A New Platform [Intro Post September]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Nebula. 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 doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. A-Qing, Atem, Beauregard Lionett, Casper LeBlanc Jr, Donatello Versus, Frankie Bacon, Ichiban Kasuga, Kumoko, Lena Sabrewing, Mami Tomoe, Mono, Peter Parker, Reno, Shi Qingxuan, Tobari, Wen Ning; all pass across the platform, not looking back. And then they're gone, disappeared 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. The platform is open to a bright blue sky, speckled with a couple of clouds. It's very warm, enough that they will not want to stay in those hoodies for long. Behind them through the fogs is a set of barriers, set in a brick wall and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same 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 on the foggy, blistering hot platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, but it is enough to hold the 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, perhaps ten minutes or so, 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'). They will also find a bunch of posters around the train and might notice the new clock in the standard coach.

The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, the ingredient this month is a strange meat, yaddon tail.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a box labelled for purple team containing a stick of rock for each member of purple team, including those who are new. Join in your teams success!

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. 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 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

[wewillwewill]

"There is no need for apology," Elidibus assures Essek. It's a public area and there's hardly room to complain if someone comes in and adds themselves to the limited space. Particularly if the newcomer knows one already present.

"It's a spell that has a multitude of useful applications," the Ascian agrees. Though polymorph wasn't particularly the requested spell, it's been a fruitful demonstration so far. As to the act of someone petting a person who is essentially a grown man in cat form, Elidibus doesn't seem to particularly care. What mortals do to each other is their own business.

Caleb 'says' something that attracts Elidibus's attention and he gives it due thought, "Ah yes. This train is fond of drawing people from different times. Even variations of those timelines." His attention shifts between the two. "I am Elidibus." The introduction is for both.

Though the second half of Caleb's explanation of why he doesn't change back is given a look of knowing. The curled up, cradled and purring feline formed man is not fooling anyone with the reason why he's not changing back so abruptly.

"Yes, I'm sure you wouldn't wish to burden your companion so suddenly." Is what he says dryly.

[essek]

With only a slight pause, Essek then moves to take the vacated seat Caleb once sat in, not hesitating to give Frumpkin a scritch with a free hand before returning to petting Caleb. When he sits, he comes down from his float with a natural ease.

Now he is keenly aware of the disjointed conversation, the side he was missing was from the cat in his arms. Though from what he can gather, he can understand the context of the conversation with ease.

"And I am Essek," he gives Elidibus a polite smile and a nod. "I take it you can understand Caleb in this form? I unfortunately do not have such capabilities," he says it with little bother to himself.

His eyes narrow in thought, going over the information he just gleaned about the fact the train does take people from different times and realities. He read it, but to hear it spoke as if from someone who experienced it... Well, it's good to know.

[katzenpfote]

He'd laugh if he could, so Caleb jumps up on the table and nuzzles Frumpkin before letting the spell unravel. It leaves him in his normal human form, a little sprawled. He quickly slides himself off the table and scoops up Frumpkin, scritching the fey cat behind the ears.

"I've used it for a number of applications. Most commonly either in battle to bolster my own health and strength or as something to assist with transporting others. There are a number of ways one could use it, it just so happens those are the most common ones for me. But transmutation is my specialty, so it comes a bit more easily to me than it might to some other wizards that have a different focus."

[wewillwewill]

Elidibus nods in return. "You may consider it a birthright of my people," he explains. Convenient, though the SCAs themselves do much of the work for this train so it rarely applies these days.

He appears to also have a grasp of Caleb's intentions when the table is jumped to and thus he removes the book and pencils from the surface so they don't get scattered as a cat becomes a man again. The items are returned once Caleb clambers down and retrieves Frumpkin.

Specializations are not unusual to Elidibus, either in mortals or his own people. "I see. Transmutation... so you specialize in shaping the form. What are generally the limits? Must it have tangible form to be shaped to something else?"

[essek]

Interesting. He keeps that tidbit about Elidibus in mind as he watches Caleb transform back. It was better to let it be and not examine why he felt a little sad to no longer be holding Caleb, that was a complicated territory. Instead, he held out his hands as if to ask for Frumpkin.

"May I?" He is asking Frumpkin more than Caleb, but either can answer.

He chooses for now to not input, transmutation was Caleb's specialty and while Essek was versed in it, he was not as well trained in it as Caleb himself. No he would listen intently for now and hopefully have a Frumpkin to pet and spoil affectionately on his lap.

[katzenpfote]

Frumpkin sniffs and jumps over to Essek's shoulder with a practiced leap, scarfing around his neck and purring.

"Generally it can't be too massive - so I could turn into an owl big enough to carry someone, but not one much bigger than that. Transmutation is generally very temporary. The magical weave that composes the spell isn't strong enough to hold things for very long. There are some more permanent spells, but those generally require a larger dose of materials for the spell to work - not something that you can carry around."

He holds the cocoon out to Elidibus - it's dried but not extremely fragile. There's a hole where the butterfly emerged from, but otherwise it's fully intact. "I believe you wanted to examine this." Though for all Caleb has done with it, it appears to simply be an ordinary cocoon one would find anywhere.

[wewillwewill]

"Thank you," Elidibus answers as the cocoon is offered. It is taken with care and held gently. As expected, it is perfectly normal for its kind. There is, of course, the temptation to see if he can replicate the method Caleb used. But given the way the train's shops are merciless with even necessary supplies, the Ascian is perfectly content to wait until he can find one on some world or another. The item is handed back to the mage.

"Are you versed in magic of your world as well?" he asks of Essek then. Floating is all well and good but it's not an indicator of a mage where the Ascian comes from.

[essek]

Essek watches the exchange quietly, smiling softly in Caleb's general direction as he listens to the man talk, listens to him expertly explain his field and a spell he was intimately familiar with. It was easy to get drawn into it before he is pulled back with the exchange of the component.

His attention shifts to Frumpkin again, for only a second before Elidibus addresses him, questions if he is also versed.

"Ah, yes. I am skilled in a similar magical practice as Caleb, though my specialty differs from his own," he pauses, looking over the other man curiously. If Caleb had been willing to share, Essek sees no reason to exercise a similar caution. "My specialty lies in the manipulation of gravity, time, and potential. While our two schools can be complimentary, they are quite different."

[katzenpfote]

He waits patiently while Elidibus considers the cocoon, slipping it back in its place in his pouch before the pouch disappears into his bag. It's his turn to fall silent as Essek speaks, smiling a little gently at the other wizard.

He doesn't flinch when Essek answers - there's no point in hiding it here. It's not as if dunamancy is the biggest secret that they've kept here.

[wewillwewill]

With the explanation of dunamancy given, Elidibus muses over its nature as described. The Ascian's expression indicates some familiarity with the concept.

"Ah, perhaps not unlike the techniques Astrologians of Sharlayan practice." In some ways at least. "Does this specialty also possess a form of healing arts?"

Whatever may have been troubling about dunamancy to keep it secret, its use clearly isn't an issue from the Ascian's perspective.

[essek]

Essek curiously watches Elidibus carefully, not often does he talk about his magical art without some air of caution. But it seems to be received in a thoughtful light more than hungry as many can.

"No, though it can facilitate healing or the prevention of injuries if utilized in such ways, but most do not opt for such methods," tethering two people can be used to help healing, reversing time or bending fate can prevent harm.

"Do these Astrologians have healing arts attached to their focus?"

[katzenpfote]

"It's quite a fascinating field, and one that I am only starting to delve into. Essek is my teacher in that area of magic. It is... not a skill that is normally known outside of the nation he is from, and even inside of it... teachers are rare."

The fact that Essek agreed to teach him at all was surprising... though he suspects the lessons may have been a result of manipulation on both sides. It's not something they've ever talked about.

Yes. This is in fact a minor in-joke toward frequent AST job mechanic changes.

[wewillwewill]

"Defense and healing are their primary focus, though they are not without combative magicks." The aforementioned gravity. Twisting fate to unleash malevolent forces on the target. "And they are capable of sealing barriers and relatively accurate divination."

Well, the divination leaves much to be debated. But it can certainly be interpreted as accurate in hindsight.

"Though the discipline seems to ever evolve. Perhaps because the movements of the stars they attune to are so constant. I wonder how an astrologian's arts would fare on this voyage, far from the constellations they abide by."

[essek]

"And you have been an excellent student under my tutelage," more so than even Caleb knows, considering hasn't live a portion of his future yet.

He listens to everything Elidibus says, curious about these arts. Perhaps they are a mix of divination and dunamancy? Or perhaps a cleric of a more oracle path. Curious indeed.

"Fascinating, it does sound as if it has adjacent similarities, though the stars are less a concern where Dunamancy is involved," he pauses, thinking. "Well, at least as far as we know and believe, there are many mysteries still surrounding it after all."

[wewillwewill]

"I imagine if you were to research the matter you would benefit from definitive knowledge or a new discovery. Both would be fruitful results," Elidibus allows.

"Though by my world's laws, the arts of an Astrologian are simply a means in which individuals harness their talents. Similar practices are used by Geomancers of the Far East, yet their focus is not on the stars above, but the three elements of the Star beneath their feet. Whether one method or the other is superior is generally determined by the perspective of the individual."

Elidibus falls silent, looking back down at the activity book which had started the conversation with Caleb in the first place. Closing it and repacking the colored pencils that came with it, both are lifted and disappear, likely into some form of spatial storage.

"Do you have any other questions about my world? If not, I shall take my leave. There are chores I must attend to soon."