Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 6:05 pm Post subject:

"Errr... no, sir, that all sounds very... um... complete," Jack said in his best 'coping with drunks' voice. "So, what'll it be, sir. A pint or perhaps you'd like to move on to one of our non-alcoholic bevereges?"

Trubshawe · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:48 pm Post subject:

"Yes, yes, whatever the local custom dictates," Trubshawe replies impatiently.

He points at the other patrons grouped in the bar. "And who are these people? All dressed so differently; anthropologically baffling, hmph, hmph. I know I am not dreaming, so tell me, what is this strange race of men who have so rudely brought their lands and mists to my doorstep?"

Kao Sheng · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:31 pm Post subject:

Observing the arrival of Trubshawe, Kao Sheng stepped forward to address the group.

"O distinguished travellers," he said solemnly, "It is likely that each of you has questions relating to your current inadequately explained circumstances, and this person, as he has informed some of you upon several previous occasions, is unable to provide answers that would be entirely satisfactory to such an intelligent and discriminating audience as those currently before him. Nevertheless he is permitted to make a small number of statements before he takes his leave of this assembly, and duly makes his apologies for the entirely unacceptable brevity of his inadequate explainations.

"Although each of you has been brought to this place by means upon which this intolerable person must refrain from description, he encourages you to consider what lies ahead rather than what may have been left behind. This place, which some travellers have chosen to name the Patchwork Quilt, exists outside the entire extent of any place that lies beyond it, as if it were the mountaintop from which the whole world can be viewed: And yet, it is a world unto itself, necessarily complete in all aspects which its enlightened inhabitants might care to consider. There is much that the wise may learn should they possess such honourable intentions, and yet it is not for this humble storyteller to dictate what path any other individual may choose to travel upon. He, for his part, sincerely hopes that by association with such noble individuals he may increase his stock of the stories upon which he bases his humble trade, for therin lie a multitude of truths that may serve to enlighten those who listen.

"Finally, it is, of course, with great regret that this wretched individual reiterates his declaration that he is not at liberty to reveal the precise nature or purpose of these events. However, it is rightly said that all things are very much more than they appear to be, and while the meanest peasant lives in misery here, he may be elsewhere in triumph, making the very stars."

With that, Kao Sheng bowed formally towards the assembly, and made his way towards the door.

Trubshawe · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:08 pm Post subject:

"It seems unlikely," pronounced Trubshawe after he had finished digesting what Kao Sheng had said, "that a person could spend so much time responding to a question and yet still fail in any meaningful sense to have answered it. And yet I have to say -"

His train of thought was interrupted by a holloing from outside the main doors.

"What's this?" he snarled. "Have I been followed here, by some sneak thief?" And stomping back to the doors he flung them wide to see who was there.

Karl Groever · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 9:59 pm Post subject:

Karl was pondering Kao Sheng's words, deep. A suspicion began to dawn. If this...'Patchwork' was, indeed, a network of sorts of which the Baron himself was either unaware or aware but partially...then, perhaps...if he could only make his way back to the City.
A decision reached.
'Sir,' he adressed the barkeeper once more, (in the voice most likely to endear himself to him) 'Do you happen to carry a map of the surrounding areas ? I would dearly love to make my way back home...but, I confess, I've now lost my way.' 'In your own time,' he added, in what he hoped sounded like a good - humoured tone.

Jones · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:02 pm Post subject:

"A map you say?" asked the publician, pro-offering the bottle of Sambuca to Karl. "Well, there I have good news and bad news. There is a sort of a map, but it's not the kind it's easy to duplicate or I'd be doign a roaring trade in selling copies. The geography of this place is what you might call, shifting. But there is a map, and probably not that far from here... Last customer we had who went looking for it was Captain Isobel, and she headed east."

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin blinked a little as the light from the inside spilled out onto him. In front of him stood what appeared to be a rather angry man. Caught quite off guard at his appearance Larkins brough creased a little before he said 'Ummm Hey, can I just ask what this is? If Im not disturbin or anythin.' While he tried to glance around the man to the inside of the building.

Jones · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 4:35 pm Post subject:

[OOC NOTE: Larkin was drawn aside by Jones' daughter Jane and their conversation continues in a 'Public Bar: Windowseat' subthread. Anyone joining their conversation should signal their departure from the main public bar thread appropriately.]

Karl Groever · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 9:40 pm Post subject:

' A Map...that is stored to the East ?' Karl sounded slightly bemused. 'Not the most convienient answer I might have looked for, sir. But I'm resolved to find it all the same. It might, indeed, do any or all of us good to see such a thing...for a glorious collection of lost souls we do appear to be.' (Oh, how very droll of me, flicked across his synapses, but Groever barely caught it). 'I'd still wish to take up the offer of requpiing before I set off, though.' He finished the remainder of the shot. 'Do any of you gentles wish to travel with me ?' he said to those assembled 'or might you have more pressing engagements of your own?'

Arnora · Average Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 12 Location: Yggdrasil

From where she stood on the side of the conversation Arnora considered the people gathering in this place. The tavern did seem to suit her needs as a place of gathering well. An interesting mix of people had already entered and although some would now be leaving that seemed to be a case of undue haste rather than a downside of the location itself.

Having decided on her course of action Arnora addressed the group gathered by the bar, and Mr Groever in particular.

"A place where a map of these land boundaries could be found does indeed sound interesting but I do not think that I have yet had suitable time to consider this place and those present here. I may join you at a future date but in the mean time good luck with your travels.

Some aspects of this situation are possibly less strange to me than they are to some of you."

These lands of men were different to those she was used to and no longer seemed to be connected to the roots but there did seem to be similarities. Maybe there was an equivalent to the great ash in this collection of worlds?

Trubshawe · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 12:25 pm Post subject:

Trubshawe pulled a grey handkerchief out of his pocket and mopped away the beads of sweat that had formed on his brow.

The strangeness of recent events had made him very jumpy, and when he was jumpy he snapped at people. Perfectly understandable, but it didn't seem to be making him any friends, and the last thing he wanted was for this crowd to turn ugly, no telling what might happen.

He decided to take a seat at a slight distance from the other conversations and eavesdrop for the time being. Perhaps things would start to become less baffling in time, though to be honest he didn't hold out much hope of that. He wondered how his Assistants were doing on their own explorations. Probably thoroughly incompetently. Oh well, it'd all come out at the debriefing.

Had someone said something about a drink? He could certainly do with one right about now. His grey-gloved hands shook on the table in front of him.

Jones · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 1:27 pm Post subject:

Coming around the side of the bar on his way to talk to Arnora, the publican deduced Trubshawe's state more accurately than his son and and judiciously slid a brimming pint of a nutty dark ale on to the table in front of Trubshawe.
"First drink on the house, sir," he said cheerfully. "Get some of that down you and you'll feel better."

Eyeing the conversation in the windowseat dubiously, Jones wondered if that young vagabond disputing so earnestly with his youngest daughter was quite the type he was looking for. But it was a pleasure to him to see Jane making herself hospitable for once.

"With you in a moment, sir," he said to Karl as he passed the archaeologist.

Swinging himself into a seat across from Arnora the burly publican smiled cheerfuly.
"Sorry for the delay," he said. "You said you were wanting a word with me. Does this suit or is it private business you wanted to discuss?"

Jones · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 10:41 am Post subject:

As Jones spoke to Arnora, his daughter Jane stood up suddenly from the windowseat where she had been talking in quiet tones to Larkin and stormed past the other customers, disappearing through the door to the private rooms and slamming it behind her.

Larkin Quickgrip · Good Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 60 Location: The Slums

Larkin strolled out of the windowseat a little later, having composed himself a little bit. Grumbling just a little bit, he got to the nearest table and plonked himself down. Pulling out the leaflets he had found he threw them on the table and with his head leaning on one hand began reading through them, signaling for the bar-keep with his other hand.

Jones · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 2:02 pm Post subject:

[OOC NOTE: Larkin and Trubshawe's conversation now continues in a separate subthread. Anyone joining their conversation should signal their departure from the main public bar thread appropriately.]