GM Note: People mentioned in this post are marked with numbers corresponding to the chair numbers given on the Lounge Deck Plan picture, on the regular web page
http://basicfantasy.org/tsgs . These numbers do
not appear on the chairs themselves, and are only given here to assist you all in envisioning the scene.
Dr. Burton
15 turned to the elderly woman next to him. "I'm sorry, we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Doctor Henry Burton, and seated across from me here is my daughter Catherine.
17 This chap at the end of the table is Mister Will Thornton."
16
"Charmed, I'm sure," she replied. "I'm Emily Rowlandson,
14 of London. This chap," she said, indicating the man across the table from her, "is Baron Klaust Von Malum,
18 also residing in London."
The latter man wore a monocle and a dark suit decorated with a few medals in the German style. "Pleased to meet you gentlemen," he said, with a noticeable but not particularly thick German accent. He extended a hand to Dr. Burton and then to Will. "So tell me, Henry," he continued, "what precisely are you a Doctor of?"
"I'm an archaeologist," replied Doctor Burton. "I've just come back from a very successful dig in the heart of Africa. Have you heard of the Mondabe
(pronounced "mun-daw-bee") tribe?" The Baron shook his head, and Dr. Burton continued, "Well, it's in 'darkest Africa' as they say, far out into the jungle. We found a mound, or perhaps a badly eroded pyramid, and we did what archaeologists do... we dug into it. What we found was astounding... evidence of a heretofore unsuspected civilization that may have existed thousands of years before the first pyramid was built in Egypt. Even better, we found several previously undisturbed tombs."
As Dr. Burton continued droning on, Will took the opportunity to look around the room a bit. He had already studied the people sitting at the table beside him, of course, so now he looked a bit further.
The table nearest the bow of the ship was evidently the Captain's table. Will could see that each place had a name-card for an invited guest; he didn't see any similar cards at any of the other tables. The chair at the portside-end of the table was empty (awaiting the Captain, Will presumed), but the other chairs were all filled. On the Captain's right hand Will noted an elderly gentleman
8 who obviously purchased his clothing in the same store frequented by Dr. Burton... he looked entirely professorial. His unruly shock of white hair and thick glasses set him apart from the less distinctive archaeologist.
Beside the white-haired gentleman sat a man and woman,
7, 6 forty-ish, the man wearing a staid business suit while his wife (for Will was certain she must be his wife) was dressed in a fashionable yet plain dress. Both were dignified, but neither was particularly striking. The man at the starboard end of the table, on the other hand, was tall (even sitting Will could see that), athletic but not overly muscular, dark haired and handsome. His suit was tailored and he sat as if ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
At the handsome man's right hand sat a woman,
4 in her thirties perhaps, modestly attractive and wearing the most fashionable hair and clothing in the room. Though she seemed very attentive to the fellow at the foot of the table, Will was certain she was actually the wife of the Frenchman
3 seated on her right.
In the chair at the Captain's left sat a man of middle years,
2 ruggedly handsome, with a full head of gray hair. He was wearing a suit, Italian it appeared, and perfectly tailored, but something about him indicated to Will that he was, in fact, American.
With the chair at the other end of the table empty, Will could easily see the young couple seated at the table opposite.
21, 22 They were speaking to each other, leaning in close and smiling a lot; Will felt sure they were a couple, perhaps honeymooning, and from their gestures he decided they must be Italian.
At the other small table, Will saw a strikingly beautiful young brunette,
26 wearing a dress that sparkled perhaps a bit too much for morning wear. He was certain he had seen her face somewhere before, but just as certain that he had never seen her in person. The man sitting beside her
25 was dressed in a khaki outfit with a red ascot; though the beautiful woman beside him was speaking, he seemed more interested in the occupants of the Captain's table than in her.
All this Will took in while Dr. Burton droned on about his archaeological dig; he had just begun to say something about the artifacts he had found when the Captain strode purposefully into the lounge. Following the Captain were three of his officers, and all four were dressed in their immaculate white uniforms.
The other officers took seats at those tables where space was still available,
14, 19, 23 while the Captain went to his seat.
1 He did not sit, though, instead turning so that he faced the room. Everyone fell silent, and he began to speak.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! This is an historic occasion, as you all well know, but I'm told you will swiftly become used to cruising high above the land and sea. Feel free to visit the lounge any time; the kitchen is open from five thirty AM to eight PM, and a steward is on duty to fulfill your every need twenty-four hours a day. We have a small but select collection of wine and spirits available for purchase, and I'm told we'll have music and singing later. Now, everyone, let me invite you to tuck in!"
With that, the stewards began to serve the food and drinks that had been ordered, and the Captain sat down and turned his attention to his guests.
"I'm Leftenant Briggs," said the crewman who was now sitting beside Dr. Burton,
14 "second watch command officer."
Dr. Burton offered his hand, introducing himself, and then Lt. Briggs turned and extended his hand toward Will.
GM Note: Even if you aren't in this "scene," feel free to let me know what you are doing now. Mansel has been relieved, while Lars is technically still supposed to be inspecting the dirigible.