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

[wewillwewill]

There's only one piece of advice Elidibus can give. In fact he gave it to the newest Warrior of Light to arrive on the train.

"It can be an effort to remain focused. There are many opportunities to learn of matters beyond our star. Pray remain focused on what goals are most important to you."

Dangerous words, though the advice at heart is sound. To find some goals and remain focused on them, lest you be overwhelmed. What those goals end up being are entirely up to Hythlodaeus.

Elidibus turns his attention to simple matters. Well, perhaps that's the case. The axolotl had no connection to Hythlodaeus inasmuch as he was aware from the small discussion they just had. Yet it somehow found itself in the Amaurotine's care by the grace of the Voidtrecker Express; not procured as many did through the train's shop.

Elpis. "Hermes. The one who would take the seat of Fandaniel shortly before the Final Days. That is the last Overseer I remember." Ah, how often that name is coming up, for all they may as well, in a sense, be speaking about two different people. But it is a reflection of the memories he had, however partial they were. Hythlodaeus might well have remembered an earlier Overseer when speaking of the ambystoma.

But it's a fleeting thing. The ascian watches the other's descent groundward. "Many have beasts that might set upon such an overly curious charge. If it should be prone to wandering, a tracking spell may be wise."

Of course Elidibus isn't going to just do it himself. That would be rude, for one. And surely he isn't particularly attached to the adorable fellow. It was just passing interest in seeing a creation from their world, nothing more.

Surely.

[sharpeyes]

From where he's just returned to the 'ground', Hythlodaeus tilts his head curiously towards the other man.

"As someone who is newly arrived, whose path on our Star is finished and has, for the most part, very little left to do beyond drifting in the Aethereal Sea until the time comes to move on, I would be curious what goals the most esteemed Elidibus think I might have that accruing knowledge would be a distraction from?"

There is no sarcasm to the question, for all the flippant phrasing. He is genuinely curious, even aside from how seeking out more things to know has ever been his habit.

But the questioning turns into a smile, albeit an atypically complicated one. "Yes. Hermes. This was the time when Emet-Selch and I sought him there so that he may be evaluated and invited to the Convocation. When he first found him, he was tending these... And I then he took from us the memory of that. Emet-Selch, himself, and me."

Hythlodaeus shrugs, and his smile eases somewhat. "On the whole, I won't need a tracking spell on it. Though if I can come up with one where I would know if it is frightened or threatened, that might be more useful."

He can find it wherever on this 'train' it might be, with ease. Knowing he should would be useful, on the other hand. And he is far from the best at spellcrafting. Hmm.

He plucks the ambystoma from his hood, and holds it up, cupped gently in his hands, once more. "Did you hear that, little one? There are dangerous things here."

[wewillwewill]

The esteemed Elidibus. Rather than the Ascian Elidibus or simply Elidibus with no context of the importance and respect that seat once held for so many. It seemed almost foreign to hear it so easily on someone's lips. The Ascian blinked once as if caught by that thought. Or by being addressed with a very ancient respect.

"Pray do not think of it as the assumption of your current circumstances. Instead I hope you will take it as advice while exploring the myriad wonders you might encounter gathering such knowledge."

Of course. Who would expect one drawn so suddenly from a time when they'd fulfilled their time on their star to have goals right then?

"Though I imagine one might also take joy in simply seeing what new experience might present itself next." And to that end, Elidibus seems both respectful and, perhaps, a touch envious that someone might have that freedom. He doesn't consider it one of his.

In any case, it's not his place to choose or guide what Hythlodaeus does with his time and energy. Certainly not even in the slightest, not anymore. With Zodiark gone, they are both free of that particular onus.

Tracking, yes. It would be difficult even for Elidibus not to find the little ambystoma now on the train, much less someone of Hythlodaeus or Emet-Selch's clarity of sight. Though the Ascian will point out something.

"You may find the void metal of the train's outer shell can interfere with your sight. Particularly while we are journeying through voidspace. Though the interior walls are of little concern, it is something to keep in mind."

Though a tracking spell, overall, would probably not be as useful as the other the Amaurotine mentioned, it's true. Elidibus appears to consider the matter momentarily. A tale of the creature and its connection, once again, to the tale surrounding the Overseer of Elpis. It's filed away as a piece of the story he didn't personally know but other than that, Elidibus is focused on the possibility of a spell to alert when the tiny creature might be in danger.

"Perhaps one that's connected to a physical item." With a gesture, Elidibus brings out a small piece of ore. It's something he'd ordered from their star through the train's shop services some time ago, easy to shape and suitable for conducting and holding aether.

A thought and a bit of focus shifts it to a simple blueish teardrop. There's no spell on it. Yet.

"Perhaps this would suit?"

[sharpeyes]

Even though Hythlodaeus's address towards a member of the convocation may hold a certain level of... irreverence, based on the fact that he could have been one of them, and that he is close - and also regularly bosses around - two of their number, the respect he has for the men and women holding those positions is real and profound. He is the kind who may stretch and bend rules, when he is of a whim to do so, and more than capable to get away with it, but that is with the full awareness of the necessity of those rules on the whale, and the trust that the rules set in place, by the people with the power to do so, are fair and reasonable and needed and right. It is simple as breathing, and he means it completely.

He may easily reach towards the person behind the title, to see each of them as their own people rather than the positions they take, but that is out of concern and care, not disrespect. So yes. Elidibus is going to have this now, not as simple and worry or fear - fringed as most people would give it, but present all the same.

For now, he shakes his head slightly - no trace of anything resembling offense has been taken. "Ever have I wanted, and done my best, to live life to the fullest. I do not think this place and time should be different. And if I find a more specific purpose, then I will focus on that."

Then he wrinkles his nose slightly. "'tis... somewhat of a barrier, but I do not think it was built for sight such as mine. I discovered even before the train arrived I need to be very, very careful. But such is not beyond my abilities." A long time ago, when he was growing up and so was his gift, the beauty of Etheirys was enchanting enough that, for a while, he had trouble reining in his sight. After he had put his meager reserves of aether at risk, he learned better. But it does lend weight to the necessity of knowing when he should look. Normally, monitoring at most times would have been easy.

He tilts his head in curiosity at the small item offered, his lips curving up slightly with delight as its aetheric density is just right, and the imprint of the shaping of it has been so careful and sweet, a signature he has known before. His eyes dart up to Elidibus.

"It would, though are you sure you wish to part with it?"

Sorry for the delay!

[wewillwewill]

Hearing of how Hythlodaeus's sight is capable of seeing into voidspace despite the metal does appear to concern Elidibus. He turns his mind to it a moment though in all honesty there is little he can do but give advice.

"I certain you've heard of the risks in looking into voidspace overlong. If you feel the symptoms despite avoiding it, pray do not hesitate to seek a healer's attention, if not myself or Emet-Selch." It would not do to have a headache brought on by voidspace to be mistaken for something else, given such circumstances.

There is, subtly, more emotion than he might have turned to some other new arrival on the train, even if his words (possibly sans the invitation to approach himself or his fellow Ascian) would probably have been largely the same. Yet this is the unique difference in which he holds regard for one of his own. As for the bauble? Elidibus accompanies his words with a faint smile.

"It suits your needs better than those I have. If that changes, I can make another." The answer comes with an undertone of peace.

It is rare Elidibus has a chance like this, to find a fragment of the past, even if it's such a simple gesture as using creation magic to offer an item to another equal with as much ceremony as one might loan a handkerchief and entreat the other to keep it.

This is not the case with the mortals on the train he's helped. It doesn't give him that feeling of almost remembering what it was like, those pieces of the past he still has yet to recall.

and right back

[sharpeyes]

Hythlodaeus was about to reassure Elidibus that now that he knows, he can manage the use of his soulsight so it should not be a cause for alarm when the man mentions that name and he stills, eyes growing wide.

"Ha-- the most honorable Emet-Selch is here as well?"

His voice is soft.

It has been a long, long time since they parted, but before that they were nigh inseparable, and the millennia pull at him.

A small breath, and he pulls himself under better control.

"Please forgive my reaction. It... Before appearing on the platform, I had intended to seek him out, as we both would have been in the realm that his position gives charge of. When I appeared here, I... resigned myself that the reunion would have to wait, so the news took me by surprise."

He focuses again on the gift, on the present. He will find Hades, and soon, he knows now. The crystal he does accept with a grateful smile.

"Thank you. I will... Fit it on the ambystoma, and then, in this case, ask Emet-Selch to craft the spell."

It may take a little delay, but Hades absolutely will come with a better one than him, anyway.