The Barker Street Irregulars OOC and Set Up Thread

[Stella Gaslight]

Yes it is that time again. Time for an episodic adventure set in a world where anything is possible this time with and extra dash of the supernatural. The Barker Street Irregulars are a loosely nit group of eccentrics, tinkers, oculists and some other shady characters brought together because of a love of mystery.  They meet at a ramshackle looking building just simply called the club that has been there as long as anyone can remember.  Occasionally a man in a dark cape often smoking a pipe obsessively turns up with a problem that logic can't solve and so puts The Barker Street Irregulars on the case.  Everyone calls him Charley but he has never actually said his name as far as you can remember.  

This game will be broken in to cases and players can suggest cases they would like to take on. If anyone needs more info on how this style of game this works let me know.  

The basic rules are
No forcing player characters to do any thing without their permission.

Try to avoid double posting if at all possible.

If you are going to add a huge plot twist please talk it over before springing it that way we cab make sure it flows in to the game well.

Here is a basic info sheet and I will be filling out my own later.  I am going to keep this thread collecting players for a bit and then start the game.
Name

Age

Gender

History

Skills

Speciality

Personality

What you look like

[Steampunk Away]

Abraham Drekar

Age: 22

Gender: Male

History: Born in some undisclosed Scandanavian Country, Abraham is what you might call a gentleman thief, or perhaps Robin Hood. Due to his casting out of the upper class by his own parent, Abraham has spent many years perfecting the trade of pick pocketing and lock picking, he is also very good at the art of free running, as he has often had to make a quick getaway or two. This thief however, never stole for riches. He stole to help the other people living in the slums, more than once saving a starving family. He finally left Scandanavia when he heard of the poor being prosecuted in England, and went there to investigate himself. After catching a corrupt police officer, Abraham decided to stay awhile, and came upon the Irregulars.

Skills: Pickpocketing, Lock picking, and Free Running.

Speciality:

Personality: Light hearted  and charismatic, but an initially rough side. Is especially attuned to the plights of the poor, and becomes somewhat on edge when he sees their struggles mocked or worsened.

What you look like: Average Height, leaner build, with long fingers. Shaggy blond hair and blue eyes are really all he has of his Scandinavian heritage. Has a long frock coat, and a scarf he often uses as a hood, as well as a cane containing his lock picks.

[CPT_J_Percell]

Name: James Purcell

Age: Undetermined, due to the effects of spiritual interference, has stopped ageing

Gender: Male

History: Depends on What time you meet me as I tend to cross the time streams and Dimensions.

Skills: Hunter, Specialist in Mythobiology, Shapeshifter, semi immortal

Speciality: Mythobiology

Personality: Prone to mood swings and varies wildly between friendly and downright unapproachable.

What you look like: About average but easely recognisable by the rope burn around neck and 3 jagged scars down left hand side of face higlighting gold iris.

[Stella Gaslight]

Name Celia Cromerty

Age 37

Gender Female

History

Skills Brewing(both beer and things a bit more strange), lock picking(normal and what are often called faerie locks) clairvoyant (thoe often about things that dont matter much) protective charms

Speciality She is the lore keeper for the London area.  Her magical library has been passed from grandmother to granddaughter ever since London was a tiny village.  Keeps up on things but refuses to spend time on the rituals she knows are just theatre with a bit of magic in the centre. 

Personality
Practical and hard working with very little that bothers her.  You would not know by looking at her that she had the responsibility that is on her shoulder.   There are only two things she insists on with absolute certainty there will be no fighting in her establishment and if you try to wake her before ten you had better be dead or on fire. 

What you look like  Black hair that is normally back in a bun.  Green eyes with flecks of something deep and almost gold.  Strong shoulders and legs from a life of lifting and scrubbing but not very tall.  Normally wears a faded apron and has soot smudges on her somewhere.  She is sometimes called on to perform ceremonies in velvet robes but you can bet that underneath them are the sensible black shoes she is never without.

[The Corsair]

Name: Jedidiah Johns (JJ) Bruvsnisk

Age: 12

Gender: Male

History: It's so dark here, what's happening? You're safe child, you just rest. Where is everyone? They're here. Don't worry, I'll keep you safe for now. Sleep. Why can't I see? What's going on? Nothing, little JJ. You are simply surviving. That is why I'm here.

Skills: Adaptability, Strength, Speed, Stamina, Baking

Speciality: Survivalism

Personality: Inquisitive, but careful. Talkative if trusting, otherwise polite and a little more reserved. Lonely.

Appearance: Short, with close-cropped sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. Always wears brown shorts and a plain white shirt with no shoes, no matter what time of year.

[Prof. Isambard Ravenwood]

Name: Hector Mallard

Age: 27

Gender: male

History: brought up by a wealthy family, Mallard always had a form of genius when it came to science, tinkering, inventing and especially problem solving, and he loved reading crime novels. when he grew older, he fell out with his parents over his career choices, thinking that a career as a consulting detective beneath him, he ran away the rough side of town, and purchased a small ramshackle workshop, where he now solves crimes for a living.

Skills: Inventing/tinkering with mechanical things, boxing, fencing and swordplay, marksman, able to play the banjo at great speed.

Speciality: Deduction

Personality: A slightly cynical person, mallard will often belittle people or insult them if they remotely irritate him or are exceedingly stupid in front of him. He is very emotionally detached, preferring to think rather than talk, unless he's showing off (which he does, frequently). However,he is very loyal to friends, and is fiercely protective of them, and when he has been at the pub for too long, he is the life and soul of a party.

What you look like: Mallard has dark, medium length, black curly hair and a thin face with medium length sideburns. He is very tall, and quite slim. His eyes are and electric blue, when not covered by a pair of gadget-covered goggles. he wears a black corduroy frock coat, a white shirt, red waistcoat and tie, long black trousers, held up by a belt of which the back has a  fold out pack of tools and spare parts. Inside the heel of his boot, is a spring loaded, pop out pedal, which he can connect to his power tools (think Kevin Kline in Wild Wild West)

[Stella Gaslight]

In the next day or so I will have the first case up and then it will be game on.

[walking stick]

Name  Biridonia Tweedlewax known to all as Beety

Age  Marvellous for her..She has appeared elderly as long as anyone now living has known her, estimates vary a lot.

Gender  Female

History  Under another name (which she doesn't give) she was a noted actress in her youth  She made several shrewd investments using the gifts from admirers to her as collateral and retired wealthy at the height of her career.  She takes great delight in the fact that none of her admirers would recognise her now.  Then there is her penchant for disguise. and her researches.
Beginning with stage magic she expanded her interests in a variety of directions, some of them still unknown to the group.

Skills  Mistress of disguise and provider of useful things.  Having acquired a variety of useful and often unique objects books tools and disguises over several decades of research into the unusual  she has become a valued member of the group.  Often she may have just what you require in her vast and eccentrically organised collection.

Personality  Outwardly cheerful chatty and vague it takes a while to realise just how creatively she thinks.

Looks  Usually:- White haired cheerful old woman wearing a mixed selection of clothes and a couple of shawls she looks calm and comfortable, perhaps mildly eccentric but hardly threatening.

In disguise...You never know.

[Ranger Reid]

I would like to participate.  I didn't see if there is a limit for players or not.    This character is one I have developed in a Westernpunk novel that is almost finished.  I have played him in a couple other games and it has helped me develop traits for the novel.

Please let me know if I might participate.   If the game is full, then certainly please consider me for the next attempt. 

My character:    Ranger John Reid, Citizen of the Americas


Age:     Almost 50

Gender:  Male

History:  Rural Appalachian mountain life, adventure took him abroad where he learned the way of the Japanese sword.  Returning to his home, eventually he took on a career with the Bureau of Wildlands and Woods (Forest Service) as a Wildwoods Ranger.  When a wild thing kills humans, he comes in and tracks it and mitigates it.  Many of the beasts he has hunted are considered mythical by the common public.
(Rugaru, Wendigo, Adlet, Culloo, Lox-  all of these are taken from real Native American tales)     


Recent events have demoralized and discredited the ranger.  He has taken a leave of absence from his position, and has come to this area to "escape" and possible even retire.   

Skills:    Tracking, hunting, fishing, foraging, snaring and trapping (as applies to animals for food), investigation and problem solving

   Reid does have one wild talent.  The roots of which are explained in my story.   But he can touch metal and gather impressions of previous owners.  The results vary.  A coin found on the street might lead him to the owner to return it.  But a dagger that was used for murder might reveal an intense vision of the act, and understanding of the emotions and thoughts of the killer, etc.  The more emotions the holder was experiencing, the more complete the vision.   It is NOT a pleasant experience, and has driven members of his family insane.  He views it as a curse, albeit a useful one at times.

Speciality:  As a Wildwoods Ranger, Reid has experience problem solving, tracking, and fighting all manner of beasts.  Recently he has been working with the Tesla Commission Against Rouge Scientific Experimentation on cases where gadgetry and wilderness have overlapped.

Reid possesses a Japanese sword and dagger set.  They have a unique property.  When the dagger is impacted by wave energy (heat, sound, light, etc) the energy can be absorbed and resonated to the katana, where it can be redirected out the tip. 

Picture Reid holding the dagger up as he is engulfed in flame, the glow sucks into the small blade.  Then the ranger takes 2 steps forward and raises the katana, and flame erupts out in a thin line in the direction the blade is pointed.


Personality:  Somewhat sullen.  Years of working in wild isolated places have left him devoid of many social skills.  His own aversion to touching metal makes him somewhat out of step with most "steamers" who seem to worship technology and gadgets.

What you look like:  Tall slim middle aged man, leathery skin, hard expression.  Reid would never be considered "handsome" or pretty, but he has been called "striking" and "rugged".  Consider the actor Sam Elliot, or Tom Selleck as in "Quigley Down Under"

Reid wears clothing from the American west.  He could be mistaken for a Cowboy, except for the katana that resides on his back and the tanto on his belt.

[CPT_J_Percell]

My character:    Ranger John Reid, Citizen of the Americas

Welcome to England or atleast that where the door I entered through is located.

Am I still on Earth 33562?

[Ranger Reid]

A vacation abroad is exactly what Reid needed.   His understanding of the year would be the late 1890's, but recently he has been keeping company with a "traveller" and has been taken to mars, the future, etc.  So........   you decide.  My own story is set in the late Victorian, steamed version.

I leave it to you to "dial me in" 

[CPT_J_Percell]

To be honest I have just crossed the Vail and time streams from 2015 to 1890 (myself that existed in this time is actually missing in action)

[Ranger Reid]

So will the adventure be modern or period?   I only ask because Reid already doesn't fit in with people sporting chrono-augery watches and stuff.  He would freak out at cable tv........

[Stella Gaslight]

Nope we are going for Victorian era but more like the London of penny dreadful.  Tech is all over and in verying states of working but the light of the aether has not yet touched every last corner and some are dark deep and can eat you alive.

[Steampunk Away]

Reid stole my thunder by saving little Toby. Curses 

[Ranger Reid]

Sorry boss.  I was looking to get intro'd and it seemed an opportunity........ 

[Steampunk Away]

It's all good. Just a little jest my comrade in mystery.

[Ranger Reid]

I landed in poo.   Surely that helps your "feelings" 


LOL

[Stella Gaslight]

That is ok I can arrange for some daring do on the way to the club.

[Ranger Reid]

I left off one small item, because of my wild talent, Reid almost always wears thin calfskin gloves.  even in doors......

[The Corsair]

I only had time to skim what everyone's got so far. I've gone ahead assuming we're in an inn. I'll correct my post if I'm wrong.

[Ranger Reid]

I think it is home, which is used as a gathering place, and so called the clubhouse.  Celia's home though

[Stella Gaslight]

It is set up like a pub\ gentalmens's club with rooms above that ere at one time an inn but now are for mainly for irregulars use.

[Ranger Reid]

Lovely! I shall send for my,gear later!

[The Corsair]

Well, JJ is 12 so to him most places that aren't houses are probably inns to his mind.


So that everyone's fairly on the level as to how JJ works, he's the product of someone experimenting with providing Djinn with permanent bodies (rather than only temporary possession). The whole thing didn't work right, and the 'human' stayed inside JJ while the first Djinn was transferred to him. 3 tries later, JJ was left with 4 Djinn plus himself, all in the same body, with only 1 being in control at any given time. The other Djinn are aware of this, JJ is not.

'JJ' will refer to the human child.

'Jed' refers to the personality of the first Djinn, a physically strong creature that lends JJ's body inhuman strength when he's in control.

'Johnny' refers to the second Djinn, who can obscure the physical world around JJ while in control through the manipulation of light. He can't make you look like something you're not, but he can make you all but invisible, or darken a room to a nighttime-like state in the middle of the day.

'Jay' refers to the third Djinn, who can repair JJ's weak flesh and keep him alive well beyond the point of death, eventually healing him to be unscarred.

'Mr B.' refers to the fourth and final Djinn, who can warp and twist JJ's body to chage his form and appearance. This can mean changing the colour of his eyes and hair, or something more extreme like turning him into a full-sized adult or even an animal, but such drastic physical changes will require him to be left in the care of Jay afterwards so JJ's body can repair itself.


As far as what's just happened goes, Jed took control and broke down the door (with Johnny having previously tried the knob to find it locked). The other characters will have just seen a regular-looking 12 year old smash down a heavy wooden door.