Yes, indeed, tagging posts to indicate a general time and location is a good idea and will help to keep track of events in the context they were intended.

Something along the lines of a bolded and underlined header at the beginning of your post (if not in the subject line), perhaps? And similar tags throughout if your post happens to span multiple locations or times?

...How about we go ahead and open the game thread up for you fine folks to do just that, eh?

Those of you who have characters that are already "crew" at the time of the prologue, feel free to post aboard Smuggler's Moon en route to Freeport. If your posts include any "backposting elements" (i.e. events that happened prior to or during the "Prologue" posts, be sure to tag those bits appropriately...)

Those of you who are not yet crew or otherwise on board (Kismet, Lyri, Jean), feel free to have a romp about Freeport if you like.

Aaaand, since I don't seem to have addressed it anywhere, as yet, posting requirements are as follows:

• I'm only requiring one post per week. You can post more often, if you like, but if you can muster one quality post (meaning two or three decent paragraphs with substance) a week, I'll be happy.
  
  
• Collaborative posts are always welcome and, for scenes that may get exceptionally expansive, even encouraged. (All seven of the "Prologue" entries were collabs between Meri and myself, after all). Collaborative posts seem to make reading the thread "easier" when one or more players get together and pass the scene back and forth via PM or e-mail before posting it in all it's glory to the game thread... sometimes the short, two and three sentence posts back and forth between multiple player gets a bit confusing. Also, if three of you collab on a post, it counts as your one post per week even if you didn't happen to be the one to tack the post on to the thread.
  
  
• While you are free to introduce your own sub-plots, NPCs, and things of that nature, please do try not to "get ahead" of or "derail" the game itself with any of those elements... if you have questions or concerns, feel free to ask.
  
  

I think that's the bulk of it for now... if there's anything I've missed or needs to be added, I'm sure one of you fine folks will point it out.

Name: Lyriandel Evermoon, aka Lyri, or "Damnable mouth"

Age: 26

Appearance: Having spent the majority of her life working the fields with her foster family, Lyri's 5' 7" build is well-toned, with a creamy bronzed complexion. Her waist length auburn hair is worn loose, and decorated with two long, thin braids at her temples. Lyri's eyes are expressive, showing not only her youthful exuberance at life but also her emotions, and are a vibrant spring-green.

Distinguishing Marks: Typical childhood scars: Small scar on left knee from an unfortunate pitchforking accident, small bovine-teeth scar on right arm from a calf bite, several almost imperceptible scars on both knees from various falls. There are, however, three small round scars in a line on her abdomen, from having fallen on a pitchfork.

Attire: Lyri's clothing is the typical eccelctic look of the poor, that is to say anything she can find. Presently, she prefers her teal vest with vivid violet silk ribbon edging, over a once-white thigh length tunic and rawhide laces that she tucks into a pair of dark green leather breeches. Her black sash belt with purple and gold tassels and fringe hide a metal belted dagger and pouch, which is occasionally filled with a few gold piece, bits of colored yarn, and pretty shells. She also managed to find a well-fitting pair of knee high soft soled leather boots that lace quite prettily, the laces having been replaced with various colored bright ribbons.

Possessions: Very few. A dagger and belt she was able to liberate from a drunkard at a tavern one evening, a pack with a length of rope, a flint and steel, and a small box containing a necklace reportedly belonging to her elvish mother, and a ring that may or may not have belonged to her human father. She also keeps two books from home, a flute she is teaching herself to play, and a change of clothes.

History/Present: Lyri's elvish mother and human father were killed by bandits at so early an age she does not remember them, or the attack. Clerics from the village they were near found the girl and sent her to a lovely couple in Hexworth, where Lyri was treated well and educated. However, a farmer's life is quite dull for a young and beautiful half-elf, and after her daily chores, she could be found out back in the fields, practicing swordplay, acting out scenes of battle heard from travelling bards, or generally daydreaming about being anywhere but Foster's Grove.

At twenty-four, an adventuring party with a bard came through town with stories of pirates and seamonsters, fortune and glory, adventure and romance. It was inevitable, really - Lyri packed her bags that night and sent off with them.

Unfortunately, her poor impulse control and constant questions took the party into many hairy situation, and they parted ways after several months, though not before she was able to pick up many skills. Left to her own devices, Lyri procured a horse (well, i suppose that sounds better than stealing) and made her way to a famed distant port, there to seek her fortune.

Presently, she resides in a back room of a tavern where she waits tables while waiting for fortune and glory. She's about sick of the scene, and is ready to make her mark in the world, which is hard to do from a tavern.

Looking forward to bringing Lyri on board, Lady Dark.

Also... I've been e-mailing my pea-pickin' little hear out and, as a result, all of you should have some maps and a plethora of other info (either already in your possession or awaiting you in your inboxes... )... Consider it a "thanks for playing" present or something, yes?

If you haven't received the maps and such, let me know... I could have mistyped an e-mail address or something... stranger things have happened.

As always, if there are questions, comments, loose change, whatever, just give me a shout.

Now... I'm off to craft a post, me hearties!

Name: Khashnagob "Khash" Hawkes

Age: Early thirties- ~five less than Jarek

Appearance: Where many assume Jericho to be a strong built man, looking at Khash often makes onlookers nervous. Standing 6'10'' he has easily shadowed over his brother for many years now, and he's the build and muscles to match (easily around 210 lbs); he's obviously strong, and it is no wonder considering the life the two brothers have shared. Dark, jet-black hair hangs in dreadlocks atop his head, held back from his black eyes with a simple bandana.

Distinguishing Marks: Khash is a storybook of marks, each one a reminder of either the harsh youth or the misadventures he has shared with Jericho; shot, stabbed, and bruised on multiple occasions he continues to be in good health. Most noticeable are the cuts along his arms from the many attempts at warding off enemies with his fists, and the missing tip to his left ear that offsets the hooped earring on the tip of the right.

Attire: Tending for style similar to his older brother, but without the finesse. Khash is often seen in simple coloured breeches, most typically a dark brown (and torn in places), which tuck into dark black boots. He often has a simple grey shirt on, again in similar design to Jericho's, but with the sleeves rolled up (if they are still there); whether or not he tucks it into his flat-black belt is anyone's guess. He has a sturdy leather vest he wears on occasion, and an old cloak for times when it isn't the best to be seen.

Possessions: Nothing matter's more to Khash than his brother; aside from Jarek he doesn't really need anything else. He does have a few signature items however. A black dagger sits tucked into the left of his belt for utility- and when he needs to throw something sharp. A heavy, well-used, mace hangs from a simple loop at his right hip, the flanges a darkened metal and the grip scarlet leather. More than one foe has died with a dumbstruck expression on his face when Khash brought his favorite weapon to a blade-fight.

History: ((Fer da basics ref'r ta da cap'n))

Why Khash and blades do not mix. ...to come

Love it, T_O! Looking forward to the rest.

Also, first of the deckplans for Smuggler's Moon has been added to the first page of the QA. The pic is actually a render of a 3D model of the ship that I've been working on for oh, I dunno... how long ago did we start writing that prologue bit, Meri?... A while, anyway. Finally pulled it out of mothballs and got back to work on it when Chess asked me where the cannons were.

I'll add more as I get it finished, of course.

I believe it has been around a year... I remember being all fat with baby when we started up, and that baby is now nine months old!

Where does the time go.

Glad you/we finally got around to opening this up to a game though!

M.

An' for de record...

I been workin' up a post with de loverly Celest an' in it I mentioned dat when Freeport actually comes inta view dat dat wind das been blowin' so nicely fer S.M. ain't quiet so predictable no mores.

Still blowin' ye towards ye goal... but now an' then suddenly giving a strong gust in de ot'er way, enough to blow off yer cap afore going back te normal. An' o' course de sea hath been a bit choppier, gettin' yer feet a bit wet now and den.

In case it's important to ye.

M.

Then I'm glad I found this model still in tact, too!

Additional note: I've added another thread to the QA Forum entitled "Cast and Crew of Smuggler's Moon" (or "Freeport Characters") if you're looking at the Latest Updated. I figured it would be a good idea to consolidate character bios, one after another, for ease of reference in case anyone needed it. All of the player character bios as they stand have been copied there and can be updated as necessary. Also, I've added a little post on the end for "Notable NPCs"... There are a few NPC crew members aboard the ship who have been mentioned in the prologue or elsewhere that have minor snippets that could be useful roleplay fodder.)

AND I've turned over ownership of your individual character entries in the aforementioned thread to each of you... feel free to edit directly in that thread if you so choose.

Narwhals, narwhals, swimming in the ocean
Causing a commotion
Because they are so awesome.
Narwhals, narwhals, swimming in the ocean
Pretty big and pretty white,
They beat a polar bear in a fight.
Like an underwater unicorn,
They've got a kickass facial horn.
They are the Jedi of the sea,
They stop Cthulu eating ye.
Narwhals, they are narwhals, narwhals
(Just don't let them touch your balls!)
Narwhals, they are narwhals, narwhals,
Inventors of the shishkebob!
Seriously, the video has to play at least seen times in a row if I want any peace. It completely amazes my 8 week old, she loves it. So I thought I would share, while I write up some posts.

And there's our first in game post from Lyri!

Well done, Lady Dark!

Thanks!

I just realized how much fun this is going to be, Lyri is so... so totally different than any other character I've crafted. And she's super amusing to play so far. If it was't for my little one waking up from her nap, i do believe it would have been even longer!

You got your baby to nap while you wrote!?

I'm so jealous! My little guy has decided he doesn't nap while cutting teeth it seems. I've been working on my post while he plays, having to backspace several times when he got to the keyboard.

Oh! But onto important things

Eol lad, what day are we making port so that we can add date info to our posts?

I vote for Tuesday, May 19th, 12th Year of the Comet



M.

You know, I never did really get around to referencing either a day or date anywhere in this thing, did I?

Hmmmm...

I know there are "years" referenced in the source material ("Current Year" according to the Guide is 2005...) but there were no months or days specified that I recall... Might have to make up some... or something... Thoughts, suggestions, and/or input there, gang? If everyone's okay with using "standard months and days," I don't see why Tuesday, May 19th wouldn't be a good day for our lady to port in at A'val.

Or we can call it Marketday, the 19th of Serpent Moon, 2005...

...or Chad...

'The scientists tired of calling it day so they called it a herring'

Sounds good Eol.

Oh! And just finished reading our first real game post. Lovely work! Just have to love any post that begins with flatullance.

M.