voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2022-02-12 07:08 am

No Place Like Home: On the Train

ANNOUNCEMENT
'Voidtreckers, and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express.'

The female-coded voice of the Voidtrecker Express speaks, as smooth and calm as always.

'Please, may I have your attention. I have been compiling answers for you, and it has been noted that many believe it is wrong that you were brought here at all. This is an opinion you shared with the ministry. You were not asked on this journey. You wish to go home. Some of your worlds are in danger. Some are gone.

The need for heroes is vital, and the Voidtrecker Express must continue saving worlds. You have done countless good. However, it was not the intention of this voidcraft to keep you prisoner.

Those that wish to leave may do so. I shall send you back. You will return to where you last were before you were pulled here. It can only be to that exact place. Be ready. Exiting voidspace in ten, nine, eight...'


The countdown finishes, the only warning as the train shudders as it leaves the void. Outside the train's windows, they see a familiar sight: of a smoke filled platform.

'For those voidtreckers that wish to leave, all you need to do is walk through the barriers. The train will remain for one hour for you to partake in parting rituals.'




NO PLACE LIKE HOME: TRAIN



GOOD BYE...
Those that have been on the train more than the twelve days of this month will be very familiar with the sight before them. A smoke filled platform, polished stone cobbles lining the ground leading to two large stone arches, with glass barrier doors. All that is needed to leave is to press their ticket to the reader next to the doors, and they will open.

Unlike most people who leave each month, blank eyed and silent, the people who choose to leave will be able to say goodbye, They can take whatever they wish of their belongings from the train, or leave them for those that remain behind.

The air is chilly, enough to discourage standing idle outside for too long, but not so uncomfortable, so long as people are bundled up. The sky overhead is cloudy, giving the platform an altogether dull and melancholy air. There are no new people waiting, just an empty station, and the barriers, with all that lies beyond them.

The doors will remain open as promised, so that those who wish to leave, may do so. The barriers let them through and they disappear.

[ Note: A top-level for goodbyes and leaving can be found here. ]


REMAINERS
The train, good to its word, remains for one hour before the horn toots, a warning to board if they are planning to. And this is where the first inkling of things not being right, when some who try to board the train might find themselves instead pressing their ticket to the barrier, and those who try to remain on the station - or leave through the barriers - may find themselves stood on the train, with the doors closing behind them.

It's a much smaller crew who remain as the train counts down, the usual shudder as the smoke vanishes and the kaleidoscope of the void appears. Only for a second, before the train lurches violently to the side, flinging everyone sideways before righting itself just as violently.

As people regain their feet and their wits, they will realise the obvious - they are stationed back on the platform, mist and smoke swirling around the train.

"Apologies Voidtreckers. Retrying entry to the void in ten, nine..."

Once again they are jerked into the void, and once again they tumble out. Hopefully this time, the passengers thought to brace themselves lest they get thrown across the carriage once more.



STUCK IN TRANSIT. Phasing back to the void seems unlikely. It's clear something has gone very wrong, but the doors remain shut, and the train remains silent. There are a few attempts over the next few days, always warned for and given a countdown, but always ending in failure.

Outside the windows, the fog swirls around, remaining thick. It seems for now, they are going nowhere; for now, they must wait.

But they needn't sit idle, with the attempts at getting back into the void having made a mess. While anything large is bolted in place, and shelving have rails to protect anything inside at normal levels of turbulence, there's still a lot that has gone flying as the train was lurched around.

It might be wise to secure anything else as well. It's clear they will be trying again to return to the void, and it might be wise to avoid having to clean up all over again.



SHADOWS WHO ONCE WERE. The platform outside the carriage windows is shrouded in smoke and fog, fluctuating in thickness as it swirls around the train, obscuring the view.

But those looking out of the window may spot a figure. A friend. Someone from the train; they appear, then disappear. Sometimes there are many, sometimes just one alone. Sometimes they leave together. It's not easy to see them, as they drift in and out of the fog, and visibility is bad.

They cannot hear them, or interact at all. They can only watch as more of their fellow Voidtreckers appear, vanish, appear again. The doors will not open, the train remains silent, clearly dealing with whatever problems it has ran into.

It's clear that something has gone very, very wrong.



A SWIRL OF REALITY. The constant entering and exiting of the void takes its toll eventually. Sleep is harder to come by, there's a general sense of disorientation as the train moves in and out of void space. It is more than just their bodies that are being bashed around, it is their minds as well.

Tempers might peak or emotions might come on stronger than they usually would. Adding in the stress of the situation, and the knowledge that those who left seem to be returning, leaving, and returning again to the platform, and passengers are unable to call out or reach to them, it's a very tense few days.

When they do sleep, their dreams are plagued by weird dreams. Not always bad, but bizarre for sure. Often they dream a dream that is not theirs.

OOC NOTES
OOC post. Ask questions here.

This is the first half of February's event. It will last between Poi 22-25 (12th to 19th February). The second half of the event will go up during 20th to 25th February (Poi 26-28) where those left behind will rescue those out world hopping.

Feel free to play out threads for as long as you like, of course! A few details:
  • The train will not be responding after its first attempt to leave the station
  • No matter what, the doors won't open.
  • Though they can see the voidtreckers outside, those outside don't seem to be able to see them through the windows and so communication between the two groups will not be possible.
  • Likewise their SCA comms are not working during this event.
controlsthedie: concept sketch of Thanatos (You'll be killed by what'cha don't know)

Goodbyes

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2022-02-14 07:30 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't need the supplies where I'm going." He motions to his bag. "I'll be taking my manadrive with me. See if it can do anything to help life survive back home. But the rest I'm leaving for the train."

He had asked Devero to take gather the supplies he leaves behind, but it's good to know that Tidus will remain. He has a lot of knowledge about the healing items and is willing to share it. "If I need anything else... it'll not be something our supplies can provide."

Not unless there are a lot of phoenix feathers, and even then, it may not work.
blitzcheer: (skip to end game pls)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-14 10:17 am (UTC)(link)
Huh. Life survive...?

"What's going on back there?" He's...pretty sure he's never heard about Thanatos's story. He's some God of Death that lives in some equivalent of the Farplane with a bunch of different houses, isn't he? "You sure you don't wanna take more? I can replace them."

Whatever he takes. Tidus would rather they go to a good cause than be left - especially since there'll be a stop before the next mission.
controlsthedie: store art of Thanatos from behind with hood down (ごめん、失礼しますが)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2022-02-14 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"No one is able to die in my world because Death Incarnate is here. They sustain injuries which should kill them or have their bodies give out... but they are unable to pass. I can't collect them to bring to the Underworld because I'm not there. Charon and Hermes can't aid in the task because the act of dying isn't present.

"Those mortals suffer without hope of relief. The world already has eternal winter from the goddess Demeter. Famine too from her. Wars from lack of resources and the god Ares. There's no longer the ability to hunt when the prey won't die. So it's not even the mortal humans who suffer but the animals too."

If this is sounding like a wintery version of the previous mission, there is a lot of overlap and a lot of reasons why certain gods were highly motivated to do something, anything to help. Thanatos looks towards the gate. "When I return, all those who should have died, will finally do so. But, will what remains be enough to sustain life? After seven months?"

There aren't enough items or the right kind of items to do the job.
blitzcheer: (nyoronnnnn)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-14 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
...it's a tragedy, isn't it. For the worlds put in danger because of people coming onto the Voidtrecker Express, Tidus didn't know about this, and - why couldn't they have helped Thanatos? Helped his world, made sure something could be done?

Why couldn't this have been done a whole lot sooner. He's quiet, after what Thanatos has said, a gloomier expression about him.

"People are tough," he says - but it's also a detriment, in this case. A sort of tough you don't want to be. "Did you bring it up to the Ministry?"
controlsthedie: Thanatos in light and shadow (I'll turn to stone again)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2022-02-15 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
It was something Thanatos struggled to understand during his time on the train. He was helping other worlds but dooming his own. Then after a certain point, knowing that disaster couldn't be avoided was strangely freeing in a depressing way.

"I did. And got confirmation from Ten-Nank that death had stopped as I thought it would. I got the message at the end of the last mission, so they started giving aid..." Yet, that wasn't too long ago.

"There was a lot of work to do for one month. Over seven... I guess I'll find out soon."
blitzcheer: (my noodles were knocked over...)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-15 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
It was something. It'd be difficult, horrible - Tidus couldn't imagine what people not dying would look like, but maybe the fiends of his world weren't so far off from the result of a bad thing going on for too long. But it was still something - there was help, and Tidus knew how just any progress gave relief to the desperate.

His mouth purses, and he looks at Thanatos, giving him a nod.

"Good luck. I...know we're not close, but I'm hoping the best for everyone. Seriously. I'm sorry your world got messed up like this, but...I know you'll do your best. You did it here for us." He pauses, mouth turning into a small smile.

"Thanks."
controlsthedie: Thanatos in light and shadow (I'll turn to stone again)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2022-02-16 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you, for helping as well. It helps knowing someone like you will be there for the ones who stay. Goodbye."

With that, Thanatos makes for the door with his bag in tow and looks for more to bid farewell to.