The description of this item states that "Each pocket contains an instrument of highly specific utility." Examples include a "trip-clock" (a travel clock? or for getting the timing right when tripping someone?), "salt-lens" (a microscope for examining salt, or a lens made out of salt?), and "mangler-piece" (some sort of weapon? or a piece of lab equipment?).
Just for fun, what are some other highly-specific items (and their functions) that you think the Smock might contain? Remember, it increases Watchful considerably when worn.
Since the smock raises Watchful, I’d suspect that it would contain items that would assist the wearer in obtaining physical evidence and making deductions. The possibilities that occur to me include; a pair of tweezers; a pair of scissors; a pocket microscope; litmus paper; a small coil of wire; a set of lockpicks; a pack of small envelopes (possibly glassine ones of the type used by stamp collectors); a small knife, etc.
EDIT: A comb would be appropriate too–either for spore removal, nit removal, or obtaining head hairs for various reasons. edited by cathyr19355 on 12/1/2018 edited by cathyr19355 on 12/1/2018
[quote=Catherine Raymond]Since the smock raises Watchful, I’d suspect that it would contain items that would assist the wearer in obtaining physical evidence and making deductions. The possibilities that occur to me include; a pair of tweezers; a pair of scissors; a pocket microscope; litmus paper; a small coil of wire; a set of lockpicks; a pack of small envelopes (possibly glassine ones of the type used by stamp collectors); a small knife, etc.[/quote]Reminds me of the black suit habitually worn by Agent Pendergast in the novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, which contains a remarkable array of lab equipment that Pendergast whips when investigating crime scenes. When he’s not wearing the suit, he’s often in some sort of Revolting Disguise. He’d fit right into Fallen London.
This random generator might be useful in coming up with item ideas for the Smock, although many of the items it generates are more science-fictional than…uh, whatever genre Fallen London is.
It think it would also probably contain basically all the other Watchful-increasing equipment available in FL: Gloam-Foam, Neathglass Goggles, the Compass that always points NORTH…
Edit: I’ve always wondered about the number. Does 4308 have any special significance? Or do you think it’s purely random? edited by phryne on 12/1/2018
Here are a few more. Some of the names came from the generator I mentioned earlier:
Pocket spectroscope (Neathbow edition): Produced by the Great Downward Engineering Company, this is used for examining spectroscopic lines in Neathy colours.[/li][li]Organic monitor: for checking whether something is alive or made of nonliving material. In the Neath, this is not always clear cut.[/li][li]Pulse-Scream Analyzer: measures the decibel ratings and wavelengths of Primordial Shrieks and Aeolean Screams.[/li][li]Diamond-tipped amber drill: not a drill made FROM amber; instead, it’s for drilling INTO amber.[/li][li]Sulfur Detector: a tiny tube containing a substance that reacts in the presence of airborne sulfur compounds. Useful for detecting devils, but only if you’ve lost your sense of smell.[/li][li]Murgatroyd’s Magnetometer: advertised as a tool that measures the strength of magnetic fields. Actually just a flat glass rectangle filled with iron filings. Makes pretty shapes in the presence of strong magnetic fields.
I wonder how much the Smock is part of Alexis’ well-documented distaste for Batman. He is the world’s greatest detective (Watchful), and in some incarnations (especially Adam West) is known for his utility belt that contains a trillion extremely situation-specific devices. Such as the infamous shark repellent aerosol spray, which was one of a set of four marine-animal-specific bat-sprays.
Along such lines…
Wings-of-Thunder Bat-bait, a distraction that is useful in any fight, so long as that fight takes place near or against a Wings-of-Thunder Bat[/li][li]Vake-proof iron hat, which is paired next to a wind-up singing urchin doll for unfathomable reasons[/li][li]A waterproof matchbook, with seven matches labeled A through G[/li][li]A broken well-detecting sonar. Arguably better than a functional one[/li][li]A funnel and plunger for pouring a soul back into someone[/li][li]A Stone-Tentacle Key
[quote=Isaac Gates]"I have no respect for the concept of Batman because of what I understand about politics now. Check it: dude uses state of the art equipment and unlimited resources to beat up on street level crime. He’s not ****ing with your warlords, or your corporate criminals- he really only cares about the purse snatcher on the street. Batman is a conservative’s wet dream- **** Batman."
[quote=PSGarak]I wonder how much the Smock is part of Alexis’ well-documented distaste for Batman. He is the world’s greatest detective (Watchful), and in some incarnations (especially Adam West) is known for his utility belt that contains a trillion extremely situation-specific devices. Such as the infamous shark repellent aerosol spray, which was one of a set of four marine-animal-specific bat-sprays.[/quote]This is very interesting! Where or when did A.K. discuss Batman?
That inclusion of that sidebar snippet about the Vake that pokes fun at Batman makes more sense now. One could draw inspiration for the Smock’s contents by looking at the known contents of Batman’s utility belt or some of his more esoteric gadgets.
A Soul-Sampling Flask-and-fork.
To test a soul’s worth.
Use: Stab the person who’s soul you wish to estimate with the fork. Let a drop of said person’s blood fall into the flask, shake vigorously until one of the appointed colours on the colour-chart appears.
(Colour-chart is in another pocket; can be used for identifying souls and shades of Amber.)
Zdit: if the person in question stabbed is soulless, the liquid in the flask shall turn crystal clear.
(PS… As the idiot I am I accidentally reported my own message here) edited by Honeyaddict on 12/3/2018
…Whoops, I got carried away and realized that not all of them are Watchful kinds of items. But here you go!
A ratwork derringer.[/li][li]A set of intricate kifers.[/li][li]A set of intricate kifers, Rattus Faber-sized.[/li][li]A capacious pocket or two for your murine friends. In fact, make it a pocket or eight, for those days when you need backup from the entire Scuttering Squad.[/li][li]A handy pocket guide to the Correspondence… with deliberately unfinished sigils.[/li][li]A tiny lead plaque when you need to sketch down a sigil found in the wild.[/li][li]Fireproof cloths and fabric (I don’t know what material is period-appropriate for FL) for those unexpected, spontaneous conflagrations.[/li][li]A revolting disguise.[/li][li]Silken earplugs, when you’re called to deshriek a mandrake.[/li][li]A lined pocket dedicated to storing any First City coins or Fabulous Diamonds you find.[/li][li]A spare white ribbon, for that odd lethal duel.[/li][li]A wind-up music box that plays that Popular Song.[/li][li]Another wind-up music box playing random musical notes to drown out that Popular Song.
[quote=Honeyaddict]A Soul-Sampling Flask-and-fork.
To test a soul’s worth.
Use: Stab the person who’s soul you wish to estimate with the fork. Let a drop of said person’s blood fall into the flask, shake vigorously until one of the appointed colours on the colour-chart appears.
(Colour-chart is in another pocket; can be used for identifying souls and shades of Amber.)[/quote]
Just letting you know, I’m soulless, please don’t stab me…
A Mediate A[color=rgb(34, 34, 34)]uscultator (yes, it’s a real word)[/color]
[color=rgb(34, 34, 34)]The Bazaar says it’s use is for listening to heartbeats, but place it against a door, and you can hear whatever is on the other side, as if you were there yourself. You will definitely use it in a legal and safe way, of course.[/color] edited by Ixc on 12/3/2018