middleofsomewhere | 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

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Kitty smiles, because honestly she's pretty used to that by now. She tries not to bring it up unless she really has to, but if they're going to get something to eat it helps at least alerting her eating partner of her dietary restrictions.

"Yeah, I'm sure there'll be something," she replies with a shrug. She's not too worried, really.

That makes two of them then! Which is a small miracle, since Inigo is usually always worried.. but this feels like it's so likely they'll find a place without meat that there's not really any sense in worrying about it.

In fact, Inigo is already stopping at a nearby place to eat, staring at the board they've got outside with all the meals available at this particular place, humming to himself.

"Do you see something on here that you could or would like to eat?" Hey, he might as well leave it up to her, since she'll probably know a whole lot more about those sorts of meals than he does.

Kitty glances over the menu board, but she frowns a little. "I'm not sure. I don't really recognize some of these names." Then she shrugs and glances at Inigo. "But let's give it a try. They might have some bread or something I can eat."

"Okay, we're not just going to let you eat bread."

It's said mostly as a joke though, with a smile on Inigo's face.. but he's not entirely joking about it. If they seriously don't have anything for Kitty, they can just leave and go check out a different place.

But for now he seems to be alright enough with the idea of going to try and dine in this place, so he nods at her before moving into the small restaurant-like building, looking around at the tables before sitting down at a cozy table in the corner, near the hearth where an open fire burns.

"They sure are fond of hearths here, aren't they?" Not that Inigo is complaining - it reminds him so much more of home than most other worlds they have visited so far. It's kind of nice. Weirdly nostalgic.

She snickers a little. "But I like bread." She's mostly teasing too, because she really would like to have something more substantial, but it feels like it's been a while since they've joked around.

Glancing around a little, Kitty nods. "They really are. Though I guess it makes sense, with a place that can get as cold as this."

Inigo nods. "True."

People would be very interested in keeping themselves as warm as possible here..

"Though it did seem that in other places we visited, they tended to rely more on technology to keep themselves warm." Because, yes, regular modern heating systems are weird and futuristic as all heck for Inigo. He's only used to the kind of warmth-creating they do here, with fires and hearths. "This feels so much more like something I actually could have seen back home in Ylisse."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Even if modern technology wasn't all that uncommon to her, this place did feel a little more old-school. "Maybe it helps with a feeling of togetherness? Gathering together to warm up by the fireplace is much more intimate than sitting in a heated room."

"Right?! I've always thought it felt that way, but I thought I was maybe just biased.."

After all, sitting by the fire together is what Inigo is used to. Sure, he's got pretty used to the modern stuff on the train by now, but it still can't beat the good old traditional stuff. That's all what's in his memories. What he's nostalgic for.

"It just makes everything feel a little extra warm."

With a smile, Kitty nods. "Yeah, there's something about a warm fireplace that just can't be beat." Despite being someone who is pretty reliant on modern conveniences, she had to admit that getting cozy by the fire had a timeless charm.

Inigo smiles.

"I wish we went to more worlds like that." Though he gets it. Considering the standard in technology on the train is a little more modern than what he's used to, Inigo assumes that's the universal average, somehow. Especially when he also judges by what technology most people on the train are used to..

"It feels like whenever we go to a world without all that crazy technology, there's never many villages."

Like when they went into the jungle on Nion - and even that place did have some dumb weird technology!! - or the world with the Sali.

"I mean, I suppose it'd be more difficult to find out if there were other villages when it's hard to travel to other places."

Even with some modern technology, it can take a while traveling from one place to another. Depending on how widespread villages were, it might just be a question of how easily it would be to get there.

"But we traveled a lot in some of those places, right? When we went to Nion.. that forest there was huge!"

Inigo means jungle, but.. you know. It's not like medieval boy over here is going to be able to tell that difference, especially when it's not like his homeworld has jungles of any kind.

"And yet I didn't see a single person living there. It was all just animals. And even on Irivar we only saw one or two towns, despite the different teams practically moving all over the globe there.." Which doesn't really feel realisitc to him. There were plenty of small villages back home!

And yes, he might be sulking a little over here, since Inigo feels like he's trying to defend the pride of non-newfangled-worlds over here.

She shrugs a little. "I can't say, honestly. I'm not sure what would be considered normal in other worlds, y'know?"

The Waking of Neran

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