voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2022-01-01 05:21 am

A NEW PLATFORM [INTRO POST JANUARY]

On the Train

Despite whatever Voidtreckers may have learned or how they feel about those revelations - or reminders - of the precariousness of their situation, the train flies ever onward.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Poi. 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. The weather is dry but there is a chill to the air and a strong breeze." 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. Dairine, Okada Izō, Rapunzel, Satoru and Siebren; 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 thirteen new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours and 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 long with a grassy mound behind them. It is blustery and the air is cold, they will be glad of those hoodies.

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, windy platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

Thirteen figures, 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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, with cans of corned beef lining the shelves.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. Those from purple who go to find their prize will find a large box containing a gingerbread train for them to share. Plenty enough to go around, even for the largest team.

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.

Snow Time: Rock Garden

Winter seems to have followed from Osiga and nested in the rock garden. There's a chill that nips in the air and a light snow (real snow) fills the air. A thin cloudy haze at the top of the carriage seems the source. Yet the kaleidoscope of the void will assure that this is no timely world stop.

People might have seen it occurring the night before. Snow falling heavy before tapering off with an odd precision, leaving a heavy blanket over the carriage 'ground'. By morning of Platform Day, a miniature winter has descended, ripe for snowforts, snowballs, angels and snowmen.

It's not just the climate that's changed. Many statues and rock features are missing or moved. Digging below the snow reveals soil now frozen but providing a barrier between the bare floor of the carriage. Keen eyes will see changes are made with safety and available space in mind. The fountain has been emptied but the pond and streams are frozen solid, allowing intrepid spirits to try slide-skating over the surfaces without the risk of breaking through. The mosaics are still around, and enchantments are in place to protect paintings and paper decorations from damp. Any plants have been sent to sleep or taken to safety.

The benches are still around. Paths and bridges are covered with fresh snow, but, as the day goes on, it's trampled down and or scattered. Najaran's woodfolk may be glimpsed near Jingyi's shrine or hiding in the shadows of rocks and statues still present, perhaps even buried in the snow and peeking out. Shy around humans, though those with pointed ears or Hylian lineage may find an easier time interacting.

There are signs on both doors of the carriage warning of the change and mentioning the dressing carriage will have winter gear, and it does: with hats, scarves, gloves and ice skates in a variety of sizes. Dispensers with warm drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate and hot water for tea are available in the Games Carriage.

Early the next day, the snow will be gone and the gardens returned to how they once were.

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!
nell_of_soulwood: (Default)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-01 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nope, they're not much for it where I cpme from either Nell said. "But this train, well, it travels through the void - like a kind of space in a way."

Oh, he would ask that. Nell hadn't quite figured out all that herself yet, especially with the new information.

"I'm prob'ly not the best person to ask about that," she admitted. "We're just finding out a lot about it ourselves, but mostly we help out people on other worlds it seems."
signseeker: (pic#13626734)

[personal profile] signseeker 2022-01-02 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
"The void?" he asks sharply. "What is that?" In Will was all the knowledge of the universe that his kind gathered since the beginning of time. The stars, the moons, the comets, even the forces that held the planets in their courses... These were no mysteries to him. But he had never heard of the Void.

He frowns, slightly confused. "Helping out doesn't sound like a terrible thing." But it was puzzling. To help others... That was one of the best parts of humanity. But the method that had been used to bring them here didn't fit.

Had it been the Light's will that he had been brought here? Or was this some last revenge from the Dark? Or was it something else entirely?
nell_of_soulwood: (Default)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-02 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Again, I'm not the best person to ask. There's lots of people on board who know more about it than me, but I think it's sort of the empty space in or between, well... space." She made a face. "I'm sorry, I know that's prob'ly not helpful at all."

"Helping's not bad, no. Dangerous, sometimes, confusing sometimes, but at least it's a noble thing to be doing. As to why the train does it this way, well, a bunch of people are working to figure that out."
signseeker: (pic#13626861)

[personal profile] signseeker 2022-01-02 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Will relaxes slightly as he shakes his head.

"It is helpful even to know what to ask about, I think." He was still worried about that description. A space between space.... What magic would come from such a place?

"Its just a bit confusing. Helping.... It is a wonderful thing to do. But the circumstances behind it seem a bit strange. Don't they?"
nell_of_soulwood: (Default)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-02 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, you have no idea," Nell said. "The whole thing is awful strange, people just ending up here from all corners of, well, the universe, I suppose. All sorts of different kinds of beings and technology and..."

She shook her head, then shrugged. "In any case, it does seem to be a pretty decent place with mostly pretty decent folk. You don't have to worry about going hungry or not having a place to lay your head at night and you get points evry so often that you can use to buy extra things you might want. Could be lots worse."
signseeker: (Default)

[personal profile] signseeker 2022-01-02 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"It will be a new experience, I suppose." To be honest, Will wasn't terribly bothered by the idea of being taken to a new place, or that a new adventure had begun.

What did worry him were the reasons behind it. But he supposed that the answer to that was something that he would find out in time. In the meantime, the best thing he could do was to learn more about the new adventure he had come to join.

"Are there many people here? And what kinds of places does the train travel to?"
nell_of_soulwood: (Default)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-02 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"I reckon there's 100 some people at least," Nell said, "but I couldn't give you an exact number. Plus a bunch just... left... today and a bunch more appeared."

Where did they go?

"All sorts of different places. We went to a place that was all cold with super long days, and a place with strange skies and beings like I'd never seen before, and a kind of vacation planet with anything you could imagine, and one that well, seemed a lot like where I came from in a way, but was actually all an illusion."
signseeker: (Default)

[personal profile] signseeker 2022-01-07 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
He frowns. "When people leave this place, what happens to them?"

The rest was also much to consider. "Goodness, that is a lot of variety. Is there anything that links them, do you think?"
nell_of_soulwood: (Default)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-09 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know," she admitted. "Might be they go home, but no one knows for sure. That's another thing people are trying to figure out."

Nell considered that and smiled ruefully. "I know 'most everything you ask me I tell you I don't know, and I'm sorry about that. The thing most of the places seem to have in coomon is that they need help. Some of the others have been kind of vaction places for us."
signseeker: (pic#13626740)

[personal profile] signseeker 2022-01-16 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Quests were something Will was very familiar with. Being sent to other times and places to accomplish a task? That had been his duty for the past two years.

But simply being sent somewhere to help people? That was something... he had often wished he could stop and help, but the cause of the Light had been too desperate and too important. Stopping to help even a single person could have meant the end for everything else.

And even now he couldn't help but wonder if that was really all there could be to it? Let alone a vacation? What kind of task was that?

"I see," he says at last slowly. "I suppose all I can do is wait to find out the answers. I'm sure we will learn in time."
nell_of_soulwood: (Default)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-16 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think that's all any of us can do," Nell agreed. "But I do hope you'll find the train at least a not terrible place to be."
signseeker: (Default)

[personal profile] signseeker 2022-01-27 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't think I shall," he says thoughtfully. "Although of course there is still a great deal to learn."
nell_of_soulwood: (Smiling shy)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-01-28 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
"More than you can even imagine," Nell said, "with people from all over the universe."