Quick Fire Questions (A Place to Ask and Answer)

[Venusian Broon]

I haven't been 20 foot above a charred body so I can't vouch for what that would smell like in the rain,

However I would guess that it depends on the conditions beforehand and the ground that you're on.

For example if it has been dry for a while - have you never stuck your head out the window and smelt the rich organic, earthy waft that a rainfall can bring in summer? All those volatiles and minerals that had been locked up in dry dirt and dust now mixing with water vapour. But if the ground was already wet beforehand, then that smell will be background already.

I assume that your logic is that the rain is putting out fires and hot bits of flesh and stuff and this smell will decline. Which I kinda can see.

So I guess I'm saying that I imagine that rain modifies the original burning and smoky smell, perhaps de-emphasising it (and over time will put it out completely I guess) but will replace it with other smell 'tones'. Unless you are in winter, a sterile environment of some sort or it's a torrential rainstorm that definitely can wash away smells on the ground.

Not a great answer, I'm afraid, sort of 'it depends'.

[Vertigo]

That was sort of what I was thinking except whilst it is actually raining I can imagine the rain 'washing' the smells out but then when it stops it might actually intensify them (as in walking through the garden just after the first rain for a while).

[AMB]

I live about half a mile away from a sewerage works. Most of the time it doesn't smell, but on occasion it can reek. I don't think I've ever smelt it in the rain.

Not that it necessarily answers the question; there could be many reasons I've never smelt it in the rain. But take from it what you will.

[Mr Turtle]

Thanks for the replies.

At this point in the story it's been raining heavily for seven days - the forces of darkness having an effect on the real world - akin to the darkness in LOTR.

The fires burnt briefly, but the rain didn't put them out.

So wet ground and heavy rain.

Hmmm, might have to conduct an experiment in the garden and then open my bedroom window and have a sniff. Now, where can I get some flesh to burn.........

[springs]

Originally Posted by Mr Turtle

Hmmm, might have to conduct an experiment in the garden and then open my bedroom window and have a sniff. Now, where can I get some flesh to burn.........

That's what I like to see; proper research, dedication. It'd make a cracking 75 worder, that.

*walks off thinking deeply*

[David B]

Originally Posted by Mr Turtle

Hi folks,

Just a quickie,

I have a moment in my story when someone sets alight a whole load of werewolves and vampires with some crazy ass power. It's raining heavily and I've made a comment as one of my main characters flies away (he's an angel) that the rain is suppressing the smell - is this correct?

I wrote it thinking, yeah, that makes sense, but now I'm editing it, I'm not sure. Theres about 20 bodies on the ground, all charred and smoking, would someone that was about 20/30 feet above them be able to smell it? Or would the rain indeed suppress the smell?

Thanks in advance

Peace

Jx

The moist atmosphere following a downpour is particularly good at carrying aromatic particles through the air. Just let the rain stop and keep the comment.

I'm imagining a modified quote from Apocalypse Now: "I love the smell of magic in the morning."

[Mr Turtle]

Originally Posted by David B

The moist atmosphere following a downpour is particularly good at carrying aromatic particles through the air. Just let the rain stop and keep the comment.

I'm imagining a modified quote from Apocalypse Now: "I love the smell of magic in the morning."

The rain can't stop unfortunately, its kinda part of setting the tone for the entire 2nd half of the book. It only stops when the gates of hell are closed, the clouds part, the birds start singing etc.

[David B]

Originally Posted by Mr Turtle

The rain can't stop unfortunately, its kinda part of setting the tone for the entire 2nd half of the book. It only stops when the gates of hell are closed, the clouds part, the birds start singing etc.

Pity (not about the happy ending). It would be nice if positive acts could roll it back, creating a momentary eye in the storm.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by Mr Turtle

Now, where can I get some flesh to burn.........

From the meat counter of a Tescos (although possibly not the one next to the sewage farm to which AMB was referring... ).

[AMB]

Oh dear. Now I'm going to be seeing bears in every shadow...

[Mouse]

All I know is that some things smell worse when they're wet. Wet dog for example. So your werewolves'll probably be a bit stinky.

[TheDustyZebra]

If the gates of hell are open, I would imagine that a pile of burning werewolves would be the least smell to worry about.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by AMB

Oh dear. Now I'm going to be seeing bears in every shadow...

No-one said life was going to be a picnic....





(Three decades ago, I worked for Plessey, at the (now Siemens) site on Sopers Lane, i.e. at the other end of the sewage farm from the Tescos. Before the creation of Cabot Lane and Broadstone Way, the main way out of the site car park for us minions was between the Plessey site and computer cente (or whatever it is now), down a single lane track known, colloquially, as Sewage Farm Lane.)

[David Evil Overlord]

The discussion is about wet and stinky werewolves.

At the top of the thread, I see an advertisment for a company that dries out your wet and stinky carpets.

I can't find the advertisment for the company that dries out your wet and stinky werewolves.

[David Evil Overlord]

Originally Posted by Venusian Broon

I haven't been 20 foot above a charred body so I can't vouch for what that would smell like in the rain,

I have been next to an exhumed human skeleton, and it had an overpowering smell. There was no flesh left on the bones (which were a brown colour, not the clean white you probably imagined), but still the smell of decay seemed to fill the warehouse-sized room.

It had been buried, then dug up again. No fire, magical or otherwise, was involved.

Don't know if that helps...