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]

"The Children of the Wood," said Curufin, thoughtfully. "It seems a good name for an Elvish people, especially if they are anything like the Elves of my world. The Shadow Realm is afraid of them, yes? The Shadow in my world is also afraid of the Elves. We defeated them more times than they defeated us."

He was terrifically amused by Khardeen's swearing.

He grinned and fluffed his hair with one hand. "Of course, at least half of us are dark-haired and have dark brown, black, or gray eyes. There are fair-haired Elves who have blue eyes, and occasionally green. There are a few redheads, too, though we can't explain their origin. What else is true of the Dea Al Mon? Do they practice magic?"

[sell_tickets]

To his mind, that wasn't swearing. "I think we may be using the term Shadow differently," he said with a laugh. "As for redheads, I can't wait to bring that information back home." He was very amused. "As for Craft, about the same ratio in any other race. As with you?"

[so_dark_a_road]

"We may indeed mean different things by the word Shadow," acknowledged Curufin. "In my world, it means all the manifestations of Morgoth in our universe, the enemy of all the sentient races, and the one who wished to rule the world, or if not, then to destroy the world. And it also refers to his most powerful ally, Sauron, and his influences in the world. What does it mean when you use the term Shadow Realm?" He smiled back, though he had just named the Dark Enemy of the World, whom he had fought for five hundred years.

And then he grinned again, because there were lighter subjects to be touched upon. "Maybe your people have an explanation for red hair?" he asked. "As for magic, the only reason I used the word magic was because outside of my world, most people seem to call it that. But we Elves don't normally use that word to describe what we do. We mostly speak of our arts, and sometimes we used the word craft as well, though that word mostly applies to the simple handcrafts. All Elves have such skills to some degree, both the simple and the magical; they're a feature of our race. We put our thought into whatever we make, and that creates effects beyond what ordinary craftsmanship would produce. But some Elves also have the ability to create dreams, illusions, or true visions. We consider that skill to be art as well. What sort of Craft do the Dea Al Mon practice?"

[sell_tickets]

"This is seriously an inventive illusion," he murmured, amused. "We have three realms. The Realm of Light is Terreille. That was once as lovely a realm as any other, supposedly. But fifty thousand years of war nearly killed the Land in places. There is the Shadow Realm, also known as the Realm of Twilight. Kaleer. When the war started getting bad in Terielle many of the races from retreated to their own realms. Borders were closed. And even among our own we were isolated for the most part. Then there is the Dark Realm, where the Demon Dead mostly reside, led by the High Lord. Jaenelle of course reunited the Territories in the Shadow Realm and reopened boarders."

He chuckled a bit. "Actually when we first all came together for the first time, when Jaenelle invited us from all different territories, we started comparing what we knew. I turned to Chaosti, one of the Dea Al Mon and asked him if he had ever heard that redheaded witches had hot tempers. Trust me, if you had known Morghann when we were that age, you'd have known why I asked. And that was before she got in the habit of upending snack trays over my head." A fond laugh there, and a slightly distant look to twinkling eyes. "Chaosti pointed out that there were no redheads in the Dea Al Mon and all of the witches there had hot tempers." He chuckled.

"With regards to Craft, it is what we have generally called our magic. It is a reminder that it is work, as well as art, that it takes practice. That those of us who use it smoothly and make it look easy only can do so because of years or longer of practice and work. Fun work, sure, but work still. But for dreams and visions and illusions like this, you'd need a Black Widow."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Ah, so your Realm of Light is something like our earth before Morgoth began to alter it. And your Kaleer, the Shadow Realm or Twilight Realm, is not a realm of evil. But it sounds as though the Dark Realm is a demonic place. We don't have any equivalent of that."

He chuckled too. "So your Dea Al Mon friend, Chaosti, is from the Shadow Realm? I like your Morghann; she reminds me of some of my female relatives. Though none of the ones who would have dumped a snack tray on my head had red hair. But my mother had red hair, and so did a few of the Ossiriandi, the Wood-Elves of Beleriand, which was my part of Middle-earth. In another world, I met a red-headed Wood-elf of another lineage but from my world, only long after my time. Tauriel, she was named. She'd have dumped a tray on my head if I had offended her." He grinned.

"It sounds as though we have a similar view of the arts and crafts. But you say that dreams, visions, and illusions are the province of a Black Widow? Is that another word for witch?"

[sell_tickets]

Sadly they still had a miscommunication, though neither of them knew it. "He is, as am I. And to be fair to Morghann,, she was not happy about being pregnant and not allowed to drink tea or coffee and too nauseated to eat any of the nutcakes. It was...a rough several months."

Black Widows. Wow. "It is one of the Castes."

[so_dark_a_road]

Trying to compare two different universes and their resident cultures was bound to result in confusion. But that would probably eventually be sorted out. It just might take a great many conversations.

"You are from the Twilight Realm as well? What is that realm like, by the way, besides being home to the Dea Al Mon? And as for Morghann, I cannot blame her for becoming irritated at the state of pregnancy and the limitations it imposes on the happy mother." Happy mother being a euphemism, after all. Pregnancy is hard work. "I myself have a son. My wife wasn't entirely happy about the prospect of becoming a mother, though she endured all the hardships and inconveniences with bravery." He chuckles. "She did hit me over the head with a pan, once."

"What do you mean by a Caste? Are the Black Widows the only ones who can claim dreams, visions, and illusions as their art?"

[sell_tickets]

"Only once? Lucky you," he said with a laugh. "And Kaleer is varied. Over in Galcia and Arceria it is pretty well cold and snowy year round, Ebon Askavi is mountainous and cold at the heights, warmer in the valleys like Agio and Rhida. Where I am from, in Scelt, and over in Dharo, we have the full run of seasons. Autum in Scelt is one of the most gorgeous things you could ever dream of seeing. A lovely riot of color, especially along the roads and riding paths."

"Caste..." how to explain something so basic? "We are all born to different Castes. They range from Blood Male at the lowest, though that term is also used generically for any male who can use the Craft, it just means that they have no other Caste titles. At the highest is Queen, which is a female only Caste. Black Widow is one of the Castes that was, historically, female only. Though there are now two Male Black Widows. They are also the two Darkest males in the history of the Blood, so it isn't that surprising, if it was going to be anyone."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Only once. That's because I learned how to dodge." He laughed too. "I like your description of Kaleer. It sounds like a wide and beautiful country. Scelt sounds the most beautiful of all -- I've always loved autumn and the colors of autumn."

And now for the caste issue. "So, Caste is actually about how you use the Craft? What Caste are you, Khardeen?"

[sell_tickets]

"Ah. I focused more on shields myself. The same people who drilled me on how to dodge drilled her on how to hit someone who is dodging." He grinned. "And yes, you should come visit sometime. Daffodil would be pleased to have you along for a ride, I suspect, and Nighthawk and I can join you."

"I am a Warlord. Which is of course why I am so friendly and charming," he said with a grin and a wink.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Ho, those people who drilled you were selling arms to both sides," laughed Curufin. "But clever you, you decided you'd better shield yourself instead. And yes, if there is ever the opportunity, I'd love to come and visit. Who are Daffodil and Nighthawk?"

Oh yes, the Caste issue. Khardeen had mentioned his vocation before, in a slightly different context. "Warlord is a Caste, all right, I get it. And yes, that must be why you are so charming, friendly, and helpful." Curufin grinned back at him.

[sell_tickets]

He laughed, amused at that way of seeing it. "We've been together since we were young, we were trained by the same people, mostly at the same time. The whole group of us was. Uncle Anduvlar said that it was easier to drill with us in groups anyway."

"The male castes are Blood Male, Warlord, Prince, then Warlord Prince. Most of the Boyos are Princes and Warlord Princes. I'm the one who got lucky and was able to be born with an actual personality," he said with an impish grin. A same none of his friends from home were there to take offense. That could have led to a fun fight. "For the females it is a little looser. Males who have the Craft are all Blood Males, but only one other Caste at most. Females however, blood Female, witch, Healer, Priestess, Black Widow, Queen, and of course Witch." which somehow differed from witch. You could hear it in how he said the word, that Witch carried heavy import. "A Warlord, like myself, is roughly equal in status to a witch. A Prince is closer to a Healer or a Priestess. A Warlord Prince is above all the male ranks and technically considered above all the female ranks except Queen and Witch. But no male who wants to keep their ****s would ever say that where a Black Widow could hear them. Well, unless they're already dead. Black Widows are perhaps the most Dangerous Caste, though they generally aren't the strongest, magically. And there are some personality traits you find in most female Black Widows, just as there are commonalities found in most Warlord Princes. For the males it makes more sense, because the traits are at root, connected to their need to serve and their need to protect. For a Warlord Prince nothing will ever matter as much to him as the women he has chosen to make his life. But to them he is generally seen as a bossy overprotective ****. Where as with the Black Widows, I am not quite sure. All the ones I've ever met though have a generous helping of tart to their personality, and can be a bit prickly themselves. They are generally not women to cross in terms of temperament, let alone the fact that they have skills that no other Caste, even Queens have access to."

Would you want to wrap this thread and start a new one somewhere?

[so_dark_a_road]

"Well, you definitely were born with a personality!" Curufin laughs. "It must be hard for your friends and cohorts to keep up with you!"

And oh lord, the Castes. "I can tell you live in a very complex society," he says, still smiling.

Sure. I need to figure out how to get back.

[sell_tickets]

He laughed. "Oh they do just fine. They're strong personalities themselves. And yes we do. Uncle Saetan often describes Blood Society as a complex dance with partners constantly changing, all centered at core, around a Queen."

Okay, so you can let me know when you've figured it out?

[so_dark_a_road]

"Good thing for them," said Curufin, with a grin. He liked Khardeen's humor and vitality, and his intelligence. If everybody who was a friend or companion to this man was a strong personality, then his society must be an interesting one indeed.

"Your Uncle Saetan must be a sociologist at heart. Or a poet." Another smile.