Winter Wonderland [Event]

[voidtreckermods]

”Good Morning passengers. Today is day Twenty Four of the month of Catfish. You may wish to look out of the window.”

As passengers wake in their beds they will indeed notice something different about the light. If they look out of the window, instead of the ever changing void they will see white slopes of mountains, flakes of snow alling down around them and frost covered trees zipping past the windows. If they glance at the ICP on the table they will see a message.

Investigating the dressing cart they will find the drawers and cupboards unlocked once again. However, instead of the fantasy-esque clothing of world #25768 they will find thick winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves. There are heavy fur lined boots and even some ice skates.

Entering the garden carriage they will see that the glass dome of the roof has opened, leaving the carriage exposed to a bright blue sky. Any nonsense of the past few weeks has vanished, leaving the carriage pristine. Not that that is easy to notice as it is covered in a thick layer of snow. The paths are clearer, a light dusting of snow but easy to talk through. Around the paths the drifts are high, perfect for snowman building or a snowball fight.

The streams and the pond in the centre are solid ice. Anyone brave enough to try to find the ice holds their weight for ice skating.

And the ICP message was correct. There is hot chocolate in the stores.

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Destiny dictated my fortunes at birth. Edge, King of Eblan and head of the Eblan ninja clan, at your service." He capped this grandiose introduction with an equally grandiose bow, putting forth all the charm he believed himself to possess.

[marriedanidiot]

She tips a polite curtsy back.

"Well met, King Edge. Nerdanel Mahtaniel." She's not quite forgiven him enough to call herself Nerdanel of the House of Feanor, yet, but she's also no longer mad enough to name herself of her father's house. But her father's name, she can and does still use.

"I don't think I know what a ninja is."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Really! Well, then it shall be my honor to explain." Definitely had the flowery language ramped up today! "We're a clan of elite warriors, masters of stealth and swift blows, and sole bearers of the arts of ninjutsu."

[marriedanidiot]

She's married to a man who nearly started a civil war over pronounciation, and her eldest son is a politician, so sadly the flowerly language just zips right over her head as normal.

"Warriors! I see. Although I have not heard of Art such as that before."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

At some point Edge will find out she's married, and will be very disappointed. And then he'll find out what her husband is like, and probably feel like he dodged a shuriken.

"Not too surprising, considering it belongs to the people of Eblan alone, and even then not commonly. Scholars say it's closest akin to black magic, but I don't see it."

[marriedanidiot]

He is right~

"Black... magic?" She tips her head curiously. "Why would they say that?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Because many of its techniques involve conjuring destructive elements for attack purposes," he said, as if this explained everything.

[marriedanidiot]

She blinks. "Oh. I suppose that would certainly count...are they actually magic?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Essentially, yes, I suppose in the same way that Summoning is," he mused. "Ordinary black and white magic aren't carried in the blood, though. Anyone can learn them given time and study, even if some people have a better knack for them than others."

[marriedanidiot]

She considers this. "Your world sounds most interesting... we don't have anything quite like that, I don't think. It doesn't sound like what you call 'magic' is the same as my definition."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"I'd love to know what yours is, aside from 'you'," Edge said, folding his arms behind his back with confidence.

[marriedanidiot]

She blinks and laughs merrily.

"Thank you. Alas, I am wed, and you are far too young for me, in any case. But what we do we call Art, for it is working with the world and encouraging it to the shapes that we wish it to have, convincing it that it is in its own best interests. It might look like magic, I suppose. But what we call magic... is not co-operation with the world, but force."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Ah. Late to the punch." Edge pressed his hand over his heart as if to soothe the break. Though too young? Sure, he didn't act quite his age, but she must have terribly misguessed it! (Right?)

"I'm not sure I understand the difference. Can you explain it?"

[marriedanidiot]

Poor Edge~

She frowns thoughtfully. "Hm. Well, as an example... say I am working on a sculpture. If I was to use Magic, I would force the stone to do as I would. The shape would prehaps be a little crude, for it is not the natural inclination of the stone, but it would function perfectly well otherwise. But with Art... with Art I study the stone, to see the way it's seams run, the stronger and the weaker points, line direction of the grain... and then I work with the stone, shaping it to it's final form in a way that complements it."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Edge frowned slightly. He could see the distinction, but... "But to improve the quality of what you produced with magic, wouldn't you need to do exactly what you do with 'Art'? Work with the stone's natural inclinations to make the final result better?"

[marriedanidiot]

"You would. But magic, as I know it, would only force, never ask."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

There was something here he didn't get. It all came down to the same thing in the end; how could stone say 'no' even if it was asked?

"I can't tell you what the difference is for ninjutsu. We invoke an art and it happens. Is that asking or is that forcing?" He shrugged, to emphasize that he didn't know.

[marriedanidiot]

One day, Nerdanel will whistle up a wind, and he'll understand XD

"I suspect only you could tell! It must be a difference in worlds, I suppose."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Or philosophy, or something." These sorts of things go beyond Edge. He was certainly no student of magical theory! "Well, I do know I can't sculpt with ninjutsu!"

[marriedanidiot]

"Indeed." She smiles and laughs. "Oh well, Art is for all things that you do well and with love. But for the philosophy you would have to seek others of my kin. My Art is with stone, and so I like it."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Oh dear, she was terribly pretty when she smiled and laughed. His life on this train was unnecessarily difficult!

"I wonder why you ended up here," Edge mused. "So many of us seem more inclined towards violence and heroism, especially given the missions we've had to do..."

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel would be terribly flattered, as she knows she is not considered anything close to the ideal of Noldor beauty.

"That I do not know - but I cannot say I am upset." She turns a fond look towards the carriages. "It has reunited me with three of my sons and my husband, beyond all hope."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Well, it wasn't like he hadn't said it already. But hitting on a married woman was pretty unclassy even for Edge, and -- wait.

"Three sons? You're kidding." She looked like what, mid-20s at best?

[marriedanidiot]

"Yes." She brightens, as any mother does talking of her children.

"My two eldest, Maedhros and Maglor, and the second youngest, Curufin. Third youngest, I suppose, but the twins are the same age."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Edge rubbed at the back of his head. "Even if that young one is one of the kids here... you'll forgive me if I say that's really hard to believe!"