As some of you may know, I am a prop sculptor. Recently I’ve been producing some steampunk style nerf gun mods and props. I’ve written a history for the piece, but it still doesn’t have that flair I need. Anyone want to take a shot at some creative editing? Text follows below, and I’ll post a link to the images tonight.
The Curious History of the Mjollnir 20 Millimeter Hand Cannon
Originally produced for Lord Simon “Iron Jaw” Latimer as a lasting solution to his recurring problem with lycanthrope air pirates; the Mjollnir, or “Thunderer” as it is affectionately known, is among the most powerful weapons of its, and indeed any time. Due to the regenerative properties and general resiliency of his adversaries, Latimer approached the infamous collection of rogues at the Clockwork Leviathan production facility for an effective weapon to utilize in his frequent aerial skirmishes. Latimer needed a powerful weapon that could deliver the knockdown force of his deck mounted guns, the only weapons that seemed to disable the lycanthropes, which merely absorb small arms fire; a gun that was portable, versatile, and able to be operated by a single man. Clockwork Leviathan, known for its artful and innovative solutions to unique problems, produced a small and currently unknown number of firearms at Latimer’s behest.
The Mjollnir is the end result of a combination of fabrication, craftsmanship, many strange and curious events and a few deaths that remain unsolved to this day. What is known is this: Each of the Mjollnirs carry two authentic Alexander Tetradracham that have been identified as similar to those that were listed among the missing items stolen from the exhibition of the treasures of tomb of the notorious Icelandic sorcerer Saemundur the Wise. The hoard, so infamous in the broadsheets for it’s curse that claimed the life of the noted Professor Edgar Frockspittle, contained a large number of these coins; minted from solid silver and bound in a skin sack bearing many protective bind runes. Each of the guns also bear six cabochons crafted to resemble large pearls. In truth, these have been determined to be human bone, and thaumaturgists have confirmed that they are made from the missing femur of St. Dunstan; stolen from Glastonbury earlier in the century as our readers will of course recall.
Clockwork Leviathan has denied any involvement with the foggy history of the unusual equipment of the Mjolnirs, noting only that their production was overseen by the founder himself, and nearly all the production took place in the now defunct facility in Bromwich.
The enigmatic founder of Clockwork Leviathan is of course unreachable, currently on safari on the Continent.
While the curious insignia of the Mjollnir is enough to give any gentleman of good repute pause, it’s more pragmatic functions are even queerer still. The “Thunderer” is capable of firing several type of ammunition from its six internally located revolving mechanism chambers. Normal guns of its maximum caliber are large deck-mounted affairs, manned by crews of three and most often utilized to shoot down enemy airships. Their massive recoil necessitates heavy bolting to the deck. The Mjollnir, however, fires much like a more mundane 45 caliber pistol. This is achieved by the “New and Improved ‘Succubus Stroke’” pneumatic system for the absorption of shock” to quote the inscription in the case. Investigations have shown that the “pneumatic” parts are non- functioning, consisting of a heavily inscribed cylinder and a few coiling springs. The exact mechanism is unknown, and will likely remain a secret as the villains at Clockwork Leviathan either are ignorant of it, or are sworn to secrecy. The only known attempt to dissemble a Mjollnir’s recoil system resulted in a large fire that consumed the boarding home of the engineer attempting the feat; taking both his life and twenty two others in residence.
What IS known of the Mjollnirs is that they are devastating to both mortal and revenant foes, causing irreparable physical damage to airships and crew alike. Shipped with phials of oil that carry the Papal Seal, (another “unknown acquisition”) the weapons are able to exterminate a supernatural adversary with ease. To this effect nearly all of the known Mjollnir and other weapons of this line were purchased by the notoriously wealthy vampire pirate baron King Saturday at great expense, and were immolated in his forges. The few extant weapons have been bought and sold so many times their providence is too convoluted to unravel. Clockwork Leviathan declines to comment on the Mjollnir other than to state: “Don’t ask, and don’t bring one of those bloody things for servicing. If any are left, the devil take ‘em.”
This single example is complete in every way. It contains the gun in functioning order, its ammunition tin, phials still half full, and carrying case. It bears no production number and has seen some serious use. Our curator notes that we can make no further claims to the condition of the weapon since he declines to examine it beyond a cursory glance, and adds that no other gunsmith will have anything to do with the legendary gun. Our thaumaturgist states that all the aetheric hardware is in place and authentic and should the purchaser choose to employ it against the supernatural, he should prevail with ease. We will guarantee only that this very rare example of a cryptic weapon is authentic, and all due care should be exercised buy the buyer. The provenance of the gun is of course murky, but we have lawfully received it in a consignment lot from a minor relative of the now defunct Latimer Family.
Your location betrays you Agatha.
I wasn’t able to find any info on caliber ratings for heavier artillery, but I have a huge encyclopedia of weapons that I’m perusing today.
Nit withdrawn.