Patchwork Universe

Patchwork Universe · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:10 am Post subject: Hazard Warnings

From the northern edge of the patch the work crew returned. In addition to their tools, they were heavily swathed in an abundance of protective clothing. Bulky boiler suits with sturdy helmets, heavy gloves and thick-soled boots concealed their bodies. Two were pulling a trolly which contained a massive metal cylinder attached to a long hose with a wide nozzle. Another two carried projectile weapons with a stock of narrow darts. A fifth was hauling a heavy sack which from the smell contained a significant quantity of raw meat.

They progressed speedily towards the hole they had dug earlier and began errecting triangular signs, each marked with a symbol: a flame, a lightening bolt, a floodwave and and slope of falling rocks.

Jones · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:57 pm Post subject:

Before long the work crew were back in the hole and working with impressive speed. They were erecting some kind of structure, one with surprisingly deep foundations, the reason for the break thoroughb to the caves in the first place. Now men guarded the cave end of the hole with soem sort of cattle-prods, that emitted blue sparks when jabbed towards any approaching monsters.

The men at ground level were deploying the hose from the water cylinder against a curious fire drake when Jones, the publican, began to crawl slowly forward across the scrubland towards the hole. He was keeping low and tring not to be seen as he sought to discover who these people were and what they were doing digging up his home.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:16 pm Post subject:

Deep in the hole metal tracks were being laid but Jones' view of this was onscured by the structure that was being put up around the hole. It was a wood and stone building, great stone slabs being conveyed from the mists to the north and being winched into place and slapped together with some kind of cement.

Jones watched this industry with suspicion and distrust. The speed at which the building was being constructed suggested some form of divine intervention and he was well aware that at least one God had been hanging around the pub for the past few days.

He had an urge to charge in with axe and wand and put a stop to this. But not only was he vastly outnumbered he couldn't help but notice the men were filling in the hole. Filling in the hole, he felt could onoly be a good thing.

Setting down to wait, he decided he'd let them complete their task and *then* charge in and let them know in no uncertain terms how he felt about their invasion of his home.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 3:07 pm Post subject:

He didn't have long to wait. As he watched a couple of the workmen carried a painted sign, fixing it to swing between two poles just outside the structure. In the light of their torches he could read the words clearly:
Jonestown Station

As they hung the sign in place the last planks of the flat roof were dropped into place and abruptly the scene was illuminated by dazzling sunshine.

The artificial cloud of night that had been cast over the farmland was gone, as if it had never been. In its place was the glorious sunshine of a summer afternoon.

Jones gaped at the transformation and turned to look back at his pub. In the daylight it was plain to see it was on fire, a pillar of smoke coming up from the building and above it two flying shapes, circling like birds of prey.

Jones · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:25 pm Post subject:

Turning his back on the new building Jones turned and ran in the direction of his pub.

ooc: Jones now leaves (and ends) this thread