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23:26, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

2: Clouds Over Scotland.

Posted by GM StarMasterFor group 0
Matthew
player, 18 posts
mentally unbalanced
scientist
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 09:17
  • msg #105

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Taking the weapon from Mercy, he smiles, holding it firmly in hand while keeping his finger away from the trigger. " Thank you very much ma'am. Do I have to turn it on or is there a safety release?" he asks her, wanting to be sure he knew what he was doing before the need to use it arose.
Mercy
NPC, 3 posts
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 10:24
  • msg #106

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

"The whole point of creating a mechanical man," Mercy replies to Denholm, "is that it doesn't need supervision... it can function on its own."

"As for why I'm out here, it's the same reason you are! It's okay for a man to run off to war and get his bloomin' arse killed, leaving his poor widow home to mourn his sorry arse and raise three squalling infants without any income or money, but Lord forbid a woman does the same! She wouldn't even leave a mournin' widower behind cause he'd be out in the hen house before her blood was dried! And HE'D still have his damn job!"

"So I'll be damned if I'm going to sit at home and cry a river over some philandering swag!"



She turns back to Matthew then.

"This gauge here on the side indicates how many charges it holds. It looks like it's got eleven shots; only one was used."

"This button here is why we think Nick's plans may have been stolen. You have to hold the gun just so, pressing the button down in order for the trigger to work. That was his design!"

Matthew
player, 19 posts
mentally unbalanced
scientist
Sun 1 Dec 2013
at 11:47
  • msg #107

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Matthews eyes grew wide as Mercy tore into Dash, even wider than they were from the surprise of him smacking him on the shoulder. Still tightly clutching the gun - he had feared dropping it in a misfire from being smacked - he says only, " Thank you ma'am." still looking a bit confused. She seemed rather tech savvy despite Matthews understanding that women had trouble with simple quadratic equations. He keeps moving low and quiet so as to maintain the element of surprise.
Grimsby
player, 46 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Mon 2 Dec 2013
at 01:44
  • msg #108

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Grimsby glances back and says briefly "Once we get closer to the mine, I hope we will not risk conversation." He then turns back to following Latimer.
Denholm
player, 27 posts
"Right. Let's deal."
"All Sales Final"
Mon 2 Dec 2013
at 02:05
  • msg #109

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Mercy:
"The whole point of creating a mechanical man," Mercy replies to Denholm, "is that it doesn't need supervision... it can function on its own."

"As for why I'm out here, it's the same reason you are! It's okay for a man to run off to war and get his bloomin' arse killed, leaving his poor widow home to mourn his sorry arse and raise three squalling infants without any income or money, but Lord forbid a woman does the same! She wouldn't even leave a mournin' widower behind cause he'd be out in the hen house before her blood was dried! And HE'D still have his damn job!"

"So I'll be damned if I'm going to sit at home and cry a river over some philandering swag!"


In the dimness, from the expression on his face, it looked like Dash was giving serious consideration to Mercys words.

"Well, now, Miss Mercy," Dash said after a few moments, "I can't really say as I disagree with what you said, given the strength of character I've seen in many women making a living for themselves and their families out on the American Western Frontier, as well as the level of commitment and outright bravery I saw in the lady guerillas fighting in the Cuba Libre.  I have to admit that it just doesn't seem right that women get different treatment than men."

The grin returned to Dash's face, "However, I didn't ask you what a woman was doing here, I asked what you were doing here, with us, rather than being with such personages as Nicola Tesla and Samuel Clemens?  And, of course, your Hugo."

Dash gave a little chuckle, "Truth be told, I think that I'd rather be with Nicola Tesla than anywhere else!  I truly believe that he is the greatest technical mind of our time!  Wouldn't you agree, Matthew?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Mon 02 Dec 2013.
Matthew
player, 20 posts
mentally unbalanced
scientist
Tue 3 Dec 2013
at 08:49
  • msg #110

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

" Undoubtedly." he whispers in agreement. There was that other fellow he had read about in the papers, ...Edison? However, he had read bad things about the use of direct current and felt that Tesla's approach to be far more sane. " Direct current can be quite deadly." he says, holding up the lightning gun as proof of his point.
Mercy
NPC, 4 posts
Fri 6 Dec 2013
at 02:27
  • msg #111

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Mercy doesn't seem to be fazed by Dash's correction, though. Apparently any opportunity to espouse her women's rights platform was just fine by her.

"Again," she replies to Dash in a quieter voice, "the same reason as you. I like adventure! I like action!"

"As for you, Mr. Matthew, you've got it quite backwards. The Mr. Edison is a proponent of direct current, which is safer, but does not have the range of alternating current. A DC power plant would provide power for about five city blocks only, so you'd need dozens to power a complete city."

"Nick's AC power plant in Niagara Falls provides power for any entire county!"

"And, as for the gun, it's about how much current you push through it. It's like a miniature lightning bolt. Most of the time, if you are struck by lightning, you're dead. Some people, though, actually survive. The gun Nick designed wasn't meant to be lethal, but the possibility always existed. Someone has made this one a bad sort. However, I dialed it back. It'll only knock someone out... for maybe an hour."

Grimsby
player, 47 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Sat 7 Dec 2013
at 01:47
  • msg #112

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

In reply to Mercy (msg # 111):

Grimsby had been attempting to quietly reconnoiter ahead, but found himself drawn into the conversation. He remarked, "I am not concerned with current myself. but I understand that Mr. Edison has held up the fact that alternating current is used in the new electric chairs used for execution as proof of its deadliness. I don't say that's a fair argument. Edison is a very clever man, but possessive about his inventions. Mr. Tesla himself would best know the truth of this, but I once heard that Edison promised Tesla a bonus for some work, when it was done, said it was only an American joke."
OOC: I ran across that material in a life of Westinghouse years ago.
Matthew
player, 21 posts
mentally unbalanced
scientist
Sat 7 Dec 2013
at 08:55
  • msg #113

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

" Edison doesn't play fair." Matthew remarks, doing his best to keep up with the conversation despite his own personal inaccuracy. He stays low and keeps his voice down, knowing they were fast approaching the tents outside the mine. " A bonus in business is nothing to joke about. Oft times contractors rely on such dividends and build it into future budgetary needs. To promise and not deliver! That's... that's ...just not fair."
Grimsby
player, 48 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Sun 8 Dec 2013
at 02:32
  • msg #114

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Grimsby says "One should certainly play fair with one's colleagues and friends, though the enemies of the realm may be another matter.  All's fair in war, if not love."
 

GM StarMaster
GM, 109 posts
Wed 11 Dec 2013
at 07:17
  • msg #115

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

By this time, everyone's eyes had adjusted to the starlight. It was late enough in the season that there wasn't much snow on the ground, though more could arrive any day. The night was clear and cold, and the stars were shining brightly.

Latimer finally held up a hand for caution, gesturing for everyone to be quiet and crouch down a bit as they moved.

A building could be vaguely seen up ahead, and the path they were following wove in and out among the rises. Nothing was quite as big as a hill, though.

Crouching down behind one of the rises, he gestured the first person forward, indicating they should move as quietly as possible up behind the building. He repeated this until everyone was behind the building.

They could now hear sound coming from within the building. The building itself was a timber frame with peat blocks built up around it and a tin roof.

As near as they could tell, nobody was on guard. Mercy was about to move around the corner when she pushed back, held up a finger for quiet, then pantomimed a guard having a smoke.
Grimsby
player, 49 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Thu 12 Dec 2013
at 02:07
  • msg #116

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Grimsby held up one finger and cocked his head in a questioning gesture, signaling "Is there only one guard?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Thu 12 Dec 2013.
Denholm
player, 28 posts
"Right. Let's deal."
"All Sales Final"
Thu 12 Dec 2013
at 03:45
  • msg #117

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Even in the dim light, Dash understood everyone's meaning.  So, assuming that there was only one guard, Dash reached out to lightly touch Mercy to gain her attention, then pointed at the tesla weapon in Matthew's possession, then pointed at his own ear, then made a 'how much?' guesture with both hands.  He repeated this -- point at gun, point at ear, gesture 'how much?' -- a couple of times, then looked at Mercy, awaiting an answer.

Back at the Gaslamp Club, when the weapon had been previously fired, Dash was a little involved with tackling Lord Kentigern out of the line of fire -- and the searing pain as the weapon's discharge burned his back -- to actually remember if it made any noise, never mind how much.
Denholm
player, 29 posts
"Right. Let's deal."
"All Sales Final"
Mon 16 Dec 2013
at 06:16
  • msg #118

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

After a few moments, Dash decides that the risk is worth taking and jabs Matthew in the shoulder, then points at the Tesla gun, then mimes pointing the gun around the corner and shooting the guard.
Mercy
NPC, 5 posts
Mon 16 Dec 2013
at 06:52
  • msg #119

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Mercy understood Dash's gestures, and replied with her own. She pointed to Grimsby's gun and held her hands about three feet wide. Then she pointed to the lightning gun and held her hands about one foot apart.

She then held up her hands in prayer... not quite... and used her thumbs to indicate some sort of door.

She pointed around the corner at the smoking guard and held up one finger. She then held up her hands again, shifted to two fingers, then three fingers. Finally, she pointed to the building, then down, and held up four fingers.

She then pointed to Grimsby and Matthew and held her hands in prayer again.

She pointed to Viktor and then towards the smoking guard.

And then she pointed to Dash and herself, and then to the building.

Her last one was to Latimer, and then the building.

Finally, she held up her forefingers in a 'wait' gesture, then did a credible robotic mime and poured a drink.
Matthew
player, 22 posts
mentally unbalanced
scientist
Mon 16 Dec 2013
at 09:33
  • msg #120

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Matthew gives a thumbs-up gesture, takes gun in hand and points it around the corner toward the guard. He takes aim and waits for another nudge to get it all started... when he gets the signal, it's only a matter of hitting the trigger.
Grimsby
player, 51 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Tue 17 Dec 2013
at 03:29
  • msg #121

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

In reply to Mercy (msg # 119):


Mercy
NPC, 6 posts
Wed 18 Dec 2013
at 05:00
  • msg #122

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Mercy pulls the youthfully exuberant Matthew back a bit, and points to the tent.

She didn't fault him; she was once like that. Well, she still was a bit.
GM StarMaster
GM, 111 posts
Wed 18 Dec 2013
at 05:08
  • msg #123

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

As Mercy tries to get her plan across, everyone hears the faint clanking of machinery, indicating that Hugo is coming up the road.

The guard hears it, too. He stops his minor pacing, and peers down the road to see what's making the noise.

Mercy pushes Viktor out towards the guard, sends Grimsby and Matthew across the road to the tent, and then she, Dash and Latimer step around the corner to the door of the mining shack.
Grimsby
player, 52 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Thu 19 Dec 2013
at 03:51
  • msg #124

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Grimsby glances at Matthew to make sure they are together, draws his larger pistol and enters the tent with his best combination of speed and caution, ready to tackle the expected guards.
Denholm
player, 30 posts
"Right. Let's deal."
"All Sales Final"
Fri 20 Dec 2013
at 07:07
  • msg #125

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Dash pulls his Mauser from his shoulder holster and pulls the charging handle with a light metallic "cha-chack", then follows Mercy to the door.

Dash places his free hand on Mercys shoulder, halting her advance until he sees that Viktor has handled the guard. Then Dash steps forward to quickly and quietly work the doors latch, and step inside, brandishing his pistol.  Not knowing if the interior is illuminated with watchful guards, or pitch dark and empty, Dash halts just a step into the hut, and takes his bearings -- ready to threaten anyone inside with his pistol, if needed.
GM StarMaster
GM, 112 posts
Tue 24 Dec 2013
at 21:09
  • msg #126

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

Just as the action starts to heat up, there's this massive lull, as if time was standing still...

((Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men... at least until Boxing Day!
Merry Christmas, Everyone!))

Grimsby
player, 53 posts
A Colonial agent
and wandering scholar
Thu 26 Dec 2013
at 03:52
  • msg #127

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

OOC: I am ready to continue as soon as the rest are. Merry Christmas!
Viktor
player, 27 posts
Former Cavalry Officer
Agile and Charismatic
Thu 26 Dec 2013
at 18:27
  • msg #128

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

This is not the way a cavalry officer makes a charge! Viktor thought as he moved around the corner of the building.

He thought Mercy's tactics made sense, since there were now three possible locations for guards: the tent, the mine and the one on duty. Without better knowing what the situation was, they couldn't risk one of them sounding the alarm and alerting the others... for who knew what they might do!

In the dark like this, however, he wasn't sure how well he could sneak up on the guard smoking. The glow of the cigarette's end helped Viktor locate him in the dark, though the eastern sky was already lightening up enough that the guard was outlined against it.

Then he heard the clank of Hugo, the mechanical bartender, coming up the road. The guard heard it, too, but had no idea what he was hearing. Viktor thought to wait a moment until the guard actually saw Hugo, which was likely to surprise him even more, but Mercy gently urged him forward. The plan's success really depended on him keeping the guard silent, which seemed to rule out shooting, at least until someone else shot first.

Viktor switched to holding his revolver by the barrel, and raised it to strike with the butt of the weapon. As he gingerly stepped forward, his foot may have scrapped a pebble through the dirt, making enough of a sound to alert the guard, for the guard started to turn! Throwing caution to the wind, Viktor quickly took a long final step to get him within reach and swung the gun down on the guard's head!
GM StarMaster
GM, 113 posts
Fri 27 Dec 2013
at 00:36
  • msg #129

Re: Clouds Over Scotland

As Viktor moved to take out the sentry, Grimsby and Matthew quickly moved across the road to the tent. They have no trouble pushing through the tent flap, into darkness. It takes a moment for their eyes to adjust to the extremely dim light, coming in only from the now half-open tent flap.

There appears to be only one person in here, on the left, still sleeping on a cot. There are six cots total.


Dash and Mercy slipped around the corner of the building just as Viktor bashed the guard. Even as Dash tripped the latch, he saw a dim light slipping out from under the door, letting him know that there was some light.

With the door open, more light spilled out, but Dash could now see that the interior of the 'mine' was a rather simple affair. There was essentially a 10 foot square pit in the center of the single room. There was a 5' wide dirt walkway around the pit, a chair just inside to the left of the door, and a workbench against the left wall. It appears there is a small window in the wall above the workbench, but it's been covered over by a black cloth.

There is a wooden ladder in the 20-foot deep pit, leaning against the right side. The light is coming from down in the pit, which is where the digging sounds are coming from.

"Keep digging!" a harsh voice commands the diggers.

At the bottom of the pit, there is a tunnel going off to the left.

"I need a drink!" someone else snaps back at the first voice.

"You can drink when then digging is done!" the first voice replies.

"You stupid Kraut! If you shoot me, then YOU'LL have to do the digging! So unless you want to start swinging a pick, you'll let me have a damn drink of water!"
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