IC - Axis Umbra

[arcanus]

Magical theory to try and understand what is going on...

Magical Theory + Logic: 9 8 5 5 4 4 3 2 (4 Hits)

Is Drake tapping into the magical 'flavour' of the Gagglewotsit?

Is the inherent magical power in the metal trying to absorb Frank?

Does Frank think this battle is futile, but now his magic might be able to affect it?

I have 1 point of Good Karma left. Willing to use that to get this power under control...

The smell or aura isn't alien enough to be the Gagglepus, he has linked to something magically very powerful, whether he can overcome it or not remains to be seen.

[arcanus]

Is the metal radicalised? Like Oricalcum?

Magic theory+Logic 10 10 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 2 8 hits

I will attempt to take some of the load of what is affecting Frank, establishing a link with him to stabilise his attempts to control the metal. As all good order buddies do if the need arises!

Basically jumping in to aid any drain/resistance/damage he might sustain.

Yes the metal is Radicalised and has similiar properties to Orichalcum.
Unfortunately without powers to facilitate magical aid ie: Catalyst Metatalent or to form a link: Array Metatalent, you cannot aid him against Drain, he does however need aid in respect to the sphere attempting to fry him!

[Drake]

Frank needs to focus, to clear his head and sort all this incoming information.

He starts reciting the names and chemical symbols of common metals.

"Iron, Fe, copper, Cu, nickel, Ni, platinum, Pt"

As he recites he can feel himself becoming aware of his surroundings once more. He can still feel this immense power pushing at him, tearing away at him, but is able to move.

"Silver Ag Cadmium Cd Tungsten W Strontium Sr Actinium Ac!"

The gnome crawls over to the side of the clockwork corridor, against a large motionless cog.

"Palladium Pd Scandium Sc Iridium Ir Mercury Hg Francium Fr!" (a real alkali metal)

At the moment his magic can't get a hold of this unknown metal, so he needs to cast a more direct spell.
Leaning against the large cog he smears the fingers of his right hand into the blood oozing from the wound on his left arm, and starts to write the formula for one of his manipulation spells on the cog, in his own blood!

"DRAKE!" yells Curren.
"Just give me a minute!!!" calls back Drake, "I'm going to move this bitch if it kills me!!!"

After a couple minutes of constant metal recital, the formula is written. Grabbing one of the single shot fetishes in one of his pockets (not the nail) he slams it against the bloody formula on the cog, casting as he does so!

OK, as we're going to learn the Initiate Shielding later, Frank still has 20 karma points.

Going to cast super enhance movement on this cog with the formula on, to try and get a hold of it. Using one F4 fetish, and 2 points of karma!

[Curren]

With a sonic roar, Curren shoots down with the cogs in hot pursuit of him. With his swords ready in attack mode he engages the flaming cog harrassing Frank!

Conjuring (Banishing) of 26, 10, 10, 5, and change 10 Hits

I will attempt to Area Effect Banish.

His Blades whirl blindingly fast as Curren attacks the flame cog in a circular fashion which creates a dome like shape. Hopefully trapping it.

Swordsmanship Truth: of 12, 8, 5, 5, 4, and change 5 Hits

Swordsmanship Justice: of 7 5 5 4 3 hits

With a grunt of exertion he punctures the dome like a bubble, which explodes and creates an almost tidal wave effect of force powering out from the hapless flame cog at the other astral entities.

Basically the start of Centering training for him! using his swords and all that

I will also use 4 of my magic pool in this additional banishing:

Conjuring 12 10 10 7 5 5 5 and change 10 Hits

[arcanus]

'Let not thy will but whisper, when thy power can roar.' - Thomas Fuller

A flare of power explodes in a circle from Drakes formula, the cog wrenches itself out of his arm and then floats submissively in front of the Gnome.

Curren his movement now fluid, weaves between the spheres, his swordsmanship striking the flaming sphere and bringing ruin to it, turning he releases the extent of his new and growing magical power a wave of mana assaults the very binding that holds the spheres to this location of the metaplane and sends them elsewhere.

Leaving only the silence as if the cogs and wheels await the silent tick of a great clock.

[Drake]

Drake rests back against a wall, sat on the ground recovering from the strain that had been put upon him.
His breathing slowly returns to normal as he hovers the small, bloody cog in front of him. He spins it round and round, then twists it, all the time fully in control. His magic finally able to manipulate this strange metal.
"Gotcha..." he whispers as a large grin spreads across his tiny face.

Now that they have a few minutes to take in their surroundings properly, the dynamic duo will do so. Looking at the large cogs on the wall, the large mechanisms, taking in just exactly what this is.

Being of a slightly technical nature, what with his drone repair skills etc, the small gnome will spend a few minutes studying the machinery.
Look for a large fly-wheel, or a spring mechanism which would provide the initial power to set everything in motion. Are any of the cogs held in place by a brake? Or do any appear to be attached to a large, unwound spring?
Alternatively, there could be a large weight attached to a spindle. When the weight drops it provides the initial Oomph! that starts everything off.

Logic + Perception: 23 9 9 5 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 (8 Hits)

Logic + Drone Build/Repair: 7 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 (1 Hit)

[Curren]

It may just be a case of replacing the aggressive cogs correctly in the mechanism for it to work!

[Drake]

It may just be a case of replacing the aggressive cogs correctly in the mechanism for it to work!

My thinking exactly. There must be either some missing cogs or the mechanism hasn't been switched on. Nothing is moving at the moment which might indicate it's needs to be either wound, or started.

[Curren]

Curren sheathes his swords and steps up beside the Gnome.

He pulls out a pair of battered glasses from his old suit pocket and perches them on his nose, and peers intently at the mechanism.

'Mmmm yes.....I see..' he ponders knowingly.

He turns to Frank.

'I don't have a fuckin' clue what I'm looking at mate.'

He then promptly sits down against the metal wall and emits a jaw cracking yawn.

'P'raps the cogs that have tried to kill us in fact need to be replaced in this contraption.' He stretches languidly, pushing his back against the wall.

'But I'll be damned if I know how!' He exclaims as he closes his eyes, grateful for these rare moments of peace.

'Anyway...' He gestures to Frank and then to the machine without opening his eyes. 'Crack on!'

[arcanus]

Looking over the the mechanism, Drake concluded that the pair could very well be near the base of the clockworks.

Further investigation would be required.