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

[longforgottenpromise]

"They aren't supposed to be here." His expression was dark. "Asen brought them, to control the court."

They needed to be destroyed. It wasn't a very kirin thought but he was not always the most normal kirin. They had done a lot of harm.

He trusts that Jingyi could fight them off, but them attacking wasn't the problem. Their effect was passive, dangerous because you didn't need to even notice the birds for them to eat away at the soul.

"They will need to be cleared from the palace."

[jingyeets]

"Then I'll take lead on that, when we're back in the proper sense."

Which really meant when he was still tethered and visiting as a spirit, most probably, but Taiki was back in body. That said, he looked away, walking quietly at Taiki's side, alert and on lookout even if he was already technically unseeable without purposeful desire to change that outcome.

"Anyway, where are we headed first, to send out those messages? You mentioned silver?"

[longforgottenpromise]

He knows they are invisible, or as good as but still caution was needed. He doesn't know if the youma can see him for one thing.

"Yes. We need silver for the phoenix's. We can take some parchment too, pens and ink, and send out some more... traditional messages just in case."

Multiple attempts were better.

[jingyeets]

Right, what was a phoenix, and why silver was important, he didn't know. He'd figure it out as it became relevant.

"Letters are sensible, though I don't write in your languages." That much he figured wasn't going to be bridged by what the SCA allowed for them, he'd only be writing in his own language for Taiki to read. "Though if you want cryptic messages, I could write those... you don't read my characters, do you?"

Said while on the move, Jingyi pausing mentally to wonder if perhaps some aspect of this world did.

[longforgottenpromise]

"If your characters are the same as Wei Wuxian's then I believe you will be able to read and write the characters of Tai."

He looked at him. "Better than I can. Kirin can understand all spoken languages, but it does not include the written. I have been learning but I have not yet mastered it."

It was different than Japanese.

[jingyeets]

"Oh! Yeah, we share the same writing. I can write to whomever you need, my calligraphy is more than acceptable." Not art, and he wouldn't make that claim anyway, but he was well trained by a clan that held such things in high esteem. He was highly legible, and that mattered more than what degree of artistry his calligraphy managed.

It sounded like they'd be using messenger birds, and the silver was involved in some particular form of message sending, in addition to what traditional calligraphy scrolls would provide. Either way, he'd know shortly he supposed.

"We could work in that. Later, if you wanted." The learning of writing.

[longforgottenpromise]

"Perhaps. It is something I should keep learning."

He could mostly read now, though some nuances were still lost to him. Writing was a lot harder though.

"Thank you." He nodded at him as he approached one of the buildings, looking around before slipping inside. "We should find some materials in here."

It was empty at least. One obstacle out of the way.

[jingyeets]

Jingyi had been moving like he was on a night hunt in unscoutedtowns and cities, staying close but alert. For whatever couldn't see them, he couldn't dismiss something feeling them if it had spiritual sensitivity, uncertain that everything in Taiki's world could be so oblivious to that.

Inside, met by no one, he let out a small sigh. At this point he almost wanted something to fight to deal with pent up energies and being asked by an idiot kirin to murder him, so instead he stalked forward, looking for whatever materials were on hand.

He scrounged up a variety of paper-like pieces, two brushes, an ink stone, turning back to find Taiki and plop the whole of his findings down beside where he stood, on a convenient surface.

"What else?" He paused. "Was the silver in here too?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes. I found some." He held up a bag, heavy with crushed silver. Hopefully it would be enough and they could rely on written messages for the most part.

But who to send messages to? That was a difficult question. He had no idea who was even alive to receive them.

"We should go to the aviary and see what we have to work with." No point in starting if there were no birds and it would give him a moment more to think.

Kingdom of En and Kei. Kouryou if he could be found. He thought of the monks, of the villages that had sheltered him. Could he risk it? Without bringing ire down upon them.

If they were even still alive.

[jingyeets]

He gestured for Taiki to take lead, though he stayed right by him as they moved for the aviary.

"How reliable are these birds?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"The phoenixes are very reliable. I'm not sure they can even give their message to someone it is not intended for... The other birds are less so. Messages can be intercepted after all. But no one knows I am here and we have that on our side. No one is expecting anything out of the palace that isn't from Asen and his ministers."

They were close now, just up the steps to where the birds were, he can here them, which is good, that they are still there at all.

[jingyeets]

"So which ones are the phoenxies?"

Asked as they rise into the rookery, such as it is, Jingyi looking around and keeping his tail high, tucked close, to not touch the ground and not touch anything around them.

[longforgottenpromise]

He looked around. There are less birds than there once were but still enough. Clearly Asen still needed to send out messages, still needed communications.

"Over here." Most the birds looked dove like but where Taiki was leading there were taller birds, black feathered and sharp eyed.

There were two of them, they had enough silver for that and it made the decision of who to send them to easier.

"Do they have such in your world?"

[jingyeets]

He shook his head, after having tipped it toward the black feathered birds.

"Not as such," he said. "We've had owl-hawks, a few other birds, but nothing specifically like your phoenixes." There were luan souled persons, there were firebirds, but neither were equivalent, and black feathered was more akin to crows and dragon scales than anything else.

He looked around, setting the papers and inkstone and brushes down where he could, cautious.

"Tell me what you need me to do?" If there was anything in this moment.

[longforgottenpromise]

"We didn't have them on earth either." He explained as he went over to one of the cages and reached through the bars, stroking at the feathers of the nearest phoenix.

"I need to decide what to say."

Which was difficult. There's so much and though they have time, they need to make things as clear as possible. Not confusing.

[jingyeets]

"You're alive, being kept within the palace unconscious but breathing, and this false king will be taken down once you can break this unconsciousness cursed fully?"

Or at least he thinks that's straightforward.

"And you need them to quietly find allies and supplies, because once you're out of here, you'll be finding the next true king."

[longforgottenpromise]

He nodded and reached out for one of the phoenixes, coaxing it with some silver which it ate before hopping onto his arm. He raised the bird to place it on his head, where it scrabbled in his hair.

"Kei Ou, Kei Taiho. It is me Taiki. Takasato Kaname was the name I bore as a Taika." That would be enough hopefully, for them to know it was him. Not many people knew that. "I don't know what news you know of Tai but... I was taken from this world again, it's complicated but I am alive. My body is unconscious, being kept deep in the palace. Tai Ou... Lord Gyousou has been killed." His voice dropped but he kept talking, swallowing his pain. "I hope to break the curse of my unconsciousness soon and will go forth to seek the new king of Tai. I know that you are limited in what you can do and you have already given us much help but I am afraid I may need to ask for more when I return."