(1875-03-12) Where Be Cats
Where Be Cats
Summary: Philippa and Dertan talk about some of their projects.
Date: 12th March 2019
Related: Dont think so
NPCs: None
Players:
Philippa  Dertan  

Room Name
Room description
IC date of RP

Things are still busy in the southern parts of Galenthia as the people struggle to repair the fortresses before the next threat can happen. Presumably that is why Dertan is here - some kind of military-esque business or another. His riding horse, some random creature hired from a livery near the dock, is being taken away to the stables and he's paused to briefly straighten up his clothing and force his curls back into a ponytail. His eyes, a blue pale enough to nearly be grey, settle on Philippa and for a moment he just sort of frowns across at her before giving a tiny nod and gesturing for her to come across. "Come speak with me a moment Lady Philippa?"

There is a reason Philippa is here, to help out or deliver something or another. Having only just stepped out of the fortress, she is speaking with a stablehand before nodding and turning away. It is her name that gains her attention, gaze to sweep over till it settles on Dertan, her steps to lead her in his direction, closing the distance between. "Yes?" Curious is she.

"I believe I promised you a bow." Dertan says to her. "Would you like to come, take some tea, and discuss the final details?"

"That you did, yes." Philippa wasn't going to hurry him about that! "I'm finished with my business, so that would be acceptable." At least she's hoping her stomach has managed to settle some since she arrived. Damn airships.

Dertan chooses to walk towards one of the inns instead of heading into the castle. "I do enjoy the technical challenges of the bow. Each time I take my hand to finishing one of them I discover something new. I should perhaps take the time to make myself a new one from beginning to end but they take such a long time it seems a little counter productive." He pauses for a moment and then adds. "Although I have to admit that I have been hoping to find a new glue. Alas, there has been no sign of such a development yet. Sometimes I think that people are so focused on improving the obvious and flashy things that they simply forget that certain small things can change everything."

When he changes course, Philippa falls into line at his side, the young woman walking and listening as he speaks, "Glue?" The question is raised, curiosity getting the best of her, "What exactly are you trying to improve with it?" There is a slight nod of understanding, however, as he speaks on how the little things so often get left behind in the advancement of stuff.

"Specifically?" Dertan asks. "I wish for a glue that once dried is not degraded by further contact with moisture." he looks across at her. "Can you imagine the many valuable uses such a product would have?"

"Hmm.." Philippa considers his wishes, "Have you questioned those within the shipbuilding industry? Or even the airships, perhaps." That's the first places her thoughts go. "Maybe an alchemist could help?" Things he's likely considered, but come immediately to her head.

"Shipwrights have to resort to various types of pitch to protect their vessels against moisture." Dertan tells her. "This is actually a significant problem but I seem to be the only one who has noticed." He nods to her. "I have offered what I hope will be an appealing contract to any alchemist who can supply it. Excuse me." On entering the common room of a upscale inn, he asks one of the women for some ginger and lemon tea, and then again talks to Philippa as he leads her up to his rooms. The one they enter is a small dining-sitting room type space with a fireplace. There are two other doors leading off but he doesnt invite her to explore. "I should not bore you with talk of things like glue and pitch. Unfortunately it is where my passions lie."

"True, but surely there are glues that they use in other places on ships?" Philippa offers, still thoughtful. "We're pretty landlocked, so it si not anything I've considered but.." He's made her think. Stepping into the inn, she looks about, soon to follow him to his rooms. Once inside, she hmms, "Well, I hope you find someone willing to take up this research. I would think it would prove to be an interesting experiment for someone." A slight gesture is made, a wave of her hand as she smiles, "I do not mind at all the conversation topic. One should be happy to discuss their passions."

"It is a common property to all the glues I know of." Dertan tells her. "They are all derived from various animal parts that have been boiled down into a substance best known as" he offers a small smile at this "goop. The animal part used to produce the substance will modify the property of the glue somewhat but when it comes down to it all glues are the same basic product. Fish bladders are actually the best for bowmaking." Once again he says a soft excuse me. This time he steps into one of the side rooms and returns with a satchel. The maid shows up with their teas at essentially the same time. "As for ship building." He takes a bunch of papers, a covered but unfinished bow and a pot that is revealed to contain writing impliments and spreads them across the table before taking a seat. "They are not glued together. Their structure is held together in much the same way i imagine our ribs are." He takes out the pen/quill and scribbles a quick diagram of a ships ribs. "Much like this. The planks are held together with large pins constructed from timber but they are actually barely able to support themselves in that form. Then you add the ribs. Each of these ribs is made so that it wants to expand out of the ship. The rib then pushes against the planks and everything is tightly held into place. Pitch is then smothered over the entire outer surface so that water and other unfortunate substances cannot penetrate but it is actually the plank design which is mostly responsible for it being watertight. Much like the way in which a cask is made watertight. A wet plank actually swells a little, thus sealing minor gaps."

Philippa listens, nodding ehre and there to show she is truly listening to what he says. When the tea arrives, there's a soft word of thanks given both to the maid and to him both. The cup is taken up, sipped upon as she leans over to study the diagram that he sketches out. "I meant more, in other places on the ship? Pitch cannot be used everywhere's one might use glue. And surely the glue used for things like furnishings and the like, would be slightly different because of their environment, than say the desk here in this inn?" A hand lifts, waving to said bit of funiture.

Dertan contemplates this. "I suppose there might be some cheap furniture that is made with glue. I had not considered that."

Another nod is given, "It is why I suggested speaking with a ship builder. Or even a carpenter in the area near the ship docks. They might have an idea of something that could be used." Philippa offers with a hint of a smile, "I'd even ask the sailors themselves, if you haven't. Sometimes, they may know of something they use, and don't even think of it?"

"In any case." Dertan clears his throat a little as if he's just noticed they are way off topic. "I believe that the man that invents a glue that is made from a non animal source will be a very rich man indeed. As shall his patron." He pushes the bow towards her a little. "Try stringing this. I wish to know if the power is correct. And I'd like to know what you wish to go on the cover." he touches the sharkskin thats been glued to the entire frame. "Some people enjoy leaving it this way but it seems a shame not to make use of one of the features this bow offers."

"Then I wish you luck on finding someone to take you up on the research. Hopefully sooner than later." Philippa answers before the bow is slid over towards her. Picking it up, she studies it for a moment before standing up. One end of the string is put into place. Tucking that end behind her leg, she bends the top end until the other end of the string can be slid into place. It's a careful set of steps that comes with a little flexing of the bow to warm it up before just bending it and possibly breaking it. Once done, she offers a smile as she lifts it up in hand, "It's a beautiful bow…" As for the cover, she considers, "Simple greenry would be nice for me."

Dertan nods. "I am keen to see what will come of it. Perhaps nothing. I doubt it is an easy or quick process and alchemy is actually not something that I find particularly interesting. There are to many unknowns. It would be like trying to make a bow when I didnt yet know what sinew did." He watches her go through the process, quietly sipping at the still hot brew. He nods again at the end. "I will have one of the bowyers finish it up." he tells her. "So that you can collect it at the beginning of the festival tournament." He's quiet for a long moment again then. "Now you have listened to me talk." he suggests. "Why dont you tell me something that you are passionate about?"

"I thank you again for it, and look forwards to perhaps using it in the archery contest." Philippa states before going through the motions to unstring the bow, not leaving it 'cocked' as you might say. Does a bow bad. Settling once more in the chair, she draws her cup towards her, and when asked, ponders, "My family's business keeps me fairly busy. Besides wanting to branch out a little with our horses.." What Tarris house doesn't in some way? "There are our sheep and the goats I'm introducing.." But then, she says quietly, "I have been pondering lately, after seeing how the elementi are with people, and knowing the stories of the warcats that the Partharians use in fighting.. I want to try and go on a hunt to capture some - perhaps a few for breeding, and some cubs if able. The cats are something that our armies find hard to deal with at times. But if we could use their own military unit against them.."

"It will not suffer much for being kept strung." Dertan tells her. And indeed his own bow is strung in its hip quiver despite the fact that he is probably not going to shoot with it today. "It was one of my design conditions." he pauses and adds. "It will suffer eventually of course."

He nods at the horse information. "Horses are vital in these days. There will always be a space for animals that offer something a little different." He looks thoughtful towards the end. "I have seen them in the field but never had the misfortune to face one directly myself." he sips thoughtfully at his tea. "Brigadier Chandus may know where they were last positioned. It was the Thandiwe Skirmishers that I mostly fought. Along with their more typical soldiers and the cataphracti of course. I must say that their horse archers are particularly troublesome."

"That is good to know then." Philippa offers as to the bow. Turning back to her own passions, she hmms softly as she traces the rim of her cup of tea with a finger in an idle thoughtful way, "I will see about talking to them then." The hunt for the jaguar is on! Maybe! "Finding a way to deal with them, won't be easy."

"Nothing worth doing is easy." Dertan tells her softly. "That is why the gods value determination so highly." Another sip at his tea. "Once you have more information I can help with advice on an appropriate team if you wish. I am quite good at organising such things and I have access to both the shadow snakes" a professional scout/skirmish unit. "And pathfinders" Sokar's new engineer unit.

Philippa nods, "I would agree with you there." That said, she smiles, "Thank you. I appreciate the offer. I hope to narrow down an area that might serve us well in the hunt within the week or so."

"I would just send a letter to the brigadier to ask him where they were last sighted and to let him know that you are operating in that area." Dertan tells her. "And then we can get a small team to go and see about tracking it down. In the meantime you should perhaps do some research? You are welcome to visit the library in Kaedon although I do not recall any references to such cats off hand. It may also be useful to speak with some of the soldiers who dealt with them. They may have insights on the control method."

Philippa listens, finishing off her tea as he speaks. The suggestions has her nodding again, "I will do just that. Thank you for the advice." With all that said, she does make excuses, "I should likely take my leave. There are afew things I should tend to.. now." People to talk to!

Dertan gives her a short nod and moves to his feet. "Thank you for the company Lady Philippa."

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