Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Chapter Three: Pleasure Cruise
Scene One: Captain's Table
mgrasso> Last time, we travelled to Kitt Peak Observatory, where we met Joanna MacAllister, an eshu astronomer who was worried about attempts to overturn Tucson's strict lighting laws.
Travis> (Ooof, still haven't come up with a fae name)
mgrasso> Well, we happened to get spontaneously transported to a region of the Dreaming that resembled space... if space had gigantic sailing ships and mechanical raiders on horseback.
mgrasso> (That's okay, Jess)
mgrasso> We were rescued by the Kingdom of Sapphire ship _The Jagged Edge_, and are just about to be accepted at the captain's table...
Solangia> (How about "Akhmenumarhamarha-Nefernuhakhra"? I heard Nefertiti changed her name to that once)
Travis> (That's "grab my crotch" in Urdu)
mgrasso> So, that evening (not that day and evening really feel that different out here in the inky void), you all are invited to the captain's stateroom to attend the captain's table.
mgrasso> Captain Raïsa is seated at the head of the table, naturally, with her Lieutenant at her right-hand.
mgrasso> (Before I do continue, I should say that cabin space is limited on board, so the boys are bunking together and so are the girls.)
Travis> Excellent!
Travis> Shove over, Kirby!
mgrasso> (Does anyone wish to do some RP in the rooms before we get started?)
mgrasso> (It's up to you all)
Kirby> ( I don't need to...I don't know about everyone else.)
Travis> (Nah, I don't need to)
Solangia> (nah)
Artemisia> (I don't, unless Solangia has something to talk about)
mgrasso> (All right! Majority rules)
Artemisia> (guess not :)
mgrasso> The captain's stateroom is panelled in a richer wood than the rest of the ship. The table is set with what would be antique china in the Banal world. Elegantly scripted place cards showing your places at the captain's table complete the image of class and style here on the "high seas." The captain and Lieutenant Arx, clad in dress uniforms of the Kingdom of Sapphire (a deep navy blue with gold epaulets and medals on each of their chests) rise when you enter.
mgrasso> (Seating: on the right side near Arx: Solangia and Kirby. On the left side from the captain: Travis, Artemisia, and Aranth)
mgrasso> The stateroom is cramped, but it definitely makes you feel comfortable.
* Kirby walks over and stands behind the chair assigned to him.
* Artemisia drops a curtsey to the captain and her lieutenant.
mgrasso> The seats are covered in finest red tanned leather, and there is a warmth here from some unseen source.
* Travis likes the sound of tanned leather.
Aranth> (how about joanne?)
mgrasso> "Welcome, castaways," says Raïsa, smiling her sharp-toothed smile.
mgrasso> (Thanks, Mandy. :) Johanna is at the foot of the table.
* Kirby smiles and nods in return.
mgrasso> (Yes, it's boy-girl boy-girl. :) )
Artemisia> !dice 6 5
* DiceWell Artemisia rolls 6d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 2 8 9 6 8 3
mgrasso> "Well, please, be seated. I thought we could start with a piquant white wine and mushroom salad." Raïsa calls on her cabin boy, a lad of no more than 14, who has a sideboard near him with wine, brandy, and a small barrel of beer.
* Kirby pulls out his chair and sits down at the table.
* Solangia takes her seat
* Artemisia smiles and settles into her seat between Aranth and Travis.
* Travis eyes the cabin boy speculatively.
* Kirby picks up his placecard and fiddles with it.
Aranth> great captain, I'm furking starving!
mgrasso> The cabin boy serves as Lieutenant Arx strikes up conversation. "So, perhaps you could tell us about your home world. What color is it?"
Solangia> Color? It's kind of blue and brown and white. Sometimes grey.
Kirby> Well, that depends...
Solangia> It depends on what angle you're looking at.
Aranth> don't forget green
Aranth> but mostly blue
mgrasso> Lieutenant Arx looks puzzled. "Your world is... more than one color? How odd."
Aranth> its a large % water
Artemisia> From space it looks like a blue and green marble.
Travis> Tell me of the waters of your homeworld, Usul...Raïsa.
Solangia> Except over Mexico City. There it looks like a big brownish-black mess.
mgrasso> Raïsa adds, "You must understand, here in the Stellar Demesnes, worlds are quite thoroughly the same... substance the whole way through."
Solangia> !dice 6 7
* DiceWell Solangia rolls 6d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 9 2 9 6 2 5
Artemisia> What color is your world, Captain Raïsa?
Kirby> !dice 7 6
* DiceWell Kirby rolls 7d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 8 6 3 1 7 9 6
mgrasso> Raïsa smiles again and says, "Oh, quite thoroughly blue the whole way through." She adds, "Much of my crew is from Aquan as well."
* Kirby pokes at his salad with his fork.
* Travis demurely wolfs down his food.
Artemisia> And how far away is Aquan from where we are?
* Artemisia eats delicately as she makes conversation.
mgrasso> The salad is very vinegary; probably used as a preserving agent for the green in it.But the mushrooms are superb; sliced very very thinly, they are about the diameter of a softball and literally melt in your mouths.
Artemisia> These mushrooms are wonderful!
mgrasso> "Aquan is about two days behind us now." she says after thinking for a while.
Travis> This is a *delightful* vinaigrette, Captain--my compliments to the cheft!
Travis> (chef)
mgrasso> "Why thank you, sir," says Raïsa. "We lay in supplies as often as possible, considering we are at war."
Artemisia> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell Artemisia rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 3 6 2 1 9
Kirby> Can you divulge any details about this war? We seem to be along for the ride, after all.
mgrasso> Raïsa gets serious, and says to Kirby, "Of course."
mgrasso> "About 15 years ago, when I was just a young girl, there were rumors from space travelers. Rumors that the Alson League had landed troops on the Bronze Worlds and had laid claim to their resources and started mining."
mgrasso> "Not many people on this side of the Demesnes paid much mind to it; after all, you can't grow anything on a sphere made of solid bronze, after all."
Kirby> Of course.
* Kirby nods
mgrasso> "It was only when the Alson League's horrible examples of.... technology were seen for the first time."
Travis> Technology?
mgrasso> "Their clockwork troops marched all over the independent worlds... Ehrling, Periphery, Bolam, they all fell within months."
mgrasso> "Their ships made of solid metal were faster and stronger than any stellar wind-sail vessels."
mgrasso> "Their clockwork infantry, and later, cavalry totally destroyed the native militias of those worlds."
Kirby> Damn...
Aranth> how "wizard of oz"...
mgrasso> "It was only through the Kingdom of Sapphire's alliances with the Southern Protectorates and the few independent worlds left, like Aquan, that a fighting force able to battle them was assembled."
mgrasso> "I was a privateer and pirate before Her Majesty... requested my service in her Royal Navy."
Artemisia> Her Majesty?
* Solangia loudly whispers, "That's how you address a queen, Art."
mgrasso> Queen Mabel, the Queen of the Sapphire Kingdom. Quite young, but capable as a leader in war.
Travis> Oh, I don't know about *that*.
mgrasso> "Her dad was assassinated when she was but 10 years old."
Artemisia> How tragic.
Aranth> must have made her damn tough though
* Kirby takes a small bite of his salad.
mgrasso> Raïsa smiles at Aranth, "It's been said of her that for her years, she's hardened to lead her nation in war."
Artemisia> I'd say she seems to have done well selecting her troops.
* Solangia eats a few mushroom slices
mgrasso> The main course is served; some sort of thick red meat in a rich, and I mean *rich* red wine sauce.
Aranth> I'm gonna sidetrack for a second. (aranth says between mouthfuls)
Aranth> Raïsa, do you find many drifters out in dead space?
* Kirby pokes at his main dish as well, slicing off a bite and eating it gingerly.
* Artemisia slices off a thin piece of meat and tastes it, chewing slowly.
Aranth> I mean, does any one know how or why we got there?
Kirby> !dice 8 5
* DiceWell Kirby rolls 8d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 10 2 2 10 3 8 1 9
Travis> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell Travis rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 5 6 3 7 8
mgrasso> "No, not many. We do serve for rescue duty, trying to find survivors from shipping convoys destroyed by the League, so we're equipped to handle a rescue."
Artemisia> !dice 5 7
* DiceWell Artemisia rolls 5d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 6 3 9 9 5
* Solangia stabs the meat with her fork. "What is this?"
mgrasso> Lieutenant Arx says, "It's Beast."
Aranth> and I'm glad you are- but we arn't from any ship convoy
Solangia> Beast?
Kirby> Well it's good. You have a fine crew preparing these meals.
Solangia> What kind of beast?
* Travis murmurs, "Perhaps it's best not to ask..."
mgrasso> "We know that," Raïsa says to Aranth. "We don't know where you're from, but... you are of our nature, after all."
Aranth> you could say anything, and I'd believe you- you could tell me that we fell inside my sock draw and are floating around- I just don't like not having answers.
Solangia> Sorry, Travis, but some of us care about what kind of meat we put in our mouths. Thank god I'm not one of them, though.
* Solangia takes a tiny bite of "beast"
mgrasso> Lieutenant Arx says, "In the high forests of the world of Rattrai, there dwells a herd creature only known as the Beast. They are large, humped creatures with a thick hairy pelt who travel in herds of over a thousand."
Kirby> You and your answers...sometimes it's best to learn the questions first...
* Travis murmurs, "Sounds like my last boyfriend."
* Solangia squints a bit at Arx
Aranth> how about this Kirby: why are we here? how did we get here? how do we get home? and are we going to try and help these people?
Kirby> As soon as he said, "humped", I knew you were going to say that, Travis...
Travis> It was the thick hairy pelt that really got my attention....
Solangia> Large, humped creatures ... hairy pelts... Arx, you're not going to tell me about their wholesale slaughter, are you?
mgrasso> Raïsa watches Aranth and Kirby intently before she says anything else.
* Solangia looks down and mutters something about, "history repeating"
Kirby> Well, as I said, you're full of questions, we just need to figure out which are the right ones.
mgrasso> "Wildlife preservation is a foremost policy of Her Majesty. After all, we all need enough food to eat. Food doesn't grow on Sapphire, after all. If Rattrai were lost, we'd all be in trouble."
Kirby> For instance - in the matter of "are we going to help these people?" They don't look like they need our help - or at least they certainly haven't requested it yet.
Solangia> Ah, thanks, Lt.
mgrasso> Raïsa interrupts Aranth and Kirby: "Wait, now. There are tales of travelers who have come from beyond the stars like yourselves. I don't know much of them, but I can be sure that if you asked one of Her Majesty's many sages at court, they might be able to give you answers in your quest to return home."
Kirby> "Why are we here?" Why is anyone here? You may as well ask why do we exist...
Travis> To look *fabulous*. That's why we're here.
Aranth> fuck it kirby, you know what I mean.
* Solangia licks a bit of sauce off of her finger
Aranth> why are we in outerspace/dreaming
Solangia> Kirby, darling, honey, love of my life...
mgrasso> "But yes, Kirby," says Raïsa, "we haven't asked for your help. It all depends on whether you have something that could help us defeat the League."
Aranth> do you have many knockers in your employ?
Kirby> I know what you're trying to get at, but oftentimes narrowing your focus before asking questions in a scattershot manner can get you better results.
mgrasso> Raïsa looks a bit uncertain at your reference, but she puzzles it out. "Oh, you mean tinkers? Yes, we do have quite a few at court at home. They maintain our ships, ballistas, and other war engineering. They work under Glass Eye."
Kirby> Well, Raïsa, these Leaguers sound like some bad dudes. As to whether or not we have any skills or posessions that may help you in your quest, I think I'd need some more information.
Artemisia> Yes, I'd like to know more about the League as well.
mgrasso> "And then, of course, there are the Miners." Raïsa shivers.
Aranth> Kirby, my questions are scientifically narrow- none of this metaphysics bs
Aranth> alright, well couldn't they build things just like these damn clockwork men?
mgrasso> Raïsa says, "First I'll tell you about the Miners, so Aranth won't be surprised if he finds a bit of prejudice on Sapphire. Then I'll cover the League. Sound all right?" This whole time, Johanna's just been poring over star maps from the captain.
Kirby> Well, "Why are we here?" doesn't seem to be an answerable question. No one here can ascertain the motives of the force that brought us here until we find out what it is - and that's assuming it's an intelligent agent that *has* a motive.
Kirby> Raïsa, I don't want to interrupt, but do you also have a library that I can have access to this evening?
Aranth> how about "we are here because a rip formed in the space time continum" or something- no motive needed... "due to the high concentration of changelings in one place"
mgrasso> Arx to Aranth: "They don't build technology like the Alson League because we don't know how they power those clockworks. We're thinking it's steam power, but every experiment the tinkers have tried back home haven't worked."
Artemisia> What makes you think it's steam power?
mgrasso> "Anyway, would you like to hear about the League and why we fight them? Aside from naked aggression, I mean."
Kirby> It's too bad we didn't keep one of the smashed up clockwork guys for you to take a look at Aranth...
Kirby> Yes - I would.
mgrasso> Arx to Artemisia: "Their greatest ships give off huge plumes of black smoke into space."
* Artemisia nods.
Kirby> Aranth - does that sound like steam power to you?
mgrasso> "A long time ago, the League (it was just called the League back then) were the poor cousins of the Kingdom of Sapphire. A monarch sat on a throne over 16 worlds, a cousin of the House of Sapphire."
Aranth> potentially, like old steam engines
mgrasso> "He was overthrown by a man we only know as Alson. It was a bloodless coup. The King of the League fled back to Sapphire as Alson began building his armed forces."
Aranth> !dice 6 4
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 6d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 7 9 1 4 4 6
* Aranth mutters coal burning...
mgrasso> "It seems Alson had tapped into the resentment that many of the Leaguers felt for the Kingdom of Sapphire. The Alson worlds, while they did have the ability to grow food, were pretty poor in all other resources."
* Kirby mutters to Aranth, "That's what I thought, too...black smoke sounds like coal or something..."
mgrasso> "They traded food for everything else they needed, but with their excursion to the Bronze Worlds and their alliance with the Miners there, it was clear that conquest was on their minds."
mgrasso> "The Miners are dark cousins of the Tinkers... pathetic underground-dwelling creatures whose only motivations are greed and power."
mgrasso> Dessert is being served: coffee and dark chocolate cake.
Travis> Yum!
Aranth> hey!- no, on second though, what the fuck do I care.
mgrasso> "The Tinkers' leaders were moved en masse from the Bronze Worlds back to Alson to work in his war machine development program."
Aranth> so... you haven't been able to build anything near what they can do?
mgrasso> "Meanwhile..." Raïsa gulps, "slave labor was used to mine the bronze and other minerals there for the war effort."
* Solangia 's kitty ears twitch. "Slave labor? Who were the slaves?"
mgrasso> "The first conquests of the Alson League, those peaceful worlds on the northern edge of the Demesnes."
mgrasso> Raïsa to Aranth: "We have tried. They have some... ability to use power to animate their metal creations, whether they are ships or clockwork soldiers."
mgrasso> "Besides, when we are cut with their weapons or in the presence of their ships, we feel... this strange feeling we've never felt before. Like the cold of the void has invaded our very bones."
Kirby> Damn...
mgrasso> Wits + Kenning, all, diff. 4
Artemisia> !dice 5 4
Kirby> !dice 6 4
* DiceWell Artemisia rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell Kirby rolls 6d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 1 10 5 2 6
* DiceWell 7 1 3 4 3 5
Aranth> !dice 9 4
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 9d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 5 successes.
* DiceWell 8 3 9 8 6 9 6 1 2
mgrasso> Solangia? Travis?
Solangia> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Solangia rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 4 6 8 3 8
Travis> !dice 2 4
* DiceWell Travis rolls 2d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 7 5
Aranth> weird.
mgrasso> Raïsa sounds like someone trying to describe Banality who's never experienced it.
Solangia> (yay dicey!)
mgrasso> "As you can imagine," Raïsa says, "technology has not met much acceptance since the Alson League has introduced it."
mgrasso> "At least in the Kingdom of Sapphire."
mgrasso> (Aranth: it's clear they classify "technology
mgrasso> " as "all weapons of the Alson League."
mgrasso> )
mgrasso> (In other words, don't bother telling them that their ballistas and sails are actually "technology" too. :D )
Aranth> well, their technology is flawed in design and out dated in function.
mgrasso> Raïsa says, "Is there anything else you needed to know?"
Solangia> Yes. Who made this cake? It's divine.
Kirby> Do you have a library on board?
Aranth> I never understood why anyone whould give a battle robot a head, it'll just get broken off.
* Artemisia smiles. "For once Solangia and I are in agreement."
mgrasso> Raïsa smiles again, "Oh, I buy that at a boutique on Sapphire. Confectioners to the Queen. Quite delicious, is it not?"
Solangia> It is. And not just because I believe chocolate is the only food worth eating.
mgrasso> Raïsa to Kirby: "I only have my navigational books, I'm sorry. When we get to Sapphire, you can consult with the sages there."
* Kirby finishes off his cake.
Aranth> or limbs... inefficient.
mgrasso> "They have a quite extensive library."
* Artemisia sips at her coffee.
Kirby> Excellent.
Solangia> Aranth, if the battle bots don't have limbs, how will they fight?
* Kirby rubs his hands together.
Aranth> ballista baby, ballista.
Solangia> Something needs to crush, kill, destroy, fold, spindle, mutilate --
* Solangia drops her fork
Solangia> Excuse me.
* Kirby picks up his napkin and wipes the corners of his mouth.
Kirby> How many days until we arrive?
Kirby> At Sapphire, that is.
mgrasso> Arx to Kirby: "We should be there late tomorrow."
* Solangia picks up the fork, wipes it on her napkin, and neatly sets it by her plate
mgrasso> Johanna looks up from the maps she's been reading all meal long. "Captain? What is the Teacup?"
Kirby> Wonderful. My compliments to the chef, captain. I'd like to meet him and tell him personally, if there's time.
mgrasso> Raïsa addresses Johanna the eshu: "The Teacup is a swirling mass of starstuff, a cloud that floats in a more or less stable spiral that resembles a Teacup. There's also a legend that a star-siren lairs in the middle of it, luring sailors to their deaths." Raïsa smiles again. "In these enlightened days, of course, no one believes such rubbish."
Aranth> yeah, rubish like clock work men and outerspace flying ships
mgrasso> Raïsa to Kirby: "The chef should be available after he serves the men."
mgrasso> "Shall we?" Raïsa rises from her seat.
* Kirby rises as well.
mgrasso> Okay, that's the end of dinner. Now, I want to set up some scenes here, okay?
* Solangia follows suit
mgrasso> Give me a couple minutes and hang out OOC.
Kirby> You know, Aranth, these people aren't all as uncivilized as you make them out to be.
mgrasso> On IC if you wish. :)
Aranth> i haven't made anyone out to be uncivilized at all. they have neat ships, fine heirarchy and a serius adversary... that's civilized, they just don't have technology...
mgrasso> One more minute, please.
* Artemisia wanders out into the hallway.
mgrasso> You guys are below deck, not too far from your cabins.
* Solangia whispers to Kirby before wandering off
*** Travis has quit IRC (Quit: Leaving)
mgrasso> Shoot!
*** Travis (jjnevins@user-33qs1oa.dialup.mindspring.com) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
Scene Two: Boys' Room
mgrasso> This is your cabin. There are three hammocks for you two and Kirby. There are also three small chests for you to use for your valuables.
Aranth> is there any paper around?
*** Travis has quit IRC (Quit: Leaving)
mgrasso> Yes, in fact. There's a small desk with paper.
*** Travis (jjnevins@user-33qs1oa.dialup.mindspring.com) has joined #cabin
Travis> (oops)
Aranth> great... anything to write with?
mgrasso> Sure. a feather quill and ink.
Aranth> i'm going to start sketching the clockwork guys... kind of absently puzzling them out.
mgrasso> Travis: did you get the description of the cabin?
Travis> Sorry, I didn't.
mgrasso> Fair enough, Aranth. Why don't you roll an Dexterity + Science roll, diff. 7
mgrasso> This is your cabin. There are three hammocks for you two and Kirby. There are also three small chests for you to use for your valuables. There's also a desk with writing paper and a feather quill and ink.
Travis> Got it, thanks.
Aranth> !dice 8 7
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 8d10 at difficulty 7. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 1 4 1 1 7 3 2 7
Aranth> gah.
mgrasso> WP will eliminate the botch, if you wish.
Aranth> sure, good idea
mgrasso> Doing anything, Travis?
Travis> Straightening my clothing and wondering when Kirby is going to join us....
mgrasso> He's nowhere to be seen. Maybe he's still talking to the chef.
* Travis wonders if he should curl up in Kirby's bunk....
mgrasso> Aranth is still working on the sketches. You can try again, Aranth, at diff. 8.
Aranth> !dice 8 8
* Travis idly looks at what Aranth is drawing.
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 8d10 at difficulty 8. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 8 5 7 3 5 4 5 1
Aranth> gah.
Travis> Mmmm...not very good....
Aranth> (if I keep trying it's difficulty 9?)
Travis> I don't think you've quite got their...well...clockwork likeness.
mgrasso> (Yes.)
Aranth> !dice 8 9
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 8d10 at difficulty 9. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 5 9 5 6 8 4 10 1
mgrasso> (Remember, you can reroll 10s, if they come up.)
Aranth> !dice 1 8
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 1d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 8
mgrasso> Nice! Well, to describe it in character, it takes about 20 sketches, and you exhaust your meager supply of paper, but eventually you get their mechanics down well enough to use as a blueprint later on.
Aranth> alright.
Aranth> now, could i tell what they were made of?
Travis> That seems to be a bit more realistic.
Travis> I especially like your shading.
mgrasso> They were definitely made of brass the whole way through.
* Aranth ponders
mgrasso> Brass clockworks, brass limbs, brass weapons.
Aranth> brass... that's 60-90% copper.
Aranth> well, that train of thought was a dead end.
mgrasso> (Sorry guys!)
Aranth> ('sokay)
mgrasso> (I guess Aranth and Travis aren't the 'buddy-buddy' type.) :D
mgrasso> Don't worry, Kirby will be coming in soon to break the awkward silence. :)
Travis> (Travis isn't really science- or history-oriented. He's too much of a flake. Self-centered, too)
Aranth> (aranth is just trying to figure out if brass oxodizes)
Aranth> (someday I'll learn to spell)
mgrasso> Int + Science, diff. 5
Aranth> !dice 6 5
* DiceWell Aranth rolls 6d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 9 4 4 9 1 4
mgrasso> It can, yes.
mgrasso> Oxidize.
* Aranth jots down a list of what he knows about brass in the lower corner of his better sketches
Aranth> oxidizes, good conductor
Aranth> mostly copper
Aranth> can I roll again to see if it's magnetic?
mgrasso> No iron in it, so no. No roll needed.
Aranth> cool
* Aranth adds "non magnetic"
* Aranth turns to Travis- desperate to end the silence.
Aranth> let's say I have a date w/ Gemma, and I really want to "WOW" her, how should I dress?
Travis> (give me Aranth's description again)
Aranth> (i have to scan in my sketch some time!)
mgrasso> http://www.homegame.org/mgrasso/diversion/descs.html#james
Aranth> (he's basically a cross between trent from Daria and Jeff Golblaum)
*** Kirby (spudboy@216-40-2-103.novia.net) has joined #cabin
Travis> With that skin tone, I should think something in a cool orange, or perhaps yellow, and perhaps some brown. Tell me, what do you usually wear?
Kirby> Hey, guys.
Kirby> And girls
Travis> Sweetie!
Aranth> jeans, or slacks, bowling style shirt w/ a tee.
Aranth> all dark, like blacks and navys
Kirby> I call top...
Travis> !dice 3 5
* DiceWell Travis rolls 3d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 8 5 3
Kirby> Bunk, I mean.
* Travis pouts. "And here I had you down for a bottom."
Kirby> Never! The sign reads, "Exit Only"...
* Travis turns to Aranth. "Oh, heavens, no. You wouldn't wear that for a job interview, and believe me, sweetie, when you want to wow someone on a date, they are interviewing you for suitability."
Travis> Oh, you've never gone in the out door anywhere?
Travis> Now, for a really impressive date you need to wear something that sells your masculinity, but in an understated but confident way.
Aranth> okay
Travis> Perhaps a nice orange t-shirt under a white linen jacket and some dark khakis.
* Aranth says confused
mgrasso> (hey, Mandy, have you noticed your /me has been working?)
Aranth> (yeah!! hurah!)
mgrasso> And Kirby, I need to describe the cabin to you.
Travis> Something that says, "I'm sexually desirable, but it's not a big deal. I'm confident enough in my own libido that it doesn't matter to me what you think now. By the end of the evening, you'll agree with me."
mgrasso> There are three hammocks here, as well as three chests for you to keep valuables in. There's also a writing desk with a mass of scribbled-on papers on it.
* Kirby sits at the desk and pulls out his composition book.
Travis> You realize I usually charge for this advice. But I like you, so I'm telling you this for free.
* Kirby starts shuffling through the crumpled up papers and looking at them.
Aranth> hey!
Aranth> careful
Aranth> thanks Travis.
Travis> Any time, sweetie. Now, you, Kirby....
* Aranth snatches up the papers and organizes them
Aranth> their sketches
Aranth> (sorry, they're)
Kirby> Obviously...
Kirby> So what did you find out?
Aranth> not much, but I could build one, and that would help me find out how to destroy them enmass and efficiently... I mean their steam powered and brass...
Aranth> I'm thinking a few things- first, is that water and them don't mix.
Aranth> second, With one fubar I could power hundres of these, or potentially destroy as many if not more.
Kirby> Are you going to try and build one?
Aranth> if we have time, if I can talk to their tinkers, if they don't try to burn me at the stake for it
Scene Three: Girls' Room
mgrasso> The room has two hammocks, as well as two chests for storage of your valuables and a writing desk.
* Solangia starts when Artemisia walks in
Artemisia> Hammocks? I haven't slept in a hammock in ages!
Solangia> You've slept in hammocks?
Solangia> What are you, some woodsy camping type?
Artemisia> Not any more. I was as a girl scout, though.
Solangia> Girl scout, huh? Do you still wear the uniform on good dates?
Artemisia> Only if they beg me to.
* Artemisia grins.
* Solangia carefully settles into a hammock so that she's sitting "indian-style."
* Solangia giggles
* Artemisia rolls into her hammock expertly, stretching out to full length.
Solangia> Men and their little girl uniforms. Tsk.
Solangia> Hey, Art? How have you been?
Artemisia> Ahhh, this is great.
Solangia> You know, when you're prancing around as a human and such.
Artemisia> Not bad, I guess. Working a lot. Pretty boring, actually.
Artemisia> How about you? Your life *has* to be more exciting than mine.
Solangia> My life? One would think that... but really? No.
Solangia> I'm sitll doing my usual things. Still leading that nocker around.
Artemisia> Yeah, he's really gone for you, I think.
* Solangia smooths her hair at the nape of her neck
Solangia> Really?
Artemisia> Oh yes! Can't you tell?
* Solangia shakes her head "no"
Artemisia> It's the way he looks at you. He really watches you.
Solangia> My breasts, you mean.
Artemisia> In a good way though, not a creepy way.
Solangia> And do you blame him? They're *fabulous*.
*** DiceWell (mg@h000094b622e2.ne.mediaone.net) has joined #girlscabin
* Solangia leans forward, all eager grins
Solangia> Do you want to see them?
Solangia> !dice 7 8
* DiceWell Solangia rolls 7d10 at difficulty 8. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 2 6 1 3 3 2 6
Artemisia> I'm sure they're not without their charm, but no thank you.
* Solangia shrugs
Solangia> Your loss
Artemisia> I'm sure.
* Artemisia smiles.
* Solangia stretches a bit
Scene Four: Shore Leave
* Travis winks at Solangia as he arrives.
mgrasso> All right, so we're all up on deck the next day.
mgrasso> You can see one of the distant stars, a bright, deep blue, getting larger and larger.
* Aranth wraps an arm around sols waist.
mgrasso> Eventually, it resolves itself into a planetoid that seems to be made of a solid translucent blue gemstone.
mgrasso> The weird thing is, this planetoid is only about 7 miles across, from the looks of it.
* Artemisia looks at Kirby and smiles.
* Solangia nips Aranth's neck
* Kirby whispers to Solangia.
* Aranth purrs
mgrasso> A glorious city, with starships moored high "above" it, clings to the bottom half of the planetoid. The city consists of high, spired alabaster towers, all done in crystal, white brick, with blue windows made of solid sapphire.
* Kirby looks up and waves at Artemisia.
* Solangia gives Kirby a look of feigned horror
mgrasso> _The Jagged Edge_ reorients itself so it is on the same plane as the city, so the ship rotates 180 degrees.
mgrasso> It's a bit disorienting, and for those of you with tender tummies, a bit nauseating.
mgrasso> The city is now sitting atop the world of Sapphire, with eight or nine space galleons moored by line about 500-1000 feet above the city's highest towers.
* Artemisia shakes her hed and blinks a few times.
* Aranth puzzles and looks frustrated
Kirby> sweet..
mgrasso> Gliding on the stellar wind over the horizon of the city you see a flock of birds... no, wait. They're not birds... they're bone-white pegasi, each with a knightly rider in translucent blue plate armor. The riders carry lances with blue pennants and have huge and powerful crossbows on their backs.
Travis> Hmm. It could use some gold leaf, perhaps.
* Artemisia chuckles.
mgrasso> Raïsa whispers to you in awe, "Those are Her Majesty's Own 1st Cavalry."
Solangia> They're kind of nice.
mgrasso> The pegasi and their riders are actually riding out to meet the ship.
Travis> How...butch.
* Kirby pulls out his composition book again and starts sketching.
* Artemisia looks carefully at the riders on their steed, drinking in the sight.
mgrasso> Their captain hovers, his steed beating its wings forcefully to hover. "Captain Raïsa! By order of Her Majesty, I am to escort you and your crew to court!"
Aranth> maybe you should be so demure and give him your "favor" art? isn't that the noble thing to do?
Solangia> And curtsy while you do it, Art.
mgrasso> The officers on board (and their esteemed guests, which means you!) are invited to get on back of the massive steeds and fly down to the city!
mgrasso> (clutching the riders Harley-style, of course.) :D
Solangia> (Whoo! Is mine wearing a "If you can see this, the bitch fell off" shirt?)
Artemisia> No, I'm very choosy with my favors. As you well know, Sol.
mgrasso> (Hah!)
Kirby> (lol!)
Artemisia> (lmao!)
Aranth> art, favors are ribons of the ladys color tied to the arm, sword, or lance.
Travis> (Travis has too many things to say right now and is stunned into speechlessness)
Artemisia> Somehow I don't think Solangia was referring to the archaic meaning.
* Solangia smirks
Solangia> Of course I was, Art. Which is why I recommended you curtsy.
* Kirby caps his pen and slicdes his composition book back into his bag.
mgrasso> The pegasi are much more muscular and just larger than a regular Earth horse, so they support a fully-armored rider and a passenger just fine, although they tend to glide down to the city rather than flap their powerful wings. Still, it's an experience to rank up there with the most sublime, as you feel the stellar winds rushing through your hair, descending in circles into the city's streets.
Solangia> Had I meant your other favor, I would have suggested dropping to your knees. Not that you need such advice, judging by the size of those callouses...
Artemisia> Sorry, Sol, I can't hear you on this pegasus!
Aranth> ouch... that one stung all the way over her solangia darling
mgrasso> You descend to a landing platform on what looks to be one of the oldest edifices in the city; the riders dismount and help you from the backs of the pegasi as you walk from the "helipad" into what looks like the very heart of a royal court!
* Kirby blows a kiss to Aranth.
mgrasso> This audience hall is decked in white marble, gold accents, and of course, the omnipresent blue sapphire, which is used for windows, statues, and for a magnificent throne at the far end of the chamber.
* Artemisia smooths her hair and skirts as she alights.
mgrasso> Raïsa and Arx and the other officers stand with you, in their dress uniforms.
* Travis straightens his clothes as soon as he's off the pegasus.
Aranth> damn, this must be what all those guys who need viagra see.
Travis> I'm used to being ridden by something horse like, but that was quite different...
Aranth> oh god, TMI!
mgrasso> (one moment, please)
* Solangia heads over to Aranth as soon as her fellow rider helps her off the horse
Solangia> (pegasus... i hate words)
Artemisia> (the pretty horses with the wings)
Aranth> :)
Kirby> !dice 8 6
* DiceWell Kirby rolls 8d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 7 2 6 4 5 4 6 8
Solangia> (harrumph, it was a magic cow with special "trap detection" power)
Travis> (damn, that gazebo is tough)
Kirby> (har!)
Solangia> (I'm stealing the tapestries)
Kirby> (I get the 5 green towels)
Travis> (I'm gonna go make snacks)
Solangia> (Wait wait wait.. are we counting the towels as one item, or seperately?)
mgrasso> (Are these Knights of the Dinner Table jokes?)
mgrasso> :)
Travis> (yep)
Kirby> (You really should pick them up, Mike :) )
mgrasso> (I'm going to describe the arrival at court and then we'll end, okay?)
Artemisia> (I need to read those sometime. :)
Travis> (Mike, you'd love them)
Kirby> (Sure thing)
mgrasso> (Or should I wait until next time?)
Travis> (You too)
mgrasso> (It's up to you guys)
Solangia> (nah, now)
Aranth> (I think you shoul describe it)
Aranth> (should even)
mgrasso> A squat, completely bald elderly boggan herald steps on a wooden box and blows a zinc horn which raises its tinny tune to the rafters. He then shouts, in a deep basso profundo voice, "All rise for Her Majesty, Queen Mabel, Lady Sapphire and Duchess of the Southern Protectorates!"
mgrasso> With dark tousled hair hidden by a veil ringed with irises, this sidhe lady at first strikes the very image of sophistication and a commanding regal presence. But you can soon see what the veil attempts to conceal: the scars of horrible burns ringing her left cheek and neck, her delicate flesh toughened into pink rings of dead skin.
Travis> (Mabel?)
mgrasso> Raïsa whispers: "Her Majesty encountered a steam-powered assassin a few months back. It was only through Jirem's being by her side that she survived." Jirem is the next to walk in. Also sidhe, this tall and stony-faced man is dressed in the classical robes of a wizard, except that he carries at his belt a captured Alson League weapon: an ornate and exquisitely etched brass firearm of some sort.
Aranth> (then on tuesday, mabel left me, I hear she's going out with charlie...)
mgrasso> His face, lined but handsome, reminds some of you of Jeremy Irons or perhaps John Malkovich: cold grey eyes, broad mouth, and greying, thinning hair tied back into a queue.
mgrasso> Behind them are a retinue of sapphire-clad warriors; their translucent gem armor glinting in the thousands of magickal illumination spheres which float motionless near the ceiling the vaulted chamber. Striding beside them is a giant, grey-pelted wolf-man, at least nine feet tall, wearing complicated spectacles with multiple lenses set in their works.
Travis> (so I says to Mabel, I says)
mgrasso> He wears robes of state, like Jirem and the more senior knights. Assembled to their sides are the freebooters; sailors, pirates, and refugees from the Conquered Worlds who have thrown their lot in with Queen Mabel.
mgrasso> (And that's where I leave it.)
Kirby> (Wow. That's *awesome*)
Solangia> ooooh... wolf man
Travis> Hmmmm.
mgrasso> (*grin*)
*** Solangia is now known as Erica
Artemisia> Cooool.
*** Kirby is now known as Joe
*** Artemisia is now known as Julia
Julia> Awesome imagery tonight, Mike. :)
Travis> Mike, you need to get this log up quickly, so I can read it and ponder it from work.
mgrasso> Wow, that was fun tonight. EXCELLENT roleplay.
Joe> This is really cool.
Julia> This adventure rocks. :)