The full moon is upon us once more, casting its ghostflame pallor upon these uncertain nights, the passing clouds making a zoetrope of the nocturnal routines of those beneath it. As Hyde lumbers across the empty field towards the workshop at the Svartalfr and Sons compound with a small tree slung over each shoulder, he recalls a fellow Mason he once knew by the name of Dirk talking about how wood harvested under a full moon will outlast any other wood of the same type in it’s natural form, regardless of how the other is processed or what it is treated with. He went on at great length about how it is the moon that affects the tides, and how we are primarily comprised of water, as are the trees. He claimed that something about the full moon altered the molecular structure of that which contained the water.

Of course, Hyde did not put much stock in his ramblings, but he was the master of a vast empire of high quality lumber that was far better than his closest competitor. Perhaps there was something to it after all, or perhaps he was only telling Hyde this so as to remain the best in the business by leading Hyde astray. Perhaps he had even given all of his other competitors the same friendly tip. Ultimately it matters not, it was a long time ago, the company is no more, the man, dead, and Hyde is certain that this lumber will prove superior to anything that ol’ Dirk had ever dreamt of. Full-moon-harvested or not.

When Hyde arrives at the shop where Dvalinn resides, he sets down one of the trees and gives the same knock he always does when coming from this direction; three widely-spaced blows that rattle most of the sheet-metal structure. It is a formality, really, Dvalinn will be expecting him, awaiting his arrival with a fevered longing.

Dwain was expecting to see Hyde, but not the two tree.

"I was wondering when you'd come back, you really did a number with that dynamite.  So...uh...what's with the trees?"  

--Last edited by Dwain on 2008-05-28 17:39:28 --

Hyde sets the other tree down outside, turns his shoulders sideways and ducks slightly through the unaccommodating  door frame. "Greetings my friend. I am glad to see you are still well." Walking a few feet to the left, he unfastens the pulley-chain to the shop door, draws it up about seven feet and reattaches it while continuing to speak. "They are a special project of mine, I have been attempting to transfer the strength and resilience of my blood into wood for a very long time now, as I have transferred it into you. These are my first successes." He steps out briefly to retrieve the six or seven foot tall specimens, brings them in through the bay door, sets them down and closes it again.

As he is resetting the chain, the branches of the trees, only an arms length from Dvalinn's face begin to move, almost imperceptibly, toward him, reaching...

"GAH!"

Dwain backs away from the tree quickly, thinking it is trying to grab him.

"I think the tree just moved!"

Hyde turns to see the branches shifting back into their original configuration. "That's interesting. I didn't know they could do that." He holds his hand out to the branches as if testing, but they do not move again. "Hmph. Quite interesting. It is too bad I do not have more time with them to see where this goes."

"Let us attend to more pressing matters first." From his satchel, he produces an all-too-familiar titanium goblet, very roughly hammered.

Before handing it to Dvalinn, Hyde makes him the same offer he does every time, to procure the blood he needs from another source, to break the unfair emotional enthrallment that it produces in the ghoul. Hyde has never wished to enslave Dvalinn, only to extend his life without the curse. Dvalinn always turns down his offer, but he makes it all the same, wondering if it is the bond itself that urges the man to continue despite the option.

"You know I'm going to say no, so lets just get this over with."

The trees are making Dwain very uncomfortable.

"As you wish." Hyde nips a fingertip with his tusk-like, permanent fangs and bleeds into the cup, looking to Dvalinn. "Have you had your rabies booster or did you forget again?" Really he is just ribbing him, it was a long time ago that he had the scare, and a lesson well learned.

Licking his wound closed, he raises the cup to Dvalinn as if to propose a toast and pours a small libation as always before hading it over and saying "Strength and Honor."

Dwain chuckles a little, "Didn't even cross my mind, how late am I?"

He takes the cup and drinks it.

"Not nearly as late as I am. (as in the late Mister Hyde)" He smirks at his own joke for a moment before becoming serious again "As long as you have kept up with the regimen of booster shots, you'll be fine, we don't want you going rabid. I can stave it off with some effort, I am not sure if you can or not, and I would rather not take the chance, I'm sure you agree."  

--Last edited by Mister Hyde on 2008-06-02 22:03:48 --

When Dvalinn finishes the cup and hands it back, Hyde will place it back in his satchel before turning to look behind him at the two small trees. "Well, let's get to work then, shall we old friend?"

More than once, Dvalinn is forced to back off for a moment as branches slowly move to entangle him before Hyde wrestles them away and uses the machines to lop them off. Even separated from the trunk, they continue to slowly writhe for some time, appearing to bleed a deep rust-colored liquid with the viscosity of molasses.

The two of them will toil on through the night, utilizing the heavy machinery around the compound intended for cutting and shaping granite with diamond blades to prune down and craft the trees made supernaturally resilient by Hyde's vitae. Both of the workers are more than a little surprised when the first bit suddenly snaps off at 30,000 rpms and goes ricocheting through the shop.

From the wood that is left of the two small trunks, there is just enough to make the three hafts Hyde needs, failure means he will be doing without and must begin this entire project anew. He seeks to create handles for three implements, a set of hand-tools that are capable of taking the punishment of his god-like strength. A blacksmithing hammer, a handle for the maul he uses for tunneling, and a shaft for his trusty cane. Of course all of these items must be made to custom dimensions to accommodate his bizarre physiology as well.

{OOC: I figured that because of the strange material, its extreme resiliency, and the fact that neither of the characters has ever worked with it before, the difficulty for the roll would be 8. However, instead of adding Dvalinn’s dicepool to the roll, I figured that he would take more of a support roll, with his knowledge of the machinery and ability to keep it running, this would reduce Hyde’s difficulties.}

2008-06-24 10:53:03 Hyde rolls 7 dice to Percept+Craft (Cane) 9,2,9,5,10, 2,5,6 (4 successes)

The first Item, being more of a testing of the materials and the least crucial of the three is the cane. While it does not turn out to be a masterpiece the likes of which the world has never seen, it is extremely well crafted and impressive to behold. More importantly, it will hold up to almost any punishment Hyde can inflict upon it… or with it.
2008-06-24 10:51:49 Hyde rolls 7 dice to Percept+Craft (Hammer) 9,2,10,3,4, 8,7,7 (5 successes)

The second attempt goes more smoothly, having learned how the material reacts to the cutting of the machines, the newly created haft for the gargantuan hammer-head that waits for him below will make for a smithing hammer that mighty Hephaestus himself would be proud to use in his crafting of armaments for the gods.

2008-06-24 10:52:27 Hyde rolls 7 dice to Percept+Craft (Maul) 5,4,10,10,9, 7,10,9,1,9 (6 successes)

The third and final item is the crowning achievement of the three items. Expounding on the insights garnered from the two previous items, the two create an item of unsurpassed craftsmanship. When attached to the maul-head below, Hyde will be the equivalent of a one-man back-hoe, capable of burrowing through solid rock.

The Sewers are about to become more labyrinthine than ever before.

As the duo finish their work, Hyde can feel the slow approach of dawn in the distance. He quickly helps Dvalinn clean up, asking for a bottle to collect some of the strange sap on the floor. Collecting his handi-work, he thanks Dvalinn profusely for his assistance, he is visibly ecstatic, almost giddy with pride for the job they have done. Dvalinn too is pleasantly reminded of the days of yore when they would work on such projects more frequently, but he has not seen Hyde light up this way in a very long time. He almost seems… alive. After much praise and many gleeful handshakes, Hyde finally hurries back home to Goblin Town.