Ray
"That will be hard to do," He says, standing up and stroking his chin, inspecting the spider, "They were powered by the Heart, if I recall correctly, so they would have to have some sort of... Recepticle to receive said power remotely, no? Perhaps we use something to emenate power from the soul gem, as a sort of... Artificial Heart. But to my knowledge only one person could do that, and he's no longer with us."
Charles
"It is indeed a daunting task. But you've got quite a few things coming if you think that's my biggest ambition!" She declared, quite confidently. But then he went on about a lost man with knowledge of their craft, no doubt Sotha Sil, the legendary member of the Tribunal and practically a god within Arysea's field. "It is a shame what happened to him, but we still can learn much from what he left behind. Or at the very least we can remember him. I actually have a piece of history that he crafted himself!"
Ray
"I'd be glad to see it, but perhaps we should get moving, we can talk more as we walk. I've got a few plans myself, though I'll need a proper workshop before I can work on them, part of the reason I need a courier who can get to Alinor, my family promised me funding when I settle down, and I intend on taking them up on that offer." He says, stretching, getting ready for the path ahead
Charles
"Are you still opposed to Winterhold? I am... Much more familiar and inclined to go there and back to the College." She seemed more averse to Windhelm then inclined to Winterhold, perhaps she had heard stories of bigotry in Windhelm? Sure they were likely few and far between but it didn't make it less undesirable to her. "I've got more connections there so we could get you some better food. As for a workshop, I would certainly recommend Markarth as that is where I am personally based." She was happy to bring him back to Markarth and show him all of its good, despite all of its bad. "I've even got an in with the Jarl there! Well, I kind of work for him but still, there's a mutual respect there!"
Ray
"Markarth is a long walk, is it not? That's all the way to the west if I recall. We should get a carriage then, so that'd be going to Windhelm." He says, not paying attention to her adverse reaction to Windhelm
Charles
"Well obviously we wouldn't walk to Markarth, but I'd really rather we go to Winterhold to fetch ourselves a carriage. It's actually just about the same distance and I could grab a few things while we're there." She was just trying to think of excuses at this point, though she almost always does have actual business since the College is located in Winterhold. "I've ever got my own carriage up at Winterhold, it's enclosed to protect from the cold and we wouldn't have to pay since it's mine!"
Ray
"Winterhold it is, then, I suppose it would be interesting to see how they're fairing."
Charles
She let out a sigh of relief as she set down her spider companion and stood. "Alright, let's get going then. You can take a nice nap on our way to Markarth. I used to live in my cart back in Morrowind so there's a bedroll you can use." And with that, Arysea began their journey, following the footsteps that she left behind on her way to where she eventually found him. "Oh and by the way, I'm Arysea! I don't think we ever introduced ourselves."
Ray
"Haliochtus." He says, "Glad to make your acquainance." He follows her
Charles
"Likewise." She replied, quickly turning her attention back to the trek. From behind, Haliochtus would be able to spot a mace of Dwemer origin strapped to her bag as well as other tools like the pickaxe used to free him and a fur-lined travel bedroll.
Ray
"So did you forge that gear yourself? Or did you salvage it?" He asks, "I do a bit of forging myself, but I'm more an engineer than I am a smith"
Charles
"On that we are quite similar." She quipped back, "I try to not melt down anything I can find as I see it as a waste of historical pieces. All my actual gear is scavenged but I do have something that had to be forged. I have the knowledge to forge but actually applying it, I usually struggle with. Thus, I keep myself to study and tinkering."
Ray
"That's fair, I have respect for smiths who forge with dwarven metal, though, the high melting point may make it easy but it's a tough metal to work with, nonetheless."
Charles
"Yes, I respect them greatly as well. It is just something I would not personally do. If anything, I want to be able to put back together as many creations of the Dwemer as I can. I have this one silly project and I don't even know if what I'm imagining is real or not, but I'm sure you don't wish to listen to my ramblings."
Ray
"I hope you aren't planning on rebuilding Numidium." He says with a laugh, though it's hard to tell if it was faked or not, "I have some interesting plans of my own, but I'd rather make them before sharing."
Charles
She laughed with him. "If only it was possible. That would certainly be a feat." While she was perhaps more of than she should be, Haliochtus seemed more guarded in his ambitions. "Understandable, you never know who may try to steal your hard work."
Ray
"Indeed. And I don't want the Thalmor trying to improve their arsenal."
Charles
"Everyone has their own goals. Though I do find it interesting that few factions throughout history have attempted to harness the machinations of the Dwemer. Something as simple as a Ballista mounted upon a fort's walls would be devastating to an invading force."
Ray
"Indeed, though I should say, I love a good a trebuchet. The ballista is great, but lacks the flair of the trebuchet"
Charles
"Perhaps as a siege weapon, but a ballista is infinitely better for defense." She retorted. Warfare was hardly her strong suit but she did oh so love conversing about the Dwemer and their creations. "I need to source one of those walking ones to work with."
Ray
"That's a fair point." He says, "And with the right modifications you could make an excellent siege weapon."
Charles
"Maybe, though I'm not all too interested in making an extremely useful weapon. The last thing I need is to be remembered for making Dwemer weapons mainstream in the slaughter of a countless number of soldiers and other parties. I just think they are fascinating machines and would like to have one for myself some day."
Ray
"That's a fair point, though I'd rather not be remembered for making an automaton whose entire purpose is serving the wealthy."
Charles
"Yet another reason to keep to oneself and to do the same with research." She wasn't sure where that comment came from, but simply agreed. She wasn't in her profession for fame or wealth, but rather because it was her passion. And nothing would ever change that.
Ray
"Indeed, perhaps we could collaborate on a project some time, we may be able to do some good with our research." He says, "I've been toying with the idea of an encapsulated climate. A place to grow crops year round, no matter the climate outside."
Charles
"So like... A greenhouse type thing? But with better control of the interior?" Organic engineering wasn't Arysea's strong suit and she didn't quite understand it. She was more inclined to pure metal and oil, machines that didn't not need to live to work.
Ray
"Precisely, using Dwemer steam engineering as the heating element, as well as a way to irrigate the crops! I just need a heat source, I imagine enchanting pieces of metal with a flame enchantment could work, but I'm not sure if it would be enough. Sourcing water is another problem, though it could be self sustaining after time a loss of water is inevitable, and there's the issue of maintenance."
Charles
"It is certainly an ambitious project." She quipped, falling back to gently nudge him before continuing, "So much for keeping your projects a secret, huh?" She had an obvious teasing tone in her voice and under all her wraps had a huge smile on her face.
Ray
"Trust me, this is the most *Boring* Of my ambitious projects." He says, deadpan, "Or else I wouldn't be telling you."
Charles
"Fair enough, glad we both have big plans for the future though. It'll be interesting to have some competition in the field that I actually know about. Believe it or not, there's not too many big figures in our field." It was both a blessing and a curse. There was a lack of peers to bounce ideas off, but also no competition that you had to work to beat.
Ray
"Indeed, not many are interested in the intricacies of the Dwemer's work, only the longevity of their metal."
Charles
"Unfortunately. It is certainly useful but it would be nice if more people cares about its origin. Though I suppose that leaves more for us to explore, yeah?" Always looking at the bright side, it was pretty nice having such freedom in the field.
Ray
He laughs, "Indeed, and the spiders are also to thank for that, they're quite good at restoring the ruins and automatons after they are destroyed"
Charles
"Assuming they aren't all wiped out. Though that'd be practically impossible unless you systematically went through all the delivery piping that the spiders travel through. But that would both be highly impractical and incredibly dangerous." It was something she had thought about for a long time actually. Any ancient ruins that had been scoured ages ago would be practically restored to their original condition by now on account of the spiders.