The Salon: Out of Character Conversation

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Problem with my laptop not solved as easily as I hoped. Will have to go a bit frankenstein and try surgery . I will just have to cope as best I can with my phone for now.

I am very sorry to hear that. Good luck with that.

[Rooter]

Hope you manage to sort out the laptop.

Really enjoying the game, Victoria and everyone. Thanks for having me.

Well, I wrote the opening 18k words of a novel about Lila in just over a week before my brain crashed and nothing since. (This is normal for me.) I'm afraid it's very much a pulp romantic horror story but if nothing else it's been a great exercise in character development. Rather than abandon it I'm going to tidy up and post what there is here in bits, maybe just for archival purposes but maybe it will shake something loose and I'll find a way to continue. This carries on from the first bit of the beginning posted previously.

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

This is quite compelling. Great atmosphere, good building of suspense, fine sensory appeal. Good job!

[maelstrom]

I will second that. Excellent work, I will look forward to your next installment.

[Rooter]

Thanks so much both of you, I'm glad you don't mind me sticking this stuff up here, I'd probably delete it otherwise.

[Mr. Handy]

I agree, it's very good. I look forward to reading more. It's just as well that you post it a little at a time, as I probably wouldn't have time to read it all at once anyway.

This site also has a fiction section here, but it hasn't been used much in a while.

[Rooter]

Thanks Mr. Handy! I did see the fiction section. Maybe once the complete first part (about 10k words) is tidied up I'll post it there.

This is the end of the introductory chapter of the draft. Sorry if it gets a bit hairy. By the way Victoria (if you read this) if any of this contradicts anything you had planned for the game please feel free to ignore it as 'alternate universe'. And thanks again.

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

Wow. That was powerful. Tastefully erotic, very emotional.

[Rooter]

I am very grateful for the encouragement you've given me Victoria. Your opinion means a lot to me, I admire your writing and commentary hugely (to anyone else reading this I know of Victoria's wonderful work from another site not just the game). I am now determined to finish the book. I'll tidy up the first section, posting here as I go along while I try to figure out how to continue.

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

Nicely done. A good contrast to the last section. You allow us to see some strong characterizations. The setting is as vivid as always.

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I will be away from the computer again for three days. Since we are at a tense and dangerous junction, you may wish to discuss the situation with your fellow players via private messages and decide on a group plan of action.

[Mr. Handy]

I didn't have a chance to post between the time Lila went for the door and it actually opened. Can I have my pistol already drawn?

I think our best bet is for Rachman to try to use Daze on Violette. If that works, the rest of us will have a free turn to act while she is stunned.

[maelstrom]

Well we are certainly not going to hand over Elizabeth. So if Henry has his pistol to hand then yes I think casting daze and rushing her us our best option. With Duncans charisma and his unsettling presence talking her down would not be a good option.

[Priest]

At this point Elizabeth may faint again (it's what she does ). So I pray that you brave gentlemen and Lila protect me in my time of need.
Of course the act of fainting may provide a needed diversion?

[Rooter]

Ah, great ideas. I was expecting Doctor North to be the first to leap to Elizabeth's defense, but if she faints would he have to catch her? And if Rachman's spell fails ... my only idea was using the manuscript as leverage but now I see your point that talking might not work.

[Mr. Handy]

That's a good point. Elizabeth might not faint, depending on the roll, but it might be a good distraction to pretend to even if she succeeds. Even if I don't have the pistol in my hand, I'm still holding my cane and should be close enough to use it.

[Priest]

I cannot see why Elizabeth might faint, but she could pretend too. She could step back from the doorway as she falls and shout "Antoine!", maybe the mention of her brother's name might help the distraction?

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I am back, so you may proceed with your plans.

[Rooter]

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[Victoria Silverwolf]

Great scene. Good metaphor for London as an animal with fleas. GREAT ending. Looking forward to more.