"STEAM LONDON" Game Thread

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss played The Forked Deer all the way through three or four times; Emma and George got up and danced, then Trip cut in, then, amazingly enough, Elisha and Ella did a turn or two. Dreyfuss finally stopped and grabbed a rag and then grabbed teh cookpot off of the burner. He tasted the soup with a handy spoon, and said, "It's Soup!" and grabbed the ladle and a couple of cups and started serving it up, grabbed a few more cups and mugs...

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha was a bit surprised at how well Dreyfuss managed the fife. An interesting skill. He danced with Ella, holding her close. He was happy, but had a dark sense of forboding. Every day took them closer to danger. They would have to enter St. Petersburg - and God only knew what the hell was in there.

He looked at what Rowland had placed on the table. Interesting, even if he wasn't really knowlegable of such things.

"You should really show that to Emma or Trip" he suggested.

------

Tobias kept his mouth shut. This fabled Patrick O'Landry was really as cunning as they said he was. No matter.

"Look. I am not asking for help beyond an antidote. I can give you a list of symptoms, details. As long as you let me go with that, I swear I will tell you anything you want to know. As much as I know about St. Petersburg."

[ShredsnPatches]

"Why were you looking for my blood?" Jen asked. Her tone was neutral, an unconscious interrogatory one that would strike fear into most men.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha began to eat the soup. He was surprisingly hungry. He generally wasn't. But he'd needed to eat more since he lost all that blood a while back...at least maintaining his strength.

-------

Tobias paused. He could tell that the witch would kill him at a moment's notice. But he couldn't let fear make him babble.

"I had heard that the blood of a witch is a vital ingredient in creating the antidote I mentioned. As well, remember that I am a Commodore. You are the enemy. If you would show me how to make something like that, I would leave you all alone."

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Very well, give us the symptoms of the patient. We can help in any way we can." Patrick's voice held a solidity within it. Something the czar lacked entirely.  His voice was founded upon the steel girders of humanity. This famed murderer of cold ones, and general of Tinker's row stood before Tobias, seeming less like a relentless killer, and more like someone who honestly wanted to help him.

Emma absently nudged Cain towards Angel as the music played.
"Have you two ever danced before?" Trip asked with a hearty chuckle in his voice. Both shook their heads, though cain had read books on ballroom dancing and seeing the tiny dancer medallion Patrick had created for Jen.
"Cain, i know you have!" Emma insisted, standing the akward construct up and practically pushing Angel towards him. Cain began a jerky, rather nervous waltz. When Angel placed her hand on his shoulder, his steps became smoother and lighter.

[E.A. Claringbold]

Letting a look of surprise pass, Irene did pet Sweets more for a brief moment. Indeed it was a strange thing, but it was adorable in its own way.
She watched the others dance and was content with the watching. In response a small smile played on her lips, refusing to let her thoughts go back and force a scowl.

[Stella Gaslight]

And they flowed across the floor.  Angel let out little trills of song and looked at Cain lovingly. She was sure that he was as good as any prince in a story.  The stories had taught her many things but the most important one was that love was forever and love would win.   "Always my Cain."

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss Played a few tunes after he and the others ate; Apple Blossom, Hangman's Reel, Airshipman's Waltz, and Sara Armstrong's Tune.

Even Irene appeared to be enjoying herself. He allowed himself a smallish pat on the mental/spiritual back. Uncle Caractacus was right, when he said it over thirty years ago; Music and some small bit of dance helped to knit a group together, and releved the tensions and lifted spirits for a while, an invaluable aid in times of stress and trouble. Though Dreyfuss had not really, especially decided to work that particular bit of what some might call "magic," he did take the opportunity when it arose, for that reason.

Truth be told, that was the real reason for the old tradition of enlisted and officerial balls and regimental and company cotillions, and the reason why they persisted even in the face of wars and sieges: To boost morale. The Captain came in and sat and watched, tapping his foot; he gave Dreyfuss an approving nod, and the meaning was clear-- He understood the expediencyand importance of fellowship as well.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma orbited between her two partners like the moon, earth and sun.  When they had their one moment of eclipse they met laughing, the boy's previous anger toward one another disbursed by the sweet music and Emma's glowing smile.  The cloud custard was very good and Angel looked longingly out at the snow, all that white stuff just looking for magic to turn it yummy.  She needed to learn how to do that magic sometime.

Later on when they were relaxing with hot drinks and pleasant conversation Emma gave the coil a good looking over.  "I know this.  I designed it in fact.  It was suppose to be a part of a safety system to prevent aether reactions from spinning out of control but some one has altered it."  Emma frowned she hated seeing her inventions used for things other than what she designed them for.

[MWBailey]

"Three Guesses as to who did the altering," Dreyfuss said grimly.

[Stella Gaslight]

"I worked so hard while I was on The Star and there were so many commissions and projects I did.  Who knows how those have ended up in Russian hands and have been twisted to their will."  Emma sighed very disappointed in herself.  "I should have been able to spot the signs sooner, somehow keep the research from getting away from me like this. I...I just hope that my inventions wont give them anymore of an advantage than they already had."  She shook her head feeling incredibly guilty.

One stirred from his perch ship were arriving each baring the mark of the league on them. He smiled help had come.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"It isn't your fault Emma. It is the fault of those who would use your discoveries to do harm. Patrick taught me about creations. When man was created, he was given free will so they could choose what would happen to them. Whenever man makes something, they could use it for good, evil, or just use it in a way that benefits no-one. Like making a hammer, and using it to built a hospital, or choosing to use it to make a hangman's gallows."

  Emma nodded, understanding Cain's wisdom and feeling just a tiny sliver better. White serpents of smoke rose from his mug and danced in the air. He wasn't sure if Patrick approved of him consuming a hot liquid, but he had been fine for the first couple sips. Cain placed a hand on Angel's warm shoulder, finding comfort in Angel's radiated thermal energy. His chest felt tense as the idea that she could shut off after destroying the mother. The terrifying image of her eyes going blank and lifeless played in his head. He hated the idea of her songs going silent, and her sweets going un-eaten. He could swear tears were rolling down his cheeks, but when he brushed his cheek, it was bone dry. He wished he had the ability to cry, simply to feel something that would validate his sadness.
If Angel were to die in this last battle, he would die soon after.
By the cold ones, or by his own hand.

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss said, "the person who makes a weapon is not the villain. The person who uses the weapon for evil is the villain. Weapons have to be used in order to affect the world around them in a manner that their creator or their user intends; if they do not use them for those ends, neither the creator nor the user can be blamed for their use in other ways, beyond their failure to use them. or simply leaving them laying where they can be used by others. That's not the same, by the way, as applying or publishing research.

If I leave a sword laying on the table, there, and by some chance, someone bumps the table and the sword falls off and lands on the person's or some other person's foot, am I liable beyond having left it there in the first place? I sharpened the blade, yes, and I made sure the point was kept sharp, but they should be alert and not be bumping into tables that might deposit something on their feet. no one is without responsibility, but that does not mean that anyone is to blame for all evils.

if I make a hammer that can forge the ...the moon, let's say, into machines that make food to feed all of humanity" he smiled at the absurdity of his own example, "And lets say further that someone grabs the moon-hammer off of my workbench, and goes around busting airships with it ... Am I really liable for someone coming into my demesne, stealing my hammer, and destroying airships with it? Of course not!

Emma, what you did in good faith, for good intentions, is nowhere near the same thing as building such devices and conducting the research for the purpose of doing evil. I didnt know you then, and perhaps I can't really say that I know you well enough now, but I can't see you doing evil, and certainly not for evil's sake. You were there on the Eastern Star doing what you do, and believing that Black and his cronies had nothing but the best intentions for all of those inventions an dresearch. It's not your fault for being blinded by love from their true intentions.

You're not evil, Miss Emma, and you're not to blame for evil done with either research or devices you've made. Teh Cold Ones? They've killed millions, and destroyed millions of lives, and are, after all, the invaders here. They made themselves our enemies; we did not manufacture their guilt, adn we did not cause their evil. They persist in their evil and in their search for ways to dominate and destroy humanity. Humanity must fight back, and that is what we are doing. As far as I'm concerned, all this talk of death and culpability and getting killed and all is just the standard soulsearching before a battle. it means you're human. Just don't let it convince you you're fated to die or be punished in the coming battle. No one is.

Dreyfuss paused, caught his breath, and continued into their apparently-shocked silence, "Now, that's more words than I've said all in one go in five years at least -- certainly the most since I joined the Boheme -- and I hope I didn't waste 'em. I know that I'm just what some folks would call an old man (though forty is not so old as many young ones think). Maybe the mileage has made me older at a younger age, but I don't think I've lost my reason or my common sense just yet."

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma was smiling thoughtfully. "Thank you both.  Guess I just need to put as many of my ideas to good use as I can and hope others do the same."


Angel was drawing a picture of Sweets who was curled up in her lap.  She had tied a bow around Sweets' neck and Sweets seemed to like it. Hmmm Cain was leaning on her kind of like the cat.  She stared to draw a new picture this one was of a child size Cain with kitty ears and a bow. She broke in to giggles as soon as Kitty Cain was finished.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Cain looked down at the feline Cain Angel had drawn. He was terribly unsure what this meant, but he had to admit he did look rather adorable looking like that. Sweets gave a sympathetic mewl, as if telling him "welcome to the club" In its own feline way as she touched his knee with a round black paw.

Angel giggled and began to draw a second picture of the feline construct, drawing it curled up and sleeping side-by-side with a charicature of herself with floppy canine ears akin to the ones scraps might have had if they were not built from tea sauicers.

[Stella Gaslight]

"Woof." Said Angel giggling and putting he hands behind her head like ears.  sweets ran because she knew what was coming next. With a growl and a bark she pounced on him smothering him in kisses just like Scraps did.

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss chuckled. walking around to Irene, he said, jokingly, "Looks like Angel and Cain've gone to the dogs..."

[E.A. Claringbold]

Irene watched the two and suppressed a chuckled. Smiling, she looked away from the scene and to Dreyfuss who had approached her. She replied with a nod and a smile.

[Nigel Wetherby]

All cain could say before Angel's spree was a single "Meow?"
Cain blushed as Angel's kisses covered his face like a steadily advancing army. His cheeks burned bright pink at her advances. He practically felt a pair of feline ears atop his head folding back as he was assaulted by wave after wave of affectionate lick.
An etherial tail wagged.

[MWBailey]

Dreyfuss looked up suddenly, wary suspicion graven on his face. He pulled the Webley from its holster with his left hand, and drew his saber with the left. "There's somebody here, just drew up alongside, "he said, "Two ships, feels like one on either side."

"Calm down, Jaisen," Captain Hudson said. "let's see who it is, before we start pulling steel."

"Aye sir." He walked ove rto the window, opened it, and craned his head out, looking at the Newly-arrived Aether League Airship.
"at least one of them is a League ship, sir," Dreyfuss said.
The Captain got up and hurried to the steering room, and the aetherweb terminal. He answered the Hails of the  two ships, who informed him that they had been about to send boarding parties from both vessels, to be certain that there were no Cold Ones on board, and that the ship's company was unhurt and in control.

They also formally announced their mission, under League orders, to accompany and aid the Boheme in it's attack on St. Petersburg. Several members of the crews of both airships had volunteered to act as "marines" for the coming action; there was also an invitation to Mr. Patrick O'Landry to act as the Commanding Officer for the joint action. Captain Hudson sent Dreyfuss to get Patrick an dbring him to the steering room to receive teh message; Dreyfuss took off at a trot. He arrived at the cabin in which Patrick was interrogating the currently-incapacitated commodore, and knocked on the door...

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma was laughing at Cain and Angel and wondering what she would have to do to get Trip to cover her in kisses like that when George interrupted her mental wanderings.  "Em there is a messenger here for you from London."  He hadn't peeked, well not much anyway, but what he saw looked like a rather through breakdown of cold one biology. 

The messenger was awed by her presence and Emma was very flattered.  She handed off the heat cannon blueprints to the engineer on the Clemency.  He was grateful and said he would start their construction right away.  Emma said to call for her if he had any questions and went back to the Boheme. She was a very fast reader and most of the brake down was what she expected but when she reached Anton's theory about their increasing numbers she gasped. "George listen to this."  She said pushing her glasses up her nose.  "Most specimens are still quite young and according to our data their life span can cover many of our, so the theory we have been able to piece together is this. Some event in the past forced the creatures to a state not unlike dormancy or a controlled herd.  They continued like this until some major event caused the beings to begin reproducing on a masive scale.  The best theory we can come up with is the world wide aether spike that happened four years ago incited a frenzy on these aether sensitive creatures."  Emma stopped her face looked bloodless. "That was us George. We caused this."  She looked like she would cry or scream.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha walked in to see that Tobias was free. Patrick had given him a piece of paper and a variety of vials. Jen seemed to be explaining something medical. Elisha stood by, just in case this was a trick.

"Now" said Elisha "Your part of the deal."

Tobias sighed. He wanted this, but it was still a heavy undertaking.

"Right. St. Petersburg is abandoned. It's probably safer after Endwinter was ended by Mr. O'Landry, but most of the populace either died or fled. That means that the cults hold full sway over the city. I have heard rumours that there are resistors underground. Underground is also your best bet. The anti-aircraft guns will knock you out of the sky. So, enter the sewers in the marsh - it's around most of the city and should conceal you. It's up to you to get through it to the walls."

He produced a map of the city and began to circle and mark areas as he explained them.

"The Cathedral is there. With everyone gone, it's now the cult headquater. Father Niyazov will probably be there. I'd be careful - he's ranked only below the Tsar and Queen. North of the Catherdral is the military square. The digger fleet is usually kept there. It's about the only Russian Army unit that's still functional, but they're deadly. Here...is the laboratories. I'd avoid those. My...uncle's there. He's not as strong as the Tsar...but he's much, much smarter. However, I have a feeling he wants to leave before things get bad."

"Now. There's the Winter Palace. You'll...well, you'll find the Tsar there. And alot of Cold Ones patroling. Some of my uncle's projects are there as well...and it's rumoured the Queen. I know the least about it. It has a large basement area the Tsar ordered built. And...the Winter Palace is where I need to go. Certain...important Russians who are with the Cold Ones still live there. There are tons of empty rooms, so it'll be hard to tell which are used and which are not."

He moved to leave.

"Don't you want to come with us?" said Elisha "It's easier on airships."

"I told you, I don't need your help. We made the deal."

"How do we know you're not going to tell this to the Tsar?"

Tobias laughed. "What difference would that make? The Tsar almost certainly already knows you're coming." He paused.

"If I'm unlucky, I might see you there. If I see you there, it means I was delayed...." Tobias looked off, distracted. "And I am delayed now. For this..." he held up the vial "...I hope that at least some of you live." Then he was gone.

-------------------

The Tsar stood by the military square. Dozens of Omarsmerti diggers were coming to life, engines being stoked. Small Spayder diggers were being walked into the hulls of the larger carriers, as well as soldiers.

"Are you...ready?" he asked the commander.

"Yessir. The new engines Viktor installed are working perfectly."

"Hmm. Those plans we stole from the Lighton girl were quite useful." Of course, thought the Tsar, this little game was only a small part of what the plans could do. What they really needed them for was to power the Door. The Portal. The Gate.

"Very well." said the Tsar. "Start when ready. May London burn before this week is over."


-----------

On the Boheme, One felt that something was very wrong. Tinker's Row, London - there was a shadow over it all.

[MWBailey]

When Patrick answered the door, after Tobias left (which Dreyfuss thoght was a bit odd, but assumed they knew what they were doing), Dreyfuss told him that he was needed in the steering room for a message from the Clemency, one of the Aether League ships. He refrained from telling Patrick whatthe message contained, lest he garble it and cause problems. Upon delivery of the message, he returned to the steering room and reported to the captain, who dismissed him "for the moment."

Dreyfuss returned to his room, and packed what few belongings he intended to take with him when the crew left the Boheme; he wasn't sure why, but he felt that a kind of doom awaited the crew, and that a few were not planning to return; he had a feeling that at least a couple of them, despite the high spirits earlier in the evening, did not plan to live beyond the mission.

He sat down and composed a letter to be given to Irene if he did not make it out alive, assuming that she would do so.in it, he told her that she had shown him that she was a mature young woman, able to fend for herself, and that, as far as he was concerned, her wardship was at an end; she was free to follow her own path as a full-fledged adult; also, that he would have given her the choice again after the mission, or after a year's time, in any case, if he still lived.

He also included the advice to keep the letter close at hand until her 21st bithday, lest her maturity be questioned and rescinded in favor of a new wardship that would most likely extend into a never-ending form of indentured servitude (since he had seen many such cases, there having been a veritable "under-the-table" trade in that "commodity" in recent years).

He folded the letter into a bundle and sealed it with wax and the imprint of his officer's ring; itwas not a seal ring, but the imprint would be recognizable.

HE then went round and knocked on the door of the cabin that Irene had been assigned to, and told her all that had transpired. He also told her his misgivings and premonitory feelings, and gave her the letter, telling her to not open it under any circumstances, unless he were killed, or they were separated, in the next few hours or before the Boheme and crew returned to London.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Shai felt a terrible shudder as some un-discernable feeling wrapped around her being like the icy tendrils of perverted cold ones. In all the excitement of the recent battle, it all had escaped her mind.
"The diggers." She breathed.
Madame Arachne raised an eyebrow quizzically at the statement.
"You need to call every Aether leaguer available and tell them to prepare every digging machine they have! Omarsmerti diggers are coming!" She urged. Madame Arachne knew when her now-trusted servant was telling the truth (Doing so allowed you to tell when she had put something in your tea) And tapped her Aether league badge, activating the beacon for anyone in England. Tinker's row was under seige once more, and an army would rise to defend it.


Patrick looked at the map, it all seemed LEgitamite to him, and he knew when someone was lying thanks to his days aboard the star. He headed for the deck, holding the map above his head.
"Brothers of the white flame, I have aquired a map of the city of St.Petersburg!"
A cheer rose from both ships, sandwiching the Boheme in their commotion.
"But a map and weapons are no good without strategy.
"Here is what must happen.
"The crew will land in the marsh outside of the walls of the city under cover of nightfall. We must run the engines on their lowest settings to avoid being seen by their cannoneers. When we land, we shall take to the sewers positioned outside the walls and attempt to rendevous with this underground militia that resists them. If they are gone, we shall continue their fight and attack the Cathedral!
"Their second-strongest commodore lies there, so take caution. Upon cleaning out the church, we shall hold it down as our fortress, resting up and healing for the next battle. One half of you will destroy anyone operating the anti-air cannons to assure the safety of airship travel. Once this is accomplished, take controll of the airships and wait for my signal. When at last the palace is defeated, look for this building."
Here he motioned towards a small shanty surrounded by a black ink circle.
"This is the laboratory of a madman.
"The rest of the army shall locate the digger army hidden in a bunker somewhere beneath the cathedral. Once these are found, eliminate their pilots and put these monsters to good use. I want to see those diggers with flags bearing the white fire! When you liberate these weapons, we will launch a full-scale assault on the winter palace. A line of diggers shall go first, breaking through the floor and picking off any cold ones you find! The crew of the boheme shall be close behind, pitching any help we can!
"Good luck to all of you, and KNOWLEDGE ETERNAL!"

Elisha thought Patrick was simply waving his title around, but his stratagem was terribly efficient. His tactics were grimly efficient and assured not a single eldricht survivor. He truely earned his name as "The general of tinker's row."

Cain heard the commotion from the galley, still pinned beneath Angel who had once been cuddling up against him. The cry of knowledge eternal filled his chest with a mighty warmth.

[Stella Gaslight]

Angel was afraid of what would happen after the battle.  Their was no doubt in her mind they would win but if they did she didn't want to leave Cain.  He had taught her all about the world and was always by her side.  She loved him from every bitty bit of her heart and he would save her, she just knew it.  She was good at hiding her fears but she snuggled him fervently.  If she couldn't be saved she wanted to go with this in her memory.

Emma did not cry and that surprised George, instead she got angry.  She was tired of the world pushing her around.  This time she would strike back and make things right.  Determination flowed in to her filling her like a mold. If she started things she could end them too.  She spread papers along the counter and started to design a few bits of improvement for current weapons and a very odd sort of grenade that would slow aether waves when detonated.  If the high level spike could drive them to frenzy the slowing of that same energy could stop them long enough to give the crew an advantage.  If the cold ones where going to use her inventions she would just have to out think them.