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

Re: Kitchen aslkdfjalsdf

[internetsexsymbol]

Reigen turned at the sound of another voice in surprise, the jar of salt still pouring into the plastic bag. A brief moment of silence passed, as if Ash had just caught a rat rather than a human being, before he laughed and shook his head.

"Oh, this salt isn't for food. I'm saving it in case of emergencies-- shit."

Noticing that the salt was getting dangerously close to overflowing, Reigen set down the salt jar and tried to seal the overpacked baggie to prevent potential disaster. So help him, he was not in the mood to salvage individual grains of salt off the floor on his first day in the void.

[bombashbunny]

Ash kept her gaze level with the man, patiently waiting for his response. Some little voice in her head told her that this situation was humorous, if only because of how ridiculous it was. The laugh caused her to relax a little and a faint smile crossed her face.

“Emergencies? Are you worried we will be attacked by slugs?” Her voice came off as if she were serious, but it was definitely meant as a joke. Hopefully it would translate despite her generally serious demeanor. She also recognized the silliness in how overly packed the baggie was and the care he took trying to seal it without spillage. There were many strange people on board, but this was something that amused Ash more than the others.

[internetsexsymbol]

"What? Of course not! ...though I'm prepared for a slug attack as well!" Given he'd had a conversation with a giant spider beforehand, a sudden onslaught of slugs wasn't out of the realm of possibility. 'Arataka Reigen, Greatest Slug Exterminator of the 21st Century' sounds way too specific to be worth anything though, so he'll probably just add it to his list of other skills.

"No, no, this is insurance against evil spirits! They hate this stuff, you know. A single splash of salt can eradicate about 20% of a spirit's energy normally, but in the hands of a professional? It's their Achilles Heel!" He would wiggle around the bag for emphasis, but he's still focused on not spilling any of it while slowly sealing it.

[bombashbunny]

There was nothing more to be said about being ready for a slug attack, but she did listen as he explained about the evil spirits. This confused her a little - she was thinking of voidsent such as wraiths and wisps. Voidsent were not weak to salt, no matter how many over-full bags one might have.

"I don't know what an Achilles Heel is and why your 'spirits' have them, but I am confused. How does salt do that?" Her ears were turned towards him and were far forward, a sign of curiosity. He had her full attention at this point.

[internetsexsymbol]

That was actually a valid question. Reigen was largely going off what he’d seen in movies and urban legends for the salt thing, and he hadn’t been proved wrong on it working. Why did it work like that, though? Time to wing it!

"It's basic chemistry, really. The salt dissolves the air the spirit formed around itself. Plus they just think it's gross, so they won't want to stick around." He nodded, as if he had convinced himself too.

[bombashbunny]

She hadn't really been expecting an actual answer, but the chemistry thing definitely sounded plausible for a ghost-like voidsent from another world. Ash wasn't entirely certain how much she believed it, but she had no reason to not believe it either. She gave him a long stare, studying his face before she gave a nod.

"Okay, so the salt dissolves the air." Clearly Ash wasn't a chemist - that would raise so many flags if she was. "And spirits find salt repulsive. Okay. I guess that makes sense. Why do you need so much, then? We still need the salt for seasoning." Else the food would not taste all that good.

[internetsexsymbol]

Reigen couldn't help but sweat a little under Ash's stare, but once she finally nodded, he had to stop himself from breathing a sigh of relief. Thank god she bought that.

"Yes, exactly--hey, I'm not planning on taking all of it! Just one or two bags." He pocketed the now safely sealed bag of salt. "Does this place not restock its spices? Because if it doesn't that's bad spiritual protection and bad culinary work. When you consider everything, salt is probably one of the most important minerals for mankind."

[bombashbunny]

The mention of bad culinary work made Ash smile again. He was an odd man, but she liked his quirkiness.

"It is my understanding that things are restocked each time we reach a platform. Based on the appearance of the kitchen that appears to be true enough. I was part of the last group that boarded so I am not as familiar as some of the others."

She considered the importance of salt for a minute. It was important for making food tasty and was also used for leatherworking, she was told. She could think of a few rumors that salt could be used to clean a multitude of things (she'd never tested it!)... As she considered it she would be willing to agree with him, though not for the same reasons.

"I can't speak for the effectiveness against spirits - the voidsent of my world generally scoff at salt - but it is quite useful for a many reasons." She was willing to meet him halfway with his conclusion.

[internetsexsymbol]

"Good! Then there isn't anything to worry about either way!"

Hey, this meant Reigen had free salt access! Good thing too: even though table salt wasn't the most expensive thing back home, it was still a cost that added up when you tossed handfuls of it at spirits that showed themselves.

"See, I know I'm right--voidsent?" His face scrunched up in confusion at the new term for a moment, but he quickly began to pretend he knew what she was talking about. "Oh, those are the spirits you have to use talismans or perform an exorcism on."

[bombashbunny]

The mention that talismans and exorcisms made Ash betray that she'd caught him with a small chortle. Voidsent weren't necessarily spirits, they were just creatures from another realm known as the void. The common folk also classified creatures that were just generally horrifying or hard to understand as voidsent, but that wasn't necessarily an accurate way to gauge if they were actually voidsent or not. Some voidsent required special handling to be banished back to the void, but many could just be killed.

"Something tells me you have to be a little more hands on when it comes to voidsent, but if you have those in your world as well then please accept my condolences." In truth? She'd take voidsent over the sin eaters any day of the week, but many were terrified of voidsent.

"So, I take it your world is plagued by spirits, then? Is carrying salt common where you're from?"

[internetsexsymbol]

Well, now she was laughing at him, so he probably had the wrong idea about what these things were. Now Reigen risked looking like an idiot, and he was a little too prideful to admit he had no idea what a voidsent was.

"Exorcism gets pretty hands-on! You'd be surprised at how intense some spirits are...maybe I have taken care of some voidsent before!" He laughed weakly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, it's super common! I'm a professional when it comes to dealing with spiritual disturbances back at my world!"