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

OOC post. Ask questions here. The Ministry's testimony form is here

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It's an angle." She agreed, "We can look into it. Anything helps, really." Since so far they have a lot of... not a lot.

"I think the ministry are hoping to keep contact too, so your wishes are aligned in that at least."

"If we could find evidence about all them worlds what disappeared, what difference you reckon it'd make in the long run? Would it change how the train was treated? Give us any bigger likelihood of gettin' help?"

Because his main reason for wanting to find out anything is just that- the safety of the crew. It's protective on a scale he can manage. Others could focus on the bigger threat itself, and it's worth knowing, but there's a bunch of people here that need looking after, and they need their second (or third or fourth) chance.

"I don't know." She admitted, she was hardly in on the inner workings of the ministry but she has to hope. "There are people who want to help you, so any information we have the better. At the moment we are working on next to nothing, chasing rumours."

The void is a big place and accurate information could be hard to find sometimes.

"I think maybe we oughta look for anything on Diagad, too. Seems like that one woulda left and done some pretty memorable stuff. And considerin' what took us all in seemed powerful enough to grab folks from other universes, maybe there's an answer about strengthenin' our tethers."

After all, other than them helping, it seemed like they had just been moved whole. Not that he knew any of the technicalities, just that it was definitely different from the conditions that they were all under.

"It might be so. I have no idea how that thing was travelling across the void. It shouldn't be possible, living, sentient beings aren't meant to be able to travel the void outside of voidcraft." She shook her head.

"Not that they did it successfully, but they still lived. Somehow." A mystery and a worrying one. "Grabbing people from one world directly into another... That they were powerful enough to do that is terrifying."

And was the answer in Diagad? Something that had happened when it had been destroyed? She wished she knew.

"What non-sentient beings travel the void outside of voidcraft?"

That's something he's not thought too hard about yet, but they are in space. Why not the void?

"There's technically nothing natural to the void, sentient or not. Though there are plenty of stories of monsters nothing has been proven. But there is debris there, objects and such that can cause hindrance to voidcraft."

She shook her head. "But nothing that can be called a being, I don't think..."

"Has there been unnatural things capable of enterin' and travellin' in it, even if they were from different worlds? Somethin' like a Celestial or a God? Or has that even been a no go outside of this one survivor?"

Because that is a hell of a lot of power, if that's the case. And he doesn't think sealing will do the trick.

"As far as I know it shouldn't be possible. Which of course we know it clearly is. If something else can do it, if something else has..." She sighed.

"The void is a big place. Bigger than my mind can even comprehend, it might be in some far flung system gods or celestials have broken through. The fact I've never heard of them probably means they were not successful."

"Then if somethin' is destroyin' void worlds, it might not mean somethin' is movin' in it with intent. Maybe just somethin' wrong with the void itself..." Which bodes even worse. He's heard of things that eat worlds, or target worlds, or even hatch out of worlds (he's from Centauri IV, and a Celestial hatched out of Centauri VI in the same system millennia upon millennia before).

But those are thinking things. Now his mind is all wrapped up in the idea of some interdimensional 'gray goo' ish concept.

But that's all beyond him, he knows. In his experience, he focuses on the little stuff, and then the people he helps or supports or trains goes out and breaks the big shit because they're much stronger than he can be. "I ain't a man to scare easy but the idea of what this can do is pants-shittingly unnerving. But if someone might be able to help, it'd be some of the people on this train if they had the right information. I got confidence in that." Maybe not him, but other people.

Well now wasn't that a terrifying thought. Something wrong with the void itself. Something in the void causing the worlds to be eaten rather than a threat coming from a different system.

"Yes, I think for now the best we can do is spread information. The more prepared people are the better and then more people who know the more likely someone might have some idea what is going on or how to stop it."

Combatting an utterly destructive force of nature and kicking a giant thing's ass are definitely two different solution types.

"Yeah, I'll... what kinda packaging would be good to use if I left info on people's comin's an' goin's on platforms?"

That smaller focus, better veer back towards it. That he can do something about.

"Something water proof. A folder perhaps? A box?" She thought for a moment, "Anything that keeps the elements off. The void entrances simulating weather is one of the more irritating things about them."

She smiled, small things were easier. Better than trying to tackle big questions that they had no answers to.

"At least when the weather's real inconvenient anyway. If it'll stay put I'll just grab some folders an' stick 'em in a plastic bag an' leave 'em out for someone to find."

He mulls over another question, one he's not sure he wants to know the answer to. He sort of wants to see if his boy is alright, but he also wants to blindly trust that he's fine 'cause... what if he's not? What if Peter Quill fucked off to get himself killed.

Alright so, maybe he won't ask about his world. He couldn't handle knowing something happened to him and Yondu couldn't be there to stop it. Even without the train, his time was done.

Other people seemed to have their own run of questions. He still wants to find out as much about voidcraft as possible but... yeah, not mentioning that here. So he just nods. "I'll get it to ya. And if somethin' happens to me, I'll make sure someone else gets it to ya. It'll be there."

"Thanks." She smiled at him, "Hopefully we will find a way through this, to figure it all out and untangle this whole mess." Even if it felt very much tangled right now.

"Hopefully we can keep in contact. Your craft has allowed my messages through so far, hopefully it likes me. Though once it finds out about this." She waved at the room, at Tan-Nank. "That might change."

Voidcraft could be difficult. Chiff beeped at her side.

The Waking of Neran

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