Adventure On!

[voidtreckermods]

"Good Morning passengers. Today is day six of the month of Horseshoe." The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preparation

The dressing room is indeed open as promised. The dressers and wardrobes are full of many different clothes. Shirts, tunics, skirts, dresses, robes, cloaks, leggings and even an array of fancy hats.

The cloaks are notable in that they look like standard fantasy cloaks but are completely waterproof, much like a modern jacket and they will keep them warm and dry. There are also a good selection of furs for those travelling into the tundra as well as some leather armour, both for protection against monsters and fire.

There are an array of tents- in more neutral colours, a lot simpler than the tents they have used before as well as some basic pots and pans for cooking. There are a range of bags and pouches for carrying any essentials!
They are a few hours before arrival and so there is plenty of time to prepare before the announcement. "Shortly arriving on world 5382110341. All passengers get ready to disembark. Next stop world 5382110341. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

Arrival: Royal Lake Hill

The train jolts and shudders as it leaves the void. It descends quickly and lands with a small bump. The doors open, it is a bit of a jump from the train to the ground but they land on soft grass. Anyone looking back at the train will find it almost not there… Unless they focus very hard it will seem just like a shimmer in the air, passengers jumping from nowhere.

They are a short walk from what seems like a small town, surrounded by walls. The gates are manned but the large group of people only get a quick glance before they are nodded in.

They get a few curious glances as they enter the town proper. It is not exceptionally busy, indeed everyone out and about are older or small children, who dart around unafraid of the strangers, staring openly at times.

A market place spans the square, predominately selling food, stalls are actually small huts, the front part open to the street for custom and a back room that is presumably used for sleeping. Some, like the blacksmiths are more solid with multiple rooms.

Each voidtrecker will have a dot on the map on their SCA showing them to the inn that their team should head towards. If they ask around they will learn that there is indeed a call to for adventurers at three of the town’s inns and they are to report there in early evening. As it is still early morning they have almost the whole day to explore, enjoy being in a town full of people and, for those who are keen, earn some spending money.

Whatever they end up doing with their day it is obvious when evening is approaching by the stalls beginning to be packed up, the streets quieting as people went home for their dinners. The inns are easy enough to find, even for those that didn’t find them earlier in the day.

Orange

Recruitment

Ducks in a Bucket is at the western gate. It is quiet, usually a tavern used by adventurers, the custom has dried up with all the adventurers protecting the kingdom. It is filled with large wooden tables and sturdy stools, not a fine dining establishment in any way but it has a friendly air to it.

Not long after they arrive a woman in a long cloak arrives. "I am here to hire adventurers. You will be aware, I am sure, of the blight storm that hit the kingdom. Many people across the land have been effected. Many areas are out of the crystals needed to restore those who have been blighted and there are rumours the army is in short supply as well. We require you to travel to the Singing Woodlands to harvest the crystals from the calla lilies that grow there. I have an image if it is needed."

Here she takes out a small scroll and passes it around, it is a painting of a simple, dark purple calla lilie.

"The huma have agreed to transport the collected crystals to the areas that need it. Unfortunately the land itself has been blighted and has become unstable, floating into the air. We can provide you each with two flight potions to help you travel up into the woodlands."

She holds out a bag to pass around, there are exactly enough potions for each person to take two despite the face she couldn’t possibly have known who was going to turn up to head the call.

"Please be warned that transportation magics have not been working in blighted areas and so you will be taken to the ground below. If you accept this quest please get ready to gate."

A moment later there is a flash of light and any who want to will vanish from the tavern.

Arrival

They will arrive on a grassy verge, in front of them is a canyon of dirt. If they look up they will see the land that should be filling it. In chunks the forest is floating on a series of islands stretching high up into the clouds.

Many of the islands feel too high to reach in ten minutes but there are a couple of lower ones that might be good places to aim for.

The potion works swiftly, making those who drink it feel lighter, all they need to do is jump and they are floating, moving in the air is easy, they can walk up as if on a ramp or swim through the air currents if they are feeling a bit more adventurous.

The islands themselves are teeming with life, plants of all kinds grow there and as they reach the lower islands they will see the huma birds and hopefully spot some of those calla lilies.

Purple

Recruitment

The Lion's Mane is the largest tavern in town. It has some customers, sitting in groups and drinking. There is a musician in the corner playing a lively tune and sat on a central table is an official looking man with a scroll case and a worried expression.

"Anyone." He cleared his throat, "Anyone who has come to be hired… As an adventurer please gather around. Now. Now. Can everybody hear me? Yes? Right. Well I am sure as you know the blight… Yes? Yes! Well there are some clusters of villages up near the dusty rivers, I can show you on this map..."

He unfurls a scroll, which shows a large expansive land mass. He points to an area in the far west. "They have a golem problem, their own golems that is. Turned on them." He shook his head, "Crystal magic, very susceptible to blight. They need some help, clear the area, purify the crystals. That sort of thing. You’ll probably be there a few days."

He rolled up the scroll. "I can’t gate you into the villages, earths all blighted. But I can get you close."

He did a quick head count. "If you don’t accept the mission please step back. Ready?"

He opens a gate, a few gates, and everyone who accepts vanishes from the tavern.

Arrival

They arrive in a small clearing in a wood. It is quiet, with not even the sound of birdsong. Trees are all around them though anyone checking their SCA will see that the village is indeed close.

A moment later there are footsteps, a young boy, no older than ten bursts into the clearing. He reels backwards at the figures, surprised to see them but then seems to realise that they are, for the most part, human.

"Quick! Come quick! The village!"

He turned on his heal and heading no call ran back the way he came. For those that follow the route leads them through thick overgrowth, there is clearly an easier way, to a small village.

A small village with a large golem and a large troll stomping through it. People are cowering in houses or behind walls as the troll swings its club back and forth, smashing things in its wake.

Red and Blue

Recruitment

The final tavern is The Thrice Struck Tree. It is small, dark and has a heavy air to it. There are a couple of customers, sat silently with mugs of ale in front of them. They give the voidtreckers suspicious glances.

They may wonder if they are in the wrong place but after a few moments a young woman in a smart looking uniform, dark blue tunic, shiny boots, enters. "Adventurers? I am captain Sienna of Irivar’s third guard. We have reports coming from the southern lands. The blight has depowered the crystals separating the frozen tundra from the fire lands. A disaster could occur if the are not recharged. They must be taken into the central fire mountains heart. It is a fair journey and the crystals must be carried. Please, for those that known the secrets of it do not attempt to place the crystals into the spaces between for easier transportation, it would be disastrous." She gave them a serious look before continuing.

"Furthermore the creatures of the area are reporting that the Glacial Sovereign has not been seen since the blight hit." She shook her head, looking worried. "You must find their guardians, the crystal wolves and attempt to regain contact with the sovereign." She paused again.

"Both the sprites of ice and fire have been corrupted by the blight and the area is very dangerous. I can gate you to the border and from there you must split, please decide amongst yourselves who is best to journey into fire and who is suited to the cold. I will give you a moment to be ready."

It is indeed only a moment before she opens the gate. Any who choose to travel will vanish from the tavern.

Arrival

They arrive in a strange place indeed. To the east there is black rock, lava streams and mountains billowing with smoke. To the west is white, icy bridges connecting land and glaciers. Far in the distance there is what seems to be a swirling mass of snow.

And right where they are is… a mess. Melted ice and frozen ash mixed together into a slippery sludge that sticks to their shoes and makes movement interesting.

But movement may be necessary as it seems their gate has taken them to a place surrounded by two packs of fire dogs and a few regular wolves. All look surprised at the sudden influx of people but it doesn’t take them long before the blighted creatures move in to attack.

Splitting

Once they are safe from wolves and dogs the teams can split. The crystals red need to collect are obvious, set out at even distances from each other. Red team are to head east, into the volcano range, Blue are to head west into the tundra.

Good luck void warriors!

Comments

[nutkrusher]

"Really?"

Given what she'd just heard about Frieza being powerful enough (or possessing powerful enough weapons) to exterminate an entire race of super-warriors, Trunks is clearly even more impressive a fighter than she'd already seen he is.

The corners of her mouth turn ever-so-slightly upward.

"Is it fucked up if that actually makes me feel a little better?"

[light_of_willpower]

"I found it, and still find it, pretty satisfying myself." Trunks replied with a grin, and a squeeze of her hand. Before pulling back only so he can start eating. "From what I understood, or at least Mom understood, Frieza wiped out the Saiyans by recalling almost all of them to their home planet, then blowing them up. It wasn't the first planet he'd done that too--although usually he just used saiyans and others to clear a planet's population."

He shrugged. "All of this is from Mom, and what she could pry from Father, or her own limited experience on a planet he was in the process of trying to do that to. Although, in the situation Mom was part of, he was on Namek searching for the Dragon Balls."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie takes a few seconds to eat in silence. It's a lot of story to take in, and she's still got some questions. But she thinks she can fill in a few of the pieces herself. It seems the Saiyans had worked for this Frieza - maybe as a client state, maybe they'd been conquered, but either way they'd done his dirty work. Then he had Death Star'd them once he exhausted his use for them. Or maybe there was a political dispute involved - Cassie doubted he'd be privy to that.

"I've heard you mention the Dragon Balls before. What are they, exactly?"

[light_of_willpower]

"7 mystical orbs that summon the dragon Shenron, who can grant any wish. Or almost any wish. Including bringing people back from the dead." Trunks replied, having taken some time to eat as well. "They're created by Namekians, and when Piccolo died in my time, the dragon balls became useless. They also do require a recharge time of about a year, and you have to find them as they scatter across the globe once they've been used."

[nutkrusher]

"Those...sound pretty handy," Cassie says, her tone conveying the depth of her understatement. "I can see why an all-conquering intergalactic dickhead would want to find them."

Feeling parched, she takes a sip of ale. As much to pause to think as anything else.

"So they were tied to Piccolo somehow and then he died. So...how'd he get brought back?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Different timeline. In my world and timeline, Piccolo died to the androids along with everyone else but Mom and Gohan." And baby Trunks. "In the timeline he's from, that's the one where I went and met Frieza, killed him, and warned everyone as well as gave Goku the cure for the heart-virus. Then I came back after the time-machine recharged, found out things were slightly different than what I knew as the 'past', and stayed to help deal with the androids and Cell. The Piccolo here is from that time-line--and even further along than I am."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie eats her shepherd's pie silently for a moment, clearly making a mental map of his explanation.

"Well, if he's from further along...that's good news, right? It means you'll beat Cell in at least one timeline."

[light_of_willpower]

"It is, although aside from him already telling me two things about my future, I don't want him to tell me anymore." Trunks replied with a half-smile. "I'm not sure how it might mess up my timeline, if I know too much. Even if it means I might be prepared--it might also make things worse."

Trunks took a moment after his explanation for a long drink of his ale. Then looked around for the server, to order another pint.

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, it could," Cassie says. "I know a few people who could tell you something about that."

A long swig of ale.

"Especially my Uncle Jax."

[light_of_willpower]

"I already messed things up by warning Piccolo's timeline. So you can understand my caution. Although if your Uncle Jax shows up, we could share a drink and commiserate I'm sure."

[nutkrusher]

"He might not want to open up about it," Cassie says. "He was one of the Earthrealm warriors who was killed and brought back as a revenant in Shinnok's service. Raiden managed to bring him back with magic, but...he remembers everything he did. And what Hell is like."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks winced in sympathy. "Understood. Besides, I hope he doesn't get kidnapped the way we did too."

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah," she says quietly.

Another long sip. Her mug is empty now.

"He's got family at home now. Moved out to the country and started farming. It's helped him a lot. Not sure how he'd take getting zapped to another dimension."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks makes sure to catch the server's eye, and signals '2' more pints.

"I'm glad he's healing, and I hope he doesn't get pulled here."

[nutkrusher]

"He did come out of retirement for a minute to help with the Shinnok thing," Cassie says.

Perhaps fortunately, she hasn't learned about Vera's illness yet. It would put a pretty big damper on the conversation.

"Y'know, on the subject of family, I think I just thought of something."

[light_of_willpower]

"Oh?" And good, there's the server with two more pints of ale. Trunks took a moment to take a drink, and then eat some more stew.

[nutkrusher]

"So, your dad's royalty, right?"

She takes a quick sip from her ale, to conceal her shit-eating grin more than anything else.

"Doesn't that technically make you a prince?"

[light_of_willpower]

She isn't fooling anyone, as Trunks sighs. "...technically yes, but honestly? I couldn't really care."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie nods her head slowly, as though in a mock bow. "If you say so, Your Highness."

[light_of_willpower]

"Haha..." Trunks murmured, sighing again and shaking his head. "Vegeta is the last prince of the saiyans, yes. All 2 of them including himself, and us 2 half-breeds. It's a source of great pride for him."

Can she hear the sarcasm, and hint of bitterness?

[nutkrusher]

Cassie's smartass grin fades as she catches his reaction. She likes teasing him when he's getting a little enjoyment out of it himself - she doesn't like touching a nerve.

"Sorry, I'll stop."

It's a good deal more sincere-sounding than the usual apologies she gives when she offends somebody. Unlike most of them, his opinion matters.

"But if you ever did want to call yourself a prince, you're definitely handsome and regal enough to pull it off."

[light_of_willpower]

The genuine apology has him reaching out to squeeze her hand, and a half-smile. "Guess it's kind of obvious I have issues with Father, huh?" Then she called him 'handsome' again and he ducked his head, and blushed.

"I don't know about 'regal'...but I'm glad you think I'm handsome. It's nice to know it's not just my unknowing-mother." With a hint of grin.

[nutkrusher]

"Just a bit, yeah."

She returns a warm and gentle smile.

"But trust me, if you'd had a more normal upbringing, you'd have heard it from a lot more people than just me. Hell, you'd probably have spent your life up to this point fending off girls like me with a stick."

[light_of_willpower]

Not helping his blush, but he squeezes her hand again. "Guess I'm glad I have you to teach me. How many boys did you fend off? Knowing you, I can only imagine you kicking his ass if your dad tried to handle it instead..."

[nutkrusher]

"Probably not all the ones who thought about it," Cassie says. "A lot of guys are intimidated by a pretty girl who can kick their ass. Still quite a few, though."