In reply to Brie O'Malley (msg # 768):

"Don't worry about your horses, Doctor." Joseph says, as he follows the scientist, "If we can't figure out some way to carry them aboard the ship--and we'll have to wait until we have control of said vessel, before we can determine that--then we can likely leave them with the local gentleman you were forced to test your device upon."

"As I recall, he has a small goat farm, here in the hills, and is likely quite capable of caring for a pair of fine horses, such as yours.  They might even prove helpful to him with getting more of his products into the city faster.  You might think of it as a kind of compensation for the wrong done to him by those wretches, via your machine."

In short order, the horses are hooked up to the wagon and it is wheeled out of the barn and parked in the alley.

Then the freeze ray device (see Game Map 1 for a picture) is brought out of the house, covered in a blanket for convenience, taken into the barn, and it's decided to prop the men up in a back corner of the barn, one at a time, and then freeze them. Based on the Iceman, they should stay frozen for 8-10 hours. By piling up bales of straw around them, you could conceivably extend that for another 10 hours... unless they are discovered.

Then the freeze ray is loaded into the wagon and you are all set to go.

By now, it's early afternoon. Taking the wagon, you can reach the ship within the hour.

"In a lab, of course, the device would sit on a table," Solar explains, "but out here in the field, as they say, I made up this three-legged stand for it. After the first few tests, it sank into the ground a bit too much, so I added some feet to keep it from doing that."

"It is based on frequency modulation of Hertzian waves. These brass plate-rings focus and condense the Hertzian waves. The sphere at the end is the modulator."

"At the moment, my device draws its power from sunlight, through the sunlight collector back here. It's good for 5 or 6 uses, depending, of course, on the length of each discharge and the range you have it set for."

"I guess that's why I never really thought of it as a weapon--although it isn't very heavy, it is rather large and awkward... and it has a very limited range... only about 30 or 40 yards. Nor does it work all that quickly. If someone was charging at you, he would be on you before he'd be completely frozen enough to immobilize him."

"No, no, no... very impractical as a weapon."

"Oh, a most excellent idea, Joseph, about letting the Iceman have the horses!"

Grimsby seems a trifle disappointed that the freeze ray would not be an effective weapon,but he asks "Given that your ray is not a weapon, Dr. Solar, what do you believe will be its best uses?" 

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 772):

"Well, Grimsby, ol' pardner, I'm sure the Doc, here, has dozens of things figured out for his gizmo, but I can tell you--as can Miss Felicity--that as people who've been close to the cattle business, the ability to rapidly freeze fresh meat, which then thaws out with none of that frostbite-like effect you sometimes get with frozen meat, that is going to be worth big money to meatpackers and shippers...like that fellow in Kansas City.

"Armour his name is--Paul or Phil, something like that.  I read not too long ago he wanted to build a factory on Mars to ship some exotic Martian meats back here, to Earth.  Doesn't sound possible without salting the meat--you know better than me how long the trip takes--but with something like the Doc's Freeze Ray, keeping meat fresh for several months now looks possible."

"Oh, and I can recall stories my Mother used to tell of conditions in hospital tents at battles during the War of Northern Aggression, when I was just a toddler.  It occurs to me, now, that if a seriously wounded soldier were brought into the tent--alive but requiring more surgery than the field surgeon can take time to give him--then that soldier could be frozen and packed away for a trip to a distant hospital, where he could get the attention his injuries require."

"How many soldiers, in conflicts around the world, might be saved by just such a procedure, I wonder, should every field surgery be equipped with this device?"

"A liftwood airship, what a wonder!" Catherine said. She helped Felicity keep an eye on the prisoners, and gasped when she beheld the freeze ray working. Her idea had worked, but she did worry a little if they would be all right.

"That's kind of you, Commander Hunnisett" she said at Joseph's idea of giving the horses to the man who was frozen. She listened curiously to Doctor Solar describe his invention, although some of it went over her head. "It's really a most ingenious device"

"There are times on hot days I wouldn't say no to being frozen." Catherine joked with a smile. Mourning clothing can be awfully hot sometimes. The thought of her mourning made her sad, and her smile vanished. "I wish you great success in selling these devices, Doctor Solar. Anything that can help our brave soldiers in the field come home safely is a wonder" she said sincerely but quietly.

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 773):

Grimsby replies, "You have two good points there, Mr. Hunnisett. I know Britain imports much frozen meat from Australia and Argentina. An improved freezing process would be very useful.
The freezing of wounded soldiers would be even more valuable, though since Dr. Solar tells us the process works slowly, I fear some of the most badly wounded fellows might die before the freezing could take effect. Still, even saving some of them would be worthwhile."

Joseph snaps a sharp look towards the young British woman--and his gun hand twitches towards his over-sized holster for just a second--but the young woman continues talking in pleasantries--so he turns away, hopefully before anyone notices his intense scrutiny.

~~How does she know my old Naval Rank?~~ Joseph ponders, ~~Did I slip it, somehow?  Dammit, and I was just starting to think I could trust him, too.  Better keep a closer eye on both of 'em ... ~~

"As an old army medical man I would hazard the answer that yes there would be some application for wounded men in the field, but in saying that so many other factors out of the control of the medical staff make such a difference to the success and well being of the patient. Also being transport to the rear dosen't always equate to better care, especially in the tropics or the frontier."


-

"Well, let's get this show on the road," Felicity said.

"I've got things to do and places to go. Actually, no, I don't have either of those things, but hanging around here also isn't one of those things."

The horses and carriage you rode into Sidonia with can be left behind, but what about your luggage?


Whatever arrangements you make, the medicine wagon makes it to the ravine where the ship is hidden. There's no easy way to move the wagon closer, so you have to stop a bit away and walk to see into the ravine.

It's Joseph that first spots the 'tree'... some branches have been fastened to the top of the mast that peeks over the top edge of the ravine to disguise it.

Reaching the top of the ravine, you see the ship floating below.

((OOC: Picture is under Game Map 3))

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 779):

Grimsby comments "Unusual lines for a modern flyer. It puts me more in mind of an ancient warship."

Catherine gasps in wonder. "Oh my goodness, how amazing! I've never seen a flyer like that! It looks so exotic."

In reply to Catherine Harston (msg # 781):

"Ho-lee Mother of God!" Joseph whispers in awe, "That's no dirigible!  That's...that's one of them--what do you call'em, Grimsby?  That stuff from Mars they build flying ships with?  Liftwood!  That's a Liftwood Flyer!"

Then Joseph frowns, and squints--trying to see clearer in the dimness of the ravine, "Isn't it?  I thought Liftwood Flyers were made of iron and wood--that ship looks to have an all-metal hull..."

"Well...one way to find out..." Joseph pulls his large LeMat pistol from it's holster, "Let's ease up, real quiet-like, and see if they left anyone aboard."

---

OOC: It's been so long, I've forgotten how to roll dice, here ^_^
Joseph's Sneak/Stealth is 2D...his Agility is 3D...what's needed?

Arthur looked over the ship, it was the first time he had seen it's like. "Just a minute if I may..." He rummages around in a carpet bag. "Yes this should do the trick."

Arthur produces a two draw telescope, "Now let us see if any of the crew are about."


-

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 782):

Grimsby replies, "Indeed, if the choice is a dirigible or a liftwood flyer, this must be a liftwood airship. But as you say, a liftwood ship must be made, at least in good part, of liftwood. Unless the liftwood is hidden within the hull, I do not believe this craft has any. If so, it might be powered by some new principle."

((OOC: Dice rolling is your Skill + Attribute. You can also add as many Talent Dice as you want, but once you use a Talent Die, it's gone (though you can gain more). All dice that you roll are open-ended. Unless otherwise stated by the GM, the default TN (Target Number) for success is 7, with every 3 points above that indicating a greater degree of success (if possible; an attack that kills the enemy doesn't make him any more dead with 3 successes).))


Although there is no one about on the deck of the ship, Arthur does spot a flicker of movement as someone moves in front of a porthole below decks.

Other than that, there is no other sign of life aboard.

Arthur notices, however, that there is a rope hanging down from the bow of the ship.

(Assuming Arthur shares what he has seen around the ship)Grimsby says, "The rope could give us a chance to climb abroad, but if whoever is inside catches some of us climbing, it could be dangerous, as we could only climb one by one, and it would be hard to defend ourselves if we were caught hanging onto the rope. Perhaps some of us could climb while others covered the climbers from below --though only being armed with pistols, our range would be limited."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Wed 29 May 2019.

Pointing out the various points of interest he is able to see Arthur then adds "The rope would be a risk, but it is the only point of entry I see. Now I would volunteer myself, but these old arms probably would not help in anyway."


-

"Do you see any signs of a rope ladder on the deck?" Felicity asks Arthur.

"Could that rope be an anchor? If the ship if floating on liftwood, the wind could blow it away, right? So, it needs an anchor."

"Does it have any means of propulsion other than the mast and sail?"

"There must be someone on board!" Brie insisted.

"I mean... how were they going to get on board otherwise? I just can't see one of them climbing the rope; that makes no sense."

"Let me see if I can sense someone on board. He might be sleeping below deck."

23:16, Today: Brie O'Malley rolled 13 using 4 dice with the WEG Classic system (({Wild}5,1,5,2)). Mind Reading.

"Not liftwood? Wow, I've seen so many new things on this trip already!" Catherine says enthusiastically.

She blushes and grips her skirt. "I'm certainly not climbing up while someone is below"

"Miss Catherine, you are in the company of gentlemen!" Aubrey mildly exclaims with a touch of humor.

"If any of us were looking up, it would only be so we could catch you if you fell!"

"I'm not even sure I could climb that rope, but only one or two of us would need to do that anyway, as there must be a rope ladder on it... at the very least."

He waited for Brie to do whatever it was that she did. He'd heard of the mystics of the India and the far east, but until he met Brie, he'd always assumed they were all charlatans.

In reply to Aubrey St. Claire (msg # 791):

While waiting for Brie to come out of her trance...or intense focus...or whatever--while Joseph now accepted the reality of Brie's...abilities...he still didn't understand a cow-pie's chance in Hell worth of how it all worked.  For now, he'd just accept it.

Anyway, Joseph responded quietly to Aubrey and Catherine,

"Alright, I have an idea for a plan--let me know what y'all think." Joseph said, then started gesturing as he explained.

"Myself and Miss Felicity go down to the rope to cover a climber--as I assume we two're likely the best pistol shots--no offense meant Grimsby, but I'm hoping you'll be too busy to use your pistol, as I'd like you to be the one to do the rope climbing."

"The rest of you wait here, watching over the ship with Mr. Russell's spyglass.  If you see someone coming out onto the deck, someone give with a bird-whistle...or just flat-out whistle, if'n nobody knows any bird calls."

"Once Grimsby is up on the deck, he can provide cover with his pistol while I climb up, then the two of us will search for an alternate method of getting everyone up on the deck.  Once we've found a rope ladder, a boarding ladder, or maybe even gangplank, we'll signal for everyone to join us up on deck--and then we'll all see about locating the crew."

"I have experience with ships on water--I, uh, attended a Naval Academy as a boy, and I spent a few years at sea, before I met up with Miss Felicity and her Father in Texas--so I have some confidence I may recognize what we need to get everyone up there."

"So, any suggestions?  Anyone?  Maybe I missed something?"

Grimsby replied,"I am quite willing to be first up the ladder --under the cover of Mr. Hunnisett's and Miss Van Horn's pistols --and then to provide cover for them as they climb. As soon as Miss O'Malley has performed her ...operation ... I am ready to go up."