A New Platform [Intro Post March]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day One of the month of Kazoo. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while will also be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. The fog is thick, the air is warm and humid and there are rumbles of thunder, the air heavy with the promise of rain.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alfredo Martini, Daia, Enna Alchiba, Lord El-Melloi II, Natsuno Yuuki, Nita Callahan, Saku Gyousou, Sakura, V and Wen Qing

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam, billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large, and seems smaller with twenty-seven figures scattered around. All facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, tracks disappear into the mist.

A roaring sound, and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out step a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

The Train

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). Those not new to the train will note the addition of an eighth sleeper carriage. The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, it seems the month of Kazoo is defined by the tomato and there are plenty of them.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers as thunder rumbles further and the storm threatens to break. The doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[helborn]

"Yeah, that's how it usually goes." He'd been on his way to an important summit... he'll get there eventually, probably. "But I'm sure you'll get back."

[chocobosnap]

"Yeah, totally, I'm sure I will." If Prompto was nothing else, he was an optimist.

"This place doesn't seem too bad so far, just kinda cramped. A lot of people I mean!"

[helborn]

"Yeah. Bob can only fly so far with ceilings this low, and I don't think there'd be any room for me to fly at all. I don't change into a bird, my wings are person-sized."

[chocobosnap]

"You have wings?" Prompto asked, tilting his head a little bit, and then he flushed lightly. That was probably a little rude, he totally wasn't leaning around to peek and see if he could see them.

"I mean, yeah. But maybe when we get off the train you could?"

[helborn]

"I can, yeah. I just have to channel power through..." He points up at the raven flitting around. He closes his eyes for a moment and large black wings emerge from his back, spreading out as if they're stretching after sitting down for a long time.

[chocobosnap]

"Whoa, how do you do that?" Prompto asked, his eyes wide and he was openly staring at those wings. They were super impressive. He was just a dweeb who borowed some of his best friend's magic, he was easily awed.

[helborn]

He snickers and turns so he can get another look at them. Be sure to get his good side, Prompto.

"I'm a demigod. My mom is a goddess of death... one day I'll work my way up to being a god proper. But i can channel power through different relics and get different powers."

[chocobosnap]

He leaned over to look since apparently this guy didn't mind at all and he just tilted his head.

"That's kind of really amazing dude!" Prompto exclaimed. "I guess you can do all kinds of things then?"

[helborn]

They looked... just like raven wings, just scaled up. "Yeah, I can. And I picked up skills from the worlds I hopped to with the last group I was with. Like so."

Suddenly the wings were gone, as was the humanoid shape. Instead what sat in front of Prompto was a large slightly-greying husky, with a tail excitedly brushing over the ground as he let out a large 'boof'.

[chocobosnap]

"Oh. Em. Gee!" Prompto exclaimed, looking absolutely delighted. "That is just the best trick!"

He couldn't help himself, even knowing that Casper was really a person he just had to scritch those fluffy ears.

[helborn]

He leaned happily into the scritches, tail wagging like mad as he wiggled and put a paw up on Prompto's knee. Play? Play... please?

[chocobosnap]

"Who's just the best boy?" Prompto asked, and probably later when Casper was a human again he'd probably turn bright red, but he couldn't help it. He was just so cute.

"I wish I had a treat for you. I can give you tummy rubs though!" Did he want that?

[helborn]

Yes, excellent. Therapy dog mode was a go. He flopped over onto his back, paws hanging in the air and back wiggling on the ground. From his current position it was easy to see that one of the back legs had some bad scarring on it, but he didn't seem to mind.

[chocobosnap]

Prompto wasn't going to do anything to that scarring, but he was going to sink both fingers into that soft fur and scratch up and down his belly, giving him the best of platitudes.

If Casper were attuned to things that suggested Prompto was anxious, aside from the stutter, his heart rate, his breathing, all of them were evening out. He was more excited about getting to pet a puppy more than anything.

[helborn]

He couldn’t sense if as well in this form, but he could tell the guy was happy. He leaned into Prompto’s fingers, barking happily and briefly catching his arm in big paws before letting go. He was careful not to scratch the guy. But gods, that felt good.

[chocobosnap]

Even if he had scratched him, it was a small price to pay for getting to scritch a friendly dog.

At least, Prompto seemed a lot calmer when he was done, leaning back with a bit of a pleased sigh.

"Heh, sorry about that."

[helborn]

He stepped back and suddenly Casper stood in front of him again, smiling. "It's fine. I don't mind being the therapy dog. And pets feel really good... I also have a form that's like a bipedal labrador retriever, only pastel blue. ... That world was a weird one."

[chocobosnap]

"I-I figured you must like it." Prompto said even though he had a sheepish smile. "I think the Oracle's messengers do too."

[helborn]

"Oracle? What kind of - oh. Probably one that tells the future, duh." Hence the 'oracle' name.

[chocobosnap]

"I th-think so?" Prompto said with a bit of a frown, thinking about it.

"I mean, I think she sees the future. Or maybe not. I don't know. I know she talks to the Astrals."

[helborn]

"Those are your... gods?" It sounds like it, anyway.

[chocobosnap]

"Uh huh." Prompto said with a nod. "She talks to the Six."

[helborn]

"What are their names?" Or maybe they're not named. No way to know but to ask.

[chocobosnap]

"Oh, well there's the Fulgarian, that's uh, Ramuh. There's um, the Archean which is Titan. Then there's the Hydrean, Leviathan. I uh, haven't met her." He smiled nervously.

"Then um, there's the Glacian, Shiva, the Draconian, Bahamut and finally the Infernian, Ifrit." Prompto ducked his head a bit.

"I've gotten to see Ramuh and Titan, weird experience."

[helborn]

... He's heard a few of those names before, and a lot of the others from mythology. "I bet it was... so earth, time? Maybe? Water, ice, dragons, and fire. Interesting spread... there's a lot more gods in my world but most of them aren't worshiped anymore."