39.04 Simple, Right?
“Simple, Right?” I’m a big fan of those short instructional cartoons. I think a couple of recent takes would be Vault Boy and Miss Minutes. The informative mascot makes learning fun! So for your edutainment, I introduce Poochibi to give a primer on some of the problems of locating artifacts with magic.
Be careful out there.
↓ Transcript
Panel 1
From inside a guest room at the White Bear tavern, Pōk is sitting on the bed with a smile as the gobo listens to a descriptive presentation provided by Puccini (offscreen).
Puccini, offscreen: "The thief knows that powerful artifacts can be hard to detect."
Panel 2
In a long panel are three cartoonish Puccini with a smallish body and a big head. These chibi-styled wizards act as an informative mascot, visualizing Puccini's narration. The first Poochibi points a finger at a rendition of the black stone artifact to the lower left and strong, radar-like waves move towards the stone, which shines when detected. The second Poochibi points up towards center right at a stone that is further away, with a similar affect. But the third Poochibi is not having the same luck. With back towards the viewer, the cartoonish wizard does not notice the stone set just behind him and radar waves emanate in all directions, weakening the further they go. The stone does not shine and the question mark over Poochibi's head indications confusion as to why the stone has not been detected.
Puccini, narrates ofscreen: "Unless, of course one is familiar with it. But I forgot this one trick. Detection spells are like a compass drawn to a lodestone. At range, it would pinpoint its location with accuracy. But too close and it could be fouled, spinning wildly."
Panel 3
Back on the bed, Pōk is enjoying the lecture. As the gobo prepares to have a spoonful of stew, Pōk answers Puccini (offscreen) when he asks as closing question.
Puccini, offscreen: "As if actively shielded. Make sense?"
Pōk, happily: "<Not at all!>"
From inside a guest room at the White Bear tavern, Pōk is sitting on the bed with a smile as the gobo listens to a descriptive presentation provided by Puccini (offscreen).
Puccini, offscreen: "The thief knows that powerful artifacts can be hard to detect."
Panel 2
In a long panel are three cartoonish Puccini with a smallish body and a big head. These chibi-styled wizards act as an informative mascot, visualizing Puccini's narration. The first Poochibi points a finger at a rendition of the black stone artifact to the lower left and strong, radar-like waves move towards the stone, which shines when detected. The second Poochibi points up towards center right at a stone that is further away, with a similar affect. But the third Poochibi is not having the same luck. With back towards the viewer, the cartoonish wizard does not notice the stone set just behind him and radar waves emanate in all directions, weakening the further they go. The stone does not shine and the question mark over Poochibi's head indications confusion as to why the stone has not been detected.
Puccini, narrates ofscreen: "Unless, of course one is familiar with it. But I forgot this one trick. Detection spells are like a compass drawn to a lodestone. At range, it would pinpoint its location with accuracy. But too close and it could be fouled, spinning wildly."
Panel 3
Back on the bed, Pōk is enjoying the lecture. As the gobo prepares to have a spoonful of stew, Pōk answers Puccini (offscreen) when he asks as closing question.
Puccini, offscreen: "As if actively shielded. Make sense?"
Pōk, happily: "<Not at all!>"
I admit, even being familiar with how compasses and magnets interact (have to thank modern day elementary education for that) it still probably wouldn’t have clicked for me as easily with words alone.
Pōk could use some Poochibi cartoons, too. And I wonder, how many of the gobbos are familiar with compasses? They’ve used maps before (I think so at least, I might be remembering wrong…), but it’s not as though there’s no alternative ways to find north.