicity. ]

Superheroes in comic books are the same, aren't they? Like Superguy, or whatever his name was.

Superguy. [Amazing, Loki.] Or the comic book superhero Thor.

[IF THEY'RE POINTING OUT COMIC HEROES LIKE THOR. WELL.

Dirk traces the shape of the rune in his thoughts. It has its personal appeal to the Prince of Heart. Jake had called his a positive destructive force; he said that he needed Dirk to break him down if he was ever going to get better. Dirk still didn't like it. He didn't really believe it. With the game ended and a peaceful new world made, what's the point of a Destroyer class God?

He isn't even the best 'destroyer' in their group. His Bro had wielded a protective force and done what he could, but Dirk wasn't his Bro, he wasn't half the warrior that Dave Strider was and is. Destruction is the one role the game handed to Dirk, the thing he can't ever stop doing. And he can't even do that right.

He doesn't say anything about that. His expression is as neutral as his voice.]

Is Thurisaz an attack rune?

[ Thor has his own comic book...? is the only thought that runs through Loki's mind in the meantime. ]

It's a tool like any other rune. If the wielder wants to use it as an attack rune, then it's an attack rune.

[ He gestures to the clear glass around them. ]

If I wanted to destroy a piece of base wall and flood everyone, I suppose I could. But I could just as easily break into a collapsed structure to save someone or destroy an oncoming hazard. Runes are a neutral force, limited only by the imagination.

[ Freyr, one of the few gods to surpass Loki in rune application, had an unbelievably wild imagination. Unbelievably stupid too, but unfortunately there is no IQ prerequisite for rune magic. ]

appointment post

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