A New Platform [Intro Post May]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Like clockwork, the Voidtreckers are awoken by a familiar message this morning.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Llama. Points have been updated on the system."

With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will 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 air is sticky and warm, the windows almost immediately dewing over with the humidity outside.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Azula, Prisoner, Amery Vallet, Dyme Graydon, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Yoite, Piccolo, Bulla Brief, Xie Lian, Kurosaki Ichigo, Hua Cheng, Renee Corbin, and Ran Mouri; all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

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 find themselves on a platform, rich wood and pale stone forming a natural, tree-like structure overhead. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into thick fog. The air is rainforest-hot, and the sound of frogsong can be faintly heard over the drip of the artificial canopy.

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 fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, and seems smaller with twenty-eight figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. Then there is 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 pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. 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.

Behind them, the doors close, and the train is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform.

The Train

After a short time, the fog clears and 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 several crates of nori, the ingredient of the month of Llama, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. For each member of Purple Team, a small silver box with their name on it contains a glittery cupcake.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, but at least they won't be alone in their confusion - since the sleeper carriages are now double-decker, and experience isn't going to avail the passengers in finding their rooms.

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.

The new double carriage's transfer ICP is active, allowing people to move to a double room should they meet the requirements with another person, though they'll have to move their belongings themselves.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, and 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

[darknessinzero]

"Train," Ansem confirms, gentle as he cannot quite place the accent; unsurprising. Nonetheless, it does seem unfamiliar to the other. "As have I- so I am afraid I have few answers, if any. Only what I have been told- still..."

He gestures about them.

"...there is no shortage of reading material. It is my hope that some of them will even hold more answers than questions."

[katzenpfote]

"True. I plan to spend time here... I suspect my..." What should he even call her? "My f - friend will also spend time here. Her order operates out of libraries, after all."

[darknessinzero]

"You arrived with a friend?" He smiles broadly. "How wonderful- no doubt that will make this place less alarming. I must admit, I already feel nearly overwhelmed- but I find these," and he half-raises the book in his hand, "a comfort. Perhaps I will meet this friend of your sooner than later, as well."

A brief hesitation, then-

"If I may be so bold to assume- if you need assistance with the books, I have met- or rather, reunited- with someone who has been here some time, as well as is familiar about such things, if my memory holds true." There's a hint of dryness at the last, as if he's making some self-depreciating joke.

[katzenpfote]

"That... that would be helpful. I haven't even really been to my room, it's just... books." He finishes a little weakly, but this looks like a man who understands. "Beauregard is probably causing trouble somewhere..." Hopefully without too much violence. He wouldn't put it past her.

[darknessinzero]

A slow nod. He finds himself taking a liking to this man; there is clearly much he doesn't know, but he, at least, knows he does not know it. "Perhaps she will settle down once she finds this place," he offers. "Such a situation could upset anyone, I imagine. Were I not so relieved to be here instead of where I was..."

Ah, but that's another thought. He shakes his head to dismiss it, briefly glancing back at the books.

"Do they have trains, where you are from?" His hunch says 'no', but- he would rather be certain than assume too much.

[katzenpfote]

"She's... I think the best word is 'rowdy'. The Cobalt Soul has many types of members, from those that simply work ath the libraries to thosse that gather information to those who actively fight corruption. Our group tends to stumble on that last one quite a bit. ... I am not par tof the Soul, for the record." Before he gets any ideas.

The question has him shaking his head. "No. It is like a carriage, but without beasts to move it... magic, maybe?" Hm... he might need a closer look. "I can already tell that my teleportation spell won't work here." And he doesn't have anything to hone in on the location... but there's a few places he could likely reliably get to if he could teleport.

[darknessinzero]

Rowdy. Intriguing. "I think I should find her, eventually, and ask about it - it seems like a remarkable organization," Ansem comments. As for the guess...he tilts his head with a thoughtful 'mmm'. "Some use magic. I did not get a close enough look at this one, but...I would be surprised if no magic were involved. But...coal and steam are often used, as well."

Part of him wonders how he knows all this. Is this related to 'the Wise' that Even had mentioned? The slightest of frowns crosses his features, but...as before, he chases the thought. There will be time enough to contemplate it.

"You know teleportation magic? That must be useful- perhaps you could find some new application for it."

[katzenpfote]

"Coal and steam..." He's seen some prototypes of things, but nothing that works without danger of exploding. Hupperdook probably has things like that, if anywhere. He's not sure where in Xhorhas those things are built, exactly.

"I do. It took a while to learn it... it is far less accurate than inscribing the sigils for a circle I know of already, but it... can be done within a range." And not the same day as his tower, sadly. "I am missing many of my spell components. ... It will take a while to regain them."

[darknessinzero]

Sigils and circles...not like the black portals in his scattered memories, then. No immediate connection, at least. But the mention of components has him considering the matter. "From what I have seen," he begins slowly, "there is quite a lot to explore on this vehicle - perhaps you can find something suitable for your work. I will admit, though, I am...unfamiliar with spells that require more than just one's own energies."

MP. He's talking about MP.

[katzenpfote]

"Perhaps. And there are some spells I can do without components... not all that many, however." He could count! But then Ansem would be there with him slowly counting in Zemnian.

[darknessinzero]

Perhaps another time they could count, but.

"Curious. Perhaps, once we are both more comfortable in our surroundings, we can compare our magic?" A pause, and then- "I am called Ansem." It feels strange to call it his name, but it is becoming more comfortable to wear. "May I have your name, friend?"

[katzenpfote]

"That sounds fine to me. I am always interested in learning what another wizard knows." He has to be cautious about that, but the hunger for knowledge is and always will be an overwhelming desire for him.

"My name is Caleb Widogast." Which isn't what the roster calls him... he'll have to address that later.

[darknessinzero]

At least Ansem hasn't looked closely enough at the roster to question it. But he nods, smiling, seemingly glad to have found someone with whom to share knowledge. "A pleasure to meet you, even with the circumstances. Some advanced warning certainly would not have been unwelcome."

...not that he really needed it, but. It would have been nice to know what he was being pulled in to, jnust so he could prepare himself.

[katzenpfote]

"It would have been quite good, as we were on our way to start dealing with a contract. I assume our employer is quite annoyed, as I was her main point of contact with the rest of the group." Wizards tend to know what to expect from each other. It's not like she'd go through Beauregard, especially given how much the Cobalt Soul and the Cerberus Assembly are in opposition.

"Also, I feel like some of the others might be more suited for this sort of thing..."