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.
22 Sep 2023, 8:29pm
Willow Thorn"And hey, when I got a corps on my ship, I prepare them for their eternal rest, and do my best to bring them back to their family, you know? It's a point of pride for Weeping Willow Morticians & Undertakers"


"You know, it does not surprise me that you would be involved in the mortuary business. And I do not base that on your choice of color scheme. From what I have seen, you have a good heart and a kind soul, and a genuine desire to help others." Vasil paused, considering giving voice to another thought, but pushed it aside, instead saying, "If, for some reason, I actually manage to kick off in civilized space, I hope I am lucky enough that someone like you collects me. But if I am really lucky, no one will even know I am gone, or where I expired."
22 Sep 2023, 8:45pm
"Yeah, the dead don't care, right? Like, they are dead after all. It's the one that know you're gone that need to say goodbye. Taking that away from them feels like mercy, but like, from what I've seen, it's cruel"

Willow slurped the last of her Vega Juice and gathered her stack of Unmeatabels.

"So yeah, think about that when you're off in the black, all alone. You're not the one that misses you, right?"
22 Sep 2023, 9:54pm
Willow Thorn "So yeah, think about that when you're off in the black, all alone. You're not the one that misses you, right?"


"I will, I promise. Stay safe." Vasil watched Willow as she gathered up her things and left with her treasure of food-flavored sustenance.

His thoughts went back through the decades to a time when, yes, there was once someone who would miss him, and how she had told him something similar to what Willow had just said; that he would die alone in the void, that it hurt her knowing he preferred it that way, and that is why she had to leave. Though the pain of that moment had long since passed, he sometimes still wondered how things might be different if he had said something to Rachel. Instead, he had just watched her as she wept, walking down the gangway and out of his life.
23 Sep 2023, 6:32pm
The food was hot fresh and tasty, I was happy to eat alone, at least for the time being. looking up I noticed that Willow was finishing her food, may be making ready to leave. I would send her a message, making a plan to take rooms somewhere near the outer edge of the rim and get used to living in comfortable gravity for a while. I needed time to become human again, after the hard work of trying to chat with crasher.
09 Oct 2023, 12:56pm
No parts needed ordering. Everything that was damaged in the fight were parts the on-board synthesizer could make. To save waiting around the machine, Willow had her synthesizer make the fittings, and asked Ridge if he wouldn’t mind doing the bigger parts on the station's synthesizer. That thing could make all the replacements Willow needed in one pass, while her own rig would have to make them one at a time.

There was still time to kill while Ridge waited for an opening in the machines schedule, and the guys would want to come and talk about the ‘event’ on Willows ship. Whatever, there was no hiding it now; an attack that ended in two deaths was going to get around the station, so now the guys would ask about her being a pilot too. That was going to be one hell of a catch up.

To get ahead of it, Willow came to the bar with a pack of Un-Meat-Abel from her stash, because the vending machines were out already, and ordered a cold tin Vega juice. She’d get the eating done now, because she’d have too much explaining to do when the guys got in.
10 Oct 2023, 1:52am
What to do with a week or two of down time?

  1. Drop off armor for repair. Done.
  2. Let the handler know he was looking for a contract. Done.

That left number 3, getting piss drunk and waiting for the first two items on the list to be finished. Only one thig to do. Jim embarked on a quest to sample the drinks of as many places as he could. As with most spacers, he eventually found his way to the bar, arriving in a very good mood and an old leather jacket with a laser pistol tucked into a not-so-concealed shoulder holster.

Buzzing like a beehive, and with annoying memory issues thanks to a concussion, Jim had forgotten that the security guys gave him Willow’s contact info. So, as soon as he saw her, he bellowed a bit louder than was necessary, “Willow Valkyrie!”
10 Oct 2023, 11:35am
Ridge was a loud guy, but that call was almost loud enough to make the glasses behind the bar rattle, and only one guy would call Willow, Valkyrie. Putting her Vega Juice down, but keeping the straw between her teeth Willow turned, a little embarrassed by the people looking at her now, thanks to the call, and waved to Jim.

“Oh, hi Jim. Like, want to join me?” asked Willow, her little voice somewhat quieter than usual thanks to the embarrassment, and the straw still in her teeth.
10 Oct 2023, 2:44pm
"Of course I'll sit with ya!" Jim sat across from her, leaned back, looked around the bar, then back to her, "No sense you being all by your lonesome."

A server approached, asking if Jim wanted anything to drink and suggested some "house specials" that sounded alcoholic but were not. To anyone paying attention, which Jim was not, the server was trying to get a feel if Jim was going to be a problem if he started getting hammered. He'd obviously already had a few drinks to get him into a happy-buzzed mindset. But Jim had the look of a person who did not mind a fight and the server wanted to be sure he did not transition from feeling good to fighting drunk.

"I'll have a cold, big-assed beer," said Jim. "Biggest you have." When the server left, Jim again glanced around the bar and came to a conclusion as to why Willow sat alone. "Don't worry, I'm not scared to drink with a Valkyrie."
10 Oct 2023, 3:06pm
She wanted to be nice, but Jim was a strange guy. For Willow to think that there had to be something in.

"Like, I'll pay for that" Willow told the server "And like, bring him something meaty. Oh, like to eat you know?" Giving Jim a sideways glance, she explained her request "Real meaty, ok?"

"Like, I don't think it's them, you know?” she told Jim “It's me. People are like, real complicated you know? I like to stay out of it”

Yet here she was getting herself into it. Jim was sat across from her looking like Oak and Birch did when they sat in seats for usual sized people. The gave the impression of a dad sitting at his little girl's tea party. She wanted to thank Jim, but other than the fight, they didn’t have much in common.

“Er, good to see you up. Like, that was a real deep hit you took” Something had been bothering Willow with almost every exchange she had with Jim, it needed voicing.

“So.. Are you being cute with this Valkyrie thing..?” she asked.

There should have been an ‘or’ but ‘or are you damaged in the head’ sounded like a real ungrateful thing to say to a guy that had jumped in to save her from two heavies.
10 Oct 2023, 4:02pm
“One big-assed beer and one extra big-assed meaty shepherds pie coming right up,” said the server, understanding willow’s side glance.

“Cute?” Jim shook his head, mild confusion on his face. “No. I mean, you can’t be a real Valkyrie. They only show up when there is a fight…” Jim motioned around the bar “…and no fight going on. Even if there was it would not be the kind the Valkyries come to.”

“No, I suppose you are more like a physical representation of a Valkyrie. Never mind if someone says a Valkyrie has to be tall, blonde and have, uh, you know…” Jim held his hands out in front of his chest. “That’s all bullshit. You collect the dead, you kept a kick-ass fighting machine—me—from being dead, and you made someone become dead. All things a Valkyrie does.”

“Okay, I don’t know about that last one. The security jackoffs said I caved in that other guy’s skull. Hell, maybe I did. My memory gets a bit fuzzy whenever the Valkyries show up and afterwards I don’t always remember everything that happened in a fight.”


Last edit: 10 Oct 2023, 5:28pm
10 Oct 2023, 6:28pm
"Oh, like wow, that's a real relief, you know? It's like, if there's a mad dude on the prowl, they home in on me. So yeah, I'm glad to know you're like, as sane as the next guy that would jump into a fight on a station wrecked by the Thargoids, in a system right next to one of their space-storms. Real comforting to know now you are like, sat with me" said Willow with a sweet smile totally free of even the slightest hint of sarcasm.

"And hay, like, Valkyrie is the sweetest thing anyone has ever called me after visiting my morgue. You didn't even get wireded, out you know? That's pretty cool"

She hadn't realised until now, how good it felt to have someone not get that look people had when they found just how deep the rabbit hole goes for a mortician. Being in her work space, and seeing all the tools and accommodations for the departed, highlights some of the unseen parts of the job that usually has an effect on first time witnesses.

Now Willow was out of small talk to make, so she tried to remember what people in the holos talked about over dinner.

"Er, so, like, what do you do for a living?" she asked putting her straw back in her tin of Vega Juice, and taking a sip.
10 Oct 2023, 7:45pm
Everything Willow said about the sanity of jumping into a random firefight made perfect sense to Jim. "I know, it's great."

His big-assed beer and shepherds pie arrived. Two, maybe even three, cartridges had been used for the pie, enough to ensure it met Willow's definition of really meaty. After setting it down, the server looked to Willow with an 'Are you alright' raise of an eyebrow and quick eye cut to Jim, who remained completely oblivious to the unspoken communication.

Jim took a swallow of the cold beer and picked up a fork. "What do I do for a living? I keep the Valkyries busy," he said jabbing the fork into the belly of the shepherds pie to rip it open. Steam and the smell of hot, meaty filling wafted out. "There are always groups kicking each other in the nuts over something and who need people do do the kicking for them. But, you know, with guns, not boots. Though, it does not always get hot. My last contract was routine, boring-as-hell security until the very end."
10 Oct 2023, 8:12pm
"Oh, you're a merc, right right" She had plenty of experience with mercenaries. Most of it very negative. "Hey, you're not with The Outfit, are you? Coz like, Major knows what'll happen if his guys fuck with me or my family. I paid.." She looked around to see if anyone was listening.

"I paid a fuck load of credits, I mean carrier money, to an assassin's guild to bring sorrow to the core member's families if they mess with my shit" explained Willow, forgetting Jim may not be with The Outfit.
10 Oct 2023, 8:36pm
"Nah, never worked with that group. I freelance. Being a member of a guild or mercenary unit is more money, but too many rules. And then there are the grudges to deal with. A Red Devil learns you are a member of the Void Ghosts and decides to get payback for McDormand Station. Or the two groups are on opposite sides in a fight and end up revenge stomping the hell out of one another rather than fighting to win for whoever hired them. It's all bullshit. Not that I won't subcontract to a merc unit. I have. It's just..." he paused, thinking of how best to say what he was thinking. "With independents, Bob Merc and I can be shooting at each other in one campaign and work together in the next. No hard feelings. It is just part of the job."
10 Oct 2023, 9:03pm
Feeling a little ashamed of her uncalled-for threat, Willow tried to carry on as if it didn't happen.

"Oh yeah, like I get it you know? So my family are salvagers and like, we get into it with scavs and junkers all the time. But like, when there's no salvage to fight about, there pretty cool with us. Like, the fraternity of the scrap collector I guess. Something like that"

Taking the lid off her extract, Willow stated drizzling some on her Un-Meat-Abel, trying to think of something else to say.

"So you got work on CIti? One of the hackers I use told me the evacuated systems like this one, are like, a hot bed of criminal activity. She warned me off looking it to it, but I think Vee and I pissed someone off by like, importing food you know?"

She took a moment to re-dip her drizzling stick.

"I mean she said.. Oh, like the hacker said I mean, that there are like, illegal fights in the lock-off parts of this station, you know? Stuff like that. You here to like, get someone, or like, dip into that world or something?

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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.