Here is a generator of random excuses for all Guildmembers. For when you are too 'tied up' to think of an excuse. Or you just don't have time to make one up.
CUBINOID'S RANDOM STEAMPUNK EXCUSE GENERATOR.
Instructions: Generate a thee digit number. (If you are too busy to dream one up, click here to generate one automagically:
http://numbergenerator.org/random-3-digit-number-generator)
The first number gives you the first part of the excuse, the middle number, the middle part of the excuse and the...(REMINDER TO SELF - FINISH WRITING THIS BIT LATER).
FIRST NUMBER =
1= I'm terribly sorry, but
2= I would have finished that, however
3= I'd have liked to get that done, but
4= The thing is
5= I'm not being awkward in any way, but
6= Ah yes, that was on my to do list, yet
7= Glad you mentioned it - Tricky one, this - what happened was
8= Funny thing: just as I was about to do that,
9= I was about to complete it when
SECOND NUMBER =
1=a passing Kraken ate my all my work, so
2=my boiler exploded, and
3=a dirigible crashed on top of me (again - typical!), so you see,
4=due to an intimate disaster involving a glue gun and some small brass cogs,
5=an unexpected Martian cylinder crashed through my window, and
6=Morlocks attacked, dragged me underground and held me captive - I've only just managed to escape, and
7=my bustle spontaneously caught fire, so
8=my Penny-Farthing got a puncture: so
9=my airship got entangled with one of those new fangled Electric pylons, so
THIRD NUMBER =
1=I'd like to respectfully request a new deadline.
2=a need to reschedule this has therefore arisen.
3=if we'd like to maintain the quality, we might need to shift the deadline a bit.
4=I think it may be best to push things back a little.
5=can we discuss how to move this forward over a cup of tea?
6=in order to meet the deadline, I'd like to suggest the idea of actually altering it.
7=much as I realise the proposed schedule might have been nice to stick to, I think it is now time we wake up to reality.
8=we might need more time on this.
9=it ain't gonna be done when you need it. Sorry.