Aetherpunk - Time Jump! (Steampunk Freeform - LGBT Friendly Big Board Game)

Started by Crash, October 10, 2015, 11:20:04 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Crash


Welcome to our Third phase of recruitment! We have reached Big Game status and moved the time line up to 1870.  The city has been shaken, but not toppled.  It is the perfect time to jump in with new plots and new characters.

The British Invasion of 1863 took the Americas by surprise and while the North and South pitted brother against brother and all eyes turned towards each other the British launched an unexpected invasion that battered the Union forces on the brink of victory.  Union forces were pushed out of their traditional stronghold in the Northeast and forced West.  Some of the Union forces were forced to ally with the Confederacy in the South when they were cut off from the Union.  Ironically the south would have fallen if not for these soldiers. When confronted with a foreign invader they chose to stand side by side with their southern brethren and stall the British for a time on the southern front.

None of this would matter if Germany hadn’t chosen to attack British holdings in Europe in 1868.  England was forced to pull troops back to Europe to defend their territories leaving the British advance stalled along the Colorado State lines.  Now the Midwest is contested territory, a land dotted with homesteads and military encampments.  The Union holds the West, England the Northeast and The Confederacy the South and all parties have agents in San Francisco where cloak and dagger activities have reached a fevered pitch as the war has moved into the shadows. 

San Francisco
Welcome to San Francisco 1870.  Shanghai of the West and Gateway to California.  The city has survived the Gold and Aether Rush of 1849, the Civil War, the British Invasion of 1863 and continues to prosper, even thrive in the shattered states of America.  Much has changed for the port city of the West in the past twenty years.  The population has increased ten-fold to nearly a million people if you count visitors that flood out meandering streets daily.  The docks remain full of fishing vessels, but the skies are now filled with airships of all shapes and sizes and steam powered trollies chug up and down the steep city hills.  The south of the city is a city in its own right, Chinatown.  Filled with the masses of Chinese laborers that came looking for gold, coolies that worked the rails and the Manchurian dynasts that fled their homeland Chinatown is as exotic as the Orient with its own rules and politics.

San Francisco is a bustling trade city that has profited through its designation as a free port on the west coast.  While California became a state in 1850, San Francisco was able to remain independent do too much of the wealth already pouring into it.  It sided with the rest of Californian and the Union during the Civil War, but its mercantile nature allowed for business as usual when it came to trade and currency of the North and South were accepted readily in the markets of San Francisco. While the West was far behind the Chinese and the British in harnessing Aether and the resulting steam technological boom that it produced San Francisco has made great strides in catching up and boasts some of the best airship factories in the world.

Underneath its prosperous exterior, trouble bubbles.  Tensions are growing between the European California’s and the Manchurian led Chinese, both influential in business, politics and crime.  The covert games between the North, South and Britain leak violence into the streets while agents of Mexico, Germany and mainland China stir the pot.  Victorian Spiritualism, Chinese Daoism, American puritanism and other darker things clash in the shadows over the rights to human souls.

In April of 1869 a devastating earthquake rocked the jewel of the west.  The ensuing fires gutted portions of the city creating power vacuums in the political and criminal landscape that have yet to settle.  Spiritualists are reporting an increase in paranormal activity and strange disappearances are occurring around the city.  Tensions between San Francisco and the North have resulted in a cold war between the city and the Northern Ports of Oakland and Seattle.  Air and Sea Pirates feed of the shipping lanes and one another when the pickings get slim.  It seems San Francisco’s tradition neutrality is being tested and its alliance is up for the highest bidder.  Spies are everywhere and back alley deals are commonplace.  Among the working class and poor gangs seek to establish themselves or protect what is theirs through bloody turf wars to expand influence.

What is this game?

This is a Freeform Steampunk game within the existing Aetherpunk world we have created!   You and your friends will navigate the web of intrigue and destruction that the Great Quake of 1869 has left in its wake.  Are you a cunning spy, a brutal gang boss, a patriotic privateer, a dashing sky pirate or a speedy smuggler?  Any of these and more are possible.   There are some fantasy elements, but nothing over the top like wizards throwing fireballs, elves or dragons.  It uses an alternate history of the United States and will combine Victorian and Chinese styling for the look and feel that we going for.  This game is a sandbox and very much what you the players make of it.  San Francisco is a huge port city and (currently) neutral to the political factions of the world with a thriving black market.

What is Aether and how does it work?

Aether is the fifth element, the thing that binds all other elements together. It often defies normal scientific conventions in all of its forms.  It is difficult to extract, but incredibly useful in any of its states.  As a gas it is remarkably stable and lighter than air making it perfect for airships.  As a liquid it burns slow and hot and is used to light many large cities and propel the amazing Airship your crew uses to sail the skies.  Aether had not been found in its solid state yet, but liquid Aether is often used to infuse other elements altering their chemical make-up.  Aether infused coal has led to huge advancements in steam technology. 

Spiritualism

Victorian Spiritualism, Chinese Mysticism and Voodoo are real or so people think.  The supernatural brushes against the skin of the world and many of the beliefs have incorporated the use of Aether in their practices to frightening effects.  That said the supernatural is hidden in the shadows, hiding in the disbelief of the reasoned minds of this industrial age.

What can I play?

What can’t you play?  Weary Beat Cop, Occult Investigator, Sky Pirate, Air Marine, Dilettante, Gang Boss, Aether Spice Junky, Mad Scientist, Genetic Experiment, Shop Owner, Spiritualist, Voodoo Priest, Private Investigator, Politician…almost any steampunk trope is possible .  Submit Characters to Crash and Madame Professor.

1. Magic may be in this game but I want it to stay true to Taoism, Victorian Spirituality or Voodoo. This does actually leave a lot of room. If you want a strange creature in a plot try to give these things a steampunk flare if you can.

2. I am opening this game up to more dastardly characters than I have in the past.  Remember the rules of this game however and if you think someone may not like to be the center of your evil intentions talk to them first and talk about what you are thinking. 

3. Take a look at the Character Sheet thread to see what face claims have already been taken.

Created and edited by consortium11


Sample Character

Name: Captain Nathaniel Harper
Player: Madame Professor
Concept:  Captain of the Airship Maria Bella, Swashbuckling Pirate of the open skies!
Trouble:  Does rum count? He hardly thinks so! His gambling on the other hand…
Sex: Male
Age: 29
Orientation: Heterosexual
On’s: Profit, snarky and strong women, bondage, aerial combat,  brunettes… Profit.
Off’s: Being stolen from, being tied up or imprisoned, seemingly frail and dainty women.

National Affiliation and Ancestry: Where every pirate’s allegiances lay… with himself! Nationality and war be damned!

Appearance:
Hair: Reddish brown
Eyes: Dark brown
Height: 5’ 11”
Weight: 175 lbs

Description: Appearances are important, no matter what career you have chosen. Or what career has chosen you. For Nathan, he makes sure to maintain an air of confidence, or more correctly arrogance, about him at all times. He does so by keeping his facial hair tidy but scruffy, his short, curly locks in disarray, and a crooked smile on his lips. While not the tallest or thinnest of blokes, he is athletic and strong, as the free skies do not suffer the weak. Eyes chocolate and hair of rust, both of which hold a reckless abandonment for the world around them. Not usually visible are the tattoos that mark his body. Few have as much meaning to him, though, as the elegant name over his left shoulder, Anna Rose.

Personality: As one would expect of a swashbuckling pirate, Nathaniel is loud, rude, and crude. Snarky and arrogant, Captain Harper fancies himself the best in the business… which differs from day to day depending on what one might need done. But he has a silver tongue and knows how to use it well and had he not found himself in the life of piracy, he would have made an excellent salesmen. Charming to a T, it can often get him into trouble, but where his charms fail him, his skills do not, only fueling his arrogance more. For his clients and his crew, he puts on a strong and carefree face, but when alone in his cabin, he lets the truth show; that he rarely knows what he is doing, that his life style will catch up to him. Few have seen the serious side of Captain Nathaniel, usually only in the most dire of circumstances, and those that have often don’t live long enough to mention it, though rarely by his own hand.

Background: Born and raised in Boston, Nathaniel Harper was the third son of a third son. Which meant when visiting the grandparents, he had to suffer the treatment his wealthier and more ‘to-do’ cousins would put him through. He often found himself in the kitchens, playing with the baker’s son and daughter. They would often pretend to be on grand adventures, going anywhere they wished with no one telling them what they could and could not do. Michael and Anna Rose where is only friends and a shining light in his normal dull life. As they got older, his feelings towards Anna Rose changed and grew into something more than a childhood friend. He would never get to truly tell her how he felt though, as an unfortunate accident would steal her away from him. The runaway carriage trampled the young woman right before him and her brother and they were powerless to stop it. From that moment, Nathaniel decided life was too short not to do as he pleased and through a series of seemingly random events he found himself the captain of an airship, the ultimate symbol of freedom.

First Adventure:  “She’s a fine vessel, sir. The best we ‘ave in the yard.” Nathaniel approached the hull of the ship, letting his strong fingers graze lightly against the polished surface. She certainly was beautiful, a fine craft fresh off the line. The price tag, though… dealing in imports and exports would require the best of the best, especially if he wanted to compete with some of the well established vessels in the industry. Well, haggling is what he did best!

With a nod and a grin, Nathaniel turned to the boy, “She’s a fine vessel, indeed, though grossly overpriced.” The boy balked at the accusation. “But… I think we can work out--”

“Grossly overpriced is an exaggeration, sir.” Called another voice. Nathaniel turned, his grin faltering only a moment as another gentleman, older but obviously wealthier, approached. “I’d say it’s a fair price indeed for such a ship, a bargain, even!” He turned to the boy, “Sell her to me, boy, and I’ll not cut into your earnings.”

Nathaniel almost cursed out loud. No way was he going to lose his chance for freedom from some hoity toity entrepreneur. So like with any situation, the young man put his grin back on and addressed the other gentleman. “You seem the sort to find opportunity… Care for a wager…?”

Character Sheet Code


[float=right][img height=400 padding=8]<insert image>[/img][/float][b]Name:[/b]
[b]Player:[/b]
[b]Concept:[/b]  <A short description about who you are:  Captain of the Airship Vixen, Conflicted Member of the Eugenics League, Coolie with a Secret, Tenacious Street Urchin>
[b]Trouble:[/b]  <Everyone has a trouble. It could be addiction, troublesome family, owing money to the wrong people, arranged marriage, whatever>
[b]Sex:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Orientation:[/b]
[b]On’s:[/b]
[b]Off’s:[/b]

[b]National Affiliation and Ancestry:[/b] <What is your nationality and what Nation are you currently a part of?  How do you feel about your country?>

[b]Appearance:[/b]
Hair:
Eyes:
Height:
Weight:

[b]Description:[/b] <Text, Images or Both>

[b]Personality:[/b]

[b]Background:[/b]






Rules and Regulations


The following are the rules and regulations set for Aetherpunk. Please read these thoroughly and understand that by applying it is implied that you understand what you have read and commit to it. While we attempt to keep these rules stagnant throughout the course of the game, if something begins to pose a problem we will make a rule about it and enforce it.

Disclaimer : We reserve the right to add rules as necessary.

  • Be excellent to one another. Do not fight. Do not squabble. If an altercation between players occurs, please bring the matter to myself or your residential Co-GM who will periodically patrol the thread for me when I cannot. We will be perfectly happy to sort out the discrepancy between the players and arrive to the most fair and just solution allowed. Do not turn us into a broken family.
  • Do not God Mod another player's character! Due to the nature of the characters it is easy to accidentally cross into this territory. Please do not control their actions. YOU control YOUR character. On that same tangent please do not make yourself invulnerable to everything. Nothing more boring than a “perfect” character.
  • NO PLAYER CHARACTER MAY BE KILLED WITHOUT PLAYER'S EXPLICIT PERMISSION TO DO SO. There is no leeway to this rule. Don't do it.
  • Never, EVER do something to a player's character they do not like. Consult with the player before making a decision that you think might be a bother to them, even if they list it as okay in their Ons and Offs. Communication is paramount between players! Please use it.
  • Communication is important. If you are going to be gone longer than a day or two, please try to notify the GMs. We are very understanding about outside life – Trust me. I, myself, am a Full-Time Worker, Husband and Dad and I go to school part time. I am busy and sometimes it gets hectic. Everyone has lives. That is okay. But let us know so we're not missing you.
  • You are not expected to post once a day. While it isn't expected of you, more posts are undoubtedly appreciated by your fellow players. However, if you know you are getting ready to leave for a week, we ask that you try not to get your character wound up in a plot that is going to change things drastically. That will bog all players and prove to be quite a pain. We ask that all players post, minimum, once a week. A single post within seven days isn't so bad, is it? Quicker is always better and preferred, though.
  • Please have a good grasp of the English Language and Grammar Structure before applying. We fancy individuals that use complete sentences, full thought, and detail their posts with enough for another character to react to. I am not tying certain post lengths to this game, but I beg you not to use one to three line posts. That would be VERY difficult for another player to react to. Use your best judgment, but give enough for the players to respond to. Multi-Paragraph is best. Remember, a paragraph is a construction of thought usually ranging between three to five sentences.
  • Please use tags in the header of your post.All posts should have tags noting who your character is talking too, about or noticing.  This will help people find conversations that involve their characters in threads that may hold multiple conversations.  Acceptable tags are: another character’s name, OPEN or CLOSED.  Open means anyone can join the conversation or scene.  CLOSED means that player does not want the scene interrupted by other players.
  • Players are responsible for not creating Paradoxes. Players are allowed to create multiple scenes for their characters at different times of the day or week simultaneously.  It is the players responsibility of they choose to do this to not create paradoxes by playing multiple scenes that occur at the same time.

Thank you Faustus and Broken Bonds for letting me pilfer much of their rules.










Brief Timeline

1823 – Aether refinement in China used mostly in religious practices and magical rituals.

1837 – Aether discovered in England, ushering in a technological revolution for the British Empire.

1840 – Refinement of Aether in England and the steam era explodes.  Airships invented in China and England. California Annexed

1849 - Aether rich coal and gold deposits found at Sutter Mill and the Aether rush is on in California.

1861 – Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States. American Civil War starts

1863 - England attacks during the middle of the Civil War pushing the North farther and farther west keeping the south pinned into Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. 

1865 – Abraham Lincoln survives a British assassination attempt and remains for a second term by an act of the remaining congress.

1866 – The remnants of the North moves its capital to Nevada as it continues to get pushed West by the British War Machine slowly losing ground to the technologically advanced forces. California succeeds from the Union.

1865 - Empress Dowager Cixi of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, after continued defeats to the Taiping Army’s appoints a Han General Zeng Guofan fighting back the rebellion only to have the General stage his own coup with the assistance of England.  Empress Dowager Cixi and the Manchu nobility along with the remaining military and supporters unable to defeat the combined might of the Han and British forces depart China for the West.

1865-1867 - Caught between the Superior equipped British Army and the quickly approaching Chinese exiles, the Empress Dowager Cixi and President Lincoln negotiated a truce between their forces or face mutual destruction fighting a war on multiple fronts.  The Manchu nobility settle in San Francisco and the city is divided between the two powers.  The Manchurian scholars assisted General Ulysses S. Grant in the use of the Manchu war machines to great effect.  The intellectuals of the North, given access to the advanced Aether-steam technology, began a new wave of steam inventions.  The Chinese population gains their own representation in congress which is surprisingly large do to the influx of Chinese.

1867 – General Grant killed at the Battle of Denver.

1868 - Germany attacks British territories in Europe while American and Chinese forces stall British forces in the Midwest.  Racial tensions remain high in San Francisco as many are displaced by the Manchurians and the Chinese that flock to their banners. 

1869 - The North continues to have significant influence on San Francisco as they are still the majority of the population.  The Empress however has family members in all aspects of the city government including a spot on the Council of Seven (the governing body of San Francisco).  She is not a foolish woman however and has done much to keep the status quo outside of the Manchurian district, known to westerners as Chinatown.

1869 (April) – The big Quake of 1869 destroys large sections of San Francisco killing thousands including one of the Council of Seven (the ruling body of San Francisco).

1869 (August) - 1870 – Gang violence erupts in the aftermath of the quake as some gangs and/or their territory have been wiped out.  The power void has yet to settle and many violence is not uncommon in any portion of the city not occupied by the ultra-rich.

1869 (October) – For the first time in San Francisco history the City Council and popular vote hold sway in determining a member of the Council of Seven.  Yuri Kozlovsky is offered a seat on the council after his humanitarian and rebuilding efforts force the Council’s hand.  Rumors swirl about back alley deals, blackmail and extortion, but nothing has been proven.

1869 (December)  - 1870 – Piracy is at an all-time high as treaties between the local pirates and San Francisco are ignored and the cities vital aether rock supplies are being targeted along with trade vessels heading to and from the trade city.

1870 (February) – Restart of game.  Amid the gang violence, pirate attacks and political instability rumors of supernatural and ghostly activity are on the rise. 




"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash


EARTHQUAKE!

June, 1869

On the morning of April 18, 1869, a massive earthquake shook San Francisco, California. Though the quake lasted less than a minute, its immediate impact was disastrous. The earthquake also ignited several fires around the city that burned for three days and destroyed nearly 500 city blocks.

Despite a quick response from San Francisco's large military population, the city was devastated. The earthquake and fires killed an estimated 3,000 people and left half of the city's 400,000 residents homeless. Council of Seven member Mark Hopkins disappeared during the Earthquake and has been presumed dead.  The remaining Council of Seven has been offered from around the world, but San Francisco has been slow to accept it and those who survived face weeks or even months of difficulty and hardship.

The survivors sleep in tents in city parks and the Presidio, stand in long lines for food, and are being required to do their cooking in the street to minimize the threat of additional fires. The San Francisco earthquake is considered one of the worst natural disasters in North American history.

The Council of Seven has responded to the disaster in several ways. They have enacted emergency appropriations from the city coffers to pay for food, water, tents, blankets, and medical supplies in the weeks following the earthquake and fire. They have also appropriated funds to reconstruct many of the public buildings that were damaged or destroyed.  Complaints have been coming in that the aid has been focused on assets valuable to the Council of Seven and the poorer areas of the city have been neglected to the point of rioting. China Town somehow managed to escape the worst of the earthquake damage, though the “Great Wall” was not able to hold out all of the fires.  The Dowager Empress has been quick to offer aid to the rest of the city.

The North has offered token aid to San Francisco and has instead been pouring money into repairing the damage suffered by its cross bay rival and Northern Port, Oakland.  The South has been quick to fill the void in aid offered as has the British Crown, but the Council of Seven appeared weary of indebting themselves to anyone even if it comes at the cost of its populace.





August, 1869

One Man Dead, Another Dying, Several lnjured—-Many Arrests, but Witnesses Are Afraid to Talk.

“Shamrock" Shane O’Connell and his gang broke their own bloody record for revolver fight early yesterday when they spread terror through that part of the east side governed from the Hill Street and 20th Street Police Stations. One man was killed another is likely to die, and at least three, probably many more are nursing more or less serious bullet wounds in the privacy of their ‘own homes. “Shamrock" himself was arrested, but subsequently discharged by Coroner Scholer.

The shooting began at 9:30 o'clock in the Evening in The Jade Buddha saloon, at the northwest corner of Sanchez and Liberty Street, but the furious fusillade in which it ended did not occur till about 2 o'clock in the morning at Valencia and 23rd Streets.

“They shot up the town," said one of Inspector Sakamoto’s detectives working on the case last night, but neither she nor any others assigned could find any persons along the line of the fighting who would admit to having seen the fray, although many buildings bore bullet marks or had broken windows by the stray missiles. "Shamrock" and three of his alleged henchmen and their wives were locked up in the Hill Street Station, and several others were taken at the time of the fight were sent to the House of Detention as witnesses.

The man killed, Wu Chan, twenty-seven years old, a stevedore, was shot in the mouth and died in San Francisco General an hour later from hemorrhage and strangulation. John Smith or Bao Yung, which he later said was his real name, 33 years old, a driver was shot in the stomach and left arm in the final engagement, and was taken to St. Mary’s  Hospital, where he has but the faintest chance of life. Jin Peng, twenty-five years old, a laborer, was shot, not dangerously in the left cheek.

Prisoners taken were Tommy Campbell, twenty-six years old, a factory worker; Jacob Caffey, twenty-two years old; Patrick “Lolly” Meyers, twenty-seven years old. These men were all caught at the house in Douglass Street house with “Shamrock" O’Connell. Late last evening the police raided the same premises, and brought in Michael O’Connell, nineteen years old; Agnes Caffey, twenty-two years old; Maggie O’Connell, “Shamrock’s" wife, twenty four years old; Emma Meyers, twenty-seven years old and Rosa Campbell, twenty-seven years old and Charlotte O’Shae, twenty-four years old of the same address. “Lolly” Meyers was identified by Peng as the man who had shot him. The only pistol recovered, however, was one found upon Campbell, or Caffey. It was empty, its chambers were still warm. A big knife, it was taken from him as well. One night two years ago, when the police cornered and arrested “Shamrock" and twenty-five of his men, no weapon was found until they opened a cold stove. There they found a revolver for each man and one to spare.

Inspector Sakamoto said last night that she believed that O’Connell’s followers had spent Tuesday visiting a number of bars, and that the shooting was about turf. “Shamrock” and his friends had been missed from their customary haunts all day until about 9 o‘clock, when about three dozen of them alighted from a Street car and went to The Jade Buddha saloon and started to fight with about eight men standing at the bar. After this fracas they went through to Valencia.

At 1:45 o'clock Detectives Breuck: and McCoy of the Hill Street Station heard sustained firing and ran down Hill to 23rd Street. According to their story, about fifty men were engaged and revolvers were firing on all corners. Breuck says that he grabbed Campbell or Meyers as he was firing into the crowd, and that McCoy drew his pistol and fired two shots in the air. Breuck says he disarmed the man and held him, with bullets flying all about, while McCoy ran to the station house for the reserves who came down the street on the run under the command of Inspector Sakamoto at the sight of the Inspector the rioters fled, and to get the men arrested Sakamoto broke down the door of the Douglass Street house, where they had taken shelter while the rest of the fighters disappeared like rats into hallways and doorways of saloons and Raines law hotels.

As usual, Eastman had lawyers ready to defend him. Henry J. Goldsmith of Sullivan, Goldsmith and Engel appeared before Justice Clarke in the Supreme Court early in the day and obtained a writ of habeas corpus returnable at 10:30 o'clock this morning in the cases of himself and the men taken with him. Coroner Scholer released only O’Connell and his wife. The other prisoners are being held for further examination today.

It looked last night as though an additional charge of highway robbery would he made against certain of the prisoners. Antonio Illanno reported that between the first and final shooting he had been set upon by a gang, who had compelled him to give them $47, holding a revolver to his head. His description of his assailants tallied with that of members of the fighting party, and he positively identified Meyers as the man who held the pistol.

Inspector Sakamoto said that it had been impossible to break up the gang because complainants cannot be secured against them.

"We have arrest them time and time again, but the Magistrates let them go," she said.

Gang violence has escalated since the Quake and its aftermath.  Turf wars have broken out across the city as old gangs try to recover and new ones try to fill the void left by those destroyed in the Quake.





October, 1869

San Francisco Rebuilds!

In the Aftermath of the earthquake that shook the great city of San Francisco, efforts to repair and rebuild the city have been underway. Most of the debris that littered the sheets has been cleared away and construction on my apartments took priority. Construction teams worked round the clock to get the structures standing and people back into homes.

The constant supply of work has helped bring the city together, those still without homes building tented communities near the work sites. Parks and streets still closed off for driving regular supplies of food and water and medical supplies to those still needed to get back on their feet. But as the apartments go up, so do local businesses, old and new opening to cash in on the influx of paid workers rebuilding the city.

Benefactors from all over have assist in the needs of the town, but the general populace credits one man in particular for his supreme generosity. Judge Yuri Kozlovsky has contributed time and money into helping get San Francisco back up on its feet. The judge has been seen lending a hand in the communities, passing out blankets and helping pitch up tents, as well has generously opened his checkbook to the city.

Kozlovsky’s effort gained him support of the public, their voice carrying out for someone to fill the empty Council seat that has the interest of the people in mind. With the disappearance and death of Councilman Mark Hopkins, the governing council has announced the seat to be filled by the Judge, himself. Kozlovsky’s, in a statement to the press, claims to be honored by the faith of the people and to continue to work towards fulfilling their needs. 

As the efforts continue, the citizens of San Francisco take comfort in seeing some symbolance of normalcy returned to the fine City by the Bay.





December, 1869

Pirates, Pirates, Pirates!

Despite the restorations San Francisco as made, one thing has yet to return to it’s standards before the earthquake: the Pirates in the San Francisco Bay. Before the catastrophes in April, the standing agreement with the scurvy dogs that traffic the skies was simple, they didn’t raid the supply ships of the city and the city let them be. Companies had to ensure their own goods’ safety through private securities.

Since the earthquake, though, less and less private ships have been venturing into the Bay and the pirates have turned their eyes onto the cargo flyers bring in the goods meant for the homeless citizens of San Francisco. In the early days, a lot of supplies were lost to the pirate attacks, but now, security measures are taken. Since few private and commercial flights are only beginning to start traveling back into the bay, the attacks still occur.

Some pirates have even taking up attacking their fellow pirates in some bizarre, but rather fanciful aerial combat, if this reporter’s opinion means anything. While they fight for supremacy in the skies, us lowly land dwellers can only watch in awe at the lengths of backstabbery these gents will get up to. While authorities say the matters are out of their hands, it’s likely the city could see some sort of law enforcement established to patrol the skies if the pirates continue to disregard the original agreement San Francisco established with them years past.





February, 1870

Missing persons alert!

As the city works towards restoring its economy and previous glory, the citizens of San Francisco have other fears outside the still looming gang violence and random acts of piracy. The still homeless members of the Bay community begin to dwindle in number. Normally, this account would be seen as a positive one, people are finding their place in society once more, getting jobs and earning wages to bring food to the tables of their newly built homes. The percentages of occupied residences according to the latest polls, however, tell a different story.

Apartment managers are claiming to maintain about a seventy percent occupancy rate in their low budget suites. Yet, the number of people seen living on the streets as reduced. Where are they going?

According to some rumors, the homeless are being plucked from the streets, taken away in street cars, which vanish in the Ghost Town district. No one ever sees these individuals again. One dock worker confided anonymously with the Examiner they have seen on a handful of occasions people struggling in the night, but when they go to investigate, it’s as if they vanished into thin air. No signs of a struggle or anyone else on the docks.

Police, having their hands full still trying to wrangle in the gang violence, say due to no crime being reported, no investigation has taken place. No missing persons files have been opened for these few who seem to simply disappear. Is it because no one misses them? Or maybe they haven’t gone anywhere? The mystery is whispered through the streets as the number of homeless in San Francisco decreases.





April, 1870

More sightings in “Ghost Town.”
It seems like spiritual activity is only increasing in “Ghost Town.”  We have been inundated with sightings.  “Ghost Town” remains devastated by last year’s earthquake and fires.  The people forced to eke out an existence there are now being driven out to other areas by ghostly sightings.  We have recently begun hearing about strange disappearances as well, but the current lack of police presence in “Ghost Town” makes confirmation of these disappearances difficult.  The sole active Police Station has not release an official statement and continues to deny any supernatural presence.

Another Death at the Pier
Receiving much more police response than “Ghost Town,” the bodies continue to mount along the docks.  The latest body was found yesterday at Pier 18.  Like the rest it was mutilated beyond the ability of the police to identify and had been drained of blood.  The police continue to refuse the assistance of the renowned spiritualist and investigator Charles Cartwright who believes that these murders are not the work of a man, but a creature from the deep.

Ghost Ship Sighting
Another week and another sighting of a phantom airship off the coast of San Francisco.  This time it was a Bishop Conglomerate freighter that spotted the phantom ship apparently adrift on air currents.  They made an attempt at contacting the ship but lost it in a sudden fog bank just south of the city.  This is the fourth sighting of the ghost ship, but to date none have managed to hale the craft.



"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash


"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

orderNchaos

Looking forward to getting back into the flow of the game. 

Crash

We have players looking for people to interact with.  If you are interested in steampunk we still have no mad scientists and other popular archetypes of the genre in the game at the moment. 

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash


"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Kuroneko

Ons & Offs//Requests//Where is the Black Cat?
Current Posting Time - Once a Week or More

"One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art" ~ Oscar Wilde
"I dream of painting and then I paint my dream" ~ Vincent Van Gogh

Crash

It is a really good time to join with the time jump.  We have a airship looking for people.  We have ghostly sightings in a crumbling section of the city. Political intrigue, a killer stalking the city...some cool stuff starting if we can get some more people.

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash

Let me see if I can dig one up.  I used to have one, but so many of the images were unknown models it was hard to keep track off.  Any of the models in the inactive thread are up for grabs.

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash

These are the known models that we have.  We have a number of unknown models as well though, so I would recommend looking at the accepted character thread too just in case.

Face Claims

Female
Marlena Dietrich
Katarina Sokolova
Elisanth
Megan Fox
Catherine Zeta Jones
Penelope Cruz
Kato
Keira Knightly

Male
Jude Law
Robert Downey Jr.
Marc Snerheb
Steve McQueen
Orlando Bloom
David Gandy
Patrick Petitjean

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

King Serperior

Gah!

Airships and Steampunk?  Two things I have always wanted to try in a game!  I don't know if I have the time or space to join, but I have an idea for a character.  Whether I will be able to play, I don't know.....

Still, I have the character concept of a playboy-type along the lines of Tony Stark (minus the Iron Man aspect and keeping the cocky, rich guy aspects) who has an automaton butler/bodyguard that follows him around.

O/O's
A/A'sMonster Girl Palace
SFW Image Ideas for Scifi, Fantasy, Horror, and Steampunk Games! | My various characters, if you are curious! | I am a Rainbow Writer!
Post Rate: 1 post per game every 1-4 weeks on average  ||| I encourage any and all random PMs.

Crash

Quote from: King Serperior on October 20, 2015, 11:14:51 AM
Gah!

Airships and Steampunk?  Two things I have always wanted to try in a game!  I don't know if I have the time or space to join, but I have an idea for a character.  Whether I will be able to play, I don't know.....

Still, I have the character concept of a playboy-type along the lines of Tony Stark (minus the Iron Man aspect and keeping the cocky, rich guy aspects) who has an automaton butler/bodyguard that follows him around.

Versailles had been looking for a rich type to play off of.  If you join you may want to contact her for potential scenes.

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

King Serperior

I'll keep that in mind should I find the time to add another game.  It's unlikely I will, but it is something I'll keep track of.

O/O's
A/A'sMonster Girl Palace
SFW Image Ideas for Scifi, Fantasy, Horror, and Steampunk Games! | My various characters, if you are curious! | I am a Rainbow Writer!
Post Rate: 1 post per game every 1-4 weeks on average  ||| I encourage any and all random PMs.

Madame Professor

I do hope things work in our favor so you can join, KS! We have great group that keeps growing everyday! we can always use one more awesome writer. ;)
The Professor's Research Notes (O/O)  Locked away in the Laboratory (A/A) 
Not currently available for new roleplays
Procaffeinating: (verb) The tendency to not start anything until you've had a cup of coffee.
Perkatory: (noun) The anguished, prolonged period spent waiting for a fresh pot of coffee to be ready.

King Serperior

Well, I can't say no to that, haha.  :P

What's the normal posting rate?  How common are automatons?  Are they rare?  Or very common?  How smart are they?

O/O's
A/A'sMonster Girl Palace
SFW Image Ideas for Scifi, Fantasy, Horror, and Steampunk Games! | My various characters, if you are curious! | I am a Rainbow Writer!
Post Rate: 1 post per game every 1-4 weeks on average  ||| I encourage any and all random PMs.

Crash

Quote from: King Serperior on October 20, 2015, 08:20:22 PM
Well, I can't say no to that, haha.  :P

What's the normal posting rate?  How common are automatons?  Are they rare?  Or very common?  How smart are they?

I can post about once a week, but if people need longer I generally don't mind.

Clockwork Automaton's are certainly around.  One of the NPC's has one made for mining.  They generally are not very intelligent, but that doesn't mean that there cannot be exceptions. Aether is a strange thing and there are certainly rumors of intelligent automatons.

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash


"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

la dame en noir

Games(Group & 1x1): 7 | Post Rate: 1 - 6 days | Availability: Actively looking!
A&A | FxF |
O/Os | FxF Writers Directory

Madame Professor

It has never closed! We did a time jump and added a lot of plot hooks for all types of characters. :D
The Professor's Research Notes (O/O)  Locked away in the Laboratory (A/A) 
Not currently available for new roleplays
Procaffeinating: (verb) The tendency to not start anything until you've had a cup of coffee.
Perkatory: (noun) The anguished, prolonged period spent waiting for a fresh pot of coffee to be ready.

Crash

We are just low on characters right now and have some people waiting to post with others so we wanted to get some new players in.  It is a great time to jump in and not have to worry about old plots and feeling lost.

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

la dame en noir

Games(Group & 1x1): 7 | Post Rate: 1 - 6 days | Availability: Actively looking!
A&A | FxF |
O/Os | FxF Writers Directory

Crash


"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Mister Ugly

Got a question for you Crash. Is California now part of the Union? Reason I asked I have an idea for a US Marshall.

>Ugly
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits"
Albert Einstein

What makes the ugly feel pretty ...

Crash

San Francisco is a Free City.  It belongs to no one.  The Union is the closest Nation to it owning much of California.  It would not be unusual for a US Marshall to be working in San Fran.  They would just have to work carefully as they have no jurisdiction there.  Which is why many a wanted individual tries to escape to San Fran.

"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious

Crash


"Sorry, you must survive at least 3 games with me before we can chat like this."
Congratulations, you've unlocked Flirtatious Crash! - Envious