Cycle 1062, Day 33: Gwynedd

[atpollard]

(Since the sun follows a 40 Earth Day cycle, time is measured by bells that ring every hour on the hour. There are 8 “hours” in a “shift” and 3 “shifts” in a “day”. There are 40 “days” in a “cycle” and 9 “cycles” in an Earth year … but the “cycle” is the standard unit of calendar time. It has been 1062 cycles since the Traveller’s Aid Society made the first Communication Lighthouse operational and transformed society with instantaneous communications.)

I always hated it when a game started out with a group of strangers standing around a bar trying to decide where to go and what to do and why they should be together … B O R I N G …

Since this is MY game, I get to decide how it begins …


Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]

The captain of the steamship ‘New Dawn’ leaned against the railing on the small deck forward of the wheelhouse and measured four fingers between the horizon and the sun that hung frozen in the sky. ‘Two days til sunset’, he thought.

“We’re steaming too fast.” shouted the First Officer through the near gale winds and driving rain.

“What about that gunboat?” replied the Captain.

“Out of range and still falling further behind” replied the First Officer. “It’s the reefs that worry me.”

“Aye, the reefs MAY kill us” nodded the Captain, “but that gunboat surely will. Tell the Engineer to keep giving me as much as the boilers can take until we reach a safe harbor.”

******

Down in the Upper Parlor, the First Class Passengers gathered. Crew assisted the passengers in putting on life-vests and organizing them into groups according to lifeboats … just as a precaution.

“Whatever is making that terrible racket?” asked a woman with a feathered hat to one of the crew. He didn’t answer.

“Blasted pirates shot away a rudder and part of the wheel” responded a man with a large mustache. Several gentlemen debated whether a ship could steer without a rudder.

******

On the lower deck, Second Class Passengers gathered in the Lower Parlor as a crewman handed out life-vests and left the passengers to put them on themselves. The rear facing windows of several staterooms gave all too good a view of the damaged paddlewheel.

******

On the main deck, alongside the freight, the Third Class Passengers huddled in near darkness, wondered what was happening as the machinery screeched and the waves pounded against the hull around them.



Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5 [Hamlet of Gwynedd: 45N,25W]

In spite of the raging storm, most of Gwynedd gathered at the dock to stare northwest at the dim setting sun and the approaching steamship.

A Pilot Gig launched through the rough surf and cut a fast path towards the approaching ship. Six skilled rowers raced to deliver a pilot to the ship to guide it into port. A ship that size might earn a man a month’s wages in a day for guiding it safely in.

“Dang fool’s gonna run ‘er aground” said an old man standing on the dock with a pipe clenched in his teeth. “Look at ‘em steamin’ in so fast. Don’t ‘e know low means slow, and the tide, it don’t git much lower than this.”

As if reaching the same conclusion, several small fishing boats were pushing off to rescue survivors.

One Salvage Barge, a small steam powered boat with a large hoist, was also preparing to head out. “A share of the salvage to any man that comes aboard to help” shouts the heavy set mechanic that Captained the Salvage Barge.

[Pulpatoon]

Silas Ignatius Kitt, serving in a short-term position as assistant to the Second Mate aboard the New Dawn, rushed to distribute life vests, sparing a brief thought to his steamer trunk. Obviously he couldn't go for it until everyone else was safe. But even then, if everyone were clear and he had time to make it to his bunk, could he wrestle it above decks in time?

Foolish musings, he chides himself. He was no better than the first class passengers who were shoving their jewelry in their underpants when they should be lining up for the lifeboats.

But still, even if he had to abandon the trunk, he reckoned he could rescue his manuscript.

[Leitz]

First Class passengers milled about, either looking at the portals to the lifeboats or nervously joining in any conversation that would take their mind off the danger.

Diana sighed. The crewman had gotten gropy with the life vest and she had shoo'd him away with a firm stare and a hand on one of her revolvers. She was no better off than the others; her sea time was aboard as mobile cargo, not crew.

She shook her head. She had something they didn't; a nagging do-gooder older brother who would never let her live down not helping the Third Class passengers. "Everyone can drown." James would say. Diana scowled, threw her small seabag over one shoulder, and headed down.

Fortunately for the crew they had seen her enough to know the pistols she wore were not just for show. Even the loader with the long sideburns quit quoting policy when she flicked the peace strap off the right side revolver. She slid the bar back and pulled the door open.

A buck toothed guy with curly hair fell onto the deck in front of her. He quickly scrambled back and stood up, his eyes not leaving her sidearms.

"What's your name?" Diana said. Her Britannic accent never blended well with her Espanic clothing.

"Claude...Claude Herve." He gulped.

"Okay Claude, you're now in charge of the Third Class passengers." She did her best to sound like she knew what she was doing. James would be proud of the attempt, anyway. "The crew is doing their best to get us away from a pirate ship. The storm is getting rough. The ship is shot up a little. You need to keep this door open. If you hear the 'Abandon Ship' bell you need to get everyone into the water. Do you understand?"

"Uh...uh..." Claude gulped.

"What do you do, Claude?" Diana yelled over a sudden gale. Water poured across the deck.

"Door open. Get everyone into the water." Claude said.

"Wait for the 'Abandon Ship', Claude. Do not go until then!" Diana said loudly. Claude nodded.

Diana had done her duty. "Hope you're satisfied, James." She muttered as she looked up the stairwell back to First Class. She wasn't sure she could make it if she had to keep fighting the ship's movement. She'd be lucky not to puke her guts out.

[ffilz]

Samuel had been sleeping in the inn when the commotion woke him up. Since leaving his ship (I'm thinking a merchant sailing ship), Samuel has been taking it a bit easy and slowly making his way back home for lack of anything better to do with his life. When he hears the call for help, he quickly dresses and grabs his doctor's bag and heads to see how he might be able to help. Hearing the call of the salvage captain and figuring that would be the best platform for tending to injured survivors, he quickly boards the ship, the salvage captain seeing the doctor's bag lends him a hand in boarding, directing him to the wheelhouse.

In his thick Orkney accent: Dr. Linkletter at your service, thanks for the hand.

Samuel quickly makes his way to the wheelhouse and finds a corner to be out of the way of the crew and awaits the action.

[Urson]

Josephine

Josephine Baxter-Smith or "Oiler Jo," as she was usually called by the Chief Engineer, wrestled with an oversized pipe wrench, struggling to secure a valve that had decided to burst a seal under full steam. Sweat soaked her hair, dripping from the end of the braid. All around her, men shouted orders, cursed, and fought overworked machinery.

Mechanic Second Williams shouted in panic, We're going tae drown roight here!, and was roundly cursed by the Chief Engineer.

Jo finished with the valve, hung the wrench on a nearby stanchion, and moved to grab a shovel, loading coal into the boiler with the black gang.

Fortunate I've got my whole life packed in that steamer trunk.. she thought, blessing the luck that had put her in the berth closest to the stairs.

[Inferno]

Phineas T. Codswallop, enterprising self-starter:

In the main hallway of the first class cabins, little Phineas merrily lets his voice out a few notches while feigning abject terror. "Run for your lives! We're under attack from bloodthirsty pirates and are about to run aground on the rocks! Don't waste time with your belongings! They can't help you now! Save yourselves while you still can! Quick! To the upper parlor! There aren't enough life boats for everyone!"

Once the panicked throngs are gone, Phineas will quietly loot the first class cabins of whatever treasures were left behind in the mad rush.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:25 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]
The Pilot Gig approached the fast moving steamer. The rowers pulled for all they were worth to reach the ship before the ship reached the rocks. From the front of the gig, the Pilot stared up at the Captain perched on his lookout casually staring ahead. "Dang fool doesn't even realize the danger he is in." shouted the Pilot to the rowers over the howl of the wind. A few exchanged shouts, a wave slamming the gig against the side of the ship, and some assistance from several crewmen and the Pilot was aboard. He hurried up the forward stairs towards the Bridge.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:29 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]
Upper Deck: Staterooms
"Run for your lives! We're under attack from bloodthirsty pirates and are about to run aground on the rocks! Don't waste time with your belongings! They can't help you now! Save yourselves while you still can! Quick! To the upper parlor! There aren't enough life boats for everyone!" shouted Phineas.

Nervous passengers exited their staterooms, more confused than alarmed, yet several did wander down the corridor towards the commotion in the Parlor. The tone abruptly changed when shouting suddenly erupted from the direction of the Parlor.

"My God, they can't steer the ship!" came a shout from down the hall and suddenly the confusion was instantly transformed into a genuine, total panic. Sounds of gunfire came from the Parlor, followed by screams ... and Phineas found himself alone in a quiet hallway with ten staterooms waiting to be looted (at 10 minutes each).

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:30 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]
Upper Deck: First Class Parlor
Assistant to the Second Mate Silas was helping an attractive but nervous young lady secure the straps on her vest, and ignoring the banter of the 'armchair engineers' about the ability of a steamship to steer by varying the speed of the two half-wheels at the stern. Suddenly a group of agitated passengers hurried into the room and began asking questions about the ship sinking and the number of lifeboats. As several crewmen attempted to calm the situation and answer their questions, one of the new arrivals got into a shouting match with the 'armchair engineers'. Soon the entire room was in a complete panic. Passengers began to rush towards the lifeboats and a junior officer drew a revolver to attempt to restore order. He was shot by a passenger with a derringer and the crew panicked along with the passengers ... all convinced the ship was sinking.

Silas knew that nothing could stop the passengers and crew from launching lifeboats at this point, but if he headed to his cabin immediately, he could retrieve his chest and still get to the lifeboats before they were lowered. Staring down, the young Officer was dead and his revolver was laying a few feet from the expanding puddle of red surrounding his corpse.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:31 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]
Main Deck: Second Class Parlor
Diana successfully climbed the pitching stairs from the Lower Deck to the Main Deck ... without being unwell. However, the violence of the waves, the sound of gunshots and screams from the Upper Deck and the swarm of people pushing and shoving and trampling each other in a stampede towards the lifeboats, all convinced her to stop at the Main Deck and take shelter in the Second Class Parlor. There was still plenty of time to join a First Class Brawl, if she changed her mind.

In the Second Class Parlor, the Crew had distributed life vests and the passengers seemed to have self-organized and assisted each other in putting them on. Unlike the chaos above you, things here were calm and orderly.

"Excuse me, Miss. Are you lost?" said a portly man with a sidearm. From his boots, holster and nightstick, you suspect that he is an off-duty police officer travelling among the passengers and likely part of the reason for the order. "This is no time to be wandering about outside."

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:32 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]
Lower Deck: Third Class Commons
The poor travelling in the Spartan "steerage" class among the freight had little clue what was happening or what they should do. Most began to gather their possessions together ... it was all they knew.

Claude waited at the upper door and thought about what it meant to be in charge of the Third Class passengers like the lady had said. He felt like he should be doing something, but had absolutely no idea what. Finally, he couldn't stand to just stand there holding a door open. Claude went down the stairs to the Third Class Commons.

******

"Jo, run aft and lay eyes on the engine and wheels. The boiler and engine can handle these pressures for a while, but I'm worried about putting this sort of a poundin' on a damaged wheel" said the Chief Engineer.
Josephine left the twin boilers in the front of the ship and ran through the Cargo Hold, cut across the Passenger Commons, through the aft cargo hold and stopped briefly to watch the oscillating steam cylinders. They were simple and rugged and nearly indestructible. Then she slipped through the small hatch rather than using the large door and stood on the outriggers at the stern of the ship supporting the giant paddlewheels.

One wheel looked like a smile missing a few teeth. Several blades had been damaged by the Bow Cannon on the ship chasing yours. The engineer had been right to worry about those damaged paddles. A loose paddle can do a lot of damage if it hits the wrong thing or gets jammed in the wrong space. Fortunately, the wheel had thrown all the broken pieces clear of the ship, so they had lost efficiency but the wheel should hold.

As she turned to duck back inside, something in the water caught her attention. Josephine SAW a rock under the water. One did not need to be a professional Navigator to know that if you can see a rock in the water, it is much too close to the surface to be travelling at full speed. Josephine suddenly knew in the core of her being that this ship was going to hit a rock and sink.

Sparing a quick glance around for some sign of land, Josephine spotted a small steamer ... probably a Harbor Tug ... heading towards them from the south.

******

Jo was passing through the commons again when there was a loud "BANG" against the side of the hull.

"What was that?" asked a frightened woman.

"Did we hit a rock?" asked an old man.

Light entered through the cabin door at the top of the stair that had been latched open. "Uh, I dunno. I don't think so" said a nervous Seamen First Class who has joined the 'Low Passengers' as the crew called them.

Jo rolled her eyes. These people don't even know the difference between the sound of wood hitting stone and wood hitting wood. Josephine recognized the sound of a small boat bumping against the ship in the rough waves.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:35 [Salvage Tug No. 1: 45N,25W]
The Tug approached the Steamship only a few minutes behind the Pilot Gig but struggled to keep up with the larger ship. The Tug put on more steam pressure and the pipes began to glow a dull read as the stern wheel turned even faster. You were keeping pace with the ship.

The Tug made several attempts to get close to the ship, but the swells larger than either ship made it too dangerous and the Tug kept pulling away. "I guess we'll just have to wait for the dang fool to crash." said Bartholomew, the large skipper of the Salvage Tug.


Dr Samuel Linkletter had plenty of time to watch the large ship from several sides as the Tug maneuvered around it. On the Bridge lookout, the Captain stood calmly. In the stern was battle damage to the wheel and hull above the water. On the Upper Deck, Passengers and crew seemed to have already begun lowering lifeboats and abandoning ship. While pondering all of this, Doc noticed the Pilot Gig and wondered if it might be capable of ferrying him from the Tug to the Ship? However, if they have begun to abandon ship would it be better to just remain on the tug until the lifeboats arrive here?

[Leitz]

Panicked feet beat the deck above; shouts were muffled but audible.

"Better outside than back there." Diana replied, her hat tipped up. She leaned against a wall to steady herself and catch a breath. "My insufferably gallant brother wouldn't let my ghost rest if I didn't ensure the Thirds were aware of the issues and had an exit plan. Father took our obligations seriously but James is a zealot."

"Ah, sorry. Diana Hayes" She braced herself with one hand on a table and extended her other. "This lot seems to be keeping their wits about them. Better company, too. You keeping them organized?"

[Pulpatoon]

Silas "Ignatz" Kitt freezes for a moment. These sort of wild calamities are why the Navy trained you so rigorously... but then, Silas and the Navy hadn't really gotten along. What should he do? What would his old captain on the academy boat have wanted him to do?

Restore order, right? Panicked people can drop a lifeboat into the water before loading people onto it, or cause a hundred other fatal blunders. He may not be able to turn the tide of the crowd, but he could at least steer it.

Grabbing the junior officers pistol and sticking it in his waistband, he springs up to the highest position he can and bellows at the top of his lungs, "AHOY ALL! LEEEE-OHHHH!" And then barking orders at any face that turns in his direction. "Man those ropes! Steady the ship's boat! You lot! Clear the path! Faster now! Crack yer backs for me! Come on, all together! Heave!"

All the while, he scans the crowd, looking for the murderer of the junior officer.

[ffilz]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:35 [Salvage Tug No. 1: 45N,25W]Dr Samuel Linkletter had plenty of time to watch the large ship from several sides as the Tug maneuvered around it. On the Bridge lookout, the Captain stood calmly. In the stern was battle damage to the wheel and hull above the water. On the Upper Deck, Passengers and crew seemed to have already begun lowering lifeboats and abandoning ship. While pondering all of this, Doc noticed the Pilot Gig and wondered if it might be capable of ferrying him from the Tug to the Ship? However, if they have begun to abandon ship would it be better to just remain on the tug until the lifeboats arrive here?

It appears there may be some chaos aboard, but not seeing any immediate signal of distress or need for a doctor on board (the steamship should have a doctor aboard anyway), Linkletter will await further developments. If indeed the life rafts launch and people start getting into trouble, he will be in a better position to help them from aboard the salvage tug.

[Urson]

Josephine

Jo dodged between passengers, attempting to calm the wild-eyed ones. We're doing fine, no need to panic, Cap'n knows his ship etc,etc.

Jo was passing through the commons again when there was a loud "BANG" against the side of the hull.

"What was that?" asked a frightened woman.

"Did we hit a rock?" asked an old man.

Light entered through the cabin door at the top of the stair that had been latched open. "Uh, I dunno. I don't think so" said a nervous Seamen First Class

Still in "calm the passengers mode," Jo spoke loudly enough that everyone should be able to hear her. I've been onboard ships my whole life. That was a small boat, not a rock. It likely means the Harbor Pilot has arrived. No worries, everyone!

She smiled brightly, then hurried to a crew compartment and found a speaking-tube to the bridge. Reduce speed immediately! Bottom is shelving FAST! At this speed, you'll gut her! REDUCE SPEED!!

She headed back to the engine room, intending to report to the Chief about the wheel.

[Inferno]

P.T. Codswallop:

Phineas cheerfully begins looting staterooms.

[atpollard]

Cycle 1062 (Autumn): Day 33: Shift 2: Hour 5:40 [Steamship New Dawn: 45N,25W]
Bridge:
The 'New Dawn' was 27 meters long, long for a ship but short for a three decker. It was a simple fact of physics that it required almost 1.6 kilometers for a ship this size to accelerate to top speed. Those same facts of physics stated that it required 0.2 kilometers at full reverse to decelerate from full speed to stop, and at full speed the New Dawn covered that distance every 40 seconds. So the Captain and First debated the relative dangers of rocks vs. pirates. The Pilot attempted to convince them to reduce speed, change course and hire him to guide them in. A Crewman attempted to relay an urgent message from Engineering.

... And the 'New Dawn' steamed full speed towards its destruction.

**********
Upper Deck: Staterooms
Phineas cheerfully begins looting staterooms.

Stateroom 1 belongs to a couple, an older woman travelling with a boy. Assuming that Phineas has no interest in expensive clothing for women or small lead figurines of sailors meticulously painted in a handsome oak case, the best chance for 'treasure' in this room lies locked in a heavy steamer trunk ... Phineas may either attempt to pick the lock [roll 2d6, 1+ for Gambling, +1 for Dex] or move on to the next stateroom.

**********
Upper Deck: Lifeboats
"Crack yer backs for me! Come on, all together! Heave!" shouted Silas.

Complete chaos is the only way to describe the evacuation of the First Class passengers. Fortunately, the crew responded to Silas' barked commands like trained sailors, but they were badly outnumbered by a frightened group of determined passengers. While not an overwhelming success, the tide of disaster had managed to be turned. No passengers or boats were lost or launched empty. While not all of the boats launched were completely full, Silas managed to condense the passengers to obtain all boats at least half full before launching. You estimated enough lifeboat space remaining for half of the Main Deck passengers.

The killer had simply blended into the crowd and slipped aboard one of the boats. Silas never spotted him.

**********
Main Deck: Parlor
"You keeping them organized?" inquired Diana.

The policeman cleared his throat with a gruff non response. "Nonsense. Everyone is just pitching in and doing their part. That's the real glue that holds Britannia together." Then he bowed slightly "Reginald Bowler, at your service, M'lady."

**********
Lower Deck: Commons
It likely means the Harbor Pilot has arrived. No worries, everyone! said Jo.

Chatter of excitement rippled through the crowd as they began to speculate about docking in a port. Claude climbed the ladder to have a look for himself so he could report back to HIS passengers what he saw. Meanwhile, the passengers got things ready to transfer to another boat in case they needed to tender into the shore.

**********
Lower Deck: Boiler Room
Josephine made it back to the Boiler Room and reported the condition of the Engines and the Wheel to the Chief Engineer. The sound of the water moving under the hull had changed. Mechanic Second Williams was the first to identify the change in tone.

"We're in the shallows!" Williams screamed "We've got to stop now. This speed is crazy."

A brief argument arose between the Engineer and Mechanic. The Engineer had rank, but the Mechanic was just plain right. In the end, the Chief Engineer compromised. Unwilling to reverse the engines and directly contradict the Captain's orders, it was the right of the Engineer to decide how fast was "best possible speed".

With a simple pull of a lever, the boilers shut down to a simmer and quickly lost steam pressure. Then the wheel slowed and stopped until the boat began a gradual 1.6 kilometer coast to a stop.

It was suddenly very quiet in the Boiler Room as everyone awaited the call from the Bridge.

[Pulpatoon]

Silas "Ignatz" Kitt heaves a sigh that total disaster was averted, and, even more so, the spoiled, easily-panicked upperclass passengers were no longer onboard. He calls to the crew to start bringing up main deck passengers.

"In for a penny, in for a credit. As long as we're dropping boats and we're this close to land, might as well keep a'dropping."

[Urson]

Jo

Jo relaxes somewhat, knowing that the ship may still be wrecked or run aground- but at least it won't do so at full speed. Thank you, Chief.