Elite roleplay: The galactic bar

INGABA (Inara Galactic Bar)

Welcome to the swankiest bar and most popular bar on station. Located in the Pilot's market and due to its close proximity to the docks is heavily frequented by pilots and all manner of crew, tourists, and layover passengers. Dark, smokey and trimmed in neon lights and bits of tinsel, InGaBa plays only the best music straight from Radio Sidewinder and local DJ star, Janten Groove.

There are various tabled and seated cubby holes that patrons can hold private conversations as well the main bar top where all assortments of drinks and bar food can be ordered up. On the back of the bar on various shelves, from all over the galaxy, the fines and rarest ales preside. next to the impressive collection are several screens that can usually be seen playing adverts or the CQC championships.

It is the most prominent choice for meeting up with other pilots to discuss business discreetly, whatever they may be...

Notice booking the InGaBa for private functions require a deposit of 250,000 CR to cover potential damages.

InGaBa drinks menu:
  • Cubeo Gold - Mid Whiskey
  • Achenar Blue - Upscale Whiskey
  • Kamadhenu Red - Red wine
  • Old Sol - Scotch
  • Barnard's Choice - Gin
  • Crown Jewel - Cocktail
  • Pegasi moon - Pirate Surprise!
  • Supernova - Cocktail
  • Barron's Head - Beer
  • Lavian Brandy
  • Alioth Sparkling - Sparkling Wine
  • Jaques' Quinentian Still - Gifted by a mysterious benefactor, two of these rare devices now distill single shots of whiskey from whatever is on hand for the patrons of Ingaba.


General Roleplay Etiquette:

1. Control only the actions of your own character(s). (AKA: God Mode)
This doesn't matter how small the action is, even if it is as simple as scratching their nose or a direct reaction to something else that just happened. This applies to everything from casual conversation to full blown fight scenes. If you'd like someone to do something specific, PM that person, however keep in mind they are completely within their rights to say no. Especially if said action is inappropriate to their character and/or circumstance.

2. Don't brute force your way into another persons RP.
Approaching with a conversation starter is fine, or indeed some other small action. However charging in, guns blazing and disrupting the flow of another person/pair/groups conversation/arc is about as rude as doing so in real life. If something is going on that you'd like to participate in, be subtle about it. Put out a gentle hook for someone to take, but again, be aware that said hook may not be taken. If you fear it was simply unnoticed, PM the person or people it concerns. Or even leave a message in the OOC forums.

3. Good grammar and spelling is preferred.
We're not asking you to be perfect, but please at least demonstrate willingness. no1 iz gna tak u srsly usng txt spk. There's a wide variety of people here, many who speak English as a second, or even third language. There are even some with varying degrees of dyslexia and/or likely other issues that affect spelling/grammar. We accept them all here. However, people who aren't accepted, are those unwilling to accept polite correction. Remember that even a small thing like the placement of a comma, or the wrong use of there/their/they're can completely change the definition of an entire sentence.

4. Accept constructive criticism gracefully and politely.
If someone spots an issue with your writings, they may wish to help you improve that writing. They may do this through PM or even publicly air their thoughts on the OOC forum. If they have taken the time to be polite and explain what is wrong with your writing, the best way to behave is to respond in kind, using the same manner they have approached you with. It means they have taken an active interest in what you have written and wish to see more. Basically, you have a fan!

5. Don't take the actions or opinions of things done IN RP, to be directly relevant to the writers thoughts or opinions.
Basically, if some ones character calls your character a jackass, it doesn't mean the writer thinks you are a jackass. It's a ROLE they are PLAYING. Watch a movie. The argument between the characters isn't an argument between the actors involved. The same applies here.

6. It's not a popularity contest.
Your RP might be bustling with participants. You have 3 people off station in a fire fight, while another 2 are infiltrating the darkest areas of the station, meanwhile a group of 4 others are tracking your movements in an effort to stop you. Good for you, I'm sure it will be a thrilling read! But you know what? Sometimes the absolute BEST work, comes from two RP characters having a simple heart to heart. Both are valid, both are great, but NEITHER is categorically better than the other. Period.


Inara RP Etiquette:

1. Respect the setting and rules of the universe.
Inara is an Elite: Dangerous 3rd Party Tool. The RP Forums are set in the Elite: Dangerous universe. Elite: Dangerous has rules, as any fictional universe does from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, or Game of Thrones to Star Trek. If you intend to RP within the Elite: Dangerous universe you are bound by the history and rules of that universe. Simply put, this RP forum is bound by the same rules as the game, so if it can't be done in the game, it is not permitted here. This applies to things from a 50Ly Jump Range on a normal, unmodified Sidewinder, to the destruction of entire stations.

2. Respect the characters created by others.
We have a wide variety of characters already here. It's expected that some will be similar, just as it's expected that two characters will be vastly different. Opinions of each persons character will naturally be varied, but all are valid provided they follow the rules of the universe. You are allowed to interact with, or avoid interaction with, any character in the RP forums. But you have no right to belittle others for their creation. You are not an authority figure on writing, nor are you directly affected by another persons imagination. You might not like it, but you MUST respect it.

3. Be caught up on current events before joining in.
You need basic things like character descriptions in order to interact with them. You also need to know what's going on in the surrounding areas. This is simply because the people you are hoping to RP with, might be gearing up to something that you might not want to be part of. Or simply that the most recent post, out of context, could leave a different impression on the goings on than if you gather that context. We don't expect you to read every single post from the beginning of the forums, just enough to get that basic understanding.

4. Either subscribe to, or frequently check, the Roleplay: Q&A and OOC forum.
People may be discussing something relevant to you there, or even discussing you directly. Perhaps someone asked what the general consensus on the existence or non-existence of a certain object. Or we're just chatting about random gibberish. Either way, be aware of it and use it. If you're unsure about something, such as how guns would look and or behave, or even the music selection, use the OOC forum to ask. We don't have all of the answers, but the collective knowledge and logic usually allows us to overcome an issue and come to a decision on what should be allowed. Frontier Developments, and even David Braben himself, don't have the answers to every possible question that can be asked.

5. Large Scale events exploding out of nowhere are a complete no go.
We get it. Everyone wants their character to be noticed and for people to be tripping over themselves to interact with them. In some audiences, an introduction involving you blasting in for landing in a fiery wreckage of a ship, before cart wheeling out and sword fighting 35 Ninjas before whisking off with the local celebrity for a glorious night of passion, is in fact, cool. This is not one of those audiences. It is generally considered better to build your character up slowly over time. Eventually, you might even have a legitimate excuse to fight those Ninjas. Maybe even with other RP participants by your side.

6. Perfect characters are boring.
The point of a character arc, is that it is in fact, an arc shape. One who is morally unquestionable, fully kitted out and an infinite fountain of knowledge, cannot go through an arc. Give your character flaws. Be it a tendency towards befriending the wrong people, or a bad knee that frequently gives out at inopportune moments. It gives readers something to latch onto and empathise with. You can give your character exceptional capabilities at something, but it requires balance. She's a damn good pilot with no equal, but can't drive an SRV for peanuts. It can lead to some very interesting moments between characters, be it heartfelt or comedic.


Other Notes:
It should be noted that there can be exceptions to these points. For example, good grammar when a character is speaking is actually rare. Few people in real life actually speak with perfect eloquence after all. Or previously arranged actions during a fight scene, such as someone stumbling back after a punch. What's key to remember is context.

All in all, remember this is purely for fun. We have some seriously talented writers here, and others whose writing history starts and ends at high school. But many are willing to help out in whatever way they can. All it takes is that you ask nicely.

Also keep in mind that many people who RP here, also have logbook stories related to the character, or characters, they portray. If it looks like there's an "in joke" going on that you're unsure of, it's probably in those.

In fact, some users have even gone to the trouble of creating "alts" to RP with. If you read back far enough, it's usually pretty clear who has and hasn't, and which ones are the "alts". It's therefore not unheard of to see the apparent seizing of control of other characters. If you do spot one, point it out in the OOC section. If intervention is needed, it will be sorted quickly and (hopefully) politely.

Most, if not all RP participants here have Logbook stories pertaining to their character(s). These are for the reading pleasure of anyone who wishes to do so. While it can be useful to read them in order to gain a bit of backstory on a character you wish to interact with, it should not be assumed that your character shares that knowledge. Within the E:D Universe, these Logbooks either don't exist, or are private diaries kept by the characters. Either way, without explicit statements to say otherwise from the writer, your interactions should reflect that your character is in the dark about any information you, the writer/reader, have gained from reading the stories.
24 Apr 2024, 2:31pm
"That's one helluva snapshot," I said with a nod and admiration in my voice. "Nebulae are always a treat for the eyes, but these two beauties.... they are in a league of their own. And the names make you wonder what the star-namers were thinking, eh?"

I sat back and let out a low, contemplative hum. After a short pause, I leant forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Got any more shots? And tell me, did you snap some of that ship you were looking for out there in the void?"
24 Apr 2024, 2:47pm
I shook my head.

“It was the only one that I took, sorry. Like I said… I was not very in the mood for exploring. So I didn’t catch many views. If I had that new drive to do it with, though …”

I paused and audibly breathed out through my mouth, in the absence of the ability to whistle. Another strange quirk of mine.

“It is something else.”
24 Apr 2024, 3:54pm
"I'm not entirely sure... we've snagged a few of those babies and put them through their paces, but for my tastes, they run too hot. I prefer the opposite approach and engineered a ship that runs as cool as the dark side of an asteroid. Makes transporting goods of - let's say 'questionable' origin - a walk in the park. So that new drive probably isn't for me."

I took another sip.

"But I've got my eye on something else... and you didn't hear this from me, alright? This new ship, the Python MkII - I've got it on good authority that a prototype will be tested in early May, a few months before they start rolling out to the masses. And I'm gonna get my hands on one of those early beauties... one way or another."
24 Apr 2024, 4:10pm
"It is good if you want to cover distances quickly. How will you be caught if you're at your destination a few seconds after arriving at the star? But ..."

I shrugged.

"If it is not for you, then it is not. But I do not believe being seen as you travel between planets has anything to do with heat. And that new Python... do not care. I lost my interest in the original, and have little in this new one. So, I will not be bothering until I hear what other people say. And depending on what they say, about it. For now... I wait."

I shuffled around on the couch a little, beginning to feel my body making itself comfortable in the soft material, and placed both hands to either side of the hips. For some reason, here... I was definitely glad to be hiding my true form behind an ordinary hologram.
24 Apr 2024, 5:33pm
"Maybe, if one could tinker with those new engines..."

I pondered for a moment.

"See, everyone's got their own set of needs out here in the void. Where I make my mark, on the fringes, you'd best be piloting something nimble - more often than not, there's just a lone outpost to hitch up to, if you're lucky. And that's where a Python really shines, a priceless gem among the stars."
24 Apr 2024, 5:41pm
“Oh, yes. But …”

My gaze wandered in the direction of the dock again.

“That Phantom which I showed you? I use it for that. Maybe, it is not as good for ferrying cargo, or fighting, but I normally use something more specialized if I see myself doing those, a lot. And don’t do trading much, because it is just boring. So the things that I need it to do… it does well. Well enough to not need another ship for. Or trade what it can for six weapons.”
24 Apr 2024, 8:53pm
"The Phantom, she's a real beauty of a ship, I'll give you that. But I use her mostly as a nimble explorer... She's light on her feet and jumps quite a distance, if you catch my drift."

I took another sip and thought about how the system authorities had their hands full and barely checked my carrier, and that reconstruction work was in full swing all over the system.

"You'd think the bar would be buzzing today, what with the Thargoids finally hightailing it out of here and the whole area abuzz with activity. Everywhere you look, there's hammering and welding, lots of reconstruction work going on. But maybe it's a stroke of luck it's not so packed today. Gives us some space to breathe."

"So, what's your game now that you're back in the Bubble?"
24 Apr 2024, 9:35pm
"I have one, configured as an explorer, too.", I replied. "But, it is only good for that, where there is no risk of anything shooting at it. So, I decided, I would have another, more effective to operate... locally."

I made an encompassing gesture with my arms, referring to 'The Bubble' around us.

"And maybe those people not here, they could be busy preparing to attack the Titan. I am not sure... have not paid attention. Or civilians have not yet returned in large numbers, because Thargoids were only driven out... one or two days ago. Maybe there are still stragglers in the system, being driven off?"

I had no real clue. Neither had I 'listened in' to the hivemind, nor had I checked local security reports to see what was what. It didn't surprise me to not see that many civilians who were not there to repair, though, seeing how the threat of a Thargoid attack had only - effectively - vanished very recently. The chance being 'effective', thanks to whatever remained of the Titan's fleet retreating to it to defend it.

"Anyway... what have I been up to, annoying Azimuth. Opposing an expansion plan of theirs... because they don't deserve to spread. They should not even still exist, after how much they failed, and what they did."
25 Apr 2024, 11:07am
"Talking ‘bout the Proteus wave? Not sure what really happened back then. I wasn't there in the system, just another pair of eyes in the galactic crowd, watching the feed flicker on my screen. From the looks of it, the first pulse had worked as expected, disabling the alien ships - just like they promised. But then, bam! The second pulse flipped the script, turned the whole thing into a nightmare."

I paused and thought briefly about all the arguments and theories I had heard on the subject.

"Was it a screw-up? Or some kind of Thargoid defense reaction? We'll probably never know... Just another chapter in the saga of those corporate bigwigs, playing with a power they don't truly understand like it’s a game."

The memory of the whole thing had stirred me up, and all the contempt I felt for big corporations resonated in what I said next.

"And let me tell you, it’s about time to rattle their ivory towers. Sticking it to the suits, flipping them the bird. It’s a good thing you are raising hell against this company and its history of madness."
25 Apr 2024, 11:47am
“Not just it. Killing people who risked discovering Thargoid existence, Project Seraph, the… Alexandria, even mycoid. It was all them, and… they need to pay, for all of it. The Proteus Wave, I was …”

I paused for a moment, thinking about how much I wanted to go into that part of my background.

“I was, nearby. And saw it all happen. But I am still not sure either, if it was… a defense reaction, them taking over the Guardian machine, or… something else. But now that you mention it… it makes me understand even less, why those torpedoes even work. We know about them, because of a relic that is created… by putting it into a Thargoid machine. Is that not strange? And yet, nobody has questioned it.”

I breathed out, mixed in with a sigh.

“But that is… a sidetrack. I would rather just… ignore that stupid war. And focus on those who caused it. They… will repeat it again, if not stopped.”
25 Apr 2024, 1:52pm
I listened, enjoying another sip - the burn sliding down my throat like liquid fire, and put the glass back on the table.

“Where were we? Oh, right... The war mongers. The corporation who set the galaxy ablaze. You remember my carrier's little discovery in Guardian space, don’t you? We exchanged a few messages out there in the void, you and I."

I turned my right hand back and forth and drew an invisible trajectory through the air that ended near the surface of the table.

"And there it was - a glitch, a blip on my radar. A breadcrumb left by fate... and I stumbled upon it. Don't know if you've found out anything in the meantime? But I’m not sure we should discuss it in a place like this. The walls have too many ears and too many eyes... they listen, they watch."
25 Apr 2024, 2:02pm
I shook my head.

“I found nothing, since coming back. Even though I monitor their comm channels. But they have maybe learned a thing or two about security measures… so it will be down to whatever you have.”

I paused, looking around. The bar visitors looked quite uninterested in our corner, and there was no one I recognized, from the limited ‘pictures’ which my memories offered.

“I think, that is also better shown, somewhere else. As you said… too many people listening here. Some might wait for opportunity, of spilled secrets, others to hear about them spilling, so they can… ‘dispose’ of those who have them.”

All that just to say ‘We shouldn’t talk about this here’. It didn’t really look like anyone interesting would arrive soon, but a secondary reason to being here, in this bar, was hoping I’d see someone I knew in the past, but couldn’t remember well, if at all, now.

And maybe that was also why I used the holo-disguise… so they wouldn’t be immediately faced with the shock of my new body.
25 Apr 2024, 3:50pm
"Well, then we’re in agreement, aren’t we?" I stated.

I’d dressed for the occasion, slipping into something more elegant and sophisticated than usual, but the lack of an appreciative audience today was downright criminal. So it wouldn't be too hard for me to say goodbye to the bar soon, even if it was quite cosy in itself.

I shot a sidelong glance at my conversation partner.

"Speaking of which," I leaned in to grab my glass again, "do you always rely on that holo projection when you’re not aboard your own ship?"

My fingers ran over the rim of my glass, and the resulting vibration made the ice cubes clink.

"Seems like a damn useful gadget, if I may say so. Especially when you would prefer to keep a low profile, looking like someone else. Or for infiltration purposes, maybe."
25 Apr 2024, 3:58pm
“Shh! I don’t want other people to know about it!”

I continued to keep my voice low as I started my explanation.

“But, no. I don’t always use it. It depends on my mood, if I want to show myself as I am… or, not get looked at as much. I got it, originally, to make other people get less funny ideas, about… me.”

I leaned back again, looking over the bar, but still kept my voice low, for the moment.

“I was… kind of hoping, for more people to be here. Maybe, someone I once knew. But not today, I guess… I was partly using the disguise for that. So they are not… completely shocked.”
25 Apr 2024, 6:32pm
"Apologies, guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut. And thanks for the explanation."

I gave my conversation partner a nod, my eyes then sweeping across the still empty bar.

"We could wait a bit longer... But if this joint doesn’t start coughing up some action soon, I suggest we take our little chat elsewhere."

My fingers drummed on the edge of the table, itching for something more interesting than the flickering neon commercials outside, which advertised new ship variants.

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ROLEPLAY ONLY! Respect the universe settings!
If you are new here, please try to at least partially involve in the ongoing stories and conversations instead of establishing a completely different "arc". You can always turn it to a different story later.