Francine Peters (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thatsamilkshake) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fhplotterywheel2010-06-03 10:20 am
thatsamilkshake) wrote in fhplotterywheel2010-06-03 10:20 am
Entry tags:
Graduate Backpackers, Hoooo!
Hey guys! Next up on the backpacking trip, starting after we leave New Gotham tomorrow, is London!
You will, however, be shocked, shocked I say, to discover on arrival that it's not the normal, every-day London that our backpackers were aiming for. That one's there, but they won't really be able to interact with it. Instead they'll be stuck in London Below, a part of the city that's sort of half in and half out of reality, where magic works and technology is... iffy. It's populated by the people who 'slip through the cracks' -- the homeless, runaways, the mentally ill, figures from fairytales and legends, and families that have lived there for generations.
Your unexpected hostess is from one of those families and spends most of her time now trying to succeed at the job her father started: uniting the place politically so there's not a bunch of petty factions and territories. She also attended Fandom High three years ago, though, so she'll be more than happy to take the week off from that to look after you lot.
Friday:
Arrive! In the lair of the Ratspeakers, who would very much like to rough you up, steal your luggage, and possibly carve you up to check your entrails for omens, but a friendly voice will pipe up and come to your rescue, if somebody happens to mention where they just graduated from. Summoned by rat-message, Door will show up to lead you through the London Underground tunnels to her home.
You'll have the chance to try walking up to London Above where you're supposed to be in the first place, but regular people aren't going to notice or remember you. Phones -- including your cell-phones, so yes, this will be another no-communications week, but only sort of -- won't work. Cabs won't stop, buses will close their doors in your face, and it'll quickly become clear that even up there, you're stuck in London Below, which is just a step to the left of the normal world.
You'll spend the night (and pretty much every night) in the House With No Doors, Door's home, while you try to figure out how to get back in contact with Portalocity, whether your multi-passes are still working (they are) and what to do during the week you're stuck here.
At the house, you'll meet Door's sister Ingress, who can help you get from place to place within it, and Sir Richard Mayhew, Warrior of London Below. (His friends call him Richard Richard Mayhewdick.) Telepaths and psychic types, the house is probably a little unsettling, since the walls are emotion-spongy and the girls' parents and brother were murdered here, but that was four years ago, and things have faded. You're only going to get real nastiness from it if you deliberately go chasing the memories.
Saturday:
A trip to the Floating Market, which changes locations every night. Tonight, it's in Harrod's department store. What can you find there? Lost things, found things, useless crap, tattoos, edged weapons, companions for hire, charms, potions, curses, mood rings, those little plastic bubbles that gumball machine prizes come in, stewed rook, your fortune told, dreams-to-order, and anything weird or weirdly mundane that you might imagine. You can also visit the message booth, where (for a bartered price) you can get one message out (and one back if they choose to reply) to anyone you like, anywhere you like. By carrier pigeon. Don't ask how.
What can you pay with? Probably not your Visa card, but the folks there might trade something interesting for a gum wrapper, your shoes, or a song they've never heard. Also, there's a truce in the Market, one that *everyone* sticks to, including the Velvets. It's the safest place in London Below.
Depending on player availability, you're likely to meet Old Bailey here, who sells fine, wise, tasty birds and slightly less edible information, and the Marquis de Carabas, who trades in favours, has a coat that is awesomer than yours, and is a little bit dodgy like rats are a little bit covered in fur.
Sunday:
A visit to Earl's Court to meet His Grace the Earl, get mocked by his jester, partake of their fine refreshments, and get a look at the Lost Property Car, where you just might find anything you ever lost on a trip. Anywhere.
Monday:
The Floating Market again, this time in Battersea Power Station. Chance to get another message out! Also, Mind The Gap as you walk through the tunnels on the way there. No, really. We're not kidding.
Tuesday:
A trip out to the Kilburn River to meet a group of Roman soldiers camped out there... will never be completed, because even with Door (and/or possibly Richard) as a guide, the fog rolls in, the land gets iffy, and the group gets totally lost. Have no fear, though, for a trio of lovely, pale young women glide by who just happen to be excellent guides to the Underside. Dun dun DUN! (Otherwise known as an opportunity for anyone who wants to write SUCKER on their character's forehead to get him/her seduced and fed on by Velvets, who suck warmth and life from humans, but only with sort-of-vague permission.)
Wednesday:
The Market again, this time on the museum ship HMS Belfast.
Thursday:
A trip up to Old Bailey's place on the roofs of London, with great views, loud pigeons, big rooks, and a talkative man in a feather suit.
Friday:
Depart! Via a rather dangerous route, because your multi-pass indicates that the portal will be arriving at the bottom of Down Street. Richard, Door, and the Marquis? Not so much fans of Down Street or what lies at the end of it, but they'll help you get there anyway. Characters afraid of heights? Be glad there's a telekinetic on this trip.
___
Questions? Problems? Cookies?
You will, however, be shocked, shocked I say, to discover on arrival that it's not the normal, every-day London that our backpackers were aiming for. That one's there, but they won't really be able to interact with it. Instead they'll be stuck in London Below, a part of the city that's sort of half in and half out of reality, where magic works and technology is... iffy. It's populated by the people who 'slip through the cracks' -- the homeless, runaways, the mentally ill, figures from fairytales and legends, and families that have lived there for generations.
Your unexpected hostess is from one of those families and spends most of her time now trying to succeed at the job her father started: uniting the place politically so there's not a bunch of petty factions and territories. She also attended Fandom High three years ago, though, so she'll be more than happy to take the week off from that to look after you lot.
Friday:
Arrive! In the lair of the Ratspeakers, who would very much like to rough you up, steal your luggage, and possibly carve you up to check your entrails for omens, but a friendly voice will pipe up and come to your rescue, if somebody happens to mention where they just graduated from. Summoned by rat-message, Door will show up to lead you through the London Underground tunnels to her home.
You'll have the chance to try walking up to London Above where you're supposed to be in the first place, but regular people aren't going to notice or remember you. Phones -- including your cell-phones, so yes, this will be another no-communications week, but only sort of -- won't work. Cabs won't stop, buses will close their doors in your face, and it'll quickly become clear that even up there, you're stuck in London Below, which is just a step to the left of the normal world.
You'll spend the night (and pretty much every night) in the House With No Doors, Door's home, while you try to figure out how to get back in contact with Portalocity, whether your multi-passes are still working (they are) and what to do during the week you're stuck here.
At the house, you'll meet Door's sister Ingress, who can help you get from place to place within it, and Sir Richard Mayhew, Warrior of London Below. (His friends call him Richard Richard Mayhewdick.) Telepaths and psychic types, the house is probably a little unsettling, since the walls are emotion-spongy and the girls' parents and brother were murdered here, but that was four years ago, and things have faded. You're only going to get real nastiness from it if you deliberately go chasing the memories.
Saturday:
A trip to the Floating Market, which changes locations every night. Tonight, it's in Harrod's department store. What can you find there? Lost things, found things, useless crap, tattoos, edged weapons, companions for hire, charms, potions, curses, mood rings, those little plastic bubbles that gumball machine prizes come in, stewed rook, your fortune told, dreams-to-order, and anything weird or weirdly mundane that you might imagine. You can also visit the message booth, where (for a bartered price) you can get one message out (and one back if they choose to reply) to anyone you like, anywhere you like. By carrier pigeon. Don't ask how.
What can you pay with? Probably not your Visa card, but the folks there might trade something interesting for a gum wrapper, your shoes, or a song they've never heard. Also, there's a truce in the Market, one that *everyone* sticks to, including the Velvets. It's the safest place in London Below.
Depending on player availability, you're likely to meet Old Bailey here, who sells fine, wise, tasty birds and slightly less edible information, and the Marquis de Carabas, who trades in favours, has a coat that is awesomer than yours, and is a little bit dodgy like rats are a little bit covered in fur.
Sunday:
A visit to Earl's Court to meet His Grace the Earl, get mocked by his jester, partake of their fine refreshments, and get a look at the Lost Property Car, where you just might find anything you ever lost on a trip. Anywhere.
Monday:
The Floating Market again, this time in Battersea Power Station. Chance to get another message out! Also, Mind The Gap as you walk through the tunnels on the way there. No, really. We're not kidding.
Tuesday:
A trip out to the Kilburn River to meet a group of Roman soldiers camped out there... will never be completed, because even with Door (and/or possibly Richard) as a guide, the fog rolls in, the land gets iffy, and the group gets totally lost. Have no fear, though, for a trio of lovely, pale young women glide by who just happen to be excellent guides to the Underside. Dun dun DUN! (Otherwise known as an opportunity for anyone who wants to write SUCKER on their character's forehead to get him/her seduced and fed on by Velvets, who suck warmth and life from humans, but only with sort-of-vague permission.)
Wednesday:
The Market again, this time on the museum ship HMS Belfast.
Thursday:
A trip up to Old Bailey's place on the roofs of London, with great views, loud pigeons, big rooks, and a talkative man in a feather suit.
Friday:
Depart! Via a rather dangerous route, because your multi-pass indicates that the portal will be arriving at the bottom of Down Street. Richard, Door, and the Marquis? Not so much fans of Down Street or what lies at the end of it, but they'll help you get there anyway. Characters afraid of heights? Be glad there's a telekinetic on this trip.
___
Questions? Problems? Cookies?
no subject
no subject