damned_bulletin | (no subject)

[ZEX's handwriting is worse than usual, but he's putting effort into it]

For Those who are Not Human,

I did some preliminary investigation regarding the doors upstairs. For our newcomers, I believe that these doors could conceal the stairs to the third floor, where I believe either our bodies are kept, or the method with which we are changed from our natural form to a human one is housed. The doors, as I suspected, will not be moved with brute force from any one human or even a group, so that leaves us with two options.

- An explosive or incendiary of some sort

- Finding the keys

My knowledge of chemistry is fragmentary at best, and your atmosphere may be differently composed than mine so what I do know of explosives might not apply here. There is that and I am still unfamiliar with how human locks work. However, I doubt many things could withstand the force of a good explosive, and an incendiary could melt the handle of the door if they function here as I think they do. I've spoken with someone who says they would be willing to construct an explosive as long as they are given the materials. I'm going to be searching for these myself, but things will progress much faster with more people. I'd recommend that if you are interested in investigating the doors on the second floor, you might help with this search (I am hoping that some of you will have more information about human society and materials than I do.)

[Here ZEX copies the list Rude gave him earlier]
bleach, metal pipes, a hot plate/heat source, a battery hydrometer, large steel containers, beakers, a balance to measure chemicals, potassium chloride, glycerin, sulfuric and nitric acid, alcohol, mercury, powdered aluminum, iron oxide, gasoline, glass containers, a snake bite kit, a solar ignitor, wire or string, batteries, sulfur, sawdust, charcoal, electric tape

I believe most of the chemicals (I assume a lot of these are chemicals) can be found in the laboratory areas. I already have a metal pipe, so that is at least one thing. This list may be removed at a later date, depending on how strictly the staff watches this board, so please copy it if you can. If you need a copy, I can make one for you if you contact me.

The keys are a more difficult matter. I do not know where they might be located, or who might have them. Since the staff at times can assume monstrous forms at night, they might still carry them when they are changed. This may be our last resort if the doors withstand a bomb blast.

If you would like to investigate the doors upstairs yourself (particularly if you have some knowledge of human locks), I advise you exercise caution. I would be interested in hearing any new information you may find, however.

Again, you do not have to assist me with any of this as I will try to do it myself if it comes to that, but things can be accomplished faster with teamwork. I would hope that if we share a united goal, we can work together to achieve that goal. I am sure many of you want to be yourselves again, and this seems to be the key to doing so.

I welcome any other suggestions as to how to get through these doors, if you have them.

Admiral ZEX

[ooc: I went and googled up how to make some simple explosives to make a list of stuff Rude might want, so that list should pretty much cover a lot of various bombs and a basic combo that makes gunpowder. I hope it's okay that I went and just threw a bunch of possible stuff together (cause it'd be a bit hard to look for stuff when I don't know what I'd be looking for :O) and man I hope the government doesn't come after me for being a terrorist now]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Though I am hardly familiar with any of these materials you mention, I am interested in investigating these doors.

I'd welcome any other input on these doors myself, since my experience with these sort of things is limited. However, the doors do seem to be guarded... I would recommend traveling with someone else if you want to give them your own look over.

And of course, if you come across any of the materials on the list, that would be very helpful.

I see. I appreciate the warning.

Do let me know whenever you have managed to find a way to open them, however, as I wish to come along. The name is Scar.

Yes, I'll make sure to contact as many of us as I can when the doors have been opened. I worry that our window of opportunity may be small... but I suppose we'll have to get to that point first to know for sure.

You're quite welcome to come with me, when the time comes.

Perhaps contact all involved when you attempt to open the doors? I do believe the doors will be locked again the night after, considering this institute has a way to return everything as it is supposed to be by dawn.

Very well.

That would probably be the wisest course, although handling explosives with such a large number of people will be unwieldy. Probably best to have everyone gathered at a separate point, with those in charge of the bomb sent ahead. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.

You can't blow them up with magical explosives - I already tried on some other doors. I don't think the mundane kind will work either, but good luck.

...what, exactly, do you mean by "magical" or "mundane explosives"?

Mundane explosives are powered by chemicals and science, whereas magical explosives are powered by a person's mana that creates a similar effect as the mundane type.

If you don't have magic in your world, then all your explosives would be mundane.

Understood.

Is there any evidence which suggests that 'mundane explosives' would be ineffective in this place?

Where I am from, magical explosives are far more effective than mundane. I have not heard of anyone trying the mundane type yet, but as my magical attempt was met with failure, I believe it's reasonable to think that the mundane type will not fair any better.

I could be wrong.

I'm glad you both had this conversation, as it saved me the trouble of asking you about "magical" explosives myself!

It's true that a mundane explosive may not do the job... but I feel that it is at least worth a try so that we can make sure.

Good luck!

I'm currently working on trying to create ~~gunpow~~ black powder, which has been used in ballistics by humans for hundreds of their years. I have one of the components; the other is currently part of another substance I've acquired, but the chemical reaction to extract it is apparently extremely difficult to produce. The last component requires the burning of specific kinds of wood, which I shall attempt to obtain sometime in the future.

Wonderful! I only wish I could assist you, but my knowledge of chemical reactions here is sparse at best. I doubt I'd be much help.

What kind of wood are you looking for?

Willow, balsa, birch, and hazel, in decreasing order of effectiveness. I believe those are the names of species of Earthly woody plants.

I see. I'll make a note of them and I'll make sure to ask someone who might be more familiar with Earth plants.

I have thermite. A powerful incendiary.

Really? Would you be willing to lend some for the cause?

Does it work on its own, or does it need an activating agent?

It needs an activating agent, preferably magnesium or some other high-heat starter. But it will melt through the conventional metals used here.

Magnesium... that's a human chemical, isn't it? Do you think it could be located in the lab?

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[sorta anonymous; no signature, but the handwriting might be familiar]

Re: [sorta anonymous; no signature, but the handwriting might be familiar]

Re: [sorta anonymous; no signature, but the handwriting might be familiar]

no subject

[posted before dinner, honest]

no subject

no subject

no subject