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

[yondu]

He doesn't say his reasons for being down in the catacombs. Despite everything he just said, it sounds pathetic. It feels like exposing his softer underbelly and making himself aware of his own weaknesses in a way that's deeply uncomfortable.

"People had some good life stories down there. Worth rememberin'. So I was writin' a few of 'em down to keep just in case the big demon showed up. But y'all took care of it before it could get bad."

[worthallthis]

"Oh, I like that," Soldat says, glancing up from their work again with a quick smile. "Are you bringing your stories back on the train with us? Or is it for them to keep?" Either one seems a worthy exercise, either for the people here to remember what happened here, or for the people on the train to remember who they're here to help.

[yondu]

"Figured I'd just put 'em in the library."

He reaches into his coat and pulls out his journal, now at least a third filled with the scrolls of the dead. Quickhand versions of what he'd managed to read down there. Some of it was stuff he'd put on the network, but some of it's pretty simple. He'd even done shit like write down the scant stories of kids or old housewives to go with those haughty tales of war heroes.

He hands it over to Soldat to look at. He'd taken a surprising amount of time cataloging this stuff.

[worthallthis]

They set the hammer down again and flip through a few pages. It's not a shorthand code they're familiar with, but the train continues to provide by translating. Awww, Yondu. The kids' stories.... "These are great, Yondu," they say warmly. "I'm gonna want to read all of these over once we're back on board." The few things they've actually read weren't really like this, and they think it might be educational.

[yondu]

"One of them times I'm glad I wasted time."

There's no real need of it. Some giant demon didn't show up. He didn't have to do it. Now he's just got it and he's not sure what to do with it.

"Well, I'll let ya get back to this." He goes to the edge of the roof, grabs it so he can tip off and hang, and then drops down like a sane being rather than using the arrow. From down there he holds his hands ready to catch the journal. "Guess I'll see ya around on the train."

[worthallthis]

Soldat tosses it down gently, but asks before Yondu can leave, "How do you say 'see you later' in Centaurian?" Because that does in fact seem like a useful phrase, and they imagine they'd get a lot of mileage out of it.

[yondu]

"Oh... yeah, hold on. Better to do it from over there."

He walks off, onto the street, before cupping his hands around his mouth and whistling a sound that has the feel of 'when we meet again'. Shrill and sharp and loud, like people that part at a distance.

There's a few citizens that look up and, again, look confused over understanding a whistle of all things.

[worthallthis]

Soldat is impressed. Also, ow-- sensitive hearing means it seems even louder.

They're not sure they can whistle that loud, but they make their best attempt at returning the call. The notes are right, but truly, they don't have the whistling volume to match that. Just in case, they follow it up with a wave.