The Winged Devil: Playthread

[Karnstantine]

(So as not to betray those who wanted to play.)

The sound of hammer on wood and steel rang out a steady beat in the warmth of the noonday sun at the worksite. A dapperly-dressed man stood atop a stony outcrop over the site, with a wooden worktable under his hands. Upon the table lay a somewhat worn schematic, the anatomy of a truly massive undertaking. He was visibly excited as he called orders through a brass horn. After all the years, his ultimate ambition was nigh complete. It would, in fact, be ready within the hour. "Check all your rivets! We've come too far for a Mana-Boiler to rupture!"

Come mid-afternoon, the man had left his perch, and surveyed the structure of wood, brass, and steel in front of him. There were rope ladders hanging all across the "hull" of it, with various crewmen climbing aboard and getting to their stations. The man himself climbed aboard, and headed to what shipsmen would have referred to as the Bridge, but this was in no way a mere ship. He walked over to his command console, and cleared his throat before calling into the hailing-tubes. "Alright lads, this is what we've all been waiting for. Fire engines one through six, and ready the auxiliaries for emergency landing." Through the pipe he could hear a resounding chorus of "Aye aye!"s, and the entire structure began to rumble and vibrate. From underneath, six huge turbines began to turn, being mere feet away from smashing the vessel's supporting scaffolding as it strained to become airborne. "Engines at 50% power, boss!" "We're starting to gain altitude!" The dapper man smiled to himself.

There was a groan of wood and a crash of metal as the scaffolding beneath the ship collapsed. Not from being pushed down, however. No, the scaffolds no longer had anything to hold up, and merely fell over. The vessel was now fully airborne, and rising into the skyways rapidly.

However, something more important was happening deep in the heart of the vessel. A strange machine was now humming to life, and odd, crystaline structures had begun to form around it in small hatchways. "Boss! The Generator is working!" That made the dapper man laugh in elation, and throw his hands up in triumph. "We've done it lads! It's everything we've dreamed it to be! Get Raifel on the horn, the Winged Devil is now open for business!"

Across the world, in all cities and havens, elaborate fliers began to appear, advertising the world's first flying tavern, inn, and fuel depot.

Come one, come all! Come fly with The Winged Devil!
The world's first flying Tavern! Or if you're out on a long trip come and stop by for a rest! The Winged Devil can also accommodate those in need of a good rest.(Max of 12 rooms available)

And for those who are dangerously low on fuel or just want to pick up some extra crystals, have no fear! With The Winged Devil's unique Arcane Generator we can actually make the crystals you need to continue your journey!

Whether you're just in the neighborhood or wish to check it out yourself, the Winged Devil's doors are always open. Just look to the skies!

[/b][/u]

The tavernmaster, Raifel, smiled as he read his copy before hanging it in the tavern window, and flipping the sign to "Open". This was going to be the start of something big, he thought.

(Alright everybody, here we go. Note, the only way to reach the Winged Devil is via airship. Either on a passenger ship, your own, or freeloading. Heck, even in a one-man number if you wanted. The Devil will eventually start moving between cities for those who start later and don't have characters with access to a ship, but for now it's in the center of a major commerce lane.)

[Clockwork Pyrite]

On one of these ships there was a bedraggled man on board, who look as if he had no way of getting anywhere other than on his own two feet, vehicle theft, or hitchhiking. His name was Joseph Wright. He had stowed away on this airship to head to the Winged Devil tavern. Anyone who spent a couple hours with Joseph knew he was a boozer, and the Winged Devil claimed to have the best selection of liquors on this planet. Needless too say, he was getting there, by hell or high water.

So he stowed, with the rats and cargo, knowing that this trip was well worth all the discomforts it took him to get there.

[Smurf-Killer Squee]

Come one, come all! Come fly with The Winged Devil!
The world's first flying Tavern! Or if you're out on a long trip come and stop by for a rest! The Winged Devil can also accommodate those in need of a good rest.(Max of 12 rooms available)

And for those who are dangerously low on fuel or just want to pick up some extra crystals, have no fear! With The Winged Devil's unique Arcane Generator we can actually make the crystals you need to continue your journey!

Whether you're just in the neighborhood or wish to check it out yourself, the Winged Devil's doors are always open. Just look to the skies!

Kindron looked at the flier again. Whoever thought of this was a genius.

Kindron smiled as he looked out the window of his personal airship. This was supposed to be a big deal. If people from all over the world were going to be there, then it was obvious there was going to be interesting things happening. He might even be able to track down information about his brother. For now, he just wanted to enjoy himself. He was sure there was going to be some big shots that would want to kick his ass once they figured out who he was. Kindron's black cloak and three swords where quite well known in the criminal underworld. Kindron was going to be the main Sky Pirate at the tavern for right now. Anything that was going to be needed by the Sky Pirates at the tavern was going to be handled by him. No one really knows much about Kindron, or the fact that he is the one in the black cloak. Kindron Darkfire is the head of Darkfire Tech, the second leading producer of current technology. If all went well, soon his company would get to spot number one. Kindron saw the Tavern as he approached. One of his butlers was driving.

"We've arrived, sir," he called out. Kindron got up and waited for the door to fully open and got out.

"I'll bring back souvenirs for everyone. Later." Kindron called out as he walked inside. The ship closed up and left. Kindron had planned on being here for a while. And the Sky Pirates were going to send word if they needed him for anything. He already had things taken care of at his company so he could take up to a month off. He started to walk in to the bar. He could tell by sound that the place was made of metal and wood. Kind of what he expected. He was going to have to be careful when he used his lightning spells here. He wasn't sure how everything would react if just started blasting spells all over the place.

Kindron walked in and sat down.

"Give me the best drink on the menu," Kindron said to the bartender.

[Karnstantine]

Raifel set down the cup he was cleaning, and smirked as he turned around to grab a shaker and some bottles from the shelf behind him. "Well, sir, you have the distinct honor of ordering the first Arcadian Stratocaster ever made aboard the 'Devil." He chuckled a little bit at that. "Not that there'll be a plaque or anything for it, just something for you to remember." He poured the contents of at least four bottles into the shaker, then crushed ice, before starting to shake it and turning towards Kindron again. "So, what brings you out here, fella? Just wanted to see the place, or you planning on staying for a while?"

Erstwhile, in one corner of the pub, a quartet of men were gathering with instruments. Bagpipe, guitar, that sort of thing. Cheery folk music started to play.

[Smurf-Killer Squee]

"Arcadian Stata-what? Well... Whatever," Kindron said. "Partly here for vacation. Haven't taken a vacation for some time. Hoping to see some action too. I always hope to see random all-out bar fights happen. Mostly here for a, sort of, information trade though. If things go well, I may be here a while." Kindron said as he looked around. A band started playing music. He was hoping no one was going to try to fight him until he has at least had one drink. There weren't many people here yet so Kindron wouldn't have to worry too much.

[Karnstantine]

The barkeeper finished mixing the drink, and sat the glass down, sliding it over to Kindron. "Arcadian Strat-o-caster. Named it after those old Arcadian mystics what thought they could control the weather. Hits like a lightning strike, they say." He chuckled a little at the slight joke, then looked back towards Kindron with a smirk. "Now, I'm hopin' you're not intending to instigate one of those barfights. Else I'm liable to have to throw you overboard." He then stretched a bit, and looked around the bar, seeming to be working his neck, but actually looking for anyone who might be listening in. He then leaned towards Kindron, and spoke hushly. "Now, what kind of information you lookin' for exactly?" The 'Devil hadn't been around for very long by that point... But bars all over the world were like the modern take of the ancient Vaieshi Forum. People from all over came to talk about anything and everything.

Meanwhile, outside the 'Devil, a dark cloud was approaching. It was no cloud, however. Beneath the haze was a mid-sized airship, covered in the scars of countless battles in the piratical skies. "CAP'N! Thar's somethin' on the horizon!" Captain Rigger pulled the goggles around his neck up over his eyes, and started flicking small some small switches and flipping over some lenses. He then pulled them back down, leaving some red rings on his face. "I'll be damned. That's that Winged Devil we heard 'bout from the Templers, ain't it?" "Aye, do believe 'tis, Cap'n." "Well then. LADS! MAKE READY T'LAND! GET YER HEADS OUT THE CLOUDS AND GET THE GEAR READY!" There was a chorus of ayes out from the men on deck, and the ship veered towards the flying structure. It was a fairly ominous looking ship, with offshoots of its magi-boilers spitting smoke along the sides of the hull, making it look as though it were constantly being followed by a dark cloud. The ship was wood with jagged metal plates on the bow and along the keel, and it had the obvious tanks on its aspects and an enclosed wheelhouse. And unlike most pirate vessels, this ship had heavy cannons on the deck as well as below. "Close the clouders, route 'em through the main stacks!" And thus, when it reached where it could prepare to land, the smoke pouring out of the hull ceased, and the exhaust from the stacks doubled. Plates along the lower sections of the hull lifted, and large, hook-like legs descended, providing landing gear. It promptly sat down, surprisingly lightly, in the bay of the Winged Devil. Rope ladders and a long, wide gangplank emerged from the side of the ship. The men scrabbling down the ladders were wearing all manner of clothing associated with veteran skyfarers, and surprisingly well maintained. Among them was a smattering of mechanical hands, arms, legs, eyes, what have you, indicators of having been in many bloody battles. And down the gangplank clanked Captain Rigger, with his metal hand resting on one of his sabers. "WHERE'S THE BARWENCH? WE'RE WANTIN' TO BE SEATED!"

[Smurf-Killer Squee]

Kindron grabbed the drink and put down enough gold to cover the drink and tip the bartender. He took a sip. Definitely some strong stuff. He was going to really like this drink.

"Hit's like lightning, eh? Ironic. Anyway, while I wouldn't instigate a barfight, I should just warn you that if I stay here, someone will eventually try to kick my ass," Kindron said as he smiled. "As for information, I'm mostly just looking for anything useful that might make some money, but..." Kindron's expression changed to a serious one. "the biggest info I'm looking for is about a serial killer that has been nicknamed Lightning Demolisher, a nickname he got from destroying two towns. By the time help arrived, the towns were mostly demolished and anything with metal in it was still charged with electricity. I've been hunting him a long time. He's actually my brother. If you ever hear anything about a black haired person who's about 6 foot, and uses lightning spells, that will probably be him, but not many people survive an encounter with him, which is why so many people don't know much about him." Kindron looked as something walked in. A mix of mechanical and human.

"WHERE'S THE BARWENCH? WE'RE WANTIN' TO BE SEATED!"

Kindron was already annoyed at this guy. Talking about his brother always put him in a bad mood, and this guy just added fuel to the fire. Made of metal, but the guy had boots on. If they were leather, then they would conduct electricity. Kindron couldn't tell if the boots were leather from the angle he was looking. He looked at the bar and took another drink as his other hand moved below the bar and he closed his eyes.

"Zakair," Kindron muttered as a very small portion of lightning went from his hand to the ground and traveled along the floor to the newcomer's boots. It took a little concentration to keep the lightning in a straight line and not spread over the whole room. Not much, just enough to give the guy a quick shock. Kindron couldn't hit him with a large spell or it would really fry him with all that metal. He opened his eyes to see if the overconfident prick got the jolt he was hoping for.

[Karnstantine]

(OOC: Attention The Dude from Nowhere: Want an opening? Pirate ship can be your opening to get on the Devil.)

The barkeeper looked at Kindron somewhat startled, not sure whether to believe what he said, or to shrug it off as Kindron making himself seem dangerous. Nor was he sure, in either case, if he should just throw him out of the bar for that course of action or not. But, then the pirate showed up...

Captain Rigger heard the snap of the electrical spark jumping between some bolts in the gangplank, but he, himself, was unaffected by the discharge. He'd been in the sky for decades and knew, as any veteran skyfarer did, that you don't walk around on an airship with mechanical limbs without something grounding them. However, given what he heard, he knew SOMEBODY was trying to jolt him. There weren't a lot of people in the bar at the moment, and it wasn't likely one of his men... The guy at the bar, he was looking at him. That was probably it. He clanked over to that section of the bar, and put his metal foot up on the brass floorbar. Leaning so he was facing Kindron, he said: "Now, why'd ye go and do that, laddie? I'm just here fer a shot a' rum or two, and maybe a little wenchin'." He seemed to untwisted his mechanical hand, and put it into a pouch on his back, pulling out an odd mass of tubing, seemingly a gun. "Now, ye goin' to leave me to that, or we going to be havin' an altercation in this fine 'stablishment?"

The barkeep kept his peace for the moment. Pirate types, liked to intimidate people. How this went down essentially rested on Kindron. Raifel DID have guns behind the counter in case things went sour, of course.

[Clockwork Pyrite]

As the barkeep looked the pirates up and down, a man barged through from behind, inadvertently crashing into their leader. The leader picked the man up by his shirt collar and growled in his face, "Who do you think you are? Stowaways are NOT allowed on my ship! I should punch you out right now. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't, little rat!"

"Because I can do this," spoke the man as he deftly twisted out of his shirt, leaving the pirate confused. This gave the barging man just enough time to slip behind the leader, kick him in the back of the knee, grab him, and stick the knife he kept with him in the case of emergencies into his neck.

"Now gentlemen, if you wish to see your leader again, I have a demand. It is a very simple demand."

"Stuff your demands and let me go!" the pirate yelled as he writhed in the man's arms.

"Are you really sure you want to do that? You seem like the kind of man who enjoys his life," he spoke into the pirate captain's ear as he increased the pressure on the man's neck by a hair. Just enough to make him sweat...

"ALRIGHT! What's your demand you little piece of shit?"

"I want you to pay my tab when I finally get tired of drinking at this place."

"Really? Is that it? Nice to see you got your priorities straight, kid! Fine, what's your name?"

"Joseph Wright. Don't call me Joe either."

[Karnstantine]

IC: And then, none of the preceeding hostage situation happened, and Joseph is thrown out of Rigger's ship, hitting the decking below with a loud, but non-fatal "THUD" by the ship's crew. Due to blatant godmodding.

(OOC: Right, I figure you're new, so. This is the first warning. You don't take control of a played character like that, not without the controller's permission, ok? This is, essentially, rebooting your post via GM-works, so feel free to pick up from here.)

[Clockwork Pyrite]

I was unaware that the pirate captain was an actual player's character at the time of writing.

And I take it you didn't okay my previous post.

[Smurf-Killer Squee]

Kindron looked as what looked like a gun was pointed at his face. He looked at the guy, and was starting to get angry. Kindron knew it wouldn't be a good idea to lose his cool, and get into a fight that would get him kicked out. That was the last thing he needed. Besides, what if this guy had information he could use? But, then again, Kindron couldn't just back down and look weak. With his drink still in hand, Kindron moved by jumping over the cyborg's shoulder in what could hardly be recognized as a blur and got behind him while drawing one of his swords after releasing the pirate's shoulder and keeping it at the cyborg's neck. Kindron took a drink and looked back at the cyborg and smiled.
That was a nice cannon looking gun though. Kindron was wondering if it was his design.

"As much as I'd love to teach you a thing or two about manners, I would rather not have this bar get caught in the middle, since  I actually like it here," Kindron put his sword away and walked back to his chair. Basically just an obvious display that Kindron wasn't backing down because he was intimidated. Kindron was still smiling. "I was just giving you a quick jolt. You need to learn not to lose your cool so easily." Kindron put some more gold on the table.

"Barkeep, first two rounds are on me," Kindron sat back down and start drinking his Arcadian what-ever-it-was. He had almost finished it. "And, I'm going to need another Arcadian strato-thingy."

[Clockwork Pyrite]

Next to Kindron was a man who looked like he had been dragged across two fields full of abrasives. In short, he was banged up, had clothes that were a few days away from rags, but he had a wicked grin on his face.

"Barkeep! Bring me another jug of that dwarven ale!"

"No need to shout sir, I'm right here."

"Oh, I apologize. So used to having to shout across crowded taverns with any number of people in the way."

"Well, here's your ale sir."

"Right, and your gold. Let me just..." he trailed off as he rooted through his many pockets to pay the sum.

"Sir, if you can't pay for your drink, I'm afraid I'll have to eject you."

"No, it's alright, I keep my gold separated like this to keep pickpockets from getting it all. Ah, there we go," said the man, laying the coins on the counter.

Turning towards the man who dared to stand up to a pirate like that, he asked "So, family problems, huh?"

[Karnstantine]

Well, that hadn't exactly been expected. Prankster apparently had some gumption and skill. Since he hadn't re-attached his hand, Rigger pushed the blade away with his mechanical stump. "You've got some jib, lad, I'll give ye that." He pocketed the gun, and reattached his brass hand, flexing the fingers experimentally. "And ye need to learn to not cause an old pirate trouble, yourself." Guy didn't seem so bad if he was going to pay for drinks. Better than grog at any rate. He did, however, shoot a sideways glance at that tattered-looking guy at the bar. "He's no son of mine, ya groundlubber." He said, before turning to his drink.

[Clockwork Pyrite]

Since the two next to him looked like they had some experience with each other, it begged the question of how the two knew each other.

"You know that pirate?"