h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, I feel better. I wonder if this new contraption in my pocket could help me. Or maybe Uli could magically lift the stone off the ocean floor? Hmmm... I guess I won't kill everyone on board just yet.

Yes, wholesale slaughter can wait.

By the way, our mutual friend got his login info back He probably won't post much for a while, though.

You'll have to congratulate him for me.

What did he do - ask Peta, or something?

I think it was Abi. Now he has trouble not blowing his cover (you see, he cannot stand the look of alabaster, and so views everything in goo). Let me put it this way, Yowuzupman knows, but it won't go any further.

I forgot to do yesterday's log information. I'll do it now:

Gorring's Log, Part II:

The Cat:
-Apparently a 2000 year old alien android. Though she has given me a lot of usefull information, I have not yet discovered what has brought her to this ship. I must be careful, as there is always the possibility that she is lying to me as much as I am lying to her. Here is what I've learned from our interview:
--Richardson is an alien being, with alien technology. Apparently that is what I found in his bunk. She suggested it may be either a "disruptor" or a "scanner". I'll have to experiment with the thing. She tells me that her planet and his were at peace last she knew, but that was 2000 years ago.
--Sarah Briggs dropped the Soulstone overboard this morning for an unknown reason, but according to the cat, some sort of "tractor beam" brought the stone back. I know it was the Soulstone because it fits the vague discriptions I've retrieved over the years, Sarah obviously wants to keep it from somebody, and the cat said it was some sort of "battery", obviously mistaking magical powers for technological ones. If a "tractor beam" did bring the Soulstone out of the depths, that means that someone with extremely powerful technology wants the Soulstone as well, and already has it! I'm betting on either Dr. Rangel (blast her!) or Richardson, her apparent cohort.
--Someone on board is looking for a cross pendant. Whoever it is hasn't gained the cat's full trust just yet. I offered to help the cat, as it seems that prettending to be nice *shudder* is the best way to get her to give me information.
--Sarah and Lizzie Briggs suspect Gillings of something. I don't know what, and I don't know why, but it really doesn't seem to be any of my concern. The cat, apparently, is in on it with them, and this supports my theory that Lizzie knows the cat speaks.

Hmmm... What in the name of the Third Riech does the WCTU want with an alien being? What does an alien want with the Soulstone? Could it be that Rangel and Richardson somehow know of my plans? Impossible. I'll just have to press on. Once Richardson gets to me, I'll pick his pocket. There's a chance he's got the stone on him (he doesn't have it in his cabin).

*Looks up from battered copy of the Nazi's Guide to the Galaxy*

Oh, um... no new log entries until some action happens in the cargo hold. Sorry.

*Reads entry on Temporal Paradoxes @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A243505 *

I'm in the Forecastle, looking around. I want to examine the contense of Johan's seachest.














Lol. Okay, to be specific, Johan Goodschad's seachest. What do I find?

You find the usual personal effects and clothes.

You also find a pair of flintlock pistols, of a type that was in common use 150 years ago. They are in perfect working order and are loaded.

Vedy interesting. Not all as exciting as what I've been finding in other people's chests though. He could easily just be an afficionado, a collector. (Though, concidering the nature of this game that is doubtful).

Seaman's log, part three.

Still waiting in the Cargo hold for Richardson. I've been out for a short while to search through Goodschad's seachest, mostly because in another thread Marv said that Goodschad appealed to his sense of the absurd and I couldn't figgure out what was absurd about Goodschad. I still can't. His chest contained, among the usual belongings, two antiques flintlock pistols, loaded, but nothing else. Strange.

I'm still wondering about what this contraption does.



*presses button on strange object that he found in Richardson's chest.*

*The device emits a very faint crackle and a small light glows very dimly and then fades out. You get the feeling that it is somehow out of power.*

Hmmm... the cat called the SoulStone "some sort of battery". I wonder if this thing runs of off magic power? The Soulstone itself? Cheeze Wiz? Hrumph!

View from high in the rigging:

All around is empty ocean, which is just starting to form a slight chop due to the breeze that has sprung up. On the far horizon you think you see something large and pointy briefly break the surface then submerge, but when you stare at that spot there is no repeat. You shake your head, not sure if you imagined it or not.

Looking down, you see the familiar layout of the ship, with the canoe tied to the stern. The sails are still mostly furled, but the ship is slowly making way under a single jib sail and one other. The red moon is just rising and in the dim light you can see some movements below. The Captain and his wife are strolling the deck. Volkert is swabbing and Goodschad is walking towards the First Mate's cabin. The Castaway is at the rail, looking over the sea. These motions are mostly explained by the Captains words which you have overheard. you can read his post soon after yours in the "on deck" thread.

GL -- I'm in a privat conversation with Mate Richardson. I've got my arm around him. I'd like to search him using [Slight of Hand]. What do I find?

sneaky
You find:
1) A strange box-like gadget with buttons and a display screen
2) A strange tube-like gadget with a single button
3) A strange box-like gadget with a metal prong
4) A set of keys, for everything on the ship but the men's personal sea chests and the weapon's locker

None of the strange gadgets are any technology you have ever seen.

Sorry - I hadn't read your conversation thread before posting here. Richardson had his hand in one pocket, clutching item 1, so presumably you won't have "investigated" that item.

That's fine with me, numbers 2 and 3 look dangerous enough on their own. Besides, number 1 appears to be Richardson's personal copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.


Seaman's log --
Gillings is playing dumb. He seems interested but unconcerned by the sudden appearance of the stowaway. Richardson doesn't have the Soulstone on his person, nor in his chest, meaning, of course, that Richardson probably doesn't have the Soulstone. None of the items I found on his person seemed to be weapons, though as I've never seen anything like them I could be wrong. My guess, however, is that, unless what he's holding in his hand is a weapon, he is undefended. Since I don't know what he's holding in his hand, I'll have to assume it's a powerful weapon of some sort.
When I took the strange Item I found in Richardson's chest out of my pocket it moved slightly of its own accord and a red light flashed, then went dim. Perhasp it was responding to some signal from Richardson's other technology? Richardson himself?
I want to know what an alien being has to do with this ship, but he, too, is playing dumb. Well, being difficult is the better word. I'm thinking of agonizing him, but I'm worried that the screams will bring others.
Gillings wants me to find Martens for him. Whatever Gilling's purpose is on this ship it seems to center on that crazy man, whom I haven't seen since dinner. I'll be damned if I'll be Gillings' lackey.
I'm wishing I'd brought a silencer for my Luger (can a Luger be silenced? Ah well). I could just take care of Richardson now -- but the Hold isn't empty. The report would be heard before I'd finished robbing him.

By the way, if anyone searches me, I want to be sure to conceal the gun. Just so that you know. That's probably what I've been clutching in the private convversation.

[search Uli]