No Place Like Home: Outside

[voidtreckermods]

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NO PLACE LIKE HOME: OUTSIDE

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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...

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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.

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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

[controlsthedie]

Nyx does not budge at the accusation. In the matter of the Queen and the Prince, Nyx is confident in her actions and that exception born from following her promise to Queen Persephone to the word. (Which did not envelope everyone currently living in the House of Hades.) She had done as she could given all circumstances. Reviving Zagreus had never been a guarantee.

However, when Persephone mentions her own children, Nyx does not need to glance in Thanatos's direction to know that he is not looking at her now. She has done things to separate herself from her children, to help them grow and to be independent. Some of her children are no longer a part of her life unless outside circumstances push them together. But earlier, Thanatos had accused the both she and Hades so passionately, and she feels some guilt, regret within her. All the same, he does not know what she, his grandparent, and his elder sisters did. Nyx keeps her secrets. The Night veils in darkness.

It is Hades's gruff voice that breaks their silence. "You may leave through the Queen's Garden if you wish." Hades points towards a locked gate down the hall. "Should you require an escort to show you the way, I will assign one to you. However, none shall harm you."

[springforth]

Persephone turns from him and does not reply. She's done. This is over. His offer is noted and tucked away. As she walks away from the desk, the gods who made a mess of all these things, moss and the tiniest spiky flowers spring from where her bare feet touch the stone floor. Her power, always nearer the surface during emotion, leaves a mark that will stubbornly refuse to be removed.

"Sorry I got so loud Than." She holds out her hand to him, unsure if he still wants to take her anywhere with the literal and figurative mess she's made.

[controlsthedie]

Anyone familiar with the Thanatos before the train notice how more apparent Thanatos's thoughts and emotions are. He glances from Persephone, to his mother and Lord Hades, and then back to Persephone. Thanatos gives a slight nod and takes her hand. Neither of the older gods raise argument.

He can't shift the both of them to Asphodel, but he can try to guide her there on foot. Or by floating as they both can do.

"I was loud when I first returned here too."

[springforth]

It's unclear what the look to the others was about and Persephone does not ask. Not in front of them at least. For all she feels like she did nothing, feels like this ended with things no better than they started, she doesn't want to give them the satisfaction of appearing uncertain about any of it.

Her small smile, Thanatos speaks, is fond. She squeezes his hand, gentle, and starts walking. Or floating really, in her case, since hand in hand requires some lifting off the ground on her part.

"Really? I'm sorry I missed it." Her eyes are still blood red and her wings are as obvious as big sets of branches can be, but the petals are falling from her hair.

[controlsthedie]

"I'm not sure I had ever been so loud or forward in the House before. I don't even remember exactly what started it." Thanatos wonders how much word has spread among the Underworld about the things he said to his mother and Lord Hades. He can't feel too concerned about his reputation, however. His prolonged absence had ruined that long before he spoke his mind while lost in emotions.

"Zag missed it too. He had already left for his mother by then."

[springforth]

Persephone does nudge them towards the Queen's Garden. Not because she wants to take a path Hades offered her--but she wants to leave a gift. But she's slow about it, quietly listening to him as they walk.

"I'm sure he'll be upset he missed both of us yelling. Though I'm not sure he ever wanted me to meet Hades. Do you think I could make it up to the mortal realm?"

[controlsthedie]

It's true. Zagreus would have enjoyed that even if he wished Persephone to not meet Lord Hades. Or... maybe he'd get more upset after seeing how gently he spoke to her. (Yes, all that had been considered gentle.)

"Maybe if you could make it to wherever the Queen is. I don't know if it's in range or not." Thanatos sighs and looks upward. He's never been there. He only knows what it looks like because of an illusion Zagreus was lost in once.

"I tried to shift to the surface to collect those passing right now, but I ended up back at the platform instead. My presence allows the mortals to die again for Charon and Hermes to guide, but I can't help further."

[springforth]

"Do you know how far she is from the exit?"

There's an exit right? Honestly, Persephone isn't sure how the Underworld to mortal realm space works from the mortal side. Not here. Not in her world.

As they reach the entrance to the garden, Persephone hesitates before the doors. Oh maybe she should leave this space to get other self. Or maybe she'll appreciate it too.

"Is it weird to want to meet her?"

[controlsthedie]

"My mother's power masks her from me as well. Zagreus died up there, under what should have been my responsibility, and I had no idea." He had heard that Zagreus made it out, but then he saw him again in the Underworld as if he had died again. He second guessed himself only to learn that Zagreus couldn't last up there. He had died, and there was nothing Thanatos could have done about it.

"It makes me wonder if my mother swore to the Queen that no one working for the House would be able to find her. To be able to block even that from me. I know Zagreus has been leaving through the Temple of Styx, but I don't know where he goes from there. But maybe you'll be able to find her, or maybe she'll sense you and help that way."