Steampunk Race Ahoy!

[encryptedlock]

[The day dawns bright and early at the northern outpost, and York is out there in full armor to inspect the preparations for the race.

The time to beat is just under two days, given that the track is about a hundred miles long over fairly rough terrain, but York's hoping there will be a vehicle that can do it in less than three hours. A hundred miles should be nothing for a good vehicle, and if they can cut it down to a number of hours it will definitely speed up future explorations.

The starting gun will be at 10 AM sharp, and the route is clearly marked by red flags to the south and green flags to the north, each within sight of one another. Just stay between the flags for best results. There will be a video camera monitoring the Wanderer's Yard, where a flag awaits each participant. This camera will also watch to make sure the contestants get back into the Dead Zone for the return trip. A couple of automated drones will be patrolling the Live Zone border to make sure they don't catch anybody cheating. These drones are also equipped with long-range cameras so they can see the racecourse and, hopefully, some of the participants.

There are a couple of large projectors set up at the northern outpost that will be broadcasting this video (as Delta does some real-time edits and cuts between them) so anyone who likes can stay and watch the race, and of course they'll be encouraged to cheer for the contestants once they get back in sight of the outpost and the finish line. There's a few large sandwich platters and a cooler full of beer and soda for refreshments as well.

The winner is the team that returns to the outpost quickest with their flag from the Wanderer's Yard and their vehicle (and everyone in it) intact. Who will the winner be?]


((ooc: Sections are up! OOC post in a moment. Feel free to threadjack, make your own sections, add your own tags, etc. Winners will be announced at midnight GMT regardless of if anyone has actually made it back by then.))

Comments

RACERS

[encryptedlock]

[Have a vehicle? Register here! Bonus points to description of the vehicle, pictures, etc. Introduce builder, driver, and any other team members as well. Have a team name? Let York know!]

Team Family Issues

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler is still limping around on crutches, but he'd be damned if he's not going to be here for this. He's doing some last minute checks to the Day Tripper, which probably looks about as whimsical as Tim and Blues would let him get away with. Keeping his promise to Cass, there is a batsymbol on each side.

Oh yeah and their driver is a twelve year old boy who drives through terrain exactly like this. On a uniscooter. Through poisonous smog. FEAR HIM]

[whistles_the_blues]

[Blues is there and helping out to make sure the Day Tripper is ready to go, but he's keeping a bit of distance between himself and where the race is supposed to start. The last thing he wants is to shut down on the day of the race.

Every now and again he'd stop and glance out at the Dead Zone, it certainly brought back memories of Lanfront and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. It was surreal visiting an area not too different from where he had gone to die.

"Made the choice to leave, I did.
Made the choice travel, I did.
Made my choice to die here, I will.
Made the choice to live as I wanted, I did."

Those words continued to play through his mind as worked away.]

[findatree]

[here is your driver, everybody! He has his helmet, except instead of the flames he's painted a bat on it to go along with the bats on their vehicle. He has no other gear: no pads, no gloves, nothing. Because he's Ted Wiggins and he doesn't need any of that stuff]

Yeah! Let's win this thing!

[dorkwonder]

[Tim's still uncomfortable with Ted being the driver, but he has to admit the kid has skills. And a certain mentor of his has been training certain select individuals well under the legal driving age, to drive dangerous cars and motorcycles for a long time.]

We've got this! Just make sure you don't try anything too risky, okay?

[encryptedlock]

[York is giving the vehicles a quick lookover before the race.]

And it actually works, huh?

[whichwayyoulean]

Of course, it runs like a dream.

[encryptedlock]

[As long as it's a dream and not a nightmare. York slaps the vehicle affectionately, much like a horseman would with a piece of questionable horseflesh that he wants to make sure won't spook on him.]

Sounds good. I mean, your cart thing with the flip out house is pretty cool, but I hope something like this will help us get some speed.

TEAM GUARDIANS

[rightjollyoldelf]

[North hums cheerfully to himself as he putters around his vehicle. True, it was no sled. He hadn't been able to find any reindeer here, much less flying reindeer. But there was still a certain sled-like resemblance to the vehicle.

It might have been the cheery red paint and carefully carved wooden details. It might have been the elaborate steam engine and propulsion devices he had installed. (North had had perhaps a little too much fun when attempting to learn how to make a vehicle move without magic.)

One thing still remained true. Everyone always loved the sled.

At last North stands up and called for his partner in this.]

Katherine! Ia all ready?

[storiestotell]

[ At the sound of her name, Katherine poked her head up from within the vehicle, blowing a brown curls away from her face before grinning. ]

I think so, North! We should be good to go!

[ When North told her about about this she wasted no time in volunteering to help build it, not to mention jumping at the opportunity to participate in the race itself. So needless to say she was ridiculously excited about all this. ]

[rightjollyoldelf]

[North laughs and leaps into the top of the vehicle.]

Excellent! Race will be piece of cake!

[storiestotell]

[ She lets out a small laugh before flopping back onto the seat. ]

I'm sure we'll win the race! Nothing beats your inventions! Although, it's a shame Aster and Jack couldn't come along too.

[encryptedlock]

[...No way. York is a believer, but even so he has to doublecheck because that sure looks like Santa Claus and a friggin' steampunk sleigh.

Awesome.]

Santa?

[rightjollyoldelf]

[North peers over the side of his vehicle.]

Yes?

[encryptedlock]

Holy shit, it's Santa.

[York, you shouldn't curse in front of Santa.]

This looks awesome! Good luck, man!

BLUE TEAM

[banshee_rider]

[Kelly and Lucy are showing up in their steam powered car. There's an eagle painted on the front, and the word 'INTRIGUE' on either side. It's tweaked from Kelly's original design, sacrificing speed for seating in order for it to qualify as a transport vehicle.]

[Both Spartans are out of armor, executing final checks before the start of the race.]

[encryptedlock]

[Now that looks badass. York gives it an appreciative whistle once he makes the rounds.]

I like it. And it can handle rough terrain?

[banshee_rider]

[Kelly gives him a look. As if a Spartan would make anything but.]

Don't let it fool you. I based the drive train off a warthog. She'll get you where you need to go.

[encryptedlock]

[York just gives her a headbob that she'll probably recognize as an armored grin.]

Figured it might, but you might be surprised how agile most of the cars I've seen here aren't. Good luck, yeah?

ON THE ROAD

[encryptedlock]

[Ready, set, go! Want to thread about your thrilling adventures in the Dead Zone? Car break down and need some emergency repairs? Better get on that quick! Have some obstacles to get around? Figure it out before the others catch up.]

IN THE OUTPOST

[encryptedlock]

[Talk about the race, eat some snacks, watch the action (or lack thereof) on the projectors, and get ready to welcome back the victorious teams once they get close to the finish line!]

[sworn]

[Vereesa can be found milling about with a bottle of water in hand, waiting eagerly to see who makes it back first. Though horseback is her preferred method of travel, she will gladly welcome any mode of transportation that not only works in the Dead Zone, but will speed up their travel time.]

[encryptedlock]

[York is doublechecking the screens and making sure the video feed is working.]

Hope we get a couple winners, huh?

[sworn]

[She nods, walking toward him to watch his work.]

Of course. If it can aid us in traveling faster, any method is more than welcome.

[encryptedlock]

Any safe method, anyway. I'm hoping we can get through this without any accidents.

[Although those are, admittedly, the most fun part to watch.]