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

"Just the excess, thankfully. There were complications, of course, but those had more to do with the circumstances than the act itself." It really wouldn't do to call Mithos dead, anyway. Trapped is a better word.

Jade hums, considering Elidibus' proposals. "'Humanity the Architect's children, and blade the Architect's tools'," he parrots, tiredly repeating a dead man's words. They have haunted him for a hundred years, and they'll likely haunt him a hundred more. Unfortunately, the ice ether around him strengthens, sharpens, reacting to an emotional trigger he can't quite quell - Eldibus' fish likely remain untouched, but the ambient water immediately surrounding Jade crystalizes and falls like snow.

He takes his hands out of his pockets; his shrug and smile both wide - the perfect picture of unbothered, to anyone who can't read his other tells. "But then, my money's really on it being some unnecessary precaution."

No use dwelling on it. Time for a tactical subject change. "Anyway - I assume you don't have blades on your world, but you still claim familiarity with aether possessed of a conscious will. Would you mind elaborating?"

"I see," Elidibus answers with a nod. Well at least as far as he can in these circumstances. Jade offers what seems to be a saying from his world and with it, the impact of the blade's aether upon his environment.

It is interesting to witness and the Ascian takes a moment to be certain his own efforts are not affected by the sudden change to parts of the surrounding aether. One he is assured the work will continue to proceed at pace, Elidibus remarks, "That implies intent if nothing more." Not accident. "I wonder how much the society which created such words will have changed, ere your return." Any if at all? It seems there is a harsh road for the blades to be recognized as their own people.

This is not a matter Elidibus particularly dwells on. It has nothing to do with him.

"If you wish," he then speaks on the matter Jade requests further information on. "Aether is as much the life-energy of an individual as it is a source to draw upon to empower that which is called magic." Or power technology. "One may even say the soul itself is aether with a conscious will, though resisting the draw back to the cycle after one's lifespan completes is rare. Far more uncommon are those who can ascend to the state of an aetherial being." Even the sundered fragments of the Convocation would have difficulty had they not been aided by Elidibus and two peers. But that is an elaboration he remains markedly silent upon.

Another pause, another small adjustment to the draw of water-aligned aether.

"Strong emotion or memory may cause aether to manifest. Such creatures are oft referred to as ghosts or souls of the dead, though in truth they are rarely more than a fraction of the force which spawn them. Far more often they are little more than an impulse."

There. He's finally made certain with his adjustments that any further ice aspect on the environment will not have him starting all over again or taking longer than it already is. These small acts of fine-tuning are certainly something noticable if Jade is paying attention. And like any master of an art, Elidibus can maintain the basics while continuing to discuss other matters.

"There are beings which can be brought into existence from the dreams and prayer of those desperate for succor. False gods, but of a strength and potency which cannot be denied." Elidibus finally looks up at Jade again. "These are examples. There is much and more which can be done with aether, provided one has the knowledge and means."

No point addressing the immediate response - Jade changed the topic for a reason, after all. He winces as he notes Elidibus adjust the ether... But attuning himself to one of Asch's element's instead of his own is just as like to help as to backfire, with how little practice he has. Nothing to do but try and keep his own ether level, so that he doesn't further disrupt... whatever it is Elidibus is doing. Elidibus seems to have made satisfactory adjustments, anyway.

Jade listens otherwise without commenting, letting the lengthy explanations distract him from things he'd rather not think about. He was expecting significantly less examples, but he raptly absorbs the information, nonetheless. Maybe it'll never be relevant again. But he likes knowing.

"Fascinating. It certainly seems to be more versatile in your world than in mine."

And no wonder he asked if humanity made blades - if it really is that easy to just... Actually, that bears asking:

"Can simply anyone do this, or does it require an expert touch?"

Elidibus takes time to consider the answer before it is given. Not because he is uncertain; he's very proficient with the knowledge. But how to explain it best to someone outside the cycles of his Star and its reflections...

"To a degree and barring few, most sentient life upon my world can manipulate aether. Whether it's considered the act or some other mechanism, it is fundamentally the same."

Of course there are variations too. For instance this world isn't as easy to manipulate the aether of as Elidibus is making it appear. But that's neither here nor there for they are talking about how it works on the Ascian's world of origin.

"Naturally, it also calls for a sufficiency of aether. One cannot simply summon a god from naught but a few crystals and their prayers." Elidibus speaks quietly. The cost of creation is a subject he has reason to be grave about; how harshly memories change one's perspective. "There is always a price. Oft times a cruel one in its fair exchange."

"But even still - just anyone can summon a god if they have sufficient aether? That sounds like it has repercussions."

Which, given Elidibus' tone, he is well aware of said repercussions, but...

"A 'price' is different from 'several gods running loose on the world at once', after all," Jade remarks aloud, just so he's not thinking to himself on the matter.

That much should have been obvious. So maybe at first there's a bit of impatience expressed in the glance Elidibus gives Jade. It smooths out, particularly when the man clarifies that he's seeking to understand the difference between the price and the repercussions.

Or so it seems.

"They are known as Primals. And even unintentionally, yes, with strong enough desire and the right conditions. Those that summon them are enthralled by the being's essence, destined for naught more than to carry out the will of the very 'god' they summoned." That is but part of the price. As to the repercussions?

"I'm sure you are able to imagine the rest," Elidibus offers then. "To maintain their existence, they need more aether. Their enthralled worshipers will seek to maintain their false god and strive to summon it again if it is destroyed. Few can approach a Primal without themselves falling under its sway. Then there is the matter of the power of the Primal itself."

Whatever the concerns and costs of such beings, Elidibus seems almost... clinically indifferent about the matter. As if it is no particular threat to him personally. But then, detached has been the tone of the whole discussion about such creatures.

"Enthralled for life - even after the Primal is gone? Yikes. ...And there's no way to avoid that?"

Jade doesn't notice the detatched tone, similarly detatched himself. It's not his world, after all, just one he's asking about from a distance. And he's glad it isn't his world - for all that his is flawed, that sounds like a viscious cycle he would not enjoy being a part of. But then, his perspective on aether and things like thralls is skewed by his own experiences, so...

"...ah, sorry, I realize I've just been pestering you with questions, at this point. I hope I haven't disturbed you or your work too much."

"Who can say?" is offered as a vague response in regards to being enthralled for life. After all, barring summoning a Primal, there's no way to experiment with that here, now is there? "As for avoiding it, there are some means. Enthrallment to another. Certain blessings. But as exposure to your world's aether is harmful to humans, so too is remaining in proximity to a Primal overlong." After all, what is it but an huge bundle of aether?

Though even that rule has its exceptions. Elidibus will not offer further thought on the matter.

"No, it has been an interesting conversation to pass the time. You are welcome to continue to ask your questions. Though understand there might be some matters which I will not speak on."

"Oh I certainly can't blame you for that. We all have things we'd prefer to keep private." For Jade to claim otherwise would to be a hypocrite; there's several things he never intends on telling anyone on this train unless absolutely necessary, after all.

"Enthrallment to another, you say? Hmm..." Jade hums for a moment, rolling something over in his mind. He highly doubts a resonance between blade and driver would count, but he's interested in pursuing the thought, nonetheless. "I'm not sure there's a way for us to get an accurate answer on this, but even still, would you mind indulging me with a hypothetical?"

Elidibus listens and considers momentarily before offering a nod.

"It's as you say, I can't promise there will be a certain answer or even it will have any relevance. But you can ask. I am versed enough in the subject that I may be able to provide insight."

Well if nothing more. The guarded way the Ascian speaks does suggest he's reserving further judgement until he hears the theory Jade wishes to put forth.

"Well, how should I put this." Jade thinks over the words for a moment. "I wouldn't call it enthrallment, but in my world we have something called resonance. I mentioned, earlier, about how blades used to require a human anchor to even be corporeal? That's resonance."

"We call person on the 'anchoring' side of the resonance a driver. And drivers have a certain... sway over their blades."

He grimaces. 'Sway' is something of an understatement for 'hardwired to put their driver above everything else', but Jade forgoes the nitty gritty details for the moment. Getting into how deep blade instinct runs... might be useful for this converastion, but it's also his least favorite subject. He'll circle back to it, if he must.

"Of course, it's a little different now that blades don't need drivers. But being in resonance still involves tying your personal ether to someone else, which results in both partners of a resonance pair influencing each other. For example: I'm not completely untouched by my partner's ideals, and neither is he untouched by mine."

Jade shrugs, idly.

"All this to say: it'd be interesting to know if being in resonance would protect one from being enthralled by one of your primals."

Though Elidibus narrows his eyes, it seems this is just an effort to listen intently to Jade's presentation; though perhaps, as the explanation continues, it also has to do with studying the way aether moves within the blade.

He doesn't miss the nuances or the grimace.

After Jade concludes, the Ascian doesn't answer right away. But this is to mull over the hypothetical and to store away the useful information Jade has given about his nature.

Nothing to worry about, really.

Finally, Elidibus speaks up. "Though I have seen many worlds, they all follow the same fundamental laws. So I don't know how your resonance would apply if you or your partner were to experience the influence of a Primal."

Though he's not finished; that was just a disclaimer. "But this resonance is not unlike enthrallment. Though most become mindless servants, there are some that can hold on to their wills and memories. So it's possible this resonance may afford you both some measure of resistance."

Elidibus cants his head to one side briefly. "And given your chance of encountering a Primal ties in with this voyage, the SCA may also provide some extra protection. But understand, the nature of a Primal's enthrallment is not just an attack to the mind. It is as much an assault to the very depths of your soul."

Jade nods along, humming to himself. This is about what he expected from the conversation - musings, but nothing concrete. The only thing that could get them a concrete answer is hands-on experimentation which... Jade will pass on. If he actually got his brain turned to mush by a Primal, Mythra would kill him (if Asch didn't get to it first, anyway).

"Ah, and while resonance influences the mind, protection for the soul it is not," Jade says, once Elidibus is finished offering his thoughts. "So any protection it could offer against Primals would probably be negligible."

He has some quibbles about where 'mind' ends and 'soul' begins... but knows it's just logistics. He's done enough work on blade cores to have an idea of what exactly would get targeted by this hypothetical assault. Resonance would provide no help, there.

"I appreciate your willingness to weigh in your opinion, by the way. It might just be theoretical, but it is fun to consider how our worlds' rules might interact."

"...Will is part of what makes one's soul. You mentioned there was someone you were bound to?" Elidibus ponders a moment. "I won't say it is certain, but the laws of my Star link aether and mind together. Perhaps if I observed you together, I could tell you more."

The Ascian does allow for some thought on the interest in theory. "I don't mind. It provides interesting perspectives on my fellow passengers. If nothing else comes from it, I know a little more of your nature than I did before. And you know something of mine."

Well, possibly. They did speak of Primals, after all and not much of Elidibus himself. Still, the nature of his world and how he perceives it was certainly brought to light if nothing else.

"To tell the truth, I would be interested in seeing if you had any observations about me and Asch together, just generally," Jade says. "...Though I'll have to ask him about it, first, of course." It's hard to say if Asch would even agree. He knows Mythra'd say yes the moment he asked, but Asch isn't Mythra.

Either way. "Exactly," Jade agrees. Well, he learned more about Eldibus' world than Elidibus himself, he supposes, but conversations can only last so long, and what he's learned for now is definitely enough to chew on for the rest of the day. "There are certainly worse ways to pass the time."

"Speaking of which... As fascinating as this converastion has been, I'm sure we both have other things we need to do today. Perhaps I should leave you to your work, and be on my way? If either of us has anything else we'd like to discuss at a later date, it's not like it's going to be hard to find each other again, at any rate."

Asch, is it? Well there's another fact to file away. If push came to shove he might even make sure to keep a lookout for the two together and simply observe. For now, Elidibus nods.

Absolutely true. Elidibus managed to get away with saying surprisingly little about himself. By throwing a crumb of information that seemed a lot more interesting it neatly circumnavigated more personal matters.

"Unless the train has plans to send us on our way, no doubt. If your partner agrees to observations, pray inform me. Else I will not keep you longer. Good day to you." With the matter of parting settled, Elidibus gives a brief nod in parting before turning back to his work.

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Let's Get Down to Business

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