rix_scaedu | Entries tagged with anadrasata

So here we have three men (who really ought to have names but don't yet) dealing with some new information. Someone isn't going to be happy....

It's 645 words for this section and I hope you enjoy it.

Index Page.

The local manager of the Northern Stars Line and the company's solicitor made themselves known to the Special Counsel assisting the Board of Inquiry shortly before the lunchtime recess ended. Preliminary introductions made, the manager explained, "The bridge key worried me. If all of the Empress Mahihild's copies are accounted for then the only place Mr dh'Lhong could have gotten one is from one of the places the Northern Stars Line keeps off ship copies. One of those places is in our main office in Mhaiphrial, where Mr dh'Lhong joined the Empress Mhaihild. Given the time differences, I sent them a priority telegraph to get an answer before they left for the day." He paused and ploughed on. "Their copy of the Empress Mhaihild's bridge key is missing. but so are their copies of the master keys to all of the Mhaihild's passenger staterooms. They also confirmed that Mr dh'Lhong did visit their office before embarking on his trip. Our Mhaiphrial office staff are staying late to check the rest of their keys."

( Read more... )

So, I thought it was time for a quick look at what is going on back in Amnestri. Well, I thought it was going to be a quick look, but I think that with 3,024 words in Part 1 I have to admit that it's not. I hope that you enjoy this.

(Part 2 is handwritten A4 page so it should be way shorter than this.)

Index Page.

The tipstaff called the hearing room to order for the second day of the public hearings into the near miss incident between the Empress Mhaihild and the Pearlish Star seven days earlier. Both ships were still at Amnestri's airship port with their departures delayed at the Board of Inquiry's convenience, a factor that the passengers on the Empress Mhaihild were finding increasingly onerous. The first day of hearings had gone into the technical aspects of the incident and established in the minds of interested and knowledgeable parties that the incident was caused by the Empress Mhaihild, had not been due to an engineering or technical failure and that the ship had, in fact, been responding to its controls. The members of the Board of Inquiry filed in, took their places, and the first witness of the day was called.

( Read more... )

A hand drawn map on large grid paper, mainly blank as it is a woork in progress. It is also obviously half of a larger document

This is the western half of the map I posted yesterday. This time I have managed to get it into Dreamwidth. Obviously I do not do pictures here often. For a readable version, I suggest the Patreon post of this which is here.

The distance scale is in kilometres, because after about fifty years of the metric system that is how my mind processes long distances. One square is 500 kilometres. I am still not certain how long an Imperial league is but it was pointed out to me by a kind reader yesterday that if I make an Imperial league equivalent to five kilometres, then it will both make it roughly the same as a real world league and give me 100 Imperial leagues to the grid square. This is an idea that has merit. Also, the real world league measurement really is one of those things where you have to ask specifically where and when to find out how far they were talking about.

Because at least one person asked for it, I will be posting the current version of the map for Anadrasata. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the file small enough to post on Dreamwidth (new scanner so learning curve) but I could get it to post on Patreon where it is here.

The Pearlish Queen, and Anadrasata, continue on.

This piece runs to 1,146 words and I hope that you enjoy them.

Index Page.

Skaithosday, 27 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

Aside from the storm, last night was blessedly undisturbed.

I found out at breakfast that I cannot read a ship's schedule properly. It turns out that although Sumetteyeri is our fourth point of call, we do not reach there until tomorrow. According to Colonel Dhaiharai and the dh'Bhaiettree gentlemen this coastline is uninhabited for some hundreds of Imperial leagues and all attempts at settlement have failed. As in fishing boats returning home to everyone dead type failed. Mr Rhaimghaim added that the current theory involves massive, sudden upwellings of a noxious gas from the depths of the ocean. We will be stopping today but at a naval refuelling station (in exchange for transporting in fresh food stuffs for the crew). No passengers will be leaving or boarding today - the provincial transport hub is near the northern coast for 'political reasons' so stopping there is not an option for us.

( Read more... )

I thought people might be interested an incidental result of the Day 16 drama onboard the Pearlish Queen. This piece runs to 642 words, and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Lady Saidhelait dh'Ironaith knocked on the door of her mother's cabin. Usually she went straight to breakfast in the dining room while the Dowager Countess dh'Ironaith broke her fast in bed but this morning her mother had passed a message through their lady's maids for her to visit before breakfast. "Come in!" The voice from inside the cabin was clear.

Lady Saidhelait opened the door and entered. Seeing that her mother was still in her bed, she closed the door behind her. "You wanted to see me, Mother?"

"Yes, thank you for coming. Please sit down," her mother indicated the chair in front of the vanity mirror, so Lady Saidhelait turned it around, and sat, smoothing her skirts as she did so.

Lady dh'Ironaith waited a moment to see if her daughter had anything to say and then began, "Yesterday's events gave me food for thought, and I have realised that I do not wish to be Mrs Gritteye or Mrs Nearwhatever her name is." She dismissed the mother of their fellow female passenger with a swish of her hand.

Lady Saidhelait waited for her mother to continue, her expression offering neither forbearance nor denial.

"I'm sure it hasn't escaped you that I have not been assisting you to find suitable potential husbands as I did your sisters," went on Lady dh'Ironaith and there may have been a flicker of a nod from her daughter. "That was because I thought I wanted one of my daughters to stay with me be familiar company in my middle and old age. I did not consider that your desires might be different. Mrs Gritteye is possessive of her son to the point of - well, the outcome was ugly even without the overdose problem. Miss Nearabhigan is clearly her mother's housekeeper-companion, and she's dressed as such if I'm any judge. I suspect the woman wants to get her hands on that trust fund. My point is that I don't want you to become either Mr Gritteye or Miss Nearabhigan." She looked at her daughter for a response.

Lady Saidhelait said carefully, "I am aware, Mother, that you have been unenthusiastic at the prospect of my leaving your household. I have also been uncertain of what role you expected me to play now that you have employed Miss Ghaighain."

Her mother looked at her some more and said, "You know, I don't know that I did give that any proper thought. I thought that we would just continue on forever and Miss Ghaighain would deal with all the little peripheral tasks and errands." She made a gesture that somehow indicated busy work or minutiae that she did not wish to deal with. "And, of course, now, if I am not mistaken, you have met a gentleman whose interest you would like to cultivate."

Lady Saidhelait blushed and replied, "Yes, I find Major Vhenghahair's company agreeable, and we have interests in common." She paused and then asked, "He was promoted from the ranks to his current position. Will that be an insurmountable problem?"

"I don't see why," Lady dh'Ironaith replied tartly. "My maternal grandfather was promoted from the ranks and the Brigadier did quite nicely in our level of society, thank you very much. I think your father would have liked Major Vhenghahair - I was speaking to Half Colonel dh'Zhangain about him, and not only was he the Major Regimental Sergeant Major of two line different regiments in his last postings before he was promoted, he's three time and current Army shabh-hab champion."

"He didn't tell me that," said Lady Saidhelait, her mouth curving into a smile as she spoke. "That would explain why he plays such a good game. You're right, Father would have liked him - I would probably have had to fight to get a game with either of them, if they'd met."

This sidebar should be read after Day 16, just so you know how things got to this point. This piece runs to 689 words, and oh boy, nineteenth century patent medicines were a real thing. (Government regulation for the win, really.)

Index Page

Thanks to the signal flags hanging from the airship as it made its approach to the landing apron, Dr Khainaign was waiting for the patient when she was carried off the ship. The apothecary he'd sent for, based on those flags, arrived in the room used for such matters just as the ship's doctor was about to begin explaining the patient's problems. The two doctors wore plain waistcoats cut on the modern pattern under their sober coloured coats - no-one wanted to wear expensive and difficult to clean fabrics where body fluids might well get on them. The apothecary, in contrast, looked a generation out of date - long hair tied back from his face and an embroidered waistcoat with a neckline low enough to display a frothy abundance of cravat. Mr Amatteye dressed to instil confidence in his abilities in an older generation.

"I came as quickly as I could," apologised the apothecary. "I understand that poisoning is the problem?"

"Yes," replied the ship's doctor. No-one could blame the man for being to the point - he had to be back on board when the ship sailed in less than two hours. "According to all accounts," he acknowledged the fourth man remaining in the room, "this bottle of Dr Portain's Remedy for Sleeplessness and Disturbed Nerves was full two mornings ago." The brown bottle he'd produced form his coat pocket was clearly only a quarter full. "Mrs Gritteye created a disturbance in the hallway outside her cabin last night. After she was returned to her own quarters, she had several episodes of vomiting before she passed out. That was when we discovered the bottle in this state. I don't know what's in it, aside from raw spirits and hashish, so I treated her with activated charcoal washed down by drinking water. After half an hour or so, she passed out and has been like this since." He indicated the prone matron on the stretcher. "Her breathing was very slow and shallow for a while, but it's improved in the last hour or so."

Dr Khainaign asked, "Can you tell us what we're dealing with, Mr Amatteye?"

"Not completely," said the apothecary, taking the bottle and eyeing the label distastefully. "The makers of these things like to keep their recipes secret. 'Dr Portain' is no exception. From experience, I do know that it's got a lot of strong alcohol, hashish, a little tincture of opium, sleepwort, valerian root, and chamomile in it, but beyond that, I have no idea. The label says it's made from 'therapeutic botanicals' but, frankly, that's no help."

"Agreed," said the ship's doctor. "Sounds as if there's not a lot more that I could have done for the lady, over and above what I did do. Ah, I don't believe I've introduced you two gentlemen to our patient's son." He indicated the fourth gentleman again. "Mr Gritteye, may I present Dr Khainaign and Mr Amatteye? If you agree, they will have care of your mother from now on."

"Yes. A pleasure, gentlemen, I only wish it was under better circumstances." Those words sounded rote, but the next ones didn't. "Please help my mother. She can be difficult, and she has been over the last few days, but I do love her and I'm sure she didn't mean to do this to herself. I thought we'd have years yet for her to get used to not being in charge of me, and then for her to enjoy having grandchildren. This shouldn't be the end of it all."

Dr Khainaign patted him reassuringly on the shoulder and said, "We shall do our best, Mr Gritteye. It's good news that your mother's breathing has gotten stronger. Have you arranged for somewhere to stay here in town?"

"Yes," replied Mr Gritteye, his eyes on his mother. "I booked rooms at the Dancing Barnacle. My friend's secretary is outside somewhere arranging suitable transport for us to get there now."

"Excellent," replied the doctor. "It's a fine establishment. Now, if you mother's maid could come in to assist us, well make sure that's she's ready to travel when the vehicle arrives."

So, Day 16 of her travels and Anadrasata is a little wrung out at the end of it.

This piece runs to 2,448 words, and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Hakkarsday, 26 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

Shortly after I went to bed last night we rose to avoid a storm. There were a few flashes of lightning and thunder at a distance, but it was of little effect on us. Later on, in the early hours of the morning as we were descending again, I was woken by banging on my cabin door. When I lit my cabin's lights, I realised that whoever it was outside wasn't just knocking, they were hitting the door hard enough to shake it and the chair propped under the handle. I pulled the bellpull twice (once for a service such as fresh drinking water, twice for a real problem like illness, three times for a dire emergency like fire) and put on my dressing gown and slippers. Outside someone started shouting through the door - when the shouting became loud enough for me to distinguish words I heard something about "know what you're doing in there" and "you can't take him." The there were other, quieter voices, what may have been a struggle, and then after a few minutes, a quiet knock on my door and a man's voice asking for me.

( Read more... )

Anadrasata is now fifteen days away from home in several senses of the phrase. The problem with being on board a ship is that you are in close quarters with a group of people you've never met before.

This piece runs to 1,580 words and I hope that you all enjoy it.

Index Page

Rhoinday, 25 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

No storm last night, but I was woken twice by banging on a cabin door (not mine) or possibly the corridor wall. Both times it didn't continue quite long enough for me to steal myself to roll out of bed and find out what was going on.

( Read more... )

So, I thought it was time to give everyone an update on the situation back in Umbrial.

This runs to 1,887 words. I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Castor Fhailaign had just finished showing his wife, Annapeela Fhailaign, some financial figures. She looked appalled. "All this time I thought Anadrasata had incredibly bad taste. I didn't realise that she was dressing to a budget this small." She shook her head, "No, I didn't think. We all knew that my mother is concerned about household costs, but I never thought that she would be so cheeseparing with Anadrasata. I mean I had a generous dress allowance and pin money before I married. I know that Sura still has the same. I was assuming.... " She closed her eyes for a moment then added, "Mother doesn't intend for my sister to get married, does she?"

( Read more... )

Here we are on Day 14 of Anadrasata's travels and she continues to have new experiences and meet new people. This piece runs to 1,474 words and I hope that you all enjoy it.

Index Page.

Brogaiday, 24 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

There was a storm in the night and thunder woke me around midnight. Remembering the safety talk at lunch yesterday, I got up and looked out of the cabin window, expecting to see the storm outside, but it was clear and I could see the stars above us. There were clouds below us, and while I watched I saw a purplish flash of lightning in the distance, going upwards. I decided it would be better not to dwell on the matter and went soberly back to bed, where ai recited a prayer of thanks for protection before going back to sleep. [I have never heard of lightning going upwards before - perhaps I should ask one of the ship's officers about it.]

( Read more... )

Anadrasata's journey continues, and she begins to acquaint herself with a new set of travelling companions. This runs to 2,028 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Thuwnday, 23 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

There was a tremendous storm in the night last night. It began an hour or so after I went to bed and continued into the small hours of the morning. I did get up to make sure that the rain wasn't blowing in through the window, but other than that I believe I managed to sleep through most of it. I mentioned it to the maid who brought my hot water this morning, and she told me that afternoon and evening storms are quite common at this time of year - it was sheer luck that there haven't been any others since I arrived.

( Read more... )

So, here we find out how the board member of the Northern Stars Line who unwisely commented to the press started his day.

I hope that you all enjoy it, and it runs to 1,576 words.

Index Page.

Thuwnday, 23 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Mr Caitus dh'Lhong was in the Amnestri offices of the Northern Stars Line at the unhallowed hour of four of the morning. He was not sure why he was there, except that he had been woken by the Captain of the Empress Mhaihild and told that he had to be. His valet had been assisted by two stewards and then two burly members of the crew had escorted him to a waiting cab that already contained the First Officer. The cab had deposited them outside these offices where the local manager had been waiting and let the three of them in. The First Officer was now acquainting himself with the coffee pot in the outer office, while the manager and Mr dh'Lhong were in the inner office.

( Read more... )

Index Page.

Further to the Day 12 Preview:

22 OCHD 1893 CE

TO: CAITUS DH LHONG EMPRESS MHAIHILD

FROM: HORAIS JHAIHAILD MHAIPHRIAL

THE REST OF THE BOARD AND I HAVE SEEN YOUR STATEMENT TO THE PRESS STOP CEASE TALKING ABOUT THE INQUIRY STOP AS CHAIRMAN I AM COMING TO REPRESENT THE COMPANY STOP BEST IF YOU DO NOT SHOW YOUR FACE IN PUBLIC STOP WILL BE THERE ON SOONEST AVAILABLE FLIGHTS STOP LET OUR LOCAL MANAGER HANDLE THIS UNTIL I ARRIVE STOP PLEAD ILLNESS IF NECESSARY STOP EXPECTED ARRIVAL TWENTY SEVEN OCHD STOP

22 OCHD 1893 CE

TO: CAITUS DH LHONG EMPRESS MHAIHILD

FROM: HORAIS JHAIHAILD
MHAIPHRIAL

DATE OF ARRIVAL NOW TWENTY NINE OCHD STOP THE REST OF THE BOARD AND I ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND INTERVIEW WITH HEAD OF IMPERIAL AVIATION AUTHORITY AT EIGHT OF THE MORNING TOMORROW IN THE CAPITAL STOP WILL DISCUSS IN DETAIL ON MY ARRIVAL AT YOUR LOCATION STOP DO NOT REPEAT DO NOT MAKE ANY MORE PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT STOP

So, Anadrasata had a full day in Amnestri and used the word "interesting" a lot. I wrote many pages and then had to type them out. In the middle of that I came down with a 48-hour virus with fever and stuff - cannot recommend.

This runs to 3,683 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Onnaday, 22 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

When she brought me the hot water this morning, the maid told me that because several of the other parties staying overnight had already left, a private parlor would be available for me to breakfast in. She also passed on a message from the landlady that my tour guide would call for me at ten.

( Read more... )

This article, or something similar but better written, would appear in the afternoon editions of the local papers in Amnestri. It would also appear in more far-flung papers, such as those published in the Imperial capital (like the Imperial Clarion), the following morning. This piece runs to 445 words, and I hope it provides some useful background. Please enjoy.

Index Page.

Onnaday, 22 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Rear Admiral Lord Raiph dh'Khaitheer has been appointed to lead the Board of Inquiry into the near miss between the Empress Mhaihild and the Pearlish Star that occurred on the morning of 21 Ochd, 1893 C.E. south-east of Amnestri in the vicinity of the village of Eyevattri. The terms of the Inquiry have been established under the provisions of the Aerial Navigation Act 1867 C.E. The other four members of the Board are Commodore Spica Haidail, Commodore Beteelghais dh'Rhainair (Eng), Captain Marais dh'Ghair, and Captain Tholaigh bh'Dhraiphair (Eng).

The incident was reported to the Imperial authorities by telegraph message from observers on the ground in Eyevattri. Allegedly the Empress Mhaihild made a rapid downwards altitude change from within a cloud band and nearly rammed the Pearlish Star before both ships made evasive manoeuvres and then suffered lateral stalls. Both vessels subsequently made port in Amnestri under their own power. Initial inspections of both vessels were carried out, and the Empress Mhaihild has been required to undergo further inspection and possible repair works. The officers and crew of both vessels have been bound over not to discuss the incident until all of them have given evidence to the Inquiry.

In accordance with the Regulations derived from the Aerial Navigation Act 1867 C.E., the departure of both vessels from Amnestri has been delayed until at least 27 Ochd, 1893 C.E. Intending passengers are advised to contact the Northern Stars Line and Pearlish lines, respectively, to learn how their travel plans will be affected. Both vessels were originally due to depart Amnestri today, with the Empress Mhaihild bound for Quecorata and the Pearlish Star for Kordyliss.

The Board of Inquiry's preliminary report is expected to be submitted to the Imperial Aviation Authority by 10 Naisen, 1893 C.E., with the final report being issued by 20 Naisen, 1893 C.E.

Northern Stars Line board member Mr Caitus dh'Lhong, currently a passenger on the Empress Mhaihild, told reporters that he expects that the Empress Mhaihild, her officers, and her crew will be found blameless in this incident. Captain Lhains Fhairghail of the Pearlish Star's only comment has been that the Board and their investigators are experienced officers of good repute, and that he is both at their service and awaiting their pleasure in this matter.

This post was released three days early for my patrons on Patreon, and I think that the explanation there is self-explanatory.

Index Page.

Anadrasata has reached Amnestri and left the Pearlish Star. It has been such a full and interesting day that this piece runs to 3,110 words. (so many pages written by hand, but not all at once.)

A couple of notes. Firstly, because in written English the vowels are indicators rather than definers of which sound is in the word, in the local names within this piece the vowel group 'eye' is said as the English word 'eye'. Secondly, 'lumescent' is not an English word - I think that it was originally a spelling mistake in the handwritten document but I am using it to convey both what it does and that it is, to us, an unfamiliar technology. Thank you for your forbearance.

Index Page.

Twirsday, 21 Ochd, 1893 C.E.

Dear Journal,

I was woken early by turbulence and a thumping sound, well I thought it was a thumping sound but then I realised that it was some type of alarm. It wasn't one of the alarms we've been warned about by the daily safety briefings, but as it was light out and only an hour before the beginning of breakfast service, I decided to get up and get dressed. When I opened the curtains covering my cabins windows I was startled to see another airship so close to us that I could see the faces of people on their promenade deck. It was a larger vessel than ours and it had a bright, shiny livery in scarlet and white with a gold commercial heraldry - I didn't recognise it but the shield shape and parentheses tell you that it's a commercial emblem and not a personal or family one.

( Read more... )

So, Anadrasata is ten days into her big adventure and almost at the end of her voyage on the Pearlish Star. Mother is wants her to read the latest book by a popular author of written sermons, and everyone is making goodbye noises, etc. This runs to 1,409 words and I hope that you enjoy it.

Index Page.

Naiphday, 20 Ochd, 1893C.E.

Dear Journal,

We started the morning with a prayer service led by Captain Fhairghail in the second class lounge. The entrical was recited by Half Colonel dh'Trai, who has an excellent voice for such things, and a short sermon was given by a young curate travelling in second class - it was on Serethas, Chapter 2, Verse 37: "Love, duty, and justice all require us to take action, and none is more important that the others although the weight of each upon us and in relation to each other will vary with time and circumstance." The collection was taken up for The Aircrew's Benevolent Society. Evening prayers will occur in the same place before dinner this evening.

( Read more... )

This occurs on Day 7 of Anadrasata’s travels. It runs to 2,080 words and I hope that you enjoy it. Also, I have not specified the currency units because I haven’t decided what they are called yet but if you assume British pounds in the early 1800s then you will have the right idea of the intended value.

Castor Fhailaign had been trying to talk to his brother-in-law, Tallaig Nearabhaign, for several days but Tallaig was angry with him and had been refusing to meet with him. Tallaig was, in general, a very angry man but at the moment he was angry specifically at Castor for "overstepping his place" and auditing the household accounts of Castor's mother-in-law who was, of course, Tallaig's mother. Castor had begun the task because his wife, Annapeala, had been reduced to an overwrought version of herself after stepping in to keep house for her mother while her sister, Anadrasata, was off visiting relatives on the other side of the Circle Sea. Castor had been there when his wife and mother-in-law had told Anadrasata not to worry because Anna would do a much better job than Anadrasata had ever done. Castor may have been the only one of them who'd noticed the twitch of Anadrasata's eyelid as the insult couched as reassurance rolled over her.

( Read more... )