at your service.

''I love rumors! Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing.''

[whitestarline-purser]

How may I be of service?

[dennisjordan]

None of my business, Sir, what people need to hide.

And that sounds excellent, thank you. [He could get back to work quicker than he thought. There was enough on his plate without having to track down eccentrics leaving encrypted messages in taps.]

[whitestarline-purser]

More's the pity, that. Lots of things to hide means of lots of trouble on board. I am, of course, the soul of law and order, and maintaining it is my greatest pleasure. I'll make sure this piece of paper reaches its owner, don't worry.

Incidentally, where did you find it? It's in terrible condition.

[whitestarline-purser]

How may I be of service?

[dennisjordan]

[Dennis smiled gratefully, and pulled the scrap of paper out of his pocket. He unrolled it and held it out for perusal.]

This. I found it, and would like to return it to whoever was unfortunate enough to leave it behind - but I need to know what it says to determine the owner. You see my problem.

[whitestarline-purser]

Ciphers! How... fun. Someone has something to hide, does he?

But you're not a steward, Jordan, scurrying about as a messenger boy isn't your job. You can leave that paper here, and Captain Smith will make a lost-and-found announcement for the concerned sod to come pick it up. How does that sound?

[whitestarline-purser]

How may I be of service?

[dennisjordan]

There’s something I would like decrypted, and as quickly as possible, please.

[whitestarline-purser]

Oh, ho, ho, you would, you? Well, you have said 'please'. That's the magic word, Jordan. What is it?

[whitestarline-purser]

How may I be of service?

[whitestarline-purser]

How to Use

The purser of a ship is the treasurer. His traditional role has been expanded for convenience. In this roleplay, the Purser will hold money, valuables or documents for the characters. He maintains a passenger list and the cargo manifest.

He will always have one open post titled, “How may I be of service?” Characters can reblog this and add their query. He will reply ASAP.

Characters can deposit or withdraw items, ask him for general information about the ship, they can ask him for directions or suggestions for new activities to do on board.

The Purser will also help characters identify Matilda. When he receives a query about her, he will give a randomised clue in response. A tally of all clues revealed so far will be updated on the main.

A single character can ask the purser for clues once a week.

The Purser entertains queries about any other objects or people on board the ship. He may be unwilling to answer some queries, but a bribe usually helps.

He has an encryption/decryption machine that characters can make use of. However, he’s a chatty man and is likely to reveal to others the contents of the message he just encoded/decoded.