Deep Dweller: Start

[voidtreckermods]

After the dreams some of the voidtreckers report on day Four of Grasshopper those that have been on the train for a little while will be expecting what comes the next day. Their SCA's glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preparations and Arrival

As promised the dressing carriage is opened for optional extras. There are flight suits, similar to those they wore into space but without the helmets. There are instead hard hats and some basic climbing gear as well as bags to put supplies in. There are even a few red tents if any of those planning on tackling red's mission want to grab one, they hold six people in two inner compartments and are relatively easy to put up and take down.

They have a few hours of preparation before the announcement comes. Soon approaching system #789327772. Planet Terra. Drop order: Orange, Red, Blue, Purple. Orange to doors. Leaving the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. A sharp jerk, a judder and the view from the window changes from the void to dark cloudy skies and very red sand.

They land smoothly, and indeed it seems they have landed on train tracks. A few moments later they pull up outside a huge metal and glass building.

Orange Team

Arrival

Jumping down from the train they will find themselves outside large metal gates. Noticable is the spotlights that shine even in the day time, reflecting oddly off the red sand. It is hot and dry outside, a slight breeze sending red dust rolling around their feet.

The gates aren't locked. There is no lock though they will notice devices that are probably security cameras. The doors are glass and inside is light and airy. They enter into a large lobby, a large circular desk in the centre and a glass walled waiting room to the side.

It is empty. No people at all. All the lights are on. Time to explore.

Exploration

Going up two floors and down five the lab is large and full of all manner of interesting things. Scientific equipment, monitoring stations measuring chemical levels in the air, temperature, water levels. Where to even start is a good question. The lights remain on, which might be annoying at night.

Red Team

Arrivals

Red team to doors. The train continues travelling along the train tracks, looking out the windows they will see endless rolling red sand. Factories rising up from the ground, dotted across the landscape. As the train gets close the air outside seems hazier, through the fumes. They may even see in the distance, strange silver floating orbs.

Eventually it pulls up at a station. Just a raised block really, but easy enough for red team to disembark.

The land stretches out around them. Train tracks criss cross the surface but apart from that there don't seem to be any boundaries. No fences, roads or sign posts.

It won't take them long to find the first orbs, strange silvery spheres and seem almost liquid, until they are not.

Night Time

It grows dark quickly after sunset here, which might take them by surprise. Taking them more by surprise however may be the scraping, scuttling noises in the dark. Skittering close. There is no light out here on the surface, they are far away from the research facility that Orange found themselves in.

If anyone manages to catch a glimpse they will see grey, long limmbed creatures. They shy away from light but anyone in the dark is likely to be attacked. They fight with claws and teeth.

When the sun rises they are gone.

Blue Team

Arrival

Blue team to doors. The train continues across the landscape, passing more orbs, just floating there silently. It stops at the entrance of a cave.

The cave slopes downwards into darkness and soon turns into small tunnels. They don't need to go far when they meet the first ground of Gry. A group of young Gry, practising with spears in an wider section of cave.

Despite being very surprised at the sudden visitors no weapons are pointed at the voidtreckers, instead they are met with curiosity. They are soon led further into the tunnels and soon come to the living areas.

The Gry lead simple lives but they are all pretty fascinated to see their visitors and will allow them to look around their home and answer any questions they have.

Night Time

Most of the Gry sleep in a large communal sleeping area and the Voidtreckers are welcome to join them, though the Gry won't be insulted if they choose to seek out a more private area.

If the Voidtreckers awake in fear in the night, after strange dreams they will find they are not alone. Many of the Gry have awoken too and will reassure the Voidtreckers, tell them it is an honour to communicate with The Burrower.

Purple

Arrival

Purple team to doors. The train continues on the tracks and soon enters a tunnel itself. It's a bit of a bumpy trip, this train was clearly not made for warren systems but after some uneasy twists and turns they pull to a stop.

They are at a train station, not that it's easy to see because it is pitch black. But it is clear there are people around, some looking very confused at the very odd train.

Once the last of those going on the mission leave the train it speeds off into the darkness.

The Terran's are large and tower over most of the voidtreckers but they are friendly enough, if a little confused, once it is explained that they are here to help. They will be led over towards the collapsed section of city.

There is a lot of activity. People digging at rubble, others using their sheer size and strength to hold up beams. There is an array of rescue equipment and a group of official-looking Terran's holding large devices that are comparable to a tablet-computer and discussing solutions.

There is plenty to do to help, smaller rubble to clear, injured people to tend to. Worried Terran's to calm and reassure. Those brave enough can volunteer to use their smaller size to help get supplies through to those trapped and those with any scientific know how, great strength or magic can put their skills to good use.

Rest Time

Throughout the day people are rescued and other parts of the tunnels stabilised. There is more work to be done but the Terran's seem to be working in shifts and they will encourage their surprise allies to rest as well. They will offer to host them.

They live in large groups and will happily invite the voidtreckers into their homes. They will be curious about the voidtreckers but will also answer questions. Telling them about the strange storm and the collapse of the tunnels. They are urged to sleep early and the next day it will be back to work.

(OOC: Information is here)

Comments

[popotostudies]

Fandaniel frowns, wrestling with what passes as his conscience. Clearly Tidus just wants to help, and he could just.. lie .. but that could be inconvenient later, like if he seriously needed healing and everyone was worried about not saving him because it might hurt.

"It won't kill me," he says after a mighty struggle with his own sense of right and wrong, "It's just unpleasant."

Which is to say it's perfectly fine, what healing ISN'T unpleasant? "Unless you start with the light beams and such, those certainly hurt a lot."

[blitzcheer]

"Well, if it sucks too much, lemme know?" It sounds like a compromise. Can this be a compromise?? Regardless, Tidus isn't here to make Fandaniel more miserable than sitting with open wounds would leave him.

But he brings his hands to Fandaniel, and the stilted energy surrounding his hands spreads and hopefully, fortunately, the wisps of light won't be as much of a nuisance as lightbeams (let's hope), finding the wounds and starting to stitch the skin together, soothe the ache they make.

"Maybe you can teach me a spell that'd be better for you?"

You know. Maybe. If there are any.

[popotostudies]

He's perfectly capable of healing himself!!

He just isn't, just yet, because .. reasons. The regen he'd thrown on himself and Tidus before the monsters appeared had long since worn off, as the spell was wont to do, but there were other spells! Fandaniel does not catch fire upon application of healing spell. By all appearances it does exactly what it's supposed to, sealing up claw wounds without much marks to show their passage.

"..Possible. All you need to do is shift what element you're drawing on, from the passive of Light to the active of Dark." He makes it sound simple enough, but whether or not it actually IS.. for anyone who isn't an ascian.. "Healing spells can also be based in fire, water and earth as well fairly easily, though each comes with their own quirks. ..Thank you."

This last might be a bit reluctant, and while he seemed a bit uncomfortable it is pretty clear he wasn't in screaming agony or anything like that! Fandaniel might have been exaggerating!!! Or he's good at hiding things, who knows.

[blitzcheer]

If it helps Fandaniel from feeling too awkward or uncomfortable, Tidus hums at the thanks, not drawing too much attention to it. The guy's trusting him to do this, and he's thankful for that. But again--let's not make a show out of it.

"Well, let's figure it out on the train, or if we get some time here. I know they call this White Magic back in Spira, but all of it's about...imagination, and spinning your own energy and the energy around you into what you want? It wouldn't be bad to know though, just in case."

For Fandaniel, really--Tidus isn't thinking about anyone else in a future that doesn't exist.

"First, we've got these orbs to figure out. Plus what we're gonna do when night comes around again. It's not gonna be smart staying out in the tents unless we get some lights we can stick around."

[popotostudies]

"First, I think it'd be a good idea for you and the others to get some rest. It's only sunrise, and nightfall is quite some time away." Very slowly he levers himself upright, picking at his now tattered hoodie with a scowl. "Those of us who don't really need sleep can wake the rest of you with plenty of time to conduct further experiments."

Sleep is very important for young bodies he's relying on to keep him from not dying, after all! And by his estimate, dark isn't for over eight hours from now. "Once everyone's rested, I suppose we should begin seeing who actually knows how to conjure light instead of darkness. Or lots of fire." Not that there's much to burn around here..

[blitzcheer]

but daaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddd

"Alright alright, sleep after this, then figuring out what to do." Tidus cracks into a small smile, since he can't argue about that after arguing about healing Fandaniel. Which can be taking as long or as little as make sense. Tidus knows up to cura, but nothing higher than that.

"My friend used a seed last night that kept a fire burning. I don't know how many he has, but I'll ask, later." Later, after sleep as promised. "We should check out if we can use the undergrounds to hide out at night, or get a teleport over to one of the other teams."

[popotostudies]

"Good." He.. is going to continue his experiments, later, albeit far more cautiously now that he knows for certain where the monsters come from. "Happily the train provided tents, maybe we can actually make use of them this time." Instead of the whole panic and screaming and mayhem of last night.

Better to sleep in the day anyway.

Later, fire seeds. Possibly like a fire crystal. He COULD make those but it wasn't his favored element.. "Someone might also want to talk to the locals, I assume some team is doing that? If these are underground already, there might be no safety in the depths. But they might have flood lights we can borrow."

As uncomfortable as those would be..

[blitzcheer]

"That'll be Blue and Purple for the locals. There's some people in the undergrounds too. Was anyway when I was..."

Just. Give Tidus a second to swallow down the yawn that's attempting to bubble up his throat with all this talk about sleep. The magic he's producing flickers and withdraws some in the distraction, but resumes as he speaks again.

"--when I was looking around."

Speaking to anyone using the warrens will find out they already knew about the monsters that show up at knock, and close the gates when they make an appearance.

[popotostudies]

Resources to make use of! He did want to meet the locals at some point, though he has other things to keep himself occupied with for now.. like these orbs.

"We'll have to stop by and say hello before all of this is over. See if there's some mundane trading anyone might be up for." But that's later, far later, and right now.. right now honestly they both should rest. Even he had a mortal body that needed tending to properly. "...Later today. Or in a week. Whatever."

He waves a dismissive hand. "We'll get to all of that later. Go get some rest."

[blitzcheer]

They can think about the later when it comes, and how up to doing anything else than sleeping 'til next month they are. For now, Tidus withdraws his hands, but only by curling them inward than retreating completely.

"You better?"

Asked with a tone very much implying because I'll go as soon as you're fine and only then. Only then.