#Material components: gun

[the-curse-wizard]

CURSE OF SHOOTING YOU WITH A GUN

[deanpinterester]

i don't think any of u know this cos i haven't talked abt it here but i'm making a miniature vampire slaying set (on account of the fact i would have nowhere to put a full sized set nor could i justify spending the money on the vintage components necessary*) and it involved me making a lot of miniature crosses BUT ANYWAY today i came across this enormous and incredibly old and ornate looking cross

and for a moment i was gripped. absolutely gripped with the idea of buying it now juuust in case in the future i do want to make a full size vampire slaying set. it also didn't help that immediately after this i came across TWO MORE much smaller but still very ornate crossed

like. cmon man. why is the universe taunting me like this

[horizontwinflames]

Horizon AU: Twin Flames - Isaac's final armor and weapons variations (Zero Dawn Act). Text transcription under the cut after the images!

REPOST, EDIT/USE OR FEED MY ART TO AI ISN'T ALLOWED

Edit: Updated some text on the Oseram and Banuk arts.

You can read Isaac's lore here: [LINK]

Will he use those variations in the story? Yes! :D hehe. Also, in this AU only Aloy wears Oseran armor while only Beta wears Carja armor, because Oseran's armor is too heavy and noisy for Beta's stealth strategies, while Carja's armor is too weak for Aloy's melee fighting style.

This AU has an ongoing fanfic! You can read on Ao3: [LINK]

Text transcription:

Ravager's cannon: It gives Isaac the ability to fire rapidly like a Ravager can, but with much more precision. It can also do charged-up shots for more heavy damage. This is the most noiseless ranged weapon from Isaac, allowing the charged shot to be used for sniping. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Stalker Blade Tail: The swiftest and lightest melee weapon from Isaac's arsenal. It's the best pick to fight against lightweight machines and stealth attacks. Its thin shape and ability to spin and move up and down (at an angle of about 120 degrees) can also be used for precision attacks (e.g., to take off machine components or stealth-stabbing humans).

Nora's stealth armor: The natural materials of this armor allow Isaac to camouflage better within the natural landscape. The lack of metal pieces also helps reduce noise while moving. This armor is resistant to shock and ice damage but weak against fire and corrosion damage. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

Thunderjaw’s Disk Launcher: Isaac can use the disks like a Thunderjaw can or launch them at a high speed. It’s not an easy weapon to use, as its recoil can destabilize Isaac if he’s in movement, and it has a very slow recharge, but it’s the heaviest damage dealer from the arsenal. Its firepower can make big explosions and great area damage. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Thunderjaw’s Tail: It is the second heaviest and slowest melee weapon Isaac has, but when used correctly, it can cause great damage to his targets, destroy some types of human constructions, stun machines, and even kill humans on the spot. Its shovel-like shape also allows Isaac to throw objects away (with very poor precision) or even yeet Aloy and Beta to help them reach places or to aid in some fight strategy.

Oseram's tank armor: Made of the best Oseram hard leather and steel, this armor greatly protects Isaac, making him much more resistant to various damage kinds. However, the materials weigh him and consequently slow him down, thus making him sink underwater, and he needs to use more energy for his leaps and high jumps. This armor is highly resistant to corrosion and fire damage but has some weak spots for ice and shock damage. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

Bellowback’ Snout: This weapon is an adapted version of the Bellowback’s ranged elemental weapon for Isaac. It gives him the ability to shoot fire or acid projectiles. It can also be used as a close-range defense weapon; hence, it can be used as a flamethrower or acid jet-like gun as well. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Stormbird’s Tail: Isaac can use this weapon like a Stormbird: an electric whip-like melee weapon, still keeping the shocking damage but in a much smaller range and potency. However, if not used cautiously, the whip can get stuck in places or be grabbed by bigger machines. This tail is also useful for Isaac to balance himself while climbing or walking in places such as metal columns in ruins. Isaac must have this tail equipped to be able to swim underwater correctly.

Carja’s speed armor: The sisters arranged the traditional Carja clothing adornments in a way that makes Isaac more aerodynamic, and the lightness of the materials also helps Isaac run faster, leap further, and jump higher than he normally could. Although pretty, the materials of this armor aren’t made for battle, leaving Isaac vulnerable to all kinds of damage - especially physical damage. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

Scorcher’s Mine Launcher: Aside from the normal mines a scorcher can use, this version of its weapon also has the option to use stick mines. Either version of ammos can be used on battle strategies of timed controlled explosions, as the mines won’t explode until they get hit. These mines have two versions: fire and electric explosions. Up to two coils can be equipped.

Frostclaw’s Front Paw: The closest Isaac will get to “grabby hands” so far. It’s the biggest physical damage dealer but the slowest melee weapon due to its heavy weight. Isaac can not just inflict heavy damage but also use the big hand to grab huge objects and machines way bigger than him. This weapon is so heavy that it may destabilize him during curves at high speed, compromise his balance while climbing, and increase the needed energy to sprint, jump, and leap.

Banuk Power Armor: The Sobecks learned with the Banuk crafting how to improve the energy flow and distribution on a machine. This armor increases Isaac's total stamina energy and reduces the needed charge to sprint, jump, or leap. The improved energy flow also helps increase the damage from Isaac’s melee and ranged weapons. However, the increase in the energy flow makes Isaac heat up way faster if not used correctly. Up to three weaves can be equipped.

[nebula1734]

The media keeps saying stuff about the gun used in the UHC CEO killing being a 3D printed ghost gun , and as someone who knows guns and 3D printing, I want to give my opinion.

The use of a ghost gun is possible. While I don’t know much about them or procuring them, I do know stuff like 80% kits are relatively easy to procure and assemble. A ghost gun is just a gun that doesn’t have a serial number. This leads me to part two.

I’ve seen a lot of articles talking about a lot of ghost guns using 3D printed parts, if not being 3D printed entirely. This is, in the majority of cases, not true. There have been some designs capable of firing bullets that were 3D printed, but it’s rare and very hard to design. 3D printing is essentially just laying down layers of a melted plastic on top of each other and using that heat to connect the separate layers. This leads to several issues with trying to design a firearm made entirely of 3D printed plastic, primarily heat and pressure.

When a bullet fires, part of what applies force to the projectile is extremely hot gasses. The standard 3D print material, PLA, has a melting point of 175 degrees Celsius, which is (probably) much lower than those gasses. That gas also creates pressure which wants to take the path of least resistance, namely through the now softened thermoplastics.

This doesn’t even get into the issue you would have with reliably getting the weapon to cycle and feed ammunition, and from everything I’ve heard/seen, the Adjustor used a semi automatic handgun.

My point is this: don’t listen to the “it was a 3D printed ghost gun” bullshit. It’s fear mongering. In addition, it allows them ignore the issue of gun control in this country. If people are able to just make guns, then that is a completely separate issue.

Edit: It has since come to my attention that it potentially used 3D printed parts, though I haven’t found which ones exactly, presumably ones that would have the least amounts of stress. My point still stands, by calling it a “3D printed ghost gun,” they make it seem like it was entirely 3D printed, which is not the case. The alleged weapon shown in pictures uses components that look like a Glock slide and barrel, as well as magazine.

[rianemorgan]

Till Death Do Us Part

A Dr. Stone Zombie Apocalypse AU

Pairing: Senku Ishigami x Reader

Genre: Angst | Tragedy | Bittersweet Romance

Playlist: "Die With a Smile" – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

The world ended in a single breath.

A virus swept through civilization like wildfire, turning friends, family, and strangers alike into mindless, rotting creatures—walkers that hungered for flesh. It was a fate worse than death, a nightmare that never ended.

You were only fourteen when the virus struck.

The day the world crumbled, you stood beside your best friends—Senku, Taiju, and Yuzuriha—watching helplessly as everything fell apart. You remembered the screams, the chaos, the way society shattered like fragile glass.

You remembered how Byakuya Ishigami, Senku's father, the one who guided you to safety, succumbed to the infection. You remembered your own parents, their voices, their warmth—both ripped away by the disease.

By some cruel twist of fate, you and your friends survived. Not because you were lucky, but because of Senku.

It was his father's influence that gave you all a place to the base—a place fortified enough to keep the walkers out. It was Senku's relentless genius that gave you a purpose: to create a vaccine.

For years, he worked hard. he scavenged, researched, experimented.

Senku never stopped.

Even when you begged him to rest, even when he burned himself out, he refused. Because in Senku's mind, science was humanity’s last hope. And you—his best friend, his partner, the only one who could keep up with his brilliance—you stood by him through it all.

Until everything went to hell.

The vaccine was nearly complete. It lacked only one crucial material, a component that didn’t exist within the safety of the base.

So, you all left—a team of scientists and soldiers venturing into the ruins of the old world to retrieve it.

And one by one, you lost them.

Taiju—your brother in all but blood—was ripped apart protecting you. Yuzuriha—sweet, kind, full of hope—was devoured before your eyes.

And now, you and Senku were all that remained.

Blood stained his white coat as he held onto the finished vaccine formula, his breath ragged, his hands trembling.

You knew something was wrong.

You saw the way he gripped his left forearm, how his fingers trembled over a deep, festering bite wound.

No.

"Senku... tell me you didn’t—"

His ruby red eyes softened. The one you never seems to get tired of looking at. A small, tired smile played on his lips.

"Sorry, Y/N." His voice was hoarse. "Looks like I lost to the numbers game this time."

Your entire world shattered.

This wasn’t happening. This wasn’t real.

"Senku, no. You—You’re a scientist! You can—!" Your voice broke, hands clutching his arm as if you could stop the virus from spreading. "You can fix this, right? Tell me you can fix this!"

He exhaled slowly. "You know I can’t."

Tears blurred your vision. You shook your head violently, refusing to accept this.

"I won’t let you die," you choked out. "I won't let you turn into one of them."

Senku took your hand—his fingers were cold, weaker than ever before.

"Then you have to be the one to end it," he murmured.

Your breath hitched.

"Y/N, listen to me." His voice was steady, even as his body trembled. "This formula—this is it. This will save them. You have to take it back to the base."

He reached for your gun, pressing it into your shaking hands.

"And before I turn," he continued, "you need to—"

"NO!" Your scream echoed through the abandoned city.

You backed away, eyes wide with horror, shaking your head over and over.

You couldn’t do it.

You wouldn’t do it.

"You idiot," you whispered, voice breaking. "You think I could ever shoot you? You think I’d ever be able to pull the trigger?"

Senku exhaled a soft, bitter chuckle. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

He didn’t protest when you grabbed rope from your pack and tied him up, hands and feet restrained, his mouth gagged to keep him from biting.

Because if you couldn’t save him, if you couldn’t stop the inevitable—

You could at least keep him with you.

With the vaccine in your hands and Senku’s undead form tied to a leash, you returned to the base alone.

You can remeber it, when you were making the vaccine itself, how the light in Senku's eyes slowly dimmed and how he gave up to the virus, you can't take it, damn, you can't let him go.

The guards saw the state you were in—bloodied, hollow-eyed, barely able to stand��and rushed to meet you.

"Y/N—where’s the rest of the team?"

You didn’t answer.

You shoved the vaccine into their hands, voice hoarse.

"Take this. Give it to the higher-ups."

They hesitated. "Y/N, come inside please—"

"No."

Your grip tightened on the rope holding Senku. You turned away, ignoring their calls.

Your journey wasn’t over yet.

.

.

.

.

You walked for miles, dragging Senku’s reanimated body behind you.

And when the sun began to set, you finally reached that place.

The very spot where, years ago, Senku had successfully launched a that rocket into space, sending four tiny dolls—you, him, Taiju, and Yuzuriha—beyond the earth.

You remember being with him and Taiju while he asks for some advice, going as far as to send spam messages all over the world. You remeber helping him with his english grammars to properly message Dr. X, a NASA scientist who became Senku's mentor.

Your breath hitched.

You untied Senku’s restraints, leaving only the gag in place.

Slowly, hesitantly, you pulled him into a tight embrace, his decayed body stiff against yours.

Your fingers trembled as you ran them through his previoulsy white with green tips hair that seriously looks like a leek, now an ash-white color so dull and dirty you can't even see the green anymore, pressing your forehead against his.

Tears streamed down your face.

"You're probably scolding me right now, aren’t you?" you whispered.

Senku’s lifeless, ruby red eyes stared back at you.

You let out a broken laugh. "Calling me illogical, saying this is stupid, that I'm a total idiot—"

Your voice cracked.

"But Senku... you were always the logical one," you whispered. "So it’s my job to be the illogical one."

Your fingers brushed against your gun.

The gun you never used.

A memory surfaced—a flashback, a quiet promise you had made years ago.

"If you die, Senku... I’ll follow."

"Tch. That’s dumb, Y/N. You should keep living."

"There's no way I can do that... no... I know for a fact that I can't... there's no point in it"

"Y/N—"

"Till death do us part, Senku."

You reached for the gag, voice trembling.

"I love you," you whispered. "And if I have to become a monster to be with you—"

You pulled the gag free.

"Then so be it."

His teeth sank into your flesh.

You didn’t scream.

You didn’t fight.

You simply held him tighter, letting the infection take you, letting the world fade into darkness.

Because in the end—

You had promised.

" Till death do us part. I love You Senku Ishigami "

" Thats seriously 10 billion percent illogical... "

" Just say it back you leek... "

"... i love you too, (L/n) (Y/n) ....

Till death do us part".

~END

[anghraine]

I genuinely love "Arena" for the twist with the Gorn just trying to defend themselves against colonialism and Kirk ultimately refusing to kill any of the Gorn and deciding to open diplomatic communications instead.

But also, okay, there's this less consequential subplot because the architects of this whole human captain vs. Gorn captain combat situation claim they've supplied the raw materials for victory. But at first it doesn't seem like anything Kirk finds is remotely useful for combat—there are minerals and gemstones and such. As he's clearly losing, the architects are sympathetic to the bridge crew and like "you should probably prepare for grief, but we'll at least show you what's happening" and suddenly the bridge has a live feed of what's happening, but can't communicate in any way with Kirk.

Spock realizes that one of the rocks is encrusted with potassium nitrate and puts it together that the raw materials are actually components for ancient gunpowder. Kirk tastes the potassium nitrate and also realizes what the minerals are for, and promptly starts trying to build a sort of gun out of bamboo, sulfur, potassium nitrate, diamonds, and coal. On the bridge, McCoy and the others are just ??????????? but Spock is going "Yes...yes..." in a, uh, totally disinterested way, I'm sure. He then bothers to explain what Kirk is doing to the others while Kirk is trying to get the right mixture of the various components to create his impromptu chemistry project bamboo explosion gun.

Anyway, Spock being "look at him, he's so smart <3 he knows his chemistry even though this particular knowledge is irrelevant to his daily life... yes...yes..." while nobody else even understands what they're seeing may not be the most obvious shipping scene in TOS (nor probably even in the top 20 bc TOS is what it is). But the nerd4nerd energy is very strong, lol.

[sillystringpasta]

i would kill to see a Home Alone adjacent AU with tim drake. teeny tiny timmy drake, when jason is still robin.

the premise is this:

tim's still feral, still stalks the streets at night, and hasn't yet learned physical combat. but he has unlimited time, and the bats for neighbours, so he has mechanical knowhow already by sheer want of... idk, getting closer to the wayne family through buisiness? being a good heir to drake industry's RnD? being a freak?

he also has Jack Drake's shotgun at home, and a lot of money.

the drake parents bring something home from their most recent archaeological dig. this thing is maybe alien, maybe tech, maybe magic. they don't know that, but they do know it's old, so they add it to their manor's collection.

and then they, canon typically, leave.

so tim has this artefact in his manor's vault, and he studies it because his parents(!) brought it home(!!!). he doesn't figure it out at the start, and he quickly gets distracted, because some crooks come for it.

here is the story my brain has cooked so far:

it starts with the local mob groups' lowest goons who can be trusted not the drop The Artefact. maybe falcone?

tim calls the police on them as they break in, and lists the address as the drakes, the rich ones, so the cops actually help.

tim doesn't know why mobster goons just tried to break in, but he does know that the batman is his neighbour. tim knows that he has some sort of security system from the wayne manor galas (he has, after all, not managed to take pictures of where the batmobile is after investigating the garage).

so tim comes to the totally rational conclusion that he needs to trick out the manor. but, like, subtly, so his parents don't get mad when they come back.

as he's making the traps, for fun mostly, serious goons from falcone, and some guys from penguin show up. they fight each other, and tim, again, calls the cops. they take the unconcious (and shot) goons off the front lawn, and ask tim about being Home Alone.

after some gaslighting, tim builds serious traps.

and thank god he does, because black mask goons show up. and a bm enforcer. ruh-roh. they somehow get taken out by the traps, and tim chugs so much coffee making new ones that he blacks out and can't remember some of the new traps he makes (hello chekov! we've already seen you here :).

then comes the riddler himself, having heard about the puzzle traps, and wanting to just, y'know, play a game. after finding out it's a kid stepping on his toes, he's gonna go, but then tim offers to buy some trap components from the riddler. a lucrative allience is established.

riddler goes to try and find out what the other bosses are trying to steal. catwoman catches wind of the investigation from his questioning; that people are struggling to steal a valuable item from a rich mansion. (tim also learns this is about The Artefact from the riddler, when he drops off some... materials.)

catwoman interrupts a theft attempt from... idk, deadshot, or deathstroke, hired (by luthor?) to get the Artefact. after getting beat up by tim, both are horrified by tim's living situation, ironically the mercenary's more than catwoman because they are Dads tm.

so now tim has two gotham rogue's and a mercenary on his side, who help make more traps (and subtly make them lethal) and give him some shooting lessons with his dad's gun. which is good, because the moment they leave, the court of owls show up, having gotten word from the goons to the social elite about the drake family's new Artefact.

the talon's don't die from the new lethal traps, but they do get their zombie selves stuck in them. the league of assassins show up. the talons were given orders to not be seen. being unseen is standard LoA operating procedure. they kill each other unitl the only one left is a young pru. (from canon red robin's brucequest, if you don't remember her.)

the bodies are dumped outside, into the yard, by being trebucheted off a balcony. poison ivy turns around and leaves without even getting started. she takes the bodies with her. whatever is pumped into the talon's is great ferilizer, and the basic nitrogen in blood is pretty good too.

things escalate more.

the Artefact begins to glow in a lonely vault. a heavy hitter shows up, and so does Klarion, attracted to the chaos. they fight. batman is distracted from this by investigating what is happening in the lower levels of the gangs, and why the riddler is smuggling so much weird, random shit. no seriously, why is he smuggling silly string??? use it to start inefficiant fires? (fun fact, ss is highly flammable.) and the industrial amounts of glitter??? Riddle me this, Batman, who is the world's largest consumer of glitter?

miraculously, drake manor is undamaged by the fight.

tim wasn't at the manor that night, he was stalking batman again. he will never know that this happened either.

but pru was there, deciding if she should stay or return to the league. this makes her choose to stay. tim gets a sister, and he doesn't even have to date her first!

pru also helps tim get ready for school the next morning, and is at the manor during the rest of the day, scoping out the interior.

alfred pennyworth does notice the lightshow, and he goes over to talk to the neighbours himself that morning, because really, he can handle some noise disturbances, he handled young master bruce after all.

he knocks on the door.

the riddler is inside, setting up silly string streamers and glitter with a few other rogues, goons, mercenaries, a baby assassin, and some small children of deadshot/deathstroke.

it's tim's birthday.

alfred considers this situation very seriously, and decides to bring master jason Robin over, to moniter the situation (relax and socialize with other kids).

tim comes home to a surprise party, from people who are concerned about him, and care for him.

it's all he's ever wanted.

(the wish granting Artefact dissolves into shimmery dust.)

the party goes smashingly. it's great. there's a massive cake, and no clowns jump out of it.

tim has spent the last month being harassed by superpowered and unpowered crooks. he goes to another room to cry from happiness, when the distinctive sound of one of his traps goes off. it's not one he remembers making. he hears an adult man swearing.

he gets his dad's gun.

a large figure bursts into the party. tim reacts before anyone else.

he shoots.

it's batman.

tim shoots his shotgun at batman, who broke in thinking alfred had been abducted and used to sign jason out of school.

catwoman catches it on video.

tim is mortified. so is batman. everyone else thinks it's the best party ever.

the party continues. tim is presented with several adoption offers. he cries again, and says yes to all of them.

tim has a vigilante's happily ever after.

[serpentface]

Retconned Wardi firearms- a basic handgun, a highly decorative ceremonial handgun (belonging to Faiza), and a lance-gun.

Gun tech has officially been nerfed down to hand cannons (press F) (this has been a long time coming but I'd been fallacy of sunk costs-ing myself out of retconning).

Handguns are held similarly to a shotgun, with the butt pressed into the user's shoulder, one hand gripping under the barrel, and the other free to ignite the gunpowder. These represent the most advanced firearms in contemporary usage, both in make and in their use of uniform iron projectiles built to match the gun's bore for greater range and efficiency. Lance-guns are the more basal form, usually larger and mounted with the pole held over the shoulder, and are most effectively used by two people (one to hold and aim, one to light the gunpowder).

The spread of firearms is currently mostly limited to the Eastern Inner Seaway peoples (with some additional distribution via overland trade), and actual manufacture of hand cannons and gunpowder at Significant scale is limited to the region's core powers.

The reason for this limited spread is partially due to specific elements of the technology's history. Gunpowder was first synthesized by Burri alchemists and considered to be the discovery of the legendary divine weapon + solar fire of the deity Inanariya, and its formula (along with techniques for ideally refining its components) remained a closely guarded state secret. It was used predominantly in priestly contexts to generate flame and explosive sounds (in conjunction with earlier practices of generating multicolored flames with use of other chemicals), then integrated into combustible weaponry in the forms of fire lances, which would eventually develop into early handcannons.

The treatment of gunpowder as a guarded sacred or semi-sacred substance continued with Wardi adoption, where knowledge of its making is considered a closed rite. It's name (inya tsatsul or just tsatsul, a derived adoption of the Burri iñazatsūya) still reflects a divine solar association (the Burri word means 'sun's thunder', the Wardi 'inya' invokes the sun, 'tsatsul' is an adapted loanword and has no meaning independent of the substance itself), though its priestly use is now predominantly associated with the firearm'ed Odonii (rather than priests of the solar Face Inyamache). The composition of gunpowder can no longer be regarded as a Secret by any means, though efforts to obscure the methods of its creation are still moderately successful and has kept knowledge of gunpowder manufacture more limited than the total sphere of firearm usage itself.

The actual strongest limiting factor of firearm usage is the rarity of natural saltpeter deposits necessary for making gunpowder. The practice of actively producing saltpeter via nitraries has not been developed anywhere in the setting, and all is instead obtained via natural sources. These sources are rare and limited within the current spread of firearm technology, and result in gunpowder being a limited and expensive substance to produce. The weapons themselves are also very expensive to manufacture (a good quality steel SWORD is far too material-cost prohibitive for most people to own), particularly high quality firearms designed for use with standardized ammunition.

These guns are also very basal, and logistical difficulties in their use (weight, very slow loading and firing speed, high visibility, Relatively low reach and accuracy) along with the restrictive cost of production has kept firearms far from rendering conventional weaponry, armor, and projectiles obsolete (even within the societies that have access to them). They are still, however, very devastating in use within their contemporary context, particularly in that high quality guns have a longer range than the best arrow-based projectiles, and utterly negate most contemporary forms of armor at close range.

[elbiotipo]

No Man's Sky has a really cool if impossible kind of setting? worldbuilding? concept? where an individual can carry their own equipment on a ship and just travel from place to place. It's some sort of technological nomadism.

You have a gun that can break things to their component atoms and a refinery that can fuse them into anything you need. Solve et coagula, all that you need with tools. It's a portable, standarized thing you can carry everywhere. Well, that's all you need in No Man's Sky too. It seems that in the context of the settting these tools have been estandarized for countless years, every traveller has them. It reminds me of ancient human "industries" of stone tools, you had your hand-axe and that's all you needed to survive in the wild.

What's also really interesting is that in the context of the setting, yes, there are space stations and freighters and more, but the largest settlements are just small villages. It seems that instead of using these tools to build megastructures everyone embraced nomadism.

I really like the whole atmosphere of landing down in a remote planet, spending some time gathering some carbon and other essentials, plopping your refinery, sitting down like it's a campfire and just wait while it processes materials and you watch the creatures fly above you and the waves of the shimmering sea on the sunset. And you can always effortessly fly away elsewhere, there's always another planet waiting.

[myman0rexic]

An Undergraduate Forensic Viewing of Like Minds (2006) Train Scene

Pray for me. Pray for yourself. We are one now.

Contents:

1. Introduction 2. What We Know 3. The Investigation 4. Bibliography for Nerds

1. Introduction

Some justifications first.

I'm an undergraduate stem student obssessed with many topics, including forensic studies. I just finished a complete course about forensic chemistry/tecnology/law in uni and yes, I'm a big failure of a person and was thinking about applying some of the things I've learned into Like Minds' train scene. To clarify, I'm not an experienced profissional of the field. It is to say, I've never worked in such area and had just one or two significant interaction with said profissionals and students. My considerations won't be 100% accurate, clearly, and I may mistake or ignore fundamental data and studies. I intend solely to present some interesting facts and rapidly discuss their applicability here.

Take everything I say with large grains of salt, this is mostly for my enjoyment.

Let's kill Nigel!

2. What We Know

Figure 1. Visual diagram of forensic ballistics' main areas of study. Some will be mentioned here. [1]

2.1. Ballistics - Anatomy of a Discharge

Ballistics is a science field divided in three main ramifications: (1) Interior Ballistics, (2) Exterior Ballistics and (3) Terminal Ballistics. (1) studies the mechanism of a gun discharge, (2) studies the trajectory and behavior of a projectile once it is ejected from a firegun and (3) studies the damage and overall interaction of the projectile with a material structure (biological or not). [1] Ballistics experts (chemists, some engineers, law experts, etc) ocuppy themselves with many things regarding firearms, a field of work that recuries much study and understading of multiple fields of knowledge such as spectroscopy, law and general legislation, physical properties of chemical coumponds, solid state science, material science, industry production series and others. Some areas of chemistry and biology are of great importance and are commonly used complementarily.

We then understand what bullets are. The component that effectivally hits the target in these scenarios is the actual "projectile".

Figure 2. Simple structure of shotgun (left) and rifle (right) ammunition. [2]

In simple terms, they're composed by (1) a shell that holds everything together, (2) some coumpond responsable for the liberation of gas via chemical reaction and (3) some way to give the heat needed for said reaction to occur. There is a whole field of study and production of these killing objects that seeks out to balance some of their properties in different scenarios by the armamentist industry in oder to supply endless applications that constantly develops new shapes and components, so going through it all would be impossible. Regardless, all ammunition is classified by size, called "gauge" in shotguns, and "caliber" in rifles and handguns. [2]

Case: [in shotguns] It is a small cilindrical piece made out of a tube of common plastic or sturdy paper (the red/blue/colored part) that holds the multiple projectiles to be fired (shots), with a metallic base (the primer) composed of brass (copper and zinc) or steel (iron and carbon). [in rifles] The case is called cartridge case, and it is composed by brass as well. [2]

Powder (or propellant): They are usually Nitroclelullose (handguns), Nitroclelullose/Nitrogliceryn (rifles) and Nitroclelullose/Nitrogliceryn/Nitroguanidyn (long range rifles) [3]. Oversimplifying, organic molecules containing nitro groups (present in Nitroclelullose, Nitrogliceryn and Nitroguanidyn) are really unstable; these chemical groupaments are highly reactive in face of many scenarios. If enough energy is provided (by heating, or mechanical contact and pertubation) they will enter a decompostion process, breaking and reacting with their own bonds spontaneously, liberating gases such as H2O, N2 and CO2. These mentioned gases are much more stable compared to the original organic coumponds, so the atoms will "prefer" to form these species if the conditions are set (thus, a spontaneous reaction). This increases pressure inside the shell and forces the projectile to leave violently as a result of gas expansion. [4] Shotgun powder is composed by potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur; a mixture known as "dark powder", and it is separated from the shot (projectiles; multiple balls of steel, lead, rubber, or really anything) by a small component called "wad". The same principle explained in the decomposition of organic nitro-compounds apply for the potassium nitrate present here, but only in the presence of sulfur (easier to melt and ignite), providing the necessary heat for potassium citrate to generate the oxygen needed, resulting in charchoal's combustion. [2]

Primer: Primers are a fundamental part of any ammunition, and yet a simple one. When a firing pin from the firegun hits them, sparkles and heat will be produced, which gives the propellent all requiered energy for the chemical reaction. It is, when the action lever is pulled, the firing pin is tensioned by a spring inside the gun. When the trigger is pulled, this firing pin hits rapidly the ammunition's primer (metallic base). [5]

Figure 3. Shotgun firing pin scheme. [5]

The discussion of differents powders/propellents (like smokeless powder), projectiles shapes (in rifle cases) and firegun types (other than rifle and shotgun) is being ignored.

All that must be known is: the trigger pulling promotes a mechanical impact against the ammunition base, which promotes chemical reactions that liberate great amounts of gases, increasing the pressure inside the case, what will pushes the projectile(s) inside foward with great speed.

2.2. The Shotgun - Means to An End

We now restrain ourselfs to the firegun. Let us take a look on the following images:

Figures 4-9 (left to right, top to bottom). Shotguns' takes from Like Minds (2006).

Main considerations:

The shotgun used by Mr. Colbie isn't the same one used by Nigel/Alex in the train scene. We can clearly point that by the number of barrels, i.e., two barrels contaning two projectiles (killing Nigel's mother and father without visible activation) in its first appearance, and only a single one in its second appearance. Maybe this has been discussed before.

It is not a narrative problem if we have the eyes for it. Nigel's father possesses two shotguns, so we assume Nigel went back and grabbed the single-barrel one before going after Alex.

The reloading thing would be important during the bedroom scene, between the moments where John shoots his wife and Alex picks up the gun from the floor. There would be no way of aciddentially shooting Mr. Colbie wihout Alex pulling the action on the second barrel (how would he know which one of the barrels were loaded and why Mr. Colbie would only activate one of the two barrels? It appears he wasn't using the shotgun to merely scare his family). Perhaps the double barrel shotgun used has some individual firing feature, perhaps.

Also, the single barrel shotgun is the same one used by John when Alex and Nigel first accessed the hidden baseament together. This isn't of great relevance though.

After a compulsive research in gun sale sites and over 900 models of shotguns (no joking), I'm inclined to believe that Nigel's single barrel shotgun is an Era 410 GA Single Shot Break Action. My conclusions is based on Figures 6 and 9, the shotgun's best takes throughout the entire movie. The important details are: a single barrel, with rounded trigger guard that ends exactly where the wooden stock begins, by a rounded break action lever with squarish shape that leans horizontally to the receiver and a rectangular like forestock. Other smaller details are: the receiver's top shape and really curved back, the declination present on the stock and the three screws' position and size.

The engraved symbols on Colbie's receiver are sculpted by a profssional artist called "engraver", by client's demand. Therefore, these sigils are decorative and probably carry some meaning to the shotgun's real owner, so they aren't a discrepancy to worry about. The frame I acquired (Figure 9) is of poor quality and there's nothing I can read in there besides one or two letters. I've tried to watch the movie in other internet sites but it didn't help that much.

It took me forever, but here it is [6], [7]. There are also youtube videos revewing this gun in the Extra section.

Figures 10-13. Era 410 GA Single Shot Break Action Shotgun. [6]

Note: @laurelwen successfully identified Nigel's firegun as a Boito .410. The text engraved on the shotgun's receiver in Figure 9, in fact, reads "Boito". Check it out on this post. Look up Extra Bibliography No. 7 in the shotgun's section as well.

Shotguns are a really old type of gun from the 16th century. Their mechanisms were adjusted during following centuries, but they remain still to date with an extremely simple way of function. Today, there are many types, including the single-shots and hand shotguns, much different than what was originally conceived. A break shotgun is capable of "breaking in half" for reloading, exposing its ejector/extractor and barrel interior just as many other fireguns. [8]

Figure 14. Break action shotgun anatomy. [9]

The Era 410 GA possesses a specially long length of barrel, which helps projectiles to achieve maximum velocity before leaving. Still, it appears from my research that this is a second hand model with low price, low demand and little historical relevance. This is the type of gun that would be bought mainly by collectors and enthusiasts; however, because of its little weight, good shooting and minimalist elegance, this firegun is not one of the worst models out there for small amateur animal hunting.

A 410 (10.41 mm, one smallest shot diameter in the market) with great pattern of dispersion after the discharge isn't bad, so at medium distances most projectiles would succesfully hit the center of a target. This is not very good when we're talking about a point-blank discharge directly at Nigel's face.

3. The Investigation

Figure 15. "If they had any evidence, I wouldn't be talking to you, would I?"

Authorities arrive at the dark, umid and isolated train tracks. Immediatly, a shocking scene: a desperate young man holding in his arms the corpse of a dead boy, disfigured. They transport the living witness away from the scene, but the lying unknown and deformed body is extracted for further autopsy. Detective McKenzie takes over with Forensic Psychiatrist Sally to interrogate the surviving suspect, Alex Forbes.

After the initial approach and first hours of interaction, the case takes an unexpected form. The question now is, did Alex Forbes shoot the now identified Nigel Colbie alone, or did Colbie participated in his own killing to incriminate Alex?

The police wastes its time thinking about common scenarios described in the book. They know the victim, the place where it happened, the exact gun used and the main suspect. Everything comes down to answering the presented question. Psycological attempts of extracting an answer from Alex by closed sessions with Sally, it is, to try and build a thrust and comfort relation with the suspect in order to obtain a confession would be protocol. But Alex clearly is beyond that, and if we must say, he's in control the whole time.

All that is left for the police is to attach towards factual evidences. Now, we describe two fundamental forensic elements of a gun-related crime.

Gunshot Residues (GSRs)

GSRs are one of the strongest evidences when it comes to forensic studies. Being composed of burnt and unburnt organic or inorganic particles from the explosive primer from the shell, propellant and possibly fragments of the bullet, cartridge case, and even the firearm, they frequently contain elements such as Sb (antimony), Ba (barium), Pb (lead) or Zn (zinc), Cu (cooper), and Ti (titanium). Their deposition concentrates away from the firearm into the shooter's (arms, face, hands and chest mainly) and victim's (region of contact mainly) bodies. GSRs can be found in nearby surfaces as well, such as the floor, ceiling, walls, objects, clothes, etc. The direct deposition of these residues must be carefully used as evidence because of its irregular distribution on the surrounding enviroment after the discharge. Thus, the main factors are always the chemical composition and concentration spots. Shotgun shots (the small spherical projectiles) are usually made up of lead or lead/antimony, but some ammunitions use steel, zinc-plated steel, tungsten and bismut in substitution (So, in our case, we can expect more significant ammounts of antimony/lead or zinc, iron and carbon). [10], [11]

A 410 ammunition is classified as "birdshots" ammunition, used for hunting said animals. The little diameter of projectiles allows the carrying of multiple projectiles inside one shell, facilitating the execution of small moving targets. The potential damage mustn't be underrated, though.

The aforementioned substances/elements can be detected, investigated, and quantified using microscopy, chemical analytical and chemometric methods, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). All these techniques are extensively known and applied in uncountable areas of science for identification and characterization of solid materials. In a nutshell, these methods revolve around the interaction of matter with radiation (such as X-Rays) and the energy absorved/emitted by it after the interaction. The SEM is a most usefull analysis for it can provide real images of micro structures and particles present above any surface, like clothings, skin, fifregun metal and others, if properly prepared. [10]

It is important to understand that these identification methods are of extreme precision and sensibility, it is, minimal concentrations can and will be detected inneviatbly.

Figure 16 and 17. (Left) Image of gunshot powder residues dispersed in the air after discharge. Top left and (Right) images refer to SEM "photos" of extremely small particles of GSRs that can be chemically analyzed. [12], [13]

What about the lifespan of these residues? In long terms, the shooter's trigger hand (right hand) seems to contain most of the residues that persist for a fair amount of time after the discharge. [10] Unffortunately, the mentioned study occured in controlled enviroments, which is not the case. Another work [14] concludes that most GSRs are lost after two-four hours from the discharge. Considering the fast action from authorities described in the movie, we can basically ignore this factor and consider other variables.

Figure 18. "All I can tell you, was that the heavens were falling. And the sound... it was incredible. It was like the Gods were rejoicing for what was done."

Backspatter Material (BM)

Figure 19. Distribution of Forward Spatter and Backspatter caused by a shot at a biological target. [1]

We hereby exclude the forward spatter, it is, the biological material projected fowards with the projectile (to the back of Nigel's head), for its little relevance, since we're not questioning the type of gun or ammunition used; we assume that Alex is describing a resonable scenario that matches with the actual damage done to Nigel. There are no consistent reasons to question this since everythings seems to support Alex's description of this.

BM comes from the combined forces of several interacting wound and ballistics effects. The collapse of the wound cavity and balance of resulting overpressure, the stream of liquid and tissue particles accelerated along the lateral surface of the projectile, the shot's contact and ejection of muzzle gases out of the entry wound from the powder cavity... Every surrouding surface must be investigated, that is, even the shotgun barrel's interior. This small ambience is fairly protected from external pertubations and houses BM from the shot. Considering the poximity with Nigel's face, we can almost assure to encounter biological material with DNA inside. The bellow mentioned study cites another work where a 9 mm pistol cointaned backspatter material from test targets even at a distance larger than 1 meter, much greater then the few inches that separated Nigel's face from the barrel. [1]

Matter of fact, this biological material can pass by processes of Organ Tissue Identification (OTI) and Body Fluid Identification (BFI) if Nigel's identity was at question, or if we desire to understand more profundly the projectile's damage caused to his skull/face/tissue. [1]

Figure 20. "None of what I've heard makes him a murderer."

So, how can we gather this up to develop the investigation? Utilizing only these two fundamental concepts, we can make a few assumptions.

The big question here is if whether or not Nigel's hands were present by Alex's when the trigger was pulled, which would lead the police to support or oppose Alex's narrative. Chemical examination with organic solvents (which won't cause preocupant harm to a dead body) and analytical methods could immediatly point to the presence of GSRs or biological/non biological BM. If Nigel's hands were elevated in his head level (or superior) in the instant of discharge, trace amounts of discussed metals/elements coming from the firing mechanism and ammunition, as weel as little to some biological material, would definetly be found in his hands and forearm skin since there was no clothing covering. Any substance found in his hands/forearm could be microanalytical compared to the ones present in Alex's hands, clothes and face as well. This could be done with really small samples of fresh skin. On the other hand, if Nigel's arms were lowered at the instant of discharge, we could still expect the presence of GSRs in his arms (yet, in less amounts) but the abssence of backspatter materials most certantly. This would classify Alex as a murderer without excuses, even if he alleged that Nigel asked for it.

In the scenario where Alex discharges at Nigel from a great distance (configuring simply murder) we could note the abssence of GSRs in every part of Nigel's body except for the targeted region (perhaps if they were at a greater distance to each other) and the presence of these GSRs in Alex, but in much higher concentration.

But the enviromnent's conditions are of primordial importance. Nigel and Alex stand in an open area, with considerable wind, heavy rain and gravel soil. The heavy rain could simply carry way much of these residues from Alex's body, clothes and Nigel's hands as well. Most GSR would probably be lost to those conditions and its deposite upon the soil's surface would be extremely hard to be quantitatively analized due to unknown degrees (elevated) of impurities and diverse materials and dirt present, but qualitative tests would still be valid.

The knowledge about the victim, crime scene, shooter, exact firegun and time of the tragic event allied with the fast action from authorities saves most of the police's efforts on identifiying and tracking down evidences. However, what remains still offers a challenge. The best evidence here, GSRs left by the discharge, would be of questionable help considering the presence of heavy rain in sight. Still, analitical quantities of them, if detected in Nigel's skin by proper chemical and espectroscopy-related analysis, can be used to comparate probable ammounts present in Alex's clothing and skin (despite the difficult of such). With that being said, the police would find themselves in a much more complex case of muder/assisted suicide, and further evidences and information about their relationship and recent whereabouts would ineviatably need to be extracted from external sources (such as parents, school's employess, close friends and students). Despite all this, Alex's final acting of removing Susan's body and disapearing from sight (not to mention the card left in Sally's car) immediatly sustent his guilt in a case where he already was the main suspect and basically confirmed criminal. And you know, breaking into a cemetery and extracting a corpse from its grave is definetly worth of some jail time. The Colbie's House Murder would certainly incriminate Alex for homicide as well, and the current Brotherhood's little political influence wouldn't prevent him from this destiny, as it appears. But the case is not over.

Further evidences were to be discussed, if it was not for the dissapearing of Alex Forbes.

The subject now roams unknowingly through England with mysterious intents. Its participation on the described case still lacks formal arguments and the Court should now approve his arrest warrant and search decree. Alex Forbes will most probably live to perpetrate the deluded fantasy responsable for the death of three young students in order to carry the sacred holy burden of an ancient templar bloodline.

Yet, we pray.

Who's the enemy now? We are.

4. Bibliography

[1] Euteneuer J, Courts C. Ten years of molecular ballistics-a review and a field guide. Int J Legal Med. 2021 Jul;135(4):1121-1136. doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02523-0. Epub 2021 Feb 16. PMID: 33594457; PMCID: PMC8205864. [2] https://spotterup.com/how-ammo-works/ [3] Serol, M.; Ahmad, S.M.; Quintas, A.; Família, C. Chemical Analysis of Gunpowder and Gunshot Residues. Molecules 2023, 28, 5550. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145550 [4] Guanchao Lan, Jing Li, Guangyuan Zhang, Jian Ruan, Zhiyan Lu, Shaohua Jin, Duanlin Cao, Jianlong Wang, Thermal decomposition mechanism study of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO): Combined TG-FTIR-MS techniques and ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics simulations, Fuel, Volume 295, 2021, 120655, ISSN 0016-2361, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.120655. [5] https://www.hunter-ed.com/national/studyGuide/How-the-Shotgun-Shoots/201099_92815/ [6] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/era-410-ga-single-shot-break-action-shotgun-131-c-8284a72a5b [7] https://firearmland.com/item/1079096107 [8] https://www.letsgoshooting.org/resources/articles/shotgun/meet-the-shotgun/ [9] https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-guides-importation-verification-firearms-ammunition-and-implements-war-top-break [10] Virginie Redouté Minzière, Céline Weyermann, Organic and inorganic gunshot residues on the hands, forearms, face, and nostrils of shooters 30 min after a discharge. Science & Justice, Volume 64, Issue 5, 2024, Pages 557-571, ISSN 1355-0306, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2024.08.002. [11] Joshua Hallett, Michael Stolk, Michael Cook, K. Paul Kirkbride, Examination of gunshot residue arising from shotgun cartridges containing steel, bismuth or tungsten pellets. Forensic Science International, Volume 306, 2020, 110096, ISSN 0379-0738, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110096. [12] https://www.bka.de/EN/OurTasks/SupportOfInvestigationAndPrevention/ForensicScience/PhysicalEvidence/Homicide/GunshotResidue/gunshotresidue_node.html [13] Francesco Saverio Romolo, Pierre Margot, Identification of gunshot residue: a critical review. Forensic Science International, Volume 119, Issue 2, 2001, Pages 195-211, ISSN 0379-0738, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00428-X. [14] Jalanti, T & Henchoz, P & Gallusser, Alain & Bonfanti, M.S.. (1999). The persistence of gunshot residue on shooters’ hands. Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society. 39. 48-52. 10.1016/S1355-0306(99)72014-9.

Extra

random materials, take a look

1. Chemistry of Explosives (book pdf) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-0589-0_5 2. ERA 410 GA video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGWm2aaWVAc&ab_channel=SteadFastCourage 3. ERA 410 GA video 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S16C5Y6lxY&ab_channel=esquad540 4. Quick discussion about Smokeless Powder on r/guns https://www.reddit.com/r/guns/comments/1tawwm/things_i_want_you_to_know_about_smokeless_powder/#:~:text=Because%20of%20something%20called%20oxygen,and%20temperatures%2C%20leading%20to%20fouling. 5. A little on the kinetic energy of specific projectiles (everything applies here as well) https://nodoroc.com/d/node/20 6. A little more on ammunition Caliber https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/bullets2-types.htm#google_vignette

For the sake of archieving, here are some shotguns I've separated to double check during my research until the Era 410 GA appeared. Curious enough, number 7, called "boito", appears to be another common name given to Era 410. Woops.

1. https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/north-american-auction/victor-break-action-single-shot-12-ga-shotgun-4988316 2. https://www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com/auction-lot/stevens-arms-.410-gauge-single-shot-break-open-sh_9F84899825 3. https://palmettostatearmory.com/jts-shotguns-single-shot-410-bore-26-single-shot2.html 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stoeger-Coach-Gun.jpg 5. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/harrington-richardson-shotguns/h-r-bay-state-20-ga.cfm?gun_id=103017190 6. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-unknown-model-unknown-single-barrel-blued-wood-28-barrel-poor-condition/ 7. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/410-boito-model-reuna-28-single-barrel-blued-timber-3-chamber-sec9622/ 8. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-harrington-richardson-model-1908-single-32-barrel-blued-wood/ 9. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-norinco-model-std-single-barrel-30-shotgun-great-condition/1 0. https://www.bankstowngunshop.com.au/product/12g-raick-freres-model-unknown-single-barrel-30-shotgun-belgium/ 11. https://gritrsports.com/henry-repeating-arms-single-shot-12ga-shotgun-h015-12 12. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1418/Tomas_Agote%2C_Eibar_12G_single_hammer_ejector_shotgun.html 13. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1659/Vanguard_Game%2FVermin_.410_hammer_ejector_single_barrel.html 14. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1290/Astra_Ciclope_12G_single_barrel_hammergun.html 15. https://www.tmguns.co.uk/store/p1883/Rossi_Game%2FVermin_20G_single_hammer_ejector_shotgun.html 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stevens_511_Shotgun.jpg 17. https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/harrington-richardson-shotguns/harrington-richardson-44-smoothbore.cfm?gun_id=102901609

thank you for reading

[averycutesalamander]

that ask made me realize that i haven't really put all of my headcanons in a cohesive place lol, which is probably kinda confusing. the bulk of this is explored in ddbb. these are all pure speculation, and im pretty sure at least one of them is now unambiguously not canon, buuuuut whatever. canon is my oyster and damn am i allergic to shellfish. obligatory reminder that my takes on things are not the be-all and end-all, you're welcome to disagree with me, etc etc

All of his visible body is artificial. Yes, even his hair and skin. I think the only organic parts of him are the majority of his brain and parts of his nervous system. (Probably my most controversial headcanon. I don't know why, but this just feels right to me. At an absolute minimum, I think he has a reinforced skull; it feels a little weird for him to turn his entire body into an indestructible war machine only to leave his head, perhaps the most important part of his nervous system, vulnerable.)

He can feel things on his body. He has an extremely complicated "nerve net" beneath both his body and his skin that lets him sense pressure. His skin is more sensitive and can better differentiate between textures. (Also controversial, but I struggle to believe that he can't feel anything. It would be difficult to navigate the world in general if you can't feel where you're walking, and I can't imagine him having so much dexterity with his gun if he couldn't feel his hands. This is just personal preference, though.)

He can drink, but he can't eat. When he drinks things, they're basically just stored as-is inside of him until it can later be emptied. The only solid he can eat is his rounds, and anything else just gunks up his systems. (My logic here is that it seems like it would be way harder to handle the variety of textures and materials in foods than just liquids, and that would be a lot of space taken up that could've otherwise been dedicated to weapons or utilities. Also, thematically speaking, there's something extra tragic about sacrificing something as culturally significant and comforting as food.)

He doesn't really digest things. They just go into that aforementioned storage. This makes him immune to all kinds of poisons and drugs and whatnot. This also means he can't get drunk, unless he finds some kind of wacky program to simulate the feeling. (I think it's safe to say that this is officially non-canon. There's the line he has on the Express about the vomit-inducing agent, and in 2.6 he mentions drinking to numb emotional pain, which unambiguously implies that he has a stomach capable of digesting. I formed this headcanon before he even came out, and I'm quite attached to it and all of its implications, so uhhhhh... Whatever.)

He has a little bullet factory inside of him, specifically for his explosive rounds. When he eats his regular bullets, his body recycles the materials to create the exploding rounds that we see in his ultimate. There is, in fact, a step in the production specifically to print the shark faces on the cartridge. He does sometimes have to refresh resources (usually gunpowder, because sometimes the bullets pop in his mouth when he chews them), but it's self-sufficient for the most part. The only thing he has to add is phosphorus, which makes the bullets explosive.

He's waterproof in the sense that he can go dunk himself in a lake if he wants, but there are a few issues. First is that, in order to prevent water from getting into his internals, he has to seal all of his external vents; this is risky for temperature management reasons, but if the water isn't cool enough, he has emergency heat sinks internally. Secondly is that water degrades his body rather quickly, especially his joints and other small components. All this means is that he just has to make an extra visit to the mechanic. (There's some ambiguity on canon compliance here. He endures rain in Penacony like it's no problem, but that's also within the dream, so we can't be sure.)

Other miscellaneous stuff: he can hold his breath way longer than a human can (his system doesn't use very much air); he's quite tenderheaded; he can go quite a while without sleep, but he still needs it in addition to charging; he's tasted a truly insane amount of inedible things, including gasoline, gunpowder, crude oil, dirt (honestly not that strange, because if you work outside for long enough, you will eventually get dirt in your mouth no matter how hard you try to avoid it lol), the liquid inside of a battery, lighter fluid, charcoal, mercury, gallium, hand soap, and antifreeze, just to name a few; he has a spectacular singing voice; he keeps his gun immaculately clean; he has two gay dads (let's pretend Graey is a man, it's gender neutral enough); and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting.

Edit: also I hc him to be like 300 lbs total but it's super flexible depending on what I feel like doing lol.

Edit 2: actually now that I've thought about it longer I'd wager he's closer to 250 lbs. Still hefty but y'know.

[nanowrimo]

Beyond the Word Count: A Book Editor's Guide to Writing a First Draft

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. First Draft Pro, a 2023 NaNoWriMo sponsor, is a beautifully designed writing app for fiction writers. Today, they've partnered with Kelly Norwood-Young, former book editor for Pan Macmillan and Penguin Random House, to bring you some pro tips on writing your first draft:

In my career as a book editor, I’ve reviewed hundreds of manuscripts. I've seen the joy of authors creating compelling tales, but also how disheartening it can be to rewrite a disjointed story. I’m here to give you some strategies to address common pitfalls so that you not only reach your NaNoWriMo goal, but also lay the groundwork for a manuscript that truly deserves to be called a gripping novel.

1. Have a plan.

Even if you’re more of a ‘pantser’ than a ‘planner’, it's really helpful to have an outline. I have two favourite approaches for this: the structure-first approach, and what I call the ‘Phoebe Waller-Bridge approach’.  

The structure-first approach

There are a lot of narrative frameworks for story structure, but the most foundational in Western fiction is the three-act structure. Here’s a handy guide that breaks each of the classical three acts into a day-by-day guide to NaNoWriMo: 

8-day guide to Act 1

14-day guide to Act 2

8-day guide to Act 3

The Phoebe Waller-Bridge approach

I love this quote from Phoebe Waller-Bridge: ‘I’ve never thought structure first. I’ve always thought material first, jokes first, character first ... But knowing the end really helps. Then you just go as far away from the end emotionally as you possibly can.’  

Sketch out your major story arcs, your character’s desires and conflicts, and the world they inhabit. The more you know your story's world and inhabitants, the less you'll stray into scenes that lack purpose or create plot and character inconsistencies. 

2. Keep the story moving.

Each word needs to propel your story forward. Superfluous details or tangents that don’t serve the narrative stall the momentum you’re trying to generate for your reader. 

There’s a trick you can use to move your story forward, called the question of reversibility. Ask yourself: How difficult would it be for my character to reverse their decision? The harder it would be for them to turn back, the more you’ve moved the plot forward. 

3. Plant clues carefully.

Plant important elements early and make sure every element, however subtle, serves a purpose (i.e. Chekhov’s Gun). 

Be sure to set up necessary components for your climax so that you can steer clear of Deus ex Machina (having that strong outline will help you here), and avoid red herrings unless they serve a clear, meaningful purpose (e.g. you’re writing a mystery and your readers expect some false leads). Misleading your readers without a payoff can erode their trust.

4. Write for the reader, not yourself.

‘There is only one thing you write for yourself, and that is a shopping list,’ insists Umberto Eco in On Literature. Even if writing, for you, is a therapeutic outlet, a form of self-expression, or a way to leave a legacy, you’re still writing to say something to someone else. Your story simply won’t be as strong if you forget your reader’s perspective. 

5. Keep daily editorial notes for your future self.

While editing should wait until at least December, end each day with a brief reflection, noting any off-course deviations, potential inconsistencies, areas to research further, or moments of inspiration to revisit when you start editing. 

These daily notes will be invaluable during the editing process, helping you to remember insights that are no longer fresh when you come back to the manuscript later.

6. Embrace the first-draft mentality.

There’s a lot you can do to ensure that your first draft is the best it can be before the end of November—but just as important is to understand that all first drafts have flaws.

As a book editor, I've witnessed manuscripts transform, sometimes unrecognizably, from their first drafts. Embrace the uncertainty and creative detours—because it's from this beautiful chaos that your story will find its true voice. 

Kelly Norwood-Young is a seasoned book editor and proofreader with comprehensive experience across various facets of manuscript editing. Her background includes roles at Pan Macmillan and Penguin Books, extending into a successful freelance career working with award-winning authors. Kelly's work, known for its precision and sensitivity to the author's voice, has been integral to the success of both new and established writers globally.

Try out First Draft Pro: All NaNoWriMo participants can use the discount code NANOWRIMO2023 for 20% off a premium subscription to First Draft Pro! Offer expires January 31, 2024.

[omamorens]

Ivy Embra with Inkblade, anyone?

the original ask here requested for ivy and inkblade hcs and my brain has finally delivered !

After the events of Junior Year, redeemed!Oisin has definitely gotten closer with Adaine

“close” is actually a vague term because their senior year rivalry has taken them to in-class arguments, trying to one up each other to see who’s the better wizard (and graduate top of the class).

even to after-school study sessions where they develop spells (and constantly bicker about how to gesture this somatic component / what material to use / how to word the spell properly)

its a whole thing in itself and at this point both their parties have elected to drown them out whenever they see these two together

so bickering isn’t all that new of a sight… what’s new is that they have also elected to start fucking Sparring

just simulating fights with each other. no rules no holding back pure raw power out on the field until one of them surrenders (no dying was a strict rule)

its a great way for Adaine to vent her frustrations on him

and its great to build Oisin’s practical ability for fighting

it was after one of their sparring session that Adaine had told Oisin how she wanted to try a new weapon

“What weapon?” Oisin asks.

“A gun.” Adaine says passively.

Oisin, internally, is terrified.

“Oh.” he says instead.

Adaine laments about how no one in her team even has the proficiency to teach her how to do that. Riz, sure, but the rogue already has a lot on his plate and Adaine did not want to bother him just to teach her how to shoot and use a gun

Oisin knows someone who does though. And she’s not at all busy with anything.

Well, maybe not proficient with a gun, but Ivy Embra was an amazing shot.

She is an Arcane Archer and that has to stand for something.

And though the mechanics of a bow and a gun are vastly different, Ivy takes up the offer of training Adiane to shoot.

Ivy, surprisingly, is a patient instructor. Very hands on and practical.

“Control your breathing, Oracle. It’s about the intent.”

And Adaine was a natural for shooting, once she got the hang of it. She had a lot of Intent to channel after all.

Ivy on the other hand, is impressed to have a new toy to play with (a gun). She likes the sleekness of the gun, how easy it was to keep on her at all times.

She still prefers the bow though.

Oisin is half glad that they’re getting along

Yet also equal parts terrified that They’re Learning How To Use a Gun ? Together ?

Oisin sees a world where this whole ordeal backfires on him

And the two elven girls constantly remind him of it (teasingly for Ivy but with Adaine? you never really know).

This idea literally came to me in the clutches of writing and maybe I will write this HC to reality one day. Maybe not. Who knows but I think it’s lovely that they both bond over terrifying the blue scaled dragonborn a whole foot taller than them.

[silentmagi]

What about an AU where Tessa was some sort of ghoulish lich that had been planning to use the gala as a means of getting food/materials for her own transformation?

Series: Murder Drones AU Criteria: Tessa has always been interested in the occult, before infusing souls into her favorite drones, she only had a sole soul to experiment upon… AU title (optional): Ghoulich Delights

So, first of all, Tessa is NOT a wendigo. We do not misappropriate cultures here. She is a lich with some ghoulish tendencies. Namely, she likes the taste of human flesh, her phylactery is currently in an undisclosed location far from Earth, so if her body is destroyed, she will reform there, not on Earth.

She was going to use the Gala to collect more food, more materials to build upon an undead legion of human-drone fusions like her darling, wonderful, beautiful drones J, V, N, and the new one Cyn. While the human components are hidden beneath the metal shells, which she reinforced to keep her parents from destroying them easily.

Solver pulls her plan, and is a little put out that instead of pulling the gun on her. Tessa sits down and asks for the leg on the first to run. She always did like chicken drumsticks. Then the screaming starts.

Solver and Tessa team up to remove the rest of humanity from Earth, and use their remains to build more drones. Little do they know that Tessa's phylactery is being used to build a drone body on Copper 9. So it is a bit surprising that when Cyn destroys the first body with the Earth, Tessa wakes up on Copper 9, sitting in class with Uzi setting another of the drones on fire while controlling his mind.

She, the one known as Doll, and Teacher are all interesting to her, so she begins to study them. Seeing a spark of something familiar in the younger two, she begins exploring the occult again in her new nigh-immortal shell.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Ok! So I mostly want to make sure I have my general timeline and magic system in place before sending this au off into the tumblr verse

We can start with magic systems first, mainly the name situation seeing as it’s kinda a big deal

Big smoking gun of this aus magic is that you can either use innate magic, the power you’re born with and cultivate as you live, or magic of the surrounding area

Take the shamadi fire for instance, that’s innate magic that Red Son was born with and could guide/use without much conscious thought(even if it was wild)

But what the monks and many humans used was contracted magic used through seals or spell circles(note that they don’t necessarily have to be shaped like a circle, they’re just called that because the first few were)

Contracted magic has a few stipulations that innate magic doesn’t, like the spell absolutely needing to have an end requirement and material component like a paper and ink or blood in order to persuade the powers that be into agreeing to abide by your spell circle contract

Innate magic has a few stipulations as well, most have it tied to their stamina and need to train for ages to have a large reserve of power to draw from or at least have to eat and sleep a lot, making it hard to keep up with others at times and possibly ending their lives if they use magic too much

Thoughts on the distinction?

Thats a really cool magic system!

The cultivated sounds a lot like the Dao-based method Subodhi taught his students. Cultivating magic like a learned skill rather than an inherent talent. Wukong was born with a lot of inherent magic, but had poor control over it - causing him to only really have control after Subodhi helped him "shape" it.

And ofc theres areas in the Jttw book that are Super Magical like the Ginseng Fruit Tree; by virtue of something greater happening there or from its natural formation. Mountains in chinese mythos have their own mini gods by virtue of the amount of energy they represent.

The "contract" magic you describe also reminds me of how magic is often represented in Japanese works; with clear instruction/end goals. Most often this is represented through paper talismans; Ofuda for Shinto, Sutras for Buddhism. This is also why in anime, the paper usually burns up when used - metaphorically signalling that the magic has been completed and cannot be repeated with the same material/action.

I like the "Innate Magic is tied to Stamina" idea too!

I hc that a lot of the Big Powerful entities have a HUGE cooldown period for their power, one that gets bigger with the more innate power they hold. The deities that control and/or represent larger aspects like Islands, Stars, Planets, Seas etc; are brimming with magic, but take longer to react and recover from using it. A comparison I guess would be a matchstick compared to a volcanic eruption.

This do be sounding super cool! I hope to hear more about your Au in the future! ^-^

[incorrect-dimension20]

20th Annual Hunger Games Overview

24 D20 PCs are placed in an arena designed around The Nightmare Forest, with Gamemakers Kalina, Arthur Aguefort, and the Nightmare King.

A couple things to even the playing field:

All PCs are level 10 or the equivalent there-of (NSBU, MisMag, and Mentopolis use different playing systems). This means that Fantasy High and Unsleeping City PCs are leveled down, and Starstruck, ACOFAF, and Neverafter PCs are leveled up.

All chapters are Medium sized. I think this just impacts Burrow's End characters. They are still stoats, they are just ~Halfling sized

No characters are familiar with the arena, even if they are in their campaign. The only benefit they may receive are ones inherent to their character mechanics (ie- favored terrain)

Magic users do not start with spell casting focuses or material components. Everyone begins the Games fully-powered, but will need long rests to get spell slots back, and don't have spell books. However, focuses and material components are available in the Cornucopia, as well as in other locations around the area that they can find.

Weapons that are in the Cornucopia and around the arena include ones for every character/class/campaign. Guns, grenades, bows, swords, etc.

Basically- no character has an inherent advantage over the others. When voting for who is eliminated/survives, don't put too much thought into mechanics and technicalities.

Tributes

Binx Choppley

K P Hob

Theo Gumbar

Liam Wilhemina

Dan Fucks

The Fix

Ostentatia Wallace

Antiope Jones

Kugrash

Sofia Lee

Barry Syx

Sundry Sidney

Ylfa Snorgelson

Gerard of Greenleigh

Evan Kelmp

Sam Black

Fabian Aramais Seacaster

Riz Gukgak

Liv Skyler/Kingskin

Paula/Jack Manhattan

Jaysohn

Tula

Adaine Abernant

Fig Faeth