"STEAM LONDON" Game Thread

[MWBailey]

"What's all that bangin' on the hold door?" Dreyfuss called from the ramp into the hold."Somebody posting bills on the ship? I'll post a few with the boat gun if needed."

"I'm thinking whatever we're planning to do, we ought to do something, even if it's wrong; the longer we stand around here, the more likely we'll be to meet up with a police patrol, I would think." Dreyfuss said, wishing to be off, if only in order to be a moving target instead of a standing one. "Who is it, George?"

[Stella Gaslight]

"Some lad looking for transport, Don't think he could have picked a worse ship for a pleasure ride."  George laughed, the young man had no idea what ship he had just hailed.  "Well we could always use a few more hands but you picked one of the most dangerous ships in the sky at the moment."  Rowland backed up.  "Not danger from us but danger hunting after us.  Did your insignia pin flash about two days ago?"   Rowland nodded wondering how this ghostly man knew about that.  "Well this ship is the reason for the call to arms. We are going to war against horrific creatures from beyond the stars and worse."  George opened the heavy metal hatch.  "Welcome to the APF Boheme if you are crazy enough to toss your lot on with ours."

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland gulped and raised an eyebrow. How did this man know about his pin? About how he had come to the dock looking for the ship. Well, it seemed he found the right ship, but if it was the safest, well, the man deemed the danger was real. He knew if he took one more step, he would be taking it into a bigger world.

He placed his foot down beyond the door. Wasn't so bad. He creaked silently across the floor and looked around. He assumed he was in another hallway that led into the galley. He glanced around, and wasn't sure where to head next. Rowland hoped the grizzly man that talked to him through the porthole would come down and lead him to where he should wait.

"I wonder if the captain is about, perhaps introduce myself." He said this more to himself then to anyone in particular. He gripped his briefcase a bit tighter and began nervously looking around again.

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss looked at the young fellow in the doorway. As I live and breathe, He looks just like Hargood! He walked over. "No offense, kid, but in or out; we're fixin' to make a foray into the city. you know your way around in there? Oh -- sorry, name's Dreyfuss. Jaisen Santiago Dreyfuss." He waited. No recognition of his face or his name registered on the young fellow's face. Heh! Finally, somebody who never heard of me! I like 'im already...".

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland frowned slightly when he heard the man's name. He had never heard of him before. He looked jolly enough.

"Yes, I have lived here for several months..but, if you don't mind me asking..why are you going to invade the city? How many of you are there? The police arn't your problem, some of the shop owners have guards, steam-driven dogs and the like."

He shook his head quickly and held out his hand. "I am Rowland..Rowland Elmstone." He shook the large man's hand firmly and set it by his side. "So, from the looks of how that man in the gasmask handled those guards then, well, jumped off the dock, I assume this ship isn't fully, well...legit? Not that I mind, or have any problem with it. Like that large man who peeked his head out said, the ship is Wanted."

He smiled again and looked around. The ship was quite wonderful on the inside.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha ran down an alley, peering out into the main street that would take him to the waterfront. To his dismay, there was what appeared to be a police blockade.

"Damn." he thought. "Well, there's got to be another way."

The most oppurtune way seemed to be a side alley that went behind the buildings, allowing him to bypass the blockade. As he went down this path, he was suddenly accosted by what looked to be a gang of thugs.

"Hey! What are you doing back here?" said the smallest with a big grin.

Elisha was getting sick of these delays. This city was far more...inconvenient that he remembered. He pulled out his rifle, leveling it at the bandits.

"Now. Let me pass."

One of the bandits looked pale. "Wait! The pictures! This is one of them! The Boheme Assassins!"

"Quick! Get him!" shouted another. Elisha readied himself. This should be no problem. To his surprise as the thugs ran towards him, one began to shout "Police! Police!"

What the hell? Since when did back alley criminals call for help from the police? He kicked out with his metal leg, knocking the bandits into each other. He then leapt for and scurried up a drain pipe, running low across the tops of the buildings. This was getting ridiculous.

[MWBailey]

"Well, what you see is about what you get. Like I said, I'm Dreyfuss," Dreyfuss said, "the golden fellow here is Professor George...Lewistine, is it?" dreyfuss asked, never having calle dteh professor by his full name before.  "this strappin' tall fellow is Mr. Abe Inksmith, that's his snake friend, Rosie; don't worry, she wont harm you unless you try to harm one of the crew...er, rest of the crew..."that's Miss Emmaline Lightol, a dab hand with inventing energy artillery, fellow next to her is Mr. Thomas William Taylor the...third, isn't it? We cal 'im Trip for short, from Ten'asee back in the US... Lady Standing there slightly behind him is Miss Eleanor Jane Townshend Armistead, Miss Armistead for short, or Ella if you or she or both prefer," Dreyfuss paused for a breath, then plunged on...

"The two lovebirds there are Miss Jennifer Sheenan and Mr. Patrick O'Landry," seeing the expression on the young man's face go white with amazement, Dreyfuss added "yes, that Patrick O'Landry..."

[Stella Gaslight]

George extended an ethereal hand. "Pleased to meet you. We aren't here to take over the city we are here to gather some help before we have to go off and face our enemy in Russia.  We are legit but as I said before we are hunted and those after us don't play fair. Last time we were here my dear Emma was thrown in jail for my murder. Charges I am sure you can see are false.  I don't know what they were trying to peg on her this time we didn't stick around to talk."  

Angel came up and gave Rowland a hug. "Hello new person! I am Angel and this is Cain."

[Arabella Granger]

Ella nodded at the man, her eyes a bit suspicious, but his Aether League pin and kind disposition made her loath to assume things about him. In such uncertain circumstances, I have to be more willing to take on help when we can get it. We never know when we'll need more allies...or friends.

"Welcome aboard the Boheme," she said, smiling.

[T.Taylor the Third]

"hello" trip said "do you like my gun?" he said brandishing the large  weapon

"uh..well..its...big"

"yeah. yeah it is." trip said with a wink

"TRIP!" emma said"stop that!"

"Stop what?" he said inocently

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland greeted all the crew members as Dreyfuss introduced them. This was a much larger crew then he thought.

"A pleasure to meet all of you." He nodded and smiled. Until O'Landry was introduced. He went slightly pale and smiled with a nod to him. Rowland had heard of him, but never thought he would actually meet him. Rowland then turned his attention (while gaining some color back) to George. Rowland shook the man's ethereal hand and nodded.

"I see, well, so being hunted means you must go after the hunters? Meet them head on? Sounds interesting. Well, I have experience with many types of weapons and have some of my own ideas. If you need someone of my studies, I would be more then obliged to help."

Rowland was the type to earn his keep. Rowland blinked as the person hugged him. He patted her lightly, not expecting it and smiled.

"Hello there. I am Rowland, if you didn't catch it before. Nice to mee you." He nodded to the other who was Cain.

He then glanced at the new voice that came from ther other side of the room. He nodded to her as well.

"Thank you all for your warm greeting. I hardly expected such a large crew." He smiled again. Finally he was among people of his own kind.

[MWBailey]

Whilst Rowland and the others were getting acquainted, Dreyfuss moved to the hold door, unlatched it, let it creak slightly ajar, and looked through the crack. HE could see nothing on the dock. He opened teh door slightly wider, and, boat gun held out in front, checke dteh othe rdirection. empty as well...no, therewas whatlooke dtobe a boy, a street urchin by the look of him lazing along the edge of the dock toward the ship.

"What do you see, Mister Dreyfuss" called Ella, apparently anxious as he was. Dreyfuss pulled his head back in, closed the door, and replied, "Not much, just some street kid inching his way along the dock toward us. Maybe we're the first big airship he's seen..." Dreyfuss replied.

"Ok, here's the deal. Elisha said to meet him here; several people have expressed desires and needs to go to different places in the city. I'm for sticking together as much as possible, until we get all of teh trips taken care of, and getting back to the ship as soon as possible. Thoughts, Ideas, wild imaginings, anybody?"

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma was slightly pink from Trip's comment "We seem to keep picking more and more up as we go along.  I take it you know where the local branch of the League is.  I am suposed to be meeting with the head of it this morning.  I think he said his name was Alexander Wong.  I was hoping to find someone to take me there.  The last time I was in this city all I saw was the inside of the jail."  Emma said with a frown. She was still not happy about her prior incarceration.  "We could start by having Roland take us there then we could go where Jen needed to go and get some supplies on the way,"

[MWBailey]

"Sounds good to me, Dreyfuss replied. Anybody got a better Idea?"

"No?"

"Okay, then, ...Rowland, you can come up here to the point and lead us to teh Aether League," Dreyfuss said, and opened teh hold-doors wide enough for the crew and himself to come out in a line of pairs, which they did, and all trooped onto the dock. Dreyfuss closed the door. "Um. does this have an exterior lock, Miss Emma? " he asked Emma quietly. "Maybe we ought to try and hide the ship somehow."

[Arabella Granger]

Ella clutched the shoulder bag carrying her supplies to her chest and waited. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling she had, a general feeling of uncertainty and hopelessness and fear. Something told her that this battle was going to be her most dangerous yet.

We have to win. There's no going back now. We can do this.

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland nodded.

"I would be more then happy to take any of the crew to the Aether League. It is just off the dock and down the road a little bit. Master Wong is the local chapter leader, yes, he is a little snippish but when you get to know him he isn't so bad. He can also speak fairly good English."

He stowed his briefcase in a cabinet behind him. He supposed he would be able to take a cabin when they got back. He was in no rush to find one right now.

"I am ready when everyone else is."

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha grinned. Moving along the roofs had been a much better idea. He looked down and saw that police squads roamed the street, while a seeminly organized gang stalked through the back alleys. This wasn't very good. This was an entire city against them.

Elisha realized he had run out of roof. He descended into the building quietly. It looked to be a fishing shop, which at least wasn't suspicious, being this close to the water.

The storekeeper looked alarmed as the gashelm wearing Elisha came down his staircase.

Elisha mumbled through what Chinese he knew. Which was pretty much nothing.

"Wait. Stop" was all he managed. Switching to English "Please, you don't understand. I have no intention of harming you."

To his surprise, the storekeep responded in English.

"Wish I could say the same for you...Boheme Assassin!" The merchant pulled out what appeared to be a shotgun from underneath his counter. Elisha rolled to avoid it. There were a series of more blasts as Elisha took cover behind the merchandise. He was showered with a storm of fishing poles and gear.

"Dear Lord, when I get out of this...." he muttered. He heard what sounded like the storekeep reloading. Then the man began to call out "Police! Brothers! One of them is here!"

Elisha raced back up the stairs, being forced to retrace his steps across the roofs. Taking cover behind a vent on a factory, he pulled out one of his messenger drones, slipping a note inside to be sent to the Boheme.

"Change of plan. Can't find safe way back. See you at Aether League HQ. Be careful, everyone and anyone could be with Russians. -Elisha"

[Arabella Granger]

Ella nodded at Rowland's words. "So am I," she whispered, wondering if the rest of them could see how nervous she was. Oh, Ella, you can do this...I'm one of the gang, aren't I? A rough-and-tumble urchin like me shouldn't be afraid of a few tentacles! 'Be strong'. That's what Father said in my dream, 'Be strong'. It's what he would have wanted, it's what I know Elisha wants, and by God, that's what I'm going to do!

She looked up as a messenger drone appeared in the window. With a cry, she opened it and plucked the message out, unfolding it and scanning it quickly. "It's from Elisha!"

Ella read the contents of the message out loud to the crew and looked up. "Well, then. I say that we should get going towards headquarters, shouldn't we?"

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma took a tan bag loaded with papers and balanced it on her side.  "Yes lets get a move on." Right as she was speaking the empty message drone flew in to her face and she fell back on the floor.  "Trip Why do these things keep doing that?" she said getting back to her feet and tucking the deactivated drone in to her bag. Trip shrugged helping her down the gangway.  And they were off with Rowland in the front and Emma moving as fast as she could with Trip by her side in the rear of the defensive cluster they formed. Everyone was nervously scanning the maze of streets ready for a fight.  

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland was unarmed. Not that he felt vulnerable. He had been living here for sometime, and knew the ins and outs of the back alleys. If anything did happen, he would be able to lead his new-friends to safety. He looked back to Emma.

"It is not far away. I am guessing that your enemies have followed you here."

Rowland moved back down the gangplank and back onto the dock. He turned and waited for everyone else. Luckily the League was semi-well hidden, so once they were inside they would be safe. Hopefully.

[Arabella Granger]

Ella followed Emma and the new arrival, watchful for anything out of the ordinary. "I certainly hope they haven't followed us, Mr. Elmstone, but knowing our luck I have a sinking suspicion that they have."

She reached into her vest, pulling out a small dagger from a hidden inside pocket. She handed it to Rowland. "Here. You definitely don't want to be caught by one of them without some protection."

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland took the dagger in his hand and nodded, smiling. "Thank you. Luck, I hope, will be on our side. The League isn't much farther." He nodded and smiled. He couldn't help being an optimist in this type of situation. He then looked around to Emma.

"How long have you been apart of the League?"

He had only just joined when he left school and didn't know much of the history or lore, and figured Emma might be able to help him. He actually didn't even know about the glowing pin until George pointed it out.

[Stella Gaslight]

"For the last five years now.  I was working in London when I was offered membership.  Best offer I ever took really." Emma stopped suddenly a frown forming on her face, a group of people welding clubs and other makeshift weapons appeared out of an alley.  As they spotted the crew shouts of Boheme Assassin in English and vicious sounding Chinese went up and all along the street doors closed preventing an easy escape.  Emma pulled the goggles down over her eyes and reported what she saw in utter confusion. "I don't understand they appear to be normal humans. Why would they do this?"  She readied her ray gun as they drew closer she did not want to kill innocents but she couldn't surrender either.

[MWBailey]

Why? because their big boss said so. He's more real to them than some high-flown ideal or the organization that spreads it, Said Dreyfuss, Then, almost whispering to Rowland,  "Rowland, don't nod at it, don't point at it, and above all don't sing it out. just tell me where the Aether league HQ is from here."

[Rowland Elmstone]

Rowland was slightly confused, but decided not to question it till later.

"Uhh...uhh, down this path, make a left. You won't be able to get in without my pin though."

He looked at Dreyfuss and furrowed his brow. "Here." Rowland removed his pin and handed it to Dreyfuss.

"Good luck." He smiled and directed his attention again.