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

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"I can use essence, if you prefer." They seem to slip it in, as irrelevant as it is to Jingyi's current question, but continues on to actually answer his heated question.

The finger in the band of silver fades to a darkened grey.

"Your essence becomes connected only to the craft. You are trapped in the void. And there is nothing to protect a tethered body from becoming destroyed - it can perish, at any point. If your body were to lose a limb -" they point to one of Jingyi's open palms, with the darkened grey digit, the colouration spreading over their hand in a light that he can move his hand out of.

"--either as you are now, as your essence, or, on your physical being's anchor, you would lose that limb. ... unless you can regrow limbs."

Then that's that. The coloured light fades away, except where they keep to Ten-Nank's fingers.

"Otherwise, you will lose it. It would atrophy on the physical being. Become unusable. Even if it appeared 'fine', as it should - your essence wouldn't comprehend it. Acknowledge it."

He flexed his fingers under the light projected over his hand, lips still pulled into a frown.

"Bodies reflecting what happens to us here? Does that change with the whole stupid forced resurrection?"

Do bodies fully regenerate if essence is so damaged the essence itself has to resurrect. But he shakes his head.

"When it's home system went, if tethers all and only work like you're saying, the Voidtrecker Express was suddenly staffed by Void Essence only. Then some unknown thing happened after those people tried to travel time, and they went missing, and we started appearing on those platforms."

Thinking out loud through something that's clearly bothering him, his tail the best indication of his unease while he continues kneeling. Twitch, lash, shiver: a predatory creature's fidgeting.

"Reminder that I don't expect you have answers to what I'm asking, but I'm going to ask anyway. What signs indicate a tether has been severed on one end? And how does traveling through time effect that?"

Not because he believes Ten-Nank knows. However, they might know directions to start looking, and asking, before all Jingyi does is start lamenting in genuine horror over his departure from the cycle of reincarnation he believes in for his home system.

Ten-Nank doesn't interrupt his thinking to answer his previous question. Waiting as they're postured, not responding to his fidgeting, to the erratic motions it makes. Not heeding them any attention, seemingly.

They don't speak, until the next question comes along.

"Your first question: the whole stupid forced resurrection. If you mean a void vessel's capability to keep the Void Essence stable even after death, then there may be side effects to the physical anchor, yes, but the void vessel will usually attempt to heal - to recover - the Void Essence while in this dire state. Dire, to some cultures. As it continues to hold onto your Void Essence, it will do its best to stop you from truly dying."

They pause, taking this on as they become more about sharing information, and attempting to sync better with Jingyi.

"Which is also true, if attempts to heal you are made while in the Void. If another, using our limb example, was to create for you a new limb, you would have it. However, there can be side effects to this to the physical anchor - it's especially dangerous if your body is in a position where growing a new limb would crush other parts of your body. Depending on how your physical anchor is currently being kept."

A beat. "There's also attempts to reconfigure one through the skills of other Essences not from your own system - and doing so in the void - will not successfully reflect on the physical anchor. Care should be taken, when using the skills of others on one's Essence. I say this just for information, than believing to know any intentions you have. If you think, however, this information would be useful for others on the void vessel, I am compiling a report. I can include."

Since, maybe they can figure too in the discussion, any information is good.

"But, to your next question. 'Indication a tether has been severed on one end'. There are not always signs. Well - no, let me rephrase. There are machines that can give signal. In most stations for anchoring, they will monitor the state of tethers, and some Void Vessels will also have this. Whether they're present or turned on depends on the vessel. Some individuals may be able to tell it themselves, depending on factors about themselves - but also, they may be too far from their physical anchor to feel it. The signal. The...ability that allows them to know. The skill."

To repeat different words for the same thing.

"Lastly, you bring up time travelling. Time travelling, void travelling - to use the void to change time in a system. This is complicated. If you have the Essence of a being that can influence time, and a system that can be influenced without great repercussions, that these two are compatible, then it's possible to 'reset' time. Move back through it. 'How does travelling through time effect that'. A severed tether. Well, that depends on the methods, the system attempting to be reversed. Reversing time is easy for a few, an exhaustive mess for everyone else.

"For the missing crew of the Voidtrecker Express, who I'm connecting this question to, what they did - this matters. If the system they attempted to reverse time in was one capable of it. How they attempted to use the Void, if they did. But, using a void vessel - a void craft - can be dangerous. There is too little we know. Both about the methods and the vessel."

He listens, studying the lack of features that is Ten-Nank, at least in the sense of how his brain is wired to read faces for expressions. He's gained some familiarity with the lack of them, in his time traveling without being asked to travel at all, but he still looks to read human or draconic meaning to gestures.

Doesn't quite find the right analogues, and doesn't acknowledge to himself he's doing any of that. But he does listen, trying to parse what he's told.

"I don't know that the vessel knows either."

Admitted with a grimace, and a spark of irritation that leaves his tailtip thudding against the floor, before he lets it go, rallies himself to stillness. Sorts through the rest of what Ten-Nank's saying, to see if he's understanding.

"Include the information. About how using another's skill on your Essence in the Void can have consequences. I don't know if we've run into those, but it sounds shitty, and we need to know." Further twitching of his tail, and this hurts his head, all these factors, but he forces himself to breathe and thinks, fuck.

It's kind of satisfying, thinking just that.

"I'm going to try and... repeat back to you what I think you're saying. Please correct this one where I err." He doesn't plan to, but that's the point of his repetition, to catch out where he isn't understanding, even as he's trying. Even as he's keeping himself calm out of willpower and a deeper, abiding anger at the hopelessness he can feel under this all, and the understanding that at present, there's nothing he can do but arm himself with information.

"Our bodies are on our worlds. Or, at least, vessels traditionally only carry the Essence of a person into the void, not their physical bodies or whatever ties them to their world in a living sense." He pauses, waiting for affirmation on that point. Because it immediately becomes a question, one he asks: "Can physical bodies move through the Void?"

Had they anchored getting people's Essence back to their bodies elsewhere, or were those people they Anchored for physically and Essence(tially) present? Headache increasing.

Having paused long enough for that potential answer, short or long, he tries again.

"Bodies, whatever form they take, act as an anchor. Like with a ship, or the spool for a kite held in hand, while our Essence is connected to the Voidtrecker Express. The Voidtrecker Express, if acting like void vessels known to the ministry, or as known to you, keeps our Essence as whole as it can while we're tethered to it. Certain actions taken on our Essence will also happen on our body anchors. Those effects may or may not be dangerous. Other actions taken on our Essence caused by people's skills won't affect our body anchors."

More and more, he can see why having people who are dead before they arrive on the Voidtrecker Express is even more confusing for... Ten-Nank, maybe multiples within the massive sounding body of the ministry.

"What allows us to be so... physical? When we're outside the Void, at any of these worlds. No, wait, let me get through everything you talked about first. Answered first. The questions are endless."

He sounds pained by this, and he is, because he wishes there were convenient answers, while knowing there never is, and that's such an annoyance.

"Do you know what these kinds of machines are called? I want to ask the Voidtrecker Express about if it has any of them, but it's shitty about talking, says the processing takes a lot of energy, so most the time it either says thank you for our feedback, or nothing at all."

He wrinkles his nose as the time traveling part comes back to mind, and he sighs. "What about in cases where a vessel's never visited your world? Or system, whatever we want to call things. How can there be a conflict in time if the Void doesn't follow any sense of time but the one made for itself, and a vessel's never visited a world? I know it's harder when it comes to the Voidtrecker Express's missing system, or whatever its crew did back then with the engine, but that's the thing about us, right? Mysteriously tethered. Not once has the Voidtrecker Express stopped in any of our systems. If it was deliberately going to one, couldn't it be at a time right after we had our Essence tethered to it? No idea how you'd guess when that moment is, but nothing we do sounds like we're following the way it's usually done."

A flick of his fingers, a dismissive and unhappy wave of his hand, at chest level, before said hand drops back down to his lap.

At the moment Jingyi pauses for affirmation, it will be a long one - either where Jingyi will need to clarify he's asking for affirmation, or for Ten-Nank to go, "You wish for confirmation?" and if it's a yes, then, "Yes, this is a way of viewing it," to help him along to the next question that's easier for them to assume as one.

"Physical bodies can theoretically, technically, some, enter the void - there are some beings who can tolerate it, but useful documentation of who, what, if there is or isn't side-effects - I couldn't tell you. I don't know. It's never mattered to me. But from scanning SCAs of the passengers of the Voidtrecker Express, of what information we have gathered on this vessel, it conducts 3-way tethers. A separation of body, self, connected to the void vessel. So this is clear."

Just to help the thinking brain. But then Ten-Nank will wait as requested, waiting for this apparent end, for Jingyi to get through everything spoken, rehashed into an understanding on his own.

"Talking, thinking, putting thoughts into words, anything into words. It's tiring, isn't it. You asked questions, but I wished to express this. I must take all of your words, as you do mine, make sense of them. If only I was an individual of true understanding. They exist. So much exists."

The weariness that they started with was pulled back for a while, but it begins to slip through again with their own aside, keeps as they continue, get to what Jingyi's assumedly waiting for.

"Machines, the ones I spoke of, are in buildings. Large things, like the working parts of ships. The ones that monitor the health of individuals from the physical side. Another term is the 'present side', but that may be as confusing to understand. Oh, you asked before, too - why are you physical here? Solid? It's because, this is you. You are you. Your essence, soul, spirit, ghost - we use these words to convey some understanding, but it is your tether to the craft that projects what you know yourself by your Essence. If you know yourself to be solid, then you are solid. If you know yourself to bleed, then you bleed. You may not understand it, but I find I understand little, too. Things just are. I did little to dictate, guide, how things should be, why."

They pause for a beat, then sigh quietly, a mumbling of, "Words and words and words..." following it.

But nevertheless, they continue a second later. "There are so many ways that time travel can be conducted. In the void - what do I know? If you have a craft that can move to points in time, then yes, who knows, will there be conflict? There might be, might not be. It is risky, but possible. You must be careful. You must have the right technology, abilities, capabilities. You want more concrete answers, I believe, apologies if it is presumptuous - but long conversations where I can't rely on only a few programs makes me exhausted. Researching and translating and translating and translating..."

"It's exhausting." He says this as a pronouncement of fact, which to him, it rather is. Not simply this conversation, but the whole concept of people wanting answers, of questions being endless, of it taking too much... okay, he lost track of it in a concrete sense at relying on programs, but he could guess at intent. Good enough for him, when pausing to ask further about programs was going to make his headache worse.

It sounded technical in a not-familiar sense. Not surprising, except that now he knew of those things, and wanted (and continued) to learn their use. Didn't seem relevant when it came to another person.

"Doesn't seem like it ever ends, either." Still, and still he holds himself, as he tries to parse through everything answered to him in turn. Coming to any conclusion is as likely premature as not, but he adds, sighing, "Just like the possibilities." For time travel, for the ways of their tethering, for the situation they're in, for how the Voidtrecker Express's system disappeared, for the shapes in the sky.

"... Wanting a break?"

"...Yes." It's not a response they jump to, but it comes, and the discolouration to their fingers comes to an end - and out comes a sigh, long and drawn.

"I was free to answer questions as I liked, yes, but really, the questions - there weren't that many. Easier for me, but leaving you all, the passengers, without information, a clue, as some say - seems against my job. My job to care. Makes it difficult, too, when we want to work with you. Your questions-"

They pause, hands staying in their place, everything about them unmoving.

"If you have more... write them, or use whatever recording method you have, like. Or don't. I will contact you - for a request. One I can't force, but would prefer. I want someone to take the information I make for the passengers in a physical manner. In case the void vessel ignores my contact and request."

A cant of his head, more birdlike than reptilian, and he lifts his brows. Tired, he understands. Wanting to leave people with information, he understands. Recording questions, he understands now due to his experience on the Voidtrecker Express.

"I'll send them along, if you tell me how. Not to deliberately ask you another question, but as far as I knew, I could only send spoken messages while I was on SCA to anyone else listed in my SCA on this screen." Tap, tap, tap, and he brings up the relevant one. "Here. To send to you, what do I need to do? As for the other thing... that's fine, I don't mind being contacted. I carry books and scrolls all the time back home, whatever you want shouldn't be a problem."

Ten-Nank tilts their head as necessary to view what Jingyi's showing them. Don't move it, even as they reply:

"Scrolls, books, this SCA - what do you prefer? I can send a message to you, a file, so you can record one that way. Type, speak. I can't put my contact into your SCA - I can only send files, like the testimony. But you can use other methods - whatever is more comfortable, familiar. Convenient. Your choice."

And Ten-Nank won't accidentally teleport him while he's holding onto his complaints.

"I will be here for as long the Voidtrecker Express is here - a while longer than that, but this is my job, why I'm present."

"Anything I can write on with a brush."

Hologram, paper, scroll, it didn't matter to him as long as he didn't have to peck each character out the way he types. Sure, he's gotten faster at it after months of complaining to the Voidtrecker Express, but it's still much less efficient than him writing the strokes himself.

"We're rarely anywhere for long, I imagine it's what, another day? Two? Before the Voidtrecker Express will leave again."

"Then write with a brush on anything. Pass it along to me, myself; my programs can read written languages. And others in the Ministry can read, too. Or use programs to read."

As if that's comforting to share.

"I'll have it filed. I can't promise or offer an estimate in time for when I or anyone else can answer you, but we will try. Ask the void vessel to allow communications, hope we can send up a meeting again. Whatever is your choice, what you prefer to do."

They pause, and then look over to the floating images of Jingyi's world.

"I can send those visuals of your planet to your SCA, or put it with the rest of the files. There are machines that can help to put visuals onto paper. Parchment. Surfaces."

"I don't know about those machines myself," he says, quieter, "But I know those who would. So... yes, please. If you can send those to my SCA, that would be appreciated."

Which means more thanks given, and he doesn't grimace at that, simply looks serious. The rest they can figure out as they need to, and much as he doesn't know all machines that can do the things Ten-Nank mentions, he does know people. He trusts he can ask those people. If not Tidus, then Idia, or Jake, or anyone he turns to on the ICP and admits (loudly, and not proudly or happily, but directly) to his ignorance and need for help.

No point pretending anyone is at their best alone and in isolation. Particularly not someone raised and trained in a group.

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The Waking of Neran

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