The Cartographers Diary

By C. Mahood

Sink into a collection of diary entries from the famed Cogburnian Airship cartographer George Thomas, and the other crewmen on the Anabelle Airship. Explore the rich Steampunk world of Cogburn and the dimensional boarder. Follow their story as they travel to rich jungle dimensions, destroyed worlds covered in dust and sand and the ocean city of Sub York. See how a simple Cartography mission turns into a scramble for control, power, revenge and reasons to question authority and Faith in the known God itself!

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. Mahood
• Release date: May 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311087577

C. Mahood

I am a full time Music tutor and Musician. Playing in a Belfast based band called "Plague Artists" https://www.facebook.com/PlagueArtists When i am not teaching/playing drums or blasting out post-grunge tunes with the band i am usually listening to loud grunge/rock/metal music in my house or while walking my Border-collie Tessa!I spend a lot of time at the cinema with my Wife, indulging our love of great movies and popcorn! I am perfectly happy with my life and all around me but often enjoy escaping to many different fantasy worlds. living different lives and visiting far of magical lands whether that be playing computer games, entering Solo Table top RPGs such as "Fabled lands" or "destiny Quest" or entering post apocalyptic worlds and zombie scenarios by reading the wonderful walking dead comics, Wayne Simmons Flu books or Derry's own "Zombies hi" comics! I have enjoyed creating "Northland" for many years. Basing all my RP characters of characters from my own world. I decided when i was 13 to begin to write them down on paper. Only now am i able to bring the series of short stories to life!

Book preview

C. Mahood

The Cartographer’s Diary

C. Mahood

In association with PanicPress

2016 All rights owned by C Mahood

Cover & Illustrations by C.Mahood

Copyright © PanicPress & C.Mahood

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Thank you.

Table of Contents

Steampunk & Me

The Cartographers Diary

Steampunk & Me

The Word Steampunk was first spoken to me when talking to an old friend of mine during a game of D&D. My character was a Halfling, Neutral good, Rogue, and I had constructed a blunderbuss rifle from parts in my last raid. The GM looked at the drawing is had done in the little portrait box of my character sheet and said, That’s a while steampunk looking hobbit there! I was not sure what that meant but the punk attitude is something I have always prided myself on. And steam, a Victorian/Georgian visual with a sci-fi ultra modern tech plus a sprinkle of sci-fi and fantasy? I’m there! This was over 12 years ago and I am still discovering new elements to the Genre.

Now, to discuss some of my favourite games. The first ones that came to mind for me were the games in the Final Fantasy series. Namely FFVI, FFVII and FFIX. The idea of a floating boat with sails and balloons was such an amazing concept for me. It reminded me of Treasure Planet one of my favourite Disney animated movies. Again the sense of nautical adventure in a sci-fi setting suited me down to the ground. It was a place my imagination gravitated to. The idea of a crew, overcoming obstacles, bonding together, facing danger and excitement and being moulded into a hero, sometimes unwillingly, throughout the story. I surrounded myself in the genre before I really knew it was a genre. The visuals, settings and gadgets had me enthralled. To mention some more inspiration may aid in understanding my mind. The visuals in Alan Moore’s Graphic novel The league of extraordinary gentlemen was magnificent! I had a copy of it at high school and later bought the collection (part one and two) which inspired me to read some works of H.G Wells. I already had the visuals in my head of what was described in those books. I longed for a good new game or movie to come out to truly see what I had imagined. The Movie based on Alan Moore’s comics, stating Sean Connery, was woeful in my opinion. The closest I we got in film to the genre was Van Hellsing, staring Hugh Jackman or Sherlock Holmes, staring Robert Downey Jr. The latter being far superior to the former. For me however, The movie (And book) Stardust Featured a crew of a flying boat/ship. I instantly fell in love with the captain and characters, and based Captain Todd from this book on The character portrayed by Robert De Niro. The Anabelle was based on both The Highwind from FFVII and the Prima Vista from FFIX. More inspiration came from games such as Bioshock 1&2 and Bioshock:Infinate. Parts of this story are very inspired by a cross between Rapture meeting 20,000 leagues under the sea.

Like most of my stories, I gave up looking for a book, movie or game that incorporated all of my favourite elements, so instead, wrote one that did.

I truly hope you enjoy this Novella, I absolutely loved writing it and am so proud of what it has become.

As this is my passion, I want to share it with you for free! All I ask in return is that you review on Goodreads and share with your friends, asking them to do the same.

Not much to ask really is it?

A simple rating and review for a year of my life? *Guilt Trip*

Once again, I REALLY hope you enjoy.

Many thanks,

C.Mahood

Dear Reader,

Please find enclosed a collection of Diary and Journal entries from the Crew of The Anabelle and many others, compiled by George Thomas. I have inserted a collection of his notes within these pages. They detail his findings of each dimension he visited. – B.Ironforn

The Cartographers Diary

Diary of George Thomas, Cartographer of IDLSSW

January 15th

Year of the Pidgeon

The Recently completed Inter-dimensional library for the study of similar worlds has commissioned me with the task of documenting both my experiences in these uncharted worlds, and to provide an adequate travel guide, of both endangerments and key points of interest. I shall record my findings in the format of written word, as it is easiest to mass produce in the growing, fine age of, his majesty’s royal printing press. I shall begin each journey through the newly, and fully functioning Inter dimensional ship terminal. Or for those users of the new-speak tongue, the ''Inter Term' or commonly refereed to by the more comedic of folk as the I.D.S.T.'

My main form of travel will obviously be the S-345 Triple rotor, single engine airship, but I will also, for my own vanity’s sake, and pure indulgence on my own curiosity, record the modes of transportation I use, regionally specific to the particular world I am on. I have been given a list of six discovered worlds, but I am led to believe that any further exploration or cartographic expeditions will be covered by a simple personal invoice on my return.

I am to believe that I was recommended for this trip by the most honourable Sir Andrew Bleakly. Minister of Modern sciences and owner of Dime railway voyages.

After working as his assistant in the cartography department, I was promoted to chief advisor in all forms of public interest and customer services for the company. Dealing with both the travel agents in the industry, helping to charter reasonably prices holiday destinations off world, but also dealing with the more elite and privileged members of the public. From everything from trade opportunities for bored and returned businessmen or to sharing my experience in currency conversion and where the best places for financial advice on each chartered world would be.

Although different and changing, this role became tedious in its own way. I became restless in the offices and I do believe that Sir Bleakly saw this in me. One morning he called me into his top floor office to discuss, Company matters and the state of my employ here As the memo read. On entering I was offered some of the finest brandy and a cigar from the, now closed off, failing dimension planet named Earth After lighting both rolls of finest tobacco from a region known as 'Cuba' Sir Bleakly charged into conversation in his usual steamboat manner. The confines of these walls will limit your sir, To the forefront of new discoveries is where a man such as yourself belongs He said. Before I had time to protest, enquire or even discus the matter I had finished my brandy, and been pushed out the door with a half smoked cigar and a commission of travel notice in my hand.

After that I walked back to my desk, saying nothing to the so-called co-workers those reprobates that wouldn’t give me the time of day, and always conveniently leaving my order of tea off the lunchtime list. I gathered my things into a briefcase I used for monthly reports, lifted my air plant from the side of my desk and left, not a word said. Tomorrow shall be used for initial stages of planning the first leg of my journey.

George Thomas,

January 16th,

Year of the Pigeon,

The tramlines were exceptionally full this morning. The three classes are very prominent in the city of Cogburn. None more obvious than the three car on the tramlines. Most noticeable from first appearance in the condition of the upholstery in the cars. The First class has 20 well sized, leather and fine silk cushioned chairs. Each aimed at the window away from the view of the fellow travellers. Those seated in the front car can not be expected to engage in conversation with strangers, after all one, can never truly know who one is talking to without formal introductions at social occasions. The front car also operates a trolley service. Everything from tea to little cakes and sandwiches with both meat and vegetables on the side are supplied to all travellers.

The second class are seated in the middle car of each tram. Still luxurious as far as public transport comes. The seats may be slightly smaller and there are available benches to stand by the windows for those men who are so inclined to smoke. There is no trolley service here. Although the polite conversation of the travellers is most engaging, and usually between co-workers on the way to the station.

Third class is very different. The sheer number of travellers on this class is staggering. Whereas the first class car carries twenty people, the second class car carries about forty, the third class can carry up to one hundred people in the tram car. The seating is simple benches, three deep long ways in the car. Most people stand, but there is available room on the rear of the car for those to jump on and jump off.

The very obvious difference in the cars are, that the third class car stops just under a mile from the edge of the main station. Only the first and second class cars continue into the station.

I am in the fortunate situation to travel on the second class car to my departure point. Of course at the expense of Sir Bleakly.

George Thomas

January 17th

I have completed my plan of departure this morning, collected my relevant documentation and flight logs for the first leg of the journey. This evening I am to meet my crew, the captain and inspect the ship on which shall be my home for the foreseeable future. I am most interested in witnessing the use of the cloaking device. A new addition to all cartographer’s airships. This was due to the decree by lord mayor to ensure the preservation of uncharted worlds and to ensure they remain unspoiled, effectuated and untouched by persons of our dimension. To express my emotions as heightened with excitement would be an ill-use of many of the available adjectives in my forever growing vocabulary. (a vocabulary that was extended tremendously after a four-hour trip, travelling in third class.)

George Thomas

January 19th

The ship is wonderful, or should I say Zeppelin. Captain Todd cut me of mid-sentence when the word Airship was mentioned. This is a rigid body Zeppelin, none the less, she is a true beauty. A spectacle I have never appreciated truly before. The moment I stepped onto her deck I felt safe, and ready to explore for years to come. My cabin and quarters are small and humble, but much larger is size and depth than even the communal quarters occupied by the coal boys. The deck is a simple, enclosed two story boat. The top deck is the living quarters, canteen, and captain’s quarters. Not as startling as it sounds. There is one main corridor that has the canteen at the bow. A simple oval room with benches and a partition between the seating area and the kitchen. Even the use of the word kitchen is a stretch. A boiling pot and chopping board would be more apt. This is where the men of duty will be spending most of their time, when not sleeping I imagine. The Coal boys are not allowed on here as they have a compartment for themselves, above the floor and roved by the framework of the Zeppelin herself.

At the far end of the corridor towards the stern is the Captains quarters. I was not permitted to enter, few are, but I can only imagine the elaborate décor of maps, charts, inventory and stock ledgers and globes. I hope dearly that I may enter someday. Captain Todd however seems to be a hard egg to crack as they say. His demeanour is one of duty driven and task focused military man. Sharp enough to cut one’s self on to boot. I shall surely not cross this man, if I wish to return from this expedition.

The second floor is made up of two large compartments. The largest of the two is the bridge. To best describe the framework and layout of the bridge itself would be to liken it to that of an intricate pocket watch or clock. There are many cogs and wheels that turn leavers which in tern power pistons that generate speed to an end I am not entirely sure off. There are three main controllers to pilot the ship. A job spread thrice. There is a panel to the left with two pedals and a single control stick on a floor runner that controls the altitude. To the