The Will to Fight: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Comments

Thanatos | OTA

[controlsthedie]

Bargaining with death? (First day only)

Looking very haggard despite having briefly visited the camp, Thanatos wanders off with a small bundle in his arms. He digs a small hole into the soil, arranges sticks within it, and sets it on fire. Then he pricks his finger and lets a drop of golden ichor fall onto the fire. He takes a breath and begins.

"Honored deities of the dead or those who watch over them, please accept my message. I am Thanatos, Death Incarnate, son of Nyx, Night Incarnate. I have given a drop of ichor hoping to prove my identity...." Even if he's a minor god with no power here, even if he's forcing himself to keep it together. Even if-- "I-I come with a favor. A passenger by the name Soldat fell in battle here. I do not know the procedures of death on this world, but I ask if they could be transferred back to the Voidtrekker Express instead of resting eternally here."

He takes out a cookie he snagged from the camp and places it on the fire. It burns, and a sweet smoke rises into the air. "I cannot offer much, but I hope you enjoy this. Please, consider my request, and thank you in advance."

Thanatos sits with Mort on his knee and waits until the cookie has fully turned to ash. Then he pours some water from a canteen and covers the hole. He doesn't know if this world has death gods or if such an ask is even necessary, but silence is not a chance Thanatos will take.

"Oh, uh..." He also doesn't realize he had an audience as he turns around. The sunglasses only hide so much of the exhaustion in his eyes. "When did... Forget it. Can I help you with something?"

[ ooc: This doesn't do anything. It's just peace of mind for Thanatos. ]

Death is dead asleep… (either day)

Physically, mentally, emotionally, sensory exhausted, Thanatos really should be resting on the train. However, he doesn't seem to have made it back. He's slumped into some semblance of a ball and hovering a few feet up in the air. Ever wonder why Sleep and Death are twins? Turns out being dead tired really brings out the family resemblance.

Wake him up and get him back to the train?

Wildcard:

[ Thanatos won't be helping much as he's just too exhausted in multiple ways. He's probably off on the sidelines just watching things happen. ]

Chthonic Balloon

[fivemilesdeep]

By the end of the day of the fights, Ryo is utterly exhausted himself. Camp had been crazy, and between giving potions to people he couldn't heal and taking care of the ones he could himself, he is completely out of energy and needs to collapse.

(He probably needs to eat too, but...that can wait.)

He's heading towards the train when he sees...Thanatos, evidently, curled in a ball and hovering in midair.

That's...new?

He gets closer and looks Thanatos over. He was one of the first people Ryo had shoved a potion at (and hugged in a fit of overwhelming relief), and he looks to be otherwise okay; just unconscious. On the one hand, Ryo should let him sleep; on the other hand, he probably shouldn't let him sleep out in the open like this. He considers his options, then takes hold of the end of Thanatos's chiton and starts dragging him along, like a god balloon. Hopefully this works. Hopefully Thanatos doesn't panic if he wakes up. Hopefully.

[controlsthedie]

The most Thanatos reacts is to make a sleepy, annoyed mumble as Ryo starts to tug at his chiton. Mort squeaks as if laughing, still tucked safely within Thanatos's hood. They float easily with little resistance.

Enjoy that Chthonic Balloon, Ryo.

[fivemilesdeep]

This isn't the strangest thing he's done, but it's close.

He drags Thanatos along until they reach the Quiet car - specifically, until they reach Thanatos's chosen booth in the car. He opens the door, floats Thanatos in, and leaves, shutting it carefully behind him and pausing only to scrawl a quick do not disturb sign for the door.

It's a fair few minutes before he returns, with a cup of tea and a cookie in hand. The tea is a mixture of herbs from his world - it's heavily spiced nearly to the point of bitterness, but meant to help with muscle fatigue and soreness and will hopefully work on a god. The cookie is to take the edge off. He opens the door slowly and peeks in - did Thanatos wake while he was gone?

[controlsthedie]

When Ryo returns, Mort is on the table, and Thanatos is sitting on a bench staring at him. He looks like he just woke up but still needs a lot more sleep. They are in the middle of a conversation.

"Mort, did I sleep shift again?" Thanatos frowns as Mort keeps squeak laughing at him. "Mort, I'm serious. I need to know. I haven't done that since I was a godling--Ryo?" He sees the single cup of tea and cookie. "I apologize for coming into the quiet booth unannounced."

[fivemilesdeep]

He's honestly not sure whether it's better or worse that Thanatos is awake. On the one hand, a conversation might be good; on the other hand, if the fact that he passed out in public is any indication, Thanatos really needs the sleep. At least he's cogent enough to have a conversation with Mort, however well or poorly that seems to be going.

He's a bit surprised at the apology. "Oh- no. I brought you here."

Wait.

Wait.

"Did Mort not tell you?"

[controlsthedie]

"No, he did not." Thanatos shoots Mort a look normally reserved for Zagreus or Hypnos when they are being especially difficult. Mort stops squeaking, and one can almost picture Mort trying to present the image of innocence.

"How did you bring me here? Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't strike me as the type to be able to carry someone larger than you."

Bargaining with Death

[dyingpro]

It's easy to start a fire when your best friend has feet that are literally always on fire.

Zagreus refuses to speak during the whole ceremony, knowing just how important this is to Thanatos' job, even if it's just a simple matter of bureaucracy. He wouldn't be able to help, either, since his blood is the red of mortals - and his healing battle wounds remind him of that, crusted with blood that has turned a dark maroon.

He waits until Thanatos douses the fire before approaching, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Good work, Than. I'll be heading back to look for him on the Train, if that's all right. You want to come with, or... would you rather be alone?"

[controlsthedie]

"... I didn't feel anything. Don't know if it worked," Thanatos admits, and his shoulders sag. He loses he godly air he had put on trying to contact anyone who might hear. He's back to the exhausted passenger. "I'm not experienced with offerings." They were something other gods got. Not Death. Not when he can't give them anything. It's similar to how for two missions now, his powers relating to being Death Incarnate have been useless. If the Fates have him here for a reason, it's becoming increasingly clear that it's not because he's Death. But... then what?

"I..." Thanatos pauses, unsure what he really wants. He shakes his head. "I don't want to be alone right now." Even though he knows that he'll eventually hide off in some corner by himself.

[dyingpro]

"But we don't know the rules here, right? So... maybe the Deity of Death in this world felt it instead?" It's probably not as helpful as Than would like, but at least Zagreus is trying. "I mean, neither am I, nobody except the other gods know I exist, and that was only recently. But if I got a cookie as an offering, I think I'd like it."

When Thanatos answers, Zagreus steps in close, nodding as he accepts the response. He takes Than's hand in his. "I'm not about to let you teleport us anywhere, not after what you pulled out there." He's not about to admit anything out loud, but it scared him when Thanatos passed out at the last battle. He'd never seen Thanatos so defenseless, so helpless, and it had really shaken him. What could he have changed, to ease Than's burden? What could he have done to save his friend from running himself ragged? Why did he feel like such a screw up?

The prince soon realizes that he really doesn't want to be alone either. "We should start walking, I suppose. Or I guess, I should, since you can do that whole ethereal floating thing. Come with me?"

[controlsthedie]

A long sigh follows, but it contains no frustration or annoyance. "Maybe you're right..." Thanatos grips Zagreus's hand back and lets him help him up. He rises to the air, bobbing unsteadily. Thanatos adopts a hunched posture better fitting of Hypnos than him, normally standing straight and tall.

"I don't think I could shift us even if I tried," he admits. The thought should scare him. Not being able to shift means being trapped. But... he's with Zagreus. The danger's past. It not an issue, and he's so tired. "I can still manage this though. I doubt you'd want to carry me back to the train even if I offered you a cookie."

It's a joke, Zagreus.

Death Bargains

[shitcopper]

After being addressed by the death boy, Ea-nasir chuckles a little. "Thanatos, is it? I suspected you were a sort of Divine Spirit, but boy howdy!" That's a mortal expression, just so he knows. It means she's impressed.

"I have to say though, as impressive as you were out on the battlefield, your bargaining prowess could use a little touching up." Well, maybe not too impressed.

[controlsthedie]

"Boy howdy?" Thanatos mutters to himself. That is not something he's heard before. However, he's glad to see that Caster doesn't hold his actions against him. She seemed safe for the time being. He was needed elsewhere.

"How would you have done it?"

[shitcopper]

Ea-nasir is a forgive and forget type, unless holding it over somebody's head gives her a better advantage. It's all about the big picture, what helps the most. Grudges rarely do.

"You gotta find out what the other party wants, first off. Sounds like you didn't do the research. At the very least, make some grand promises. Favor for a favor, quid quo pro. Not very many people are moved just by politeness with nothing to back it up."

[controlsthedie]

"Hm, in this case, I was not about to presume that I could grant some favor besides leaving." Thanatos wobbles slightly. He can only remember feeling so drained before, and it's not a good memory. "And we are on a tight schedule. I'd rather say the truth than lie. Lying to gods rarely goes well."

Sleep...Floating?

[dragoonrouge]

Well, this certainly was odd. Q'uila couldn't say that she'd ever seen someone sleep quite like that before but regardless of the strangeness this still wasn't a great place to have a nap.

"Hello?" She tries calling first, best not to try literally prodding them awake until after she has tried to wake them up verbally, "You need to wake up, 'tis not completely safe out here just yet!"

[controlsthedie]

"Nngh..." Thanatos mumbles, and he seems to curl into himself a bit more as if he was trying to hide under invisible covers to get a few more minutes. But when she yells about it not being safe, he startles. Tired, golden eyes snap open, and a sword is soon in his hand.

"Where?" Is the fight not over? He looks for a demon but sees none. "What?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila sighs, "There is nothing about right this moment but considering how recently the main conflict ceased 'tis not the best stop to take a nap, friend. Would you like some help getting back to the Train, 'twould be a far safer place to kip?"

[controlsthedie]

Thanatos groans and rubs at his eyes. He knows he's not acting the image of a god, but he doesn't remember ever feeling so exhausted without his brother's influence on him. "It wasn't my intent to fall asleep out here. I'm trying to make it back."

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila shakes her head a tuts, "Well that shall not do, let me help you back to the train and then you can sleep properly. The last time I passed out on a battlefield I was almost shanked, let us save you from such a fate, aye?"

She holds out a hand for Thanatos so that she can support him on the way back.

Dead asleep

[subcircuits]

Thanatos may not be the first person Devero's seen in the past day and a half who's passed out somewhere incongruous, but he's definitely the first for whom 'somewhere incongruous' means 'mid-air'. Devero hesitates for a moment; is it safe for a mere man to wake a sleeping god?

And another question: does an atheist actually care?

Devero finds Thanatos' shoulder in the ball of sleeping god and gives it a shake. "Hey. Wake up, friend, you fell asleep out in the open."

slides on into your DMs

[dyingpro]

"Let him rest, mate, he's expended a lot of his energy."

Zagreus is not far away, taking a bit of a break himself. He's clearly had a lot of damage dealt to him, whip marks and anti-life blasts still marring his flesh in places, though considerably healed from what they once were. And judging from his eternally burning feet and the crown of flame-like laurels around his head, he's probably some sort of god also.

"I've just been pushing him toward the train as I've gone, but we probably won't be welcome in the city, so... taking a bit of the long way 'round."

howdy stranger are you ready to party

[subcircuits]

Devero had totally missed that there was anyone else in the vicinity and startles visibly when he hears the stranger's voice call out. He whirls on one heel, drawing his tac batons and flicking them out to full extension. Automatically, with arms spread and weapons held ready, he puts himself between the sleeping god and--

Someone who's definitely not a demon still lingering in this reality.

"Rust and ruin, you scared the hell out of me," he says, relaxing and giving a shaky laugh. As the stranger's words parse, he glances back at Thanatos, still curled up and floating. He looks back. "--You've been pushing him?"

1 tag of interrupting Mort

[controlsthedie]

Mort is tucked away in Thanatos's hood like usual, and he squeaks a few laughs at the antics before him. So silly.

[dyingpro]

"Woah, easy," Zag starts when the batons are drawn, holding his hands up and clearly away from the giant sword strapped to his back. But the danger seems to pass quickly, and relieved, he drops his hands to his sides again.

"Heh. I seem to do that often enough," he answers, finding the term 'rust and ruin' to be oddly charming. It must mean something equivalent to 'blood and darkness', from context.

And then Devero voices his bewilderment, and that prompts a little snicker from Mort. Zagreus reaches carefully into Thanatos' hood and scritches Mort on top of his plush head. Wouldn't want to wake Than if he can help it. "I mean, sure. What else am I supposed to do, tie a rope around him and pull him like a balloon?"