A new platform [intro post September]

[voidtreckermods]

For those on the train

“Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Bassoon.” The train announces the morning the month changes. It seems the train counts months in days of thirty. Team Points have been updated on the system.

The day continues as most days do, chores, eating, getting ready for another day. But those who suspect that a change of month may bring something else are correct. It is only an hour or two later that there is another announcement.

“Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent.”

By now they should know to hold on as the train jerks and jolts. There is only fog outside the windows but the train soon comes to a stop. The doors hiss open.

As they exit into the fog they may notice Evie exiting from the luggage carriage door. Much like Hibiki the last time they were on a platform. She leaves the train, backpack on her back as she walks through the station. She heads no call, reacts to no words and cannot be stopped as she walks to the ticket barrier and disappears through it.

Strange. But even stranger still is that there on the platform that whole time is Evie. Dressed in purple, backpack on back, with her are others. Waiting for the train.

For new arrivals

At first all they can see if steam. Billowing around them as they come to their senses. They are standing, in clothes that are not their own, styles they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on your back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not very large, but it hold twelve figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. There is a wall around the platform and the only entrance is a ticket barrier. It cannot be open, nor do there seem to be any staff.

What there is, is a train. Jet black and gleaming where it stands on the rails.Voidtrecker Express is emblazoned in the engine in gold. There is a hiss as the doors slide open.

Out step a selection of people, some less human than others, wearing clothes just like those worn by those on the platform.

The Train

The doors hiss open. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there is 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 not be a good thing.

Once on board there is lots to explore. Passengers both old and new will hopefully be delighted to see the boredom of this train journey is somewhat alleviated by the introduction of a game carriage. Plenty of games, both familiar and new to play with your new travelling companions.
Each ICP shows the same message. If Red team go and look they will find a box in the luggage compartment that contains their prize. A dralite themed cake lolly each. There are enough for the new members of Red team too, share in your teams previous success!

The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food. Salmon has taken over as the primary ingredient of choice. Hopefully everyone likes fish!

New passengers will find their tickets allow them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

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 and you will hopefully find a pillow for your bed if it has not been nabbed by a roommate, there are also spare blankets for if it gets cold.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers and the doors slide shut. For those who boarded two weeks ago they will know what is coming next.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view 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."

Hopefully someone warns you that you really want to heed that warning because a moment later there is 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever changing colours.

Welcome to voidspace.

Comments

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin smiles and replies, "Pleased to meet you, Dread Thunderstorm! That's a very poetic name. Does it have special significance? I have met Serai, yes! And it is nice the two of you were picked up by this train together."

[thebiggestguy]

"The only significance is that it's mine." Admittedly, that could make it very significant indeed, but from the other direction.

Then he ruined his imposing and calm demeanor by grinning, because now they'd gotten on the topic of his wife. "We're really lucky, yes. But going into danger together like this is a thing we do a lot."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin smiles. "It's an impressive name."

His smile becomes broader as he responds to Dread's grin. "I can imagine you and Serai would make a wonderful team, if you have to go into danger. Have you done that in many worlds, or just your own?"

[thebiggestguy]

"Not counting one trip earlier, our own. Though that's plenty to keep us busy." Dread huffed a sigh, shoulders slumping before he rolled them around and back to their proper place. How many worlds WERE they going to take on the burdens of?

[so_dark_a_road]

"Your world is a dangerous world?"

That seems to be the gist of the matter. They are taking on the dangers and burdens of worlds other than their own. And that can be exhausting, even if satisfying as well.

[thebiggestguy]

Dread nodded solemnly.

"There are a lot of dangers and troubles where we come from." One hand curled tight at his side, the sigil of light on the back of his glove igniting as it did.

[so_dark_a_road]

"What is that?" asked Curufin, curiously, as the sigil lit up.

[thebiggestguy]

"Oh, these are my weapons, I'd suppose you say." Dread lifted both fists, the matching sigil on his other glove flaring to life. "They help me channel my strength and power into my blows."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Impressive!" Curufin exclaims. "Is it magic, or is it technology? Or a little of both?"

[thebiggestguy]

"'Magic' is the closest description." Let's not delve into the intricacies of manipulating ether, or chakras, or any such thing. "Though a lot of it is just very good training."

[so_dark_a_road]

"There seem to be many powers a sentient being can have, that can only be described in that way -- 'magic is the closest description.' " Elvish powers tend to be like that, too. "Do you have schools for that kind of training, or just good mentors?"

[thebiggestguy]

"For the basics, we have guilds. I started out as a pugilist. Learned from another monk eventually, almost by luck." That and said other monk deliberately training Dread up in the hopes that a worthy foe would give him power, but...

[so_dark_a_road]

"A pugilist, huh? I guess that explains the gloves with emblems of light and power. Magical boxing gloves!" Nice. "Did the guild give you the gloves, or did the monk?"

[thebiggestguy]

"No, these came from the power of Eureka, the Anemos region of it specifically. A very skilled smith made them." It was a little complicated to explain, so hopefully that sufficed for an answer.

[so_dark_a_road]

"A smith made them? This smith must have had some magical powers as well as crafting ability. I wonder how that smith did it? I'm a smith myself, and I use magic sometimes. But it never occurred to me to make armor or hand protectors that specifically augmented the power of the fist."

Items related to weapons or protection in battle were always complicated, either to make or to explain.

[thebiggestguy]

"I'm in the same position and I can't even guess." Dread had long ago come to terms with knowing that however much he studied and practiced, in many different walks of life he would never come close to being the best.

[so_dark_a_road]

"I guess sometimes it must be enough to know that a weapon works, and not necessarily know how it works. These Anemos smiths must be very skilled indeed!"

[thebiggestguy]

Dread nodded his agreement. "I learned a huge number of things during the course of my training. Making lighter armor, mostly, but those things mattered nonetheless. Making clothing that fits neither too tightly nor too loosely. Different stitches in different places for different stresses. Things like that... but I didn't suddenly start fighting better because I knew all those things."

[so_dark_a_road]

"I've been thinking of building a forge, if we ever stop at a world where time and materials are available. If that ever becomes possible, would you want to work on some projects with me? My father would probably be involved as well." A trio of smiths, whoohoo!

[thebiggestguy]

"I'd love to. I might be a disappointment, though." Unless the finished project called for tailoring or leather! That he could manage!

[so_dark_a_road]

"Then let's do it! I don't think I'd be disappointed. In any project, there are many things to be done and many tasks to be shared or divided." Including leatherwork or tailoring, neither of which are Curufin's forté, so he'd be glad if Dread took them over.

[thebiggestguy]

"That's certainly true, and actually getting some things done would be a pleasant change." Chores and finding ways to keep himself entertained were getting incredibly tedious!

[so_dark_a_road]

"It would, I'm sure. Living on a train seems a bit limiting, unless we were to become inventive." And considering how many inventive people seem to be on this train already or are about to board it, it seems possible there might be new and interesting things to do, if they work at making them happen.

[thebiggestguy]

"All the more so when we're constantly being dropped back into specific beds every morning."

Yes, he had a beef with that.

[so_dark_a_road]

"What, you mean that if we try to sleep in some other bed, we'll get picked up and dropped back into our own assigned beds? Strange, if so."

Curufin would have a beef with that, too.