User:Rooner Spism

Character Description Edit
"Well, she's quite tall..."

Rooner's a giraffe, but not one of those skinny young things flying about in their fancy ingersolls. Nope. Until recently, she was perfectly happy to be known only as "Roon-28", the voice in charge of maintaining Fuel 28. Truth is, if you asked her, she probably couldn't tel you what colour her eyes were (they're brown).

Her clothes are inexpensive (but not cheap - cheaper stuff doesn't last as well), built to last and hosen purely for theirfunctionality. Coats, therefore, will be thick and warm; boots heavy and protective; trousers strewn with pockets and made from thick cloth.

She will, however, permit herself to splurge on a decent pair of gloves once each year, as well as a few good handkerchiefs which she mainly uses to keep her ancient (but much-loved) goggles fastidiously clean.

At 45, she's no spring chicken, but physical and mental fitness have always struck her as being sensible, so it could be said that the years have been kind to her. However, it probably shouldn't be said unless one has a penchant for dismissive gestures and remarks.

Muck Fountain Edit
'''"That's a what? Seriously?" '''

"Muck Fountain" was her father's stalwart ride for almost 25 years. Once purchased as an ex-fleet trader, the old excelsior was retired from flying after being shot down just off Alpha 2 some 30 years ago in a dogfight that ended both the Mountain and it's pilot's careers.

However, because of her at-the-time empty hold, triple-wings, wood reinforcement and the calm seas she foundered in, it was possible to recover her. Several traders collaborated to save her from the drink and, using their blimps, they towed her back to Jordan in tribute to mark the end of Rooner's father's trading career.

Many years later, she was lifted again, this time from Jordan to Fuel XXXVIII where Rooner's father began to work on her with a mind to getting her flying again. What at first seemed like foolish ambition eventually begged to be taken seriously when pilots passing through would lend old salvaged parts from other, similar machines to the restoration effort.

Finally relaunched, Muck Fountain only barely resembles an excelsior, and anyone watching her speeding down a runway would swear blind that she'd never make it into the air. And yet, every time without fail - though often with great gasps of black smoke or debris tumbling from a wing - she'll clamber into the air to once more tear through the clouds.

Her original name was "Burlesque Betty", after Rooner's mother (who abandoned her not-quite husband and their young daughter when Rooner was just 4 years old), but, as an oil trading vessel who very rarely spouted anything save fumes, the name "Muck Fountain" began as a joke and then got stuck. Later it became an ironic sponerism and joke that referred to how the vessel, in all her years of service, never once attracted any women.



Character Family and Background Edit
"It's for kids, the sky. The rash and the daring; the desperate and those on the run. Why bother?"

Born in Jordan to a briefly devoted mother and a briefly present father, Rooner learned very early on that smart, self-reliant kids were the ones who got by the easiest. On Jordan, she attended good schools and attained good grades, and had no intention of following either of her parents into the sky.

When her mother left, her father, RInster Spism, an independant oil runner, stepped up to the task of providing for and adoring his young daughter. While he would still undertake his trade-runs, he tried hard to make sure he was at home as much as he was absent, and together, Rooner and Rinster developed a network of close friends who could keep an eye on Rooner while her father was away.

After his near-fatal crash off Alpha 2, Rinster never flew again. The decision was inspired partly by his injuries - which were severe and included broken legs, ribs and arm and extensive burns - and aprtly by the extreme distress demonstrated by Rooner, who was typically a very stable, unemotional girl. The extremity of her reaction to Rinster's accident shocked them both, however, and a tacit agreement was undertaken: neither of them would leave.

Some three years after his accident, the opportunity arose for Rinster to purchase and manage the tiny but strategically vital Fuel 28, which links Midgard and Jordan to Alphas 2, 4 and 8 and then on to the rest of the 'lands. Quickly the pair established a reputation for being well-stocked, well-organised and - after a pirate attack was interrupted by a wing of the Jade Hand - well-connected, too.

In spite of the (accidental) intervention of one of the most powerful factions, neither Rinster nor Rooner felt the need to swear to a particular political group; their neutrality has been made clear ever since, and is generally respected by all visitors - with sometimes a little clever stop-scheduling to avoid any undue clashes.

Until her father fell seriously ill, Rooner was convinced that it was all finished for her, and she was fine with the notion of running a refuelling platform and managing the place until the end of her days. However, with Muck Fountain finally restored to working order, and the attention of a particular pilot fox to consider, Rooner soon found that her life was going to have to change, no matter her reluctance.

Character Personality Edit
"Why all the flash and fuss? We could have been there three days ago without your showing off."

While everyone enjoys a good show, the truth of the world is that it wouldn't have made it after The Upheaval had the world been solely populated by pilots. Rooner is not a pilot. She is a worker; an organiser; a perfectionist. Had she been around after The Upheaval, it would have been her who organised the first supply lines and communication networks. Perhaps, had she been around at that time, she'd now be enjoying the life of a celebrated politician or envoy, instead of managing a fuel station out of Midgard.

Stoicism is at the very core of Rooner's being, though, and she rarely finds time for reflection on the path not taken. Consequently, while such ambitions as she has are utterly reasonable and achievable, she also harbours no regrets or bitterness.

She finds profound satisfaction in managing the fuel station so that everything runs perfectly. Her book-keeping is unimpechable, her organisation sublime and her ability to extend an air of (often temporary) prudence to those who come near her little platform is legendary in certain circles - like the time she reasoned with pirates against them attacking her platform, stating that she'd dump the fuel and radio an alert, and they'd simply run out of fuel before they could get to a friendly skyland. What was remarkable about this story is that they flew off seemingly forgetting that they were already low on fuel and were picked off by passing traders after she signalled for help over the airwaves anyway.

Rooner isn't terribly romantic, though she nearly married once while still living on Jordan. The relationship broke down after he announed his intention to move to Echo and take up an administrative position in the Flight School there - Rooner wasn't prepared to undertake such a big move, particularly one that her aging father wouldn't also make.

While she completely agrees that the world needs kids to repopulate and carry civilisation forward, she has never yearned for them herself. Realistically, she sees her corner of the world too tiny and frustrating - not to mention dangerous - for kids to grow up in, and reckons in any case it's too late for her to start that ball rolling now.



Planes - Career
"Doesn't matter if it's the fastest ride in the sky if you can't fly worth a crap."

It would surprise most people to learn that Rooner has attended - and did very well - at flight school, a fact which would only be uncovered by delving into the Flight School archives and probably accounts for the threat of return ending an otherwise happy relationship.

After her father's accident, Rinster was reluctant to move to a refuel platform without either of them being able to fly. Therefore Rooner completed 4 years at the school, attaining high marks and graduating in the top 5 of her class. She went on to begin a post-grad course in maintenance and management, but failed to complete her studies as it became clear that her father needed her back at '28.

While she has never had occasion to put her skills to use since leaving the school aged 21, she was licensed to fly all traders, most fighters and was just getting the feel for the higher-grade performance craft when she threw it in and returned home.

Crew Edit
"Work? For me? Well, yes, but I'm not paying you that much and you can carry your own bags."

Once she decided to take to the skies, word spread quickly and Rooner was quickly flooded with offers from people wanting to crew her plane. Of these, she still hasn't decided which she'll accept, particularly as they have all refused to fly with her at a reduced rate while she "tries them out".

Other Links, Information and Stuff.
"Wait! There's more..?!"

I'm a fan of taking logs of RP scenes and posting them (after tidying them up), so that stuff will probably appear here over time. Also, though, links to specific encounters that take place on the forums will be posted here. Thus...

Forum link to character bio and diary - Provided for your information.

Wiki WorkEdit
(OOC) While I'm still very new at this game and the mechanics and finer points are still very much confusing to me, I've already noticed that planes, prices, purchase locations and so on are either incorrect or completely missing. Over the next few days and weeks I'll see if I can't pick that up on the wiki and/or the gdoc, too.

Beyond that, I'm perfectly happy to get stuck into editing, tidying, creating or even parsing some of the backstory accepted as canon on the forum into event pages here. I'd also like to get a more specific idea of the timeline involved in major world events, and think this type of information would be invaluable for new players trying to get into the RP side of the game, but are uncertain about how and where to source their information.

