Patchwork Universe

The Janitor · Posted: 03 Mar 2004 11:40 pm Post subject: Pirates!

[Continued from the Mine forum]

A door inside one of the buildings to the west of the patch opened onto blackness. A man in grey clothes smudged with dirt emerged from this, then signalled for those behind him to follow.

Captain Magpie · Posted: 04 Mar 2004 10:20 am Post subject:

A few minutes walking between small buildings and dodging puddles were filled with the whispered comments between pirates (mostly concerning the rather unusual skills of their 'guide') and pleasantries from Magpie trying to hide the fact he was also very fascinated. Softly, softly, he murmured...

At last they were at the map room and the Janitor opened the dorr and gestured them inside.

"Very pretty", says Magpie to mask the fact he can't really make out too much of his surroundings.

"But I has to be asking - here we are, an awful long way from the middle of the sea, which is where we was - and more strangeness each hour."

Kerry, first mate and owner of a pair of eyes that have seen many strangenessses over the years, took in the room in a little more detail. The squares on the floor looked to be representing something, and the way they just hung there made her think of magic rather than craft.

"You mentioned a rearrangement, good sir. Perhaps you'd be good enough to explain. There's an awful lot here that doesn't make any sense"

The Janitor · Posted: 08 Mar 2004 02:25 pm Post subject:

"Well, this sort of acts as a map. You are here."

The man in grey gestured to a square near the middle that could be seen as a represenation of a collection of buildings with a square grid arrangement marked on one.

"Actually, I've always thought that that might be confusing. Hang on a moment."

The man reached into a pocket and pulled out a small pyramid, which he placed on the floor above the square. A little sign on it read: "You are here."

"Unfortunately, things move around from time to time, which is why this is useful. Your ship is now... here", he said indicating another square filled with sea.

"So, to get back to your ship you probably want to go that way", he added, pointing a little south of westward.

Captain Magpie · Posted: 08 Mar 2004 02:36 pm Post subject:

"A good looking chart, undoubtedly, and if you've a copy I could have with me that'd be of value, but you see I've a whole lot more I'm wanting to know"

Magpie took the silence from the Janitor to mean he should continue and as he did he noticed himself ticking off points on his fingers.

"So, where were we before?"
"And what's the scale on this map, anyway?"
"And how did we get here from that dark place?"
"And can you do it again?"
"Or show me how to?"
"And where are we? I mean where is all of this? I don't know if you know the Caribbean, Atlantic, Pacific or even the sweet little Mediterranean, but I don't see any of them here, just a few patches of blue here and there..."

Captain Magpie · Posted: 08 Mar 2004 02:58 pm Post subject:

Kerry, and several of the others, could tell Magpie was a little rattled. He was out of his element and no mistake. And if he was worried, she was certain she should be too... you got many stories which started with a decent few days drinking and ended with being somewhere you'd never known before, but it didn't prepare you. Not one bit.

She turned her attention back to the shimmering map

The Janitor · Posted: 10 Mar 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

"Hmm, well where I found you wandering around is, erm, down here somewhere."

The man scanned the map and indicated a very dark square far to the south.

"Now, that used to be directly south of where your ship was. However, as you can see it isn't anymore."

"As to scale, well, the side of each of these is a bit over two and a half nautical miles."

"As to how we got where, I took you through one of the back ways. Mainly used for maintenance."

liason · Posted: 26 Mar 2004 02:15 pm Post subject:

As the visitors inspected the map, a figure appeared in the doorway. Mostly covered by a long, dark cloak, his skin was very pale and his eyes narrow slits. This combined with his fine, dark hair gave him an almost oriental appearance, lessened somewhat by his considerable height.

"I am Ambassador Liason of the Imperial Foundry," he bowed to the assembled company, "I hope I am not disturbing anything ?"

Captain Magpie · Posted: 27 Mar 2004 03:57 pm Post subject:

Magpie's thoughts had been racing - he'd found the lengthy examination of the map fascinating. An old proverb sprang to mind 'first find out where you are, then where you want to be. The rest is action."

His ship was right at the centre of the world, and from what the Janitor had said he was in a much better place than before. Of course, it was supposed to be in the middle of an ocean, and two and a half miles really wasn't far - not mroe than a few minutes with a decent wind.

But if you were going to do well you had to make the best of whatever you were given. And this was an extraordinarily interesting place - he'd asked about most of the patches, as this man called them, and he'd liked what he heard. A pub to the North of his patch, a Museum to the West, and this Foundry to the East. The first a good place for information and recruits, and the others all sounded well worth visiting.

The Foundry had sounded particularly interesting - "A great production facility. Lots of things are for sale there.", the Janitor had said. And this new arrival might be their ticket in.

He turned to the doorway, shading his eyes from the glare of light relative to the dark inside.

"Magpie", he said, and bowed slightly. "My crew", he added and indicated them with a sweep of his arm. "And the Janitor", as he indicated the man in the grey uniform. "We're from the Seventh Sea. And perhaps we might visit your Foundry, Liaison."

liason · Posted: 27 Mar 2004 04:59 pm Post subject:

"Indeed you might, all customers are welcome there, though..." Liason paused slightly, "...now might not be the best time. Unusual events have lately been unfolding and our stocks are rather low, amongst other things."

Approaching the map with some care, Liason cast his eyes over it.

"Is this where all those arrows point, Magpie ?"

He was very conscious of how badly outnumbered he was here. If this 'Magpie' meant him harm, he would be lucky to escape with his life.

Guest · Posted: 27 Mar 2004 05:52 pm Post subject:

"This is the Map Room." said Magpie, striding over to the map. "...and this is The Map. Your Foundry is just down there."

"Sorry to hear you're having minor problems there. If you're short handed I've an ex-smith I could lend to you. And I'm sure you're not completely short of goods worth trading, to the right customer. Either way I'm sure I'll make my way to you before too long... "

He decided on an authoratative turn. The ambassador obviously considered him in charge here, and there was no harm keeping that belief alive. The large cuffs on his coat kept his hands mostly hidden, but he swept his hat off and used one of it's three corners to point at the map.

"Now then - we're from the Seventh Sea. It's just down here. Our ship's there, and although the ocean's an awful lot smaller than it once was, it's just as wet..."

His eyes drifted further down the map, to the other patch of rippling blue.

"As, I'm sure, is the water here..."

He turned to the Janitor who was unassumingly, and possibly unconsciously, hiding in a shadowy corner of the room.

"Any boats turned up there, Janitor?" he asked.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 157 Location: HMS Justice

As if on cue, Captain DeRainault sprung forward from her place of concealment. Her pistol was was in her left hand, drawn and aimed point blank at the pirate Magpie, while her right hand rested at on the sword hanging at her left hip, ready to draw. Immediately she cried "Now my lads, hold fast!" and from around every exit and corner emerged a sailor or marine, weapons ready and focused on the nearest pirate. Lieutenant Stafford and Doctor Domenova were amongst the group as well, the Lieutenant looking determined, as he was aiming at two men, and the Doctor likewise, cooly holding a drawn pistol in each hand. Noting the presence of the Ambassador, a brief expression of surprise flickered over Stafford's features, and he tried to catch the man's gaze in order to signal that he should be prepared to take cover.

"Well, well, well if it isn't the pirate Magpie. Last I saw you, I'd clapped you in irons and handed you safely over to nine armed agents of the East India Company. " Keeping a sharp eye on the man, DeRainault watched for any sign of sudden movement or a signal for attack. "You escaped, I suppose - one can never trust those bureaucrats to know how to handle a proper brigand." Still focused on Magpie, she continued addressing the others. "Ambassador Liason, and the other gentleman, I hope you have not been harmed or inconvenienced by this rabble. I suggest you take cover, however, as the situation may turn violent. The rest of you, throw down any weapons you're holding and put your hands in the air. Seeing as these are unusual circumstances, I'm prepared to delay any sanctions until we've had a chance to question you all, but rest assured - " and this, with a little quirk of her eyebrow. "you will be brought to Justice."

liason · Posted: 28 Mar 2004 09:33 am Post subject:

Catching Stafford's glance, Liason had moved before Captain DeRainault had so much as finished speaking. He dashed to the corner of the room - to guard his back - and by the time the sweep of his cloak revealed him again, his rapier was in his hand.

He said nothing, however. It was clear enough that these two Captains were enemies. Given the number of armed men present and the confined space in which they were standing there was potential for a very nasty fight.

Captain Magpie · Posted: 29 Mar 2004 07:41 pm Post subject:

He addressed DeRainault directly, but let his eyes wander the room to seek advantage.

"Firstly. You may address me as Captain Magpie and secondly if you think 'unusual circumstances' covers this then you're very much mistaken."

He shrugged his shoulders and his big coat shifted, falling apart a little at the front and exposing a rather over fussy collar. He made a show of counting the opposition, pointing vaguely at each.

"I'll acknowledge there's a number of you, and an even larger number of weapons. Some of them might even work."

There was no way of knowing if she'd fought in these conditions, but he sowed the seed of doubt anyway. Off to one side Scissors looked at Kerry and she looked back. They looked in the way of an appraiser, or streetfighter - where were the weapons, and were they ready? Each seemed satisfied.

Magpie carried on looking around at the arrayed forces, and carried on speaking - time gained was surprise deflected...

"Listen up crew. She may be just a lackey of the king (there was definitely no capital to start the word when it came from Magpie's lips), but I've known people slow, dim and unlucky enough for her to catch, and they weren't that much slower or dimmer than us. Luck, we probably have.

Back to the Naval commander - "What's your intention here Sailor? And what makes you think you have the slightest authority?"

The Janitor · Posted: 31 Mar 2004 06:00 pm Post subject:

The man in grey seemed to lose interest in the standoff, and instead directed his attention to the map.

Those in the crowd willing to break their concentration on the confrontation between the two captains could see that the map was becoming blurred, as if viewed though a poorly made telescope.

Captain Isobel DeRainault · Good Joined: 20 Jan 2004 Posts: 157 Location: HMS Justice

Out of the corner of her eye, DeRainault had noted the movements of Liason and the Grey Man. Satisfied that the Ambassador had moved himself to a position of safety, and that the deity seemed unconcerned, she continued to focus her attention and her weapon on Magpie as he responded.

"Damn your impudence, pirate!" This, with almost a chuckle in her voice. "None of your tricks, thank you. We'll relieve you of your weapons, and *then* we'll talk. Habbakuk, keep trained on two of them. Baker! As soon as hands are up where we can see them, you will assume possession of pistols and swords. Now, hands in the air, I said."

I was clear that the Captain was not in a conversational mood. Nor, apparently, did she feel it necessary to justify herself to a rabble of scallywags. The Naval uniform and bearing spoke for itself.