Castles of Steel - Lesbians Good, Imperialism Bad

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Lieutenant Arisukawa Haruna

Balance Stats
❁ • ❁ Work / Life ❁ • ❁
❁ • ❁ Warrior / Princess ❁ • ❁
❁ • ❁ Radical / Respectable ❁ • ❁

Tactical Stats
Gunnery 0, Navigation +2, Command +2, Technology -4, Personal -2, Strategy +3

Stress: 3​


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PLEASE READ THE QUEST RULES BELOW

You collectively vote on the actions of Arisukawa Haruna, the first woman to serve openly in the Imperial Akitsukuni Navy.

This quest is set in a universe which is much like our own circa 1910, but with different politics, cultural norms, and ideas about gender and sexuality, as well as some unusual and advanced technology in places.

We are using this quest to explore themes like breaking the glass ceiling, divergent outlooks on gender and sexuality, colonialism and imperialism, and the place of royalty.

Content Warning
This quest goes some dark places.

There is violence, often explicit, often unfair, often against undeserving targets.

There are not always good options forward. The protagonist is not necessarily a good person.

There is implied content and discussion of sexual harassment and assault.

This is a world where people are often racist, sexist, queerphobic bigots. Sometimes, even the PC and the people they are friends with.

Voting Rules

We will tell you if write-in votes are allowed. If we do not say that write-ins are allowed, they are not. This is to prevent people from unrealistically hedging their bets.

You may proposal other options in a non-vote format, subject to approval, on non write-in votes.

We will tell you when a vote allows approved voting. If we don't say the answer is no, pick an option. We like making people commit.

Discussions makes the GM feel fuzzy.

Game Rules
When we ask you for a roll, roll 3d6. You are aiming to roll equal or under the value of your stat. If you succeed, Haruna gets through the situation with no real difficulties. If you roll above the target value, Haruna will still succeed, but this success will cost her something or add a complication.

Whenever Haruna loses something or faces hardship from a botched roll, she takes Stress. The more Stress Haruna has, the more the job and the circumstances she's in will get to her, and it'll be reflected in the narrative. Haruna must be kept under 10 Stress: if she reaches 10 Stress, she will suffer a breakdown and the results will not be great for her.

Haruna loses stress by taking time for herself, by making meaningful progress on her dreams, and by kissing tall, beautiful women.

Meta Rules
Author commentary is in italics so you know it's not story stuff.

Please don't complain about the system or the fact we have to roll dice. We've heard it before, we've heard it a thousand times across multiple quests. We're not going to change it, and it wears at our fucking souls.

Just going "oh noooo" or "Fish RNGesus Why!" is fun and fine. Complaining at length because you didn't get what you want less so.

If you have a question, tag both @open_sketchbook and @Artificial Girl. If you only tag one of us, you will be ignored. Seriously, we both write this quest.

And yes this is an alt-history type setting with openly gay and trans people, ahistoric medicine, and weird politics. Just... deal, please?

This quest employs a special system called Snippet Votes. Please read this post for more information.
 
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ICE CREAM. VICTORY ICE CREAM. Your argument is invalid /s.
[X] Was that a shop that just sold ice cream? It sure looked like it, and furthermore it appeared there were multiple flavours! A rotund man in a white apron was currently in the process of opening. A few children came up to the window with handful of coins, and came away with a ball or two of colourful ice cream in a cone. Wait, was that child eating the cone?
 
When in 'Murica, celebrate glorious victory with pizza and ice cream.

[X] Was that a shop that just sold ice cream? It sure looked like it, and furthermore it appeared there were multiple flavours! A rotund man in a white apron was currently in the process of opening. A few children came up to the window with handful of coins, and came away with a ball or two of colourful ice cream in a cone. Wait, was that child eating the cone?
[X] Nearby was a bakery selling something you'd never seen before. They looked like little square slices of bread, atop which was a mass of melted cheese and assorted vegetables. Looked tasty.
 
Raw90 said:
So apparently the navy had suspicions this whole time. And yet our cousin got command anyways, because of his brilliant connections. Also, I'm realizing that we'll probably have someone like Commander Yajima assigned to us if we ever make command, though if it's someone really like Commander Yajima, that seems like it wouldn't be too bad.
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Not quite the whole time. Yajima replaced the previous XO, who was more of a toadie, after he took the fall for the captain messing around with an Obvious Caspian Spy.
 
I'm kind of surprised it was his own father who signed the order for his potential removal. That... really says everything about him that needs to be said.

Good riddance.

[X] Was that a shop that just sold ice cream? It sure looked like it, and furthermore it appeared there were multiple flavours! A rotund man in a white apron was currently in the process of opening. A few children came up to the window with handful of coins, and came away with a ball or two of colourful ice cream in a cone. Wait, was that child eating the cone?
 
It's a good thing that Haruna doesn't have a penis, because Navy trousers aren't baggy enough to react politely to this. :V

Anyway, all of these options look good, but if this is not-Frisco in the equivalent of 1905-1910 there should be a Cathaytown and either an Akitsukunitown or an Akitsukuni district of Cathaytown. Therefore, we need to do the following:

[] Amidst the foreign buildings is a storefront that looks like it came out of last century back home and advertises "authentic Akitsukuni cuisine and ambience". The proprietor is clearly Cathayan, the staff is mostly Joseon, and judging by the muffled obscenities you think the chef is Caspian. You're not sure whether to be more amused or appalled by the result, so right now you'll just see if you can snag a menu and a few photographs to mail to Aiko along with your next letter as proof that you're not making this place up.
 
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That was an immensely satisfying read in every possible way.

I'm voting diner food I think. I havent quite been in her situation, but I've been in semi-analogous ones. After chasing and/or shouting down nazis, definitely ice cream or maybe tacos. The time in the consolate makes this feel more like when there's been a mass arrest for a big, successful civil disobedience thing and they finally processed you at the police station around 5:00 am only to let you out of the holding cell a couple hours later. I've only been there once, and it was less triumphant than this, but I'd definitely say diner food. That, and really good coffee. Greasy local specialties on the level of poutine or garbage plates or whatever may also be a viable alternative, but I'm not sure what not!San Francisco has to offer of that sort.
 
[X] Try everything, especially if there's beer available at the establishment.

Good update. Don't call it Cristo, the locals hate that. And uh, don't get shot. That happens sometimes.
 
It's a shame that Emperor Norton was long dead by the equivalent point IRL; he'd have been fascinating for a member of an actual imperial family to interact with.
 
Artificial Girl said:
This is kind of an insensitive thing to say in a thread where both the QMs are trans women. :V
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...I honestly don't know why? Unless the problem is the implication that Haruna came a little from finally seeing Cousin Shithead get what he deserved?

I apologize for the derail, but given that I wasn't trying to be offensive this is kind of bugging me.
 
The Sandman said:
...I honestly don't know why? Unless the problem is the implication that Haruna came a little from finally seeing Cousin Shithead get what he deserved?

I apologize for the derail, but given that I wasn't trying to be offensive this is kind of bugging me.
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While not a trans woman myself, i'm pretty sure the issue is that 'woman' and 'can have issues stemming from visible erections' are not mutually exclusive; to wit, some women do in fact have penises and have to deal with those issues

As for the vote:
[X] Was that a shop that just sold ice cream? It sure looked like it, and furthermore it appeared there were multiple flavours! A rotund man in a white apron was currently in the process of opening. A few children came up to the window with handful of coins, and came away with a ball or two of colourful ice cream in a cone. Wait, was that child eating the cone?
I can't not vote for ice cream =3
 
[X] There's a place titled 'Trolley Car Diner' on the corner next to the trolley station. It really does look like someone took a train car or trolley car and plop it down, hollow it out, and call it an eatery. The signage advertises '24-hour service,' 'Hot Coffee!' and 'The best bacon and eggs in San Cristobal!'
 
Abby Normal said:
While not a trans woman myself, i'm pretty sure the issue is that 'woman' and 'can have issues stemming from visible erections' are not mutually exclusive; to wit, some women do in fact have penises and have to deal with those issues
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Ah, makes sense. Edited the joke, hopefully it works now? Although it would be better if English had a one-word descriptor that covers the situation of not having a penis without it being automatically synonymous with either being a woman, being genderless, or having a medical issue.
 
[X] Nearby was a bakery selling something you'd never seen before. They looked like little square slices of bread, atop which was a mass of melted cheese and assorted vegetables. Looked tasty.

[X] What the fuck is a taco? There's a cart set up in an empty lot that has a line of people waiting for it, almost like a noodle cart from back home or something, and they seem to be serving up greasy plates of eggs, meat, and some other stuff (beans, you think?) along with a flat bread made of some yellow grain. Taxcocoan food, you think. Smells spicy.

I think I'd prefer one of these two. It might just because I'm personally in the mood for something savory.
 
I'm with Simon_Jester on this. Pizza and ice cream for the American experience! (Sure hope we are lactose tolerant...)

[X] Was that a shop that just sold ice cream? It sure looked like it, and furthermore it appeared there were multiple flavours! A rotund man in a white apron was currently in the process of opening. A few children came up to the window with handful of coins, and came away with a ball or two of colourful ice cream in a cone. Wait, was that child eating the cone?
[X] Nearby was a bakery selling something you'd never seen before. They looked like little square slices of bread, atop which was a mass of melted cheese and assorted vegetables. Looked tasty.
 
Anyway, moratorium is over, so voting:

[X] Amidst the foreign buildings is a storefront that looks like it came out of last century back home and advertises "authentic Akitsukuni cuisine and ambience". The proprietor is clearly Cathayan, the staff is mostly Joseon, and judging by the muffled obscenities you think the chef is Caspian. You're not sure whether to be more amused or appalled by the result, so right now you'll just see if you can snag a menu and a few photographs to mail to Aiko along with your next letter as proof that you're not making this place up.

Supporting my own crazy idea.

[X] What the fuck is a taco? There's a cart set up in an empty lot that has a line of people waiting for it, almost like a noodle cart from back home or something, and they seem to be serving up greasy plates of eggs, meat, and some other stuff (beans, you think?) along with a flat bread made of some yellow grain. Taxcocoan food, you think. Smells spicy.

If we want to be better about Joseon than the average Akitsukuni officer, learning to handle spicy food is a good start.

[X] Was that a shop that just sold ice cream? It sure looked like it, and furthermore it appeared there were multiple flavours! A rotund man in a white apron was currently in the process of opening. A few children came up to the window with handful of coins, and came away with a ball or two of colourful ice cream in a cone. Wait, was that child eating the cone?

Partly because we'll need something to put out the spice, partly because the Akitsukuni equivalent of Japan's infinite varieties of ice cream needs to get started somewhere.
 
[X] What the fuck is a taco? There's a cart set up in an empty lot that has a line of people waiting for it, almost like a noodle cart from back home or something, and they seem to be serving up greasy plates of eggs, meat, and some other stuff (beans, you think?) along with a flat bread made of some yellow grain. Taxcocoan food, you think. Smells spicy.

Trust the locals. If there is a line, there is a reason; it's good.
 
[X] What the fuck is a taco? There's a cart set up in an empty lot that has a line of people waiting for it, almost like a noodle cart from back home or something, and they seem to be serving up greasy plates of eggs, meat, and some other stuff (beans, you think?) along with a flat bread made of some yellow grain. Taxcocoan food, you think. Smells spicy.
 
[X] What the fuck is a taco? There's a cart set up in an empty lot that has a line of people waiting for it, almost like a noodle cart from back home or something, and they seem to be serving up greasy plates of eggs, meat, and some other stuff (beans, you think?) along with a flat bread made of some yellow grain. Taxcocoan food, you think. Smells spicy.
 
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