middleofsomewhere | The Waking of Neran

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

"You knew them, the ones from your world, back on this world? Give me details, I can record it."

They might as well at this point. Record everything, do the file work themselves. Sigh, this job is never as simple as 'stick to A and B'.

Sorry for suddenly giving you way much work, Ten-Nank. But to be fair, they're the one who asked about Inigo's system number and to scan him and everything to begin with..!

The upside here is that Inigo doesn't mind handing this information over. Especially since those two could be caught up in only Naga knows what at this point, and it is important to find them as soon as possible..

"One of them is my mother. Her name is Olivia. She was only on the train very briefly before she left on the platform like so many do. The other is my friend Gerome, he was there for a little while longer. But both of them have already left.." Inigo's voice trails off. He has to think, even though it isn't exactly a pleasant thing to do, on when those two left. On the times when he had to watch them walk away.

He can still feel it faintly hurt in his chest, even now.

".. quite a few months ago. Though Yuki, the guy I asked those others to look for, has been gone the longest out of the three of them."

Inigo can't help but wonder if those were the details Ten-Nank was looking for. It feels very much like the basics though, the things that probably can't hurt to share, and that won't just be useless information.

"I am.. not quite sure what other details about them might help you." Though, honestly, he's willing to hand over any and all information now. He just wants to know what happened to those people, no matter the price.

"And this isn't typically my work." Inigo doesn't know what to give, Ten-Nank's programs aren't defaulted for this, and so with a suffering, "Wait, I will find a useful program," they fall silent...

...and there's a flash to their eyes.

"Details of landmarks, of possible locations - countries, republics, kingdoms, whatever it is your planet knows, uses." There's a sterner note to their voice now, of someone running through a list, getting down to business. "Any possible dangers, any known weaknesses to these dangers. Individuals who can be spoken to - a group is better. We are looking for a few beings on an entire planet, with nothing but system numbers."

Don't mind it if Inigo suddenly seems startled for a moment. No matter how many missions he's been on, seeing this kind of behaviour from people who also seem to act mostly human is still so weird to him. His eyes go wide for a moment, staring at them as their eyes lightly flash like that, and their tone changes..

So weird. So weird!!

He tries to quickly recover though, if not just because it feels important to convey this information clearly. It's about his world, after all. It's about his mom, his friend. He has to do his best for their sake now.

"On my world it would be the best to speak to the Exalt-- that is the ruler of Ylisse. His name is Chrom. I know that he will cooperate even if he may find the situation odd." After all, even if Inigo might not be sure how much Chrom would care about his disappearance, he'd surely be worried about Olivia.. "Depending on the situation back home, it might be that he's preoccupied, in which case the next best option to talk to would be either of the Khans of Ferox. Their names should be Flavia and Basilio."

Unless something drastically changed while he was gone, but Inigo is trying really hard to not think about that.

"There are common dangers like bandits, but those could easily be fought off. The same goes for the Risen.." His voice trails off, and then, realising he should add for usefulness: "Those are reanimated humans." He doesn't like saying it, but it's not like he wants to let a scouting party just get beaten by a bunch of Risen.. The last thing they need is possible Risen void people wandering Ylisse.

"The biggest danger is an enormous dark dragon named Grima, but if everything is going according to plan back home, it shouldn't be present." But.. again. Inigo knows so little about the situation in his world. He's been gone for a year now. That's so long. So much could have changed, and the thought makes him look slightly awkward, even as he does his best to convey all the information to them as seriously as he can in this moment.

"Clarification: reanimated humans." This is the first point that Ten-Nank seems to be worth speaking up for. "The kind with their intelligence, or without? Do they consume human flesh."

Inigo can have the moment to answer that, before Ten-Nank will go on.

"So, if Olivia and Gerome's bodies are likely to be safe, they will be with the Exalt, some member of Ylisse, or with the faction 'Khans of Ferox'." A beat. "And so would yours. You were working in some manner, some way, with the ruler of Ylisse and the Khans of Ferox?"

Look at this. For some reason they have somehow managed to hit a double whammy when it comes to awkward questions to ask Inigo. At least he's well aware that Ten-Nank has no idea how awkward said questions are, so he tries to swallow down said awkwardness before it shows up on his face.

Just putting on his pokerface here as he answers, because the last thing he wants to do is have to explain daddy issues to some odd metal person.

"The latter were our allies. The former.. is my father. So, yes, if any of us would be in that world, Chrom ought to know where." Though the usage of the word 'body' is also awkward there.. Maybe it's just one of those little Ten-Nank oddities, Inigo figures.

(He has absolutely no idea, but that's for the better for now. The freakout can happen later.)

"As for the Risen.. no, they don't eat people." Sweet Naga, it's getting harder and harder to keep this pokerface, but Inigo sure is trying. Why would they eat human flesh?! Ten-Nank?! "They have some sort of intelligence, but.. reduced, I suppose one could say? They are very single-minded, and are only interested in attacking humans."

"Alright. And only humans? --Are there only humans on your planet. And gods. Dragon gods."

That's a good question to ask and have answered, before they send off non-humans. Probably. Might not be a problem.

Edited 2021-12-26 11:30 (UTC)

"Not only humans. But.."

Inigo's voice momentarily trails off. He's trying really hard to think about whether or not this is a diplomatic thing to say, but his mind is coming up entirely blank as he's looking at them..

"Erm. Certainly nothing that looks anything like you." N-NO OFFENSE, TEN-NANK.. "We have human-like races that can turn into dragons called the Manakete, and the Taguel who look half-human, half-rabbit. But they all have at least some human-ish appearance. You know, with.."

..

"Skin and all.." Inigo gestures to himself, like that's supposed to clarify it. He's probably trying to soften the potential blow of his earlier statement here.

"...I see, as individuals say." Said, with the delay and a dubious hint to it that rather implies they don't see. Nevertheless: "I've recorded your words. Others will be able to review, deceipher it, to take what they will from it."

So, at least there's that.

"Your world will likely be checked first to see if it still exists, and then a closer inspection made. It will take time - how much, I can't tell you. If we had support from the voidcraft, that might speed things along, at least let us contact you easier, quicker. We will do what we can under the circumstances."

Inigo is just heavily chalking this up to Weird Ministry People Being Weird, but gosh, if that 'as individuals say' thing isn't weird. What, is the Ministry some sort of big hivemind? Or is Ten-Nank a hivemind with a group of people within it?

.. Inigo isn't too sure he wants to ponder this for too long. Even just thinking about it for a moment is giving him a headache, and he quickly shakes his head to get the thought out of here. He's already had too much information for any given day, thanks.

Especially since the idea of his world just being entirely gone is.. unsettling. Mostly since Inigo can't deny that the possibility is out there. Grima could have revived, could have wiped everything out already in the time he was out here, stuck on the train.

He swallows thickly, and resorts to just bowing his head.

"Thank you for your assistance."

Even though Ten-Nank - and the Ministry - might just be checking for their own sakes too.. but it's helping Inigo and everyone else in the end too. It only feels right to acknowledge as much.

"I am not sure if much can be done to convince the train." Unfortunately. Because Inigo would really like these things to go quicker, especially if it means he's going to live with a ton of anxiety in the meantime. Until he can know more things for sure. Right now he's burying all of those feelings underneath a pokerface though. "But I will see if there is anything I can do to help matters along on our end."

"It would be...appreciated, the assistance. A favour." Ten-Nank seems to need to work themselves around those words, the weariness slipping with the dubious use of them.

Nevertheless: "If more on the craft are willing to work with the Ministry - or, willing to use the resources we can provide, then it would be better than to be regarded with indifference. We want to ensure the safety of all, if not most of you, but we are working with the limitations we have: your - meaning the passengers' - distrust, the voidcraft's distrust. I would advise that approving of the Ministry of detaining and analysing the craft would aid in us being able to gather information, data, but the decision is yours."

Well, there's only one possible reaction to that, huh. Inigo lets out a slow breath, and then shakes his head.

Regardless of whatever his personal feelings on the matter might be, he already knows one thing for sure: "That is never going to happen."

He doesn't even sound Determined, or anything like that. This isn't Inigo saying he'll stop the Ministry from doing that no matter what. (Though going that far is a little more iffy than just cooperating in the way Inigo has done so far, because he sure doesn't want the Ministry to - even accidentally - do anything that could ruin their shot at actually being able to go home.)

No, it's more just something that he's learned very rapidly from listening to conversations around the train.

"There are just too many people who would try to stop that. I'm not even sure if anyone could change their minds about that."

"Yes, my time here and previous reports do point me towards that being the preferred method. Of course."

Ten-Nank sounds resigned to this apparent fact, for whatever reason they would have to feel this way.

(Is it the paperwork involved? Yes, it's always the paperwork involved.)

"We'll work in whatever way we have to. I'll try to provide more information to the passengers, to yourself, if I can before you leave. To help individuals better understand their situation. To understand the void better. I'm starting to...grasp, process, slowly, how it looks to those on the voidcraft. How difficult it is for most of you to assume danger."

...

"...it would be easier to process if you weren't all tethered without initial consent."

"We would have prefered that to not be the case either," Inigo remarks - kind of dryly too, because yes, indeed, that's the exact problem! If the train just wasn't going around, dragging people in from all sorts of worlds willy-nilly, without thinking about the consequences for the worlds left behind or what would happen if the tether was unstable and people 'left'...

Inigo shakes his head, sensing that he's falling into a trap about negative thinking, knowing that he'll feel like crap if he considers this for much longer.

So she sucks in a breath, attempting this again. Come on, Inigo, at least see something positive in all this.

"At least we do have some contact with you now. It's better than nothing." Even if that's a very low bar. "I was almost starting to feel as if we would just be at the train's mercy forever."

Since it's not like they can just untether themselves and go home that easily. If it's even this hard for the Ministry to figure out the situation, then how could they, people with zero experience with any of this, have figured it out by themselves?

They are quiet, nothing unusual, for a few moments. As if they might not speak, but there is a point to the silence. A decision when they do finally speak:

"Your file says you have been on the voidcraft for some time. The inspectors did board once, yes, but the void is vast - keeping track of crafts that aren't under our purview is difficult. Hard. Part of the reason why the option to put out a false mission call was made, since The Voidtrecker Express doesn't like to stop and communicate for us."

Inconvenient.

"But we will try to keep track of the voidcraft as we can. I am...attempting to supply files that may help passengers, to let them know of the great risks involved. Some will likely not care, find it doesn't concern them - I know there are those already perished, without a physical anchor to return to, and some would prefer the void to their previous existences. But it would be...hoped, that those so invested in saving others on missions, would work to save each other. And don't need to continue to believe that they only have themselves, each other, to rely on."

See! This is exactly why everything about this dumb train is so inconvenient. Now they finally have contact with a group of people who can help them, and Inigo just knows that the train is going to make it hard for them to stay in touch..

It's like they can't ever have anything easily.

He shoves the thought down though, figuring that nothing can be done about it for now. Not unless they convince the train - and if Inigo has learned anything through his time on said train, it's that convincing it is near impossible.

So he instead focuses on what he can do. "I can't say what everyone will do," he replies, honestly. Because.. yeah, he's pretty sure there are some people who are going to distrust the Ministry, even now. It's inevitable, given how oddly spread the opinions on the train seem to be from what he's seen. "But I plan on doing all I can do. I just.." He stops, having to gather himself for a moment, not wanting to stupidly emotional - as he always is - in this moment. "I just want my world to be alright. And I want to make sure that everyone who has been caught up in this mess, especially the people we lost, are alright too."

"I can't promise alright - alright, what's alright with unstable tethers and individuals taken from locations that there were vital to? We can give options, search for options."

A sigh. "--and hopefully, sooner, later, but sooner would be better, the Ministry can give better aid to the passengers that won't be so disagreed on. Or ignored. It is of the opinion that bringing in the craft would be the most suitable option, but you can't go for suitable. Emotions, feelings - these always get in the way."

".. I'm well aware. Nothing much can be promised in our situation."

Inigo understands that. If his world isn't alright - well, then what's there that the Ministry can do about it? Nothing. They can't even pull all of them out of their situation with the train in the first place. It seems like all the Ministry can do as well is just try to look into things, trying to figure out what's going on, just like the people on the train have been doing for so long now.

At least there was that image of Yuki's world, he thinks. At least people should go look there soon, even though Inigo is pretty sure Yuki won't just be there. But maybe they can find clues that will lead him towards the other guy, and towards everyone who disappeared.

Inigo sucks in a breath, trying to steel his heart.

"I understand the situation." Everything the other has been trying to tell him. "Is there anything else you need from me?"

"It depends - on what you're willing to do. Can do."

To be a vague reply, but luckily, they explain:

"Other than encouraging the craft to work with us, compile information on how it functions. How that shop system of yours works, what you receive, what you don't. Information, data on the passengers. What worlds they are from, if there's patterns to the people brought in. How many have returned. How many disappear.

Write it, record it - whatever instruments are familiar to you. Do you have any now? I can give you my ID so that it can be passed onto me if you pass your documentation over to another Ministry worker. You don't have many options for going through proper channels."

Which they concede to with a resigned tone.

Does Inigo kind of hate the idea of compiling information when he is most definitely not even close to being the nerdy book-reading type of his friends group back home?

He does. But on the other hand, if this is the one thing he can do to hurry up their situation, then maybe he ought to do it. Especially since there aren't many people left on the train who have been around for as long as he has. So he nods..

.. until they ask him if he has any right now. Which is a good question, but also one he might not be able to answer so easily. Inigo pats down his coat, like he might find something in it, but comes up empty. It makes him blush, a little flustered at how unprepared he must seem, but then he just says: "Just tell me. I'll remember it."

Hey, he managed to memorize Yuki's system number, though that took him a long time.. Hopefully Zen-Nank's ID is a little easier, and he can just try to memorize it on the spot? S-Surely not everything in the void uses numbers that long, right.. right..!!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Waking of Neran

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject