middleofsomewhere | Adventure On!

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Adventure On!

"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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Gen told himself that he didn’t need that reassurance, but it was a lie. He was doing his best in this train, thrown out of his element. But Senku never lied to anyone to make them feel better.

He gave Senku a hint of a grateful smile - before he followed the hint and groaned. “Yes. Parsnips. I think we have enough mint at the moment - let’s hunt those vegetables down.”

"We can always get more later if we don't have enough." Senku observed, since Gen had pointed it out it was everywhere.

"If they're like parsnips on Earth, they're going to look a lot like carrots." He didn't know if Gen was familiar with the plant or not.

"People used to believe they could relieve toothaches and sore feet." Senku couldn't help but impart a random fact on Gen, as he often did.

“I think, my dear, that I’m the one who should know odd facts about alternative medicine lore,” Gen teased gently. “I’m not certain I’ve ever eaten parsnips before. What do they taste like?”

He’d continue to look around for some delicate, carrot-like shoots from the ground.

"Ha, you'd think so, but alternative medicine is saving our asses at the moment until technology can catch up!" Senku smirked at him.

"But, admittedly, the facts about parsnips weren't true."

He hummed a bit in thought. "They're not very strong, they're a little sweet, like carrots that way. Just less of a strong flavour. They're alright."

“How disappointing to those who didn’t have dentistry yet,” Gen mused.

“There’s some wild garlic here, my dear, I’ll snag some,” Gen hummed a little. “They don’t sound bad. But I’ll eat just about anything besides that fake meat on our train. It isn’t terrible, there’s simply so much of it ...”

"If we find enough, I don't see why we can't keep some." Senku observed with a bit of thoughtful sound.

"Go ahead." He stopped to let Gen grab it.

"I've had so much worse than that meat, I don't mind it."

“It’s not that I haven’t had worse. It’s the lack of variety. Though you’ll accuse me of becoming too spoiled by Francois next.”

Gen was very good at quickly identifying and pulling up the plants and herbs that he saw. No parsnips yet, though.

"We are spoiled by Francois. You can't possibly have forgotten the year we spent eating nothing but fish, fish and more fish already." Senku snickered.

"I like fish just fine, but seriously." He sighed. "One month of strange bear ham is nothing."

“There were different types of fish, at least,” Gen protested weakly, but he did sigh in agreement. “I suppose. But I do wonder what theme the train will choose next.”

"Hard to say, the last time it was carrots." Senku answered, and once he was finished, kept walking.

"I really want some ramen." He said with a bit of a sigh. "That's what I miss from the modern world."

He pointed suddenly. "I think that's exactly what we're looking for."

“We could manage that ... I think we could at least get flour. That would certainly be a step up,” Gen mused optimistically.

He looked toward where Senku was pointing, and grinned. “You’re right. Perhaps even a decent number of them, too. I’ll guess they grow like carrots do as well?”

Though Gen would see soon enough for himself, as he went over to the plants Senku had spotted and knelt down.

"There is flour, I checked. There's just not things like mirin, but we can probably make it taste alright." Senku hummed a bit. "Still nothing like the shop I used to go to with Byakuya."

If it wasn't Gen, he probably wouldn't have shared that tidbit. He knelt down next to him, and started extracting the parsnips carefully, and brushing them off with his hands to get the dirt off before putting them in his bag.

"Yes, they grow quite easily, not unlike carrots. They have a lot of common traits with carrots."

“I don’t think I would have the skill to replicate an expert ramen, even if we did get all the ingredients,” Gen admitted softly, “but we can do our best anyway. What kind ramen did you two used to get at that place?”

Gen pulled up the vegetables deftly and carefully. They’d likely get quite a few between the two of them.

"Well you know my cooking is scientifically technical at best, I'm no master, but at least Francois has whipped my breadmaking skills into shape." Senku couldn't help himself, he'd wanted to learn when they tasked him and Ryusui with helping.

"Dad always got the miso based broth." Senku said with a huff. "I preferred either the shio broth or the tonkatsu one. He always got extra meat, and usually a beer." It was a fond memory, and it was something that he and his dad shared that was special to him.

"We make a basic shio broth currently, but in this kitchen, the best I can do is the soy sauce one, shoyu. Fortunately, they're not vastly different or anything. Maybe after we get paid we can pick up some pork or something, instead of having bear ham ramen."

"Scientifically technical cooking is a lot better than most people's haphazard attempts, my dear. I've become a better cook just out of self-defense, helping you and Francois," he teased.

Gen hummed thoughtfully. "We could. I'm not certain how long we'll be able to keep meat, especially without it being fair game from others who'd poach it from the fridge or freezer. Though perhaps if it were a communal event, most would be more wiling to share, and shame and penalize those who'd steal from others."

"You know how my first attempts started out. So really, cooking always ends up to be the same as any science experiment for me." He chuckled, he was always failing, but it felt good to win eventually.

"That's true." Senku agreed. "Do you think if we put our names on the package it might help? We'd have to do it within a decent time anyway, freezing it won't be as good. Should see if we could get some bones too, much better broth if we can."

"In fire or explosions?" Gen teased with an all-too innocent tone.

Gen hummed. "Perhaps. But some people won't care. What would you think about us organizing a pot luck of sorts, my dear? We'd end up garnering a lot of good will that way. And then they won't just have a name in marker on a package - they'd have our faces, if they thought to take our food in the future."

Even if the teasing was at his expense, he could still giggle about it and appreciate it.

"I don't have anything against it, and hey, Roland owes me a favour." Senku grinned. "I could get him to help me make noodles."

He snickered. "I am not sure meeting us would make them think about it, we're not like, Tsukasa."

"Wait." He paused. "Do you think asking him to do the noodles is some kind of human rights abuse or something?" He thought he'd check first. "I mean. He seemed awfully worried about that."

"Human rights abuse?" Gen blinked, glancing at Senku as he tried to figure out what he'd meant by that. "Roland owes you a favor, not a ... life debt, or something. If he thought noodles were so awful to make, my dear, he'll say no. It's hard work, but it won't injure him, and we'll be doing that same work right alongside him."

"Well I don't know." Senku huffed a little bit. "He was put out or something because he didn't want to have to lick rocks. I told him I wouldn't make him lick rocks, what purpose would that serve? He doesn't know what the rocks are supposed to taste like. I wouldn't make you lick them either." Senku pointed out.

Roland had been worried about his dignity, but that was lost on Senku completely.

Gen hummed thoughtfully. "That sounds like hyperbole, I believe."

With so many parsnips pulled up now, he carefully began to gather them all together, making certain they were secured and they wouldn't get dropped or broken as they continued to explore. He continued to guess, "Unless he's allergic to rocks, of course! But it's an example of something silly, I believe, knowing Roland. He acts terribly seriously for someone so young-looking. Perhaps he just doesn't wish to be embarrassed."

Of course, he's only making assumptions, based on what he knew of the man. Which wasn't much at all, but Gen was fairly good at reading people.

Senku didn't get it. "What's silly about licking rocks? You can learn so much about them through the taste."

He didn't find it particularly embarrassing, although people had thought he was weird for doing it, but how else would he have learned some of them were like sugar?

"But that's not widely known," Gen pointed out with a grin. "Most people only understand rocks are on the ground, and we're taught as children not to put things from the ground in their mouths."

"Learning later that they'd learn things about rocks by licking them? That's something a lot of people miss," Gen told him, "so it seems silly, even though you're being logical. They lack information."

He clicked his teeth a bit in a 'tsk' sound and rolled his eyes. "It's completely logical and as always, I'm right." That was a bit bragging on his part, he wasn't always right, but he found the discussion with Roland a bit frustrating.

"Anyway, maybe he'd be willing to help with that." He seemed a bit bewildered though. "I mean. People don't normally say no to me anyway so I'm kind of confused by what he meant. He said he didn't want to do anything too weird. I'm not sure what he thought I was going to ask him to do."

Senku finished bundling his collection for the quest and tucked them into the safety of his bag. "Maybe we should take, I don't know, four? I can make soup with it, if you want."

"Hmmm, if it were me - and I was speaking with someone I didn't know, not you, of course - I'd request the same," Gen told him with a small smirk. "Some people might ask for sexual favors or just want to humiliate someone else for fun. In his case, maybe he'd be all right with making noodles, but draw the line at, say, crafting eight hundred batteries. You'll need to find whatever his cola is for that level of request."

Gen looked at Senku and smiled warmly. "I'd like that. If they taste as you've described, they'll surely make a delicious soup."

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