Steampunk Roleplay

After reading through everyones characters so far I'm really impressed, and thought with such fleshed out characters I can already feel a whole world coming together.

On this note, I was wondering if anyone wanted to start a Steampunk roleplaying section of the forums?

Post feedback and idea's here

an in character development/circle writing group would really be cool. Perhaps a London Dive Gin bar and gambling den - The Never Ending Task, a place to bring the 'Punk in all of us to life?

Ooo that sounds pretty cool to me, Iv'e not really done roleplay before so for people like me perhaps we could have a little intro into how roleplay etc works

Think a few of us are just starting out

*apologises for the noobiness*

*joins in Shadow's noobs apologies* yeah this is a confusing world but would be really cool as a character development exercise ^_^

Roleplaying is a lot like just doing drama stuff really, you think about how your character would react in these situations that arise. It does get easier with time.

Says the guy who did GCSE and A level drama as well as amateur theatre company and has been a tabletop/live action roleplayer since 2006...

Iv'e done alot of acting and writing so I guess I should be ok here hehe

Was thinking about the general 'rules' and how things actually work, like is there turn taking when writing, how much do you write, what's the general etiquette?

*Just to get people Started*

From the hubbub and bustle of the busy city streets, where horseless carriges and steam powered Land Trains trundle and rattle noisily over cobbled streets of a past but not altogether forgotten age, a short flight of worn, moss encrused steps decends to an equal weather beaten and inobvious black door. A small brass plaque, something that wouldn't seem out of place on the fronting of a dentist, cobblers, or back ally thurmaturge, proclaims the premises The Never Ending Task. The faint tones of softly played Jazz music drift through the cracks between wall and door.
Beyond the portal, a softly lit, smokey tap room opens up, the bar a long length of aged wood that could have stood there since time immemorial, and had a tap room built around it, it bears the ancient battle scars of generations of drinkers, drifters, dreamers and Grifters, and its stools stand inviting and ready to accomodate.
The corners of the room seem to draw shadows and soft words, and the heavy, heady scents of Eastern herbs and strong liquor do better than stone walls to mask the conversations of the shadowy denziens of the stalls and booths that line them.
The Barman, a bear of a man of indeterminate age and temperament, his red brocade waistcoat pulled tight over the seedy fat of a muscular man turned to pudding, polishes a dirty glass with a rag, that he tosses over his shoulder with a practiced flick. the bottles and barrels that frame his behind his bulwark seem to glimmer invitingly.

"Welcome, Stranger" He says, his accent as hard to place as the rest of him, "I can't say i've seen you around these parts before. still, they all come here eventually, one way or another. So, what'll it be?"

Julia stopped eyeing the patrons suspiciously and turned back to the bartender. 'Water please.' She replied absently as she turned to study the crowded bar again.
Julia took a sip of her water and wrinkled her nose, her attention finally drawn away from the other drinkers. She eyed the glass, then decided she wasn't that thirsty after all. She had gradually gotten used to establishments like this, and the people that came with it. She smiled slightly to herself, wondering what her parents would have thought if they'd seen her in a place such as this.
Picking up her glass again she moved a table in one of the darker corners of the room. Settled down she noted that the smoke of the room wasn't so much there due to bad habits, but instead helped conceal faces that did not want to be seen. Julie nodded to herself, her client had picked a good place to meet.
Julia didn't want to be seen and she was sure her client did not want to be seen with her just as much. She settled down in the hard chair and waited, eye's on the door.

With his back pressed firmly to the wall, Quicksilver took a glance around the room, noting the entrances and exits again, and making note of where people were carrying a weapon, and what that weapon could be. His Odd Duck revolver sat across his lap, a comfortable weight pressing him down, grounding him in his seat, but he saw no reason to draw it, not yet anyhow. In one hand, he swirled the cheap glass of brandy, letting the amber liquid effervess slightly against the walls of cheaply cut crystal, before taking down the tinniest sip, the liquid burning on his tongue, seeting off a resonece wit hthe Mumbleweed vapours that still clung to his person, fuzzing his mind just enough that he maintained a relaxed watchfulness. Say anything you liked about the 'Task, but they knew how to carry a good brandy - if you had the sovereigns to pay - and their 'Weed suppliers had never been known to cut the Eastern herb with anything more than cooking herbs. it was the best that could be hoped for in the metropolis.
Quicksilver marked the passage of a young woman, chuckling silently as the screwed up her face at what Rolo considered 'drinking' water, and sat back. She wasn't who he was looking for either. Lechance would be getting bored, waiting, but Quicksilver knew he couldn't make any kind of a move until the time was right. If nothing else, the rifle that rolo kept under the table would put a large hole in his ambitions, if things went wrong.
The Jazz band in the far corner started into another number, their auto-horns crooning out a melancholy whine and hum that set Quicksilvers thoughts turning, and made the Brandy turn all the crisper on his tongue. He felt suddenly like a character in a Penney Dreadful, some Noir detective, waiting out the misty city for a chance at his Mark.
If Lechance ever heard him say that, she's laugh in his face. he settled himself, and sat back - letting the music and the mumbleweed lull him, while he waited for the man who would make his fortune - this time anyway.

Julia was not used to waiting. It usually took clients a long time, going through many, many people to actually get to meet her. Not to mention alot of money. So she was not used to waiting.
She took a deep sigh, inadvertantly inhaling the smoke that the bar passed off as air, making her cough violently. There was nothing for it, she grimiced and took a delicate sip of water, almost immediately wishing she hadn't.

This was not doing anything to improve her mood and she almost considered getting up to leave when she remembered why she was here. Julia sighed and settled back down. She had a debt to repay. Her normally emotionless eye's betrayed a glimmer of long carried pain. She was here to heal, someone needed her, badly.

From what she understood, the man's child was dying of an unknown illness and with one thing and another, had heard her name and had spent his last penny hunting her down. She could not leave his child to death. Her previous profession meant she had a vast knowledge of poisons, and this looked to be the case.

Julia eyed up the patrons again, noting each and everyone, seeing if any caused a glimmer of recognition. Her gaze lingered on a man sitting against a wall, sipping some kind of alcohol. She almost hadn't noticed him, the way he blended into the scenery unnerved her. She shuddered and looked away just in time to see a woman she really hadn't wanted to see come through the doors.

A man stalks into the bar, sidling past a woman who entered moments before. He wears a utilitarian overall, customised with various military-like patches depicting a hammer and a sickle, as well as numerous chains and keys, which has been opened over the chest, revealing a plated vest beneath. From his waist hangs a belt carrying numerous brass-barreled pistols and more interestingly a sword, who's blade was a deep, shifting blue, which, while beautiful, was difficult to look at, like it shouldn't be. He strides through the bar, looking highly out of place, especially with a tattoo wrapping one side of his from his left temple to jawline. Viewers have the strange feeling that the bizarre pattern shifts when they're not looking at it. He reaches the bar and orders in heavily accented english (interspersed with foreign words).

"A measure of vodka if you could, and a pint of beer, spasibo."

He turns from the bar, throwing back the vodka, and nearly choking as the paint thinner like fluid burns his throat. Scowling he looks at the glass before placing it back on the bar, looking displeased but not surprised, before surveying the other patrons, noting in particular an adventurous-looking man sat against by a wall, as well as a woman with a glass of what could loosely be described as drinking water, before raising his freshly drawn pint to his lips.

Quicksilver takes te measure of the man standing at the bar, and more importantly at the sword hanging bare bladed from his hip. from a satchel sitting by his his, Quicksilver pulled a sheaf of papers, mostly stamped with the hammer and sickle design of the Red military. The face that stared out at him from the Heliotype was younger, less marked, but definatley familiar. He glanced quickly through the remaining sheaves, and smiled, slugging back the brandy in a bruttish way - a crime against alchohol if there ever was one. He signalled Rolo with a nod to refill the mans glass, and one for himself, as he slid the Odd Duck back into its holster and stood, walking slowly toward the bar, with a distracted air.

"Seems to me you've travelled a long way to be here, friend. from what i hear, that isn't so easy to do these days in the U.R.R.S. care to join me for a drink or three?"

Julia stared at the woman who just came through the doors, hardly daring to take her eye's off her so she barely noticed the man who came in just after. She tried to blend into the background as she had seen the man across the room do, but was uncomfortably aware she had not dressed the part. She was out of practice.
The woman then looked straight at her. Julia stiffened and tried to to let her emotions show. The woman made her way slowly over to Julia's table and sat opposite her. 'You're a difficult woman to find these days, even more difficult than before.' She smiled. Julia looked at her evenly, saying nothing. The other woman sighed.
'Listen, we want your services, we will pay.'
'I follow a different path now, you know that.' Julia replied, hand reaching into her bag slowly. But the other woman missed nothing.
'You will work for us again, Julia, i'll give you leave to consider that.' The woman stated, as she stood. She gave Julia a long look. 'This will not repent you.' She said, before walking away. Julia heaved a sigh of relief as she removed her hand from her bag.
She looked around, deciding no-one had been watching the conversation too closely, and noticed the man who blended into the background was now standing with the man she had noticed before, and they were in deep conversation.

Victoria walked into the bar, keeping her head lowered, she had never been to this part of town before... and had hoped to keep it that way, but Her Captain Elsie being her boisterous self had wanted to explore before going on the next expedition, they had been seperated when Elsie had got violent with some locals and Victoria took refuge in the most inconspicuous place she could find, She clung close to the walls aware many did not want to be seen and would respect that she didn't want to be seen. She finally reached the bar, constantly looking over her shoulder, she was worried about Elsie, what if she had been caught... or hurt... or even killed. Victoria shut her eyes to stem the flow of worried tears before facing the bartender and saying "A glass of red wine if you please sir" The Bartender looked a bit shocked at her light middleclass english accent when he compared it too her grease stained patched clothes. She smiled at him politely while picking up her wine glass and heading over to table from which she could see the door, just in case Elsie, or god forbid the authorities came looking for her, if not she would just go back to the Notre Liberte and wait... patiently... like she always did on these occasions.

Whilst Julia was still getting her breath back she noticed a new patron walk in. The woman looked even more out of place than she had, and Julia recognised her middle class bearing and smiled to herself. A kindred spirit almost in this place of ruffians.
Julia watched the woman more and noticed she looked visably upset, though she tried to hide it. She wondered why a woman of her station would be in a place like this, then realising she must also be meeting someone.
Julia took a deep breath and decided to try and put the woman more at ease before the other patrons did. As she walked towards the other woman she tried to put on her friendly smile, something she was a bit out of practice with, and sat at the stool next to her, wondering why she felt the need to befriend the other woman.

Victoria stared into her wine glass, even though she was meant to be looking at the door, she was sure she'd hear it open anyway. Though she almost didn't hear the Young woman sit down next too her, she looked up and saw the unpracticed smile on her lips, she tentatively smiled back, the worry still in her eyes that the smile couldn't quite touch yet, before taking a sip of wine to clear her throat before quietly saying "Hello, My name is Victoria Wordsworth, and you might be?" She was sure her voice sounded strained under layers of holding in silent tears and stress, she was sure if she was ever a mother this was what losing a child would feel like, but still she put on a brave face, she was good at that she had been doing it for many a year now. Unconsciously her hand went up to clasp the locket and old ring that was strung round a chain on her neck before letting it go and resting her hand back on her wine glass, it was a nervous habit that she was sure she could break if she thought about it, but at the moment the effort wasn't worth it.

The other woman, Victoria, looked so heartbroken Julia felt a stab of sympathy. She looked as if she had lost someone close, whilst Julia could not understand what that felt like, she had seen it on the faces of many of her victim's families....she mentally shook herself, those were the old days.
Victoria's nervousness put her at ease and her next smile was more heartfelt. 'I'm Julia, I think you and I both look out of place in this establishment wouldn't you agree?' she asked, 'perhaps if we sit together it may not appear so obvious.' she added, nodding towards some of the clients, leering at both women.
Julia would never admit it, but part of the reason she came to sit by the other woman was that she felt the need to ease pain, physical and emotional, in whoever she met now. And she saw such raw pain in Victoria's eyes that she could not just leave her to it alone.

Victoria smiled a bit more easily "i thank you for your kindness, i admit i do not know the area well" Victoria glanced in the direction that Julia did and saw for the first time the leering eyes of the other men in the room, which made her even more glad of the young woman's company, she picked up her glass and took a sip while thinking of what to say, as she put it down she said "so, what brings you to this area, if you are free discuss such mattes?" She felt drawn to Julia sitting across from her, it was as she said clear that they didn't belong and wondered what sort of circumstances could bring one of her caliber into this seedy little tavern, she was confident in her own reasons, thinking about Elsie sent a stab of pain through her heart and quietly and quickly tried to compose her self, busying herself with looking into her glass, she tried to hide the few tears that escaped, she felt she did this sucsessfully, but then she did not know how observant Julia was. When she looked back up she was composed once again, the polite smile remained on her face, but pain still obvious behind the fake mask she wore.

Julia paused, as much as she thought the young woman opposite her had no motives behind the question she still did not know her well enough to give a full story. 'Like you appear to be, I am also waiting for someone.' She stated, making it clear, politely, that this was all she was willing to give away.
The other woman probably wouldnt notice the unsaid ommissions, she appeared to distraught and close to tears. Julia thought better than to ask the other woman why she was here, Victoria barely seemed able to keep it together as it was.

Victoria nodded not noticing the hidden meanings in her words, yet knowing enough not to pry futher, taking a deep breath before replying "it sometimes feels like forever doesn't it, i've been waiting mere minutes yet it seems like hours, i apolgise for me being emotional, i bet you wish you had taken your chances with the other punters" Victoria laughed quietly, it sound delicate and brittle, like it had not been used for years. Victoria was trying to calm herself, the wine was helping to dull the worry, she had been in many scrapes at Elsies side before this was no different really, it was just that she did not need any more enemies, she stretched her arms up and winced she remembered the side blow from a rather stocky man's metal bar which was the most likely cause of the pain, her emotional pain had dulled the physical which was slowly seeping through, she thought to her self 'i've had worse' but still did a mental stocktake of her body making sure nothing had gone numb or if flexed or stretched slightly hurt, not really caring if the Julia noticed, she had nothing to hide in this little hideaway tavern, Elsie often scolded her for being to open, not about her past, but about her present to be sure, she was an honest person, if she felt a pain was there a point i hiding it, she didn't think so.

The russian man scowls at the man who approached him.

"You know nothing of how far I have travelled, 'friend'. And where I have come from, which you know nothing, you do not trust drink bought for you by stranger. State your intent. Pfaugh, 'U.R.R.S.' He arche."

Keeping his eyes locked on the man before him, he takes a drink from his pint, his spare hand relaxed but poised near his various armaments.

Julia watched Victoria shift as in pain, this was something she could help with. 'Are you in pain my friend? pehaps this will help.' She smiled, pulling out some salve she had made. Julia offered it to Victoria. 'It helps ease pain, and stuff muscles.' She added.
At the point Julia became distracted by two men further down the bar, she could feel the tension from where she sat. Julia recognised the man she had noticed earlier, the one who appeared to fade into the shadows, standing with another man whose accent placed him from Russia.
She hoped nothing occurred as she was not in the mood for healing patrons in bar fights, and was certainly not in the mood to witness one.

Victoria smiled at Julia and said "Thankyou! i had a bit of a tumble earlier" as she accepted the salve. Victoria followed Julia's eyes to stare at the rather tense situation at the bar and thought 'oh no, i hope no one fights, i've seen enough blood for one day' before noticing the weapons at their sides and sank back into her chair, she couldn't deal weapons, her hand covered her locket, she looked at the holster at her side, it wasn't a gun but it sure looked like one, in fact it was a harmless drill, but for her own security she wasn't going to tell anyone that, she shifted it more securely onto her hip, if it turned into a fight she would have to leave, she only entered into or tolerated violence for her Elsie. She then whispered to Julia "men and there testosterone" and laughed a little more geniunely this time.

"I don't know if you know this, but i have a ship and a crew, The Bonaventure. A mighty fine vessel, though smaller than some." Quicksilver said, taking in the posture of the man at his side, and willing himself to remain relaxed, a decade or three of training telling him with every fibre of his being that pissing off this man wouldn't be wise, fun, or profitable. Unlike a lot of the time, he listened to his gut. "A man who wishes to remain anonymous, for reasons of personal safety, so he says, passed me along your name - though it appears his information, by your attitude, was a little off. It was given to me that you were a comrade of the United Republics of the Red Star. Not that it matters to me - we are all our own countries, in one form or another." Not listening to his jibe about the alchohol, Quicksilver reached over and picked up the shot of clear vodka he had paid for, and knocked it back, keeping eye contact as it burned down his throat. Still, as it hit his stomach he was forced to wheeze out a cough of disgust, muttering about the quality of the vodka anyone on this misbegotten continent seemed to enjoy. He had tasted the true grit, straight off the mountain passes of the motherland, and this was a far cry from it. he settled for his own Brandy, and toasted toward the man with his hard gaze.
"I happen to be looking for able bodied men, of all sorts though the fighting sort most of all" He said, as he soothed his throat with the velvety drink. "If you were to be looking for work, say, or wanting to keep on the move, we could perhaps come to an arrangement."

Julia laughed back at Victoria, relieving some of the tension. She sensed the other woman did not want to fight either. For Julia it would mean going against her strict pacifist stance, which she had sworn she wouldn't do, even to defend her own life.
She watched the other woman finger a locket around her neck, it was beautiful, and doubtlessly priceless. The gun at her side also looked expensive and Julia wondered if Victoria knew how to use it. It was an odd design, one even Julia had not seen before.
Julia wondered why Victoria had not left the bar when there were signs of trouble, she was clearly uneasy. 'Victoria, is the reason you are here worth this?' She asked, indicating with her head to the two men behind her.