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

Beach day - ota

[sell_tickets]

Khary had been dragged off to eat by the locals a few times, but never felt right taking as much as he needed. These people had enough problems without his adding to them, and the Blood eat a LOT. Especially darker Jeweled Blood like himself. So as soon as the train returned, he skipped the dressing car and raided the kitchen, vanishing what would have been enough food for a half dozen people, and made himself up the largest vessel he could find of coffee and mixed whatever booze he could find into another large vessel. He wasn't going to start on the alcohol until he was well fed, but he wanted it on hand.

That done, he didn't bother changing since he hadn't bothered with a wetsuit in the first place. He headed back out, fund a good spot on the beach where his back could rest against a tree, and called in his feast. And began to eat. Within an hour there was hardly any food left and half the coffee was gone. He still looked too thin, too frail, but he was on his way back to recovery. And happy to chat with anyone who came by.

Food was needed more than sleep, and companionship while eating was always welcome. Especially if they brought more food.

[aggressivelygood]

Sven approached, donning swimming trunks and nothing else, showing off the huge burn scar that ran horizontal across his chest. In his hands, he carried a plate stacked high with seafood and other trimmings, but don't be mistaken--it's all his. But he might be persuaded into sharing with his very hungry fellow Voidtrecker.

He settled down onto the sand a few feet away, looking tired of body but otherwise happy and relaxed. Some company wouldn't go amiss...Sven was still getting to know people. He'd been relieved to hear that everyone had made it back safely after their mission, yet he didn't actually know many of his fellow Voidtreckers that well yet. No better time than now to work on that!

"I've seen bottomless pits with smaller appetites!" He laughed, going for a playful razzing to break the ice. "Guess I can't blame you for being a little hungry after everything the past couple days."

[sell_tickets]

He chuckled. "This is nothing, you should see Jaenelle when she tucks into a meal after working hard. Unlike her, of course, I actually stopped before my bones got hollow," he said with a chuckle. He had to laugh, or else he'd want to strangle her, and she wasn't there to defend herself. Or to be strangled.

"Coffee? I have laced and regular."

[aggressivelygood]

"I'll take a spicy coffee, why the hell not." He deserved a drink, didn't he? Not that Sven ever really had to worry about being caught drinking on the job when he could burn the alcohol off the moment he needed to, but still, he liked to keep a clear head. Now that their task is finished, however...!

"Hollow bones...let me take a wild guess. Whatever your special ability is, using it consumes your body's resources at a violent rate. More energy expenditure equals more food to feed the fire and keep you from burning yourself up."

[sell_tickets]

Khary burned it off swiftly as well, part of being Dark Jeweled. Instead of pouring from the urn, he lifted a hand and a thermos appeared. He poured off a mug and let it spin slowly over a tongue of flame he created. "Ready in just a moment. And yeah, got it in one. I wear the Sapphire, so my reserve is pretty deep, usually. Something about this place though was draining me like a wicked ****." he floated the mug to him, the flame vanishing.

[aggressivelygood]

Sven watched the display with a look of wholesome fascination. It might not have been his plan nor his decision to join up with this group of people, but he's relished getting to know so many kinds of magic users and witness their craft.

"I don't know about this 'sapphire' of yours," he began as he accepted the mug from the air, "but...UGH! Freaking tell me about it-!!"

He took a violent gulp of hot liquid, not bothering to ask what, exactly, was in the drink. "I don't know the last time I felt so...so smothered. Trying to communicate with the Petals of Nil was like trying to burn through a wet blanket. Even now we're not fighting I feel like I've been left running on fumes."

[sell_tickets]

"It is a measure of strength. The Darker the Jewel the deeper the reserve of power. Sapphire is one of the Darker Jewels, though among the people I usually spend time with back home, I'm one of the weakest," he said with a chuckle. "The difficulty now will be to use just enough Craft as I recover to keep the excess from burning through me, without using so much that I strain the physical shell that needs to recover."

[aggressivelygood]

"Fascinating..." Sven said. He meant it with full sincerity: his yellow eyes flickered with thought and he absently touched a finger to his chin. The concepts Khary described sounded foreign from the forms magic took on Sven's own world, though the concept of gemstones being sacred wasn't so new. He wouldn't be utterly surprised to find structures of magic back home that functioned similarly, but certainly it was different to him right now.

"That sounds like an incredibly stressful balancing act. Man, talk about going through a hassle when you're already run down and just want to recover." He held out his plate, jiggling crab at Khary. "Here, you sound like you need this more than I do. When you say shell...you mean your body, or...?"

[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."

Re: Beach day - ota

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel was wandering about checking on people with a bag of food by his side. He's wearing nothing but a pair of yellow swim briefs, because getting sunburnt is not something he needs fear.

He spotted another VoidTrekker up against a tree, resting. To Glorfindel he looked rather thin and peaked, so he walked over to say hello, and bring him in range of Glorfindel's healing aura.

"Hello there. You are with Blue Team, correct?"

Re: Beach day - ota

[sell_tickets]

He looked over, sipping his coffee. "Yes, I'm Lord Khardeen. You can call me Khary. Please, have a seat. Would you care for some coffee? I brought plenty. Laced and otherwise."

Up close he probably looked worse, dreadfully thin, deep dark circles under his eyes... but not a speck of blood on him and no sign of any injuries. It looks like he was just... wasting away from the inside.

Re: Beach day - ota

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel nodded and sat. "Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower," he introduced himself. "I go by Glorfindel, however."

"I wouldn't mind trying the laced version," he said. "I find the straight coffee a bit too bitter for my tastes. May I offer you a crab and bacon roll?" He opened the bag he had by his side. "I've been keeping them warm."

Glorfindel has been the loyal protector of the pre-eminent Healer of Middle Earth. He could tell Khary had over extended his internal resources. He hoped that his healing power might help revitalize him. If not, perhaps more food might help.

Re: Beach day - ota

[sell_tickets]

Both were welcome. "More than a fair trade," he said with a warm smile. A thermos appeared and from it he poured out a special brew of booze and coffee he had been working on. A small tongue of fire appeared in the air and the mug floated lazily above it, slowly rotating. "It will only take a minute to get back to temperature," he assured him.

Re: Beach day - ota

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel smiled at the show of magic. "That's quite impressive. But should you be taxing yourself when you should be resting?"

He pulled out half the crab and bacon rolls, then looked at Khary and pulled out a piece of Lembas and added it to the pile.

Re: Beach day - ota

[sell_tickets]

"Actually I need to. Being one of the Darker Jeweled Blood, life is a constant balance. When I am recovering I need to not overtax, yes, but I need to use enough Craft that my magic doesn't burn through me. The Blood, and this is more true the Darker our magic the more we need to bleed some off each day. Moreso when we're weaker. Our bodies aren't strong enough to be a vessel to that much power. So I need to make sure to use enough so that I don't strain myself further. I can feel how quickly my power is replenishing now. I have to make sure it does not build too strong to handle." He floated the mug over, the flame vanishing. "Enjoy."

Re: Beach day - ota

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel gratefully took the mug and breathed in the aroma. "It smells divine."

He listened to the description. Though Khary spoke of Darkness, he did not feel any of the type of Darkness in him that Glorfindel knew of. This was a good person. His world just operated in a different way. Though the talk of having to use his power lest it burned him out, Glorfindel could relate to.

"Should I bank my glow around you then? If you are replenishing too quickly?" he asked, curious to know if his power to heal and rejuvenate the soul was causing an issue. He offered the packet of Lembas.

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

[sell_tickets]

He took the offered food with a grateful smile. "I am not certain what exactly your glow is, so I could not say," he admitted with a chuckle before digging in. How could food even taste this good? He was never going to admit to Mrs. Beale how much he was enjoying the food today. She'd take it as a challenge, and while the end result would be wonderful, she'd be **** scary till she felt satisfied.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin brought more food! And also a bottle of ale from the train stores.

"Hi Khardeen! I did promise you some months ago that I'd buy you an ale. And here it is! Enjoy, and enjoy the food.

[sell_tickets]

He laughed and shifted over to make room for his friend. "You, the food, and the ale are all welcome."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin sat down beside Khardeen and opened the bottle. Actually, he had two bottles, one for each of them. He set one down in front of Khary and grinned at him.

Then he took a long sip of his own. "I had my doubts about train alcohol. But surprise! This is good stuff!"

[sell_tickets]

"If it is better than the cooking wine I've been working with, I'll take it."

[so_dark_a_road]

"This is definitely better than cooking wine!" laughs Curufin, taking another sip of his own ale. "Cheers!"

[sell_tickets]

Khary opened the one for him and took a long drink, keeping the last bit in his mouth for a while, then he swallowed and grinned. "Oh the things I can do with this... How do I get more?"

[so_dark_a_road]

"You buy it in the train store, or you inveigle me into buying it." Curufin grinned back at Khary. "I have an unbelievable number of points, so I don't mind buying."

[sell_tickets]

He laughed. "Make you a deal then, keep me well supplied so I can share around, good variety. And every month I'll make you a new special brew, and won't give that mix to anyone else for at least a month.So you have a whole month with an exclusive to share, sell, or hoard."