Sunday, September 26, 2010

Hurricane Hits New Toulouse!

Duchess Carntaigh sent a rather alarming telegram from New Toulouse:

STEAMLANDS UNION TELEGRAM

SERRA ANANSI WINTERFELL
MOSSEVENO TENK NEW BABBAGE
STEELCOBRA CALAMARI STEELTOPIA
TOTALLUNAR ECLIPSE TENSAI HILRA STEELHEAD
DESMOND SHANG CALEDON
PUMPKIN TRIPSA SERAPH CITY
VIOLET ORMENTHAL REMINGTON THURSDAY ARMADA BREAKAWAY

HURRICANE ADOLPHE HITTING NEW TOULOUSE RAIN STARTED EARLY YESTERDAY CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY WINDS @ 80MPH & INCREASING WATER RISING FLOODING EMINENT ZOMBIES AND GATORS ON THE MOVE SEND ASSISTANCE IF ABLE ADVISE HEAVY CAUTION RE: SHIPS & AIRSHIPS

GABRIELLE RIEL
I did what any Steampunk journalist would do: I planted a hat firmly upon my head, had Mr. Daniels pull the Hangover Two out of storage, and made haste for the swamps of New Toulouse.

Her Grace did not exaggerate. Flooding was widespread even as the storm still raged. The H2 was buffeted by the winds, making it somewhere between a test of skill and sheer luck to maintain the craft in the air and on course. More troublesome were the numerous bolts of lightning; a direct hit on the ship could create a spark that would ignite the hydrogen in the gas bags, an eventuality for which I had planned by wearing a swimming suit in lieu of bloomers (the top went over my corset; some standards must be maintained, even in the event of an evacuation of the airship) and packing a flask of warming brandy, as One Never Knows.

I saw very few souls; most must have heeded the storm warnings and left town. This gentleman, I surmised, was looking for survivors in need of rescue, despite the rain and wind.


Maneuvering low, I saw two zombies menacing the gentleman in the orange suit. He carried a large shotgun, so I assumed he had everything under control, though I thought it unwise of him to refer to one of the zombies as an "undead whore." This merely inflamed the passions of the pair of them, and they redoubled their efforts to eat his brains.


Always the practical one, Baron Wulfenbach laid a line of sandbags around this house in order to keep as much of the floodwaters out as possible.

Another couple sought refuge on the second floor balcony of their building.

More sandbags.

The flooded square.

The couple on the roof of the shack had the foresight to save their horse, and now all three awaited rescue.


A truly terrible storm, and we have yet to see the end of it. One can only hope that the human cost will not be high.

8 comments:

Baron K. Wulfenbach said...

Fraulein Jameson,

I am glad to see you were able to get in and out of the storm safely. Where you saw me stacking sandbags was actually the New Toulouse Consulate office. Unfortunately, the water was more persistent and we have suffered a good two feet of flood damage on the ground floor. Now that the storm has passed, the zombie threat should be settling down and we can get to work repairing the damages.

Yrs.,

Klaus Wulfenbach, Baron

Rhianon Jameson said...

Ah yes, the zombies. I had the misfortune to encounter some by the graveyard; fortunately, I was well-armed. (It turned out that the women I thought were zombies were simply remarkably homely. Who knew?)

Alas, that is not good news about the Consulate, though I have no doubt it will be ship-shape in no time. I trust your staff are all safe.

HeadBurro Antfarm said...

Oooo, I love this level of sim-wide RP! This is exactly what I'd love to see in Steelhead!

HeadBurro Antfarm said...

Have the floods gone now? From an RP point of view, who could I speak to about how they did it?

Rhianon Jameson said...

Sitting here at my typist's office desk, exiled from the Steamlands, I don't know if the waters have receded yet, though one hopes they disappear soon - I found it a bit difficult to get around save by boat or airship, and the residents must be greatly inconvenienced.

The perpetrator of that RP, playing Weather Goddess, was Her Grace Gabrielle Riel, I believe, as Miss Riel owns New Toulouse. (Check her Aetheric Journal for additional links to reports from the hurricane - gabrielleriel.blogspot.com.) Like your Steal Head story line, it appears she roped in other N.T. residents for the plot. (Well, one would have to, wouldn't one? Residents might be a touch upset to log in, only to find their houses under water. :) )

HeadBurro Antfarm said...

Well it certainly makes it easier when you own the sim :-D

Rhianon Jameson said...

You know what your next step is, then...

HeadBurro Antfarm said...

LOL! You're missing a vital pre-step... win the lottery! I could never afford a sim - I blame kids and their constant growing!