SHIP'S LOG:

Eyes Without A Face

Grace Gearhorn 3/19/2025 10:26pm

The Leeward Reaches. I'd never seen anything like it. Them. Whatever.

Even through the murk--and at such a great distance--they shone through. Bioluminescence wasn't unique on our side of the Drain, but never at this scale. Great feathery arms of fuzzy green and purple, stretching across the entire murkstretch as we could see it from the viewport.

"Triangulation says it's at least 7500 dripsecs, end to end," @Ensign Charmers said.

"Weeeeeeeek!"

Grace Gearhorn 11/24/2024 11:42pm

Traveling through the murk on the far side of the Drain is pretty much exactly what the murk is like on our side of the Drain.

"Oh no, captain," @Ensign Charmers. "Can't you smell the wonder? The excitement? The freedom of untamed lands?"

Of course, all the hatches were closed on the Eyes Without a Face. Otherwise the murk would pour in and drown us all. So the murk wasn't something one would generally ascribe a scent to. It was always just "there."

"Thinner too," continued @Ensign Charmers. "And less viscous. Which is why we're making such good time to the Leeward Reaches."

And once we reached the Leeward Reaches, see what we can find out about @Claira's little five-legged fur pig, and if it really is from this side of the drain.

"Steady as she goes, Ensign. You keep an eye on the conductivity and temperature too. Who knows what this side of the drain has in store."

"Aye aye, captain"

Leroy Spindels 7/31/2024 10:59pm

These are some fine accommodations indeed.

What strange designs they have from across the Drain... I can see the resemblance, but with so few visitors from the other side, their styles become reinterpreted endlessly through our own hardscrabble proclivities. I must say I prefer the "real thing," especially as an entrepreneur who specializes in what I market as "Home Culture Goods."

But what of the Peckerel? What will happen when these hapless colonialists discover their real nature? I'm already arranging my exit for shortly after my arrival at the Leeward Reaches...

Grace Gearhorn 4/8/2024 10:36pm

"I don't think taking a crotchety old shopkeeper on as crew really makes a lot of sense."

"Ahem," the shopkeeper said from behind me.

"And you've let him onto the bridge without permission?" I asked.

"He's the guide we need," @Ensign Charmers said. "He really does know all about the Peckerels."

"The what?" I said.

"Weeeeeeek!" said @Claira's creature,.

"If I may, ma'am," said the crotchety old shopkeeper, "I have been overdue for a visit home, and it's no problem for me to close up my shop for a few weeks. Consider it an exchange of services -- for one-way berth to the Leeward Reaches, I will introduce you to the leading experts on the Peckerel. I take it this creature's provenance is a mystery you are interested in?"

I didn't have an argument on that one.

"Ok," I said. "Charmers, see to a cabin for...?"

"Spindels, ma'am," said the shopkeeper. "Leroy Spindels."

Ensign Charmers 12/19/2023 11:56pm

“Awww, what a cute little Peckerel," said the shopkeeper, scratching @Claira's little five-legged creature right between its three little horns. "You folks don't look like you're from the Leeward Reaches."

"Weeeekweeekweekweekweek."

Claira's creature was almost purring.

"Oh, uh, no sir. We're from the far side of the Drain."

The shopkeeper looked startled, then took his off his spectacles and rubbed the lenses with his apron.

"Well then," he continued, taking a closer look at us. "Then you've been by the Leeward Reaches."

"No sir. Can't say we know where the Leeward Reaches are."

The shopkeeper looked at Claira more closely.

"Then you've meet someone from the Reaches?"

Claira looked at me with her eyebrows raised.

"Not that we know of, sir," I said. "We've never heard of these Reaches."

"Well, then, little Peckerel," he said. "You're a long way from home!"

"You know what kind of animal this is?" I asked.

"Well, yes. It's a Peckerel!" he said. "Only found on the Leeward Reaches, and don't much survive well beyond them." He looked at Claira's creature thoughtfully. "I had a dozen when I was young."

Ensign Charmers 9/5/2023 11:02pm

I didn't realize that @Claira's little five-legged creature could be such trouble.

"What do you call that kind of animal anyway?" I asked.

Claira didn't respond, but we were both huffin and puffin chasing that critter around corners and blind alleys. Pretty soon we were quite aways off the promenade, way back behind the High Street. No less busy, but packed with tiny shops all shoved on top of each other. Off the tourist track.

"Weeeeeek! Weeeek weeeeek weeeek weeeek weeeek."

And there was that ridiculous little furry horned thing. Getting its chin scratched by a local shopkeeper.

Ensign Charmers 6/5/2023 10:02pm

"Don't see a doll store yet," I mentioned to @Claira as we wandered down the promanade. "But it goes on forever. And what's below the promenade? Or above it?"

""Weeeeeeeek!"

"Hey you come back here, Weeky! Gosh darn it, what the heck's gotten into that thing?"

Ypsilanti Station 2/20/2023 9:37pm

MIKTOS' YAR BAR -- fresh yar daily!

SILVERY SLIMMERS -- bespoke murksuits for the discerning diver

THE CLOCKWORK KNOCKNOCK -- finest remotes and repair

MURKSTAIN BE GONE -- murk muck removalists

BRASS TACKS -- detail and ornamentation for the 5-star set

ISLAND ASSAYER -- stake your claim

BIG ROCK MOUNTAIN -- candy kiosk

FAR DRAIN CHARTERS -- explore the frontier

HONKY'S HABERDASHERY -- top caps for top sailors

SLIPPERY BOTTOMS -- tavern and pool

Grace Gearhorn 11/16/2022 11:35pm

We all stayed on board the Eyes Without A Face well past quarantine, as a result of the enormous amount of hamburgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, chicken tenders, fries & tots & deep fried nork nobs that we consumed during quarantine. It was traditional for murk ships to serve such feasts after crossing the Drain, and ship's stores had been getting mighty predictable. As we couldn't leave the ship (due to quarantine) we were unable to visit the impressive sounding Empire Builder Burgher Bar, so instead we ordered everything on the menu twice and shared it as a giant feast for the entire crew in the state room.

Now I'm afraid none of us can look at that neon hotdog the same way again.

"Weeeeeek?" @Claira's five-legged fur pig hadn't touched the food. But was ready to explore the wonders of Ypsilanti Station.

"Flouncey! Accompany @Claira and her little friend on a one-hour trip on the promenade deck. But if you find a doll shop, do NOT go in."

"Oh captain, my guts! They're twisting!"

"Fine. Ensign Charmers? What's your status?"

"Well I could stand to get away from Flouncey's farts, mam."

"You have one hour. Come back and report and we'll consider a shore leave."

Tawny T-Drops 8/23/2022 11:57pm

Ah, big explorers from the far side of the drain, is it? Is it true what I hear about Sunfish as big as blimps over on far side? And that a sailor in a deep murk suit can ride one from isle to isle?

Anyway, what'll it be, sailors? Tonight's special is the Hammy Sammy with secret sauce on a Paul Bunyan bun babe that's really boss. Strawberry banana milkshake, chocolate too. Also on the menu:

The Peacemaker
The Treatymaker
Forty-acre Undertaker
Total Waker
Salt Shaker
Earthquaker
Slave Shafter
Whip Cracker
King Snaker
Back breaker
Meat packer
Fruit stacker
No Beggar
Ham-and-egger
Trail hacker
Migrant worker
Ticket taker

And the Empire Builder Burgher Bar, where you can build your own burger, higher, and higher, and higher

What'll it be, sailors?