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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brmj said:
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.
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I mean.

This is a whole 'nother category.

This is the category where you protested so hard that the cops said "shit, you're right" and arrested the guy you were protesting against.

Do they even make food for that category?
 
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[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.

[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?
 
They all sound good, but it'd be very awkward to overeat and have to be carried back to the ship.

[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] 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?

and, after celebration snacks, while trying to navigate a way home in all these strange streets,

[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.

I'd say there's good odds on all this unfamiliar greasy food causing some fantastic stomach trouble, but it's worth it.

Could've easily gone horribly wrong, but all's well that ends well and good riddance to bad rubbish.
 
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[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] 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.

Texmex is best food.
 
[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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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!'
[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 have my doubts as to the write ins chances unfortunately.
[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.
 
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!'

Because bacon.
 
[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.

Stand by stereotype japanese reaction to spicy food?
 
[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] 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] 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.
 
[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.
Ahh, the Taco. Anybody who comes to America (or fantasy not-America, in this case) can't leave before having one!
 
[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 am legit impressed we managed to wrap this up right quick. I thought we were gonna be doing some long event, but nope, bing bang boom, all done.
 
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