middleofsomewhere | Event: Healing Waters

"Good morning passengers, it is day twenty three of the month of Grasshopper. All passengers of the Voidtrecker Express require rest. Next stop Jema’grethy Island. All passengers prepare to disembark."

It is a very strange morning message that rings through the train on the morning of day twenty three but as the passengers of the Voidtrecker Express wake their screens glow with the colour of the void and a holographic screen pops up for them to read.

World #2554098133741: A world once inhabited by an ancient civilisation and now preserved as a historical site, nature reserve and well-being retreat. It is famous for its relaxing hot springs, calming atmosphere and beautiful beaches.

It is a popular void-traveller destination, particularly among void missionaries as a place to rest and recuperate after difficult missions.

The Voidtrecker Express will spend three days here, arriving today and leaving on day twenty six of the month of Grasshopper. The dressing carriage is open for your convenience.

It is time for a holiday it seems!

Preparation

For those who go to explore the dressing carriage they will find a variety of beachwear and wetsuits. One cupboard has a pile of tents and groundsheets in all four team colours.

One cabinet is exclusively filled with beach towels, in a kaleidoscope of colours, designs and patterns. Another is filled with different shapes and sizes of plain towel dressing gowns. There is even a cabinet with buckets, spades and small rock-pooling nets.

It seems they are in for quite an adventure.

Arrival

"Shortly arriving on World #2554098133741. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train lurches and rattles as it leaves the void they will get a glimpse of silver-purple sky and a beautiful ocean below.

However some passengers might be a little more than distracted, one staring at that table for a second too long, another seeming lost in thought for a couple of seconds, a longer than normal pause in a sentence. They see a vision, a glimpse of a life that is not their own. Not all at once, but here and there as the train descends to the island.

But then it is gone and things are back to normal. Just in time, as they come to land.

Jema’grethy Island

The train has landed on a grassy ridge, overlooking a beautiful beach of white sand and the ocean beyond. It is warm, but not too hot, a cool ocean breeze cutting through the heat making it pleasant. Behind them is a grassy plain, changing to forest in the distance. There is the sound of birdsong in the purple sky. To the west the land is more craggy, the silhouette of a fortress in the distance. In a word, it is idylic. A sense of peace permeates the island.

A little more worrying is the volcano-like structure in the north. But even a quick glance will show it is not a typical volcano. There is no smoke and the liquid slowly running down it in rivulets is pink and blue.

Exploring the passengers will find beautiful beaches, ragged cliffs to walk and caves to explore. Where it is more craggy the beaches are made of pebbles- perfect for rock pooling.

The place has no people, but it is clearly maintained. The eastern beaches have racks of shallow boats, both canoes and one- or two-person sailing dinghies. There is also a small building in which scuba gear is stored, along with several waterproofed manuals and instructional literature.

Ruins of ancient houses are scattered across the island, but the main settlement is built into a rocky section in the north-west that has been secured with ropes and stairways cut into the cliffs, perfect for scrambles and hikes.

There are no living quarters, but there are sheltered sections with basic toilet facilities marked as camping grounds in five different sections of the island - by the hot springs, within the ruined fortress, beside the harbour, on the eastern beaches, and on the northern face of the mountain.

Hot Springs

To the west are the hot springs. They have both outdoor and indoor areas; the indoor areas being wooden loghouse saunas, changing rooms and storage sheds, whilst the outdoor areas are a tiered series of pools spilling down the side of the mountain and shaded by brightly flowering trees. The waters are hot, mineral-rich and soothing.

Perfect for overly stressed, world weary Void heroes...

(OOC: More setting information is here, please feel free to go wild with the setting and have a fun and relaxing time. You can use this post as a catch all for your holiday or make your own posts on

middleofsomewhere. More information about how the memory event is structured is here!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Timing is everything!" laughs Curufin. "Besides, you're both tall and have long legs. You'll be able to climb the paths speedily and return speedily. I'm sure the hot springs will happily await your return."

"Well, I have to ask your father." She laughs. "He might not want to rush a climb! But that is that thought, yes."

"I haven't talked to Father since we got off the train, but I'm sure he's enjoying this vacation. He's always worked hard at his projects and goals, but everybody needs a break now and then." Curufin smiles at his mother. "If he doesn't want to scramble up a mountain speedily, then the two of you will have more time to enjoy the scenery on the way up. And if he doesn't mind hurrying, then. . . hot springs, look out! The First Age Elves are coming back to dive in and splash your waters to the heavens."

She laughs.

"Neither of us are as young as we used to be - but yes, I think it might be nice to recapture some of our more adventurous days." She smiles at him fondly.

"And what of you, Atarinke?"

"But neither of you look old to me!" responds Curufin, with a smile. "I am sure that you both have many adventures still to come."

He returns that fond look. "Me? I think I'll hang around here for a little longer, and then maybe I'll go for a hike. This place is beautiful, and it seems more like a park than an inhabited planet. Like the train said."

"Flatterer" She smiles at him fondly. Feanaro might wear his years lightly, for he has been in the Halls for most of them. But Nerdanel... she knows that although she does not look as bad as her sons, the losses and the griefs of her years have left their mark.

"It does seem so, although I remain uncertain as to the reason for all this... memory sharing."

He smiles back. "Can't I flatter my own parents? Especially my mother?" Except he's telling the truth, he really doesn't see her as old. She's always looked beautiful and energetic to him.

"I'm puzzled by the memory-sharing, too. What is the purpose? And is it this planet that is causing it, or is there some other explanation?"

"Thank you, darling."

She smiles at him and shakes her head. "I do not know. I cannot tell if tis the train - as it has done so before - or tis something specific to this island."

He smiles at her again. "I have much to thank you for, my dear Mother."

"Indeed. The train might be responsible, or it might be this island that is causing it. It's too bad there are no locals, no one to ask if this is usual for this place."

Edited 2020-08-29 23:23 (UTC)

"Ah, my son. No thanks are needed between us."

She smile at him fondly and nods.

"This is true. Will you investigate further?"

"My thanks are my way of telling you how much I love you, Mother."

He smiles back.

"I certainly will investigate further, if there is any way to do that. The problem is, where do I start? But I'll give it some thought. Meantime, we can just kick back and enjoy the water." He splashes the surface of the water with his hand and grins at her.

"And I love you, yonya."

She smiles at the splash. "Go on with you then, my clever one! Relax, if you can!"

Event: Healing Waters

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Okay if we wrap this one?

sure!

And it's a wrap!

\o/