Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

[voidtreckermods]

Ritual

The jellyfish is no more and as red team take stock of their injuries, or collapse from exhaustion the lights zip around them, singing their song of joy. They gather around the light that had been inside the jellyfish and now that it has been released it is obvious this light is different. Stronger. They surround it and the song gets even louder as they begin to move towards the plinth.

In the caverns where the purple and orange team are there is a stillness. For those in orange team still in the cavern they can only hope that the instructions they gave out had been followed. Luckily for them they have been, Purple team have done a remarkable job of defeating the crabs and cleaning the temple. The priests gather around the shell on the alter, arms linked together in prayer as they seek to re-sanctify their temple. As their prayer begins they will invite the voidtreckers to join them, though no one is forced into taking part in the ritual. They suggest that they use their strange wrist jewellery to open communication with their friends in Bui.

The monster on the beach is defeated and though the fight is still raging against the crabs, a beacon has been built and lit. The islanders who are not fighting gather around it, linking arms, drawing any voidtreckers who don't object to joining them into the circle.

The song begins hesitantly, almost as if everyone has forgotten the words and only half remembers the tune. The SCA translates, the prayer is simple, a blessing on the land and its people, deliverance from the darkness and hope for the future.

The light from the jellyfish reaches the plinth and is set upon it. The song heightens and the light shoots upwards, blinding in its brilliance.

Through the dark storm clouds a light streams towards the island, most of it towards the beacon on the island though there is a break away light that goes towards the train, where some of orange team have set up a second beacon. It swirls around those on the train roof, singing a song of happiness and bounces back towards the island.

The light reaches the main beacon and hits it with a strength that lights up the whole sky. The light splits more solidly into two and speeds off over the ocean. Light pours into the underground caverns, not caring about the ocean and rock in the way, the light pools into the shells, the caverns glow warmly.

Outside the storm calms, clouds roll back, the sun shines. The sea stills. The wind stops. The sun is rising, a beautiful dawn. Any monsters left scuttle away, vanishing into the ocean, away from Bui.

Those with any powers that they couldn't reach before find them returned in a rush. Those who can sense life find this world teeming with it. A song that dances between every plant and creature.

Some of red may have evacuated to the train but those who stayed to see the ritual through, the world around them seems to melt away and they find themselves back next to the rock pools. Among their number there are some confused looking islanders who intrinsically draw closer to those who helped free the lights.

Orange and Purple

Down underwater there's noise and a babble of voices as the citizens of Bui wake up. There's a shimmering around the city now, like a shield though they can pass through easily. Parents scramble to locate their children and all check on loved ones and friends.

The familiar voice of train announcements is heard through Orange team's SCAs. Orange return to the VoidTrecker Express. Once everyone is on board it flies low over the ocean, skimming the waves.

In the underwater temple the priests finish sealing the ritual and then it is time to begin the return trek. There are no monsters this time and after a few hours, as they emerge onto the first of the sandbanks they will find the VoidTrecker Express is waiting for them.

Red and Blue

The monsters gone, those of the island gather everyone from the rock pools and for a few hours everyone sleeps.

At about noon the islanders begin to stir, begin putting things to rights. Wood is moved from the strategic points to more communal campfires on the beach. Any dead monsters that haven't been gathered for food have been washed out to sea, disappeared into the depths. They begin to prepare food and won't turn away any helpers. Though those who have been fighting are encouraged to rest.

The islanders bring blankets and start to gather. Everyone is exhausted but the children, in the way of children find the energy to play in the sea and the sand.

Beach Day

Early afternoon the train lands on the beach and everyone gets a holographic message to their SCA.

Mission successful. Well done Voidtreckers. Enjoy the rest of your day. You will find suitable clothing in the dressing room. A new recipe has been added to the kitchen information points.

The dressing room is indeed open once more, this time it holds swimsuits of every style, shorts, t shirts, wraps and beach skirts. Sun hats and sunglasses can also be found. It's a bit of a mush mash but they should be able to cobble together something other than their uniform wet suits.

Time to laze around on the beach or for those who still have energy swim or play. A few hours later a ripple across the water brings some of those from Bui and they swim or lounge on rocks to talk.

Food and stories

Food is cooked and shared, the islanders will happily try the voidtreckers' offerings and share their own. As the sun begins to set they gather around the fires. Stories and songs are shared and there's even some dancing for the brave.

Voidtreckers can choose whether to sleep in their own beds or spend one last night on the island before the train flies off into the sunrise and into the void.

Comments

[najaran]

"Food?" Najaran asked, starting to stir a bit at that word.

"Not yet," Knight informed them both gently.

"M... kay...." Naja fell back asleep.

"You may rest here with us if you want," Cait sith said, "If you give scritches before you fall asleep, meow." Well, someone got spoiled.

Re: Beach Day

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita would say she's heard weirder - but she may or may not be right, there.

/More like a visiting one!/ she calls back.

A whale, calling in seemingly perfectly-understandable English, from out on the water.

Perfectly normal!

/Decided to enjoy shapechange properly now that everyone's got their powers back. Are you having a good time at the party too?/

[xue_yang]

"Do as you wish. The beach isn't mine to control." At least this one he doesn't mind the company of. He is still casually eating the food he had obtained from the tables and waves a crab piece at the empty space besides him to indicate the man should go ahead. and join him.

[sell_tickets]

He took the plate with a grateful nod. "Thank you. And yes, sorry. Spend enough time around Jaenelle when she talks about healing and you start picking up her terminology. Yes, my body." He helped himself to a large bite. "Thankfully, unlike some people I could throttle back home, I didn't burn myself out nearly to death. A week or two of plenty of food and rest and I'll be back to fit. I will need to push a little harder on my workouts once I am well enough to resume them, but that's nothing new."

[bridgetothefuture]

"Thanks," he says. He still looks serious, but his tone is gentle enough. "It's nice to meet you, Romeo."

He looks to the shoreline for a moment, before back to the kid. "I'm a little surprised at how big they were, but I'm glad flipping them onto their backs was such an easy solution."

[faithfulsupport]

That earned an inward smile. Good. At least Ignis wouldn't have to worry about accidentally putting in an ingredient that Ple Two was allergic to, which was always a concern whenever he cooked for anyone new.

A severed something or other came floating up to him and he pushed that back out to sea with his lance. "On another note, how do you feel about cats?"

This one was kind of important.

[bridgetothefuture]

"Not yet," Sam says with a shrug. He doesn't look tired, and is too caught up in everything that's happened to want to rest. "I can sleep anytime; I'll be able to rest later tonight."

Right now, he's too busy watching people in the water in complete bafflement.

[faithfulsupport]

He nodded at the worse for wear comment as if the shield shouldn't expect anything less. "Of course we did a good job." Ignis replied. Well this man had pride in spades at times and this was one of them.

"Yes, we had one of those here. And that reminds me..." He paused and looked at Gladio. "I understand where you were and why. However, I would like to ask you to be the other co team lead on missions." The advisor paused again before continuing. "No doubt we'll get another influx of Blue team members on the next platform. So the more eyes we have on our team the better the chances are for survival, especially if we run into a particularly nasty guest like our sea monster friend again."

[bridgetothefuture]

Sam looks at Inigo curiously.

If there's any particular question on his mind, though, he doesn't ask it. Instead he looks back up at the sky. "It's definitely weird," he agrees. "Back home, the sky is covered in chiral clouds. It's always been that way since the Death Stranding happened, since before I was born."

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis' green eyes note Maru there with Madoka and he smiles. Well at least the cat will be getting some much needed rest. In the meantime, there's a hesitant look on his face. "I've..spent a lot of time in the water as of late darling." Though if she pushes, he'll cave because that's his daughter.

He turns to pick up his bag and rummage around in it. Did he put the home made sunscreen in there that the locals gave him? Madoka was going to need it, much like Noct did when they went out on the yacht owned by His Majesty King Regis in Altissia.

Finding it, there was a smile as he held it out to her. "I was given a gift of what they have for protection from the sun. Your fair skin may need it." It was for him originally, but he told the villagers at the hut that his daughter was here too and she had lighter skin than he did.

After handing that over, he indicated a small bucket. "I had.." Why was he nervous? "Well I had rather hoped we could build a sandcastle as well."

Well they built a snowman together, right?

Re: Beach day (after her healing)

[najaran]

She paused hearing her name, fork halfway to her mouth. She looked over and saw him, she smiled, not quite catching on to his anger from the distance. She wondered if eating would count as moving, but figured he wouldn't mind if she finished what was on her fork while he made his way over.

Gargoyle and Knight shifted a bit to make sure Duo had space and, because THEY caught onto the anger, to make sure they were able to snatch Najaran out of danger if need be.

Re: Beach day - ota

[najaran]

"What if not enough people choose to do one part of the mission?" she asked, curious and concerned now.

[aablublublu]

"Thankyou." Shaw accepts the plate, starting out right away with a piece of some unidentified exotic fruit. She has her priorities.

Mmm. Delicious. "Didyoudo okay onthemission?"

[bridgetothefuture]

Sam does remember the kid, his expression changes subtly, recognition in his eyes. "Yeah, I remember you. We met on the platform."

The swimming shorts are... interesting, and Sam can't help the disbelieving stare, because where he's from, dressing like that outside is dangerous at best, if not outright suicidal behavior.

Though he doesn't do much more than stare worriedly. "Doin' all right. We're on the same team, aren't we? I don't remember seein' you with the group."

...Not that Sam can be really surprised by it, considering he had his own shadow in the form of someone from Team Red.

[wisdominshadows]

"I am," Zelda nods.

"These might not be the same stars I would see at home, but seeing them is... familiar, I suppose. And we rarely get the chance to see them on the train."

At least, not in any properly appreciable fashion.

[aablublublu]

To be fair, Shaw does quickly head her way once she notices Ifrit. She knows that there's good grilling to be had here.

"Justlikethe ObsidianFestival." She's more than happy to stack up her plate with meat. "Evenhadtostop agiantmonster attheend."

[so_dark_a_road]

"No, but if you don't wish for my company, you can always tell me to take a hike." He's joking. He grins and sits down.

"So, how did the mission go for you?"

[xue_yang]

"It was satisfying. Being able to kill things lets out a little of the pent up energy." He also temporarily has a sword that he just happened to keep instead of giving back yet. Once the owner asks for it..he might return it.

Re: Beach Day

[alongtailtalltale]

"... A shapechanger? Geez, wow! I didn't expect that!"

Yes, perfectly normal. Except for the parts that were completely surprising altogether.

"Uh, so who are you, then? I'm Tangle and I haven't met anyone on the train who can change shape, before."

Re: Had to look up what that was, lol. Re: Beach day - ota

[laurefindil]

"Hm." Glorfindel tried to think of the best way to describe it. He held up his free hand and let the power flow through it more freely, causing it to light up brightly. "When I was reborn, I was given the power of what my people call the Maiar. I now carry within me the power of my world's sun, Anor." He let the light fade back to the lower level he had it at today. "It can speed healing, heal the spirit, and do a few other things."

He sipped some of the laced coffee. The spirits mellowed the bitterness of the coffee quite nicely. "This is quite good."

Re: Had to look up what that was, lol. Re: Beach day - ota

[sell_tickets]

"That is odd," he said with a friendly grin. "I've never heard of healing with sun. I have learned well not to say no to a healer," he added with a chuckle.

And then a warmer smile. "I am so glad you like it. I do enjoy making homebrews and laced coffees."

[wisdominshadows]

"It's a crab risotto."

Zelda looks up from the pan she's been stirring.

"Or it should be, if I have the recipe right... I've never made this before."

The risotto part seems to be going strong, at least; if Tidus looks, he can see the rice thickening in the pot as she stirs.

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel shook his head, his hair floating out behind him. "I disagree. For this mission, your abilities were much appreciated." He chuckled. "Not everyone can be the king. But if everyone was, then who would do the actual work?"

"To be honest, I am certain that you excel at being a firefighter, but I hope to never have to see you at your true profession."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin chuckles. "Killing things does have that effect, doesn't it? I can relate to that. So, are you feeling more relaxed now?"

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel shook his head, his hair floating in the breeze. "If all the advances are in offense, then your magitech engineers are falling down on the job." Admittedly there are few ways to defend against a catapult, but stronger walls could withstand a beating long enough for your active defense to take out the installation.