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

[voidtreckernpcs]

She nodded, picking up the bot from her head and placing it on her knee. It immediately reached metal limbs over to Vexen, before clambering over to him, beeping softly.

"Disorientation seems to be the worst of it. A headache that's probably not going to shift without sleep." She smiled at him, "I'll answer your questions if you answer mine."

[thawed_pride]

"A reasonable enough arrangement." He glances down at the robot, before huffing softly and lifting it up to put it in his lap. For a creature without a recognizable heart, it acts rather like a puppy of some sort. "We arrived mere days after you fell under the sway of the enchantment on the city. Was it in place when you arrived here?"

[voidtreckernpcs]

It vibrated softly as it was placed in Vexen's lap, Anan just smiled softly at them, shaking her head fondly.

"Yes. This world's on my scouting route so it's one I know quite well. I was sent to investigate some weird readings we were getting. The world seemed to be in distress and then it wasn't. When I got here the Shining City was, like you saw. It's not been that splendid in a long time, longer than I've been scouting here."

[thawed_pride]

Or maybe more like a kitten. He gave it a light pat, only half paying attention to it.

"We were acting on similar intelligence. Our readings indicated that the last stronghold of humanity in this world was under siege, and then that the people abruptly ceased fighting. We came to investigate the oddity and help the locals fight back.

"Seeing as we have not seen any evidence of Void travelers other than yourself, am I to presume ten days out of contact was not long enough for your allies to grow concerned?"

[voidtreckernpcs]

It vibrated again at the patting as Anan nodded, listening carefully to what he was saying.

"Scouting often takes me out of contact for long periods of time, especially on worlds that aren't void active." She shook her head, "Maybe double the time and they would have become suspicious. It's a good job you turned up though, I doubt the people here would have lasted much longer.

[thawed_pride]

"It seemed as though the demons were preparing for a final assault upon the city. We spent the first days after our arrival simply closing as many of their gates as we could, whilst those less suited to such tasks addressed the vulnerability of the citizens."

Those who were comfortable inside the city walls, at least. But the presence of those the wards considered to be similar enough to demons among their number may be a delicate subject, depending on how well Anan understands the mechanics involved.

"If you are an advance scout, what was your method of transport? Thus far, we have found no evidence of another Void traveling vessel, merely your erstwhile supplies."

[voidtreckernpcs]

"I have a voidcraft, it's not on the planet though." She smiled ruefully. "It would be difficult to explain in a place such as this, even with cloaking."

Then she frowned, "You found this," she gestured at the scanner. "But was my SCA in my pack?"

She sounds resigned, like she knows the answer.

fifteen minutes late with Anan's supplies

[namethattune]

It had taken more time than Siebren had initially thought to travel from the far end of the city to the gate and back to camp. It takes far less time to find Vexen in conversation with a stranger - evidently their missing traveler - and he removes the recovered rucksack from his arms band before approaching.

With impeccable timing, it seems.

"Not that I saw," he says, offering her the pack, "but a second perusal may be in order." He pauses as he takes a seat himself, but he cannot help but ask. "I found it in a library in one of the towers. If you do not mind my asking, what were you doing in there?"

[voidtreckernpcs]

"Ah thank you." She took the bag from him with a nod and wasted no time in digging through it, though her frown deepened as she did so.

"I know one of the monks there, I met her the first time I assisted this world. She was my first point of call. But I couldn't get up the tower."

She sighed and put the bag to one side.