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

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.

[sell_tickets]

"Well... sometimes," he admitted, grinning mischievously.

[so_dark_a_road]

"What kind of mess did you dump in his lap, that he was so clever as to have anticipated?" asked Curufin, curiously and humorously.

[sell_tickets]

He considered a bit, wondering which story to tell. "Well, for one there was Vae....." He grinned. "Of course, his way of reacting to the anticipated problem... was to push it off onto his son."

[so_dark_a_road]

"And how well did that work out?" asked Curufin, with a smile.

[sell_tickets]

"Very well.... eventually...." He grinned.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Good thing, huh?" says Curufin, grinning back.

[sell_tickets]

He chuckled. "Tell you what. buy me a drink and I'll share the story."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Fair enough! What do you like to drink, and where do we go to find it? Is there a bar on the train?" Grin.

[sell_tickets]

"Haven't found one yet, so we can look together. As for what I drink..." he grinned back, impishly. "Ever have a Gravedigger?" Most people hadn't/ Most people who had never had them a second time. but he liked them, so did Jaenelle.

[so_dark_a_road]

"No, I haven't. Elves make very few mixed drinks. What's in a Gravedigger? Dare I ask?" Chuckle.

[sell_tickets]

He grinned. "I'll show you when we get there if the let us mix them ourselves."

[so_dark_a_road]

"I'll be looking forward to that!" And Curufin hopes they don't charge too much for the drinks, as he's short on pocket cash. On the other hand, maybe they'll take some of the junk he finds at the bottom of his tool kit. Good luck, there are a few Dwarvish coins in there.