voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2021-12-11 10:04 am

The Waking of Neran

"Good morning Voidtreckers and passengers. Today is day twenty one of the month of Orchestra. We will be arriving in System #78961112094711 later today and the dressing carriage is open for your use."

It is indeed, with thick winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves in all sizes. There are also some bags suitable for carrying food, for anyone who wants to add to the festival food with more food!

They have the morning to prepare before another announcement.

"Shortly arriving in System #78961112094711. The weather is extremely cold, voidtreckers and passengers should wrap up warm and wear their SCA's at all times. Arriving in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train shakes as they leave the void and they will see dark skies with glowing flecks of light falling down around them. It's only a glimpse before there is rock to both sides as they enter the landing area.

The Waking of Neran



... ARRIVAL TO OSIGA
THE VOIDTRECKER EXPRESS PULLS INTO AN OPEN HIGH-STACKED PARKING STATION, FILLED ALREADY BY A VARIETY OF VEHICLES. Darkness and the cold spills into where they pull in, lights and signs around to guide the Voidtreckers who exit the craft where they need to go, elevator and teleporting systems available to choose from.

For those turn their gaze to where the cold comes, they will see a view of the world: a landscape of mountains lit in burning bright blue. Like Christmas and city lights, they can be seen in the far distance, and the sky too glows with a shimmering, falling blue. It looks like a slow rain, while farther up, the twinkling of actual stars can be glimpsed.

This will be their view of the world for three Osiga days - 210 hours, give or take.

The lower floor widens into a train-like station, shuttles ready to take them into Osiga proper in short five minute rides. They just need to figure out they need to scan their SCAs at the turnstiles, which will beep with approval, and send a map to their SCA of the grotto.

With a handy dot to their hotel.

... THE IRUE GROTTO

HOTEL. THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOTEL IS STONY, A WALL OF UNEVEN ROCK WITH SLITS FOR WINDOWS CLIMBING UPWARD. It gives off a sparse, cold impression, but the interior is anything but. Inside the floors are smoother, a carpet in the middle of a lobby, and the walls are decorated with colourful paints and endless rugs and furs. There's seating, a roaring fire in one corner, and lighting set to a cosy mood.

There's stairs that can be taken, but also elevators. The bedrooms are much the same as the lobby, with paints and furs all around - the furs especially covering the beds, along with hand stitched quilts. In the centre is a fire pit, set with heatstones than wood or coal, and extras in a container by a wall with safety instructions of how to move them (with tongs and gloves).

Outside the rest of the grotto can be seen, a mish-mash of layers closer to a labyrinth. There's curtains for privacy, and also a screen to help blot out the sound.



FOOD & SIGHTS.

NOW, THE IRUE GROTTO CAN BE EXPLORED. The grotto is easy to get lost in, with stone stairs and archways doubling as bridges to lead to different levels, but always with something to see. Museums and art galleries fill most of the lower layers down, a few shops between of traditional trinkets and garments for those who come out interested in taking a piece of Osiga back with them. There are also day classes, with candle-making a big one on the first night.

Water runs through constructed streams, small but always in travel. They fall off into small waterfalls, eventually gathering into pools that always ensure drink is around. But there's also drinking spaces around, wall coves where servers mind the drinks, and people gather around on crouched seating. Privacy isn't a big deal in Osiga; visitors welcomed into conversation freely. The drinks favour the strong, spicy and sweet. Their traditional drinks are a fiery whisky and a sweet creamy milk drink flavoured by spices that taste very much like cinnamon and nutmeg. It is strongly alcoholic though there is a non alcoholic version as well. There are other drinks available of course from other planets but visitors are encouraged in a good natured way to try the good stuff.

And let's not forget the food. Most traditional Osigian dishes are spicy yet sweet, fatty, and largely meat. There are also food baskets all over, filled with wrapped snacks free for taking, or to add your own. Never let your neighbour go hungry. What will you find, dipping your hand in: a treat, or a mistake?



SORS PARKS, OPEN SKIES. THE FARTHER FROM THE HOTELS AND STATION VISITORS GO, THE MORE THE SKY BECOMES VISIBLE, AND WITH IT THE FALLING SNOW. Except this isn't snow, and those who venture out will figure this soon enough. There are sors parks up ahead, hard to miss for how they glow a brilliant blue, tall erratic sculptures shaped like an abstract mess. They're cold, even colder than the rest of the grotto, and near every entrance are wooden racks with coats and scarfs hanging from pegs, a bucket of heatstones to stick in pockets.

Keeping company is better than not. Anyone who goes in alone will find the chill uncomfortable to those who have someone else nearby, SCAs working stronger together. Paths somehow stay free from being covered in the icy mess, and every few yards are grit bins with small bags to put the contents in, instructions as to what to do.

And that's to throw them at the sculptures, into the air, and watch as the hardened ice disperses into a fizzle of lights. The sight is considered beautiful, and especially fun for kids and couples.

... ANAN & THE MINISTRY
It's maybe an hour or so after their arrival when a message comes through the comms on their SCA's.

boop beep boop beep / boop boop boop/ boop boop/ beep//
beep beep / boop beep//
beep beep beep boop/ boop boop boop/ beep beep/ boop beep beep / boop / beep boop beep/ beep/ boop beep boop beep/ boop beep boop/ beep/ beep boop beep/ beep beep beep//


"It didn't close the hack. I think your Voidtrecker Express likes me." Anan sounds almost triumphant. "Glad you all came. I'm at the drinking space next to the Irue Museam of Osigan Art."

For those that wish to go and meet her, they can.


... THE WAKING OF NERAN
NIGHT ONE: REMEMBERING. It's hard to tell when 'night' begins when the world is in darkness and there are more hours in the day then they are perhaps used to. But things begin to wind down a little, the art houses and museums close and the day activities are wrapped up.

People begin making their way to the main streets where the parade will go. Some people may have made candles throughout the day but there are also long candles for sale and 'fire' bearers carrying large torches to light the candles. The main lights are all turned off, plunging the streets into darkness lit only by the candles and the faint distant glow of sors.

The parade itself has large lit floats, literally floating above the ground, the lights are in intricate shapes. There are light dancers- people dressed completely in black to blend in to the night, with ribbons of light doing feats of acrobatics to music- instruments and volcaless voices weaving melodies.

After the parade passes by people move to the streams, where their floating candles that can be lit and sent on their way. There are designated areas for the tall candles to be placed- almost shrine like with areas to pray or think or sing- the helpful guides will assist anyone and are very open to the different ways people from various worlds and cultures may wish to remember their dead.

Afterwards people are encouraged to drink, eat, spend time with the living and swap stories of the dead. Dance and sing. It is upbeat, joyous and the tears are meant to be cathartic.

NIGHT TWO: PERSEVERING. After another day of activities- or resting and recovering from the excess of the night before the grotto again is ready in anticipation. The side of the grotto open to the sky is packed with people, ledges and railings packed with people. Even the buildings on this side of the grotto have opened their doors to allow people up on their roofs to watch the firework display.

Sparklers are sold, as are snacks and drinks and a voice comes through speakers throughout the space.

"NERAN! On this night you fight!" The crowd cheers. "Hear our dedication, return to us! For tonight is a night of COURAGE!"

The crowd cheers again and the fireworks begin. Loud and colourful, beautiful shapes, almost like dances in the sky. It's loud and it's busy but the atmosphere is great, throughout the night within the crowd there are marriage proposals, declarations of new jobs, decisions to travel the void. Bravery and courage abound- helped probably by the strong whisky that is flowing freely.

NIGHT THREE: UNITY. The festival continues, though it's a slightly later start on day three for many who are nursing hangovers, having a well earned sleep in preparation for the final night or just frantically trying to remember what declarations they had made the night before.

But the activities are still happening throughout the grotto- though the guides might advise any obvious voidtravellers that they may wish to nap before 'night' time, especially if they are not used to day/night cycles this long. The final night doesn't stop til sunrise after all and no one wants to miss the sun rising!

As the time comes for the party to start every square and every street is packed, music blares through speakers. Traditional Osigan music mixed with styles and music from other planets in the galexy. The traditional Osigan music has many layers, deep bass instruments that seem to make the ground itself rumble.

There is dancing, led by guides and locals. They are big circle dances, loud energetic and done in unity. There are callers who keep everyone in time and remind them of the steps but it is mostly an exercise in organised chaos.

But very fun organised chaos. There's extra chairs and benches set around for people who would rather watch or need a break from the endless swirl of dancers. There's plenty of water in large barrels for people to help themselves and other drinks are available to buy.

The party goes on for hours but eventually the music stops and there is an announcement that they have an hour left until sunrise. People begin moving out to find the best spots to watch. Up high on the cliffs people spread out rugs and blankets and settle, waiting.

The atmosphere is one of anticipation, people passing around drinks and snacks. Then there is a hush, a cry as for the first time in a month the first ray of light streaks across the sky.

Neran has awoken. The sun has returned once more.

OOC NOTES
OOC post. Ask questions here. The Ministry's testimony form is here
schrodingersghost: (fenton)

Danny Fenton | Day 2

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-12 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
On the evening of the first day Danny had made an unpleasant discovery about his world.... and an offer he wasn't sure about.

He needed advice.

So throughout the second day he is seeking out friends and acquaintances as he tries to decide what to do.

"Hey..., can we talk about about something?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971828)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-12-13 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
The voice has Kitty pausing a moment, already feeling a little worried as she turns to Danny.

"Sure, what's up? Everything okay?"
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Phone)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-14 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Honestly? Not even close." He sighs. "I found out some things about what's been happening in my world while I've been here. Its not great."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#14105704)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-12-14 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Her heart drops a little. While she'd had an idea that their worlds were continuing on without them, now there was actual proof of it, and she couldn't help wondering about her own home even as she worries about Danny and his. "Oh no. What's been going on?"
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Sad)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-14 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know a lot. The ministry representative here just showed me a picture of my world from space. But there were ghost shields everywhere. Those only go up when there are active ghost threats."

Maybe it wasn't his fault that he'd been taken here and separated from his world. But he couldn't help but feel that it was his responsibility. If he hadn't disappeared, could he have stopped this?
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971787)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-12-16 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
She seemed to sense some of his doubt, and she placed a gentle hand on his arm. "None of this is your fault," she says softly. "We didn't have any choice of being brought to the train, after all, we can't control who goes home or how. Besides, you don't know for sure if it's really bad, right? Even if they're usually up for active ghost threats, maybe this time they're up as a precaution."
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Hands Up)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-16 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe not my fault. But it is my responsibility. Its my job to stop something like this from happening." Even if it was the worst self-appointed unpaid volunteer job ever. It was still his.

He places his free hand on her hand. "Thanks for trying, though."

"Ghost shields use up a ton of energy," he explains. "Unless my parents made some kind of huge advances in energy efficiency, they wouldn't have them up unless they were needed. The only time I've ever seen them used at that scale was during all out ghost invasions."

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averyusefultray: (So let's talk)

Re: Danny Fenton | Day 2

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-12-15 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
Has she ever said no to that question?

When it wasn't coming from Kanan about discussing long term plans, at any rate.

But someone's concerns about their own life? "Of course."
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Get Ready)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-16 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[He pauses for a moment,trying to figure out how to start.]

I talked to the ministry again. Back when they kidnapped me they promised they would look into trying to find news from home.

And they did. The representative just showed me a picture of my world from space. And its not good.
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-12-17 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Hera grimaces. She knew there was a lot of pressure on Danny, but she'd hoped his world would find ways to pick up the slack. But maybe it really was relying that much on one kid. "And meanwhile, you're still here."
schrodingersghost: (Default)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-17 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm still here," he agrees with a sigh. "And here I've been enjoying the adventure and not having to hide what I am... while my world's been dealing with who knows what."

He still wasn't even sure if he wanted to go home. Back to lying and hiding and disappointing every adult in his life. But he knew that he had to. It was his responsibility."
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-12-19 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
She worries about that with her own world, but there's something she can say to others even if she's harder on herself.

"You didn't leave on purpose, and you're learning things here that might help there." Getting back... well that's the hard part isn't it?
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Sad)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-19 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"It doesn't matter that I didn't leave on purpose. Its my responsibility to stop this kind of thing."

And he was sure he was already being blamed. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been blamed for something he had nothing to do with.

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dnaofahalfa: (Human: Yeah idk)

Re: Danny Fenton | Day 2

[personal profile] dnaofahalfa 2021-12-15 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure, what's up?" Razzy asked. She paused, looking him over with concern. "Did something happen?"
schrodingersghost: (Default)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-16 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah..., you could say that." He was clearly tense and the slightest bit paranoid.

"I went to talk to the ministry representative. And they did it. They got a picture of my world." An uncomfortable pause. "There are ghost shields up.All over the world."
dnaofahalfa: (Human: idk)

[personal profile] dnaofahalfa 2021-12-17 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
"What?" Razzy said, looking surprised. "But....why? The only thing the ghost shields protect against are ghosts. Is it the whole planet or just sections?"
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Worried3)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-18 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sections. But there's a lot of them." He frowns unhappily. "The visual was taken from too far away to see details, so I have no idea what they're trying to protect against. I mean, it has to be ghosts, somehow?"

But what kind of threat would have caused that?
dnaofahalfa: (Human: idk)

[personal profile] dnaofahalfa 2021-12-21 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
She frowned. "I mean, yeah? I haven't seen any ghost portals that work on other things. Can't be Vlad, obviously. But....it also has to be specific ghosts. Like ones stuck in the human world? I don't think ghost barriers stop natural portals from forming inside them."

"Could it be people are wildly misunderstanding something? From what I gathered, most humans assumed ghosts were bad."
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Worried4)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-21 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"That... is actually really likely. I'm hoping its just a misunderstanding." He'd feel a lot less guilty about that than some of the other options. On the other hand, what if this was his fault for not being there to head off the ghosts coming out of the Zone?

Some of the ones recently.... Well, he could them imagine them being a major problem for the human ghost hunters.

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luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-12-17 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nyh?" While probably on the level of acquaintance more than anything, he's at least a good ear for some stuff.

Plus he's got that...handy dandy seer business that loves situational drama, so maybe Danny's counting at least a little bit on that. As it is, the blond turns. "Sure man, what's up?"
schrodingersghost: (Default)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-18 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's the ministry." Danny frowns. He didn't know Jou well, but he really needed a second opinion. Was he just panicking?

"They made me an offer. And it sounds good. But I'm not sure if its right, if that makes sense?"
luckydragonsfoot: (u done yet)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-12-20 01:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Th' ministry..? ...Oh yeah they were handin' out those...test things t' fill out huh..." He's still not sure about it.

"What was th' offer? If it sounds too good t' be true, prob'bly is by th' way, 's how stuff works," he says, as if he himself wouldn't have immediately gone for it on the basis of 'sounds good'.
schrodingersghost: (Default)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-21 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, that. But also I asked them back when I got kidnapped whether they'd be able to get some news of my world. And they did?" Danny winces. "And... my world kind of looks like it might be in trouble? But I won't know how much trouble unless they send someone to get a closer look. And they won't do that unless I agree to stay in contact with them. And they told me the goal of that was to encourage the train to communicate with them."
luckydragonsfoot: (u done yet)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-12-21 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wait, they're supposed t' be th' good guys but they're not gonna tell you about your planet without strings attached? What th' hell!"

Suffice to say, Katsuya is immediately not a fan. And probably not sending a testimonial for that matter. "Yeesh, but they don't lose a thing if you refuse too..."

He hates it a lot. A lot! Katsuya crosses his arms. "How'd they want y' in contact? They want you t' be some kinda Train spy 'r somethin'?"
schrodingersghost: (Fenton - Anxious)

[personal profile] schrodingersghost 2021-12-21 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's kind of the impression I got. They said that they just wanted the train to see people communicating with them as an example."

But they also kidnapped him the last time they showed up. So, kind of a sketchy track record.

He sighs.

"The thing is, I'm not sure if I have many options. I need to find out what is happening there."

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