voidtreckerexpress | A new platform [intro post September]

A new platform [intro post September]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Cildry dyathe, it is the term used in my word for children who are demon dead. Yarbrah is the blood wine," he said gently. "If you need fresh blood, I know the proper Protocol and rituals for the offering."

"Demon dead? Do you think I am a demon sir?"

He doesn't think he's a demon. Demons were bad and he was pretty sure they couldn't live in heaven so he didn't think he was a demon at all.

Also why would he want wine made of blood? That sounded a bit icky!

"Um okay sir, but I don't drink any blood or wine so it's okay!"

He nodded, but there was no judgment in him about it. "I do, from what you said, though not from your psychic scent." A Demon that did not drink blood? "Without blood, how do you sustain your form?"

So he didn't smell like a demon? That was good because he was pretty sure he wasn't a demon! But maybe Khardeen was confused, or maybe they called people like shinki demons in his world. Other words were tricky!

"Um... I guess my name?" That's how he could be his vessel form at least, if he didn't have a name he wouldn't transform and he wouldn't be able to use borderlines and he was likely to be eaten by ayakashi.

"I think we must be misunderstanding each other here..." and misunderstandings could be amusing.

"I think we are sir." He frowns a moment but then smiles again a second later. "It's okay though and even if you think I'm a demon you don't got to be scared because I won't hurt you or anything!"

Demons were scary, Romeo was not.

He laughed a bit at that. "I'm not afraid of Demons, boyo. My uncle is the High Lord of ****. One of my favorite teachers was the Demon Prince and his best friend. I've had Demons for friends. I just understand that the Protocol is different when interacting with the dead. But I promise. No fear of you here, kiddo. I've seen scarier kittens." Then again, anyone who spent time with KaeAskavi knew just how much damage a kitten COULD do....

He had lots of friends who were demons? Demons must not be bad in Khardeen's world. Not if he had lots of friends who were demons! Or maybe they were and he was friends with them anyways. Everyone needed friends. Even scary demons!

He pulled a face at the last words though. "I'm scarier than a kitten!"

Khary laughed and reached across to ruffle his hair. "I dunno, if you've ever been to Arcaria you might not think so."

"Are there scary kittens in Arcaria sir?" Romeo grinned at him. Maybe there were kitten people, like there were spider people and other animal people!

"When KaeAskavi was just a few weeks old he decided to sharpen his claws on one of Karla's bed posts. The post in question was almost as thick around as you, boyo. Karla found out about this when he yelped because the corner of the bed he was using collapsed on top of him and pinned his tail."

"Oh no! I hope he was okay! Especially if he was only a few weeks old because that's like a baby and babies don't really know what they are doing even if destroying a beds a bad thing to do!"

He hoped the kitten didn't get into trouble!

"Oh she understood that he was just a baby, and she's one of the three best healers I know. He was fine, and learned a lesson as well. That upsetting his healer gets him healed and then bopped on the nose." He chuckled.

Romeo laughed as well. "You sound like you had lots of good friends Lord Khardeen!" And had went to lots of interesting places and met fun people.

He looked down at the board again. "Shall we start playing?"

He chuckled. "I still do. And I got to meet someone new here. And yes, we shall play. Any last questions before we begin?"

"No sir! I think I understand it all!" Mister Khary was nice so Romeo was sure that if he got confused during the game he could just ask and his questions would be answered. But now was the time to play!

He nodded and grinned at the kid. "Alright then."

"Right. Um. You said the person who rolled the smallest number goes first, I rolled a one."

He looked at the board, "So it's my turn..."

But that means having to go and that't a bit daunting.

He nodded. "Remember as you think, what your aims are. Protecting your Queen, taking out mine. keep those goals in your mind. Then think about what is the biggest thread keeping you from either. What is the biggest danger to your Queen and how can you keep her safe? What is my most likely move to keep my Queen safe and how can you neutralize it?"

He was so glad he was getting to teach the kid. Males that learned chess from females, especially Queens, generally just wound up confused.

That was an awful lot to think about! Protecting the queen, taking Khardeen's queen, keeping threats away, thinking about danger. There was a lot of thinking in normal chess as well but this was even more complicated!

He looked at the board then reached out to move one of the pawns. A witch he thought, trying to remember all the things Khardeen had told him. It was a small move, but a start!

He grinned and nodded, studying the board. There was a lot to think about, yes. And how someone played Chess told him a lot about the choices they made in life. He moved a Prince towards the witch, a threat but not a promise. There was room for her to retreat.

Okay so the prince was coming for his witch? She could run away backwards but the point was to go forwards. At least a little so they could get mister Khardeen's queen.

He moved a second witch, it was always better to face threats when you had friends after all!

Interesting. He considered a moment, then sent his Prince at the witch that had just moved, she could retreat or be taken if another piece was moved instead.

Oh no! The prince was chasing his witch. She best run away. So Romeo moved her away from the prince, making distance between them.

She definitely needed more friends to help her but that would have to wait until next time!

He nodded once and pressed his attack on another Prince with another of his own. Good, good instincts. So far he was impressed with the kid.

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Wanna wrap?

Up to you. I don't mind playing out chess, I just need to review the thread to recall who goes first

okay!

I have had wonderful threads in other games, just from the psychology of Blood Chess. :D

:D

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