h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

[Anole]: Just call us if you need anything. If I can have your leave?

i'm not sure who that was directed towards, but if it was directed towards the King then he gives his leave

[Sharp]: *Places both hands together, kind of in earnest anticipation*
"... The ballista, then."

*After much groaning, and tugging and pulling on a chain, later, he has retrieved the big-big crossbow.*

"It is kind of like a little crossbow, except a whole lot larger. Would you like to try & give it a go then your Majesty?"

[Anole] *returns carrying a large crossbow bolt*
You forgot this outside, Sharp.

[Sharp]: "Oh, yes. So it would seem I have. Thank you Anole."

[Anole]*Returns to his original spot, the little nook behind the tapestry*

[Sharp]: "Your Majesty, if you would please care to take note of a target which had been placed several some odd yards out beyond the drawbridge prior to the set up of this demonstration."

*Hands King Michael a spyglass*

[King Michael] Ah! There it is! And this spyglass gives me an idea - could you make versions of these that are smaller? Like, smaller than my finger, yet with the same power to magnify?
Nerd42

[Anole]: *sounds of snoring emit from behind the tapestry*

[Sharp]: "Um, mayhap. If they can make something like this..."
*holds out his monocle*

"And that's kind of small, then it probably wouldn't be too terribly tricky to make some that were even smaller, in a tube. That's a good idear sire."

*Writes it down*
"Since it's your idea then, you probably ought to be the one who gets to name it. What would you like to call it your Highness?"

*Tries out one using an extra spare to his monocle tacked onto a tiny rectangular-flat piece of wood that has the first one fit into a notch on it at the other end.*

"Um,- like this kind of?"

[Sharp]: "Well, I am pretty sure that the locals will stay cleared out of the area of range for right now. I think I had someone tell them there was going to be something big falling nearby there later on. That was this morning. They know what a target is if they see one, right?"

*bends his arm and indicates ... the controls to it*
"Well, it's got a wheel you can turn to adjust the angle sort of... and in order to fire it, you just pull down on this lever over here. On the side of it. Yep. It should be able to work about the same even if it is being fired indoors. As long as it is aimed through a doorway or something to go hit something outdoors. I suppose. Would you like to have the honors of giving it the first try?"

[King] sure
*he does so*
Nerd42

[Sharp]: "Is the er, trajectory, to be found satisfactory sire? If not, I can always recalibrate it a bit, add a few more stronger springs, reinforce some of the mechanisms further as well."

*Shades his brow with one hand to look and try to see where the bolt went.*

[Anole]: I must have bad luck with this thing! The bolt has went through my cloth-covered chain mail shirt and is holding me to the ground. Two inches over I would have had a large chunk in my side missing!

[Sharp]: *puts his head out the courtyard door( "I'll burn it out of the way, just hold still. Not strong enough to lift it by myself. We'll give you a cloak to use cover your face with, and breathe through. Unless...!"

*Sharp turns to face King Michael*

"Sire, do you know of somebody, or perhaps a few somebodies, who would be strong enough to lift it? It would seem now that my comrade has been, er... it is on top of him."

[Anole]: *loud ripping sound along with the sound of shedding metal*
"Nevermind, I'm free!"

[Sharp]: "Oh, okay nevermind."

*Shakes his head a bit about the matter of it having involved a bolt roughly about the size of a log*