A suggestion for all Steam London players who are getting bored.

It has been quite a long time since BG dissapeared. When it shall return is uncertain. For all those who were playing in Steam London, or for myself at least, this has been incredibly frusterating. The game ended at a rather exciting part and just when we were getting new players. As of now, I am rather bored.

It is this boredom I wish to tackle. We cannot actually continue the game until the forum has returned. But I recalled some players mentioning that they intended to write stories about their characters. Perhaps this can be a chance to tell some of those stories? Consider this an invitation to do some creative writing. My idea is that we can flesh out the characters and their backstories, while simultaneously keeping from getting overly bored.

I'm not sure how this would be organized...maybe whole short stories at once or in chapters. Please tell me if you think this is a good/bad idea. Hopefully there are still people from Steam London to tell me that, of course.....

Actually I have been writing in my notebook about how Emma met George. I think I will start typing it up. It may take me a bit because this is the busy season at the costume shop but I will post when I can.

Well, however long it takes, let this be the thread to post it. I was thinking over what I hadput down in the BG Wiki on the Steel Breeze and am considering starting with a "origin story" of sorts, similar to what you have in mind.

Just to keep this topic up, here is the first chapter of my tale.



Chapter One

Elisha watched with distaste as the older boy began to unwrap the parcel he had delivered. Ned Canning was brushed back his red hair and, with almost comical intentness, began placing the foul-smelling herb from the package inside his pipe. Finally he finished, lighting the pipe with much ceremony, before passing the package on to the third youth sitting at the table, J.W. Nunn, whose eyes smiled behind his thick dark glasses.

“Care for some?” asked Ned, looking out across the room. The “Raven and Girl” had started its life as an orphanage. Yet, as they are wont to do, the children grew up. In this case, under the manipulations of Ned, they had taken over when the matron died. With its new name, the building served as a bar and hotel; above the long low room they were in, was the old dormitory.

Elisha waved his hand in front of his face. “I don’t see what you get out of that….” he said, searching for a word to describe it. “What on earth is it, anyways?”

“You tell me” replied Ned. “You got it from Nat for us.”

Elisha could not find a reply to that. He admired Ned’s daring and cunning, but found him to be impossible to reason with at times. J.W. laughed at his silence. Elisha took this as his cue to leave the table. “I have to go soon. My shift at the Navigation Centre starts soon.”

“Tell them you’re going to be late” said Ned, eyes dancing through a cloud of smoke.

“What on earth is it this time?” The impatience cut clearly through Elisha’s voice, but secretly he was excited. Whenever he was told he was to be late, it was always about airships.

“I haven’t the faintest clue. It’s an experimental. Decent sized. Gus saw it yesterday. Claims it has a big steel blade on the front.”

“You believe him?”

“Gus only lies with reason. He’s a priest now, you know.”

“So he says.”

This time, all of them laughed. Ned hoisted himself onto the table.

“Anyone interested in the latest, greatest designs from the Vancouver Air Engineering Society…please feel free to follow me on our latest tour of wonderment and fanstasticalness.” With a good impersonation of pomp, he hopped lightly off the table and strode out the door, head held high, and his loyal followers behind. Elisha knew he was jesting…but the way even the people out in the street gazed at him spoke of something more. Ned led his small parade out and down the sunny street.
Later, they sat perched high in the Vancouver Air Docks. Even the older, regular docks men could not help staring at the new ship. It had an aura of deadly majesty. It’s front blade glimmered with danger. Ned’s followers were entranced. “That’s the ship I want” said Ned, he legs swinging with excitement. He was seated on a girder like a nervous bird, his hair blowing erratically.

Elisha grunted. “And how exactly do you plan that to happen?”

“Hey now! Don’t be so negative-like. He’ll think of something.” J.W. grinned at Ned.

“I’m sure he will” said Elisha, a bit wistful now. The airship was really beautiful.

“And I’m sure I will” replied Ned, jumping off the girder and running towards the ship, weaving in between crates of cargo, unnoticed by the workers and unheeding of his friend’s cries of alarm.

-Thanks for the sticky. I will finish this off eventually with a final chapter.

Chapter Two

The guests to the inauguration of the airship Steel Breeze looked at each other with mild discomfort. None of them could have been so rude to repulse their invitation to the monumental event – but it was quite clear their host was mad.

Samuel Cox, businessman, inventor, socialite and general eccentric was leaning over the railing with his arms outstretched, giggling manically like a child with a new toy. He pulled the goggles he was wearing awkwardly over his top hat and turned to his audience, smiling widely.

“This ship surely is the fastest in the world!...at least the bits that matter. Quite exhilarating to get a taste of the wind. Any of you care to try?” The guests shook their heads, eyes showing barely repressed terror. Many of them took the opportunity to sit down – and literally hold onto their chairs and hats.

“Now, for the grand pinnacle of our performance” said Cox, winking at the silent, bearded and emotionless pilot. “I took the free liberty of placing balloon bore targets around here. Or there. Soon to be here. Anyhows, good Mr. Prawnger here will take this ship, as smooth as a fork through butter, straight into the hearts of our immobile foes! Onwards! Forward! Advance!” The guests held onto each other tightly. Some let out barely audible squeaks. Now it was fear that kept the silence, not decorum.

After the targets had been rammed and obliterated and the guests had taken a short leave to vomit over the side, Samuel began his final speech. He tried to adopt the most serious manner possible. “Friends, Romans, countrymen please lend me your attentions! Firstly, I think we should all thank Mr. Prawnger, our pilot for the superb ride. It is an amazing ship, is it not, Mr. Prawnger?”

The pilot spoke with a surprisingly heavy Russian accent. “Yes! It is quite a fine ship. Which is why I believe I will be borrowing it!” The “pilot” produced a small gleaming pistol from his coveralls, pointing it menacingly at the crowd. Women shrieked and fainted. Samuel looked confused.

“Mr. Prawnger, I do not believe this was in the program….I say are you Russian? Which part are you from?” “Mr. Prawnger”, the Russian agent, responded by fired a shot through Samuel’s top hot.

“Great Monday! My hat! Oh, you blaggard! Prepared to defense yourself!” With these words, Samuel neatly flicked his cane outwards, relieving the Russian of his pistol. A few good smacks and a judo throw later and the screams of the agent could be heard as he hurtled towards the Pacific. Samuel watched his decent with forced detachment. The ship began to drift. A guest timidly tapped him on the shoulder. “Mr. Cox? I do believe some of the ladies have gone into hysterics…perhaps you should alight the airship? Perhaps now?” Samuel turned around with a thin smile.

“I really would like to help with all that…but I truly have no idea how to fly this thing! In fact, I remember I am very afraid of heights.” He excused himself to be sick, while the guests stared numbly, preparing for an undignified death. Suddenly, from the back of the crowd, a young, red-haired man stood up. Ned had remained unnoticed through most of the flight, hiding behind a rather obese gentleman. He raised his hand politely.

“Er, excuse me sir! I do believe I have some experience with the steerage and control of airships of this variety. Do you mind if I attempt a go at the helm?”

-And here is the last bit to end the story. Over all it's rather short and simplistic, but is was mainly just to get this thread going and lay things out. Hope to see some other work up here soon!

Chapter Three

Elisha had seen the ship return. However, there had been a crowd of policemen forming almost immediately after landing. No-one could tell him what their purpose or motive was. He was certain Ned had been caught. Probably thrown to rot in jail. For a moment he felt angry. He was going to have to deal with this problem all by himself. Why couldn’t Ned see the position he had been thrust into? Almost immediately afterwards he felt guilty. Ned could be in serious trouble. It was with these thoughts he took with him as he walked in the front door of the “Raven and Girl”.

To his surprise, the tavern was a hive of activity. Long lines of young people were twirling around the floor. The tables were laid out with charts and gadgets of various uses. Elisha’s eyes caught Ned standing on a table in the middle of the room. He was reading a piece of paper intently. He looked up and saw Elisha. He nodded in his direction, beckoning him over.

“Ned? What on earth happened! I never caught you coming off the ship…what’s going on here?”

“That beautiful ship…HMAS Steel Breeze is officially mine. After the owner saw my pilot it back, he was all for it. The papers are signed, the details finished. The old guy who built it has even set us up for work.”

“Work…?

“As of today, I am Captain Ned Canning, a privateer in the name of the Queen.”

Elisha started. Ned’s flippant manner was beginning to irk him. He looked around. He guessed the people around were signing up on this mad endeavor. Some were little older than he was.

“Ned…what the hell is this! You’re only nineteen! We had a business here, income! You’re going to go out and kill yourself, torn apart by pirates twice your age! And now you’re dragging these kids into it as well…!”

“Elisha…these kids are no younger than you are.”

“That’s my point! You think you can go off and mess around in whatever dangero…”

“I know you’re only fifteen. But you’re tough. I’ve seen you beat brutes twice your size in fights. These fine youth aren’t that tough, but they’ll do. I doubt we’ll do anything really dangerous ‘til we practice a little…I think we’ll know what we can handle.”

Elisha’s face fell. Like so many times around Ned, he felt the situation slipping out of control. He regained his composure and renewed his argument.

“Ned, look, this is irresponsible. I’ve worked with you on this place for…”

“I know it’s irresponsible. I fancy I’m rather irresponsible as well. That’s why I want you as my First Mate.”

“Wha..?”

“You’re good with responsible stuff. Talking to people calmly and thinking straight.” Ned smiled. “I do respect your opinion. But, look around. Most of these people are as old as younger air pirate members. Most of them are from here. I want to help them. Privateering is great cash. The “Raven and Girl” kept these kids off the street. The Steel Breeze will give them a future. They’ll become wealthier. With wealth comes respect. This is a chance of a lifetime. I’d appreciate your help on this. Please.”

Elisha paused. His tide of his thoughts slowly shifted and his anger faded away. He hated when Ned was thoughtful about something. But he at least recongnized those times.

“…Alright. I guess I’ve become rather used to you over the years. No point letting you get yourself blown up.”

They shook hands before beginning to reorganize the crew and officers.

They shook hands again the next morning, congratulating each other on their first successful take-off with their ship. The sun was rising, the air cold and crisp and the crew youthful and energetic. The bow of the Steel Breeze gleamed as it turned slowly, picking up speed as it left the city behind.

I realy liked that. I think you should come up with full stories for the events the crew Angelus mentioned. I have some rare time off in October so I am typeing up the first bit of Emma and George's story.

As I have said before I want to wright a book about them so this will be very long but I will brake it up in to little parts.


They washed on the dock like a flood, some awed with their new surroundings, some walking purposeful and aloof and others small and nervous beside the large ship that carried them across the ocean to the even bigger city. Emmaline Lightion was in the center with a hopeful dazzled expression buffered here and there by the flow of bodies. Emma darted among them used to being overlooked and occasionally trod apon being the youngest of seven children in house that could barely contain them.

Finally the crowd dispersed letting her get a better look at the towering beast that was London. It seemed to buzz with color and sound like a beehive but Emmaline had to wonder if part of her impression had to do with the fact that she had spent the last week in the dim and cramped reaches of steerage. The air was thick with the smell of city life that was both familiar and totaly alien to Emma. She had thought herself to be a sophisticated and metropolitan young lady but she gawked at the ships and and teaming throngs that swirled over the docks like a bumpkin fresh from the farm.

She leaned on a piling and looked out over the water. Somewhere across that vast expanse was her home. Emma turned her back to the view, she had come too far to go back now and besides that would mean setting foot on another boat and if she had any say in the matter that would never happen again. She loved her brother Walter but why he had ever taken a engineering position on one of those dim creaking tubs was beyond her. It was good to be back where the earth was a steady constant under her feet. Emma unfolded a piece of paper from her pocket it was a simple letter but it had lit a fire within that spurred her to leave Boston.

"Em my sweet,
London is just as glittering and wonderful as Amos described it. Barclay says that I should be having my big debut within the week. Soon my name will be up in lights, A new star will rise over England. Wright me if you happen to soar my way and I will show you all the dazzling sights of the city. Give the old birds at the cavalcade my love and tell them I am doing fine.
Your darling Cathrine."

They had both been enthralled by Amos' tales of a youth full of dance halls and glamorous young actresses. Cathrine had been older and with no family strings to bind her, made the voyage first but now with what Emma deemed as proof that the tale was true, their could be no holding her in Boston. She had done odd jobs while keeping her marks up at school for almost a year to save for the trip and now that she was here she was staring to feel a bit nervous about what would happen next.

Emma had sent Cathrine a letter that she was coming but she hadn't gotten a response back before she left. She hated to just drop in on her like this but Walter was only in Boston for a few days and she refused to wait another six months for him to come again. Emma walked on buying a paper from a scruffy looking boy who bit her coin and gave her a wink. Some things were the same the world over. Emma tucked the paper under her arm and asked the boy if he would help her find the address Cathrine's letter had come from for another coin. He drove a hard bargan but soon they were off.

The first adress they made it to said she had moved out weeks ago and gave another where she could possibly be found. So Emma spent the next three hours struggling to keep up with the newsboy in and drag her luggage in the madding London trafic. They bounced from boarding house to boarding house seeming to draw no closer to her missing friend. Emma was getting worried that something horrible had happened to Cathrine. The last place had sent them to an address that made the news boy whistle and comment on how posh it was.

The Morningside inn was the most fancy place Emma had seen a blinding white among the soot streaked gray of the prior addresses. Her shoulders slumped with exhaustion but she tried to neaten herself up. Cathy must be doing well. Emma thought with a smile. The boy followed her in taking her luggage it seemed to be more of a game than a paying job now. He wanted to see if Cathrine was here as much as she did. Emma walked up to the front desk very aware of how shabby she looked compared to her soundings. She smiled at the tall impeccably dressed man behind the desk who looked down his nose at her making her feel very small indeed. "I would like to speak to Miss Cathrine Lenard please." He regarded her with stony silence and Emma quite frankly thought he was going to laugh in her face but insted he flipped a switch on a large interesting looking bord behind the counter. A bell sounded somewhere deep within the bulding.

Emma wated tensely wondering if he was calling for someone to throw her out. A raven haired young woman came to the desk dressed in a maids uniform. She looked Emma over and emma looked her over then they both nearly jumped in surprise. "Em, what on earth are you doing here?"

Emma frowned "You invited me in your letter remember?"

Cathrine looked disparagingly at her. "Well yes but I didn't think you would be fool enough to to take me up on it. Did you run away from home?"

"Oh for heavens sake Cathy you know I would never do such a thing." Emma sighed, she was seventeen and a half and everyone still treated her like a child.

The man behind the desk chuckled at them an Cathrine rolled her eyes. "Come on lets get you settled for now." She led Emma through an inconspicuous door and down in to a room full of steam and the smell of soap. "Your mad for coming all this way for a visit you know. Do your parents know where you are?"

Emma grabbed her bags and thanked the boy who had taken care of them. "Yes I came over with Walter and all the others saw us off at the docks. Father even took a half day off to say goodbye." She was a bit annoyed her friend would even think she would slip away and leave her family worried.

"Really? Isn't that a bit much for a visit tho." Cathrine said waving in greeting to the two girls running the steam press.

"It isn't a visit Cathrine. I came to become an actress and I am not leaving until I do just that." She was completely resolute.

"Emma this isn't like trying out for the cavalcade. I tried for months to get a job beyond a bit part in the chorus. I gave all my savings and more to Mr. Barclay only to have him run off in the night and leave me with nothing but broken promises." She stared at the floor in shame. He had taken so much and she had just let him.

"I am going in to this with both eyes open I promise. It will be hard work but you know that has never stopped me. Do you remember the first time I asked to go on stage and you jokingly told me I could if I polished all the brass rails in the theater?"

Cathrine smiled with nostalgia. "You vanished off with the tin of polish and the rag and we found you sleeping in the balcony hours later. I don't think the rails have ever shined as bright since then. You are the most mule headed girl I have ever met. I won't try and dissuade you, I would only be wasting my breath."

Emma grinned "Does that mean you will help me?"

"Tomorrow is my half day off. You can stay with me tonight then we can see about finding you a job and your own place in the morning." Emma through her arms around Cathrine nearly leaping for joy "London is a harsh place Em, it will eat you alive if it can. I don't want you to repeat my mistakes. I know you aren't one for taking advice but go back to your famliy. What you get here isn't worth what you give."

"Don't worry about me Cathrine. I can make it here, I just know it." Emma knew that her hard work would surely be rewarded in the end. Cathrine shook her head sure that Emma would see the truth in time. She left Emma in the care of the bubbly gossipy girls that ran the laundery room and went back to work.

I've just found my way back to the forum, and I'm still rather unclear as to what we're doing steam-london wise.

Well we are just sort of writing some back stories to keep us fairly amused, until BG returns. Good to see you again.

I am glad you found your way here I really missed you. Hopefully we will be back on bg soon.

I doubt Patrick Had much of a background. Other than being raised in the fairly boring catholic oprhanage There isnt much else.
There is his service for a year on the Hitotsume and his meeting with Gejiro Kei, but I'm not sure what I could do with that.
Pat's service on the black might be something, But seeing as how Emma is Miss gaslight's charachter, I might need her help with the story, and it might come out a bit more like an RP than anything.

I would love that. You have already helped shape Captain Black and I would like to see what kind of crew you would come up with. I try to always be a good wall to bounce ideas off of.

Is steam london a roleplay game?
if so can play?
I am just starting to make up a backround for my Character so I would love to get into a RPG.

Cheers,
Dandelion

Yes it is and a good one. (I am very biased.) If you post waht you were thinking of Character wise we could think of how to fit you in the story line. An overview is here. http://editthis.info/brass_goggles/Steam_London