The discussion that started on Bunny Apocalypse (we think) and has been wandering about the blog may reconvene here. Once you’ve figured out what you want to do, we can tweak the title and this description as necessary.
The Rules:
~No characters, powers or technology that don’t fit the setting or plot line. Technology: Almost anything steam-powered goes, but analog computers are stretching it. Powers: Please, no magic. Characters: For cryin’ out loud, no ninjas (although pirates are acceptable) or time-travelers from the future. Or aliens. Normal, vaguely European-colonial (or vaguely African, if you decide to play one of the Forest People) human beings.
~No power-playing. Everybody can control non-player characters, but you cannot control other players’ characters.
((In the suggestion box we have a “Lost In The Jungle” RPG idea, with three people advocating for it!))
I think it should be like an RPW, you know, only not in letter form.
Some problems RPGs have:
They move very quickly (I can never keep up, personally)
Everyone wants to be the main character
The Mary Sue opportunities are endless
Power play
Very clear boundaries would solve the last three, and I think the first is more of a personal problem.
What’s Mary Sue?
Double post? Sorry!
Oh, and I will participate in this even though I’m already in a ton of other RPGs.
There should also be very clear rules as to what sorts of things are possible in the world of the RPG, and what exceptions, if any, there are to those rules. (Example: The dimensional portal at MA.)
2- Also, a lot of people start introducing elements that don’t belong. Here are a couple of basic rules to get started.
~No characters, powers or technology that don’t fit the setting or plot line.
~Everybody can control non-player characters, but you cannot control other players’ characters.
Ugh. All this debating, and I seem to be powerless and without many allies. *headdesk* I just all of this to stop.
7- What’s wrong? We don’t have anything against people who like that sort of thing. We just don’t like it and want a thread where it won’t happen.
2 – There shouldn’t be a main character.
6 – Is that me? Because in Muse Scouts I have endless pockets. If so, sorry. I never knew my endless pockets and such were annoying.
Is this thread in any way related to BA? just wondering.
9- no, He’s talking about the jedi in BA,
How about this: We’re FBI agents, trying to figure out what happened in some huge disaster. Everything will be in FBI journals. How does that sound?
I’ll definitely try to keep up with this RPG. I’ve been on some for a while in the past, but they always get too fast for me.
12- I don’t know, I’m not really in the mood for another RPW.
13- I think it’ll go slower if we do it as a RPW, like Alice said.
*is confused*
12- I think that sounds like a cool idea.
12- That sounds good. Except that my knowledge of the FBI = nothing at all. I don’t even know what it stands for.
12- That’s to RPW ish. Action, not writing.
Oh, just decide. I like both ideas. Just decide and tell me when you’ve made the thread.
FBI- 4
Jungle- 3
18- It stands for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Basically, it finds out about crimes and things that may be a threat to national security.
19- It’ll all be in written FBI journals. Is that still too action-y?
14- Would you rather it be an RPG, or do you not like the idea at all? (Sorry if I’m triple posting)
I think we should go more RPG then RPW. It would be nice if it was a little like MA before it got horribly unrealistic.
Hmm, we’re looking for a plot? -tries Script Frenzy Plot Machine-
Under cover of darkness, a feuding polka band invents the new Jazzercise.
Eh, maybe not.
In a world where time moves backwards, Captain Crunch’s evil grandma releases Keith Richards into the water supply.
The time moving backwards thing actually sounds kind of cool and Merlin-ish, but the other two elements are exactly the kind of thing we’re trying to avoid.
After a life time of pie-making, a talking blanket tries out for the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.
Ugh, that reminds me of Brave Little Toaster. The idea of being inanimated objects might be fun, I guess.
Sorry, I got nothing.
(Sorry for the double post)
20 – I’m not totally enamored by either idea, although I suppose Jungle would be a little better. Can’t we think of a few more ideas before we vote?
I sounds kind of strict.
It sounds strict.
It seems like more people want RPG than RPW. I wasn’t implying that it be an actual RPW, where we tell our adventures in documents (journals, letters, or otherwise). I was just thinking it would be slower and less silly if we treated it was such.
26, 27 – Which part? And, really, is that necessarily a bad thing?
I agree, we should have more ideas before we vote.
I like the jungle idea, except that would end up insane and crazed. Psychics stabbing HPBs with their 500-year-old swords that they carry with them everywhere.
I’d like it to be just a plain RPG.
Ideas for setting? I’m a fan of steampunk… ZEPPELINS FTW!!
22- I want it like BA, with out the fastness, the Mary and john sueness, the I am MC, and the Jedi like people.
31- YES. Wait…steampunk is like the Hungry City chronicles, right?
OK, so you want a normal RPG, but with stricter boundaries on what you can and can’t do?
As you can see, I really don’t care what we do as long as has boundaries.
29- oops I meant to say that once
32- Agh, not BA…
No offense.
But the bunny thing is old.
If bunnies are involved in any way, I’m going over to the pink side.
Just so you know.
33 – Yeah, that’s pretty much what I want.
35 – Well, I’m already waaay into the pink.
Has anyone ever seen the Matrix? We should do something like that (the world is a hoaz, a blah blah blah), and we have cool action adventures that involve gaining our freedom from…(insert something scary here). I’ve always wanted to be in The Matrix. But we’re only human. No special powers and stuff. Just guns and action fighting moves.
36- I’m tired of living this dual life! Outside of the blog, I love rabbits. On the blog, I “hate” them! I give up! I love rabbits! GO HPBS!!!
33, 35- POSOC is a lot better at saying things. I agree with 31.
39- I got what you were saying.
37- I’ve never seen The Matrix, but it sounds cool.
38 – BUNNYBUNNYBUNNYBUNNYYAY!
As for the topic at hand, I don’t think that it should be a super actiony RPG. I’d rather it be more like MA or PPP in that it’s a little…calmer.
11 – Well, that’s still me.
Sorry.
I’d like a kinda actiony RPG. I prefer the Jungle idea.
Argh, so many different suggestions! I don’t know what to think anymore! *jumps through window* *glass flies everywhere*
I guess Jungle would be all right…
45- Aw, but what about the steampunk?
Maybe we could have steampunk jungle!
I don’t Care as long as it’s slow. but not to slow.
46- Whats steampunk?
47 – Fast won’t affect me. Actually, I kinda like fast. But I’ll try to slow this one down.
49- It does affect me (Affect, not effect, Right? I’m confused over that one). I get on only so often, and I don’t want more then 20 posts to read.
48 – Yeah. What exactly is that?
51- What is Steampunk?
I was thinking about the FBI thing in the car. What if we are all writing from the perspective of this guy, but we’re in the FBI too and he writes about us? Wouldn’t that be COOL?
I am still adamantly in favor of steampunk, although steampunk jungle sounds pretty cool too.
53- WHAT THE FLURP IS STEAMPUNK?!?!
Steampunk is a genre of alternate-world science-fiction based on highly advanced 19th-century technology — for example, steam-powered mechanical computers instead of electronic ones. I’m sure you can read all about it on Wikipedia.
55- Oooooooh. Okay. Fine, why not?
55-Um. *confusion* I still don’t get it. Sorry, maybe it’s just because I’m a little brain dead right now. I feel very very very sick. Whoops! *headdesk* Don’t arrest me, PoPoPo!
We should do an RPG about what happens to the poor MuseBloggers when all of their monthly threads close without new ones opening, so that they have nowhere to post on and they feel lost in a sea of closed threadness -deep breath- and then go off the deep end in a Lord of the Flies-esque way, just because I know that was mentioned earlier.
Anybody in favor?
38- Yaaaay Alice! You’ve crossed to the pink side! lol
54- I think “flurp” is going to be my new word for the school year. =)
Steampunk jungle sounds fun. As long as it’s slower than the other RPGs…
50 -It’s affect, and I see. I suppose you’re right.
I will SO come back here JUST for a steampunk jungle RPG.
x ∞!!!!!!
I still have absolutely no idea what steampunk means, but I would totally love a jungle RPG!
To those of you who don’t know what Steampunk means:
https://musefanpage.com/blog/?p=1471#comment-55
That was not the entirety of what I meant to say. I had hoped to compile a list of comments explaining what steampunk is, but the other comments actually didn’t exist, so I only had that one.
OK, so have any of you read the Hungry City chronicles? Mortal Engines, Predator’s Gold, Infernal Devices, A Darkling Plain (or whatever that one’s called). I’m fairly sure that’s steampunk.
-has no other explanation-
Here is my proposition, assuming we decide to do Steampunk Jungle:
The city of Ralaaund was once a small coastal town, an insignificant colony of one of the great Northern empires, but it has grown prosperous and powerful by trading minerals, exotic woods and spices to the lands of the West and East. Every day, caravans and scout airships set off into the jungle around it to the clear-cuts and mines marked on the old maps. Some don’t return, for the jungle is filled with dangerous creatures, and the Forest People have good reason to resent those who exploit their home…
64- Well, not exactly. After all, the Hungry City Chronicles had some elements that were almost cyberpunk (Stalkers, Old Tech, etc.)
((65- Kewl! So we’re all in aa trade ship, hrm? Then we get lost? That’s fine with me! Just be warned, I’m basing most most of my comments off of Nausicaä, of the Valley of the Wind. Just thought I’d let you know. And to anyone who’s watched that movie, I’ll be wearing the same clothes as Nausicaä, before she trades clothes with that Pejite girl. Leafy will be wearing about the same thing, except it’s green. Is everyone okay with that?))
67- We don’t all have to be in a crashed trade ship, but people who wanted the lost-in-a-jungle storyline can do that, too.
((65- Sweet! I’m in. My charecter is the same as it is in BA, a taller 16-year old girl with long red hair and a black jumpsuit. So is this RPG going to be called The Steampunk Jungle?))
OK, we’ve got a setting. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s work out some rules. That was the whole point of this thread, after all. Here are my suggestions:
~No characters, powers or technology that don’t fit the setting or plot line. Technology: Almost anything steam-powered goes, but analog computers are stretching it. Powers: Please, no magic. Characters: For cryin’ out loud, no ninjas (although pirates are acceptable) or time-travelers from the future. Or aliens. Normal, vaguely European-colonial (or vaguely African, if you decide to play one of the Forest People) human beings.
~No power-playing. Everybody can control non-player characters, but you cannot control other players’ characters.
Should we allow people to have more than one character? On the one hand, a brother-sister team would be an interesting dynamic, but on the other, an unstoppable army of ten thousand would quickly make the storyline ridiculous.
65- sounds good.
70- Does that mean I can’t wear my suit? Oh well. I’ll wear my brown tunic and leggings, and flats like in Muse Scouts.
Shall I change the name of the thread to the Steampunk Jungle RPG?
And, yes, for those of you who are still mystified by the term, Wikipedia does have an article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
69- Hm, I dunno. “Steampunk Jungle” sounds kind of wierd. Let’s just see how the story goes, then we can decide what the best title would be.
70- I’d say people could have at least 2 characters. 3 at maximum, but mostly discouraged.
70- 3 max per person. more then that can be anyone’s.
~One or two characters per person, three at the absolute most.
This is going to be extremely interesting. I think I’ll just sit back and watch for a while.
74, 75, 76- Okay, so we all agree on that. Could somebody try to start us off?
I think some combination of steampunk/espionage would be cool.
Would the GAPA on duty be so kind as to post the three agreed-upon rules at the top of the thread?
70, 74- Agreed.
(80) I was already planning to do so.
(74) I like it. Sounds like an old John Huston movie. I can see the movie poster. “The Steampunk Jungle is calling you to adventure.” Starring Humphrey Bogart, of course.
But the title doesn’t have to be permanent, just something to signal the story has begun.
Hmm. OK. My character:
Jenny Kramer —
Age: Somewhere between 15 and 20.
Looks: Looks like me! only older. And taller.
Her parents have sent her to Ralaaund to broaden her horizons. She will stay with friends of the family, the daughter of whom drives one of the scout airships mentioned in POSOC’s post.
My Character:
IBCF
Age: 15
Looks: Tall and lanky, like in real life.
Acts: Much like character in BA thread.
Is: A friendly mechanic and an assistant to…um…whoever’s going to be in authority. Most likely POSOC.
My character:
Kokonilly
Age: 12
Looks: Brownish-black hair, brown eyes, tan, skinny (basically, what I really look like), tallish
Acts: Reckless at times, and hyper, and silly, but can be serious, determined (aka stubborn), and is a hard worker, if she gets around to it.
An experienced (Can I be a Jedi? If not,) adventurer, often getting herself into trouble.
Wears: Jeans. T-shirt. Nothing too fancy.
Andrew du Kraun
Age: 32
Appearance: A slightly wistful expression, high cheekbones, pale blue eyes. Strawberry-blond hair. Short and wiry.
Personality: Tries to be helpful and friendly, but slightly distant. Tendency to make dubious jokes and to do things he regrets when he’s angry.
History: Was once an airship pilot and very good at it, but got promoted to a purely administrative level. He now oversees Tenebraum Shipyards, a position of great power, but pines for his old life. Used to have a drinking problem, but has abstained for over a year.
85- No. No Jedi.
87 – Okay! No Jedi!
Hm…
Sable Delaney
Age: 16
Appearance: Small, pale, and thin, dark brown/black eyes. Raggedly cut dark-red curly hair. Usually seen with dark circles under her eyes.
Personality: Generally contented with her lot in life, with a wild, mischievous side that usually flares up at the most inopportune moments.
History: Was born in Ralaaund. Her parents were killed in a flu epidemic, so she was raised by her aunt in one of the poorest districts in town. She does most of the cooking at the Grey Lantern Inn, a run-down sort of place frequented by thieves and vagabonds.
Can we start?
Jenny Kramer opened her eyes again. It was no use trying to sleep in this heat, and the lace at her throat and wrists itched terribly. It had made her feel pleasantly like a highwayman — or highwaywoman — when she had dressed this morning, but now it only made her miserable.
The novelty of flying had worn off, leaving her with a longing to get up and stretch her legs. She pushed it to the back of her mind and studied the people around her.
Name- Zinc Caraway
Age- 13
Looks- Brunetteish blode hair with a bit of red, green eyes, pale, freckles, and lots of them!
Personality- Hyper, paranoid (somewhat), and has a great singing voice. Very dramatic, mischeivious, and lightens the situation. Is able to laugh at almost anything. Her favorite way of killing people (if applicable) is cutting off their heads with her sword. She can fly a plane, if needed. Best friends with Leafygreen.
History- She came to Ralaaund to study engineering. Where she was from, she was an apprentice to a physicist.
Gets angry at- people who put her and her friends down (or tries to kill them!)
Wears- The same thing as Nausicaa before she traded clothes with that Pejite girl. (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind)
Name- Leafygreen Earth
Age- 13
Looks- Long auburn hair usually in a braid, eyes that change color depending on her mood (if she’s possessed they’re red), shorter than Zinc but still tall, skinny.
Personality- Pretty much the same as Zinc, except not that paranoid. Reckless, and somewhat insane. Best friends with Zinc. She can fix stuff.
History- Came with Zinc, but to study mechanics. She was apprenticed to a mechanic where she came from.
Gets angry at- people who make her dress nicely.
Wears- Same as Zinc, except in green.
Sable sighed, looking around at the grimy kitchen. The gray light that had managed to shine its way through the dirt-caked window only served to illuminate every glob of who knew what on the colorless countertops.
“One of these days…” muttered Sable darkly as she rummaged around in a cupboard, looking for meat that was still at least semi-edible.
“Could use a good cleaning,” mused the shop boy who served the customers, when there were any customers. “You never seem to get around to it, though.”
Sable ignored him, choosing instead to scrape at a congealed lump of what appeared to have been cheese sometime in the past.
Character:
Name: Unknow. Called TMFA.
Age: Unknow. seems to be between 12 and 15
Looks: Brown eyes, deep brown hair. Tall.
Personality: Adventurous.
History/ Background: rasied by the FBI, His Name and Age are lost. He was sent to Ralaaund to guide a mission, or thats what the told him at least.
~~~
I stand out side of the port, watching ships. I turn to face my trainee.
“Alex, See that ship? the big crusie one? It seems off course.”
I step into the terminal, and go up to someone.
“Sir, Is there a cruise ship comeing into port today?”
“No sir, the only cruise we have left for a month yesterday.”
I turn to Alex.
“Watch that ship. it’s extremly close to land. I’ll go get coal for the helicopter’s boiler.”
Andrew stared glumly out the enormous bay window of his office. The view was spectacular – he could see every inch of Tenebraum Shipyards, and down to the forest beyond – but it only made him nostalgic.
A small air-yacht swung past the window, blotting out the sun. With a sigh, he bent to the pile of paperwork on his desk, picking up the topmost file.
The Gannet had been lost on the way back from Ridgeway Shaft, along with a full cargo of fluorspar. The mining companies who had invested would set up a clamor about this, and even though Tenebraum wasn’t technically liable, it was awful publicity.
Furthermore, Andrew couldn’t see how it had happened. It was a clear day with only light winds, so a storm was out. As for foul play, the Gannet’s crew had been fully armed, with rifles and even a lightweight cannon – a decision probably made by someone who had never been on an airship in his life. The protection offered didn’t come close to compensating for the extra weight. Still, it was a rare band of air pirates who would try to bring down a ship with a cannon. The sailmakers might be able to patch a bullet hole in an envelope, but not a gaping rent. And why would anyone want to capture a load of fluor spar? It was only useful in the metal refinery business. Pirates looked for cargo with immediate and obvious value. Sabotage could also be ruled out. Saboteurs usually went for shock value. He was fairly certain the general public would not be shocked by a headline saying TWO TONS OF FLUOR SPAR LOST!! GREATEST DISASTER IN HISTORY!! He doubted many of them knew what fluor spar was.
Still, Tenebraum Shipyards had guaranteed the safety of that cargo. Unless Andrew wanted to fork over a sizable compensation to the merchants, he would have to find out what happened to the Gannet.
FBI? What FBI?
((Third person!))
Zinc Caraway groaned, and opened her eyes. The little room she slept in smelled like dung. She pushed myself by her elbows. How had she fallen asleep so late? Zinc looked at her sundial. It was 8:35! The engineer she was working with was expecting her at 8:45! She gave a small yelp, and scrambled out of bed, putting on her clothes. She pulled on her boots, and ran out. She had to get across town in five minutes! She flew past the mechanics shop where her best friend, Leafygreen Earth, worked. Right at 8:45, she stopped in front of the engineer’s front door. She smoothed her hair down, knowing the engineer hated his apprentices looking messy, and knocking on the door. Knock, knock, pause, knock. She waited five seconds, then opened the door. She gasped in surprise. The house was a mess. Torn papers were covering the floor and desk, and the candle was knocked over. The fire place was a sooty mess. She walked to her master’s room. She hesitated, then turned the handle. What she saw shocked her. The engineer’s dead body was draped on the desk. A pool of blood was staining the floor beneath his body, tricking out of a deep wound caused by a knife. She ran to her master’s body, and found the culprit. A silver knife was lying next to his prone figure. Examining the knife, she found initials carved into the handle. She peered closer. V. L. X. “Probably some vagabond.” Prying open her master’s fingers, she found a crumpled piece of paper. It read, Zinc- Someone came in and was searching around the foyer this morning. I am writing this so you know what to do. Please stay in the village. Your home town has been destroyed by an earthquake. Support yourself. You may keep the little house I gave you. It is yours now. Alas, my time is up, and the man is coming here now. Take care. – Seth Merrimen Zinc gasped. Her village? Destroyed? She buried her face in her hands, and gave way to the overwhelming sadness that came to her.
((Should I have killed the master, or is that too… you know what I mean.))
My character:
Sierra Tuyatam
Age- 15
Looks- Short brown hair, green eyes, wears glasses for nearsightedness.
Personality- Friendly and eager, but has numerous phobias. Also has a good memory. Good at photography.
History- Her parents are amabassadors, currently stationed in Ralaaund because of its new prominance. Interested in history, she spends her free time in the old part of the city, studying the architecture and sometimes coming home late.
Gets angry at people who mistreat others.
Wears- Mostly t-shirts and leggings. Doesn’t like dressing up.
FBI? I thought we were doing Steampunk Jungle.
98- We are. TMFA’s confused, I assume.
Ummm. What is RPG? What am I supposed to do here? (looks like funn though!!)
((96- I like it!))
The Grey Lantern’s no-questions-asked policy attracted an array of interesting characters, and Sable had gotten into the habit of leaving the kitchen door cracked in order to listen in on some of the conversations as she worked.
A tall, thickset man with a scraggly beard and dull eyes sat at the bar. An enormous leathery flask rested near his elbow, and he took a gulp of whatever was in it every thirty seconds or so.
The man was accompanied by a thin, rat-like man wearing an uncomfortable-looking suit. He looked distinctly out of place amongst the collection of dirty, ragged characters who were scattered about the dingy room.
Sable listened closely as she pulled a batch of meat pies out of the small oven that provided the only non-natural light in the kitchen.
“Yeh did get it, though,” said the larger of the two.
“O-of course, of course.”
“It’ll be ready for shipment on Tuesday, then?” He took another swig from his flask, and grimaced.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” The big man signaled to the shop boy, who bounded over at once.
“Sir?” he asked.
“A pie. Quickly.”
Sable hastily pulled the door shut and began stacking the fresh pies onto a platter.
99- Oh. I was worried there for a moment.
Name: Jeanette Stevens (Jean)
Age: 16 years old
Features: Medium height, blue eyes,short bright red hair and a fiery personality. Is easy to provoke and loves what she does. Doesn’t take no for an answer and hates being shut up in places. A natural troublemaker.
Occupation: Pilot and doctor, with medical knowledge and a knack for fixing things. has always wanted to work on a crew or expedition.
Wears:
Jeanette sat on her window seat, looking out at the street below her and longing to leave the house for good.
It had been years since her
((Wow. Only two days and we have a hundred posts. Zinc did gain some skills from her apprenticeship with the physicist.))
Whoops! Didn’t finish!
Name: Jeanette Stevens (Jean)
Age: 16 years old
Features: Medium height, blue eyes,short bright red hair and a fiery personality. Is easy to provoke and loves what she does. Doesn’t take no for an answer and hates being shut up in places. A natural troublemaker.
Occupation: Pilot and doctor, with medical knowledge and a knack for fixing things. has always wanted to work on a crew or expedition.
Wears: Overalls, with a blue shirt underneath that rolls up at the sleeves. Always keeps her father’s pocketwatch in her shirt pocket.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeanette sat on her window seat, looking out at the street below her and longing to leave the house for good.
It had been years since her mother had actually had a civil conversation with her. Ever since her father had died, their family had fallen to ruin. Mother had always been a socialite, fratonizing with the women and men alike of Ralaaund, sipping tea and dressing in large, fancy ball gowns. She was ashamed of her daughter, and Jean knew it.
Jean flipped open her pocketwatch, which had once belonged to her father. Her father had always understood her, knew that she wasn’t one of those stuck-up, rich brods with enough money to kindle a forest fire. She had never wanted to be like them, not one of the crowd and not a daughter of her mother’s household. She wanted to leave this place, to have adventures of her own. But Mother wouldn’t hear it.
The locks on her bedroom door wouod not budge. Mother had even hired a professional locksmith with what money she had left, to make sure that Jean could not leave her room until her mother said so. But the locksmith hadn’t done work on the window. Jean slunk from her seat and grabbed her bag. She also took the slip of paper from her desk that a classmate had given her a week prior. She read it one more time, just to be sure of herself.
” ‘The Roquefort’, dock 9-17, wing A21. Docks 9:15 p.m.”, she read to herself. “I’ll be there”, she whispered.
“Jeanette, dear? Who are you speaking to?” called her mother in a shrill voice.
“Nobody, Mother”, replied a disgusted Jean. Then, she slid her handy pocketknife under the window. She worked at the lock. There was a satisfying click, and the glass panes slid away.
“I always knew I had it in me”, she muttered to herself. Then, grabbing her knapsack, she slid out the window and dissappeared onto the busy street as dusk tinted the sky.
Zinc mopped her eyes and stood up. She dragged her feet out of the engineer’s room, and went out into the street. She was walking to nowhere in particular when a drunk looking young man grabbed her arm. He said thickly, “Where are you goin’, little bird?” She frowned and said, clenching her teeth, “What do you want?” “Howabout a little ki-” but Zinc cut him off. She stepped on his foot, causing a CRUNCH! He howled, hopping up and down. Zinc walked away after saying to him, “I’m not one for romance.”
Jean walked down the tsreet, hardly noticed by all of the people brushing past her. She was relieved when she finally popped out of the crowds and near the dock. She was strolling, happy to finally have the sweet taste of freedom as her allie, when she heard a loud yell from nearby. She turned to face the source of the commotion. A younger girl than her with blonde hair streaked in brown and an angry look on her face had stepped on the foot of a drunken man who was now lying on the cobblestones, clutching his foot, and howling in rage and pain. The girl turned triumphantly on her heel and walked away. Jean followed her.
“Hey”, she said. The girl did not turn around around.
“HEY!” she said again. This time, the girl noticed her. She spun and faced Jean with a fire in her eyes. “What is it that you want?” the girl asked.
“Um. Do you know how you get here?” asked Jean, who pointed to the dress on the paper.
“Actually, I don’t. I’ve only know how to get to the mechanic’s shop and a few other places. I came from Sheala, but that’s destroyed.” Zinc said to the older girl. “Why do you ask, whateveryournameis?” Zinc inwardly laughed at herself. Her she was, smarting off at an older girl who looked a lot tougher than her. Her mum always said she would someday achieve her death by talking. But now, her mum was dead…
My name: Ahtnamas Bodovrik
Age;12
height:five feet
history:Native of Raalund City Parents are unknown. Criminal tendencies in the past .
Apearance: Short dark brown hair. Green eyes. Brown skin.
features: very good pilot and healer.
I have to get off , but I’ll write Tokyo’s later and finish mine.
Jean smiled at the girl. “My name is Jean, thank you, and I’m asking because there’s an exploration hip boarding there. I’ve always wanted to leave this town, and now I’m finally getting my chance.” She smiled to herself, but then stopped. “Of course, you probably don’t need to know that anyway, but I’ve been shut up in my room so long I’ve kind of lost track of the roads.” She surveyed the smart-alecky girl in front of her with a peak in interest. “You ought to come too, you know. A mechanic would be useful on this expedition, I’m sure.”
The girl looked uncertain. “I’ve been told to stay here.”
Jean shrugged. “Well, think about it. You never know when you might need a good adventure.”
“I’ve got to be getting back to the shop…” the girl started. Then, she looked like she had a change of mind. “Actually, you ought to come with me to the shop. My friend Leafy’s got a good memory and travels for delivery a lot. Maybe she knows. My name’s Zinc, by the way. Zinc Caraway.”
“Jeanette Stevens”, Jean replied, sticking out a hand. “I like being called Jean.”
98- Sorry!
Name: TMFA
Age: late 20s
history: A Man from Europe, He moved to the jungle town at age 18. He deals in gun to Europians
((110- Leafy works at the mechanics shop. I know physics and engineering.))
“Listen, we’ve got to get Leafy out of the shop. Her master knows me, so you’ve got to do it.” Zinc said. “What?” Jean said, obviously confused. “You’ve got to go up to the door and ask for Leafygreen Earth to do a job for you.” Zinc told her. “Okay!” Jean said, and followed Zinc to the mechanics shop. I’m beginning to like her… Zinc said to herself.
((Aggie, have you noticed that we (me, you, and Leafy) are the first ones to fully interact together?))
Scratch that.
TMFA
late 20s
Biologist
~~~
I pass thru The village. I come to a sence at the mechanies shop.
“Whats going on here, Ms. Caraway?”
Sable roamed the streets, her hands in her pockets. She didn’t want to head home, yet. The tiny apartment house that she shared with her aunt was dark, drafty, and plagued by the smell of rotted vegetables.
She noticed a small group of half-drunk pilots swaggering down the alley, and turned onto a busier street.
((112- You’re right. Interesting…))
Jean walked behind Zinc on the thinning streets, noticing a subtle change in atmosphere as she left the wealthy neighborhood where her mother had insisted upon settling themselves for that dreadful time spent locked in the bedroom. They reached the door of a dingy shop with a swinging door. Jean walked in while Zinc stood outside.
A large, fat man with balding hair and an unfriendly smile greeted her in the small, hot shop that glowed brightly from a fire in the corners. Gears grinded against one another, visible through an open wall behind the front desk. Bravely, Jean approached the man.
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“What do you want, squanderling?” asked the man, a mean frown crossing his doughy face.
“I need a job done for me by Leafygreen Earth”, Jean said, puffing up her chest importantly.
“What is it that you need done, street scum?” the man said, once again trying to insult her as best he could. Jean clenched her fists, bared her teeth and brought her face right up to that of the man so their noses were nearly touching.
“Listen you, my buisness is my own. I suggest you back off, or I’ll give you something to squirm about”, she growled.
“Fine,fine, I was only askin’!” exclaimed the bewildered looking man. “EARTH! GET YOUR SORRY SELF OUT ‘ERE!”
A skinny looking girl with a long braid down her back who looked the same age as Zinc came hurrying from a door, wiping her hands on her apron. “What is it, Caverous?” she asked irritably.
“This brod wants somethin’ done by you, personally”, the man replied, staring Jean sraight in the eyes that plainly said she hadn’t seen the last of her. Jean smiled slyly.
“Jean Stevens, Miss Earth. Pleasure.” Jean stuck out a hand, and Leafy shook it enthusiastically. The idea that she had her own personal customer seemed to excite her. Jean did hate to let her down, but she had made a promise to Zinc, and Jean Stevens never broke a promise.
“Come with me, Miss Earth”, said Jean, and she waved her hand over her shoulder. Leafygreen Earth followed her quickly.
“OI! EARTH! I’LL BE EXPECTIN’ HALF THAT WAGE, YOU HEAR?” the man named Caverous shouted. But by that time, Leafy and Jean were out of that shop for good.
“CARAWAY! What are you doing!”
((116- You are mixed up. Please read posts 112, 96, and 91 if you wish not to be.))
A commotion on the opposite side of the street caught Sable’s attention. A tall man stood, with a rather cross look on his face. Sable assumed he had been the one to shout.
She dawdled on the corner, watching with mild curiosity.
((I’m not sure whether I want to join this or not. I might after I come back (my family is going on a camping trip in a few days;we’ll be back in about three weeks).))
((119- THREE weeks? Ack!))
The early morning light cast a beautiful glow on the marble buildings of the university as Sierra Tuyatam walked between them. Weaving in and out of the crowds of students and professors, she kept an eye out for Security Cheif Globbert. Despite the words of her parents, Globbert still believed for some perverse reason that she was up to no good and removed her from the area every time he found her there.
Which, due to her cautiousness, hadn’t happened for a week, but Sierra was in no mood to push her luck.
Turning down a side path, Sierra found herself behind the library building, near the Sailors’ Fountain. Pulling out her pocket camera ((It’s one of those 1920’s-type fold-out ones)) and placing it on a bench for stability, she made the necessary adjustments and focused on the two sculpted dolphins that were in the fountain’s center.
She felt a hand tap her shoulder lightly.
Was it Globbert? There was no time to run or hide now… Sierra turned around, slowly.
“Did I startle you?” It was her father’s old friend, Professor Verkolo. He laughed.
“I thought you were Globbert!” Sierra responded, feeling tremedous relief. “Invented anything lately?” she asked, hopefully. Verkolo often invited the Tuyatams to his workshop to see his latest inventions.
“I’ve been far too busy for any tinkering lately, I’m afraid. I’m participating in an expedition to the jungle interior with some of my new navigation equipment in a few days, and I’m doing a lot of packing. In fact, I stopped you because you showed such proficiency with the prototype equipment durring that test run and I’m in need of an assistant.” he said, pausing to check his pocket watch.
The jungle interior? Where there were snakes and spiders and all manner of wild beasts and the savage natives?
“Sounds great!” Sierra said, not about to let a little thing like terror get in the way of adventure.
((120-Yeah, something like that.
It might be less depending on the weather, but I doubt it’s going to be less than two weeks. With no internet access. Ack.))
I walked into a conversation. “Adventure? May I tag along?”
((I’m confuzzled, so, which one are we doing? And this prolly won’t make sense.))
Name: Luri
Age: Same, 10.
Though she is very young, she studies at the UofC (University of Chicago) and is interested in the subjects of Zoology, Biology, and Archeology.
~*~*~*~
I looked around hesitantly. I was in Hyde Park, it was a warm, breezy spring night. I quietly whistled Clair de Lune to myself as some ignorant group of college kids came out of a building. “Alyss! What are you doing out here by yourself?” one yelled.
“You know I don’t like it when you call me that, Jack,” I yelled back. He and his goons came over to where I was standing. “Ok than, Luri, what are you doing, roaming around Hyde Park late at night?”
“Trying to get away from idiots like you.” I mumbled. He raised his eyes in a mocking surprise. “Tsk tsk Luri, you shouldn’t speak to your elders in such a way.” I glared at him with my sea green eyes, that have stormy grey flecks in them. He opened his blue eyes wide and gave a squeal sarcastically. “I’m so scared! What are you going to do? Set an old professor on me?” his goons snickered. He grabbed my hand like he was about to twist it. I instinctively held on, stepped on his toe, kneed his stomach, a elbowed his back when he had bent over. It gave me a few seconds more to run. I went running down the sidewalk towards the direction of Breckenridge Hall. I accidentally collided with an middle-aged woman walking on the sidewalk, and both of our papers flew everywhere. “Oh! I’m so sorry ma’am! Let me help you!” as I bent down to pick up her papers, I heard the shouts of Jack and Co., quickly, I stuffed my papers into her bag, the lady picked up hers, and went, briskly walking down the street. A small paper was lying on the sidewalk. I picked it up. “Wait, you forgot your…” but the woman was already gone. I looked at the paper. It had an address of a ship port on it. “‘The Roquefort’, dock 9-17, wing A21. Docks 9:15 p.m.’â€, I read aloud. Jack was already not many yards behind me, so I ran, as fast as I could.
When I finally reached my dorm, I was exhausted. I looked at the piece of paper once more. I pondered for a while what I should do, and decided I would go there, longing for an adventure. I had 5 days after the break would end. So, I packed a few things for the trip, and went to sleep.
I woke up in the morning, and quickly got my bags, and headed out, with the money I had in my drawer, a small portion of the money I had been left after both of my awfully rich parents were murdered. Well, I thought they had been murdered, but the police say they just went missing. Anyways, I went out onto the streets, that were already busy, even though it was 5 am. It was very chilly in the early morning. She took a taxi to the–
((Sorry, I have to go eat dinner!))
((124- We’re in a place that you can’t reach from Chicago, unless you stumble into a trans- time/dimensial portal, and POSOC and IBCF and Alice won’t like that. I suggest you try again.))
I wander into The shop after zinc.
“CARAWAY! I need to talk to you!”
Zinc bit her lip, and rolled her eyes. She turned, and said to TMFA, “What IS it, freak?”
“I need more Cages! And zinc, why must you call me a freak?”
((128- Zinc IS Caraway. Zinc Caraway. Same character.
))
((I know! I’ve changed what I’m calling her!))
((Oh… I get it. Never mind.))
I don’t understand this story at all. Can someone, like…summarize or something? My brain’s not absorbing the 130 posts nicely right now.
I’ll create a character as soon as I understand what’s going on.
132- A bunch of storylines are going on at once in the same setting. I don’t know about other people, but I’m trying to find out what happened to the Gannet, a heavy cargo ship that vanished in the jungle.
((Oh, I have something to add to Zinc’s personality description- Smart-alecky, insults people, mouths off to anyone no matter their age or authority.))
Zinc sighed, and pointed at Leafygreen. “Speak to her. She’s the mechanic. But right now, we’re off to do something intresting, so either buzz off or join us.” Suddenly, a girl who looked about a year younger than Zinc popped up. “Something intresting? May I tag along?” The girl said. “Who are you?” Leafygreen said to her. “I’m Kokonilly!” the girl said. “Odd name.” Zinc said. “Oh, yeah? What about you?” the girl shot back. “It’s Zinc, and I personally like it!” Zinc said.
133 – Oh. Okay then. I’m not much less confused, but that’s better then nothing.
Name: Elizabeth Moor
Age: 14
Hair: Sandy blond, usually tucked behind her ears
Eyes: Brown, large compared to the size of her face; those who know her well can often judge her emotions by her eyes, particularly when she is angry
Height: Average for her age; about 5′ 2″
Personality: Very stubborn, with a tendency to get indignant and frusturated when rubbed the wrong way; easily amused; does not hold very many grudges, but when she does it is hard to change her mind.
History: From all angles it would appear that she has had a very shelted, happy childhood, but she has never gotten along well with her brother, Thomas, or her parents. She surrounds herself by friends, instead. Despite her mother’s pleading she tends to forsake the high-society life of a lady in favor of the rough-and-tumble world of the street boys. She has hung around them since childhood, and many of them see her as just another boy.
Clothing: When she is around her mother she wears the clothing she is expected to, but she always saves up her pocket money to buy comfortable clothing to change into as soon as she is out of the house. She is normally seen in shorts or long pants, depending on the season, and a loose-fitting T-shirt.
Eep! Be careful of power playing, everybody – please…
Sable snorted, in spite of herself, at the fierce expression on Zinc’s face as she introduced herself. On a whim, she crossed the street to find out what “something interesting” entailed.
“Hi,” she said. The five of them stared at her, undoubtedly taking in her tattered and somewhat grungy appearance. “I couldn’t help but overhear-”
One of them snorted.
“Alright, I listened in to your conversation – it’s a risk you take, talking on the streets.”
“And who are you?” asked Zinc, somewhat rudely, which Sable decided was reasonable, given the circumstances.
“Sable,” said Sable. “Sable Delaney. Anyway, I was curious as to what ‘something interesting’ was. That’s all.”
Jean stared in interest at the girl in front of them, called Sable. “We’re going to board an exploration cruiser, called the ‘Raquefort’. Here.” She stuck out the raggedy piece of paper to the newcomers. They gathered around it, reading the scraggly letters printed across the page.
“I know where that is”, announced Leafy proudly. “I deliver parts to the docks now and then, and this is one of the main hangar ports. It appears that this ship boards in fifteen minutes. We’ve got to make good time. ” She waved over her shoulder for them to follow.
“Come with me.”
Jean grabbed up her knapsack and was quickly following after the girl with a braid. She was finally leaving the city.
“Zinc,” I muttered. “An element.”
“At least it’s a noun,” she shot back. “Your name — it’s meaningless.”
I ignored her. “And who are you people?”
As everyone introduced themselves, I wandered over to the table holding the newspaper. “Hold up –” I dashed after the girl with the braid – Leafygreen, was it? – and Jean, hastily grabbing my knapsack.
Isn’t steampunk generally situated in some semblance of the Victorian or Edwardian era? If that’s to be the case here, most of the clothing mentioned thus far sets the scene about as well as iPods.
140- That’s the impression I was under.
((Erm…sorry if I got here late, but could I possibly join?))
((142- I don’t really care. Please remember, we’re in the Victorian Era, and no time travel. Zinc now wears boys clothing, as does Leafygreen.))
Zinc sprinted after her friend, and reached her in a matter of seconds. They went down a few dingy alleyways, Leafygreen insisting they were “shortcuts.” They got to the dock in the space of 11 minutes.
((OH, it’s Victorian era? Well then, I have a tunic and pants on. Or something casual. Whatever floats your boat.))
((140- I’m a rebel. I wear guy’s clothing-overalls and a shirt, that’s why my mother evades me and shunned me from the family circle.
My charecter, that is.))
Jean followed close behind Leafy. They dodged down tunnels, dimly lit by single naked bulbs strung from wires, and dank from the damp of the overhead city. Jean had never been in the underground before, but as she tunneled deeper and deeper beneath the city, she was amazed at the technology. Screws, bolts, gears and chugging machines were visible through the walls. The molley, a transportation system, was a very complicated machine that took passengers around the city on steel conveyor belts. Underneath, Jean could see a system of complex gears and pulleys dragging the molley along the immense track. The clanging and chugging of the trolley car was easy to hear overhead. Jean even saw the wheels as it passed from above. She grinned, and was immediately dragged along by Zinc when she stopped for a moment to stare.
“Come on, laggeys!” shouted Leafygreen from ahead. She was now running up a beaten set of worn earthen stairs, that wound around thrice before emerging onto a steel platform shaded by a metal arch. Jean gasped.
The port where they stood was enormous, hangars of all sorts labeled and marked with intricate symbols, and locked with dials. All but one. A hangar dock labeled D-9/17, A21 was directly ahead, fronted by two squat and pudgy guards in uniform. Jean and the others stepped forward to approach them.
((Could I join too?))
((146- Sure, we just started. Read the entire story up until now (shoudn’t be too hard, as we just began), make a charecter, and introduce yourself quickly into the plot.))
((146- Sure. Stick to the storyline, please.))
((Can I join in as well?))
Name: Galadriel Thompson (Gail)
Age: 13
Hair: brownish, sometimes seems red or blond (it subtly changes color) (and that’s not magic, my actual hair does that)
Eyes: intelligent, brown, seem to sparkle because of her long eyelashes
Height: 5′ 5″
Personality: very open, a bit sarcastic
History: is an orphan, has been fending for herself since age 8. Has lived in Ralaaund since birth, parents died in an accident in the jungle.
Clothing: ankle length dress made of pale pink velvet, flat pink shoes, carries large black purse instead of backpack
((Thought I’d make a girl character who is both ladylike and tomboyish- like me!!))
((( Ahtnamas is wearing a green tunic and black leggings, Tokyo is wearing a red tunic with brown leggings)))
In the rougher side of town in a small appartment ,there lived two girls…
Ahtnamas Bodovrik, was easy to spot in a crowd, her hair oddly was the same color as her skin and her eyes shone likes icicles of green fire.
Tokyo Sang also, was easy to spot, she had black hair with thick crayon-red streaks…With a rifle at hand.
Ahtnamas rushed through the streets of Raalund not caring to jostle people on the cobblestone path. If she was late at the dock the boss might take off part of her paycheck .
Which was most likely not minimum wage. The girl gasped as someone roughly grabbed her shoulder. “Hey punk, remember me?”
Galadriel stood by Hangar Dock D-9/17, A21, waiting for something interesting to happen. She saw a bunch of people coming towards the guards, who stopped them. She couldn’t hear what was going on, but she hurried over and intervened. “Now, James! Please, you’re not going to stop them , are you? And- Gregory! You know me. I’m with them! Please, let us through.”
The guards opened the big door and the group walked through, Gail joining them. “I’m Galadriel Thompson. I’ve lived here all my life. You’re lucky you had me around to save you! Who are you, anyway?”
The girl with the braid said, “I’m Leafygreen Earth. This is my best friend, Zinc Caraway, and these are… Er. Kokonilly, Jean, Sable, and… TMFA, was it?”
Odd names, Gail thought. I wonder what they’re hiding.
((Aha! A parallel universe in which J. R. R. Tolkien was born a hundred years earlier and published The Lord of the Rings in 1854 instead of 1954.))
I see era-inappropriate names.
((I guess…))
((oops that one was to Robert. and technically “Kokonilly” is a lot more era-inappropriate than “Galadriel”.))
154- Ahtnamas is old fashiony-ish name sort of. Tokyo is another story.
“Listen Punk, your papa owes us some money, ain’t that right boys,” the man said.
” I don’t give a cake if he stole your kidney,get your stinkin’ paws off me,” Ahtnamas retorted in an icy tone. “You little…” He never got to finish that sentence.
He howled in pain as someone hurled a stone at his head , Ahtnamas took advantage off the situation by giving him a sharp kick in the solarplexis. There were still his goons to worry about.
” Need any help,” a girl called out.
I posted this earlier this morning but it got eaten in the blog outage. It was in response to another lost comment, from POSOC, who said he didn’t mention clothing at all because he didn’t know much about Edwardian fashion.
…but elsewhere, the female population is donning t-shirts (shockingly — they were strictly men’s undergarments, and would be more generally known as “vests,” “undervests,” or “undershirts” depending on whether one was British or American), jeans (strictly workmen’s garments), shorts (Bermuda shorts, possible military attire, considering the jungle setting, but knickers were more likely elsewhere), leggings and tunics (more underwear) and jumpsuits (no comment!).
By the way, cross-dressing was not a casual undertaking in those days.
Where are they getting these clothes, by the way? I doubt there was anything like the equivalent of a Hot Topic in Ralaaund, or even London. A girl would more than raise eyebrows if she tried to buy men’s underclothes in a shop.
I certainly don’t expect anyone here to be experts on Edwardian fashion — I know almost nothing about it myself except — but it shouldn’t be too difficult to give a nod in that direction or follow POSOC’s example and not mention clothes at all. Even a quick Google image search would give you something to work with.
Not only does it strike me as awry to go to the trouble of conjuring up an antiquated setting then running about in modern dress, it also makes the story less interesting. That’s my two bits, anyway. No offense to anyone, but I just had to say this before I imploded. Carry on.
((156 – Don’t blame me. Mine’s made up.))
Is my outfit OK?
((( Actually I’m wearing a celtic tunic the kind for women that’s like a dress but kind of not… just look it up (it’s not underwear))))
((Fine then, forget the whole clothing thing. I’ll just say I’m wearing something casual, comfortable, and leave it at that.))
WHAT THE HECK??? I thought this was going to be slow! There are sixty comments since I last posted. SIXTY. What’s the point? I might as well step out now.
But of course I won’t. I’ll just fail to keep up and then get left in the dust and forgotten as the story roars onward.
No.
Sorry about the self-pity. There’s really no legitimate reason for it. I just know how much harder it’ll be to get into the story now that it’s progressed so far without me.
-reads- Oh. Whatever. I can (try to) get into this, I guess. Only trouble is, my Plan is somewhat obsolete, and I feel that if I try to go through with it, I’ll be ignored, as happens in most RPGs. I think my power-play-less writing leaves too many opportunities for other people to not notice me at all. Dang.
Re: Clothing:
I’ve researched this, so I have a vague idea of how it goes. Young women would wear long skirts, numerous petticoats, corsets, stockings, and other ridiculous and pointless garments of clothing. I notice that this is generally regarded as an Edwardian RPG. Technically, then, anyone fashionable would get stuck in a S-corset, but I don’t want to do that to my character so let’s ignore that rule. They wouldn’t have their hair down unless they’re kids. Ah, kids. Technically, I think, until you’re about seventeen you can wear girls’ clothes, which would be drop-waist dresses, stockings, button-up boots, the like. And you can have your hair down. But you could also start wearing such dress at fourteen and not be questioned.
Guys would wear guys’ clothes, which I haven’t researched at all. I think the distinguishing line between boys’ clothes and men’s clothes is finer than girls’ and women’s, but I dunno. Guys, you’ll have to do your own research.
A lot of people seem to be wearing “leggings.” In Edwardian days, there were no such thing.
(( pettictottes? ugh. I will probaby end up ingoring that.))
((I’m going to not mention clothes at all from this point in.))
Walking behind Professor Verkolo, Sierra helped with his trunk as they approached Hangar Dock D-9/17, A21.
A crowd of people had already gathered there. Although most of them seemed to be her age, Sierra didn’t recognize any of them, so she introduced herself.
“Hello. My name’s Sierra Tuyatam. Are you all going on the exploration voyage, too?”
He’d have to handle it personally – not in the sense of signing on aboard a spice freighter and setting off into the jungle, of course although five years ago he would have jumped at the chance – but he would be required to make the decisions in this case, and he would take the blame if he failed to come up with something concrete.
After mulling the situation over, he decided that for lack of a better idea, he’d send a man to Ridgeway Shaft and have him check the cargo manifests for anything unusual… maybe something valuable that someone would be interested in stealing or destroying.
((I’m thinking of introducing IBCF at this point, but if he isn’t playing any longer, I’ll send someone else.))
160- Eh…s’okay. You’re a little young to be wearing such long skirts, but whatever. Oh, and by the way, there’s not such thing as a backpack yet.
161- But that’s, like, ancient Celtic, not Edwardian!
162- Good idea! Although I’m fairly certain there was no such thing as comfortable back then…
164- I frown upon thee. You must not ignore accurate costumage, or the Avenging Angels of Historical Accuracy will, um, be avenged.
-looks up- -sees AAHA- NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was only a little hairspray, I swear!!! I only had one petticoat, or I would have worn more! Think of the shoes!
-runs-
I figured that I had better acknowledge my hypocrisy by ridiculing it, but now that’s done so I can go on to better things.
~~~
Several agonizing hours later, the airship docked, and Jenny set foot in Ralaauand for the first time. The porter dumped Jenny’s trunk beside her with a thump! that sent vibrations up through Jenny’s feet. She passed the money over with a disapproving frown at his rudeness, and he slouched off into the shadows.
Jenny shifted her weight onto her right foot, a motion obscured by her heavy petticoats, and waited impatiently.
Several minutes passed. She watched various other passengers disperse, some of them accompanied by friends or family, but no one came for her.
Shifting her weight onto her left foot again, she caught site of a familiar figure in a dark green dress–one of the friends with whom she was staying.
Gail smiled. “Yes, I am. I’m Galadriel Thompson. Some people call me Gail.”
Zinc looked at her funny. “You’re going on the exploration voyage? I thought you were just getting us in to the hangar dock!”
“No, I’m going all right. Although I just decided that. But, I need to get out of this town.”
((125- Aw dangit. Ok than. I’ll do something simple, as to not waste my computer time. I had gone way over typing that yesterday, I’ve lost time today.
154- Uh, what is the era?))
I got off the large ship and breathed in deeply. It was a familiar smell. Land air. Not the salty sea air I was used to. “Oi! La’ri! W’ar do ya think your goin’?” Dan yelled from the ship. “Captain still wants you to clean the ship, after what you did to it!”
“Hey! I didn’t do anythin’ to it. I actually saved that old ship!” I yelled back.
“Well, he don’t believe that gibber gabber about that other ship comin’ from port! Though most of us did see it. I reckon he didn’t want to look foolish, as the cap.” He put on a stern look, imitating the captain. He talked in a posh accent. “Lari, get to work. I’m not going to have you standing and breathing on my ship!” We both grinned foolishly. “Yes cap’n. Anythin’ else, cap’n?” I replied.
“Yes, start using complete words!”
“Whatever you want, gov!” after I said this, he pretended to become very angry. And we both laughed. “The best thing since sliced bread!” I yelled to him. He pranced around, pretending to be rich and famous. “You’re starting to look like an idiot!”
“And you’ll both be idiots with no job if you keep that up,” said a stern voice behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. “Cap’n! I didn’t see you there!” I whirled around and stood at attention while Dan ran back into the belly of the ship, unloading things. “I will not be mocked by my crew, Lari,”
“It’s Luri, sir,” I said under my breath.
“I will call you whatever I want,”
“Yes, sir.”
“I will give you a warning for now. If you do anything else, I will reduce your pay for the next travel,”
“But captain!”
“No buts, Luri. I want my crew to learn that I am not to be trifled with.”
“Yes gov.” I mumbled. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Go into town, check if anyone needs a ship.”
“Ok, gov.” I ran off across the planks towards the town. I finally got there, and went off to the post in the middle of town. Galadriel was there too, with a huge group of people. “Hey Gail! What brings you to this part of town?” Galadriel looked in my direction in confusion, but as I came closer, she recognized me. “Hey Luri!” she yelled back. “Hey! Do you know anyone who needs a ship? Cap’n Severus,” she said this jokingly, as everyone around the parts called him Severus, for he was a stern man, but his real name was Frederick, but nobody ever thought that was quite right, for it meant peaceful ruler. “wants me to find someone as quickly as I can.”
“Wait up!” We arrived at a port after climbing some stairs. I promptly ran into Jean. “Watch it, kid!”
((May I join in on the ship?))
I ran after Leafy and zinc.
“i haven’t proboly indroduced my self, Have I? My Name is Theodore Madison Fummer Alexson. Biologist. Member of the Nation Science Academy. I’m here to find jungle animals to kill and bring back to the king, stuffed.”
((SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!))
((163- Thank you, Alice.))
Sable was tempted by the idea of sashaying into the jungle with a collection of people who she had only met a half hour before, but her practical side kicked in. She surreptitiously slipped back into the shadows, knowing that she’d hate herself for it come morning, but determined, for once, to stay out of trouble. As much as was possible, anyway, what with being out so late anyway.
With a last, fleeting look at the adventurers, Sable slipped away through a dark back alley.
(( Jean wears overalls, a regular workman’s shirt that belonged t her father, and button-up boots. She has flaming red hair that is cut ina short, spiky bob that cuts in on the edges of her face and points. She belongs as a worker, and is not a respected member of society for her looks and actions. That okay?))
Jean stared in disgust at the man who was Theodore. “Killing animals? How could you do such a terrible thing?”
Theodore Alexson frowned. “Miss, might I remind you that I am a member of good health and society, not a bum urchin girl living off the streets.”
Jean glared at him, fists clenched. “I’ll have you know that my mum’s the grand councilwoman, and when you scorn me you scorn her name.” She paused. “Anyway, tha’s not why we’re here, to hunt and to kill. Ain’t you never heard of the great crash a month back?”
Leafy and Zinc nodded. Gail, TMFA, and the newcomer Sierra shook their heads no. Jean explained, ” A while back, a cargo ship with twenty passengers hauling technological exuipment and lots of sifets headed into the jungle to search for gold. Rumors were that deep in the jungle lay an ancient city, never before seen by man, with streets paved in gold and villagers naught but savages. The cargo ship went into the forest, and never returned. Some say that they found the treasure, and that the natives cut them all to bits for stealin’ what was theirs to begin with.” Jean crossed her arms, satisfied by the looks on everyone’s faces.
((Darn it, I really want to join this! But I don’t think it would be a good idea three days before I go away. I guess that when I come back I’ll be a Forest Person (if you’ve encountered them yet), but a rebel who disagrees with her father about the custom of killing any people who invade the Forest (I assume that is a custom?). Details when we get there.))
((166- Hey! I’m back. I’ll play. Introduce me.))
((Clothes- Re: Oh, FINE. But Leafy and I are wearing just a skirt and a blouse. No sofa sized hoop dresses for us, thank you.))
Zinc had her mouth ajar, but then she brought it back up with a click. She said to Jean, “Whatever. We still need to get on that ship.” She punctuated this by tapping her right temple. Leafygreen rolled her eyes, and headed toward the ship.
178- They didn’t wear hoops. Very different look.
I can’t keep up with this story at all. Maybe I’ll bring my character in when the thread slows down a little.
I’ve never really gotten into these RPGs, but I do like Steampunk. Once there’s a more concise storyline, I’d like to do a minor character or two. Maybe a ships’ captain? Anyway, I’ll follow along.
((175-I’ve lived in Raulaand my entire life, so I think I’d know about the crash!))
Gail wondered if it was a good idea to go on this voyage, but quickly decided that no, she was going. “Luri!” she yelled. “We need a ship!”
“We?” asked Luri, confused.
“Me and this… group of travelers here. I’m afraid I can’t introduce you to all of them because I keep losing track of who they are.”
((Cue everyone introducing themselves. Who is on this voyage anyway? I’m confused. What are Sierra and Sable doing?))
Luri ,looked at Gail for a minute. “Why would you, a city girl, ever want to gain passage on a en exploration jet?”
Jean interrupted. “Look here, missy, I came here to work. I want to be a copilot, and assist with mechanics. That’s why I’m here.”
Luri frowned. “What, do you have any experience?”
“I’ve worked with mechanics for most of my life, since I was eight years old, and my father was a locksmith and a mechanic himself.”
Leafy piped up. “I work in a mechanics shop!”
Zinc added, “I’m an engineer- or I was, at least.”
TMFA stated, “I am a doctor and physicist, interested in studying the native island animals and tracking the trail of the lost cargo ship.”
Sable said, ” I’m in architecture. If we find any remnant of the lost city, I want to study it.”
Luri sighed. “The ship could use a crew like you”, she said. “You’re in.”
I watched the whole conversation, mildly interested. But I drifted off to sleep after a little while and: “You’re in.”
“Whaaa? I’m in? I’m in what? Don’t hurt me!” I yelled frantically. Jean shook her head in an exasperated way and buried her head in her hands as one of the sailors walked to me, fists curled. I don’t know who you are, missy, but you – you are a troublemaker. I knew it! I just knew it! …It’s always the quiet ones.”
“Now, hold on there Jim,” Luri said. She looked thoughtful. “This’un here looks smart. Miss, you smart?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ma’am! I’m a miss and proud of it.”
I started quaking. “I got a good education and I’m ready to go off to college in the fall, miss.”
She nodded. “Well then, you can be navigator, then.” She winked. “Just so long as you don’t sleep on the job.”
“But, I’m the navigator!” Jim protested.
Luri glared at him. “It was a mistake to hire you. You’ve gotten us lost every voyage the last three years! You’re fired.”
“But –”
“Go. Beat it.”
Jim sulked out.
((Not sure if the dialogue is era-appropriate, but reading Great Expectations helped. It’s Victorian era, right? Good.))
((184- It’s Edwardian.))
Luri studied everyone in their fancy clothes carefully. “And those clothes won’t do ya no good on the ship. We’ll have to get you some other ones.” Everyone looked at her clothes in disgust. “Now everyone, your not going to get my clothes. Just less fluffier dresses, and maybe some skirts for em’ younger ones. As for you guys, jeans and working shirt will do just fine, or overalls.”
Luri looked at the crew proudly. “Cap’n Severus is gonna be surprised that I found you lot here. Well than, you’ve got names, right? Well, lets hear em’!”
Gail spoke up. “I, personally, would like to keep my dress. I don’t think it’s fluffy! And, I need to get out of this silly town. I’ve lived here all my life and I don’t want to stay here. I need to find out more about my parents! They died in an accident in the jungle when I was very young. Please, let me stay!”
Jean stepped up first. “Miss, my name’s Jean. I’m a hardworking and dependable girl, and I’m a terribly good pilot. Please, let me fly? I’m a great flyer. Also, I can fix anything you hand to me.” Luri smiled. “All right, lass. I’m sure the cap’n will need to take a load off. You can be our copilot, and when cap’n isn’t well, you can take over main shift. Savvy?” Jean nodded vigorously. “Oh, yes miss. Thank you ever so much!”
((185 – Cake.))
((ooops, the italics got messed up again.
)
((182- Sable’s left, since lots of people are going on the expedition already and I’d like to meet some of the other characters.
183- Sable is NOT an architect, she’s a cook for the Grey Lantern Inn. She’s distinctly lower-class.))
Jenny abandoned trunk and dignity and rushed toward the woman. “Mrs. Archibald!” she cried, and stopped as she noticed the distressed look on Mrs. Archibald’s face, and noted that the dress she wore was not green, but black. “Ma’am, what’s the matter?”
“Jenny, my dear child,” said Mrs. Archibald sadly. “Come with me.”
We arrived at Archibald House, which outwardly seemed as cheery and clean as ever, but inside, I found most of the furniture covered in sheets, and one depressed-looking maid dusting off the mantle, another sheet in hand. Mrs. Archibald, giving no instructions to the drooping servants to take my trunk up to my room (the first bad sign), led me into the parlor (the second bad sign). And there, Jeremy and Elizabeth Archibald were sitting, quietly and with that same air of melancholy, drinking tea. This was the third bad sign. Jeremy and Elizabeth never got along if they could help it. Fortunately, they had little occasion to, as Jeremy, the captain of a small scouting ship, was never home, except for emergencies.
It was then that I realized something dreadful. Of all the people I had seen so far, Mr. Archibald was not among them.
I went rather weak at the knees. I must have been very pale, too, for Elizabeth asked, “Jenny, are you all right?” and Jeremy put down his teacup and started to stand.
“I’m fine,” I said, sitting down rather quickly. “But–”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Archibald, reading my thoughts. “He is gone.”
I knew it before she told me, but having it confirmed was dreadful. Had I been the more delicate sort of girl–and had I not been sitting–I think I would have fainted. But of course I didn’t, which allowed me to have all the awkwardness of such a moment without any of the relief that comes when everything goes black. Or at any rate, I am gathering all of this from novels, having never fainted myself, so I’m really not sure how it works.
More on the narrative later.
“Galadriel, o’ course you can stay! And Jean, I think the Cap’n will like you. Well, he doesn’t like no one, but he’ll like you more than he likes most of the crew, but he likes me the best,” Luri said this with a grin on her face, everyone looked at her oddly. “Oh, ok, he hates me more than most, but anyway, we’ll be off, shall we? You can all tell me your names when we get to the ship, so ya won’t have to repeat it to the cap,” Luri led them all to the docks. “And this everyone, is Sanctus Petrus of Queenborough!” she motioned grandly to the old ship. Captain Frederick was on the ship’s deck. “And that,” she said dully, “is her cap’n.”
I move my fadroa to face north.
“Let’s head out. My clothes are just fine, thank you very much.”
Andrew raised his voice. “Wilkins?”
“Yessir?”
“Send for IBCF, if you please.”
“Yessir.” The sound of running footsteps began outside the door and faded into the distance.
((Oh, dang it, I’m switching from 1st person to 3rd. I think I’ll try and stick with 1st. I sometimes don’t remember.))
I followed everybody, murmuring “hi” to both captains.
“This is the new navigator – what was your name?” Luri nodded to me.
“Kokonilly.” I smiled tentatively at the captain.
((Sorry, accidentally posted.))
He glared at me. I recoiled as Luri continued. “So, she’ll mostly be up there.” She pointed vaguely somewhere.
IBCF was patching a small hole in an airship when Wilkins came running to him.
“Do you need something?,” he inquired, not looking up from his work.
“Andrew needs someone to investigate the cargo at Ridgeway Shaft,” Wilkins panted. “Just check for something out of the ordinary. Things someone might be interested in stealing.”
“What for? We never get anything delivered here but fluor spar. But sure. I’ll go.” He quickly finished his patch on the envelope and started off.
198- As I’m your employer, both you and Wilkins would probably refer to me as Mr. du Kraun. Just FFR.
199- Sorry. I’ll remember next time.
192- The ship’s name is the ‘Roquefort’. See post 105 for details.
((191- I actually have fainted. It’s not like the books. for me, everything kinda went fuzzy and then I… didn’t know what was going on for a few seconds. I fell over, yeah, and hit my head, but I sorta felt it only not really. I was… semi-conscious? I guess you’d say?
And where is Jenny exactly?
Can we just all get on the ship???))
((202- We are.))
Jean stepped forward, sticking out a grimy hand to the female captain. She shuddered convulsively, making a face and turning away. The male captain, however, shook it.
“Jean Stevens, sir. It’s an honor.”
The captain frowned at her attire. “It’m sure I ought say the same fer ye, but a girl in the clothin’ of a man is downright frightnin’!”
Jean felt her face burn red. She scowled, rolling up her sleeved menacingly.
“Oi! Hold yer horses!” said Luri, quickly running over to separate the forming argument. “Jean, ye look just fine. Cap’n, will all due respect, I wouldn’t upset miss Jean here. She’s a sharp lassie, this one.”
“All right, all right”, the captain sighed. “I meant ye no harm. Get to yer post, laggey.” Jean made a salute and, waving good-by to the others, headed up to the main chambers where the flight deck was.
“Fredrick? Is your first name Chapton?
Tokyo ran over to Ahtnamas, pulling her along so that she was forced to hike uo her skirt. ” Tokyo Sang, is that you?” Luri said. ” The one and only ,” Tokyo replied.
202- Really? Fascinating. I will make a point of never trying to get out of an awkward scene by saying, “and then everything went black.” I can promise nothing regarding the phrases, “and she knew no more” or “and she fell down, insensible,” however.
Oh, and Jenny hasn’t interacted with anyone yet. She’s at her friends’ house.
((201- Ah, sorry, I thought that was something else.))
The captain nodded to Theodore ((wait, that’s your character’s name right? I kinda forgot it, being a bit long and all.)) “That’s right, my name’s Captain Frederick. But you will just call me Captain,” he looked towards me. “I have to admit it, I am surprised you found someone so quickly. But, don’t think you’re off the hook, show your friends to their cabins and posts. Off you go!” I motioned for the group to follow me. “Leafy, you’ll be working with Dan, he fixes all problems on the ship. Very witty when usin’ his hands, not so witty when usin’ his brain,” I winked to her, “And Jean, you will be assistin’ the Cap’n, but lemme remind you, he has a much larger temper than ya, so I recommend not firing him up. Theo –it’s alright if I call you that, right?– you will be workin’ with Professor Haskon, he’s a bit old, so we need someone who can at least lift a beetle. Kokonilly, up the mast for you. I’ll show you how to do that later, and Zinc…” she studied her carefully. “You will prolly be with Leafy and Dan, control room for you also. Sable, the kitchen you say? Than Renny will show you where it is, and Sierra, what can you do? Ah, and Tokyo! How nice to see you on this ship, you comin along too eh?” After her tiny speech, she heard someone ask, “And what do you do, Luri?”
“Well, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Even if I proved it, you wouldn’t believe it. Well, than, is that good? Ok, DAN! RENNY! PROFESSOR!” she yelled. A considerably plump lady with grey plain brown hair that had streaks of grey in it came up from below deck, and a tall middle aged man with bright red hair and freckles followed her. “Where’s Professor, Dan?” she asked the tall man. “I’m coming! I’m just trying to get up the stairs.” A skinny, frail old man slowly made his way up the stairs.
((So, everybody’s on board now, right?))
I move slowly around the deck. why did I agree to this trip? The Alexson family name?
((207- Hey, you forgot me!!!!! What do I do???))
((210- Oh, sorry, I was trying to find what your character does… What will she do on the ship?))
“Well, everyone! Just follow ’em, they’ll show ya what to do! Gail, Jean, Sierra, Kokonilly, you can follow me if ya like.”
Jean walked hastily onto the main deck. She gazed in wonderment at the dials, light, boards, and about four steering ports, all equipped with guns -though Jean didn’t know why.
She sat down at one of the ports, running her hand over the steering mechanism, and sighed in relief and happiness.
“I’m home.”
Zinc followed Dan down a small flight of stairs, ending up in a stuffy room filled with gears. Leafygreen looked very comfterable and happy, there, but Zinc felt just the oppisite. She remembered that Luri had said something about a control room, and she climbed up the stairs to find it, grateful for some fresh air.
((Golly gee gosh, if I messed up, please say so!))
((211- Um… hmm. She’s an orphan, but she tries to be as ladylike as possible. She knows everyone… I guess she would be exploring the ship.
I was toying with the idea of having her talk to animals, but would that be too much like magic?
Sorry I’m not adding to the story yet, I’m waiting to find out more about the ship before I explore it. I’m hoping this will minimize confusion.))
I trotted after Luri, eager to change into something comfier.
((207- Sable IS NOT ON THE SHIP! See post 174))
Sierra looked around the control room with great interest. She wondered if it would be okay to ask the captain if she could take a photograph.
As Jean parused the dashboard with interest, the woman captain took a seat beside her.
“Hello”, said Jean.
The woman said nothing, but began fiddling with a few dials that read ‘Air Speed’, ‘Flight Level’, and ‘Gear Strength’.
“Hello”, said Jean again, this time much louder. The woman looked up.
“And what is it ye want, scum?”
Jean put on an offended face, trying to conceal the anger bubbling up inside her. “I just wanted to know what you’re doing “, she said indignantly.
“And that’s any of yer beeswax?” the woman asked, pressing a bright green button. Instantly, an engine began to whirr beneath them.
“Will the captain be joining us in this flight?” asked Jean, trying once again to make a stab at conversation.
“Cap’n has more important things to do than mess with the crew cheif and her first mate”, replied the woman.
“Ain’t that his job?”
“Cap’n’s job is to make sure that the crew of this fine ship runs smoothly and without disorder”, said the woman coldly in reply, “and to make sure that the workers mind their POSITIONS.” She gave Jean a glare with her bright green eyes that specifically communicated the fact that she was not a force to be reckoned with. Jean recoiled slightly. After a few more minutes of silence, buffeted only by the steady whirr of the engine, Jean tried once more.
“I’m Jean Stevens”, she said politely.
“I know who ye are”, replied the stony-faced co-captain.
“Well, don’t you have a name?” Jean asked.
“I do”, replied the captain, still saying nothing else.
“And it would be…?” asked Jean.
“Evalyn”, she said.
“That’s a pretty name!” said Jean.
“Don’t ye be callin’ me pretty now, laggey”, she said, rearing up angrily, slight patches of red appearing across her cheekbones.
“Sorry, sorry!” cried Jean. “Where I come from, we take things of that ilk as a compliment.”
“And I’m sure you don’t be hearin’ it a lot, mind you, so don’t be messin with me”, replied Evalyn stubbornly.
Jean sighed, shaking her head, and chewing her tobacco.
“Spit that trash out of yer mouth”, said the captain. “We don’t chew on this ship.”
Jean bared her teeth. “I’ll chew it if I want to”, she said, “and don’t be correctin’ me on my manners.”
“Well, here ya gotcher dresses fer the ladies, and skirts and shirts fer the girls.” We were standing in a small, cramped room with chests full of clothes, maybe a closet. Luri continued, pointing to a heap of filthy clothes. “Ya don’t want those clothes, right?” We all nodded mutely. “Right. So that’s where ya throw yer dirty laundry. Guys, those are yer clothes.” She indicated a pile of ordinary clothes. “Girls, you can wear pants if yer young enuff, I’d say under 13 or so would be fine. Ladies, get those dresses.” She pointed to a pile of plain dresses. “You can change anywhere on the ship, so long as you don’t bother anyone. Savvy?”
“Savvy.” We rushed to the clothes.
“Crap, and I just turned thirteen.” Zinc grumbled as she pulled on a selected a skirt and blouse.
((Excuse me saying crap, I didn’t know what people in the Edwardian era said as swears. Besides cuss words.))
“I’ll keep my clothes, thank you very much. This outfit is very importent to my job.”
Grudgingly, Sierra took the skirt, and went to get changed.
Gail sighed, but grabbed a pale lavender blouse and a deep purple skirt. Now for shoes… Hmm. She picked up a pair that looked about her size and walked to the changing room.
As I pulled on a pair of pants and a white blouse, I realized I was happy here, despite… you know… everything. I felt like I fit in for once. I was insanely grinning as I put on a simple pair of canvas ((if that’s right)) shoes.
Jean sighed, pulling down on a lever and loosening the gauge. Then, a voice came from nowhere. Jean looked about, only to realize that the voice was coming from the captain above deck.
“ALL HANDS TO THE TOP DECK FOR INSTRUCTIONAL DUTY! ALL HANDS!” he yelled.
“Come on, you lazy slug. That’s us”, said Captain Evalyn. Jean growled, “I ain’t a slug, dumb trash basket. I don’t take orders from you.” She stalked past the captain, shoulders brushing her aside as she did so.
“Oh yes, ye do!” said the captain, who caught up and socked Jean on the shoulder-hard. “I’m yer captain, and you don’t take no orders from nobody BUT me, ya hear?” She scowled. “And I walk before ye, soap scum.”
Zinc huffed up the stairs, wishing she wasn’t wearing this brown skirt. It was awfully itchy, and she based most of her fashion taste on what she can run in and what doesn’t itch.
The Captain called for all hands on deck, so I beckoned for everyone to go up the stairs. I closed the latch behind me and went over towards where everyone was standing at attention. “I am guessing you all know your positions?” he asked. We all nodded. He went over all the rules as I twiddled my thumbs. I was bored out of my wits, and I had heard these rules a million times, and broken each and every one at least a billion times.
Zinc fooled with the edge of her skirt, waiting for that boring old captain’s back to be turned. When he finally did, she stuck her tongue out at him.
Gail saw her do it and frowned. What a childish thing to do. She would never do such a thing!
((229- I’m immature. So sue me.))
Jean stood, hands clasped behind her back and twiddling her thumbs, as the captain gave a long sermon about positions. She was already aware of all of the mash he was spewing, and she was aware as well that Zinc was not enjoying the speech, either.
“Some party, hm?” she said sarcastically.
“Yeah, real fun”, grumbled Zinc, fiddling with her sack-like skirt. Suddenly, jean was very conscious of Captain Evalyn burning a small hole in Jean’s forehead with her eyes. Jean stood back to attention.
“I trust you are all in proper uniform?” the male captain asked, pulling his beard. Everyone nodded. Jean tried to blend in with the deck, seeing as she had not changed her clothing. Then, she heard the hobble-step of the captain’s leg as he walked towards her. She looked up to see him staring at her sternly.
“Young lady, why aren’t you properly dressed?” he asked.
” With all due respect, Captain, the clothes you’ve chosen for me to wear are quite as undesirable as the ones I am wearing now. And I’m not a young lady”, she added, staring at him beadily.
Zinc drew in a sharp intake of breath. That captain looked like he was not to be trifled with, and if she played a prank on him, Jean would surely get the blame. Jean and the captain argued, and Zinc could tell this would not end well.
Everybody was staring at them now, two stubborn-minded souls with no desire to change opinions.
“Change yer clothes!” yelled the captain, turning the color of twin beets. “Do it now, or ye’re going to be hung by yer thumbs in the galley!”
“You wouldn’t hurt a girl, would you?” asked Jean innocently, batting her eyelashes. Zinc snorted. Gail giggled. The captain, however, was not amused.
“Ye just watch me”, he said, rolling up the sleeves of his navy blue suit menacingly, his thick build and angry eyes piercing into hers.
“Betcha couldn’t hit me if you tried”, sniffed Jean, hands on hips.
“Don’t go being a child, now”, said the captain.
“Who’s calling who childish? Now, howsabout you let me wear what I want to wear, and that’ll be the last you hear outta me.” Jean crossed her arms, daring the captain to say something in reply. He did, sighing and tugging at his short brown beard again.
“All right. Ye’ve got me. But only because I never want to hear from ye again fer nothin’ but a status report.”
Gail tried to hide in the crowd, knowing that this was not someone she could butter up. She felt sorry for poor Jean, who had to endure much the same kind of treatment that she had gone through at the dress shop. This was why she had quit her job, and why she was so bored that she would want to go on an exploration voyage.
As Jean walked back into the crowd, and Zinc burst into a grin. The captain whirled around and pointed at her. “Whachoo grinnin’ at, impudent street scum?” Zinc crossed her arms and retorted, “I’m grinnin’ at you and your amusin’ spat with Jean! And I may be impudent, but I ain’t no street scum!”
Jean stifled a laugh. She enjoyed Zinc’s use of the words ‘amusing spat’ in this context, a situation where laughter was the last thing she wanted to do. The captain was turning purple with indignancy. Evidently, he did not like his crew to speak out.
“An’ be sure yer rememberin’ yer PLACE, missy”, he snarled angrily, spittle flying from between his teeth and onto Zinc’s frock. She bristed.
“Ever heard of toothpaste?”, she asked angrily, wiping at the frock and trying to rid herself of the image of the captain’s rotting yellow teeth. The captain had not heard her, but was walking back to the deck.
“Ye allknow what ye be needin’ to do, bilge rats”, he said. “Back to yer stations, all of ye. We’re takin’ off in five minutes.”
Jean scrambled back down the stairs, pauing only to wink and grin at Zinc, and headed after Evalyn back to the main control room.
((236- Frock? I’m wearing a blouse! I refuse to wear a frock!))
((237-
My bad! Say, where’s everybody gone?))
((238 – I’m not sure what to do at this point, so I’m going with the flow.))
((238- I don’t know. And I think I’m supposed to be in the control room, so I’ll be joining you, probably.))
(( Not many people are posting on here, are they? Well, we have to get to the crashing, and unknown island part already.))
Baylee was running around, tying ropes, raising masts, and the such. “Off we go!” she yelled as she pulled a rope and tied it down.
“Preparing for launch”, I said, pulling down a lever on the dashboard.
“Launch seconded”, replied Evalyn. She set her hand over a large green button. The engines fired up.
“All hands prepare for launch initiation”, I said into a large cone. My voice prjected over the ship.
“Rodger”, said Evalyn. “Launch in three…two…one…”
My hair flew away from my face as the ship sped away. I grabbed ahold of the steering wheel as the launch sequence died down. We flew through the air at a reasonably fast pace.
“We’re launching?” I asked just before I was thrown onto the deck. “I guess we are,” I muttered, grabbing hold of something – or someone – and pulling myself up.
((So, this ship of ours, is it some kind of flying boat or something?))
((244- Kind of a flying thin pirate ship. If you want, I can draw a picture of how I imagined it. Or, if we don’t like the idea, something else.))
As Zinc descended down the stairs, the ship started, and she fell and fell head over heels down the stairway. When she got to the bottom, she rubbed her head and muttered, “They coulda given us a warning!”
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS THREAD????? EVERYONE IS GONE!!!!
((247- I just don’t want to double post, that’s all.))
((And what does that have to do with it?? There’s nothing I can add right now, but can we PLEEEASE get the thread going?))
((What is this RPG, exactly?))
((250- See the beginning of the thread))
Evalyn was very silent as she flew the plane, lips pressed tightly together in a straight, white line.
“Don’t you ever even TRY and make a stab at conversation?” asked Jean in exasperation.
“Look here, bilge rat”, said Evalyn angrily, not taking her eyes off the controls. “You;’re the one who’s threatening my position as co-captain, so if you want to make it out of here with all your limbs in tact, I suggest you shut up.”
Jean did.
They were flying smoothly over the surface of the ocean now, not touching the water but close enough that Jean could smell the salt through the ship. It was very calming. Jean breathed in the sharp scent. Evalyn growled.
“Sorry”, said Jean, a bit angrily.
“You should be”, Evalyn smirked.
Just then, a loud voice projected over the speaker. “ALL HANDS BATTON DOWN THE HATCHES! THERE IS SOMETHING MOVING AHEAD! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! RED ALERT!”
“I’m picking something up on the radar…” said Evaln. I looked at the beeping green scanner on the left dashboard. A shape that was not a ship was approaching at unusually fast pace.
“Oh no”, whispered Evalyn.
“What?” Jean asked.
“It’s a pack of gulper eels”, replied Evalyn.
“So? Eels aren’t a threat!” said Jean.
“GIANT gulper eels”, corrected Evalyn.
“Oh”, said Jean. “That IS bad.”
Zinc rushed up the stairs, dragging Leafy with her. The captain was already up there, pacing and looking flustered. Jean ran in, pale. “Do know what’s wrong?” Zinc said in a breathless voice to her. “Giant gulper eels.” she said. Zinc had to admit it- she was scared. Giant gulper eels tore away at the hull of a ship with their dagger fangs, and they eated people like humans eat cookies. Now she was pale.
Gail looked around, flustered. Everyone seemed to be worried about something… giant gulper eels? She figured they were dangerous. She needed a plan.
((Erm… hello? We’re about to be eaten by giant gulper eels!! Can someone please say what they are going to do and what is the best way to defeat them??))
((254- Well, gulper eels have giant mouths and pointy little fangs. Here, see this link:
[GAPAS, please let that one through. It’s a picture link, totally harmless.]
Here, I think I’ll keep going.))
There were loud yells and footsteps all around.
“We’ve got to pull up!” Jean screamed, grabbing the controls. But Evalyn slapped her hand.
“This thing weighs over a thousand pounds, it can’t get over a hundred feet in the bloody air!” she said angrily. “Do you want us all to explode or something?”
“Better than being gulpified! These things coud eat the whole ship clean in two!” Jean cried. “Why the good jumping wung buttons are there eels in the middle of the sea in the first place?” She jerked to the side. The eels were under the ship, leaping and banging against the hull and stern.
“HOW SHOULD I KNOW?’ Evalyn screamed. The noise on the ship was deafening. A loud alarm was going off in everyone’s ears. Jean closed her eyes, trying to calm down. But it wasn’t working.
Sierra felt the ship shake as Jean and Evalyn grabbed for the controls. She hurried up the stairs to the deck, trying to keep her footing.
The sight of the humongous eel made her gasp.
“How do we fight a gulper eel?” somebody shouted.
Sierra tried to remember if she’d ever read anything about gulper eels. They lived at the bottom of the ocean, away from the sunlight. Sunlight and low pressure where supposed to be unhealthy for them. But these ones were right on the surface, attacking the boat, as if they hadn’t read about their weaknesses at all.
“AAGH!” Zinc screamed as an eel took away part of the ship, almost throwing her overboard. She looked down.
The ship was taking on gallons of water. They would sink.
Zinc was having a panic attack.
((HEY! Where is everyone?! I don’t want this thing to die!
CALLING ALL RPG ALTERNATIVE PARTICIPANTS! CALLING ALL RPG ALTERNATIVE PARTICIPANTS!))
((HEY! I DON’T WANT ANOTHER THREAD KILLED WITH ME HOLDING ONTO A WOODEN CRATE!))
Can I join before you sink? (As a knoght or something, I don’t know)
((260- Go ahead, but I’m going to do the sink.))
An eel snapped away the last part of the hull. The ship capsized, and before she sank into the water, Zinc became so grateful of learning how to swim.
Coughing, spluttering, Zinc Caraway grasped a piece of wood and heaved herself onto it. Moments later, Leafygreen pulled herself on. “Nice predicament we’re in, aye?” She said, her brown eyes glinting.
I start swinging my sword around randomly in an attempt to scare off the eels. They recoil for a second, then charge at me. What an embarrasing way to die. I thought I would die in battle. Then I remembered something “Aren’t eels usually electric to to touch? *I quickly resheath my sword* the iron in my sword will electricute me if I touch them!!!!!!!!!!
Gail went under, shrieking, as the eels tore apart the ship. She’d never learned how to swim, so she grabbed onto a piece of wood that turned out to be part of the figurehead.
((What’s the figurehead of?))
((263- Mermaid?))
Zinc saw a head. Cringing, she pulled it out of the water. It turns out it was the ship’s figurehead, and Gail was clinging onto it. Leafygreen helped Zinc pull Gail out and onto their plank of wood. “Quite nice of you to join us, Gail.” Zinc said, raising and eyebrow.
Anyone happen to have a lantern? Maybe direct light will scare them away!
Jean screamed as the enormous mouth of a gulper eel tore an enormous chunk from the hull where she and Evalyn sat controlling the ship. She leapt out of the way, sliding and doing a somersault under a small ledge. Evalyn yelped and crawled away as the huge fish began biting through the hull. Then, there was a great cracking. The ship broke in two and fell into the water.
“BRACE YOURSELF!” cried Jean.
“No kidding!!!” Evalyn cried in angry exasperation.
Jean took hold of a cracking of ship that had broken clean away from the doorframe. She tried to thrust her sword into the motuh of the beast, but it drew back as its’ partner feasted on the main deck. Far above, she could hear screams and cries as gushes of water flooded through the cabin. The entire frame of the great ship splashed and shattered. All was nearly lost.
“WHY do we have to be on the bottom of this bloody great sinker!” Evalyn cried in angry gasps. Then, a great wave gushed into the main control room. Jean and Evalyn were thrust under the rushing water and sucked down into the sea.
Everything was dark, and the noise of above was muffled by the freezing water. Jean gasped, and sucked water into her lungs. She coughed and sputtered, trying to open her eyes under the water. Her thick red hair swirled around her eyes. Something was popping in the back of her head. She tried to breathe, and the water flowed heavily into her. Her clothes were like chains, the heavy jeans like mail on her skin. She was sinking fast.
Suddenly, someone was dragging her to the surface. She broke the water with a volley of coughs and choking. The mystery person lifted her onto a piece of driftwood.
“Bloody…EELS!” she heard Evalyn cry from somewhere nearby, her voice faint and fuzzy to Jean’s waterlogged ears.
“Blimey, are you all right?” the person asked Jean, who could hardly open her eyes.
“Yeah…ppppth!” said Jean, who then spit up a mouthful of saltwater.
‘Yech”, the person groaned.
‘S-sorry…” Jean said apologetically, looking up. A boy was staring back at her, a mixture of disgust and pity on his gaunt face.
“Hello”, she said. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Yer welcome”, the boy replied. He let go of the board. Jean was surprised to see that she didn’t recognize him.
“Hey! We’ve got a problem!” yelled someone.
“Yeah?” asked Jean, rubbing her eyes.
“Those eels aren’t gone”, replied the person.
“Uh oh”, whispered Zinc.
Gail gasped for breath, having been saved at the last moment by Zinc and Leafygreen. Now someone else had been saved- Jean- by someone she had never seen before.
Just then, she noticed something. The eels were coming back! There was something very odd about them, she noticed, but there was no time to think about that. She had to warn everyone!
“Hey! We’ve got a problem!” she yelled. After getting a woozy “Yeah?” from a still-dazed Jean, she replied, “Those eels aren’t gone!”
“Uh oh,” Zinc whispered.
“There’s something really odd about those eels, did you notice?” Gail asked her.
Zinc contemplated them for a moment. Then, suddenly, it dawned on her. “They’re mechanical!” she shrieked, at the same time as Gail yelled out, “What… THERE”S AN OFF SWITCH???”
“GRAB THE OFF SWITCH!!!!” Gail yelled.
Zinc added her voice to Gail’s, yelling frantically for someone to grab the switch.
Leafygreen sighed, rolled her eyes, and grabbed at the random off switch. Gail and Zinc sighed in relief.
Zinc scrutinized the person who had rescued Jean. Suddenly, she found she recognized him. “Darren?” she ventured to ask him. The boy looked up. “Oh, hello, Zinc. This is what you’re doing with your time? Odd engineer.” he said, and went back to staring at the water. Darren had been a friend of Zinc’s before she went to study with Mr. Merrimen, the engineer. Leafygreen poked him and asked, “What are you doing here?”
SFTDP but can SOMEONE come on this thread??
ZINC!!! LEAFYGREEN!!! AGRRRFISHI!!! KOKO’S APPRENTICE!!! KAIYVES!!! BEATLESROCKR!!! SOMEBODY!!! AHHH!!!
SFTDP but can SOMEONE come on this thread??
ZINC!!! LEAFYGREEN!!! AGRRRFISHI!!! KOKO’S APPRENTICE!!! KAIYVES!!! BEATLESROCKR!!! KOKONILLY!!! SOMEBODY!!! AHHH!!!
((270- I’m right here. I just posted. Geez.))
((OK. Can someone grab that off switch?))
Sierra fought her way to the surface, against the weight of her heavy skirts. Breaking it, she spit out a mouthful of water and grabbed a floating piece of wreckage to catch her breath.
One of the eels- clearly a machine at this distance- was nearby. It seemed to have an off switch on the back…
While everyone was screaming in panic, Luri just casually floated on her back, drifting away from the remaining parts of the ship. A bird flew above her and she made a huge commotion. Sputtering, she started treading water and stared at the huge bird. “Land!” She yelled. Luri pulled herself onto a piece of driftwood, and shaded her eyes from the sun. “An albatross.” She said under her breath.
I shouted to luri, “get off that piece of driftwood and help us turn off those blasted machines!” I take out my bow and start shooting rapidly at the monster’s off switch, hoping desperately I would hit, but to no avail. the arrows flew harmlessly by and landed in the water with a splash! I grabbed onto one of the passing giant eels fins, riding it like i would a bronco in the rodeo. meanwhile Luri screamed, ” what the heck are you doing!” I wrestled my way up the eel, trying with all my might to get to that blasted off switch, when suddenly a great wave came up. I rode it to the off switch and pushed the switch with my finger.
Gail saw the strange person riding the eel, trying to push down the off switch with his finger, but she knew that wouldn’t work. She jumped as high as she could and managed to grab hold of his foot. She swung herself upwards easily, jumping on the switch with both feet. The eel stopped moving, harmless.
“Yes” I yelled to no one. Then I saw the other ones, and sighed as I swam after the other ones. I fought desperately to get to the other off switches, having learned my lesson.
Luri dove into the sea and swam under one of the eels. She grabbed at the tail and held on. “Dang this fish.” She muttered as she pulled herself up and blindly tried to hit the off button.
((Where is everyone?))
SFTDP, if the other post posted, but where is everyone and why didn’t it give the moderation thingy?
((280- I’m here, and I am momentarily confused!))
((Er, how many eels are there again? Let’s say ten, so as not to have too many. Oh, and Zinc, what are you confused about? The eels?))
Gail held her breath and jumped onto the next eel. Only two had been shut off out of the ten that were there, and she knew there was still work to do. She felt as if she were falling for a moment, but the moment passed and she was swinging from the metal jaws of another eel. Below her, she saw Luri swinging on the tail of Eel #4, and the strange boy- Darren? swimming to Eel #5. Sierra was fighting her way to the surface, trying to get to Eel #6 presumably, and both Zinc and Leafygreen were paddling their plank piece to get to #7. But there was no more time to think. She had nearly cut her arm off on one of the eel’s teeth, and at this angle it seemed hopeless to get to the switch. Suddenly, Jean, leaning over the top of the eel, grabbed her hand and pulled her up. Together, the two of them jumped on the switch.
((By the way, where did TMFA, Kokonilly (oops, Mission: Improbable), Alice, POSOC and IBCF go?))
((CALLING ALL RPG ALTERNATIVE PARTICIPANTS!!!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE IS EVERYONE!!!!!!!))
((283- I’m here, and I’m here with writer’s block.))
((284- Same.
))
I shouted out, “We need a way to get rid of more at once!”
I was trying to get to eel #5, but it was slow going with eels pouncing on me at every stroke. It appeared the others were having trouble getting their eels down to. Suddenly I had an idea. I was stuck in the middle of 2 eels at the moment, and I yelled to both of them, “hey lunkhead, what’s the matter, scared!” The eels lept at me, and at the last second I dodged, and they plunged into the water. I held them down in the water for as long as I could, and then very suddennly they went still. I shouted to everyone, “Hey guys! They’re solar powered! get them underwater!”
((That was the best I could do for now))
Gali decided to take charge as she heard Darren yell, “They’re solar powered! Get them underwater!”
“GUYS!” she yelled. “WE ALL HAVE TO JUMP ON THAT ONE!” She pointed at one of the five that were left. “IT HAS TO GO UNDERWATER! GET IT CONFUSED!” She jumped again and fell into the water. She panicked- she didn’t know how to swim!
((287- Darren is someone created by Aggie. You meant, “Gail decided to take charge as she heard Koko’s Apprentice yell, ‘They’re solar powered! Get them underwater!’â€))
((Ohh, wasn’t sure. Come on, peoples, post! Zinc, don’t you have anything to add? This is getting crazy enough that basically you can say anything at all and no one will notice. I think we need a new RPG Alternative, or something.))
((289- I think I might, but… I dunno. I guess I will.))
Zinc saw Gail go underwater. She started splashing and gasping for air. Zinc dove in and grabbed her arm, then swam up to the surface. She dragged Gail to the plank, and swam toward another eel while Gail regained her breath.
*30 min. later*
Zinc heaved herself onto the plank, soaked to the bone. “Look yonder!” she heard Leafygreen shout. She looked to where she was pointing. “Land!” Zinc gasped.
We all swam to shore and came upon this gigantic jungle. I saw wilderness all around and random animals I didn’t even recognize all around us.
Zinc took a deep breath, and for once, was afraid. She had been known as Zinc Caraway, girl who did the most daring things. Climbing up the steeple at night? Only child who could do it- completely relaxed, at that.
But after the months in Ralaaund, she had picked up a fear. The seemingly endless jungle scared her. She saw Theo examining a strange fern, and KA looking at everything, somewhat slack jawed. Zinc crept forward, sucking up all her fear. Suddenly, she slipped in a patch of mud, and fell on her rear. She stood up, irritated. She asked Gail, “Has my memory been failing, or has it rained at all in the past few days?” Gail furrowed her brow, and said finally, “No, I don’t believe so. Why do you ask?” Zinc led her over to the mud.
((I won’t PP you anymore, LadyG. You can continue the conversation.))
Zinc led Gail to a patch of mud. “That’s odd,” said Gail. “I wonder where we are?” She frowned. “Something’s odd about this place. Where are the people?”
((Someone, find a person.))
KA noticed some movement in the jungle and said, “hey guys (and gals) what is that? I looked closer, and saw a strange bearded man staring at us from the depths of the jungle.
((has anyone noticed that up until now, Koko’s Apprentice was spelled with 3 p’s?
))
((294- Yeah, I didn’t want to mention it in case it was purposeful.))
Koko’s Apprentice stared into the jungle. “Hey guys, what’s that?” he asked. Everyone looked, and Gail almost screamed- a strange-looking man stared at them from the shadows!
“Who’s that?” whispered Zinc.
Post p*ease!
The strange man came out of the jungle with a spear and spoke in a language KA could not understaned. KA said to him, “Look, um, we’re kinda’ve lost and don’t mean to be on your island. We will go as soon as we can.” The strange man tilted his head questioningly, then jumped into the forest and motioned for us to follow.
Gail looked at the others in apprehension. Should they really follow this strange person, obviously a native, into a strange forest?
Zinc hung back.
((Ugh, I have no ideas. One lousy sentence, that’s all you’re going to get from me today.))
I said to the others, “If we’re stuck on an island, it can’t get much worse. Maybe this guy can help.” I started following him into the forest.
( I’d like to join but I have to figure out how to put myself in so thats all for now. Oh, by the way, isn’t the solar powered eels getting away from the steampunk theme. Also what was the airship going to do and what is the general plot?)
((300-go ahead and join when you figure out how to put yourself in. I have no clue how I got the eels to be solar-powered eels to e solar powered. They were already mechanical, and I kinda did sway from the plot a little
. Don’t know about the airship.))
(Thanks, I’ll work on it.)
Zinc cautiously ventured into the wild jungle, in a fit of paranoia. Her head swerved at the slightest noise, scared out of her wits. It’s okay, Zinc, she told herself. Nothing will hurt you here.
But she knew that wasn’t true.
(This is my story to insert myself into it.)
Characters:
Name: Zorgon Valdenspar
Hight: 5″ 4′
Looks: A thin, strong boy who has a thin face and brown hair. His eyes are greyish and very deep and appear older than he himself is.
Name: Sir Charles Richard Halvenstad
Hight: 5″ 10′
Looks: A tall snobish man with a thin nose and narrow eyes. He has a pointed chin and it seems he is permanently sneering at people. Although he does have a strong respect for his mother country, England.
I followed old stuffy,, down the gangplank and through the streets. He continuesly kept muttering something about how we were late. We arrived at the governing office building and immediatly went to the head of trades office. Old stuffy blew in and told the head of trade why we were here,” Excuse me I am the representitive from England, here to find out about the ship that vanished coming back from the mines.” “Oh yes,” said the head of trade, ” we were expecting you. Don’t worry about the confidentiality of the matter, it has not leaked out to anyone.” Good, now where do we depart from,” said Sir Halvenstad. ” That’s a problem, you see your ship just left, but we have arranged another to take you out to it. If you leave now you should arrive shortly.” “Well its a bit inconvienent, and I will have to talk to your supperiors but it will do. Come Zorgon” I hurried to follow and we soon were abourd our vessel. We set off and were presently over the ocean when something dreadfull happened. The captain, me, and Sir Halvenstad were standing at the prow when the first mate called out, ” Pirates.” We all turned around in utter confusion to find that about three fourths of the crew had attacked the rest of us. I immediatly took action and pushed the all of the sudden not so snoby Halvenstad out of the way and pulled out my revolver and fired on the feinds. The crew was taking heavy casualties so I shot the control gauges and jumped out, after having pushed out Halvenstad and grabbing a two rifles an old musket and four swords of various kinds. I watched as the ship flew into the jungle and exploded. I stood up and brushed myself off I looked over at some people standing close to the jungle staring at us. Halvenstad finally broke the silence and said, in his finest ambassador voice of authority, ” My name is Sir Charles Richard Halvenstad and I am an emissary of England, you haven’t by chance seen an airship go by lately.”
( I was thinking that maybe my characters could fill the others in on the reason the ship was going out, but you guys of course could help decide on that I’d just put it in the story.
Jean stared at the man with a spear. She did not, by any stretch of the imagination, trust him, but as navigator she had to do what she thought was best. “Come on.” She pulled Zinc after her, who seemed very unwilling to follow the native. But this appeared to be thie ronly way to some sense of the word safety.
We all follwed the man into the forest, and he led us to a village with a bunch of people in it. From the village you can see a gigantic valcano, and suddenly everyone just got down and started what seemed like praying to it. I, not wanting to offend them, got down in the position they were in, and motioned everyone to do the same.
Where are you people!! I like this thread! Don’t let it die!
((307: Well, I’ve been reading it, and I have writer’s block. As to where I am- I live in a calculator.
))
(307: I need someone to put me in before I post, can someone please put my people in!!!!!)
((309-sorry can’t think of a way to put you in. If you have any suggestions, I’m welcome to them.))
The weird man we followed into the forest stood up and motioned for us to get into his hut. In there he pointed to a stone and grunted. I looked closer at the rock and discovered into was a hardened lava rock. Now that I looked, I could see them hanging all over the town. They were always accompanied by someone, who appeared to be guarding them.
((310- O.O do you have any idea what they are yet?))
((311-No, not a clue. I was hoping you or Zinc or Aggie would think of something))
((312- What about something to, uhhh, keep away the, er, curse? Um. No idea.))
((313: A curse! Oh, SQUEE! You just gave me an idea!))
Zinc tried to shrink as the man appeared to look straight at her. Instead, she looked out the door. A large rock was sitting out there, and three young men with painted faces and spears were standing near it, glaring at anyone who came near. She tentatively walked out the door, and made her way through the throng of people to it. When the men looked the other way, she reached out and touched it. She felt… something course through her, and she hastily withdrew her finger. Zinc ran back to the hut where the others were, scared out of her wits.
((Okay, should Zinc become some kind of witch or sorceress, or should she have activated a curse that could kill them all?
))
((314- She can activate a curse in herself that turns her into a walking disaster area, full of odd magic that pops out randomly!))
((I thought there was no magic allowed? Oh well, rules were made to be broken, I guess. Besides, I’m probably not one to talk, as I’m the one who came up with the solar powered eels))
(Here I go to put myself in.)
Zorgon
As soon as we had been thrown out of the ship I helped Sir Grumbly, as he seemed to be trying to be called and truged through the jungle with him in tow. Finnally I heard voices and we came to a large clearing with huts in it. There were many natives standing there then I saw some people like us. I yelled to them,”Hey, you there do you know where we are.”
Sir Halvenstad
After being rudely thrown out of the ship by my idiot assistant Zorgon, whatever kind of name that is. I proceeded to have him hack his way through the jungle. Finnally we arrived at a clearing and he shouted, a gentleman should never shout,” Hey you there do you know where we are.” I could have worded that much better. Hummph!!!!
((316- Perhaps we should make the curse something the Jungle People believe in, but that isn’t real?))
((318-That sounds good. I’ll take a shot at it))
Suddenly, all the villagers swarmed towards Zinc. They all started chanting and shaking Zinc. One drew a picture of a skull in the dirt, and I understood. They thought she was cursed. Se looked fine, a little confused, but fine. Some of the villagers grabbed Zinc and led her into a building with a skull on its top. The rest of the villagers followed.
((318: I don’t think we’re breaking the rules there. Let’s do it.))
Zinc was very confused. The natives were leading her to a hut, and were chanting something very ominous sounding. When she entered the hut, she gasped. Along the walls hung knives, of many shapes and -gulp- sizes. The natives bowed, and scurried outside, leaving Zinc in the hut.
Gail followed the villagers on tiptoe, peering into the hut. She saw Zinc, looking scared, and a bunch of knives on the walls. This didn’t look good. What were they going to do to her, if they thought she activated a curse?
Then, she knew. They would kill her- on a certain day, probably, at a certain time, but it would still be a sacrifice to their gods. Suddenly, Gail was very scared. She raced back to the spot where she and Koko’s Apprentice had been hiding.
KA went to the outside of the hut and took out my pocketknife. KA stabbed a hole on the outside of the hut just big enough for me to see through. KA peered inside. Zinc was tied up and being led to an altar with another one of those odd rocks on it. The person leading her there, probably a priest, took her up to the altar and tied her down. Then the priest started chanting, and eventually all the people in the village joined in.
“Erm, I’m sorry, but l think I left the kettle on…” Zinc squeaked as the villagers chanted. She was scared out of her wits now. But she would not die like this! She struggled out, and broke free of her bonds. She ran down the hill she was on, the villagers running and shouting in a strange tongue behind her. She grabbed KA and Gail’s arms and said quickly, “Sorry no time to talk l’ll explain later now we’ve gotta RUUNNN!!!!”
KA started running with Zinc. He said “I saw everything through a peephole. Explain to Gail.” We all started running towards the volcano, and KA looked back and saw just the priest person running after us, with no weapons, chanting.
SFTDP, but don’t let this thread die! I like this thread!
((325- We won’t. But I can’t post now, I gotta do my math homework.))
(I’ve got writters block, ugh.)
(SFTDP but I like this storry guys don’t let it die.)
“WHOA, okay, knives are NOT cool with me!” Jean sprinted after Zinc and KA, the priest on her heels. He began to chant in a pagan monorhythm, which was taken up by more villagers as they joined the ever growing mob.
“What do we do?” Zinc cried. The villagers were nearly upon them, and already were they tired from rnning.
“RUN FASTER!” cried Gail.
We ran and ran until KA realized we were heading closer to the volcano! KA yelled, “Guys, get away from the volcano before we are forced to jump in!” KA veered a sharp left and started running that way. Sadly, that put KA right into a snarling natives arms! He grabbed KA up effortlessley and stayed on the side to keep us running toward the volcano. KA struggled, but to no avail. “Man, this guy is strong!” KA whimpered to myself. All KA could do was watch helplessely as his friends were lured closer and closer to the gaping mouth of the volcano.
SFTDP- Come on people, POST!!!
Zorgon
I ran as fast as I could to catch up with the natives but I couldn’t, then I had an idea. I took out a flare gun I had saved from the ship and fired it right over the natives. The natives turned around totally alarmed and I said in the best booming voice I could come up with, “Stop my people or I will destroy you, I come to from afar do not harm that girl or I will punish you. Do you understand?” They may not have understood all the words I said, but with all the motions I did I think they got the point. They dropped Zinc and ran back toward there huts when I fired a second flair at them.
((Good, someone posted))
After being released by the natives, I joined up with the rest of the group. We all, not wanting to go back to the natives, journied up to the top of the volcano.
Zorgon
After the Natives released the captives we all journied up to the top of the volcano and stood there. I kept a sort of gaurd since I had the most weapons, but at the same time I told the others, “People me and Sir Halvenstad know what’s going on here, anyone want to hear?”
I said, “Sure, I think we’d all like to know.”
Zorgon
Koko’s Apprentice(sorry I can’t think of your name) replied, “Sure, I think we’d all like to know,” so I started my tale. ” Okay, so you know the ship that went out to get fluorspar from Ridgeway Shaft, well, that ship didn’t just crash it was taken by a group of pirates presumed to be working with the Tigowayo Tribe of natives that live in the jungle. The Tigawayos hate the people of Raalaund and all the others who have tacken some of their jungle lands. The pirates are in it solely for the money. Sir Halvenstad and I were originally going to investigate the mines and talk to the miner there but so far that hasn’t gone as planned. As far as I can tell our best option now would be to head to the mines.”
Meanwhile in the mines
I sat at my desk staring at the sheets of paper in front of me, this was horrible the government was being slow again. I couldn’t wait forever for a representative of diplomat to get here, we needed someone to get the flow of flourospar going again so we could get paid. I listened to the dinner whistle go off, oh well we’ll just have to wait. Then I heard the gunshots.
((336-Koko’s Apprentice is my character name. Most people just call me KA))
((Writer’s block, darn it.))
(337-Okay, thanks.)
((How did I not see this before? I just saw the Steampunk name and was like WHOAH CLICK NOW. So what’s happening? Anyone care to write a summary?))
I’m spining in my grave at what things like this have become!
Woah, this is dead.
OK, Beavo. Summary:
A bunch of people from the jungle town of Raulaand left on the ship Roquefort on an exploration voyage. They encountered a bunch of… er… steam powered, giant gulper eels and were shipwrecked. They are now escaping from hostile natives who want to sacrifice Zinc to some pagan god. She touched something that they believe is cursed, I think. We’re all standing on top of a volcano.
POST! POST! POST! POST! POST! POST! POST!
COULD SOMEONE POST ON THIS THREAD? THIS IS LIKE MY 20TH DOUBLE POST BECAUSE NO ONE POSTS HERE!!!!!
((344: Meh. The plot isn’t very good now. But I’ll make an attempt to make something interesting happen.))
Zinc wiped the sweat off of her forehead, and looked into the depths of the volcano. Lava was bubbling on the surface. Zinc scrutinized it carefully, and said, “That isn’t lava.”
“What?” Gail said, as KA and Zorgon were in their own conversation.
“If that was lava, then smoke would be coming out. There is no smoke. And that looks much too runny to be lava.”
“Then it must be water,” Gail said, rubbing her chin.
“It must erupt ever so often to keep the natives worshipping it,” Zinc mused. She got a long stick and went back to the rim. Gail helping her dip the end in the ‘lava’ and when Zinc made to pull it up, she toppled from the edge, and fell straight down.
((YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KILL ME.))
((SFTDP, but the stick is to test if our speculations are correct.))
((LIVE, THREAD, LIVE!!!
By the by, Jean is still there, so she must have been left behind. Anyway, since nobody’s even paying attention, I’ll just pretend that she was there all along.))
Suddenly, as Jean and Gail looked on, Zinc toppled over the edge of the great volcano and disappeared beneath the lava.
Pandemonium erupted out of nowhere. “What are we going to do? ZINC! WHERE DID YOU GO?” Both girls started screaming loudly in a manner similar to that of small apes, and KA and Zorgon rushed over.
“What on earth is the matter?” asked Zorgon.
“Zinc was poking around in the lava and she…fell in!” exclaimed Jean, her red hair bouncing as she pointed wildly at the bubbling red pit of false lava.
“What are we going to do?” asked Gail.
“We’ve got to go after her,” said KA.
“I second that,” said jean, and before anyone could stop her she had leapt off of the edge as well.
It was a long fall downward. Jean’s stomach flew all the way up to her throat before she finally reached the surface of the liquid. It ate her up in an instant like a hungry cougar, the warm water engulfing her. One thing was for certain, it was definitely not lava, or she would have been ash in moments. It was like a warm bath. Jean was comfortable, although her arms still flailed about beside her, but after a moment or two it was relaxing. Yes, relaxing… Jean felt it suck her down, and she suddenly felt the urge to stop thinking, to stop breathing. That was what it wanted, after all. Just relax, Jean, you’re safe, just stop breathing, sleep, stop…
Jean’s eyes flew open.
She was staring downward through a red-tinted lake of water. Although she was surrounded by liquid, she could still breathe. She looked around. there were rock tunnels around her, and she saw someone floating a ways down from her. It was Zinc, lying there, floating in the water like a dead fish. Jean swam over to her, to try and help her. She seemed to be resting among the red waves, but Jean knew better now. She pushed back her sleeves that flowed around her in the water and gave Zinc a quick slap on the face.
“There,” she said. “That should do the trick.” And to her surprise, she could hear her voice underwater as well, floating around her ears like someone ringing a chime back at the metalworking shop. It lingered for a moment, and then died. Zinc let go a bubble of air from her mouth, and her surprised eyes opened quickly too.
“Hey, what was that for?” she asked, rubbing her cheek.
“Saving your life, ya mean?” said Jean, shaking her head and grinning.
HEY KA! ZORGON! GET OVER HERE!!!!! ANYONE ELSE WANT TO JOIN, FEEL FREE!
Gail stared in disbelief as first Zinc fell, then Jean dived into the false volcano. Zinc’s last words rang in her head: “It must erupt ever so often to keep the natives worshiping it…”
How often could something like that erupt?
What made it work? Certainly not any kind of tectonic action. What if the “volcano” was actually a lake, created by a cave system?
But then it couldn’t erupt.
It didn’t have to erupt.
“Zorgon!” she hollered. “Do you have any rope?”
Hi, I’d like to join !
((349- Sure! Just make up a character name and profile, and read the last few posts.))
POST ON THIS THREAD!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU SEE THIS POST, PLEASE JOIN; SEE THE AD ON THE NEOPHYTES THREAD FOR DETAILS AND A SUMMARY.
“Sure,” said Zorgon, digging through his backpack ((or whatever the Victorian/steampunk version of a backpack is)). “Here, what do you want it for?”
Gail tied the rope firmly around her waist and the other end to a sharp point of rock.
“Whatever you do, don’t let that rope fall,” she said, beginning to rappel down to the lake. She found a ledge pretty close to the bubbling “lava,” and sat down carefully. To test her theory, she’d need a cut. Drat, she thought. I don’t have any cuts. She hated the sight of blood, but she’d have to do this.
“Zorgon! KA! I need a knife, a dagger, anything sharp. Send it down carefully.”
She heard noises as of rope being cut; then a little basket was lowered on a rope. She pulled out a jackknife. Wincing, she nicked the back of her hand. Blood welled up, and pain blossomed in the wound.
“I hope this works,” she said to herself. Then she lowered her hand into the liquid. Hardly daring to hope, she left it there for what seemed an immeasurable amount of time, but was probably only about a minute or two. Then she drew it out.
The cut was gone. It hadn’t even left a scar.
((I’ll try to make a steampunk character. Here goes:
Name: Tiffany Iphegnia Arlet
Nicknames: Tiff, Wild Child
Age: 14
Description: brown hair braided into lots of tiny braids, green eyes, medium height, tanned skin, suffers from “rebellious princess syndrome”, i.e. wears boys clothes, hates housework…
Story: After being sent to the steampunk equivalent of a boarding school, she ran away and lived in the forest near the “volcano”, using it to help her survive by hiding in a cave when someone tried to find her. She always carries a satchel with string, a bit of food and a knife in it.))
Peeking from my underwater ledge, I watched the kids swimming. The seemed to just have discovered it’s properties,
judging by their wide eyes. They returned to the surface quickly, however. Good idea. My stay in the forest had taught me that everything had it price, the only difference being on when it had to be payed. And something wasn’t right about the way the first one to fall in- Zinc, I believe. The kids standing at the rim, anxiously peering in, had said her name. The whole jungle had whispered it, saying that the curse had returned. If it was true, she would need all the help she could get. They didn’t deserve to pay the price of the lake. And maybe, just maybe, the could find a solution to my problem. but I hadn’t talked to people in months… I followed them to the surface, but came up in a far corner instead. Holding on to the rock at the craters rim for support, I cleared my throat: “Hello.” To quiet. I could barely hear myself. “HELLO !” I shouted, and the crater echoed my voice.
Gail turned around, startled. “Who’s there?”
“My name’s Tiffany. I think I can help you.”
“All right, what do you know?”
((353) she calls herself “Tiff”))
“All right,what do you know ?” asked Gail.
“For one thing, you should all get out of the lake now. This is a rather longish tale, and though the lake isn’t poison, it has lasting effects.”
Gail backed away from the crater cautiously. I pulled myself out of the water and sat at the rim:
“You’ve noticed that you can breathe underwater. The liquid also heals wounds and diseases, except those of the spirit. There are lots of large caves underground, filled with interesting plants and in the water, you don’t need to eat or drink. Sounds perfect, right ?”
“You said there was a catch.” said Gail.
“There is. For one thing, you lose track of time. I’m fourteen, I think, but maybe younger. And you can’t leave. It’s addictive. If you get to far from the water, you become so sad that you have to turn around and go back. The lake my save your life, but it’ll never let you go.”
Gail was horrified: “But Zinc and Jean went in ! Will they…”
I finished en sentence for en: “Leaving will be hard for them. But they would probably make it. But as long as the lake is magical, I cannot leave. That’s one of the reasons I came. The other is that the whole jungle is whispering Zincs name. You need to avoid any and all natives. Even if they don’t claim to worship the old gods, they will attempt to kill her. I can guide you through the forest. I know most of the paths, and have a lot of experience in avoiding people.”
Gail was suspicious: “But you said you can’t leave the lake !”
“I said I can’t leave the lake while it’s magical. Down in the depths, there is the stone of power which makes the lake the way it is. If it ceased to exists, the lakes power would vanish and we would all be free.”
“So you want us to destroy the lake ?”
“The water would still be here. Besides, it’s a magical illusion; it offers health but takes away freedom. And we can get away through the tunnels that way.”
“Why do you need us ?”
“I’m not the only being in these lakes, and the ones near the stone are…unfriendly.” I held up my right arm. There were two long scars running along it, curving like a big mouth. “Even the lake couldn’t heal the cuts completely. Pretty soon you won’t have a choice, anyway. Being cursed, Zinc is more in touch with the spirit world. She fainted in the lake, and I’m afraid that it’ll be very, very hard to fight the magic. Jean won’t help you either. Together, we’ll have a chance to destroy the stone. Will you help me ?”
Gail sighed. “All right. Will we need Zorgon and KA?”
HELLO!!! I’LL JOIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Character: Snook Pookshneedoop
(he’s a native)
Personality:Very kind, but not too bright(like most of the natives).
Left the tribe after seeing what they did to people.
Backround: He’s probably met his father and mother, but nobody was allowed to [i]know[i] there parents or children. Was very smart by native standard. Is coming to meet and help the current victims of the tribe.
(are we allowed to control eachother’s characters???)
“Hello,” he shouted to the small group. That was the only word he knew.
He saw the cave girl and one of the fugitives near the lake.
“Hello!” he repeated. He liked the sound of it.
(I don’t want to control your characters, so… YOU DECIDE!)
Jean shoved Zinc, who still looked extremely tired. “Come on, then. We’ve got to get out of here.” They swam up near the surface. Then, Zinc noticed something thick and red floating through the water.
“Is that…” she said, looking disgusted.
“Blood!” screeched Jean, and they swan like eels down, down through the water under a grotto along the side of the rocky volcano lake. There was an air pocket above them, and they let their heads above the water for air.
“Phew,” said Jean. “One whiff of that and I might have been sick all over ye.”
“Good thing there was no whiffing, then,” said Zinc, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
“Whose blood do ya think that was?” asked Jean.
“Hopefully nobody we know, ” said Zinc, looking worried.
“We’ve got to get back to shore,” said Jean. Then, Zinc shook her head. Her eyes were wide, and voice trembling as she said,'” No. We can’t go. We can’t leave the lake.” And suddenly, Jean realized that she was right.
“Yes,” she said in a strange, shivering tone. “We must not leave the lake. Not now. Never.”
Name: Gertrude Iphygenie McColley
Nickname: Gertie
Age: 14
Physical description: Curly brown hair, blue-green eyes, very nice clothing.
Personality: Of average intelligence. “I hate housework, but who doesn’t?” Loves frilly dresses, but. A little bit spoiled, and deluded into beleiving she can survive on her own.
Backstory: On a pleasure zepelin ride with her father, a polite but meatheaded explorer.
((356) No. Players can’t control other players characters (unless one player asks the other to do so). The only exceptions are for a dialogue (otherwise it would take ages to write a simple conversation) and in some situations (i.e. if a villain starts pursuing your character and someone else’s, you can write that the other character runs away). The important thing is that, even in conversation, you CAN’T make choices for the other players character. Like in my earlier post, Tiff could talk to Gail (LadyGs character), but LadyG had to write if Gail decided to use Tiffs plan or not.))
“We’ll need all the people we can get. A big group will scare away the fish. Though I don’t think we should tell Jean and Zinc what we’re up to. They might try to stop us. Tell them…” I hesitated. “Tell them we’re exploring the lake. They´ll come.”
“Hello !” shouted a boy from the rim.
“Hi ! I shouted back. “Who are you ?”
((Can Snook speak the tribes language ? Tiff knows a few of their words, from extensive spying.))
((359- Snook can talk the tribes language, but he won’t know what it is that you’re talking about if you ask him to say something….))
(He shouts hello after the question)
After the second hello, he noticed them starting to whisper with a nervous look on their faces.
“Are you from the tribe?” one of them asked.
“Hello!!!” Snoop responded.
“This is hopeless…” said the cave girl.
Snoop ran over and smiled. He wanted to help, but he had no idea how to tell them that….
“What is he doing?” asked the fugitive to the cave girl.
He thought that maybe they wanted to now his name.
He pointed at himself and said, “Snoop!”
Then, he pointed to the fugitive with a hopeful look on his face.
They just stared… Snoop didn’t want to give up, he knew he could help them!
((That idea was a FANTASTC plot twist, Bookgirl!))
“Right,” Zinc agreed. “I can barely handle this, although our lower bodies are in the water.”
“Me too,” Jean said. “Maybe the blood’s gone now.”
They disppeared under the water again.
“What does he want?” Gail whispered to Tiff.
“I don’t know,” she whispered back. “I think he just told us his name.”
“Ah. Maybe we should introduce ourselves?”
“Uh, OK…” Tiff pointed to herself. “Tiff,” she said.
“Hello!” said Snook.
“Oh, he’s finally making sense!” said Tiff, relieved. “Are you a native?” she enunciated clearly.
“Hello!” said Snook.
“Argh,” muttered Tiff. “This is getting annoying.”
Gail studied him. “Hello!” she said, hoping he’d at least understand that.
“Hello!” he said back, grinning. Then he pointed at the lake.
I shall try to make a character. Let’s see, first I need a cool name… No I can’t use just any old name! Hm…
Name: Ashira
Appearance: Black hair flowing down back, pale skin with freckles, slight, wears old ragged clothing supplemented by clothing found in jungle, brilliant green eyes,
History: She’s lived in the jungle for a long time, and doesn’t really remember civilization. She also doesn’t know who her parents are, or anything else. She has a jungle home, full of anything that interests her. Someday she hopes to find out what all these mechanical devices are. She’s figured out that if you build a fire under a pot of water, and put a funnel over it leading into one or another of the tubes coming off of the devices. She enjoys replicating them, and making slight modifications so it does different things. She also enjoys taking two of them and combining the two. She has some very interesting machinery around her base camp by now.
Ashira swung down from the hammock up in the trees that formed a bed in this particular jungle home. She had three, each one different. But time was getting on, and she couldn’t sit around dillydallying all day. She went over to the stream, (a source of fresh water was a necessity for a jungle base) and drank some water. Grabbing the limb of a tree that hung over the river, she swung up into it, and swiftly removed the peg that held on a door into a small compartment in the tree. She fished out some dried berries and meat, put the door back into place, fitted in the peg, and sat down to eat breakfast.
After she was finished, she swung back down from the tree, and looked around her little camp. It was a square made out of trees, with a stream running through one corner. After assuring herself that there was no sign that she had ever been there, she turned and strode off into the jungle.
She hadn’t been to the volcano in quite some time, so she almost didn’t recognize it. After a moment, however, she figured it all out and began climbing the path up to the top, to see it again.
^^^^^
Since writing that, I discovered that there were natives near the ‘volcano’ Since I’m too lazy to correct my mistake, let’s just assume she came at it from a different angle.
SFTDP, but this thread is dead. Revive it, please? I can’t roleplay with myself!
364) No it isn’t ! It´s just that everybody came at once and we need to figure out how to incorporate them. Just because there´s a two day gap doesn’t mean that the thread is dead. It just means that at least one of the MBers is stressed, freaking out and trying to do her homework at the same time.
Ah. I consider it dead if one day there’s ten posts, and the next two there’s none. But then, I overreact.
That’s me!!! I was really stressed this week sorry….
((Umm, sorry, but what is the goal of Tiff and co. right now?))
(This thread is kind of hidden and not the most popular so it’s hard to remember….))
IF YOU SEE THUS THEN CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!!! I LIKE THIS THREAD!!! DON’T DIIIIIIEEE!!!!
((367) The current goal is to free Tiff, Jean and Zinc from the magic of the addictive lake by diving deep inside it and smashing the big stone anchoring the magic. Jean and Zinc are inside the lake (but not clued in yet), Gail, Tiff and Snook are standing at the rim of the crater. Everybody new should report to the crater-top now before we set off !!!
))
((POST HERE!
Uh, what can I do right now? I think Tiff has to do something first…))
((Okay, I’ll try to get this started: STARFIRE, if you want to join, post now and get your character to the crater rim ! I’ll wait for you with this post, but after that we need to go into the lake, where it will be hard to catch up.))
Tiff:
I cleared my throat. “Snook, do you come with Gail and me ?” I asked in broken tribe language. He nodded enthusiastically and said something rapidly in his native language. I understood only “help”. My tribe vocabulary was limited: I could say help, lion, tiger eat, don’t eat, poison, watch out, no, stupid, dead, run, now, come, bad.
“The lake is bad. Very bad. D´you still want to come ?”
He seemed to understand, despite the fact I didn’t know the tribe word for “dangerous” and had no knowledge of grammar.
He nodded: “Snook help Gail and Tiff. Snook come in lake.” he was picking up the language fast.
“Well, that´s settled.” I said. “If there’s anything anyone needs to say, speak now or forever hold your peace. If not, let´s go.”
POAST HERE !
Snook jumped in the lake. He knew the feeling. When tribal members were babies, they are dipped in the lake. Then they are slowly pulled out. After that, they are immune to addictiveness of the lake. he still felt great in the lake, and didn’t want to leave, but he could leave when it was time.
((LIVE THREAD!!!!))
((Sorry!))
Zinc wondered out loud, “I wonder if there’s a bottom…”
“Prolly is,” Jean said.
“Let’s go find it!” Zinc said enthusiastically, and they dived down deeper.
Out of the corner of Snook’s eye, he saw two figures swimming downward.
“uummmmm… Guloo!!!!!(Girl)”
He thought that at least the cave girl would understand him.
((Okay. Sorry I haven’t been on. Basically, my charrie is walking up toward the mountain, she can get there any time you want. I don’t quite understand what we’re doing, so I’ll just skip that part.))
Ashira noticed a group of people up at the top of the mountain, standing there and talking. She was terribly shy, and she was about to turn around, when they noticed her. “Hey!” She looked up. Not seeing how she could get out, she walked back up the side. “Hello.” To quiet. She didn’t talk much. “Hello.” she repeated, slightly louder this time. She clearly needed practice talking. “What’s happening?” Listening to what it was, she knew she was coming along. It was an adventure, wasn’t it?
Jean and Zinc swam progressively faster downward, even though Jean swore that far away she could hear someone or something calling her back…
The lava grew deeper and darker as she and Zinc swam down into the volcano’s depths. Jean also swore that it was getting hotter.
“I’m not sure,” she said to Zinc. “This seems pointless, and I’m scared.”
“Don’t be a sissy,” said Zinc, rolling her eyes. then, she kept swimming. Jean sighed, and followed after.
Tiff:
I saw to girls swimming away towards the bottom.
“Wait here !” I told Gail, then swam off in pursuit.
They kept swimming…and swimming…and swimming. Now there was practically no light left. Everything was quiet except for the rumbling still further down at the bottom of the volcano lake.
“How much further, d’you think?” asked Zinc when they were completely submerged in the dark.
“i’m not sure but-” Jean was cut off by a loud rumbling, cracking nose from below. Light was coming up from the bottom of the pool. Jean and Gail slowly looked down together .
“Oh cake,” gasped Jean.
“Oh shiny diamond encrusted wung bottons,” said Zinc.
“What. Is. That.”
Below them was an expanse of dead, crashed ships, as far as the eye could see. Big ones, little ones, cargo and expedition and leisure, and all of them in pieces at the base of the giant roaring volcano.
“Do you think…” began Jean, but she couldn’t finish.
“Let’s go look,”replied Zinc. They swam together down into the bed of dead ships, searching for one in particular…
((Meh, I can’t do anything tlll you get back, but POST HERE EVERYBODY!!!!))
((380) Yes you can ! I have to go to bed now, but Tiff isn’t used to being obeyed- she spent so much time breaking rules that she doesn’t really expect people to follow her instructions.))
((380- Come on in, the water’s fine!
))
“Wait here!” said Tiff, and dived into the water.
Gail wasn’t going to obey THAT. In her opinion, anyone who told her to “wait here” had a very poor opinion of her brain. Without saying a word, she tied the rope securely to a rock and jumped.
))I’m unsure as to where everyone is, so I’m just jumping in the water with Tiff and Gail. If they’re on the lower ledge, then Ashira climbed down there somehow.((
Ashira watched the others jump in. One displayed common sense, tying off the rope. Well, she was coming. They couldn’t stop her if they wanted to. She dove into the– What was it? Water? Mystical Something-or-Other? Did it matter? Probably the latter. It surrounded her with a rosy red glow, wrapped her in its warmth, healed the bruises and cuts she had accumulated. She felt as if she could stay here forever, and she didn’t want to leave. Her eyes began closing…
Then she remembered what the girl had told her. She struggled to open her eyes. Fighting against the voice in her head telling her to stop everything, she took a deep breath of what felt like air, and looked around. Catching sight of the girls swimming away in the distance, she fought hard to catch up.
Tiff:
I took a deep breath of outside air, then swam off with all my might. Thanks to my months (if not year (s)) spent here, I knew the currents that dragged you down and well-they were currents, so all of them dragged you down into the creepy tunnels. I caught up with the two girls.
“I’m Tiff. Where are you going ?”
One girl answered: “We’re going to the bottom !”
The other said: “I’m not sure we should go all the way down, I mean, what if something is already down there?”
I assumed that the first girl was Zinc, and the second Jean.
“I’ll come with you. Let’s just wait for my friends !” I announced.
“Do we have to wait for them ?” pouted Zinc. I felt sorry for her. She was as badly stricken as I’d been. That sort of thing nearly made me believe she was cursed. Then I had an idea:
“Could you and show them where we are ?” I asked Zinc.
She nodded. I turned to Jean as soon as she was gone:
“We need to get to the bottom of the lake. That’s the only way to stop its magic. Zinc is already been strongly affected by it- I’ll bet you anything she isn’t normally like this. Just trust me on this one. Gail does.” I added. But she couldn’t reply. Zinc was coming back, with two people in tow.
((OH, ZINC!!!!!!))
((I’m here! I’m here! I’ve been busy!))
“C’mon, I have to show you something!” Zinc said, swimming along in front of Gail and [someone else].
((i’m sorry; writer’s block for this thread.))
“What? What?” Gail asked, following Zinc.
Tiff:
“What do you want to show us ?” I asked Zinc as she swam past me. She didn’t answer. I followed her, hoping that she was headed in the right direction. She took to the water easily- either she really was cursed, or the unluckiest person in the world.
((Sorry I’ve been gone. I haven’t seen this thread in the sidebar, and I haven’t really looked for it otherwise. I’m back now. I’m swimming along with everyone, if they want me. I’ll also try to visit more often.))
((COME ON, POST!!!!!!
Perhaps a new thread would entice more posts, O GAPAs?))
((391)I second that plea. Sorry for being away-
Me: Computer, you can’t crash tree times in one week !
Computer: *does*))
POST HERE !!!!!!! ZINC; LADYG; ERRATA; FISHY; THE RPG NEEDS YOU !
‘Cmon guys ! POST !
POST HERE !!!! GAPAs, could you make a new thread ? There are almost 400 posts !
[With pleasure. –Admin.]