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Post by helenahandbasket on Jan 21, 2016 14:40:16 GMT -5
OK, giving this some thought, Jacob might need to be an American unless you know someone who has European penmanship, otherwise it's a dead giveaway. Maybe his family initially emigrated to the US. He could have traveled to wherever some months earlier on whatever ship is historically correct for a trip to Europe. That gives you three ports of call for him and opens up a lot of questions. Who were his parents, what did he do in the US, why did he leave the US for wherever he went in Europe, what did he do in Europe, why come back, especially on the Titanic, what did he do after he got to Canada, etc. Actually, that opens up the possibility that he has stuff like a letter of introduction to whoever, other interesting found objects.
Assuming the first letter from the family is written in the present day: Instead of using a curse as an excuse, maybe just leave it at them righting 'sins of the (grand)father' (that are not discussed) and returning stuff that obviously belonged to other people as specified in their father's will. They would have done this x years ago, but no one was able to find said stuff. They find it in the long-since forgotten maid's room off the attic that they didn't even know about because it had always had an armoire in front of it. They didn't know it was there until they were sending the furniture to auction?
My but I do have a vivid imagination. So many options, so few mailings!
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Post by troyo on Jan 21, 2016 17:15:19 GMT -5
Haha, I know... it's so fun to suppose and ponder these people and what happened to them, etc!
So few mailings is also dead on, there's limited detail we can send. I don't have a particular fancy for where "Jacob" comes from, or even how he got there... even the Titanic was just there to anchor the time period to a comfortable/known reference point.
I do think sometimes less is more... we need leave room for "Jacob" to live in the recipients head so they fill in the details. It does make sense to create at least an outline for these people and where they each play in. Then, you can use that to add supporting detail even if it's not actually part of the exposition. (IE... Effie, and postcard from Oak Ridge Sanitorium/Hotel postcard. Maid? Resident? Owner? Spy?).
Remember that what Jacob has wasn't being sent by him. Rather it's origin is from someone who knows Jacob well enough to know he was a scoundrel, and is nephew of Effie in America and Cousin to whomever was travelling with Jacob (and in theory at least, dies on the Titanic.) What that means (Or will mean) in the story I have not one freaking clue.... it just sounded good at the time. ;P I'm not even sure Jacob need be a major character and isn't just a windbreak between historically discoverable fact and this period "fantasy".
The curse... I'm not sure where I was even headed with that, LOL. I agree with nixing that for sure.
So yeah, it's probably time to flesh out the story and THEN create artifacts to support it. Or maybe the reverse... what was Effie getting, why was she getting it and from whom?
I will start an outline with what is "Currently known" and maybe that will spark a direction?
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Post by helenahandbasket on Jan 21, 2016 17:31:54 GMT -5
An outline would be super!
Hey, if you're doing an outline, I can add more complication : What if it was just the letter on the inside of one big box -- and yes, a modern-day box, maybe whatever it was in wasn't shipping-sturdy any more so they hucked it in a box or they were trying to pack efficiently and trying to be economical about the kind of stuff people will have to deal with with whatever they want shipped to the US by container shipping because of the heirlooms, then they sent the US box(es) after they got it back to the US? Details that need to be considered because the devil is in the details, as they say.
That kinda, but not completely, eliminates the email from the shipper and the need for some kind of over-the-top outer packaging (unless people want to do that). If it went that route, the experience would start with the cryptic note from the family as the tease. There could be a second teaser, too. And then we stuff the box with stuff for the target to piece together! I know it's slightly Weeping Book-ish, but it's also a good model for someone trying to keep everything under control and not have to use a crate or anything.
I love this stuff!!! Thank you so much for giving me something to occupy the wandering part of my brain!
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Post by helenahandbasket on Jan 21, 2016 17:33:14 GMT -5
And maybe after the crate is sent, he can get the tantine letter as the last chapter of the story!!!
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Post by troyo on Jan 21, 2016 17:50:48 GMT -5
“A Titanic Blunder” (working title) Characters:
Jacob: Travels to America on the ill-fated Titanic. Believed by many, including descendants, of being dishonest. Escaped the sinking of the Titanic with a trunk of objects believed by his great-great grandson to have been stolen by Jacob.
The Traveler: (Un-Named, will reference as “William”): Travelling with Jacob on the Titanic, presumed dead in the wreck of the Titanic. Cousin of Andrews. (2nd Cousin?)
Great-Great-Great grandson of Jacob (Un-named, patriarch of "Family making amends". Will reference as “Bob”): Discovers trunk along with evidence that he believes will allow him to return those goods to the proper families. He seeks to do so but is nervous about revealing his identity.
The Sender: (Un-Named, will reference as “Andrews”) asks William “The traveler” to drop off some items to Aunt Effie. Cousin of William.
Aunt Effie: Lives in America, Aunt to Andrews.
I am just inserting names, they may or may not be revealed during the exposition but it gives something to call these players.
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Post by troyo on Jan 21, 2016 18:47:51 GMT -5
Since Jacob seems to be at least an interesting guy, lets start there. Possible Jacob storylines:
Jacob ends up with the package. Is this by mistake or was he travelling with William on purpose, and maybe Andrews had every intention that Jacob end up with it in the end? Was it Andrews using William as a clean patsy to carry something out of the country?
Jacob is just a literary device to conveniently explain the time delay and why this stuff isn't coming from someone you know. (Skip Jacob as primary storyline.)
Jacob is actually a good guy, seeking to complete the mission to deliver this stuff for William, but there's something about the package that gives him pause and makes him reconsider?
Jacob is a flat out ass and sank the Titanic to cover his tracks. Although, for gods sake I hope he would do better than whatever Home-Depot "Showpiece" I can come up with for the lives lost, LOL.
Any others?
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Post by Delphine on Jan 22, 2016 15:55:15 GMT -5
One thing to keep in mind about fountain pens: they suck for left-handed users. It's still possible to write with them, but it's definitely not as smooth as it's supposed to be. (Instead of pulling the pen tip, we push it into the paper, which doesn't work as well.) Just a random FYI.
Also, I love this idea, and have been playing around with writing one for my nephew's birthday (he's going to be 8 in February). It would obviously be a very different story seeing as he's so young, but I think he would love this kind of thing.
I've now started researching Nazi stolen art, and am working on writing a suitable story/mystery based on that, for an older audience. Basically, I want to do ALL THE THINGS.
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Post by troyo on Jan 22, 2016 18:26:01 GMT -5
The fountain pen would be optional. I'm actually hoping to have in the end "printable" experience that someone could choose to use that would only require a decent printer and maybe some specialty paper stock and scissors.
For purposes of creating the "master scanned image" I'm just trying to do the best I can manage on it.
I'm actually hoping there will be offshoots and multiple stories. I'd love to do one for my 3 year old even. You know... OSE: Project Mickey!
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Post by troyo on Jan 27, 2016 13:37:32 GMT -5
OK, I'm making a choice and just going with this: ____________________________________ Jacob ends up with the package. Is this by mistake or was he travelling with William on purpose, and maybe Andrews had every intention that Jacob end up with it in the end? Was it Andrews using William as a clean patsy to carry something out of the country? ____________________________________
This in my mind opens all sorts of options for espionage angles.
So, looking at the next mailing how about a coded message, to Jacob from Andrews and which might not be readily decipherable to the family. I'm toying with the idea of a piece of ticker-tape wrapped around an object, probably the "Hero" prop in the 3rd mailing in the tradition of a scytale cipher. Or maybe a leather belt?
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darkphoenix
Assistant
Reality is the sensations most percieved.
Posts: 72
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Post by darkphoenix on Feb 4, 2016 22:10:34 GMT -5
Excellent ideas all around, I'm so glad to see such creative people!
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Post by troyo on Feb 5, 2016 17:13:05 GMT -5
This is still alive and seeking input, lol. I have the postcard and will scan it asap.
I have been having trouble sourcing 1 inch paper strips of all things. (To replicate ticker machine tape) and I'm still trying to figure out what to do. Legal size would get me 14 inch if I cut it. I can get full rolls at work, but I am trying to find something anyone can get easily. Suggestions?
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Post by cultfigure on Feb 5, 2016 18:34:20 GMT -5
This is still alive and seeking input, lol. I have the postcard and will scan it asap. I have been having trouble sourcing 1 inch paper strips of all things. (To replicate ticker machine tape) and I'm still trying to figure out what to do. Legal size would get me 14 inch if I cut it. I can get full rolls at work, but I am trying to find something anyone can get easily. Suggestions? Would cash register receipt rolls work perhaps?
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Post by troyo on Feb 5, 2016 23:57:02 GMT -5
Cash register rolls are one option. I haven't found any that are 1", but at least they would have the length. I did find some 1" correction tape with post-it adhesive as an option as well.
I have no qualms cutting down a register roll (table or miter saw) but I think it would be beyond the reach of some.
There is some "Ticker timer tape" that is a little pricy but would probably work too.
For my personal take I will probably print it with stock symbols on a 44" wide map printer then manually cut it with a ruler/razor.
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Post by helenahandbasket on Feb 6, 2016 13:49:04 GMT -5
Did you say 1" strips of paper and 22" would do? Your wish is my command. www.origami-resource-center.com/store-german-star-paper.htmlIt's $11-ish, all-in including shipping, for 50 22"x1" strips of matte white paper. I am a fountain of craft supply items. If you really only need a little bit, you might be best off cutting down cash register paper, if they still make the plain paper kind. I think NCR paper wouldn't be a good choice. You know, you could put together kits with your leftover supplies, prints of cards, etc., there are probably a lot of people who would rather not go on a scavenger hunt for supplies
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 8, 2016 17:52:35 GMT -5
I am creating something similar for my friends.
I am currently building our first case and I would love some testers for the content.
As far as the handwriting goes, my wife has volunteered to do female hand writing, and since I have a calligraphy kit in the house, and some black India ink, we can create quill and ink style writing with a nib and holder.
I also happened to find an old typewriter for 25 dollars on Saturday. I want to clean it really well and oil it, put a weekend into restoring it, and it should be able to create some nice period documents from the 40s and 50s.
So now I just need a way to properly age these pieces of writing (with both india ink and typewriter ribbon ink).
Mostly what I need honestly, is the actual plot review and story. I feel like my plot hooks are weak and would love critique and suggestion.
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