"STEAM LONDON" Out-of-character Thread

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     I'm a sucker for those old movie pie fights-it's too bad there are no whipped cream pies in the Boheme's galley.  (I know, it would really be way too silly to do that).

     Vienna

[bluestocking]

     Dear bluestocking,

     I got a good laugh out of your last post.  My character got named "Lilli" because I had watched "Blazing Saddles" the previous night with Madelaine Kahn playing "Lilli von Shtupp".  Your comment that Lilli might have the intruders singing Edelweiss over schnapps and cocoa reminded me of a later scene in the movie where "Lilli" has a group of German soldiers singing around a campfire.

     Vienna

Dear Vienna,

We appear to be on the same wavelength, as that scene was affixed firmly in my mind as I wrote that line!

I would actually be very surprised if Lilli (being Austrian, after all) had not stealthily stocked the galley with whipped cream - isn't it something of a necessity for Viennese coffee? (and strudel, and kirschtorte, and....) Why not a bit of silliness? We can't write serious, dramatic, world-shaking prose all the time.

bluestocking

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Dear bluestocking,

     Lilli owes her curves to Viennese cuisine...there might be something stowed in there if I feel like being silly.  It would be Sachertorte, though...SchwartwalderKirsheTorte is from the Black Forest.  (I've had the real thing in the Black Forest and it was oh so good!).

     Vienna

[bluestocking]

Dear Vienna,

Forgive my Teutonic cuisine confusion! It's been nearly a decade since I was in Austria.

Bluestocking

[bluestocking]

It occurs to me that a diagram of the Boheme's layout might be terribly helpful right about now. Where is the galley in relation to the bridge in relation to the engine room? How are the passenger cabins laid out? Is there a large, open lounge? What about a cargo bay? Is the ship all one level, or two?

[Stella Gaslight]

I was wondering about that myself.  I have a few posts saved for general layout but I don't think parts of it have been set yet.  Maybe we could look back on what has already been posted and work from there?  I think there has to be two levels because some of the guns are in the belly of the ship but I could be wrong.

[bluestocking]

Having done some research on rigid-frame airships, I've got some ideas. Unfortunately, I won't be able to post a sketch until tomorrow at the earliest.

Quick answer: yes, there are two levels. The bridge and maybe a few other things (perhaps the galley?) are in the gondola, while the cabins, cargo storage, and engines are within the frame of the craft itself.

[HAC]

Just a quick FYI.. might be absent for a day or so, back from my annual physical and am changing/adjusting some medications, notably
those for blood pressure (off ramipril and on  to avapro, the intent being to stave off potential kidney problems (I'm insulin dependant diabetic) for as many years as we can). Dr. says best to simply relax, take it easy for a day or two, and monitor BP and blood sugars closely.. I'll gte caught up in a day or so...

Cheers
Harold

[Stella Gaslight]

A sketch would be really helpful. If I had drawing skills that surpassed a first grader I would try making one my self.

Take care of yourself Harold. I will be waiting eagerly to see what you throw at us when you come back.

[HAC]

Thanks... Gives me time to think up various nasty and devious stuff...
Hardest part about taking it easy on the couch, is ending up covered in cats...

Cheers
Harold

Edit...
  I did find this diagram of the gondola layout of the Graf Zeppelin.. Perhaps this would work as a model for the Boheme upper deck, with a lower deck for crew spaces, engineering and cargo holds? I suppose it could be used as a base, and made larger as needed in terms of rooms, adding weaponry platforms etc. to the outside?

[Vienna Fahrmann]

    Dear Harold,

     I wish you the best of luck in staving off kidney problems.  Having them myself, I know they can be painful.

     Dear bluestocking,

     I managed to work both a "pastry in the face" and "frying pan bang on the head" into the galley battle. (chuckle).

     Vienna

[bluestocking]

Dear Harold,

Thank you greatly for the diagram! That will indeed make my task much easier. As the Boheme is 300' to the Graf's 770'-so, I'm guessing that there will be fewer cabins, etc. Instead of a lower deck, I think more space might be located inside the frame of the ship itself, with a companionway or spiral staircase connecting the two levels.

Best of luck with the doctors!

Dear Vienna and Stella,

Masterfully done!

Bluestocking

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Dear bluestocking,

     Thanks, it was fun!

     Vienna

[Ben Hudson, Esq.]

I'm in the process of making a model of the Boheme, which should give you a vague idea of its layout. Basically, it has a fairly small external gondola in a sort of wedge shape, the bridge being at the front with a very large window. The way I see it, the lounge and galley is a little bit back and up, with assorted store rooms and so on on that level, with the cargo bay and 'engine' room in the middle. Quotes on the 'engine' because the engines are anachronistic RR Condors which are just normal external aeroengines. I presume the engine room would be for fuel tanks and other workings for heating, weapons etc. There is then a higher level, accessible by stairs, where the cabins are. Above that are the gasbags, which have gantries between and within them (they are a sort of extended torus to allow runs along the middle). Ballonets are fore and aft in the points. As for internal structure, I had a sort of half-rib idea. The usual zep ribs run from the bottom to about three-quarters of the way up, with a metal mesh between them for strength.
Here's the model, first just for effect and then from the side with hastily-drawn annotations. Hope this helps. I'll make something better soon.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Edit: It's all terribly out of proportion, by the way. Gasbags would be far bigger.

[bluestocking]

I did a (rather poor and hastily done) plan, which shared many similarities but had some significant differences.

I like your layout better, Mr. Hudson - and she's your ship! You have the final word on her design.

The one modification I might make would be to move the galley to the gondola, aft of the staircase. Wouldn't want an accidental cooking fire inside the envelope, after all.

[Ben Hudson, Esq.]

Very true Consider the amendment done. I wasn't too sure about where to put it, not being a sea-faring man myself.

My, this piratical stuff is fun.

[Ben Hudson, Esq.]

Doctor Trakov, your post seems fine to me I think the only real rule around here is 'don't kill people / chop off their goolies / make them into zombies etc., without their permission'. Your character seems interesting
Edit: And of course, remember that should you really put your foot in it, you can just edit your post! Here is a rough summary of the Bohème's voyage so far:
I drifted into London with the Bohème, having nothing to do and looking for adventure and employment. After a brief stay in the local pub I gathered a small crew. We were contacted by the enigmatic and dangerous Hiram, who sent us on an errand - to pick up a small parcel from a shady associate in China. In return, he promised us a Maxwell's Demon Program for an analytical engine, which would allow us to create a contraption of huge efficiency. We went to Gibraltar and then onto Cairo, taking an indirect route to avoid the Russians! Along the way, there were various events and side stories, including a few new crew members. Hope that makes sense

Miss Bluestocking, may I ask if you have any medical experience in the real world? I have been rather fascinated by various little details of that sort in your post, which show either impressive research or a background in that sector. And as a bonus, you made me look up haemostat. Expanding one's vocabulary is a joy indeed!
On a totally unrelated note, I see that you are from Hudson Valley

[bluestocking]

Dear Mr. Hudson,

I have no formal medical experience, but have picked up a great deal of informal and casual information... I learned a surprising amount about anatomy while getting my M.A. in fashion studies; picked up suturing techniques (and a few pairs of hemostats - they're truly useful little devices) from my husband, whose background includes military service of an unspecified nature and a stint working for a doctor who sold medical tools repurposed as fly-fishing equipment; discovered a surprising trove of 18th-century medical ephemera in novels written by Diana Gabaldon; and the rest, I suppose, I shall attribute to 'random readings.'

Bluestocking

P.S. I just realized that most of the contributors to this thread aren't from the northeastern U.S. The Hudson River is a 300-plus mile river that runs through New York State; its mouth forms part of New York's harbor. It is named for explorer Henry Hudson, who first sailed up it in 1609. I live in the Hudson River Valley, about 90 miles north of NYC... and yes, Mr. Hudson, I noticed the coincidence, and was amused myself

[Ben Hudson, Esq.]

Aha, I see I had often wondered if the river and the bay were named after the same person, but been too lazy to look. So now I know It's entirely plausible that he and I are related, though it is not an uncommon name and I've never researched it.

[Doctor Trakov]

Can anyone help explain the game a little more for me, I'm afraid I've gotten rather confused.

[Ben Hudson, Esq.]

The concept of the game, or the Story So Far?

[Doctor Trakov]

Both, sort of.
Even for me, 18 pages of forum is a lot to read through, and at points the storyline is quite convoluted.

[Ben Hudson, Esq.]

It is indeed. I'm a little busy at the moment, but I'll give you a run through as best I can tomorrow if no-one else volunteers in the meantime.

[Stella Gaslight]

I hope I have all the information now but I will admit their are some part I just didn't understand.

Bracer roams the roofs of London while Demetri Rousselle gets very lost and falls a sleep on a bench.  Horatio runs from a fire and tries to wake Demetri but it doesn't work.  Ajax Callaghan fresh from a bad business meeting demands to know what caused the blaze.  Hiram plays cards and sets up a meeting with Chen-yu. 

Geirulf spears apples and Van Ottens watches the fire from above. Demetri wakes shakily as Ajax desides to enter the fire and Scott Coolige tries to drunkenly investigate.  Horatio and Demetri try to stop him as Ajax rushes in to the the blaze. Hiram sends the fire brigade and the local boss is replaced. 

Ajax grabs his dead partners love notes to his sweetheart in Liverpool and tools.  He makes it out and collapses.  Hiram and Chen Yu make a deal for influence and power. Ajax is revived by the power of whiskey and they deside to go to a bar.  Horatio leads them to Bucer's Quill.  Hiram's boys ham fisted-ly try to find out what caused the fire and almost cause a riot in the bar but after some tenseness they back off. 

Horatio is on a mission to find a certain text. He mentions Moriarty and gets a lesson in how London really works. A Member of Parliament is found dead.  Wyatt tries to stir up a revolution. Ajax and Demitri leave to go get what Ajax saved from the fire. Scotland Yard performs an autopsy.   Hiram goes for a walk and kills a hired killer.

Horatio says he is looking for a study of true resurrection undertaken some 2000 years before Christ achieved the same feat.  Two time travelers argue and time goes funny for a bit(I think).  Demetri knows of Horatio's book and it may be in his own university. Horatio, Scott and Demetri are thrown out of the bar by it's fearful owner. Russians were behind the hired killer and they are old foes of Hiram's.  Horatio decides to go to the university for himself. Edward the manager of Bucer's Quill and Demetri fight.  Agrippa looks for his lost student and  Demetri and Scott go to find Horatio. 

Underwood looks for work.  Von Watt chases some one and causes time hiccups. Demetri is suddenly home later he sends out a interesting extract from a diary. 
 

Ok as Ben said we started off in London with the Bohème, having nothing to do and looking for adventure and employment.   After a brief stay in the local pub he gathered a small crew. Consisting of Leonard Fulmineus an accomplished inventor on the run from an evil brother, Jessica Butcher a conspiracy theorist and very good pilot and Mr. Oliver Newton-Chance a rather tall albino who has a miniature analytical engine that can connect to the global aetheric web.

They were were contacted by the enigmatic and dangerous Hiram, who sent us on an errand - to pick up a small parcel from a shady associate in China. In return, he promised us a Maxwell's Demon Program for an analytical engine, which would allow us to create a contraption of huge efficiency.  While they were deciding weather or not to take on the job a large, darkly clad man with a muffler wound over the lower half of his face dropped off an unconscious redhead and insisted she go with them.

The route was planed with five stops in Gibraltar, Cairo, Kabul, Lucknow and Mandalay before reaching our goal in Shenjing but before they could get out of dock they were fired on by Russians. Apparently they don't like us working for Hiram.  Lilli woke up and gave security hell while Leonard was frustrated by the sudden additional armerments taking up space. Lucky the damage was repaired quickly and soon the Bohème was in the air and on its way to Gibraltar.

In Gibraltar we picked up Dr. Lakshmi Marleybone-Smythe who needed to go to Calcutta.  The captain got a really neat weapon from Hiram, Lilli went shopping and Miss Butcher got zapped in the middle of the night.  Lilli, Oliver and Leonard subdued the miscreant that attacked Miss Butcher. He turned out to be Russian but vanished when they tried to get information out of him.

In the air over North Africa Lakshmi figured out what Lilli was drugged when she came aboard and found something odd about the hair the Russian had left behind.  They landed in Cairo Aeroport, dealt with a very scary lift and spread out in to the city. 

Oliver and Lilli went to the newsstand. Lilli found out some distressing news from home. While she was taking about going to Austrian consulate they were druged and taken away to the private museum of Dr. Habib.  At the museum they were questioned about the Orb of Nuut, The Obelisk of the Portal and the Casket of Opening of witch they know nothing. With some very quick thinking Oliver with the help of one of Hiram's local agents known has Mr. Umbrella and Henri Rousselle they manage to escape.

Lakshmi goes to do some shopping in the souk and gets tackled by the tiny inventor Emmaline Lighton and her invisable partner Professor George Lewistine.  Emma and George are on the run from a Capitan Hieronymus of the Eastern Star who wanted to do dastardly things with their technology.  Lakshmi kos the man that was following them and gets their whole unbelievable story.  She learns that George was disembodied forced in to the realm of aether in a lab accident and he and Emma have formed a kind of symbiotic relationship. Lilli and the others show up and tell of their adventures.  George knows about Orb of Nuut to the surprise of everyone but him. When the rest of the crew leaves Emma goes with them back to the ship while Lakshmi goes to meet the captain.

Back in London a vampire named Underwood is given the task of steeling the Black Prince's ruby from the State crown in the Tower of London the by Lamont a Changeling in the service of Hiram.

Captian Hudson is led on wild goose chase and then goes to meet Lakshmi for tea.  The Dr. revels Lilli's connection to the Thugee cult and that the hair from the Russian miscreant was artificial.  With more questions than anwcers they head back to the ship to find Oliver burned by a spontaneously combusting hair and Emma, Mr. Umbrella and Henri Rousselle all on board.

Capitan Hudson explains they are running behind and will have to miss out on stopping in Lucknow and Mandalay.  Emma and Mr. Rousselle join the crew, Mr. Umbrella bullies Lilli around then leaves and her father is reviled to be one of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's top intelligence officials.   Lakshmi sets up courier and reminds the captain that they are headed for the tallest, wildest and most pirate-infested mountains in the world.  Emma plans engine upgrades and swaps cabins with Lilli who was upset at Mr. Umbrella.  Lakshmi has lots of pretty guns, is aristocrat and may be able to call in a favor from some one named Rahmat Saleh.

George makes a connection between the flaming hair and warehouse arson,  Lilli makes shopping lists and Miss Butcher is sure a vast conspiracy is behind it.   Emma brings the captain a dead bird with a note, George says something stupid and Mr. Umbrella reappears and is yelled at.  Lilli helps a crying Emma and Miss Butcher reveals a pirate attack.  We all have fun repelling borders and Leonard is shot but Lakshmi patches him up.  Cairo goes to pirate-ey hell around us and we look for a way out.

I think that is every thing but I could be wrong.

[bluestocking]

Wasn't there also a London contingent, who were dealing with the mysterious fires and some arcane texts, or have they ceased playing?