middleofsomewhere | Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Actually I tried to bite a crab and forgot that I had the helmet on, and I think I accidentally almost blew him up..." Whoops...

Glorfindel started laughing at the mental image. "It's a good thing Elves are made of stern stuff. I'm sure he's fine."

"But how did you nearly blow him up?"

"He got attacked by a crab and none of my creatures are great underwater except Thunderbeak and he would have fried everyone... So even though My master and Gooligan and Alta and everyone told me I'm never ever allowed to use them again, I had no choice and had to use a Spell attack card..."

Glorfindel frowned a little at that. "Why would they tell you such a thing? It sounds like it was exactly what you needed right then."

Najaran gave him a bright smile. "Thank you!"

It was so nice not to be yelled at for using her spells!

"The only way to get better at something is to practice," Glorfindel said, millennia as a teacher coming to the forefront. "Though if you knocked Curufin down, maybe in contolled circumstances, at first. What spell cards do you have?" Guess who the stick isn't going to be happy with!

Oh he is not going to pleased at all with this.

"Wind Cutter." Which... was also her most dangerous spell. She drew out the card from her pouch and held it up proudly.

Glorfindel looked at it curiously. "What exactly does it do?"

He knows what she told him, but that was the out of control version.

"It is an attack spell that sends sharp wind at my target." And everyone else... but she was working on that...

"And how often do you practice with it?" Glorfindel asked. Because that's the point of practice, right? To gain mastery over a skill.

She leaned back against Knight, thinking about that.

"Before I left Gilman Island? If my Master was around we usually did a day a week or so on spell cards, till I was exhausted. But he went away on missions a lot and I'm kind of not allowed to use attack spells without his supervision."

"There are magic masters here, who might be willing to oversee you while you practice, or even a few of us who are just pretty sturdy who could spot you, if you tell me what sort of support you'd need," Glorfindel offered.

"Maybe. I probably should start training again. But we'd have to be outdoors like this. On the train I could hurt too many people."

Glorfindel nodded. "Too bad we don't have a carriage devoted just to training," he agreed. "Then we could just tie stuff down and go for it. The train itself is quite durable. Perhaps when we are picking up new people or after a mission, such as today?"

"Are there any excercises or meditations you can be doing in the meantime?" he asked, curious.

She groaned like a petulant child when he mentioned meditations, her shoulders slumping.

Which is a yes.

Glorfindel gave her a telling look. "You and I are going to devote some time to catching you up on that. What if Gooligan or you Master were to show up on a Dock? You wouldn't want to be behind, would you?" He did smile when he asked. She was one of his first friends here and he was quite fond of her, so he wanted to help.

(Please excuse my lack of icons, waiting to see where my funds are before I reup my paids.)

She buried her face in her hands. "Master Horowitz would kill me... or worse..." she groaned.

(Please excuse me for taking so long to reply!)

"Well then." He laughed, though. "It isn't too late though. May I volunteer to help? Or is there someone else on the Train you would prefer?" He understood that different people had different learning methods, so if she picked someone else he would not be offended.

(Tis fine, we may need to plot a thing with the two of them and Duo though... >.>)

"No one here knows about the Cards but me, though," she said confused. She wasn't turning down the help, she just wasn't sure how anyone could...

"I'm sure we can work something out. Let's not worry about it now, though," Glorfindel said with a smile.

"Works for me!" She was all for putting it off, after all.

Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

Re: Beach day - ota

And...wrap!

TY for the thread.