Merlin as Elisha

DrakBibliophile wrote:If Merlin is known to have been at "ground zero" of a major explosion (for example), then people are going to be asking major questions about his survival.

SCC wrote:

DrakBibliophile wrote:If Merlin is known to have been at "ground zero" of a major explosion (for example), then people are going to be asking major questions about his survival.

No they aren't, it's just more proof he was sent by God to guide Charis

Brog wrote:Or lie that he wasn't at the site of the explosion (or close to the explosion itself).

Unless it's an explosion at a very public venue, chances are anyone close enough to witness Merlin at the explosion will be killed by that same explosion.

SWM wrote:

Brog wrote:Or lie that he wasn't at the site of the explosion (or close to the explosion itself).

Unless it's an explosion at a very public venue, chances are anyone close enough to witness Merlin at the explosion will be killed by that same explosion.

That's why Drak said "If Merlin is known to be at ground zero." Drak is not talking about a case where Merlin can say he wasn't there.

n7axw wrote:I suspect that if Merlin is at ground zero of a major explosion, he doesn't survive. We don't know for sure what it would take to destroy a PICA, but Merlin is not indestructable. Anything that can do in his brain or power supply does in Merlin.

Off Armageddon Reef wrote:Merlin had thought long and hard before making the offer. He himself was, if not indestructible, at least very, very hard to destroy. His PICA body wasn't simply built out of incredibly tough synthetics, but incorporated substantial nanotech-based self-repair capabilities. Very few current-generation Safeholdian weapons could realistically hope to inflict crippling damage. A direct hit by a round shot could undoubtedly remove a limb, or even his head, but while that might be inconvenient, it wouldn't "kill" him. Even a direct hit by a heavy cannon couldn't significantly damage his "brain," and as long as his power plant remained intact—and it was protected by a centimeter-thick shell of battle steel—and as long as his nannies had access to basic raw materials (and lots and lots of time), they could pretty much literally rebuild him from scratch.

Icarium wrote:

n7axw wrote:I suspect that if Merlin is at ground zero of a major explosion, he doesn't survive. We don't know for sure what it would take to destroy a PICA, but Merlin is not indestructable. Anything that can do in his brain or power supply does in Merlin.

I'd say he does. Quote from the first book.

Off Armageddon Reef wrote:Merlin had thought long and hard before making the offer. He himself was, if not indestructible, at least very, very hard to destroy. His PICA body wasn't simply built out of incredibly tough synthetics, but incorporated substantial nanotech-based self-repair capabilities. Very few current-generation Safeholdian weapons could realistically hope to inflict crippling damage. A direct hit by a round shot could undoubtedly remove a limb, or even his head, but while that might be inconvenient, it wouldn't "kill" him. Even a direct hit by a heavy cannon couldn't significantly damage his "brain," and as long as his power plant remained intact—and it was protected by a centimeter-thick shell of battle steel—and as long as his nannies had access to basic raw materials (and lots and lots of time), they could pretty much literally rebuild him from scratch.

Basically his brain (which is not on his head for the record, it says earlier it's in his chest where his liver is) is hard to damage. And his power supply is encased in battle steel, an inch or such of which is said with the temple to be able to shrug off /bombardements/.

Remember, PICA were designed for high-end industrial work too. They're TOUGH. I have doubts that even a huge explosion of gunpowder would destroy him. Destroy most of his body -- yes. But his brain and power supply would survive. Then it's a matter of regrowing the other bits with his nanotech.

Caliban wrote:Perhaps this is a misplaced bit of levity,but..
Why am I suddenly getting a flash of the Black Knight from
Monty Python's 'Holy Grail'?

lyonheart wrote:Hi Caliban,

Welcome to the forums, enjoy your favorite cg beverage on the cg forum.

Who knows?

Perhaps Merlin will take a 'real' flesh wound for Nynian, to prove he's human and bleeds, or whip out his short sword, or wakazashi, as in "That's not a knife, now that's a knife!"

L

Caliban wrote:Perhaps this is a misplaced bit of levity,but..
Why am I suddenly getting a flash of the Black Knight from
Monty Python's 'Holy Grail'?