middleofsomewhere | Let's Get Down to Business

Let's Get Down to Business

Let's Get Down to Business

On day twenty two of the month of Llama a message comes up on the ICP's.

Voidtreckers have many questions about what happened on system #93426194992 and the entity that was encountered. Analysis shows that the entity on system #93426194992 was also present on systems #86525656412355 and #2207385.

Though it is not known what that entity is, it is clear that it possesses some level of mind influence and complex illusionary magic.

There is a void nexus on system #62138 inhabited by a religious order that, due to their close proximity to the void, employ mental techniques to help with such illusions.

We will be visiting system #62138 for three Days. The Voidtrecker express will remain with the Voidtreckers during this time and due to the nature of the void nexus it is highly advisable to sleep on board.

System #62138 is a wet world. All Voidtreckers will be safe but are advised to keep their SCAs on at all times. This should be the standard on all systems.

THE VOID NEXUS
From the windows of the Voidtrecker Express, passengers see the Void Nexus as a vast island surrounded by darkness, punctuated with rivets of colours running through the sky that casts a glow of blues and violets as they descend closer to the surface. The world faintly blurs the way one’s sight does when sinking into the depths of an ocean, the train manoeuvring around tall rocks that rise like digitates, a sea-green hue deepening over the rocky land outside.

The train doors open from each carriage, and luckily it’s not a flood that welcomes them but clammy air cool to the skin. They come out to a section of land sparse of more than tunicate-like plants under their feet, pools of silvery water otherwise sunk between small pathways that lead like bridges forward.

Which is likely their destination, a vast coral-like structure with a high opening awaiting them - and as they get closer, a being far taller than any of the Voidtrecker themselves.

ARRIVAL

They are met by a tall robed figure. First glance will show them to be a deep purple in colour with a domed head and long tentacles sprouting from their chin that sway slightly when they move. Still they nod deeply and their mouth moves into a shape that could be interpreted as a smile.

"Welcome to those of the VoidTrecker Express. Your arrival was foretold and we have awaited you. Please accept our hospitality."

They lead them onwards, explaining that outsiders are always welcome here but ask them to remain within the public parts of the temple. They further explain that their order is for the most part a silent one. There is no restriction on the voices of guests but they should not be insulted if the members of the order do not answer.

Once a small tour has been conducted the Voidtreckers are left to their own devices to train or explore as they see fit.

IT'S A TRAINING MONTAGE
Going through to the back of the temple will lead them outside once more, the gentle sound of falling water greeting them at what seems to be a distance. But yet - faint as it is to see, glistening in translucent silvers and pinks - the water is quite near and wide, spilling from the high mountain cliff that borders in an otherwise enclosed space. The pool takes up a large portion of this garden, of coral reef and circled stone pathways where every step must be considered, unless you’d like a surprise trip and dip.

Fortunately, the silver water here is light. Submerging yourself in it or sitting under its flow, you won’t find the hard rush of its weight over your heads and shoulders, and the same weightlessness follows you going under. You find that you can breathe and when you come away from the lake, your body and clothes are lightly damp at most.

Still, there is plenty of ground to walk along without going over the pool. However, the first steps of learning mental fortitude against illusionary obstacles will take you into...

[ MEDITATION. ] To combat irrationalities is to iron your own reactions to them. You are instructed to sit where you find it comfortable: those unused to mental training should keep to the shoreline, while the more intermediate may find taking the stone steps out to large limpet-shaped shells - sizeable to fit 3-4 people each - a better challenge. Those more daring should sit under the waterfall or to go into the water’s depths, where you at least don’t need to worry about breathing, or even getting that wet.

To get wet isn’t the purpose, fortunately. The purpose comes the moment you close your eyes - for as soon as you do, you feel. You sense. Some other, some thing, a presence your mind decides must be there. This sensation is lighter by the shore, but sitting above the water or submerging yourself inside it brings it stronger against you. In truth there is nothing there, no one but the other Voidtreckers, but the spell of the water - or is it the void within the water? - makes your brain think otherwise, logic not welcome company.

Being in groups can help ease the effects through the SCAs, but otherwise, true control comes down to yourself. Breaks are recommended, as there’s no point wearing down an already exhausted mind. Your mind is your defence. Strengthen it. Wield it as a weapon.

[ Combat. ]

Though not exactly what they are here for Voidtreckers will notice that this order of void worshipers train in a form of martial arts. They train outside, using the watery air as part of their movement. Training is done in large group sessions and without weapons. It has a strong focus of listening to the world around them and fighting in a way that makes them one with the world, using the environment to their advantage.

Even though that might not seem the most useful to people who won't be fighting in an environment such as this world, it is at least a good form of exercise.

Any voidtrecker who is curious is welcome to join in the training and those that show especial interest can take more specific lessons aimed at beginners.

TRAVELLING THE NEXUS
[ OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE. ] While the lake and surrounding temple will help to strengthen one’s mental defences with perseverance and training, there is more that can be done away from the temple, and the island is free to be explored. The Voidtrecker Express is stationed where it dropped everyone off, and returning to it will offer everyone a mental relief regardless of the levels of their ongoing training.

The marshland continues beyond the train, one route mostly made by the natural stone pillars that rise up from the ground like stalagmites. Higher cliffs can be climbed by those who wish to, if just for a higher view, curiosity, or privacy. From wherever you look, this island gives off the same impression as most of it already has: sea-like.

[ PLANTS. ] Underfoot, there is not earth-like grass or flowers, but seagrass, kelp, algae and more. They grow along the stone, idly waving as if submerged in water and pushed by unseen waves. Strange blue plants with purple-tipped tendrils will wiggle if touched, while at the higher levels, small bulbs of some kind cluster around the size of a fist. Types of plankton make the gnats of this nexus, too tiny most of the time to be noticed as more than dots to the eyes.

[ CREATURES. ] Also, don’t forget the fish. As tiny as a pinky finger, as big as a hand, the size of a human; they swim through the air, not particularly caring for the Voidtreckers, but also not looking to engage with them. The larger of the fish travel higher than the smaller, and those as big as whales farther up than even the taller cliffs can reach. For those that have any ideas of hunting, they will know - mysteriously, as if recalling the thought - that they should go for the larger fish, and not harm the younger, smaller ones. Those are tastier, after all.

[ STONE FOREST. ] Travel low or high, the way will take them to what appears to be a forest that spans across a large portion of the central island. But as the rest of the nexus is, this is no ordinary, woody land. Its trees are stone, coral, rising high and jagged, the water in the atmosphere denser in this jungle of rock. It turns the world a sea-green to move through, with plants and coral everywhere to be seen. The air denser, thicker, leaving small droplets of water on skin and clothes.

There are no real paths than the spaces between the ‘trees’, but there are guides to find your way to somewhere: pink jellyfish, or something of the sort floating around. They are the shiri as the monks call them, and looking upon them will tell you they will help you find where you need to go, that they will aid you if you get lost and think of them. And for those whose thoughts lean such a way, they will know that harming them will bring a greater injury to the individual who does so tenfold, and they will find no guidance at all on this nexus until they have repented.

Read: Enjoy being stuck on the train for the rest of the stay.

[ CONCH LAKE. ] For those less destructive, a short travel through the stone forest will lead them to a lake, with what can only be described as a conch shell gazebo accessible in its centre. Bubbles float up and around, balls of water made to linger by whatever strange force controls this place. They can be made to bounce away and around with a touch, and respond to being thrown as a ball might. Just, watch out: They like to burst at random, no matter the force used, scattering as tiny beads all over the air.

The water here is different from that around the temple, its colour more blue, but closer to aqua than what many are used to. Yet diving into it will have the similar properties that allows one to hold their breath for much longer than usual, and to move with an ease, like floating weightlessly. There’s no worry if they close their eyes here, a peace radiating from the pool; like a refuge from the trickery that lurks no matter where you are in this nexus.

Climbing out of the pool will have you damp, more appropriately soaked than the temple’s lake. There’s nothing like towels or a great way to dry off, but you can sit and hang around under the conch gazebo if you like.

Or perhaps messing around isn’t what brought you here, but the four iridescent slabs of stone that stand at intercardinal points at the edges of the lake, that speak of the Trials to the mind when you look upon them.

THE FOUR CAVERN TRIALS

There are four caverns, four trials, with each slab suggesting their test. Upon deciding where you will go, a shiri will come to guide your character through the forest to where the stone trees part, and a half an hour walk will lead Voidtreckers to a vesicular cavern.

You know as you approach the cave’s mouth that the shiri will guide you out if you need it, but they stay outside, leaving those searching for advanced training to journey on in themselves. Passengers descend, dots of light coming through the multiple holes above to illuminate the way as you go deeper into the cave.

And you won’t have to go far to find the crystals in any of the caverns, though there’s many pathways to go deeper in. Attacking the stones to break them won’t do much, but when you put your hand on one…

The illusions start, pulling in anyone nearby.

[ CAVE OF PERCEIVING. ]    Bend deceiving labyrinths into your own path.

What is real? What is not? This cave holds a large underground river flowing through it. The water is not too fast flowing or deep but it is cold enough to be a shock if anyone falls in.

Fall in they might for their task is to cross the river. The river is filled with stones large enough to hold a person as they cross. However not all of those stones are real, some are just illusions and if they step on the illusionary rocks they will fall through to the river below.

It is possible to get by on trial and error but the task will not be considered complete until they force their minds to see through the illusions are perceive the one true path.

[ CAVE OF ENDURANCE. ]    Wounds bleed and skin burns only to bodies that believe it.

This cave may differ between Voidtreckers. Sometimes it is a monster they must face or an environmental challenge to battle through.Perhaps the searing heat of a fire or the low altitude and freezing temperature of a mountain top. Perhaps a lizard with claws and teeth. The important part is not defeating the threat but to neutralise the damage. It's not real and the mind can overcome it.

All the caves are probably best faced in groups but this was especially so. They are unlikely to be able to make the damage unreal to start with and so there is likely to be a fight or struggle before they succeed.

[ CAVE OF HEART. ]    To accept crafted desires is to invite everlasting grief.

Here they are in a beautiful place. A meadow, a forest, a rocky beach. The weather is beautiful, not too hot not too cold. A little further in is something they want, something their heart yearns for.

They can't see it yet but they are sure they will, if only they go deeper into the grass, the trees, the water. It is there, just out of reach.

To pass this test they must walk away. Turn around and leave despite their heart calling to them to go deeper.

[ CAVE OF MIND. ]    Craft a weapon from your own vulnerabilities.

Fear does not have to be a weakness. The cave is filled with a lake and in the centre there is a bubble of water, it contains something they fear. They can't see it but they know it is there. Perhaps a person, a place, an object.

Facing a fear is one thing but this task asks for more than that. To accept the fear as part of them, to turn it into a strength to protect others.

This trial is the most personal and perhaps the most difficult. They must step into that space, knowing that they will face what they fear whilst also knowing that it won't be real and use that knowledge and acceptance to bring down the entire illusion, bubble, lake and all.

art sources: alien / landscapes / waterfall / caverns

OOC Information

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

“You absolutely shouldn’t, many garments are quite unsuitable for swimming.”

It is a quick reaction, before she catches the awkwardness in the tone. The natural response that Alice needn’t wear much either dies on what seems like realization.

“Oh, wait - is this one of those cultural taboos? Or perhaps an issue of modesty? I would hope not of self-confidence…”

Talk about having to explain some awkward things to Guri. Alice is starting to hope that someone at least bothered to teach her about the birds and the bees already, or that's going to be a potentially even more awkward conversation if Guri ends up overhearing something odd on the train.

"A.. cultural taboo, I suppose." That's the easier answer. You can't be naked in public. That's just someone everyone in London knows.

Alice pauses, pondering how honest she ought to be. It would be easy to hide behind that first part as a shield, especially since Guri seems to understand at least something about that.

But would that be fair, with how much they've shared already?

"And a.. a tad of a personal issue as well?"

That part sounds much more unsure.

It had been done - and in truth was one of the things she mot disliked about her past. It had been about orders and programming - never something she had chosen for herself. 'Lure a businessman into his bedroom, execute him' did not have the same flavor, did it? In part it contributed to who she was now - her erstwhile master had been the one to choose when she was nude or not; now it was her own choice, and she never held back.

But she nods at the former part. "Oh, yes, one of those." And her voice carries her opinion of such things - irrational. And, in her experience, usually very specifically targeted at women.

Then, though, Alice speaks again, and she lifts her head.

"Oh?"

It's not an easy thing to talk about. At least the societal aspect she could talk about, even though it's one of the few societal norms Alice actually adheres to. But the more personal reason is much more difficult, especially since it's not anything she has discussed with anyone else before. She's told some people on the train about her ordeal from when she was younger, but.. never this part.

She looks away from Guri - instead looking down, at her feet, as she gathers the courage to speak.

"My body looks.. awful, after everything they did to it."

There's a reason Alice hasn't bothered to buy different clothes on the train, after all, instead always sticking to her entirely covering hoodies.

And then it all makes sense. She ducks her head, in understanding and acknowledging the importance of the moment.

“You know I am already sorry for what they did, but I want you to know, Alice, I would not find you awful. Quite the contrary, thus far you have been rather striking.”

She moved a little closer so she could reach out a supporting hand.

“Here, with me, you do not have to feel inadequate or wrong in any way. Nothing about you will ever look awful to me.”

Then she nods.

“But if you want, I will dress and stand guard. Anyone trying to see you, I will threaten to unscrew their head if need be.” She’s kidding on that specific measure, and trusts Alice to recognize that.

H-Hold on, excuse her? Striking?! She knows it's just because this is Guri, and because the other is too honest and direct for her own good because of what she is, but that's still way too much for Alice, especially after admitting something that makes her feel so vulnerable. She can practically feel the heat rising to her face, her cheeks colouring red, unable to stop it.

At least she does take the hand that's held out to her while she's still sitting at the waterside like that, staring at Guri slack-jawed for a moment or two before she shakes her head and regains her senses.

"Ah, t-- thank you. But it is even just hard for me to see myself that way." It reminds her too much of everything she's gone through. "So I shall have to skip the swimming this time around. But perhaps we shall be able to swim together one day.."

She, for her part, actually giggles a little.

“See? That right there. Your face is quite unique, and the red is…aesthetically pleasing, though you’ll forgive me for not having precise words for why.” She seems curious about that part, but moves on.

“I have seen so many species,” she said, “some quite ugly inside and out. Others of ethereal beauty. And so many, many humans. So many different views of their own forms.”

She’s musing on the subject, really, but it serves to underline a subtle, unspoken point - she considers Alice striking by trans-galactic standards.

But then she moves for the bank.

“Then if not today, I will dress some - sit and keep you company, enjoy the view.” And to forestall part of what inevitably must come from this, she calls over her shoulder. “You needn’t be embarrassed and turn away.” The last thing she wants is the elaborate and strange positioning of such moments. “There is no shame in our form, and I trust you.”

She understands it is a social taboo, and firmly believes those can be set aside, overcome at least for a spell.

Alice opens her mouth. Part of her wants to protest, an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. After all, she's never seen anyone get dressed before, nor has she ever felt the need to.

But Guri makes it so clear that she doesn't mind and that it's all fine, and it makes Alice feel guilty for even thinking about protesting. So she closes her mouth again, instead just nodding. Surely it can't be as bad as her mind is making it out to be, right..?

"If.. If you are sure. I would not mind it if you would prefer to keep on swimming. After all, you seem to be enjoying yourself so much. I wouldn't want to take that away from you."

“I have the memory, and time with you is always beneficial.”

The problem is Guri honestly has no idea about some things, like that her form - ample about covers it - has any real cachet outside her own universe. Or that her striding out of the water might have given some painters heart attacks, or cause other issues at all.

Still, at least there is no show to it. She hops into her rather functional undergarments - draping her jumpsuit over her arm and moving to join Alice while she dries under the sun, wringing out her long hair some before sitting.

Of course Guri even had to add a compliment into the mix. If she didn't know any better, she'd say the other was doing it on purpose, considering it does feel like she's about to score a total knockout on Alice, but she knows Guri isn't like that.

And somehow Alice does manage to endure the sight of the other climbing out of the water, even though she has to rub her face for a moment and pretend to be really busy with that to keep herself from feeling too overwhelmed.

Still, once the other is at least a little dressed and sitting next to her, she can finally suck in a deep breath and feel herself calming down a little.

Okay. Fine. Time to focus on slightly more mundane things. Or at least things that don't make her feel all odd.

"What do you think about this place so far?"

She smiles, looking up at the sky.

“A rather beautiful place. I wonder how much of it is natural, how much was made - and by what. But I got to feed fish, and swim in complete freedom. Whatever else, it has given me great gifts.”

She turns to look at Alice.

“And you?”

"It does look rather nice."

Especially compared to the last time she found herself in an underwater place. And while this place seems only half-underwater compared to that one, at least it's a lot nicer looking. And a lot less grimy.

"Though I can't help but question the train's intentions in bringing us here."

“If it aims to prepare us for future challenges, this is a good way to do it.”

She moves slightly, dipping her feet in the water. She smiled.

“But the joke is on the train, because I am stealing a vacation day.”

Alice lets out a huff of breath. It sounds at least half-amused. "Look at you. You rebel."

(Granted, Alice improves entirely of rebelling against the train, even though this time it's more of a joke than anything else.)

She seems to sober up a bit though as she speaks on.

"I suppose I will have to spend at least some of my time familiarizing myself with the techniques here. I really have to get better at dealing with those illusions." Or she'll risk having the same thing happen again as during the last mission - and she doesn't want anyone to have to see her like that again. Even Guri shouldn't have to deal with her being like that.

"I could say much the same - I was fortunate they did not affect me last time. I cannot presume that will always be the case."

She looked up at the sky, then at Alice.

"It helps, though. Knowing that if something does go wrong, I have people, friends, who will pull me through. You very much at the forefront of that list."

"Oh.." At first it sounds like a small noise of surprise, but when Alice continues on with speaking, it definitely sounds more flustered than anything else.

"Seriously, you can't keep paying me all these compliments all the time!"

It'd be one thing if Guri just counted her among her friends, or among the people who'd help her, but it's things like 'foremost' that make Alice feel all flustered for sure.

"I just did what anyone would have done. And that is why I will keep on doing it too."

She frowns, curiously.

"I only state fact," she replied. "We eat together regularly now, and have shared confidences. You know me better than anyone, I think, on the train."

She shrugs a little.

"It's a state of being I find...very enjoyable. And reassuring."

The idea of her of all people - Alice Liddell, social recluse extraordinaire - knowing someone better than anyone else on the train is almost laughable. But at the same time Alice knows that Guri is so fact-oriented that it has to be true from the other's point of view. No matter how strange that thought is.

Alice tries really hard to process it, letting out a slow, drawn-out breath to try and calm herself down.

"That is what it's like to have a friend."

.. is that a concept Guri gets. Alice isn't sure.

She smiles, just a little bit fondly. For a brief moment, she leans her head onto Alice's shoulder, before jerking back.

"Oh, yes, wet," she says, brushing lightly.

"But yes," she adds, "it's still rather new to me. And admittedly special as a result."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Let's Get Down to Business

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject