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

"A-Ah, I didn't do anything special at all.." Madoka waves her hands slightly dismissively. She doesn't want to take any credit here when it truly feels like she hasn't done much. Anyone would want to take care of some kids.. and besides that, even though she tried to do so, she feels like she hasn't been doing a good job at all.

Especially since she can't seem to calm them down.

They're visible now. There's a few young kids sitting there, each one of them crying even more loudly than the next.

"I think their parents probably.. didn't make it out."

Of the distortion, she means. But saying it out loud like that makes it feel so bad. Those were people they as a group erased, after all, even though it had to be done.

"And yet," Murmurs Wangji, "Many would not have done even that." Madoka will one day accept she does good things, or that trying is still better than nothing.

He saddens as she continues, looking at the kids they're approaching, now probably orphaned or lost. Who knows with these distortions, some seem to recur and others last split seconds. His face drops at the news of their parents, he doesn't claim to understand what the distortions are but it rankles to not try and save everyone. Even if it is necessary.

He tries to appear nonthreatening as they approach, half tempted to scoop up at least one but he doesn't want to frighten them further.
"Hello there," he starts with the oldest looking "I am Lan Wangji. What is your name?"
The child must be a least a little startled as through tears and snot he gets a name 'Oscar' and several sniffles.
"And how old are you?" While distracting as many as he can, Wangji reaches into his robes for a talisman. "Would you like to see a magic trick?"

Not really giving any time for a response he triggers the talisman and it turns into a set of small fluttering insect-like lights that dance around the children. Maybe if he distracts them, they can at least stop crying until they find somewhere to stay.

Honestly, Wangji does have a pretty good idea here. It's not something Madoka thought of doing for the children.. but then again, even if she had thought of a magic trick distraction, it's not like could have carried it out herself. She has absolutely no powers or talent when it comes to that.

But she, too, is watching the trick now. From a slight distance, like she doesn't want to accidentally disturb the kids by having too many unfamiliar people around, but Madoka is keeping a watchful eye on the man and the children..

.. and especially on the way the children do seem to calm down a little. At the very least they seem to stop crying, even if their eyes are still wide and filled with tears, so they can see what sort of trick Wangji is pulling with that talisman.

It seems like it's working, Madoka thinks..! Though this is that crucial moment where either the attention of the children keeps being directed at something positive, or they fall right back into tears!

You don't live as long as Wangji has without having a small child abruptly thrust upon you a few times. He just hopes he can entertain them for the time it takes to move them and maybe figure out what they need to do next.

He concentrates, using a little energy to make the butterflies fly in circles around the children. This talisman isn't really designed for such delicate work, and he can feel it beginning to fray. One tries to catch a butterfly and it fizzles out against his palm. He looks a little startled, big eyes wobbling so Wangji is prepared to bust out a second talisman if they need to. Another one sees this and starts trying to catch them, looking a little gleeful at the prospect of popping them like bubbles.

Still, less tears counts as a success.
He tries something else too, "Are any of you hungry?"

This is clearly Madoka's cue.

Or rather, at least it's something she can actually do here. The moment Wangji asks the kids that, Madoka is already running off to grab some of the food from where the people who picked it up from the Ministry left it. Regardless of the kids' answer, she's pretty sure that they could use something to eat after all that, especially since they haven't eaten yet after leaving the distortion..

Which means that a few minutes later, Madoka is already back at where Wangji and the kids playing with the talismans are, offering a slightly shy smile as she glances at the man.

".. did they want to eat? I brought some food.."

Madoka has obviously very good empathy or just the ability to read his mind. He watches her scamper off towards the camps food supply from the corner of one eye, while making the lights dance in a new pattern.
More of the kids are getting drawn into it, but several of them perk up at the mention of food.

By the time Madoka is hurrying back, Wangji has the smallest child on his lap trying to catch the lights and one of them actively running after them while laughing.

Wangji smiles as she approaches, nodding at her question.
"Most of them haven't been eating regularly. We should find a supervisor to make sure they're looked after once we leave." He says this quietly, trying not to upset the children again.

The kids are taking notice of the food, starting to look more interested in that than the impossible light show.

"Well, I guess we can feed them first for now.."

Especially since the kids already seem so interested. Madoka tries smiling a little at the kids, gesturing for them to come over - which they are more than eager to do now they've realised that they're actually about to get something. They gather on the floor, sitting there in a half circle as she starts handing the food out to the children. She's not quite sure what the food is, considering that the food the Ministry is providing doesn't look like anything Madoka has ever seen in her own world, but at least she knows it doesn't taste bad.

"Here you go..!"

Once all the children have something, her gaze turns over towards Wangji as well.

".. did you want some too?" She's not too sure whether he's gotten hungry already too or not, after all.

Military style rations are recognizable seemingly no matter where you are and even if what they contain doesn't look anything like food you know. Wangji watches a couple of the kids fall on the food like little hungry piranhas, the one in his lap seems content to stay there until he's handed his own packet.

At Madoka's offering Wangji blinks and silently decides to never tell her he technically doesn't need to eat. He smiles and nods, taking the packet.
"Thank you."

While the children are distracted with contented chewing he lowers his voice and asks;
"Do we have a location in mind for them, or shall I ask the leader of nearest group of displaced locals?"

It's a good question. Madoka seems to need a moment to think about it exactly because of that - so it's a good thing that the kids are thoroughly distracted for the moment, actually giving her a moment to think without interruption.

"It's probably better if we ask."

Especially since these kids might have parents among the group. And the displaced people tend to be so agitated too - the last thing Madoka wants to do is accidentally spark some conflict, just by moving some kids around without permission.

"I'm sure they know who the kids can best stay with.." She slowly nods as she says it.

Wangji agrees, it is certainly best not to spring children onto those ill-equipped to having them. It may have worked in his case in the past, but he had an infallible support system.

"Then we had best find them and see what our next step is."

He pets the head of the clingiest, standing up and attempting to lead the children into a cluster. He makes them hold hands, the littlest in his arms, and starts the slow progress of herding small children towards the nearest encampment.

"If we make a list of names, we may be able to locate any parents." He will murmur as they go, trying not to get the children's hopes up.

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Fissures of Time: Start

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