voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-09-21 05:44 am

Adventure On: Finale and Conclusion

Blue

The Mountain

Once they get close enough everything is storm, ice swirls around them, stabbing them like knives. Winds seem to be actively pushing them away, no matter what direction they approach from. Still the crystal wolves walk on, heads down, paws silent, climbing upwards.

The higher they climb the colder it becomes. So cold that ice forms on eyelashes, that air seems to freeze as it leaves their mouths. So cold their chests hurt. They would not be wrong to assume that the only reason they can withstand this at all is because of the SCA around their wrist.

Ice tumbles down around them often, shaking the ground. The crystal wolves know the way and they keep going, steady on the path. They have spaced themselves out, to be in sight of all those who follow.

The Summit

As they finally reach the top of the mountain they reach a calm space, outside of the swirling storm. Domed across the summit is a fire cage, larger by far than any they have seen before. In the middle of the giant fire cage sits a dragon. White and blue, scales that look as if they were made of ice themselves. Their head was bowed, eyes closed but they are breathing, breath escaping in clouds of freezing mist that evaporated in the heat of the cage.

Around the cage itself are ice elementals, outside the storm these can be seen by the snow they whirl around inside them, each is about three feet tall but fly in a whirlwind as they attack. Like those in the storm they try and push people around and attack with shards of ice. These corrupted spirits seem to have no reason to their attacks, they are just as likely to push a combatant closer to the cage then they are towards the raging storm.

They can be fought, fire works well against them just as ice and cold magic works well against the fire cage itself.

A Sovereign Freed

Eventually the cage stops fighting, fading away into the snow before them. The crystal wolves spring forth, nuzzling at the dragon until they raise their head. Piercing blue eyes look over the group and the dragon bows their head once. They take a deep breath and breathe out over those assembled, cold fire washes over them, healing any hurts that they have, easing their fatigue som

The crystal wolves bow their heads too, a thank you. Aerlie flaps their wings, rising high into the air. Another breath of cold fire flies out around the area, clashing with the storm for a moment before overtaking it. Around the mountain the storm calms, the ice elementals stop and seem to sink into the snow or fade into the air. The mountain descends into a calmness.

The crystal wolves will approach all those who helped free them, nuzzling into their hands, a personal thank you before a shimmering gate opens for the adventurers to step through.

Red

Final Siege

It’s been a tiring three days of protecting the crystals from the creatures that sought their power. But now, as their power is fully recharged it is time to return them to the border. That is going to be a tougher job than getting them to the volcano’s heart in the first place!

They thrum with power and that power is a siren call to the creatures of the area, fire dogs, lizards, fire sprites. Just as the mountain attacked inside the heart, here the spirtes join with the rivers of lava to flood pathways, block routes, making it harder to cross already treacherous territory, or even driving them into traps of waiting fire dogs.

The heat is oppressive, heat from around them, heat from the crystals seems to sap the energy from those carrying them and so the duty is best shared.

Eventually though they arrive at the border, a mess of melted ice and frozen lava. Each of the crystals need to be replaced.

Restoring the Border

Replacing the crystals is a little more complicated than taking them was. Each one needs to fuse with the holder it sits in. It doesn’t take any skill, just someone to hold it in place for a moment whilst the two fuse together and the magic is channelled into the ground.

Holding a crystal in place is a little more difficult when being attacked by the creatures. The fire creatures keep up the attack until all of the crystals have been replaced.

The Land Repaired

When the last crystal is in place there is a ripple across the land. An invisible line, an ancient magic, connects the crystals, seperating the two lands. Ice recedes from lava and the melted snow refreezes. The borderlands of slush undergo transformation as the two elements separate from each other once more. A land of fire and a land of ice, with a pulsing magic separating the two.

The firedogs and lizards retreat, fire elementals calm and join with the lava streams once more. A shimmering gate opens.

Orange

An Important Message

The Huma birds have been carrying crystals and helping the harvesters, protecting them from the blighted birds and encouraging them to work hard.

But those returning to the floating islands on the afternoon of the eleventh day of Horseshoe come bearing black cloth bags in their talons, each has a scroll attached. The Huma birds will make it very clear they are to read the scroll first.

DO NOT OPEN THE BAG UNTIL NIGHT FALLS

Inside this bag are rare crystals. When they are exposed to the light of the sun they will cause the islands to sink back to the ground. After the sun has set tonight please distribute these evenly around the islands and then depart back down to the land below before sunrise. The lands natural magic will do the rest but we do not recommend being on the islands when they fall.

Thank you for your hard work.

The Adventurers Guild


With a long night ahead they may wish to rest for the remainder of the day.

Distributing the Crystals

If they do as they are asked then it will be a long night, there are many chunks of islands and a lot of crystals to distribute. The darkness makes it harder and the blighted birds seem even grumpier in the cover of darkness.

The wind sprites also are not resting and indeed seem delighted that playtime has been extended into the hours of night. Placing crystals is difficult when the Voidtreckers find themselves swept up into the air to dance around the trees.

Getting down by sunrise may be a little trickier than placing the crystals, especially if they have used up their flight potions, but hopefully there are enough people to help everyone get to safety.

Islands Fall

The sun rises, as the first rays of light hit the island they begin to vibrate, shudder. Then one by one they begin to fall, rapidly and chaotically. It is perhaps wise to not be anywhere near the crater as they do so.

They land in a crash of dust, which obscures the area. When the dust clears however they will see a perfect undamaged land. The pieces have fit back together, exactly where they should be, despite the chaos. The land is repaired and whole once more. Huma birds call excitedly as they dart through the air, their land restored.

A gate opens, for them to step through if they wish.

Purple

A Cure

It is day ten of Horseshoe when the first Huma birds fly into the village, they carry crystals either in bags in their talons or in their beaks.

The villagers clearly know what is going on for they welcome the birds and take the crystals thankfully. Anyone not currently fighting or purifying crystals is brought in to help distribute cures.

Actually curing someone is easy, it just requires the crystal to be touch an affected person or creature. The crystals are only good for one cure so those curing the blighted will be required to carry a few and run them to the villages.

Others can take crystals out into the woodland, looking for blighted animals to help.

A Final Fight

All but one of the golems have been found, defeated and restored. The final one has been elusive, not approaching the village or even the nearby woodlands.

The restored golems are back to standing vigil in each village, ready to deal with any attack that may occur.

But when an attack comes, it is not on a village, but on the shrine in the centre. A golem, three trolls and a host of animals, some blighted, some just angry. They attack in the early morning, the villages awoken by shouts and sounds of battle.

Luckily the blighted creatures can be healed, angry animals can perhaps be soothed. The trolls cannot be soothed though and will indeed try to rile up the animals again, to cause as much chaos as they can.

Peace Once More

Once the final golem is taken down, the crystal restored and the trolls defeated there is a quiet comes across the villages. Those who were blighted are cured, the golems are back in their place as guardians of the village and thanks to the adventurers the villages have gotten through this time with minimal damage.

The villagers thank the adventurers, tell them to come and visit whenever they are in the area. A gate opens, for any voidtreckers who wish to return to Royal Lake Hill.

Royal Lake Hill: All Teams!

They return to the tavern, each to the inn that they set off from. The town is a little busier now, more areas have recovered from the blight and it has brought more trade into the town. Everyone is still relatively elderly or young, non fighters. But the market is bustling, there is even a puppet show going on in the square.

Around midday a beeping of their SCA will show a dot on their map where the Voidtrecker Express has landed, not far out of town, and a message. You may remain here until sunset.

It is up to them whether they wish to return to the train or spend the rest of the day in the town. For those staying in town they will find word of their deeds have preceded them and they will find no end of young, wide eyed, budding adventurers ready to buy them a drink or two in exchange for stories.
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-09-26 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
He shook his head, tossing his mane slightly. "No... I mean, before, sorry... For pushing you, making you talk..."

Making him bring up painful things, when Tidus had so obviously been trying to avoid it, avoid everyone.

It had felt wrong to let him, but it had also been wrong to push and cause him more pain.
blitzcheer: (don't think about it okk)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-09-26 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Now he startles in a different way, once he realises what Taiki truly means. A light of fear crossing over Tidus's eyes, and this time, he shakes his head quicker.

"Forget it, I-- it's not your fault." His hands clench, unclench, before pulling in his cloak. "I..."

There's more he wants to say, but he's hesitating, his gaze set aside.
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-09-27 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"No." He has no hands like this, and this form that should be so natural to him is unknown and barely used. So it takes him a moment to figure out how to show comfort towards Tidus.

Because Tidus needs comfort right now. Taiki nudged his forehead with his nose before resting his head on Tidus'.

"You don't have to apologise at all."
blitzcheer: (nyoronnnnn)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-09-27 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
It's an....odd gesture, but it makes Tidus think of chocobos. A little. But he gets what Taiki is doing through his voice that sounds clearly despite the newer form.

But-- if he doesn't have to apologise, what else is there to say? Tidus struggles to find his voice, holding onto the cloak tight.

"I made you have to heal me..."

Even if he doesn't say sorry, he speaks it apologetically.
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-09-28 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
He just pressed his nose down onto Tidus' shoulder. "It's alright... You were hurt. I'm glad I was able to help you."

Glad he had been able to hold it together long enough. He hated people being hurt and he didn't even want to think about Tidus being hurt at all.
blitzcheer: (feel like cryin')

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-09-28 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
It doesn't make it any better. Doesn't make it feel right, and it isn't, wasn't, but Tidus doesn't want to belabour the point any further. The things he does want to say...

"We should keep going. We can't get stuck out here tonight." Not on this mountain--not without finding shelter. Anything else would have to wait, but he does ask: "Are you sure you're okay? You need anything? Are you warm like that?"
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-09-28 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm alright... It's cold but..."

He laughed slightly, strange coming from this form where his mouth didn't really move and his face changed very little. "I'd be colder if I changed back."
blitzcheer: (but wuz dat so baahhdd)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-09-28 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus's brows furrow, and really, 'I'm cold' is enough of an indication for Tidus that indeed, Taiki is cold. Nevermind that 'I'm alright' there; all he needs to think about is his options (does he have anything else to cover a guy like Taiki is now?), before he gives a quick, "Hold on, lemme ask Piccolo!"

And before Taiki might be able to intervene, out into the cold-

"Piccolo!?"

Tidus has no idea if the guy is nearby or has super hearing.
shutupnail: (Default)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-09-28 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus was in luck. Piccolo did have super hearing. Those ears weren't just there to frame his face as he liked to say.

He was there before them in a matter of seconds.

"Tidus?" he made the name a question, wondering what was wrong or needed.
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-09-29 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Piccolo? Taiki knows who Piccolo is, even if they hadn't spoken much but he still looks around nervously as he approaches.

He watches warily, a little surprised at how quickly he had turned up.
blitzcheer: (awww yeah babeyyy)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-09-29 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
There's a happy look of relief when Piccolo appears, pointed his way with a smile too; disappearing only as Tidus returns to the issue that had him calling for the namekian in the first place.

"It's Taiki-- he doesn't have anything to keep him warm." Sans the scarf around...some/most of his kirin neck now! "Can you help?"

Look at this poor horse.
shutupnail: (Default)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-09-29 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Taiki... was that someone from the train? Piccolo didn't recall meeting them formally but the name sounded too familiar not to wonder.

"Huh. Shapeshifter?" he asked, not necessarily surprised by this whole unicorn thing.

The real question was: how does he warm one?

A large blanket he supposed. He wasn't really familiar with horses but a blanket was a blanket and it should work if it covered him surely. Well if not one of them would tell him otherwise.

Piccolo held out his hand towards Taiki and after a bright flash of light there appeared a large blanket on top of the kirin's back.
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-10-03 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, sorry..." Was his response to the question. He was a type of shape shifter. He had heard of Piccolo even if he hadn't met him so he wasn't too surprised at the blanket.

He is very grateful for it though. "Thank you, Piccolo, Tidus."

It was thick and warm, holding off the worst of the wind.
blitzcheer: (always always always always)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-04 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"This is who Taiki is," Tidus adds with the explanation- maybe more of an explanation than confirmation. ...If not much of one, though.

But then the giant blanket appears, covering a great portion of the kirin. Tidus looks him over, just some, to make sure how well it covered him. Not worried about the job Piccolo did, but more concerned about the blowing winds.

Luckily, it seems to be doing the job Tidus looks at Piccolo with Taiki's thanks, nodding his head at him, his expression appreciative.

"Thanks, Piccolo!"
shutupnail: (talking.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-10-04 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Why was the kirin apologizing? Piccolo hadn't a clue. He looked perplexed. Not that the expression lasted long. He nodded at Tidus's explanation.

"Animals are always better shapeshifters than others," he said matter-of-fact. "Oolong and Puar were two shapeshifters I knew back home. A pig and a cat, respectively."

Earthlings came in more shapes than just humans were he was from. Someone might point out that that wasn't typical in other universes one day...

"Don't worry about it. Let me know if you need anything else." That's what he was here for!
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-10-05 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, we have Hanjyuu in my world, people who are both human and animal."

It wasn't what he was, but it was similar. It was interesting that similar existed in Piccolo's world, but Piccolo himself was proof that his world was probably more like Taiki's own rather than Hourai.

"Are you warm enough Tidus?"
Edited 2020-10-05 18:29 (UTC)
blitzcheer: (what the f is this)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-07 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"...all we have is fiends," Tidus chimes in unhelpfully, but at least Piccolo and Taiki had a bonding point. But otherwise-

"I'm fine! You be careful in all this wind too, Piccolo. I'll stay close to Taiki."

To keep an eye on him, and to share whatever added help they were getting from their SCAs. It was certainly a lot better than keeping any distance from people.
shutupnail: (going up.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-10-09 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, we have a few of those as well," Piccolo commented dryly in response to Tidus's words. They weren't really the same but the word fit as far as Piccolo was concerned. "Earthlings come in a variety of species and types where I'm from. Aaand then there's me."

Since, technically, he wasn't a natural Earthling. Although, at the same time, he had been born on Earth--this incarnation anyway.

"I'll be fine," he assured Tidus also. "The wind doesn't really effect my flying." He could just push back so to speak. His ki made a sort of barrier that kept it from effecting him all that much. If he was younger it'd be more of an annoyance maybe but he was well versed in fighting against wind and ki buffeting at this point in time.

"Good. You two keep safe. See you later." That was all he really needed to hear to be assured they were all right now. Since nothing else was needed of him.... he took off.
longforgottenpromise: (Kirin)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-10-11 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh... Okay..." He has questions, mostly about how Piccolo was different than the other Earthlings from his Earth. Obviously he was different than those of Taiki's earth, but...

There was no time for that as Piccolo made his farewell. "I'll see you later."

He watched as he flew off and then looked back to Tidus, nudging the side of his head with his nose.

"Thank you."