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[Khang36]

So how practical would it be to modify our new jet scrolls to instead of pushing air but tuned to push metal or admintine down the tube effectively turning it into a magic railgun of sorts?

[Madman198237]

Very practical, we think.

It's been mentioned several times in the thread, and very often in the Discord.

[Khang36]

Oh haven't been following the thread and discord closely the past month so must have missed the discussions.

[NUKE9.13]

So how practical would it be to modify our new jet scrolls to instead of pushing air but tuned to push metal or admintine down the tube effectively turning it into a magic railgun of sorts?

Uh... magic railgun is maybe pushing it a bit. Magic grenade launcher, sure. But these things are not going to push projectiles with the force of a railgun. They might help to lob grenades out to medium range. But I doubt they'd go any further than that. 

You know what would make a better magic railgun? A magic railgun.

2 Check Crewmen Minds: Madman, SMMI
1 Leave Them Alone: NUKE9.13

Because that worked out so well the last time. I'm sure that they won't be on guard against this sort of thing now, and would be so offended if we did it that they rescind their offer to help us. No, there's no way that could happen. Certainly not without rolling the dice first, on account of how WE ALREADY TRIED THIS.

Which is to say, even if they are lying, what of it? What do we stand to lose? I mean, if they don't want to spy for us, why on earth would they want to spy for Arstotzka? Worst case scenario, we let them go and they immediately leave the island, never to return. In which case, the same happens to Arstotzka, and no one is better off.
And if we scan their minds and detect this intention, what are we going to do? How can we force them to be loyal? We don't have mind-washing spells.
Doing this is all risk, no reward.

[Atomic Chicken]

Check Crewmen Minds
   (2) Yes: Madman, SMMI
   (2) No: NUKE9.13, AC

I agree with NUKE. Risking another order on this seems unnecessary.

[Madman198237]

We stand to lose them going to Arstotzka and sharing some information.

Plus, we ought to get bonuses to the rolls, because we're entirely right to question them.

We just have a method to ensure honesty. Like it says: Threaten them if necessary. They don't have a choice as to whether they comply or not, the usual punishment for sharing such military secrets would be death.

We're just giving them a free way out.

[NUKE9.13]

Again, if they aren't willing to spy for us, why would they be willing to spy for Arstotzka? And even if you're right, then Arstotzka's spies would surely do the same for us- we'd just be swapping spies.
We attempted mind-reading on their leader before, and failed miserably. They will be on guard against such things, giving us a penalty to the roll.
If we intend to send them to Arstotzka to do espionage for us, we have no choice but to let them out of our sight. At which point, threats of violence become valueless.

[Kashyyk]

They are in jail without weapons. If we can't forcibly mind read them in that situation how the hell did we manage it in the field?

Check Crewmen Minds
   (3) Yes: Madman, SMMI, Kashyyk
   (2) No: NUKE9.13, AC

[Detoxicated]

Nuke is as usual on point with his argument, so I am voting like this

Check Crewmen Minds
   (3) Yes: Madman, SMMI, Kashyyk
   (3) No: NUKE9.13, AC, Detoxicated

[Madman198237]

If they won't spy for us, we exploit them some other way. If we don't KNOW, however, we stand to lose things.

They're in jail for attempting to steal sensitive documents and materials. We can just kill them, legally and fairly. They know this, and we will inform them of this anyway.

We order them to sabotage and report, and that we'll release them and their captain *after* they do our bidding.

That way, they KNOW we'll read minds on the way in and on the way back out. They can't get anything past us. Also, threaten them with getting brutally hunted down by thoughtscanning mages with a vengeance. And precognition (They don't need to know about the limitations).

[NUKE9.13]

They are in jail without weapons. If we can't forcibly mind read them in that situation how the hell did we manage it in the field?

Sure, we could do it by force. We could've read the captain's mind by force as well. We didn't, though, because we wanted to maintain the semblance of good relations.

Likewise, these people are offering us an Espionage Credit. We should graciously accept, not subject them to invasive mind-reading. I mean, if they weren't already planning on betraying us, that'd be a great way to make them want to.

We order them to sabotage and report, and that we'll release them and their captain *after* they do our bidding.

How on earth are they supposed to sabotage/spy on Arstotzka before we release them?

Seriously, they can just run away after we let them loose. Nothing short of actual mind-manipulation magic is gonna change that.

[Madman198237]

We keep their captain, the guy they wish to have released.

We force them to report to us BEFORE releasing their captain to them.

We've already arrested them, invaded their captain's mind (Well, we tried to anyway) and probably have already threatened them with execution.

"Good cop" doesn't work with this sort of negotiation, NUKE.

[NUKE9.13]

...well, I went back to read the turn, and you're right, it does say that they are offering to do this in exchange for their captain being released afterwards. And the suggestion that we might just want to execute them is there. 

Oh, fine. Let the record show that I still don't think this is a great idea. If it goes wrong, I am totally gonna say I told you so.

Check Crewmen Minds
   (4) Yes: Madman, SMMI, Kashyyk, NUKE9.13
   (2) No: AC, Detoxicated

[evictedSaint]

Order: Mindcheck [5/3 -> 3]

After a bit of checking, we reveal that yes, their intentions are exactly as stated. 

[Madman198237]

Hey, excellent.

NUKE, we're sorry, but your proposal clearly states your reluctance to participate in ensuring the security of GLORIOUS MOSKURG, and thus we must brand you a heretic, and send you out to die.

On the field of battle.

With a cask of Alnnar stuck to your back. And a lit fuse.