Top Shelf PSL

Who: Various Captains
What: Planning a raid on the French for supplies
When: April 23, as part of this meeting
Where: Cádiz, makeshift command room
Warnings: Probably arguing and swearing

Following the introductions, reports, discussions, and a quick security check (nobody listening at the door or window), Charlie got down to the real business of this meeting: planning an raid on the French covert, not so much for specific military objectives as for supplies. As glad as Charlie was to see Glinda and Aleria, he was well aware that their supply situation was precarious in the long term, even with everything they'd brought with. So a raid on the covert, or at least the supply, seemed like a good idea: to take some of old Boney's victuals and convert them to the use of their own dragons and the local population.

Some scouting would be necessary if they could manage it. Then, a feint to lure out the dragons, and finally, a second group to strike and steal whatever could be carried off. Charlie had his own opinions on how best to divide the group, but he wanted to hear the thoughts of the captains--including Glinda, who as an outsider to the company might bring a fresh eye to matters--before he considered asking for volunteers or assignments.

Who: Timandra Starkey and Lung Shao Liang
What: Scientific inquiry
When: April 23rd, 1810
Where: Cádiz, dragon meadow
Warnings: Possible discussion of killing and war

( Read more... )

Who: Glinda Prescott and Aleria
What: Passing the torch
When: Early October, 1802
Where: Dover covert, England
Warnings: Off-screen non-playing character death

( Glinda knew very well that she hadn’t been called here out of courtesy, to say goodbye to her mother, although she was sure Aerial Command would see it thus. She had been called here to take command of Aleria. )

Who: Ptolemy and NPC Celeritas from the books
What: A scolding, and a warning
When: October 1809
Where: Loch Laggan

 

Who: Calling all captains!
What: Staff meeting to discuss circumstances
When: April 23rd, 1810
Where: Cádiz, makeshift command room
Warnings: Opinionated captains with volatile tempers?

( Thank you all for seeing us safely down; I appreciate the effort taken on our behalf. )

Who: Fitzroy Bell
What: Bad news.
When: May 1807.
Where: Sleeping quarters.
Warnings: A dash of (probably warranted) moping.

(  They would have held one another up and put the darkness of it into becoming as good a team as the one before, one Captain Bell for another. )

Who: Timandra Starkey, Liang, and Electra Flint.
What: Amber Alert, covert style.
When: March 1809. Morning.
Where: Dover covert, along the shore.
Warnings: Theft of human beings.

( Still, she would not be deterred, and they would be parting within the half-hour either way. )

Who: Charlie Weasley and Glinda Prescott
What: Reunion and news
When: 23 April 1810
Where: Cadiz
Warnings: Possible language? Talk of war.

( Reinforcements were welcome ... )

Who: Glinda Prescott
What: Reinforcements from Dover
When: April 23rd, 1810
Where: Cádiz, Spain
Warnings: None

( 'Who's in command here?' )

Who: Charlie Weasley
What: Reporting in following a battle.
When: March 1809
Where: Oporto, Portugal
Warnings: None.

( The battle was over and the French were in full retreat ... )

Who: Lung Shao Liang (now with bonus Susan!)
What: Acquisition of goods
When: April, 1810
Where: Cádiz, Spain
Warnings: Theft of pies
Notes: I have no dragon icon set yet. Don't put it past me, though.

( To Liang’s eye, the pies were not a full meal, but they were delicacies - like the chocolates Electra seemed to value more than stew, even when Electra assured Liang it was very good stew - which gave the pies greater value. )

Who: Timandra Starkey with special guests Her Dad, Lucretia the Cantankerous, and Captain Not-At-All-Cantankerous.
What: A passing of a the torch.
When: June 1807.
Where: Covert grounds.
Warnings: Blood and mild-surgery talk.

( The captain nodded with a wan smile—he was significantly better-natured than his dragon, though one could easily say the same of a hive of incensed wasps—and turned to find one or two of his crew to send off for some fresh meat. )

Who: Andrew Hamilton
What: A new assignment
When: April 8th, 1810
Where: Aerial Command, near Chatham
Warnings: None

( 'I’m afraid we’re going back across the Channel.' )

El juramento de las tropas del Marqués de la Romana / The pledge of the troops of the Marquis de la Romana (1808)
Manuel Castellano (1826-1880)
'The Spanish Division of the North sent to fight the British in Denmark pledging to turn against France and side with the British'

( Buonaparte: The Siege of Cádiz )

Need a captain? Need a dragon? Looking for a crew assignment? Hoping to reunite with an estranged daughter who ran off to join the Aerial Corps? Post 'wanted' character requests here so we can start to network!

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ETA: Chat notes for reference!

Thoughts? Ideas? Comments? Talk about them here! Please remember there may be spoilers in the comments!

( Spoilers within!!! )

• His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik


• Why this book: It’s that rare gem, a genuine alternate history that isn’t set at the extremes of medieval Europe or Victorian England, which lets historians sink their teeth into a period (in this case, the Napoleonic Wars) and really enjoy it. It’s a very detailed and realistic world, both in terms of the use of the fantastical (dragons) and in the code of conduct appropriate for the period and classes, while offering a variety of important roles for women and minorities unusual for alternate history. It has a very narrow focus and scope, but provides enough information about the broader world that there’s room to expand and fill in some of the gaps. It’s widely available and a quick, easy read. Last but not least, it features talking multicultural dragons who are soul-bonded to their captains, which is a set of tropes I can get behind, and opens up all sorts of interesting avenues.


• Premise for play: A storyline following the adventures of a single formation of dragons and their crews in a British covert, flying against the French. Ideally, there would be some sort of dangerous mission (possibly to Spain or elsewhere overseas?) that utilized the strengths of all of the characters and forced them to cooperate and work together to pull it off. This universe has opportunities for stealthy escapades, dramatic battles, personal interactions and relationships, social events, and politics: hopefully a little something for everyone.


• Suggested roles: Dragons, captains, officers, crew, ground crew, surgeons, Admiralty, couriers, family members; all the residents of a covert.

( Rules Recap )

Looking for something new to read? Here are some book worlds we love, from the intro post:

( Rec List )