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 was exploring the train, generally trying to stay out of mischief but really, really curious about the engine compartment. After a few tries at entering it, he decided it was impossible without special tools -- possibly magical ones. Oh well, he'd worry about that later. He continued looking through the train cars with great curiosity.

Soon he spotted a young man with curly brown hair and a look on his face like he was familiar with trouble. Oho, a kindred spirit!

"Hello," said Curufin, with a smile.

[sell_tickets]

He paused in his stride, hands in his pockets as he smiled back and inclined his head. "Hello, prince." He couldn't tell Caste, which was a clear sign something was off, but something about this male made him err on the side of over presuming his status.

[so_dark_a_road]

"I am a prince of the Noldor clan, but you need not use titles here. I never expected people to call me Prince Curufin even in my world, and they didn't."

He smiled at Khardeen and went on. "My name is Curufin Fëanorion, which simply means Curufin son of Fëanor. What might your name be?"

[sell_tickets]

"The Coven don't care much for formality either," Khary said with an amused grin. that lack of care made it so much more fun to use their proper titles sometimes. "I am Khardeen, Warlord of Maghre." And because of something he COULD sense in the other, his lips twitched a bit more as he added, "my friends call me Khary. When they're not *****ed off at me, that is," he said with a chuckle.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Pleased to meet you, Khardeen! You're a warlord, are you? So am I. Or I was, anyway." He smiles at the curse. His own language is occasionally peppered with swear words, although most of them are Dwarvish. Cursing in Elvish is more complicated, as it depends more on what is implied than what is actually stated.

"Oh, really? What would cause your friends to feel that way, Khary?" He grins. "Oh, and if you want, you can call me Curvo." One nickname deserves another!

[sell_tickets]

"In my experience being a Warlord is not something one ever stops being," he said, amused. He was going for bland sounding, but he was never going to be Sadi. Which was fine, being himself was much more amusing. "Well, all manner of things, Curvo," he said with a grin. "But generally too much fussing when they think they've had enough but are trying to do something stupid. Of course, my wife was just that way with me every day she was pregnant," he added with a laugh. "She's a bit more settled now, but is still going to kick my *** for being gone."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Well, technically I'm not a warlord anymore, since I lost my lands and never regained them. But I never gave up the habit of declaring for a cause and fighting for it."

Khardeen was never going to sound bland, at least not to Curufin's ears. He was intelligent and humorous, and his smile suggested he was a bit on the mischievous side as well.

"Your friends and your wife, all of them ready to kick your *** for one reason or another. Say, if your wife was pregnant, that means you are now a father?"

Well that was fast! Welcome to the new ISP.

[sell_tickets]

"Lands don't matter, being a Warlord is part of what you are, might as well enjoy it. And yes, I am now a father. Like many of the boyos." Big bright proud smile.

Nah, that won't be till Thursday. LOL, I'm still on the old service.

[so_dark_a_road]

"In that case, I'm still a warlord!" He raised a fist into the air with a grin. GO, WARLORDS!

"I'm a father, too. How old is your kid?"

Ah, thought you were getting cut off today. And now I have to figure out the kid's age. GRRRR

[sell_tickets]

"Just about three," he said with a grin. "And more energy than a house full of puppies." Given he lived in Scelt, he knew how energetic a house full of puppies could be. "Of course, that's nothing compared to when Daemonar was three." There was a twinkle in his eyes at that.

getting cut off later today or else tomorrow, and lol the kid's age

[so_dark_a_road]

"You have more than one child? Lucky you!" He laughed. "I remember my son when he was that age. He would swing from the chandeliers if nobody stopped him! Isn't it wonderful, when they're so young and active?"

we have scenes while she is pregnant, and then well after. Kid is never actually mentioned. >.<

[sell_tickets]

"Oh Mother Night, no! Daemonar is Lucivar's son, named after his brother. And swinging from chandeliers is one of Daemonar's favorite games, yes." then again, unlike most of his uncles, the little beast had wings. "And it is wonderful having him to visit, it is even more wonderful sending him HOME at the end of the visit," he said with a laugh.

headcanon time!

[so_dark_a_road]

"Little Daemonar must be a role model for your child, then. Nothing like looking up to an older child and learning all their terrible habits!" He starts laughing, thinking of how he worshipped his own elder brothers and toddled after them and imitated them constantly. "I was lucky to have older brothers myself, but my son didn't have any sibs, and he didn't know my cousins' children. So he had to make do with learning from adults. And so I can understand your enjoyment of visits from a child that could teach your child risky behavior. And also, your enjoyment of his leaving before too much chaos can result!"

Curufin laughed, pleased that he and Khardeen had this thing in common -- parenthood.

Sadly, yes, lol.

[sell_tickets]

He laughed. "You know, Lucivar would complain sometimes about the messes Demonar would get into with the wolf pups that live with them. I have a house full of Scelties at any given time. He's never once complained about the wolf pups when he knew I could hear him." Which amused him so very much.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Raised with wolves, perfect!" chuckles Curufin. "My brother Celgorm was given a wolfhound puppy called Huan, when were were children. Huan looked like a wolf, and he was fierce in the hunt but very affectionate with us, and we used to tumble around with him a lot. What breed of dog is a Sceltie? I haven't heard of that one." He grins. "Your child will grow up with canines as friends."

[sell_tickets]

"Never heard of a Sceltie?" he asked, stunned a bit. then he laughed. "Boyo, come visit us when we get free of this place and you won't remember what it was like living without one." Good, some of the youngsters were nearly ready to find their new special humans.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin grins. "Nope, never heard of one. We didn't have that breed in my world, and neither of the other two worlds I visited had them either. Tell me about these Scelties? You seem very enthusiastic. And I'd love to come and visit your world someday."

[sell_tickets]

Well, enthusiastic to find them good homes. That... weren't with him. Bossy little...

"Small dogs. Top of the head of a Sceltie wouldn't quite clear your knee. Doesn't ever stop them. From anything. They're herding animals who live to herd anything. Cows. Sheep. Stubborn humans. There are about the same ration of Kindred to Landen Scelties as there are Blood to Landens among humans. Jaenelle and Ladvarian train the youngest Kindred puppies in a house in the Village I rule on behalf of my wife, and when they aren't there, the puppies are usually split between our house and the Hall." The hall had so much more room, it did. But it also had a Warlord Prince with a limited tolerance for daily walkies when he'd rather be spending the time with his wife. A sentiment Khary shared. Sadly. Khary was outranked. By a lot.

"But they'll help you take care of your home and the people you love." Please take one. Or ten. Please.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Little and arrogant, convinced they own everything and everybody around them. Nice!" He laughed. "I could have used a few in my home world, where we had sheep and cattle. Elves are pretty good herders, but some canine assistance never hurts, right?"

Too bad he can't take ten off Khary's hands!

"Your house and the Hall must be absolutely tumbling with puppies. Who are Jaenelle and Ladvarian? And does the village belong to your wife?" Starting anywhere, asking questions about the unfamiliar names and other details in Khardeen's story.

[sell_tickets]

He grinned a bit. Well, a bit more than he had been. "My wife is the Queen of Scelt. I am her husband and her Consort. Scelt isn't a village however, it is a territory in Kaleer. Known mostly for horses, dogs, and music." He grinned a bit, loving his home. "The village we live in is Maghre. I rule there on my wife's behalf. Ladvarian is a Sceltie Warlord, wears the Red. Jaenelle is the Queen of Kaleer, all the Territories except Little Terielle and the island granted to the Council belong to her. She's also one of my best friends and one of the most fun people to rile ever."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin grinned back. "Oho, you're a Prince Consort. I can see your Queen made a good choice when she chose you. You're handsome, good-natured, clever, and certainly a warrior. And I'm guessing a good administrator, too. You like to rile your friends? Let's add humor to the list."

[sell_tickets]

He chuckled. "Warlord, not Prince," he corrected, amused. "Some of my best friends are Warlord Princes, but I am not of that caste. And I leave most of the administration to the Steward when I can. But what is mine to do, I do. I just don't ask for more. Uncle Saetan drilled into all of us the importance of doing paperwork properly and promptly. We all got lessons in how to act as a Steward of need be, though all of us were sure we'd wind up as First Excorts, Consorts, or Masters Of The Guard."

"And humour should ALWAYS be on the list, my friend."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Warlord Consort, then!" chuckled Curufin. "Your uncle seems to have anticipated all the possibilities, and good for him. Knowing how to wield a pen to produce a receipt of payment or a contract for services is pretty important for a warlord. Nice you had a steward, though."

He grinned back in response to Khardeen's wide, bright smile. "I agree as to humor. It should be on every list."

[sell_tickets]

He nodded, still grinning. "He's pretty good at stuff like that, Even got to anticipating some of the mess we'd dump in his lap before it happened. Not all of course, but enough to keep the game fun."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Was it as much fun for him as for you?" Curufin asked, smiling as well.