No Place Like Home: Outside

[voidtreckermods]

---

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: OUTSIDE

---

HOME SWEET HOME

You find yourself not on a wide station platform, in the clothes you last remember, holding what you were when you went through the glas door. There's no longer a train behind you, no sound of its whistle, with no other passengers around you in similar style of clothing to your own.

You're somewhere familiar, or just - the last place you remember being before your life became tethered to the Voidtrecker Express. A field, a city, a kingdom, or perhaps even a space station. You should be nowhere, yet you find yourself somewhere, despite all odds.

People - if there are people - don't at first notice you; but attract enough attention to yourself, and that will all change. Friends, family - are they near, a phonecall away? It's either everything you wanted or everything you imagined (for good or worse), and it could seem unbelievably real. But it is real - you're off the train, back somewhere you know.

Finally - the journey is over...

---

...If only.
You're moving away from where you arrived, for whatever reason. Who wouldn't? You may be far from home, have business elsewhere, or want to go sightseeing. It's time to return to - and live - your life, and that doesn't include sticking to one place.

But you'll find that when you reach a point, the world becomes...foggy. A fog that you hadn't seen in the distance before it appears, and when you walk through it, you'll find yourself in a place some have already found themselves in.

Because for some passengers, there was nowhere for them to return, and so the barriers lead only to fog, and then straight back onto the platform. The Voidtrecker Express may be stationed, or there may be a blanket of fog where it should be; sometimes, it can be caught trying to leave the station, only to come back a few minutes later. The doors are shut tight, and the windows are obscured, showing nothing inside.

Those who came from somewhere can go back, should they go through the turnstiles again. And if they want, they can take people along with them, too...

---

But sometimes, they go to a world no one knows. They go through the barriers into nothing, a black emptiness. Not space, for those that know space, and it doesn't seem to be the void either. But it is a void, devoid of anything at all. Just a darkness so complete they will not be able to see anything at all, they will only know their companion is there through touch and sound. How they are breathing, how they are living at all, is a mystery; one probably answered only by the SCA on their wrist.

Being there brings an unease deep down inside them. This place is not natural, not somewhere that they should exist in. Not a place that should exist at all. Luckily they are never there for more than a few moments before they return once more to the station, fog covering them like a safety blanket.

A DIFFERENT CORNER: LOCATIONS

In the first couple of days (whatever that means, when time doesn't match up between most places), the only way to move to another's tethered location is by them leading another there. But after that, individuals will show up in other locations when they reach close to the distance limit. Indeed as time goes on everything gets a lot less stable. They may know their five miles perfectly but still one step to another leads them back to the platform. Attempting to return to their world leads them somewhere else entirely.

And there's quite a few places to end up.

---

SETTLEMENTS

• Buddhist Temple, China ( Koumyou Sanzo | TL )
  
• Rebel Camp, Lothal ( Hera Syndulla | TL )
  
• Homestead, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ( Nell Ingram TL )
  
• Capsule Corp ( Trunks | TL )
  
• School Grounds, College ( Idia Shroud | TL )
  
• City Ruins, beach ( Najaran | TL )
  
• Hakkei Palace, Tai ( Taiki | TL )
  
• Gusu Lan, mountain sect (China) ( Lan Jingyi | TL)
  
• Lotus Pier, riverside, China ( Jiang Cheng | TL )
  
• The Endless Abyss, Hell ( Shen Qingqiu | TL )
  
• Hyrule Castle Town ( Zelda | TL )
  
• Haven Palace ( TL )

COMMUNITIES

• Spaceport ( Yondu | TL)
  
• Mobile Station Base ( Kiyoiri )
  
• Arkwood, Town (Ryo | TL )
  
• Techstead, Town ( Devero | TL )
  
• Tatsumi Port Island ( Ken Amada )
  
• Mor Dhona / Town, Mountain, Lakes ( K'zeka Tai | TL )
  
• Hyrule Field & Lon Lon Ranch ( Link | TL )
  
• Ishigami Village, Japan ( Senku Ishigami | TL )
  
• Aether Paradise/Artificial Island/Natural Preserve ( Katsuya Jonouchi )
  
• Nautilus ( Spark/Clef TL Clef | TL Spark )
  
• The Underworld, Hades ( Zagreus and Thanatos | TL )
  
• Sanctuary ( TL )

CITIES & KINGDOMS

• Saillune City ( Zelgadis | TL )
  
• New Mantle, City ( Ruby Rose | TL )
  
• Brooklyn, New York City, USA in 2017 ( Jake Peralta | TL )
  
• Azabu-Juban District, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan ( Usagi Tsukino | TL )
  
• Hau'oli City ( Eva Iden'no | TL )
  
• Gauig City ( Little One/Buttercup | TL )
  
• Kyoto, Japan ( Masumi Sera | TL )
  
• Shinjuku, Japan ( Yosuke Otoha | TL )
  
• Kingdom, Evermore ( Roland Crane )
  
• Garlemad, Kingdom ( Zenos | TL )
  
• Kingdom of Knothole ( Mina Mongoose | TL )
  
• Domino City ( Yugi Muto | TL )
  
• Amnity Park ( Danny Fenton | TL )
  
• Garlemald ( TL )
  
• Lothal ( TL )
  
• Los Angeles ( TL )
  
• The First - Crystarium and Lakeland ( Elidibus | TL )

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here.

LOCATION TOPLEVELS: Since it'll be easier for players to engage with settings presented by those offering them, when we see a toplevel for one of the above locations put up, we'll add it to the list! We've also included the OOC comments for settings to the side, so any questions can be left with the player, as well as extra details. Please always speak with the player first if you intend to do anything drastic to the setting!

A REMINDER: Time of log is Poi 22-25, but time within worlds can last up to a maximum of two weeks. Minimum is whatever you want it to be.

During Poi 22 and 23, characters will need to be led to a location to be able to access it. From Poi 24, people will show up in locations regardless of invitation.

The second half of the event will go up during 20th to 25th February (Poi 26-28). But as always, play around in here and do as you like!

If your character's setting isn't above, link us to it in the Questions post, along with your toplevel! We'll add it.

Comments

[yondu]

"Don't sound like a bad idea. Seems like people don't pay attention unless I do somethin' to grab it. Like you're a ghost or somethin' of the like."

Besides, something more pastoral or would be a good way to change it up.

When they do get to the bar, Yondu slams his hand against the counter a couple of times to get the bartender's attention to illustrate the previously stated issue. A gorgeous little Krylorian woman behind the bar smiles at them and clasps her hands together. Her hair up in two buns worthy of a few people that'd normally be on the train.

"How can I help you handsome gentlemen?"

[gathersnomoss]

Even where he's from, there are often local specials. "What do you recommend?" This was offered both to the barkeep, and to Yondu.

[yondu]

"Xandarian beer. And I mean it. Xandarian. None of that Kree shit." He says decisively, and the pink girl beams at them with a too-pretty smile that's been honed to perfection over the years to make her some tips.

"So how are your people back home? They still standin'? How are you?" Yondu asks while she tends to their drinks, and he pulls up a stook with his foot as he waits.

[gathersnomoss]

"My body's with a friend. She's been looking after it. The spell took, through the link between me and my body." Zelgadis grins broadly to emphasize exactly what spell. "I just need to figure out how the train messed up getting me actually tethered back there, and I'm set."

Which is no small matter. Zelgadis has no idea how any of this worked, so it would mean actually talking to some of the people at the Void Ministry, or gathering information. It was marginally better than trying to figure it out from home, because he'd had zero leads.

"Also, I probably owe Amelia -- the friend -- a few favors. And an apology for when I first got thrown back to the platform."

[yondu]

"So if you do make it back, you'll be flesh and blood again? Same as ever'body else there." He's both happy for him, and a little sad that it's necessary. Even as he's saying that, the pink skinned woman is presenting them with beer, and someone with the elegance of a bat-faced orc takes up another place along the counter.

No one is called into question here, at least. Not even Zelgadis, because there are several planets with 'human' types of people.

"What kinda favors you thinkin'?" He's figuring, one merc to another, that he's being fully serious there.

[gathersnomoss]

"Same as I was born," Zelgadis said. Which was a bit more of the point. It would have been easier to be a chimera in a place like this, but he'd still want to be human.

"Honestly, Amelia herself probably would just ask me to come along on something she wants company for. Which may or may not be actual work, or just 'I miss having friends around'. She's probably the only one of my friends who is mostly stationary."

[yondu]

"That's a pretty good price to pay, regular work with someone what knows your limits."

Members of the Ravager crew from the large ship that passed over start filing in. A whole slew of them, filtering in, wearing uniforms that are more denim than leather. Ravager uniforms are more a theme than true uniforms, practically a loose code of dress that only has to have the flames and the color-rep of the ship.

Yondu gets a little quiet, trying to not draw more attention than necessary as a few other crew wearing their Ravager flames (which differ slightly from Yondu's) on their shoulders.

"Maybe I could seing by and help ya out with somethin' quick, so long as you do the explainin'," he mutters, keeping his voice on the low side.

[gathersnomoss]

"Maybe. I should mention Amelia is the granddaughter of a king. I don't know how you feel about working for an actual government, even freelancing for a short while."

He's friends with Amelia and her father, and had met Amelia in the context of 'well, she's traveling with the other people with bounties on their heads, and it is nice to have someone with actual white magic along when things start getting serious'. But Zelgadis is well familiar with the difference between 'my friend Amelia' and Princess Amelia of Saillune, even if they are technically the same person.

[yondu]

"I done work for all kinds of people. If I don't like the work I usually just ditch the job. So long as it don't involve kids or killin' innocent people I got a real low bar about what I'm up for."

One of the sturdier Ravagers, someone that seems to be covered primarily in rocks, nudges into Yondu accidentally. He doesn't mind his mouth then, barks a quick, "Hey!" at him on reflex to get him to give him some space (though this is an ongoing problem when people don't notice you). But the burly man turns to sneer and then squints. Looks back at his friends. Squints again.

Yondu's missing this apparent moment of realization as he's continuing to talk to Zelgadis though. "You reckon they'd just write off my arrow as somethin' magic there? Would I need to explain that kinda thing?"

[gathersnomoss]

"It wouldn't be the weirdest use of magic I've seen," Zelgadis said. He studied the strangers, trying to do what he can for threat assessment in a setting where he realizes his own judgment is missing some pretty vital information. "Friends of yours?"

Well, clearly not, or they would have responded more strongly once they actually noticed Yondu. But Zelgadis was used to the look of people trying to decide who (or what) a stranger is.

[yondu]

"Nah, it's just another uh... Ravager..." Yondu turns to look and trails off as he notices that he is getting some scrutinizing looks. Because for one, not many Centaurians out there, for another? Not many with Yondu's unique headgear. In fact, the only person with it currently is Kraglin, which bristles him in a way he doesn't want to discuss just yet.

But he stares up at the Ravager who eyeballs him right back, and finally the guy blurts, "Are you a Skrull?"

"Are you space-sick? I'm tryin' to have a drink with my friend here."

"Show some respect for the dead, shape-shifter!" and the guy is reaching for him. Come on! He just wants a fuckin' drink. Yondu hops out of his seat and whistles his arrow up, and that's its own can of worms because a Skrull shouldn't be able to fake that. And while they're flummoxed he grabs their beers.

"You have some respect, son. 'Cmon! Let's go somewhere else to drink these. Put it on my tab!" he yells to the now very concerned woman behind the bar. His arrow? Just hovering in the air at the moment. He'll recall it when he's out of range and luckily that little gaggle of Ravagers is too stunned to really react at the moment.

[gathersnomoss]

"That... was not the worst retreat from a bar I've faced." Zelgadis said. Look, no one was hurt and there was zero property damage, so that counts as a win in his books.

[yondu]

"Turns out I wasn't forgotten when I died like I thought I was. Nice to find out but it's workin' against me a lil bit. There are these things called Skrulls, can copy you down to the DNA along with a bunch of your surface memories."

He whistles for his arrow then, catching it with his free hand and punctuating the gesture with a drink of his beer.

"I think some of 'em think I'm one of them."

[gathersnomoss]

"Probably more reasonable than that you're back from the dead somehow," Zelgadis agreed.

[yondu]

"Yeah, but a Skrull couldn't control my arrow. Cain't fake that much functional tech... and right now apparently my bastard ex-first mate has my arrow here. They just gave it to him when they fixed it."

He sounds plenty bitter about that, rather than pleased or proud. But that's another reason he's been drinking. Because Kraglin is reaping all the benefits of Yondu's hard lived life, having the happiness Yondu damn well wishes that he had.

"Alright, so. Let's go somewhere where you can see a whole lot more differn't lookin' people that is not a bar," he mutters, trying to sort somewhere out.