voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-05-21 05:22 am

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.
wisdominshadows: Manga: Three quarter profile (thirty)

[personal profile] wisdominshadows 2020-06-02 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
"I- forgive me, I'm so sorry," Zelda says, horrified.

"I don't know. I... I suppose I would have said before this that I had done enough wandering, that I should be going home to Hyrule."

And she does feel that way still. She has a duty to the people of Hyrule, to the people whose lives she had accidentally ripped to pieces.

"But it wouldn't be much comfort to see the train arrive there. The last few years have been difficult. I wouldn't want another problem to emerge just so I could visit home."
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-06-02 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
Nerdanel smiles, and if it has something of a sad edge, it can probably be excused.

"No, tis fine. The hurt is old and well worn."

She nods. "That is a good point... considering we only ever seem to go to places in need of aid!"
wisdominshadows: Zelda with her harp (thirty three)

[personal profile] wisdominshadows 2020-06-07 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Very well. If I may ask, what would you hope to find there?"

She bows her head. The hurt must be well worn indeed, if Nerdanel was willing to bring it up at all.

(It is also a little odd to think of; she had gathered Curufin Feanorian to be Nerdanel's son, and that one seemed far more talkative than a dead man justly ought to be. But it was probably best not to say that.)

"I suppose... I have...." She is not really sure how to say this. "There is someone I know from home- a boy I knew once. I suppose I would like to check in on him, if I had the choice. To see if he was safe and happy."
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-06-07 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Answers, I suppose." She sighs. "I know how they died. I even... understand a little what drove them to the deeds they did. But the world they fought and died for... I don't know it at all. I want to see it, just once..."

A sigh and she shakes her head, releasing her wish into the air - there is no way to Middle-earth, and so she will have to merely dream.

"A friend?" She smiles understandingly. "I hope he is alright - and that you get that chance, wether here or else when you return!"
wisdominshadows: HW: Zelda up close (forty)

[personal profile] wisdominshadows 2020-06-17 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Could you not ask?" Zelda frowns. "Forgive me, perhaps I was mistaken, but I was under the impression that Curufin was your son?"

She pauses, then shakes her head. "In another life, perhaps. If-" if the gods are kind to him,, she means to say, but there's something sickening about saying it. "Unless he comes to a place like this, I don't expect to see him again."
Edited 2020-06-17 03:02 (UTC)
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-06-17 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can, and that is true." She nods, agreeing. "But it... it's not quite the same as seeing the land for myself... I wish that I had been allowed to go with Arafinwe! But the wife of Feanaro was considered too great a risk..."

She sighs and sets it aside, eyes gentling as she reaches over to touch Zelda's hand in sympathy.

"Oh. I'm sorry, my dear. Would you want him to come here?"
wisdominshadows: Manga: (sixteen)

[personal profile] wisdominshadows 2020-06-17 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm beginning to think that yours is a much larger story than I realized," Zelda says, after turning around the names in her head. Some kind of civil war, perhaps?

"But no, you're right. A tale and an experience are rarely the same thing, after all."

She nods, accepting the sympathy, while trying to work out how she felt about the matter.

"...He was here, actually. Not for long, as far I could tell... but he left before I had a chance to speak to him."
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-06-18 10:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Are not all stories so?" Nerdanel points out. "Or perhaps, all stories are truly one great story. No story truly ends, I think ... it only moves on."

"Ai! That is a grief."
wisdominshadows: (twenty nine)

[personal profile] wisdominshadows 2020-06-18 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
An odd chill goes down Zelda's spine at those words, but she shakes it off.

"There are many great scholars and sages who would say as much," she says, and her mind flicks to her own teacher and tales the Sheikah woman who had conveyed to her. "I've never been sure whether or not the idea is comforting."

She closes her eyes. "...I simply hope he's well."

And that he's forgiven me, for involving him in such stories, she does not add. But it may flick across her face.
marriedanidiot: (Default)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-06-19 07:12 am (UTC)(link)

"I do not know if it is meant to be comforting." Nerdanel answers thoughtfully.

"But I find it is, a little. It means that we ought not despair, for the ending is not yet come, no matter how terrible it might yet seem."

She pats Zelda's hand comfortingly. "I will hope that with you."