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

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It is pretty. And a deep hue of blue that makes one think of water, thanks to its elemental property.

"I have yet to experience a world where this fundamental knowledge does not hold true," Elidibus answers. "And having not been to your world, I could not say. But it may be a matter of how such energy is perceived. Either by you and yours or by those born of the Star I hold most dear."

He gestures at the area around him. "It seems to hold true here." Elidibus looks at Inigo. "And I see its flow in you. Mayhap your world does possess the concept of aether then."

That's such a weird thought. Something that's been around him all along, yet he's never seen it. Never even heard of it. No one in his world has ever spoken of it before.

.. then again, they were pretty occupied with living through the apocalypse, he supposes.

So Inigo tries to just accept it for what it is, trying to keep it from fully blowing his mind, or he'll be unable to even keep up a conversation. Instead he just looks back at the crystal-like thing, saying something much more simple about it.

Like his main observation.

".. It's so pretty." You could almost give this sort of thing to someone as a gift, he thinks. Like a jewel.

It is a strange notion in itself to Elidibus to be so far removed from the knowledge of aether's existence that one doesn't even know it's there. For the most part anyway. Even the poor fragmented beings now calling themselves mankind on his world are familiar enough to use it in everyday life.

Even when it causes apocalypses. Probably especially because it causes them one would think. But that's a story far from here.

"Such crystals are aether in a physical form," Elidibus offers quietly. There is an undercurrent of wonder to it. "...It is a beautiful sight." There is the sense that he is not talking about the crystal itself, as the Ascian looks at the environment instead. While he did not have the clarity Emet-Selch had, he could remember now knowing the wonder of the flow.

He then extends his hand palm upward to Inigo. An offer to take the crystal back. "In the beauty there is inherent danger. Such crystals are used as a catalyst. In everyday life. In sufficient quantity however, they can be used to create beings not unlike gods to those who call upon them."

By the way Inigo you are apparently holding a small fraction of potential god in your hand. Or for cooking. How does this feel?

Edited 2021-06-15 18:39 (UTC)

Honestly, Inigo kind of wants to keep the crystal.. but of course he's not just going to keep it when Elidibus is asking for it back. Inigo isn't that kind of person. So the moment he spots the other making that gesture, he places the crystal back on the palm of the other guy's hand, casting a last glimpse at it.

.. though he's also listening to the words at the same time as he's handing it back, and it's at the mention of gods that the bridge of his nose starts to wrinkle as he pouts a little.

"I don't know how I feel about these being on the same level as gods." Mostly since Inigo's relationship with one specific god is.. pretty Intense. He's not one to accuse people of blasphemy, but it still feels wrong, somehow. "Naga is so much more than a bunch of crystals."

Perhaps it would have been gifted had Elidibus not wanted to do more with it. Though any reluctance on Inigo's part may be noted to consider another time. Once the crystal is back in his hand, the Ascian tucks it away on his person. Or seems to anyway. One way or another it is out of sight.

"I know not the gods of your world, if this Naga is one of them." Or is it an occupant of the train? Elidibus makes another note to check the roster when he returns. "But if they are similar to those who call themselves gods on this train I have met, then it is astute of you to understand the difference."

Elidibus studies Inigo thoughtfully, with a care for the young man's expression and attitude. Then he explains, "A great many crystals may give rise to a powerful entity. But it is formed from the dreams and prayers of those who called it into being." And fickle is the nature of perspective.

He offers a faint smile, suggesting some humor. "No matter how close you may be to Naga, were you to call them into existence with a bounty of aether, it would not be the one you know. It will be the one you envision, compelled to act upon the desires you gave it."

A creature which has the power of a god. But never that person. Neither god nor saint, or beloved lost to a tragedy.

"Then that would be wrong."

No copy of Naga can exist in this world. In any world. The idea of calling forth a fake copy like that, purely born from his desires.. It doesn't sit right with Inigo at all, and he shakes his head.

"Still, if these things could summon a powerful creature.." Aside from it being a god or not. "Then.. they're way too powerful. Especially if you can make them so easily. Just imagine what could happen if that'd fall into the wrong hands."

"Most of my world regard the truth of such beings as you do. Though perhaps for differing reasons." There is more to their nature he hasn't explained. It is enough Inigo is absorbing that they can be created at all and they are fake. The other terrors need not be immediately brought to light.

"Yet grief and fear can drive man and beast to desperate action. Given the right impetus, I doubt not even people of your world would fall prey to such temptation." Well, that is the nature of people, really. Inigo may be able to remain stalwart in the face of it, particularly because of his close relation with Naga. Yet, "Would even you, not knowing the truth of such beings, not be tempted if you lost the god you speak of, to pursue a means to revive her?"

The question may be a chilling one. Not least reason is the intensity from the knowing look Elidibus levels upon Inigo. It is that of a very old being who has witnessed the fall of many like the young man.

It is over in moments. The tension fades and leaves the normal world around them. Inigo is favored with a slight smile. "Perhaps you have misunderstood. The crystal I created is little more than a catalyst for cooking or alchemy. And even then it would take multiple of its like. Upon what scale would you now believe expect to be needed for the creation of a god?"

Elidibus shakes his head. "Perhaps I might have been capable of forcing the aether to crystalize more quickly if I had not taken such care. And it seems the nature of a void nexus would make it more difficult." Another world? Who knows. Still to cut off any thoughts meandering that way, the Ascian fixes Inigo with a steady regard. "You may as well ask one man to forge enough links to supply mail shirts to an army, even were it harvested as it normally is where I hail from."

Edited 2021-06-16 21:20 (UTC)

Inigo listens to everything he's being told here, though he doesn't exactly like it. He gets that the other is just trying to explain things to him, and that's why he's having the good grace to actually stand there and listen, rather than protest or wander off.

But still.. it all feels like a bit too much explanation. It feels like when he was younger and got lectures from Frederick when it came to just about anything. It's kind of patronizing in a way that doesn't sit well with Inigo.

Which makes listening not exactly the most fun thing in the world.

".. I get it." Sheesh, can't blame a guy for not knowing much about stuff from another world, right? "I'm only saying things shouldn't be too powerful. They can throw everything off balance so easily."

And the last thing Inigo wants to do is introduce anything powerful to people here in this world and disrupt their way of living - or to people on the train, when at least one person has already shown they would readily harm another passenger.

It does not escape Elidibus that Inigo is reaching his limits.

"Perhaps I have spoke on the matter overmuch," he allows with an inclination of his head. Yes, 'perhaps'. Inigo is probably at least a little correct about the patronizing manner in which the man spoke however. It... has been a habit far too long to be broken so easily. "My apologies. You have been a patient listener."

But the apology appears sincere; at least as far as acknowledging he has pushed the young man's patience goes.

With a finger Elidibus reaches out to the nearest of the water fish. At his touch the condensed water loses its form and drops to the ground. While dispelling the other fish in given order, the man offers to Inigo.

"It is dangerous. And I have no interest in passing the knowledge of how to perform such a feat to our volatile community." Looking up from the last, Elidibus turns his gaze on Inigo. "I would ask, barring a pressing need, you keep our conversation on the matter to yourself, lest it invite misunderstandings."

"Don't worry, I'm of the exact same mind."

This definitely isn't something people have to know about, if it's that powerful. Maybe if it could help the train, sure, but Inigo can't help but see the potential downsides so clearly too.

It doesn't seem like a risk that's worth the taking.

"So I won't go around blabbing it to anyone."

It would definitely not help the train, though granted Inigo has no way of knowing this. Elidibus hasn't shared all the drawbacks of summoning such beings into existence.

The man nods, seeming to accept Inigo's answer at face value. In honesty he does not in the conventional sense. He doubts the young man will keep something like that a secret if it really threatened the train to be quiet about it. Instead of acceptance, it could be better to call it indifference.

The last water-blob fish dispelled, Elidibus takes one last look around as though checking to see if there is any overt disturbance as aether settles back into its natural flow.

"Do you wish to accompany me back to the temple? I wish to speak to the denizens before the evening meal."

There's a moment of thought, but it's very brief - really, it's just the natural pause most people have for a split second before they make a decision. But then Inigo's head dips into a nod.

"Sure."

That can't hurt, right? Even if the other is a little odd, Inigo sure doesn't think he's a bad guy.

Though he can't help but be a little curious when it comes to what he's saying now.

"What did you want to talk to them about?"

Shouldn't be a problem at all. Inigo gets treated to a more complex bit of magic, though visually speaking it consists of Elidibus raising his hand, pointing his palm at a location and causing a billowing cloud of black and purple to manifest.

A perfectly safe portal of darkness from point A to point B. Though Elidibus does check to make sure the void nexus doesn't appear to be affecting its stability.

And it is the first day of their arrival, thus Elidibus's answer is simple enough. "I wish to procure an area to offer martial lessons different to those offered by our hosts during our stay. A place outside the temple has its merits, though they are outweighed by concerns."

Such as large fish seeing smaller students with little training as food. It would be disruptive to lessons.

"After you," Elidibus then gestures at the portal indicating Inigo should precede him.

Yeah.

Okay.

That portal over there? Nope. Nuh uh. No way. Inigo's interest in heading back together in Elidibus is rapidly sinking all the way towards zero when this is the way presented to him. He thought they would just walk back - you know, like normal people!

And while the idea of portals isn't too odd for him, since plenty of people can use magic on the train.. Inigo hates the colours of that one. It reminds him way too much of something back home, enough so that he feels nauseous down to the very pit of his stomach.

His hands form fists at his sides, determined to not let it show, even though he can feel his face growing a tad paler.

"Let's not use that," he says, sounding firm. "We can just walk."

It would have saved them the walk. Nothing to worry about at all. Elidibus watches Inigo's reaction to the portal with some interest. It doesn't overly surprise him that the ominous shadowy portal is rejected by any mortal.

But the young man's reaction does appear to be unusually severe. A hand is gestured and the portal closed. Elidibus won't apologize but he will nod once.

"Very well."

Perhaps it is for the best. The portals may have taken a bit of time to get correctly aimed at the temple. But that's for a future Elidibus to discover and practice until he gets it right. He gestures again though this time it's a much more mundane wave indicating that they should be on their way and he will fall into step beside Inigo.

"Are you willing to explain what had you so shaken?" the man asks. It was inevitable that he would really. But at least Elidibus does give Inigo a few minutes to compose himself before doing so.

"You mean you don't realise it yourself?"

Honestly, Inigo managed to hide most of his reaction back there, though he's realising a little must have slipped out for the other guy to point it out like this. It's enough to cover up though when he's so practiced to shoving all of his more vulnerable feelings deep downward, especially when he isn't sure how to feel about Elidibus now he turns out to be able to make those sorts of portals..

Still, Inigo sounds a lot more casual when he speaks up again, having managed to draw up the mental shield that keeps him from showing too much to any other people.

"That thing looked super omnious. I'm pretty sure most people would give you that reaction if you asked them that out of the blue." That's not his main reason, but Inigo knows this much is true enough that it's an easy excuse to hide behind when he doesn't want to tell the truth.

Elidibus is very observant. And he knows well when fists are clenched so tightly and an expression becomes pale, the emotions being held in check are more unpleasant than a 'ominous feeling'.

"It is just as any element," he answers calmly. "And a tool whose intent is shaped by the hands which wield it." Yet Elidibus does not misunderstand Inigo's question.

"Still, I am aware of how it is oft seen. Yet few struggle so hard to keep their emotions in check without due cause." Be it a bad experience or a social bias. "You do not need to speak of it, if that is your desire. Yet I would know what other matters I may avoid to prevent further discomfort."

Oh, he hates this. Inigo is getting the heebie-jeebies about this guy more and more by the moment. Sure, it's not like there's some good intentions in what he's saying, wanting to avoid more awkward stuff, but it's just.. the combination of everything. All the weird things he talks about, the dark portals, the way he seems to approach everything so.. oddly verbose and clinically. The way he's digging into Inigo's emotions, no matter how much he tries to hide them.

There's no way the combination of that all isn't going to turn him off like crazy.

"Well, let me give you a tip in that case." He definitely sounds annoyed in a way he can't quite hold back. "If you don't want to make other people awkward, then don't point out things you're noticing about them so blatantly. If people don't want to tell you something, they probably have a good reason for it."

Elidibus slowly comes to a stop. Inigo might hear the soft sigh which escapes him, as if trying to expel a moment's rise of impatience. Or perhaps it is just resignation.

"If you would prefer I keep my counsel than consider your comfort over the longer term then I will do so." The crisp undertone makes it clear this is by far completely opposite of what he feels is the better option.

"Regardless. I did not intend offense." While this is spoken more calmly and with sincerity, there is a sense of distance that was not present before.

Elidibus might not seem like the type of guy who gets angry. But this is clearly 'not happy'.

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Let's Get Down to Business

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Totally fine. c.c

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