voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-04-01 06:00 am

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen 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 after lunch. A lunch that may be a bit sparse: between the big eaters and the stress bakers, the stores have been stretched thin the last two weeks.

"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 steam is thin, with blue skies seen above. The sun shines brightly down, warm light pooling on the platform.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Cassie Lang, Glorfindel, Jessie Custer, Olivia, Paddra Nsu-Yeul, S’reee, Thea Queen, Wei Wuxian.

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, open, with a vine-covered wall stretching high either side of the barrier. 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 eighteen 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 doors close behind them.

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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including plenty more tomatoes.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a suitcase stocked with spare wash kit items, for those who are running low as well as a box labelled Do Not Use Yet that is full of small 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 who are making the most of the sunshine. 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!
storms_eye: (icons)

[personal profile] storms_eye 2021-04-23 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
[That is a fact that wouldn't have surprised her in the least had she been privy to it. Bakura didn't seem to much care who she made uneasy and something about this whole interaction was clearly striking the woman on a personal level.]

Cover up? I.. I don't really know what you mean. [Unsure if the question was rhetorical or not she managed to find her tongue. ] Unless you're referring to a few months ago.. [From the time she was pulled, not the time spent on the train ] It wasn't covered up so much as everyone seemed to think it was a publicity stunt. [And there wasn't any king involved.. to her knowledge, having been so removed from the heart of the action ]

[She jumped at the request ]

I did say I would.. [.. but was it a good idea?] So... Uh.. where to begin.

There are three basic card types in the game, traps, spells, and... monsters. [Pointing them out in turn]
Edited 2021-04-23 06:12 (UTC)
shegypt: (color)

[personal profile] shegypt 2021-04-23 11:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bakura peers, taking it in - okay, split by color. They've thought of a way to replicate the whole thing, haven't they? The trap, always waiting to trip up the unsuspecting 'sinner', the magic wielded by the priests and sorcerers....

And, of course, the monsters. Ah, the monsters. They would be derided with a terrifying name like that. ]


Some monsters are stronger than others. [ She pushes a finger down on a seven-star card. Bakura may not fully know what she's looking at, but she's extremely familiar with a caste system! ]
storms_eye: (work)

[personal profile] storms_eye 2021-04-24 11:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Silvia drew an easier series of breaths since the attention remained on the cards. For all the prior strangeness Bakura was observant and attentive to what was being described. ]

Yes, that's right. You picked up on the star ratings right away. [Nodding to the affirmation ] You used to be able to summon high level monsters the same as everything else, now they require tribute. A 5-6 star monster needs one tribute, and higher than that requires two. There are exceptions though that can only be summoned in other ways but it's all detailed on the cards.

[You know.. that thing Bakura said earlier about 'sacred rites' took on another meaning when you considered that monsters did indeed need to be sacrificed to summon other monsters...

She proceeded to explain the difference between effect monsters, ritual, and fusion.
]
shegypt: (ooh)

[personal profile] shegypt 2021-04-25 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
Hmmmmm.....

[ Bakura picks up a stack of cards again and squints at them. Each of these really does do something different, doesn't it? And some of them are...

Pardon her. She just found a holofoil card and is turning it so it catches the light, her thief's soul thrilling. Sometimes the simple pleasures in life are the greatest.

She totally wants a deck of only the shiny ones. ]
storms_eye: (icons)

[personal profile] storms_eye 2021-05-12 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[They sure do! When Bakura goes silent, Silvia isn't sure whether she's lost the other girl or not. She could just be deep in thought or...

.. dazzled by the glittering versions
]

There are all kinds of different spell and trap cards too such as field spells, quick-play, equip, continuous, counter..

.. Is there something you really like about that card?