A New Platform [Intro Post August]

[voidtreckermods]

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PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 19
(SYMPHONY)

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BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day sixteen of the month of Symphony. Points have been updated on the system."
The voice of the Voidtrecker Express welcomes passengers at the same time as always, sometime after breakfast. With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later, as the colours of the void outside the windows blur more and more.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. The weather is sunny with a cool breeze. 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.

ON THE PLATFORM

1. THE ARRIVAL

At first, all your character can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. But as their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform. The stones are cobbled beneath them and there are small stone shapes lining the edge, decorative in nature. The sun is shining but there is a cold wind, blowing through the platform at intervals, almost biting in its chill.

They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they're one of Twelve figures: all facing the tracks, and all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies, the latter in one of four colours. Purple, red, blue or orange.

But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.

The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. Danielle Phantom, Fai. D Flourite, K'zeka Tia, Ruggie Buchi and John Connor They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.

2. BOARDING THE TRAIN

After a short time, about ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Everyone will feel a pull when they do, a need to board, and those from the train may encourage new arrivals to board. This feeling grows into one of apprehension and turns worse the longer they stay off-board.

For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.

For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.

a. New arrivals will notice a screen and console in every carriage sharing the same message, and a stack of leaflets in holders by them offering further information to the curious (see 'Publications'). There are lavatories available on each carriage on one end, with another console with a deposit box under it at the other. This is the train shop.

b. It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is broccoli, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.

c. Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. 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.

d. At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink.

e. Of course there are the new additions to explore. A fireplace has been added to the library, complete with a rug and plenty of soft reading pillows. For those less inclined to sit still there is a swimming pool carriage, complete with foam fish. Plenty of fun for all.

DEPARTURE

Spend your time exploring, if you will. But people will have half an hour before a second horn sounds, encouraging any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air to board. After five minutes from this, the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train begins to rumble with activity, and the platform starts to disappear into a fog as the voidcraft moves. A female-coded artificial voice echoes throughout the train.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. 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.

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NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

Comments

[nutkrusher]

"Given the places we've stopped so far, you're likely to see either one of those two things," Cassie says.

"The equipment isn't as useful to me as it used to be. But there are some really good partners to spar with here."

She smiles a little bit more than one might expect at that remark.

[bladesdarkandlight]

She lifts an eyebrow as she pulls a book out of her personal rucksack and lets it fall opened to a bookmarked page.

"Including some what won't mind I can't really pull my punches when it comes to magic?"

The geometric lines on the pages of her book glow, and her carbuncle appears out of a flash of light near the ground.

[nutkrusher]

"Well, I haven't seen your magic, but probably," Cassie says. "If nothing else, the walls of the train itself can take literally anything."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Mostly elemental, if'n I'm fighting as a Summoner. Guess it's good to know I'll have something to practice on, if'n there's no one what's willing to take the risk of fighting a demi-Bahamut or the like."

The carbuncle tilts its head, then moves to sniff Cassie's foot, wiggling like an excited dog.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie tilts her head and raises an eyebrow at the sniffing carbuncle.

She seems about to say something when a round, white drone pokes above her shoulder, seemingly from out of nowhere. It doesn't have facial expressions, and would lack emotions to express even if it did, but its curiosity appears to be leaning toward hostility.

"Easy, Emma. I don't think this one's a threat."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Nah, not unless you give me reason to make it one. Never seen a carbuncle before?"

She bends down to pick the creature up, leaving her bag hanging from her elbow.

"They're a kind of combat familiar, but friendly enough when they don't have aught to fight."

[nutkrusher]

"Well, Emma's military hardware," Cassie says. "'Not having anything to fight' usually means sitting in a box in power-down mode."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Could just leave it unsummoned, but they don't take a lot of aether to keep up."

The carbuncle kicks its hind feet, prompting her to lift it so that it can sit on her shoulders.

"Hells, I've seen a town where you see enough wandering carbuncles, you'd think there was such a thing as a stray."

[nutkrusher]

"Can see why they'd want to keep 'em around," Cassie says. "They're pretty cute."

[bladesdarkandlight]

She grins and reaches up to scratch behind the familiar's ear. It leans into the affection, much like a living animal would.

"Aren't they? They might be mainly for Arcanists to defend ourselves with, but they make good pets too."

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, a drone isn't so good for givin' scritches," Cassie says. "I have taught Emma a couple tricks, though."

Cassie whistles, flicks her wrist to signal for the drone to get into position, and proceeds to demonstrate.

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Seems nicer than the...you called them drones? I've met afore. Most of them, anyhow, the Accompaniment Node was right patient for Allagan magitek. Most just threaten to electrocute you if'n you say something they don't like."

[nutkrusher]

"It is a good thing she's not capable of malice," Cassie says. "At least, not any malice that some nerds working for a defense contractor didn't put in by accident. She can shock people pretty damn good."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"All the evidence I've found, and I've found hells of a lot of it, says that late-Allagan engineers were out of their swiving minds. I've dealt with so much bullshite from that era what never should have been thought of, and their mammets are just as fucked up."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie allows herself a smirk. "I bet we could swap all kinds of fuckin' stories. First things first, though, we're both gonna want to be on that train before it leaves. You can try not doing it, but the results aren't pleasant."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Can't say as I'm eager for an indefinite train ride, but it beats standing out in this wind. This shirt does fuck all against it."

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, the color-coded cult clothes don't do anything for anybody," Cassie says. "And they've got the nerve to charge us train points for anything better."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Would have been nice if'n they'd at least let me keep blue. There any sewing supplies around here?"

[nutkrusher]

"We've got some over in the art car," Cassie says. "Haven't gotten around to using 'em - I'd only ever come around if I needed to patch something. I'm a Beverly Hills girl, I prefer shopping trips when I want something nice.

"Speaking of which, the train store does sell clothes. Even the nicest, most expensive shit you can think of."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"Beverly Hills?" From the description, it sounds like the upper crust of Ul'dah. Hopefully not quite so full of corruption and contempt for working folks. "Not really a fan of fancy shite, myself. Tends not to stand up so good on docks or out hunting...but I picked up some cloth crafting skills to help out after a city got right fucked by an invasion."

[nutkrusher]

"It's a neighborhood where movie stars live," Cassie says. "My dad's a martial artist who got big doing action movies before falling into the whole saving-the-world thing. So I was used to having nice things.

"'Course, in the Army everyone wears the same outfit, so I'm used to that, too."

[bladesdarkandlight]

Movies, movies...wasn't there some Allagan word with an etymology like that? Short for moving picture.

"That's like a play what's recorded in a machine, right? Kinda hard to imagine an entire neighborhood what's just full of actors."

[nutkrusher]

"Well, it's not literally everyone in the neighborhood," Cassie says. "There's some other rich people, too. But L.A. is where the big movie studios are all based out of, so it's convenient to live in the same city."

[bladesdarkandlight]

"I guess if'n you just record all your performances, there really isn't much reason for theater companies to be spread out. There a lot of collaboration between them, then, for them to care about living close by?"

[nutkrusher]

"I mean, it's a bit more complicated than that," Cassie says. "You've got all the union deals in the TMZ, and a bunch of other shit I can't explain unless you're from a world that has a movie industry.

"But it really comes down to it being close and expensive."