middleofsomewhere | Fissures of Time: Start

Fissures of Time: Start

"Good Morning Voidtreckers, today is day eight of the month of Poi."
The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image appears...

FISSURES OF TIME: START

... BASE CAMP

THE VOIDTRECKER EXPRESS LANDS CLOSE TO A GIANT OF A FORTRESS SAT ATOP A HILL, A RIVER BORDERING THE WAY TO A NEARBY TOWN. 'Please head to the location marked on your map,' the Voidtrecker Express speaks through the intercoms before opening the doors out.

Passing the threashold, Voidtreckers are welcomed to a mild heat, accompanied by a passing spring breeze; the grass underfoot is a healthy wheat-yellow, with a few unfamiliar flowers dotted about. Checking their maps, they'll see they're at the very far southwest, and their their destination is the fortress - or temple - a small walk from way they are. They'll know they're heading the right direction when two figures dressed in their own military gear meet them halfway, neither human.

'Voidtreckers?' One greets with a nod, then jerks their head to the fortress. 'Follow us. We'll tell you and give you what you need; get you ready for the week you're in for.'

Voidtreckers that follow are led into spacious halls, a Grecian-like architecture with columns carved into flowering patterns, statues of idols lining the walls. There's a faint murmur of activity, but they don't see too many people before they're led into a nearby room filled with containers that close in the space. Even as they enter, a holographic map floats visibly mid-air like the one on their SCAs.

The two people go to either side of it, and it's the one from earlier that speaks again.

'This is Kolokifi's domain- most of it, anyway. Down here where we are is Eilifi's land. Another god, but a history lesson isn't what you need unless you ask for it. All up this way-' the person makes a circular motion in front of the map, leaving a visible mark on it. '--is where time distortions will be happening. The easy explan' of them is that points in the past get pulled into the present - echoes of them. Fragments, moments - Time here got well and screwed up, and tries to bring up points in the past to the present.

'Now, some have a problem with getting rid of the slips of the people that come through, so I'm going to get into that now. Thing is, if they can stick around? They will, but most of them can't. All of this is just Time trying to make a copy of the past appear, so thinking you can leave the distortions alone make everyone whole? Isn't going to work as well as you think. It just makes more problems, and that isn't pretty.' They snort. 'They're gonna fight and sound like people 'cause they are - real unfortunate, unlucky sods. If you're gonna have problems with it, don't deal with them. Leave 'em to whoever with you can, or send a signal for us on the maps. Double tap the area and then get out. There's no point gettin' trauma on top of what's already on your plate.'

Finally they nod to the various containers around.

'But don't worry, it isn't all sad shit. You've got fields to deal with too, open spaces. Boring work, but it's what we're here for. So if you're going, let's get you ready. And you come back here when you need anything.'

GEARING UP. They go through the different roles required, what's best to be done, what does what. They'll be shown how to work an equaliser, how to fit and wear the eye and earpieces - with other designs available if needed - to use the remote-controlled scouting drones.

Take the time to open up an equaliser box yourself, try to work a scouting drone. There are also medical kits, with boxes containing herbal medicine 'blessed by the Spring god here - make sure you can take it,' the Ministry worker helping them warns. There's devices in all of the kits, small scanners to double-check that a medicine won't react poorly to whatever it scans. Similar technology to what the SCAs use, but more advanced.

There's no rush to leave, and the group will also be shown where some spare carts and animals for pulling are outside, for packing up supplies on.

STAYING BACK. But people don't need to go. They can stay with the Voidtrecker Express, use a few facilities in the Ministry base, or wander the immediate area, so long as they don't go beyond the river that down the hill the fortress sits on. There's the train itself that people can stick to, take pillows and their blankets outside to enjoy the fresh air.

Or you could be coming back this way during the mission. The Ministry base has a kitchen free to use, water, and every day fresh fruit and vegetables come in carts from the same figure, flour and oats. If someone wants, they can take some of the food, or use it to make supplies for the Voidtreckers to receive if they come back this way, or other missionaries.

How they spend their time is up to them.

... KOLOKIFI'S DOMAIN

FOR A WEEK, VOIDTRECKERS WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SAME TORN, SCARRED LAND. Despite the skies being a clearer silver-grey nearer to the Ministry base, it keeps close to a blood-red as Voidtreckers wander its terrain. Heat clings to them in the dry air, the dirt as parched as the scenery leaves the eyes.

Those with scouting droners would do well to getting used to their new toys while they travel, watching out for what lies ahead. Though just from looking at it, there's nothing but the same drained landscape. Those who can fly may be tempted to do so, to get ahead. Those with superspeed, what's the point of hanging around? But eventually, everyone will learn what happens if you simply wander around here...

WHAT ONCE WAS. Sometimes, the time distortions are innocuous - a glimpse into peaceful times, a view of the world as it once was. A step, one single move forward into a time distortion, and the world around you changes. Gone is the suffering heat and chalky environment, and the world blossoms. Wild yellow-grass sways every-which way, the sky sits with fluffy clouds against and blushed pink than the blood-red.

You can move around, explore for a little while, but up until a point, the world just stops: you run, you fly, you walk, but it makes no difference.

...It also means you can't leave. Well, good thing your SCA still works to ask for help.

These time distortions will be the simplest to deal with, only occupied by a few wild animals, maybe fish in a stream. A good place to practice with the equaliser, and to watch as the scenery fades to the stark reality of the present day.

UNEARTHED WAR. But then, peace isn't what led this land into the state it is. The skies are a lavender and red, and sometimes:

Mother Nature

'Who goes there!'

'You're no warrior of Kolokifi! Come quietly under her mercy, or suffer her judgment!'

( MOD NOTE: Play these scenarios to whatever degree you like; people can be knocked unconscious or situations can't be helped. Choose what is best for yourself or your character. )

IDYLLIC LIFE. Except, it's not a battlefield that is the hardest to deal with. There are the instances of peace, but when it comes with those more aware than just the flowers or animals - but with people.

Sometimes, they might be moved around: a pair on a picnic, or people with tents by a lake, enjoying themselves. Or, you might get asked what you're up to, asked to join them. Perhaps it's a merchant going to the next town. 'Kolokifi may be a blessed God, but you know Silifi's fields bring their best this time of year.'

They may disappear, without knowing what you were doing - or realise something is wrong, just towards the end. Steel your heart.

The hardest are the towns, sections of them, and moving around them, trying to find the best place to set up.

But if an equaliser goes off too early, doesn't get set in the best place (was it because the best place was in a river? Where a house is, with nowhere to set the equaliser?), then fractions of this settlement will start to disappear - and the civillians will notice, and the panic will be quick.

If it becomes too tough, remember: A marker can be set on the maps and a call made for another group - non-Voidtreckers - to do the job.

HEAVY HEARTS IN REST. There will be enough for four separate camps to be set out from the supplies, the tents wide and spacious to put in simple bedding for the stragglers from the time distortions that do make it out.

It's here where they should be brought. Calm them down, reassure them, until you can find someone to take them to the Ministry base. This will be some work, depending on how panicked they are, distrustful. The less care and stealth used when setting Equalisers and getting rid of time distortions, the less reason these people will have to care about what the Voidtreckers have to offer - and they're already scared.

Kids, adults, the elderly - they'll try to make their escape, and sometimes end up in new distortions.

Voidtreckers will need to coordinate well with the different camps, with where their people are going. There's only so many Equalisers, and it is good to keep moving around.

And very likely, this will be a mission heavier on the heart than the body. Speak with one another, share in the weight of this world's tragedy.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. Let us know about shenanigans here. NPC requests here, set up a thread here. Rewards go here.

Reminder of goals: Red Team is to deal with the heavier war-time distortions, keeping Orange people setting Equalisers safe, who will also use scouting drones + other methods to locate distortions. Purple Team aids in the smaller, more scattered distortions (includes 'idyllic' distortions), and helping Blue locate misplaced people, keeping them safe. Blue also protects and moves the camps.

NPC fighters: Their skills vary, depending on what you want to come up against. But they have guns, swords, shielding; nature can be particularly vengeful, and even typhoons might be deployed. People will be rewound from where they're going to where they were; and warriors sometimes have their own quick means of healing.

Play with whatever obstacles you want! As ever you don't have to stick to the prompts we write, this is a setting where a lot of wildness can happen so feel free to write your own distortions to take down! Also, again: For anything traumatic, you can have your characters miss anything too distressing for them. There are a lot of time distortions in very ordinary settings.

Further Prompt Ideas: Click!

Blue Team:

You're dealing with a misplaced person, and how agreeable are they? Did they run off on foot? Or use the cart animal in the night? Now you're looking for them - and either with or without them, you've ended up in a time distortion.
The camp's moving, and you're setting up for the first time, packing away for the second. Are you used to the heat? The repetition?
You've got food from the train to work with for meals, but the Ministry has packed everyone a mix too. Some ration foods that you add water to, but also an orso-like pasta and types of chicken breast (at least, it tastes like chicken), cooking sauces, pita breads. Does your character know how to cook?
You just want a change of scenery, and someone in the camp is going to one of the time distortions. Maybe you go along, just to bring out some food, or just out of curiosisty.
There's nothing stopping you from using a scouting drone - actually, being in one place makes it easy. You can speak to people through the drone. How much can you help from afar?

Orange Team:

It's your job to set up Equalisers. How confusing are they to you? Do you get unlucky? Does it jam at a bad time?
You have to set up an Equaliser in a settlement. And if it wasn't bad enough, there's nowhere good to put them except in someone's backyard/right in front of a shop stall. These people aren't pleased. They're going to get suspicious!
This distortion is too big for the amount of Equalisers you and the other person have with you. Do you realise this? Even when it's a peaceful distortion, this can be tricky - you have to pack one up and move it! Or the worst happens when you set them off, and only erase half the place - and people notice.

Red Team:

Fire burns around you as war rages. The equalisers need to be set but to get them in place the fires need put out. Tricky when there are a whole bunch of soldiers currently lighting them.
Red's job is to deal with the obstacles of the more physical-demanding distortions, but that doesn't mean they're easy to find. You end up in scenic landscapes - and you're not the person with an equaliser.
Sometimes - or most of the time - the fighters are not match for your strength. But sometimes, these warriors have skills that can manage to get you defenceless, maybe even nullify your powers.
Do you care about murder? Sometimes, it's simple self-defence - they're attacking first. But not everyone in a war time distortion is an attacker - sometimes they're normal civillians caught up in the chaos. Maybe they even help you, take your side - and you know they're soon going to disappear.
Even Red Team needs a break now and then. Wandering around at random just drops you into distortions that you can find a way to deal with. Or are you seeing what you can do? Maybe there's more that can be done than just waiting on Orange Team.
But even so, there are camps moving around - you should head back to one. Or will you risk sleeping out where a distortion might hit?

Purple Team:

Whilst helping in a town based distortion so thing goes wrong. The market has vanished and people have noticed. Specifically these angry traders, heading towards your team with the intent to stop them in their tracks.
People aren't the only problem. A distortion has spooked a heard of animals and they are stampeding. This makes it very difficult to place Equalisers.
You stumble upon a couple of chatty locals in this distortion. The equalisers still need to be set without causing suspicion so someone needs to be a distraction. How do you make small talk with people you are about to erase from time?
Often it is the terrain that makes things difficult. Clear trees or rockfalls or find a route across a difficult river.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's a bang, and a scream as the person nearest him is shocked with electricity from Dike. A good portion of people scatter. "Demon! It's a monster!"

Not everyone, though. A few of them charge forward. Ken deflects their blows with his spear, frowning deeply as he does. His height gives him an advantage as a few of the swings simply go over his head, the soldiers unused to fighting someone his size. He stabs one person in the side, and they scream in pain. His face goes pale.

"Get back! Or... or you'll get it worse than he did!" Shit, does he not want to be here.

Seto flinches. Electric demon...yes, he could be one of them too. He fidgets as he works, desperate to get the box in place.

He shivers as he sees what Ken is capable of.

"Almost----there!"

Come on, Ken. Time to run. He gestures desperately---we sprint like hell now, right?

"Let's go!" He keeps his spear at the ready, but a lot of the soldiers have fled by now. Those that haven't... well, they'll just have to be faster.

He may be shorter than Seto, but he keeps pace pretty well. Blows lash out towards them and Ken ducks, letting his spear catch most of them. The edge of the rift nears as they keep running, except -

Except there's still warriors around. And Seto is a bigger target. One of them lashes out towards Seto's side, and Ken moves before he even thinks about it. He has to protect his brother. He has to protect his family.

On Seto the blow would have landed near his hip. On Ken... his upper chest explodes in pain as he feels the sword's edge dig in and he stumbles before falling, letting out a scream. He can't focus enough to summon Dike - it's all he can do to keep a grip on his spear. He stabs blindly towards the attacker, catching him in the shoulder and sending him running.

"S... eto?" He coughs, one hand going to his chest. He can smell the blood, feel it around his fingers. "Seto... help..." He's not sure if he can move on his own.

Seto's heart stops when he hears the scream. He's been told not to use his powers, but this time he doesn't even think. He throws out his hand, firing an enormous lightning bolt in the soldier's direction. At any other time, he'd be impressed with his own strength.

But Ken's in front of him, bleeding out. And Seto almost feels like his own heart's been stabbed. That attack was meant for him. Fuck.

He pulls Ken onto his back and sprints out of the distortion, a wall of lightning creating a fence around them. They're out, he keeps running...as one hand fumbles down, and he uncorks a potion, tipping it back toward Ken's mouth.

"Drink. I'll get----"

But he can't waste too much breath. He needs all the attention he can summon, so he hollers at the top of his lungs.

"MEDIC! HELP! HE'S CRTICAL!"

No...no, he can't watch someone else he loves die. Not again.

Thanatos was about to enter another time distortion when he hears Seto's yells for a medic. He doesn't waste any time. Thanatos shifts in the direction of his voice, shifting not one of the abilities that creates a time distortion.

The bell toll hasn't even stopped by the time Thanatos takes out a Centaur Heart and presses it against Ken's body. Ken begins to absorb the healing and fortifying item. Thanatos gets another and presses that against him as well. He nearly reaches for his manadrive, but they're outside the distortion. A potion then. He puts the bottle to Ken's lips. "Drink," he says as it trickles down his throat.

Then Thanatos focuses his sense of death. The feeling was strong just seconds earlier has now changed back to what he normally senses from Ken.

He relaxes and looks to Seto. "That should stabilize him enough to get him back to camp."

He can feel something poured into his mouth, and he moans quietly in pain. Everything hurts, and the potion isn't quite enough.

Then there's a sound, and something being pressed into him. And then again. He feels his wound close a little bit, and another potion poured down his throat. He groans, head tipping to the side and eyes fluttering open. The robes... "Thana... tos?"

He clings to Seto, breathing still shaky. "What... I'm... Seto? ... Are you okay?"

"I can't thank you enough."

Seto still sounds distressed, but he's reassured by Thanatos's speed. And the man would certainly know when Ken's no longer critical. The brusqueness doesn't bother him at all, time is of the essence...the rest can come later. What matters is that his brother doesn't die on him.

He lets out a heavy sigh as he starts a brisk walk back to camp, where they can do a checkup and fully heal him, if all goes well.

"I'm not hurt," Seto finally manages to say. His voice is still trembling. "But you...you nearly died."

"... Good." He's quiet for a few moments. "Not the nearly died thing. But... but I'm glad you're safe." He squeezes Seto from behind and secures his spear so it's out of the way.

"I promised to protect you... and I keep my promises whenever I can." He smiles slowly, even though the pain is still significant. "You're.. important to me." He coughs, his body tensing up from the pain flaring, and drops his head to Seto's shoulder.

Seto's okay. That's what's important. Nothing more or less than that.

Seto makes a mental note to return to Thanatos later. He salutes the man with a grateful nod as he hurries on his way, finding a bed in camp fairly quickly. They'll finish treatment as soon as one of the less busy medics has time.

For now he carefully deposits Ken on the bed, shifting himself into position so Ken can lean on him. It's important not to jostle him too much.

"I felt like the knife was coming for my heart. If Thanatos hadn't found us in time...."

He bows his head and closes his eyes. He can picture it very well. It's a pain he's already known.

"... Hey." He reaches up to boop Seto on the nose gently. "I... I know the risks when I'm heading out on a mission. I know I can get hurt. But I... I have to protect the people I care about."

He can feel his eyes watering, but he has to make Seto understand. "You're worth protecting, Seto. To me, and to a lot of people." He coughs again, rolling to lean against his brother some more. "I... I'm scared of what'd happen if I lost you."

"At any cost...?"

Seto responds by shifting so he can gently embrace Ken. He's careful not to jostle him still, and painfully aware of how close he came to losing him.

"After what we've learned about the tether and our essences, I'm worried about what happens to people who die while they're here. I've already accepted I probably can't go back, because I was between life and death when I was taken. But you...you have people waiting for you."

"At any cost." He shakes his head at the mention of the tethers. "I don't know much about the tether stuff... but I know that you have people waiting for you at home."

He reaches out and touches Seto's amulet. "What about Mokuba? He's waiting for you at home. You're going to get home." He's aware that he's not a replacement for this boy he's never met, that it's different... they still both want what's best for Seto, he's sure of it.

"You and Yugi have to get home. You have to have a life together. This place... it's a life, but it's not always a good one. And you deserve more. A... a home together."

Seto glances down at the locket and briefly lays his hand over Ken's. There's a phoenix feather hanging next to it now, a reminder of the group he's so deeply woven into by now. Of another person he cares for.

And then there's Ken, right in front of him. Seto's sure he isn't touching the injury now, so he squeezes a little tighter.

"Without this life Yugi and I never would've come together. And I wouldn't have met so many people...especially you."

He reaches up to gently ruffle Ken's hair. "I'll figure out this void travel thing. Build a craft if I have to. And I'll come back to you."

"Good. ... I want you to meet my... my family." While he still can, but Ken doesn't say that. They both know time is running out for them.

"You deserve more, Seto. ... You fought for that much, at least. A better life." He sniffles a little bit, drawing his free hand across his eyes. "You deserve to be happy. And I'll... protect that with everything I have."

Seto answers with a quiet sigh and a squeeze. Yes, he wants that too. So much.

"You deserve that too."

That stubbornness reminds him so strongly of someone else in his life...yes, of course. He lifts his SCA and places a call.

Yugi? Do you have time for a checkup and some healer work? Ken's taking after you, got himself hurt trying to protect me. We're at a cot on the north outskirts.

Yugi hadn't really been doing much when he got the call and finally replied.

I have the time and given your location it shouldn't take me too long to get there. Which he was honestly glad about after being told that he 'takes after him' and knowing exactly what that meant.

So with supplies in tow he started to make his way to the destination. Thankfully Yugi made sure carry enough on him to not be too heavy but enough to help. Upon reaching the destination he waved slightly.

"Hey I brought what was needed. Hope it helps."

Edited 2022-01-23 20:26 (UTC)

Ken looks up at Yugi and buries his head against Seto's side. "I'm fine, really..." His faint voice makes his words unconvincing though, and he struggles to sit up a little bit.

"Sorry... I don't mean to make you worry about me, too." He blushes faintly. "... Bad enough that Seto's doing it. ... But I wasn't about to let him get hurt."

He's too important, too much like himself... they really do fit as brothers, huh?

"Thanks," Seto says to Yugi with a grateful nod and squeeze of his hand. Just a moment, though, and then his attention turns back to a certain brother. Come on, Ken. If you're going to risk your life like this you're going to drink extra potions. The look on his face now leaves no room for argument.

"I love you both, but you're going to collectively give me a heart attack one of these missions."

Yugi went to kneel down to open up the bag and find the potions that he knew were in there.

"I understand not wanting someone to get hurt and so wanting to make sure you do instead. I fall under that too." After a few moments he managed to pull out a decent mount that he was sure would help.

"This should be enough to help."

"Thanks. ... I'm glad you're there for him, too. I don't want you getting hurt either, but... it's nice that Seto has more people to look out for him. I can only do so much." He laughs a little before wincing in pain - probably shouldn't have done that.

"So... I don't know, I guess... I wanted to thank you for that, too."

Seto loves them. He truly does. He can't stay angry, as much as he wants to...but he watches to make sure Ken takes the potion, then slings an arm around both of them.

"You both do more than enough. I'll get you back one of these days."

Yugi made sure the bag with the potions stayed near Ken for the time being as really that seemed like the better option take them as needed.

"Good luck with that Seto, you know it means having to actually beat me at something." It was a small joke at the end and said in a playful manner.

He drinks the potion, though he has to pause to laugh for a moment again when Yugi speaks. "You gonna take that, big bro?" Ken grins as he keeps drinking the potion.

He knows they've got a rivalry, and there's a sharp pang of missing the other Ken for a moment, but it passes quickly enough.

Seto reaches over to nudge Yugi playfully. Way to rub salt in the wound...

...but Ken's here, and Seto has to stay in the game for him. For Yugi. For love.

"You two matter the most to me. When I'm fighting for that...what I'm capable of might surprise you."

Yugi couldn't help but laugh slightly. He couldn't exactly argue with that.

"I'm sure you would surprise me, but right now at least no fighting from anyone here. While the potions help they aren't a cure all. So he needs to rest."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fissures of Time: Start

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