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

[thebiggestguy]

"What part of it? Sand's easy to sculpt." He stretched one hand back to scoop up sand freshly wet from a wave, then plopped it on down next to his wall to smooth it into a thin part.

[sensitiveapple]

She watches, curious. "Not on Cantonica, it's a desert planet. Not much water." She admits, softly, watching him move with grace, despite his size. "I've never seen sand and water used in such a way." She admits, bashfully.

[thebiggestguy]

Dread nodded. "That'd made it hard." But, it was very easy, as he demonstrated again. Scoop up a big hunk of wet sand, slop it down or push it into place, then begin shaping it. Give it a try!

[sensitiveapple]

She frowns, watching him, and then, starts. "Do you have to make a building?" She asks, beginning to shape the sand slowly. She wants to show other things. Maybe she can even show Freema!

[thebiggestguy]

"You can make whatever you want. Sand castles are traditional, but some people make incredible sand sculptures." Or just dig giant holes, but Dread didn't want to encourage that. SOMEONE would end up in one.

[sensitiveapple]

Misa works, humming, next to him, scooping the sand up and shaping it slowly.

The lekku begin to take rough shape, but she's never done this before. Even her figure drawing leaves something to be desired. She cocks her head to the side when she sits back on her heels. "He's lopsided."

The creature she'd been working on, has one lekku longer than the other, and his face is... well, mashed is the best way to put it.

[thebiggestguy]

"Here." Dread sat back, and lifted his hand, thumb up. "Look at both sides next to your thumb, from the same distance. Then you have a good point of comparison on them."

[sensitiveapple]

She sighs and tries, her pink tongue poking out just a bit. But, she slows down and tries again. The lekku are at lease even, this time. But she's having trouble with the face. "Too bad we can't paint the sand. Jocko isn't brown, but he is green."

[thebiggestguy]

"The imagination is a powerful thing. It helps if you don't worry about it looking right, and care instead about whether you're having fun."

For example, Dread's castle was short on watchtowers. But eh!

[sensitiveapple]

"I.. don't have that option at home." She says, softly, now just poking holes in the sand. "My art isn't any good, but I can play a lute." Misa admits with a shrug. She also can't sing, but humming she does a lot of, as he's probably noticed when they're sewing.

[thebiggestguy]

Dread frowned slightly at her first admission. "Then it's good you're not there, then. Maybe you should talk to Sarai sometime. She's a very skilled bard."

[sensitiveapple]

She frowns. "Why does everyone dislike my home? And what is a bard?" She's not familiar with that term.

[thebiggestguy]

"I think a place that gives you no chance to have fun is bad for the spirit," Dread said, evenly. "A bard is a warrior-musician, who accompanies their fellows into battle with a song to lighten their loads and focus their minds."

[sensitiveapple]

"I have fun. With Jocko, with Freema." She cocks her head to the side. "I've never heard of that, before. We occasionally have minstrels in the House, but they're from Cantonica, mostly." Except that one time when they'd gotten them from Coruscant.

[thebiggestguy]

Hadn't she just said she couldn't think about whether she was having fun? He must have understood, and so let it drop. "I can't imagine it's common elsewhere. It requires skill with a bow and the ability to manipulate aether through song. Most Eorzeans could do the aether part, but it doesn't seem many other people can."

[sensitiveapple]

She wrinkles her nose. "I can't sing at all." She admits. "I can play, but that's about it."

[thebiggestguy]

"It takes practice. Some people are born with it but everyone needs to learn how to use their voice, just like any other instrument." Even he'd managed a little, believe it or not!