HoC Bk1 Machines: Mugwump

Name: Mugwumps

Type of Machine: Organic

Description: Smiley face machine whose mane acts as a soil tiller, arms that are hoes for weeds, and feet that are garden rake claws.

Purpose: Weeding and war.

How does it work: Mugwumps come as a 2D (two dimensional), two foot, cardboard cut-out to make transportation easier. To activate it, you shove it into soil* up to its neck. Then you say the word “weed” and touch the center of its face. The mugwump will plump and fill out to a metal 3D model and begin to weed. (If it giggles, this means the machine is in tip-top shape.)

Its mane will break up the earth around the weeds and its hoe arms will rip up the weeds (roots and all), flip them up into the air, and catch them in its mouth. It will continue until there are no more weeds in the plot of ground you placed it in.

The weeds nourish the mugwump, so there is no need to worry about cleaning the inside afterwards. Their won’t be anything to find.

Once the weeds are gone, it will jump out and use its rake feet to push all the dirt back into the holes it left behind.

When the holes are filled, it wait for ten minutes on the garden’s perimeter. Touch the center of its face and say “sleep”. It will return to its 2D state and you can transport it.

Maintenance: For storage, place it in an unbreakable (magic) storage chest or place somewhere up high on a shelf so it won’t be damaged. If mugwump stops working, take it to a magicanik’s (magical mechanic) shop. If the mugwump’s joints sound creaky, be sure to rub some aloe vera on it for lubrication during its “sleep” mode. Let the machine air out overnight. The aloe will soak into the cardboard and work on the joints. If it still creaks, take it to a magicanik.

Warning: If the Mugwump is left unattended for 10 minutes after it completes its weeding chore, it will leave to find another plot of ground on your property to weed in. If there is no weed to be found, it will find the closest plot of ground to weed.

Special attack(s): Can be re-outfitted for war-by order of the ruling Royal Spades. If such an order is given, you must take all the mugwumps you have and give them to a magicanik. For which, you will be compensated.

Defense(s): Its metal body can take a lot of damage before it stops working.

Known facts: Goblin made.

Weakness(es): They can break down.

*Hard or soft soil, it doesn’t matter. The cardboard rake feet have a sharp magical shield around them that cuts into the dirt like a hot knife through butter.


Back to Machine List