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

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufn nods. He still wants to know, but he won't push it. Xue Yang is obviously struggling with the core issues of his life, and if he won't talk about it now, then he's not ready to. This has the life-and-death flavor that such events always have -- specifically, how difficult it is to take responsibility for the death of someone who mattered, and Curufin would agree that it is soul-disintegrating stuff.

"It matters to you. If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. But if you ever do, I'm available."

He pulls another bag of candy out of yet another pocket. "Meantime, you can have this if you want." Xue Yang may not be finished with the first bag, but this is candy! You can't have too much of a good thing.

[xue_yang]

He won't be talking about this for some time. He's already had many years to get over it and still he dwells on what he has done, having never stopped searching for a way to piece the soul back together. Now he won't get the chance since he isn't even in the same place as the soul is.

He looks at the second bag of candy, "I feel like I'm being bribed for my story." Not that he is complaining and he will certainly take that second bag of candy.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin will support that quest to regain a soul, whether that has an emotional meaning or a quite literal one. He had more or less the same problem, and he resolved it, and this gives him enormous patience and compassion. Two things he didn't have when he was living his life.

He smiles a little and continues to offer the bag. "You can have the candy whether you choose to tell your story or not. I'm Curufin the Crafty, and there was a time when I was not above bribery, but this is a new life for me. You do not have to worry about my motives."

[xue_yang]

He takes the bag because he's not going to turn away free candy. He still has been slowly making his way through trying each of the flavors in his current bag.

"You've given me candy and eventually a glove. Everyone has a reason for doing what they do, expectations of something in return. How is it you have none for me?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin can hardly blame Xue Yang for being suspicious. It's a cruel old universe, and kindness is rare.

"I collect so many points every month that I hardly know what to do with them. I rarely need them for myself, so it's my belief that I should spend most of them on other people instead of just allowing them to accumulate. I'm not thinking in terms of what you could give me in return. I'm thinking rather of who has a need I might fulfill. I know that sound unlikely, but it's true."

[xue_yang]

That sounds like something Xingchen would have done if he were on the train. He looks out at the water, "I'm not the kind of person that generally thanks someone when they do something like that."

Meaning..don't expect him to say those words but one can assume he is grateful.

Shall we wrap this thread?

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin looks at him thoughtfully. "Don't worry, you don't have to thank me."

He gets it. Some people can't say all that they think or feel, and there's a reason for that.

Sure!

[xue_yang]

Xue Yang isn't ready to be grateful to anyone again. Even though years have passed, some wounds are still to fresh.