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

[mtsilver_conquor]

"I think so- probably in the train or something. Is needing sunscreen under only one sun common?"

It's an honest question. As far as Eva knows, humans only burn under two suns.

[pleple]

"Ah. Normally, yes, one sun is all I'm used to my home planet having. Even in overcast conditions extensive exposure can lead to burning..." Rattling off practical knowledge that had never actually mattered to her - so she didn't know how well people followed it.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Even in winter? That's so weird. It's like someone forgot to set the seasons right or something."

Little does Eva know it's not that, but actually a genetic mutation amongst her version of humanity. "But, I guess two suns would be weird, too, as would only needing to worry about sunburn in summer."

[pleple]

"The sun is the sun. Just a big ball of hydrogen, fusing into heavier elements, releasing energy." Unless you're on a world where it's like...... a god or something. That's still really weird. "I suppose you could live in a binary system with two lesser stars, though."

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Well, yeah, and, I don't think Arkea's suns are both lesser. The main one's yellow - and the solar system obits that. The yellow star's far smaller than the second, which is a massive blue star and orbits the sun and solar system, but far away enough not to disturb it."

Mostly, but she's not getting into that.

[pleple]

"Fascinating. I admit I'm not well educated on life in other sorts of systems..." Theories abound about the kinds of star arrangements life could thrive around, though.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"That makes two of us. Though... if it's one thing this train trip is doing is showing us what kind of life is possible."

But, she'd rather have taken it willingly, thanks. "Though I've yet to be on a summer world. Winter's good, but it's also kind of... getting boring."

The idea that a planet can only have one sun has not yet sunk in.

[pleple]

"Far more than I'd have ever imagined." Big green dudes who shoot lasers. Elves. Stuff... like that? "Hm. How hot does your home get in the summer then?"

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Same."

Eva shrugs. "Ehh. It depends on the region of the world. Where I live in Alola, we get 45c days in summer, but we've also built so we get cross-breezes from the sea and mountains. To say nothing of lots of shade. If aircon's used in the region, it's mostly for things like shopping centres and the like. That said, those days are rare and the average summer temp is around 39c. It gets hot, but there's also a lot of factors that can and do keep the island cool."

Thermometer wise that is, at least.

[pleple]

"Quite hot, by my personal standards, but I've spent most of my life living in climate controlled environments." Hotter than her world's Hawaii, if she bothered to ever look it up, and depending on climate change in her setting, etc., etc....

/late ;_;

[mtsilver_conquor]

There's a blink as Eva cocks her head in curiosity. She's heard of climate-controlled buildings, but whole environments? that seems impossible, even by her standards. "Really? What's that like?"

[pleple]

"Mm. It's more... varied than it could be, I suppose? Although the woman in charge of the opposing faction - who has largely had control of the climate in the places I've been - really just wants every day to be a nice, late spring day." Haman had surprisingly normal tastes really.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Nothing wrong with that. Late spring is one of the best times, especially when it comes to flowering plants that tend not to last into the summer."

Well, it is if you ask Eva.

[pleple]

"It was lovely. A bit repetitive." Not that she had time to get used to it.

/late ahhh

[mtsilver_conquor]

Eva nods in understanding. As much as she loves late spring..."Yeah, I can imagine it would be if that's all you're getting. Anyway, what do you plan on doing with the day?"

Or rest of it, but same difference.