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.
17 Jun 2016, 1:18pm
"Thanks, Ms Morgan.", Rebecca smiled, turned around and left the bar.
17 Jun 2016, 1:44pm
Heathen put his pistol away, fake leg twitching to all hell "Muninn can you adjust the sensitivity of this damn thing" unstrapping his leg and placing it on the table.

He poured himself another drink thinking he can't risk leaving until the two vettes have left, knowing he can't afford to lose Huginn.

Glancing round the room he watched as people started to calm down. Gesturing the bar man over he whispered in his ear, buying Marra and the stranger that diffused the situation a bottle of Pagasi Moon, should keep spirits high.


Last edit: 17 Jun 2016, 6:49pm
17 Jun 2016, 5:11pm
The sound of a dozen weapons sliding back into concealed holsters marks the end of the standoff. Fuel Rat flounces out. Sunny Pegasi flashes a narrow-eyed acknowledgment at Old One Leg in the corner before going back to chatting up Santa. And as quickly as the mood turned grim, it goes back to being merely tense.

For the first time, I notice the sign, peering meekly out from amidst the bottles on the back wall. "Weapons are not permitted in the bar," it suggests with all the notable force of a fart in a hurricane.

I slip my knife back into my boot and pull out my PDA. Time to see how long it's going to be before I can get the hell out of here. Five drinks in, I've got the perfect flying buzz going. Would be a shame to let it go to waste.

"Barman," I call as I pull up my ship's status. "Check please."

Now, normally, watching the dock hands unload an Imperial Cutter is like watching a horse take a piss. It. Just. Keeps. Going. But even during strike season, it never takes them this long. From what my PDA shows me, they're barely halfway done. My screen glitches. I smack it against my palm. The readout flickers again. Goes dark. A message pops up in its place. "Please be advised, starport services are currently unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience."

What the hell?

"Miss?" The barman draws my attention away from the dying PDA. He looks tense. Licks his lips. "I'm sorry, miss. There seems to be a problem with your account?"

I snatch the data pad from him. Look at it. "Account services off-line," it says.

I roll my eyes and hand it back. "Just a minute." And I start the awkward process of fishing through my pockets for cash without bringing out anything incriminating.

But evidently I'm not the only one who forgot to pay her bills. The Scotch Sponge in the corner booth is getting cut off by bad news, too, by a nervous barmaid who seems woefully unprepared to cope with a devout alcoholic's withdrawal rage. And now there's a guy behind the bar with another data pad, thinking about whether it's a good idea to approach Sunny Pegasi with it or just swallow her tab.

They look at one another, and realization dawns. This isn't just another spate of losers.

And that's about the time the lights flicker and go out.
17 Jun 2016, 6:21pm
"Um, what just happened?" Heathen almost had enough for today, but now sat in the dark? What service does this place give? "Oi bar keep, whats happening?"

Muninn grabs Heathens arm "we have a problem, I can't contact our sentry"
17 Jun 2016, 6:36pm
Whump whump whump.

The sound of heavy boots making their way from the door to the bar area can be heard over the murmurs of surprise and alarm.

In the darkness, Marra hears her guardian draw near. She clutches his armoured body and positions herself between him and the bar counter.
17 Jun 2016, 6:48pm
"Marra you didnt loot anything strange on the off chance" Picking up his leg, its useless.

Heathen throws it aside and picks up the bottle of Cubeo and hopped over to the bar.
17 Jun 2016, 6:53pm
"Oh that's right," calls Marra from behind her meatshield, "blame the girl from Pegasi the moment something goes wrong!"
17 Jun 2016, 7:13pm
Rebecca pressed the call button of the Elevator to the docks when the lights started flickering.

'Come on, please not-', she expressed then the lights died. '-now.'

She grabbed her mobile terminal and activated the little battery supplied flashlight.

The choice between walking a few hundred meters of stairs and hallways and staying in the bar was easy.

She sighed, turned around and walked back over the plaza towards the bar.
17 Jun 2016, 7:20pm
"Im just asking, jesus" Heathen swinging his one foot "Muninn you got comms with our scout yet?" Calling out trying not to sound worried.
17 Jun 2016, 7:55pm
"Nope nothing, not even the station comms are working" Muninn looked at his boss "we're blind here"
17 Jun 2016, 9:25pm
A bright needle of light pierces the darkness.  The bartender brings a culinary torch out from under the bar.  "Everyone just stay calm," he calls out.

The barmaids scramble to light candles, portable lamps, anything to provide light to see by.  PDAs come out, their screens casting a wan glow over concerned faces, but their light is unsteady.  It's a struggle just to keep them on; just as soon as they try to connect to the station network, they fritz out.  I tuck mine back in my pocket.

"Marra, you didn't loot anything strange on the off chance?"  One Leg tosses his prosthetic on his table, grabs his bottle and makes his way over to the bar, one shuffling hop at a time.  He keeps his thumb over his bottle's bore.  At least this is a man with his priorities in the right place.

Sunny Pegasi peek out from behind Thor.  "Oh that's right.  Blame the girl from Pegasi the moment something goes wrong!"

One Leg brushes her protest off, calls to his friend, "Muninn you got comms with our scout yet?"

The answer he gets confirms my worse fear.  "Not even the station comms are working.  We're blind here."

Shit!

I glance at Santa, sitting next to me, looking around bewildered.  Suddenly he doesn't look quite so foolish, wearing that remlock.  I remember what I said to him about big things piercing the station hull ... but this is worse.  At least a catastrophic structural failure kills you quickly.  This ... this could take weeks.

"Did anybody pick up anything strange?" I ask.  I don't really expect them to answer truthfully, if they did.  But then I also wouldn't expect anyone who'd picked up the kind of strange I'm thinking of to trust a bunch of dock workers to unload it without supervision.  Anybody drinking here is innocent.  But as the seconds go by without the lights coming back, it seems more and more likely that somebody out in the docks has been dabbling in things not shaped by human hands.

Nobody answers.  Nobody needs to.  I think it dawns on everyone at about the same time.

"What are you thinking?" One Leg asks me.

I clench my jaw.  Grind my teeth.  Look away as their eyes all settle on me.

"Artifact plague," I say.  "I think somebody out there just UA bombed InGaBa."


Last edit: 17 Jun 2016, 9:30pm
17 Jun 2016, 9:33pm
Heathen struggled to find the words best suited for the situation, finally settling for "balls"
17 Jun 2016, 9:57pm
Then Muninn swore "guys, whats stopping dock decompressing?" Heathen realised shit got real.
17 Jun 2016, 10:29pm
Artifact plague? Xeknos thought. Here? Shit. He slid out of his booth and made his way over toward the window, which overlooked the docking area. The entire space was dark, which was extraordinarily unsettling - the only lights visible were from the ships, some of whom had turned on their running lights in the darkness. Thanks to the power failure, any ship that wasn't inside a hangar was now floating over its respective docking pad.

"No power means no comms," Xeknos observed, mostly to himself. "Hopefully no green pilot panics and runs into something he isn't supposed to."

He paused, considering the words of the guy seated with the one-legged man at the table. Sure enough, the force field that covered the mail slot at the opposite end of the station had failed, its blue glow being replaced with a gaping maw of... nothing, revealing the stars hanging in the space beyond.

It also meant no oxygen recycling - whatever air the station had circulating was all they were going to get.
18 Jun 2016, 2:40am
(Take note that italics is being used for internal monologue!)

You know those moments where you remember...that you have absolutely no responsibilities to attend to? There is that sudden wave of relaxation and, almost, sublime joy? There is nothing to weigh on the mind or to impede any other plans that could be made. That. That level of sudden, almost surprising relief. That is the only way to describe how the situation diffused.

And then it went to absolute, total fustercluck. We’re talking...toxic waste haulin’, pirate ambushin’, canopy bustin’, thruster malfunctionin’...COMMS FAILIN’ fubar.

The Fuel Rat and the Pirate make peace. Everyone takes a moment to shake off the chills of avoiding the lazer-mutha-humpin-lightshow that was to be the inevitable firefight. Heck, a few people were still in the mood to drink. Not only was Andrew about to check “Meet a Pirate and not get murdered/robbed” off his bucket list, but he was even getting a third complementary drink!

So ofcourse something had to happen. Oh, ya know, nothing too ba-”UA Bombed?!” Though he said it with the astonishment it rightfully deserved, his voice wasn’t as loud or quaky as it had been before. Even with the lights beginning to fail. Andrew didn’t seem as nervous about the dark. What really itched at his brain was what the young co-pilot had said.

Turning towards Mr Heath and his sidekick. Taking note of the worry in Muninn's voice. A real, ‘bravery in spite of terror’ sort of sound. Damn. It really was admirable. ”How long does it take a whole station to reboot. Ships take minutes. All of this...” Looking around, attempting to put that ‘Merchant’s Mind’ to work. Considering the dock nothing more than the cargo bay. The air their product. Counting seconds instead of credits. Hating every crude guess he could come up with.

”Days…”, by planet-side reckoning. Several, several cycles for those up here in the heavens. A long time to be in the dark. Though, a much shorter stay if there’s no air. Wait. This is just a ship. And the door is just a bit stuck.", he pondered. ”And there’s always another way to close a door.”

Slipping his hands around the back of his neck, he pulled the cozy sock back up over his head. While the glow of lights and monitors began kicking on throughout the room, another among them should go unnoticed. The much dimmer light of booting visor. What might be slightly less discreet, was the internal system voice response. Initializing EcoSeal. With a smile much less forced than those prior. ”I don’t see any reason to worry. We spacers aren’t scared of the dark. We came out here to see that sort of crap first hand!”

Walking towards the bar door, helmet pulled off his side and tucked up under his arm. ”Someone just needs to go out and shut a cargo hatch. That’s greenhorn work. So...shouldn’t be too hard.” Once in the doorway, he paused. Looking back and giving a salute to the crowd.

”If the power comes back on, and I live, then I’ll rush back to pay my tab!” Bursting off in a sprint towards the docks.


Last edit: 18 Jun 2016, 6:07am

Post a reply

You must be signed in to post here.
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.