Muse: A Life in the Sky

#1

Hello all, this is a project I’m doing while I put my significantly grander idea (City of Dis, somewhere else in the forums) on hold. I thought I’d practice with a smaller, and more personable game for my first attempt. In this, you are a newly christened lieutenant in the Imperial Navy, commissioned to serve aboard the INV Muse. It’s the newest and one of the finest craft in the air (because screw the sea, these thing fly, baby!) and you find yourself in the middle of a quiet power struggle betwixt her three ranking officers. It’s a not-quite-steampunk world, so gunpowder is around, but flintlock and cannon are still the most popular armament. Very much in the same vein as Broadsides, but with a (I think) very different story. Please comment if any of this interests you, or just to be social!

Also, actual issue I’m having: I put an image on the first page of the story, and whenever I reload the page after I save some work, it comes up quite elongated. When I hit refresh again, it normalizes, but it’s still a pain. Theories?

#2

@Drazen Partially yes, partially no. It is a transitional layer, but it is no more poisonous than the air above. Indeed, it is the air beneath the layer that is poisonous, and the people of the world don’t live down yonder because of it. There are some flora and fauna that do, just as a great many are now avian in nature. No, humanity lives both on any spit of land that breaches the Line and in large “cities” (masses of larger vessels all strung together that float on the Line, often anchored to the Badlands below).

#3

@Julian928 Good, good. Still, I assume this level of poisonous air is a transitional layer between Cloud-cuckoo-land and the air covering the firmament below? Otherwise living would become something of a troublesome endeavour.

#4

@fantom Sorry, but no. Actually, I’m not sorry. NO!

@Drazen It’s called Lumin, but is not even remotely related to anything of a supernatural disposition, aside from that which it completely encompasses. Indeed, they power gyrocoptors mounted on strategic (cool-looking) points on the ship. Larger vessels sometimes include another method of lift, such as a dirigible, but the Muse is small and swift. It also has sails, which make use of the powerful gusts. This is possible because, despite the fact that this unnamed world is somewhat Earth-like, the planets gasses have realigned quite a bit. Because of this, there is a dense cloud layer some distance below the Appropriate Flight Level on which a ship can “float”. It’s not liquid, just a scientific anomaly that may or may not be related to Lumin. Below the clouds, the air is toxic and corrosive, and above the AFL the air is too thin to breathe, at least not for long. It’s not dissimilar from the Wild Blue that is outlined in an RPG called Lady Blackbird, though much more contained. Also, no giant flying squidalien monsters.

#5

@Julian928 Well, if the “Potent mineral” fuelling the system keeping such vessels chafing the atmosphere has anything whatsoever to do with the powdered essence of sprites, as @fantom suggested, I will be sorely disappointed. Nevertheless, you say some boiler mechanics are at play; are they powering some gyrocopter-styled propulsion system alone, or in conjunction with some hydrogen-filled balloon (which cannot possibly go wrong), or…?

#6

@fantom I haven’t decided quite yet, though it is certainly possible. I’m just using good ol’ Internet Explorer, and my Index files are the only use it gets anymore.

@Drazen Through the use of a potent mineral mined from the desolate land masses of the planet (not Earth, just Earth-ish). It’s used much like coal is, being used to keep the fires below large boilers going. I say that it’s not-quite-steampunk because it doesn’t fully embrace the genre, only takes a similar approach with the alternate path of technology. Also, I am most pleased that you appreciated betwixt. I do so enjoy bringing mirth to the minds of my fellows.

#7

Pixie dust. :slight_smile:

#8

Not-quite-steampunk, eh? Well, how exactly are these contrivances airborne?
Also you used the word ‘betwixt’, and as such have my support.

#9

Very intriguing game, can’t wait to check it out! Will we get the chance to command the ship ourselves?

On the image thing, I can’t imagine why it would do that, though it may be more of an issue with your browser than anything.

#10

What about actual floating cities, with large buildings and everything. Presumably they’re not space travelers, and have been there a while and would have had plenty of time to establish massive such constructs. Also, as a suggestion, you might delve into exploring what’s in this below layer, such as high risk thrill seekers and miners.

#11

I’ve considered the floating cities, but I decided that any true metropolis still stands the best chance being built on solid ground. Mountain towns are what you’d expect: small, oddly positioned, and poor. But there are a few plateaus, and that is where true wealth always seems to land. After all, this is an empire. The shippies take on the role of smaller cities and large towns, but they’re capable of moving, which makes them centers of trade and a point in which cultures mingle.

There’s definitely some exploration to be made in the Badlands, and there are already miners down there (it’s where they get Lumin), but there’s not much reason to risk the lives of the crew, or even just yourself, by dipping below the Line at any old time. It’s been done in a skyship, but they have a nasty habit of dropping pretty fast. Not unlike what would happen if you dropped an actual sailboat from a few miles up. On the off-chance the ship makes it, there’s almost no way to get it back up, and the acids in the air obliterate them in a hurry regardless.

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have included the Badlands if you never get to go there, but it’s not going to be something idly done.

#12

Yay! I cannot wait! Mind giving a sneak peak? :stuck_out_tongue:

#13

@Julian928
I like it, personally I’ll always prefer cyberpunk over steampunk but an interesting premise nonetheless. Plus the experience, in both writing and coding, will most definitely help add to City of Dis (I’m thinking we should just call it Dis given the connoatations surrounding CoD). By the way I never congratulated you on the link to Greek/Roman mythology - very nice :-bd

#14

@Trollhunterthethird Well, maybe once I’ve got chapter 2 squared away.

@Ajax I’m glad you’re interested! I agree, we should avoid the Co (not gonna lie, though, I hold dreamy hopes that the game will be graced with that hallowed “Choice of” prefix). It’s amazing how many great names and locations are hiding in ancient religions, isn’t it? Though I actually drew from Dante Alighieri’s -The Comedy- for the name.

#15

@Julian928
Yeah, the abbreviation “Co” should probably be avoided, out of respect if nothing else, but I was thinking specifically of the connatations the abbreviation “CoD” has in gaming circles might be best not attached to game which has “intellectual qualities” - I hope that doesn’t sound too snobbish :smiley:

Ah yes, I’m personally a fan of the really “ancient” world and the works of the likes of Homer’s “Odessey” and Virgil’s “Aeneid”, the amount of places and people from those two works alone that you could name drop is gargantuan <):slight_smile:

#16

@Ajax Didn’t even think about that, probably because I’m more an RPG man.

Yeah, I’m a fan I’d the Odyssey as well, though I have never read the Aeneid, and only part of the Illiad.

#17

@Julian928 Having read the Aeneid, I would most certainly not recommend it. Although if you like the Odyssey, - which I don’t, - then you may wish to try it. Virgil was greatly inspired by Homer’s awful writing style.

#18

As was Alighieri, and I’m rather fond of his work. Also, Homer didn’t write anything, he was actually blind. He verbalized the poem, which had been passed orally for generations. The Epics are said to be “by” Homer because it was his rendition that was transcribed.

Game query: What sounds better as the name of the likable, tough, and respectable marine captain aboard the Muse: Gerald “Jerry” Sault, or Lavernius “Verne” Sault.

#19

Yes, but Dante’s style of writing vastly differed from Homer; Virgil’s openly imitated it.

Also the latter.

#20

That’s one vote for Verne!
None for poor Gerald!
I won’t confirm one until I’ve got three votes for one.