[Round 3] - Scribe Task

[Silver Emerald]

Concerning the Porous Hydrosteel Obsidian-Sponge Alloy

Dr. Philip Schneider
Brentham Academy, Frostkraken Empire

In recent years, it has become apparent that the might of the Imperial Army struggles most against forces which strike at the hydration necessary to the troops. Renowned strategist Fronk Weever believed that casualties at the volcanic Battle of Lesturias could have been mitigated by at least 30% if there had been a better way to keep the army supplied with water. [1]

Through the efforts of several faculty at Brentham Academy, a new material has been developed over the past months which will hold water but still serve as durable armor.
This metal's composition is similar to silksteel for its incorporation of iron and sponge, but rather than near-surface sponge, it uses specimens which have grown in the deepest known depths of the Empire - the volcanic trenches of the Fortian Currents in the Sothern Reach. The more water it holds, the more transparent the material becomes, though it quickly turns black as moisture is dispersed. Its durability is similar to that of silksteel, though it preserves little of the flexibility which characterizes the other alloy.

Testing involved both controlled and field experiments. First, the tests conducted at Brentham.

During the testing process, researchers in the application branch of the Academy brought in a sample population brigade for whom standard armor pieces were made.
The researchers' notes as well as the soldiers' notes indicated the following:
∙ A full set of armor, when completely saturated, holds 28±15%L of fluid..
∙ It can reasonably ablate boiling-level heat for 90 minutes with 95% confidence. [2]
∙ The released steam tends to hasten the movements of properly trained troops. [3][4]
∙ The soldiers prefer their own name for the material, 'Steamsteel', to the official name. [3]

The number of burns from fire were reduced 70%, and from acid by 30%, as compared to the control group. [5]

The field tests suggested that burns of both kinds could be reduced up to 90%, as well as the following.
∙ Depending on amount of combat, armor may need to be re-soaked every 1 to 4 days.
∙ Could raise morale by averting dryness on the march.
∙ Jealousy levels in an army when selected members receive new equipment fall within the range 35-65%.

One particular case study is in the case of Lawrence Bathay. He was selected for the new armor but captured on a raid of the nearby Ignis Mountains.
An anonymous observer aware of this project described the following:
   "Though he was taken and questioned, he did not give up anythng[sic]. Then...the poor guy was tortured. They grilled him, but as the steam started spilling out he taunted, 'Might want to turn me over, guess I'm done on this side.' Eventually the armor bled dry under the intense heat, and now he's calamari, but...it kept him alive at least a little longer." [6]

The researchers on the project agreed that this constituted a qualified success of the field testing.

Production and supplying of the material to forces in the field is expected to begin in the following weeks.

[1] Fronk Weever, Imperial Expansion of the 520th Century.
[2] Fred Knooser, Thermodynamics & You, 5th Edition.
[3] Notes of an anonymous soldier in the prototyping program.
[4] Work has begun on incorporating the speed and power seemingly granted by this technology in motorized, enchanted war vehicles. The project has been nicknamed "Project Steam Machine".
[5] Credit to Whalebone Prison for supplying the control group.
[6] Anonymous observer in the Ignis Kingdom capital.

[Silver Emerald]

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^ Submission starts above the dotted line! ^

Scribe Task, Week III, Brawl VI

Challenge:
The breath of a dragon is so hot that it'll turn your troops to sticks of charcoal coated in the slush of their molten armor.
Write a scientific article detailing the design/creation of a new armor material that won't melt!

[Silver Emerald]

So I could go for the humor angle as we often do, using some form of ablative shielding such as marshmallow or water.

Or I could use an existing metal with a very high melting point.

Or I could make up a metal with previously unforeseen properties.


There's also the setting as well. Is this article in a modern-day publication? Is it in an Elemental sciences journal?

[Silver Emerald]

Here's the text file from what I have thus far. I anticipate returning in approximately four hours, potentially less.

Spoiler for Hidden:

- Alloy using iron, obsidian from the deep volcanic trenches, and the fairly common sponge. Oh, and magic.
- Haven't figured out its actual name, but it's known colloquially as 'steamsteel'. [2]
- Semi-porous metal that absorbs a certain volume of water fluid.
- Ablates sudden heat by releasing contents into steam. Bear in mind that soldiers equipped with this may need training to continue fighting in steam. [2, 3]
- Makes troops from our region more comfortable in general. [2]
- Possible anecdote about a captured soldier with this who was able to frustrate enemies torturing him over a grill? [4]
- Will have to figure out a way that they didn't know about/couldn't see the armor, though. Maybe it's clear? Would probably need another ingredient then though.


Concerning the Porous Hydrosteel Obsidian-Sponge Alloy
Dr. Philip Schneider
Brentham Academy, Frostkraken Empire

In recent years, it has become apparent that the might of the Imperial Army struggles most against forces which strike at the hydration necessary to the troops.
Renowned strategist Fronk Weever believed that casualties at the volcanic Battle of Lesturias could have been mitigated by at least 30% if there had been a better way to keep the army supplied with water. [1]

Through the efforts of several faculty at Brentham Academy, a new material has been developed over the past months which will hold water but still serve as durable armor.

----------------- [Remove]

During the testing process, researchers in the application branch of the Academy brought in a sample population brigade for whom standard armor pieces were made.
The researchers' notes as well as the soldiers' notes indicated the following:
∙ A full set of armor, when completely saturated, holds 28L of fluid.
∙ It can reasonably ablate boiling-level heat for 90 minutes. [2]
∙
∙ The soldiers prefer their own name for the material, 'steamsteel', to the official name. [3]

[1] Fronk Weever, Imperial Expansion of the 520th Century
[2] Fred Knooser, Thermodynamics & You, 5th Edition
[3] Notes of an anonymous soldier in the prototyping program
[4]

[Silver Emerald]

Spoiler for Draft 2, Final?:

Concerning the Porous Hydrosteel Obsidian-Sponge Alloy
Dr. Philip Schneider
Brentham Academy, Frostkraken Empire

In recent years, it has become apparent that the might of the Imperial Army struggles most against forces which strike at the hydration necessary to the troops. Renowned strategist Fronk Weever believed that casualties at the volcanic Battle of Lesturias could have been mitigated by at least 30% if there had been a better way to keep the army supplied with water. [1]

Through the efforts of several faculty at Brentham Academy, a new material has been developed over the past months which will hold water but still serve as durable armor.
This metal's composition is similar to silksteel for its incorporation of iron and sponge, but rather than near-surface sponge uses specimens which have grown in the deepest known depths of the Empire - the volcanic trenches of the Fortian Currents. The more water it holds, the more transparent the material becomes, though it quickly turns black as moisture is dispersed. Its durability is similar to that of silksteel, though it preserves little of the flexibility which characterizes the other alloy.

Testing involved both controlled and field experiments. First, the tests conducted at Brentham.

During the testing process, researchers in the application branch of the Academy brought in a sample population brigade for whom standard armor pieces were made.
The researchers' notes as well as the soldiers' notes indicated the following:
∙ A full set of armor, when completely saturated, holds 28L of fluid.
∙ It can reasonably ablate boiling-level heat for 90 minutes. [2]
∙ The released steam tends to hasten the movements of properly trained troops. [3]
∙ The soldiers prefer their own name for the material, 'steamsteel', to the official name. [3]

The number of burns from fire was reduced 70%, and from acid by 30%, as compared to the control group.

The field tests suggested that burns of both kinds could be reduced up to 90%, as well as the following.
∙ Depending on amount of combat, armor may need to be resoaked every one to four days.
∙ Could raise morale by averting dryness on the march.
∙ Jealousy levels in an army when selected members recieve new equipment vary fall within the range 35-65%.

One particular case study is in the case of Lawrence Bathay. He was selected for the new armor but captured on a raid of the nearby Ignis Mountains.
An anonymous observer aware of this project described the following:
   "Though he was taken and questioned, he did not give up anythng[sic]. Then...the poor guy was tortured. They grilled him, but as the steam started spilling out he taunted, 'Might want to turn me over, guess I'm done on this side.' Eventually the armor bled dry under the intense heat, and now he's calamari, but...it kept him alive at least a little longer." [4]

The researchers on the project agreed that this constituted a qualified success of the field testing.

Production and supplying of the material to forces in the field is expected to begin in the following weeks.

[1] Fronk Weever, Imperial Expansion of the 520th Century
[2] Fred Knooser, Thermodynamics & You, 5th Edition
[3] Notes of an anonymous soldier in the prototyping program
[4] Anonymous observer in the Ignis Kingdom capital

[Aves]

1. "rather than near-surface sponge" is unclear to me-- needs a comma somewhere to make the clause pop out.

2. Would be a good idea to sprinkle in some "failure rate" statistics, probability of manufacture defect (From the university laboratory, 5% of units?), how much force it takes to break 10% of armors with some sort of confidence interval (52.5 kN+-0.3), etc.

3. When you compare to the control group, it might help to have some actual numbers to compare to (in the control group, all 50 slaves were burned)

4. If anybody has any time at all, I think some wacky graphs, pie charts, etc would be lovely. Definitely not essential though.

[Aves]

Spoiler for Draft 3, Final?:

Concerning the Porous "Hydrosteel" Obsidian-Sponge Alloy
Dr. Philip Schneider
Brentham Academy, Frostkraken Empire

In recent years, it has become apparent that the might of the Imperial Army struggles most against forces which strike at the hydration necessary to the troops. Renowned strategist Fronk Weever believed that casualties at the volcanic Battle of Lesturias could have been mitigated by at least 30% if there had been a better way to keep the army supplied with water. [1]

Through the efforts of several faculty at Brentham Academy, a new material has been developed over the past months which will hold water but still serve as durable armor.
This metal's composition is similar to silksteel for its incorporation of iron and sponge, but instead of cheaper near-surface-grown sponge, uses specimens which have been cultivated only in the deepest known depths of the Empire - the volcanic trenches of the Fortian Currents. The more water the sponge holds, the more transparent the material becomes, though it quickly turns black as moisture is dispersed. Its durability is similar to that of silksteel, though it preserves little of the flexibility which characterizes the other alloy.

Testing involved both controlled and field experiments. First, the tests conducted at Brentham.

During the testing process, researchers in the application branch of the Academy brought in a sample population brigade for whom standard armor pieces were made.
The researchers' notes as well as the soldiers' notes indicated the following:
∙ A full set of armor, when completely saturated, holds 28±15%L of fluid.
∙ It can reasonably ablate boiling-level heat for 90 minutes with 95% confidence. [2]
∙ The released steam tends to hasten the movements of properly trained troops. Marching times vary. [3]
∙ The soldiers prefer their own name for the material, 'steamsteel', to the official name. [3]

The number of burns from fire was reduced 70%, and from acid by 30%, as compared to the control group. [4]

The field tests suggested that burns of both kinds could be reduced up to 90%, as well as the following.
∙ Depending on amount of combat, armor may need to be resoaked every one to four days.
∙ Could raise morale by averting dryness on the march.
∙ Jealousy levels in an army when selected members receive new equipment vary fall within the range 35-65%.

One particular case study is in the case of Lawrence Bathay. He was selected for the new armor but captured on a raid of the nearby Ignis Mountains.
An anonymous observer aware of this project described the following:
   "Though he was taken and questioned, he did not give up anythng[sic]. Then...the poor guy was tortured. They grilled him, but as the steam started spilling out he taunted, 'Might want to turn me over, guess I'm done on this side.' Eventually the armor bled dry under the intense heat, and now he's calamari, but...it kept him alive at least a little longer." [5]

The researchers on the project agreed that this constituted a qualified success of the field testing.

Mass production and supplying of the material to forces in the field is expected to begin in the following weeks.

[1] Fronk Weever, Imperial Expansion of the 520th Century
[2] Fred Knooser, Thermodynamics & You, 5th Edition
[3] Notes of an anonymous soldier in the prototyping program
[4] Gill Sulphurine, "Captive Slave Revolt Leaders Mysteriously Burned Alive." Frostkracken Times
[5] Anonymous observer in the Ignis Kingdom capital