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

[marriedanidiot]

She makes a pleased noise.

"It is! That is well. We have had enough of grief, I think, at our last mission. And it is good to see the young ones playing."

There's a lot of excited shrieking at various times from the main beach, after all.

[achickenformylove]

"Yes. That was a very hard mission, especially the aftermath. Many were unhappy with that last mission. This... is better."

He glanced back over at the others who were playing on the beach, in the water... beach games. Even if he wasn't running up and down the beach, he was enjoying it as well.

"You are enjoying yourself?"

[marriedanidiot]

"Indeed so." She agrees, following his eyes with a fond smile at the antics.

"Oh yes! I haven't had a chance to eat crab by the beach... oh it must be several yeni by now. It really does taste better fresh."

[achickenformylove]

The beach games had his attention for a brief moment as he couldn't help looking at the fact that his husband was - by their standards - practically naked, playing volleyball. Of course, he did have to look away from that.

"I suppose it would. I would suspect transporting away from the beach would affect its quality."

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel saw that, but she will kindly not giggle at the starstruck look in his eyes.

"Oh, if we had some ice we could keep it a while, but you're right. This sort of thing doesn't tend to travel well."

[achickenformylove]

WangJi really was just head-over-heels in love with his husband. He wouldn't say it out loud, but the fact that he couldn't help but watch him... that was probably a good sign.

"Ice would help. But it would be difficult to get fresh fish from the coast further inland. The devices on the train could prolog it's quality."

[marriedanidiot]

It is a very good (and cute!) sign, as Nerdanel would tell him if he ever asked.

"A little while, perhaps! Ah well. I suppose we shall just have to enjoy ourselves while we can."

[achickenformylove]

"Agreed. Those who partake will probably enjoy it best here, so close to where it was obtained."

He didn't fault others for enjoying it, but it was not something he would do. A few of Gusu Lan's rules he'd bent on over the years, but that was not one of them.

"We did not have such places in my world. At least not that I had spent much time around. Was there anywhere like this in yours?"

[marriedanidiot]

"Not quite like this." She smiles in memory.

"The sands at Alqualonde were far more colorful! All the light catching of the gems tumbling in the waves... But the atmosphere is quite similar."

[achickenformylove]

"I see. I'm sure that the sands would look similar in mine. But my home is in the mountains so I spend most of my time around there. Alqualonde sounds like it would be very beautiful."

[marriedanidiot]

"It was, it is!" She smiles wistfully. "The city was made with white stone and mother of pearl accents and the sound of the waves echoed ever through it. The sands are soft underfoot, and in those days it was dim there, beyond where the Light of the Two Trees reached, all glimmering in pastel shades with the stars clear above. It looks different, in the Sun, but no less lovely."

[achickenformylove]

He was quiet for a long moment before speaking. "If we ever got the chance, I should like to see it."

It was probably not possible, but he liked the mental image that came through his head. If somehow they were able to show each other places from home, that would be one he'd want to see.

[marriedanidiot]

She nods. "If ever we get the chance, I would love to show you. Tell me about the beaches of your own world?"

[achickenformylove]

"I would appreciate that. I don't know that they are much different than this. I haven't traveled to the sea to the east. There are rivers with areas very similar to this in our world along the shore."

Beaches weren't that exciting that he had seen.

[marriedanidiot]

"Are yours more sandy or stony?" She asks curiously. "River beaches tend to have more stone than sand in my experience."

[achickenformylove]

"More stones, at least when compared to this. I suppose both have their benefits. It is more comfortable sitting on sand than rocks."

[marriedanidiot]

"That much is true! There are more interesting shapes in the stones though. I do love a bit of wave tossed rock for sculpture, sometimes."

this falls into "the things you look up for rp" category

[achickenformylove]

"Hmm... that is true. The forces of nature do such interesting things with rocks. We have stones called 'gongshi' or scholar's rocks. There are certain things that make a perfect gongshi, but being symmetrical is not one of them."

could always be worse!

[marriedanidiot]

"How interesting! What are the other things that make it a scholar's rock?"

yep

[achickenformylove]

"Partially it is what matters to the person or sect that has one. Frequently, prized gongshi appear to mimic a mountainous landscape. There is also the texture and appearance of the stone. Some gongshi ring when struck."

[marriedanidiot]

"Singing stones!" She claps her hands. "How lovely. I know in Alqualonde, some of the stones along the harbor are specially placed to sing with the storms that roll in. I'd not thought of ones that sing when struck, what a charming idea! Do you use them for landscapes then?"

[achickenformylove]

“Singing when storms come in... that is a good idea for those that live near the coast or along waterways that get such storms. I wonder if gongshi could be used for that.” Now if only he remembered about this when he went home so that he could try out a gongshi as something announce an incoming storm.

“Large gongshi are often placed in gardens. There are those who spend much time studying the nuances of individual gongshi.”

[marriedanidiot]

"I am sure if you found the right stone, you could!" She smiles. "I doubt we have any time to seek anything like that here, nor space on the train, but it would be fun, would it not?"

She nods. "Oh, but that would be such a lovely feature in a garden. Do they use multiple stones, or just the one?"

[achickenformylove]

"Finding one here would be interesting, but if it was a large gongshi, there would not be the space for it."

Also, it seemed disrespectful to take one so far from its home rather than leaving it for others to enjoy.

"It varies. Likely if there was more than one, they would be placed far enough apart that they would not be in direct sightline. Having more than one large one could be seen as fortunate or flaunting wealth."

[marriedanidiot]

"I see. I suppose that would make sense, as I imagine such stones would be rare, no? I just wonder if anyone has thought to put several together to see what the sound would be like. Why, you could have a veritable orchestra!"