middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Start

Swirling Consequences Start

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"We could use umbrellas. Unfortunately we'd have to buy them, the train only provided us with raincoats."

Once Hunk is ready, he moves to pluck the next one, careful to avoid the sticky web.

"Thanks. I'm still trying to think of what else could make this more efficient. I don't think we have much daylight left, and working in the dark means getting caught in this."

[Taiki notices the disaster about to ensue as well and flies into the air, using his speed to get to the front of his herd, to try and slow them down.]

Sorry! I didn't see you... [His mouth doesn't move but it's clear enough where the voice is coming from. He is large enough to be a physical block at least, if any of his sheep don't get the message to turn.]

"I guess, I'm used to the opposite too." Without the rats. But knowing small animals knew and trusted this man made him more likely to. He turned his head to look at what the man was doing, as the dralite was moved carefully, it squeaked but stopped short of actually screeching.

"I am hoping there is a nest nearby to put them."

Wash catches that movement out of the corner of his eye, catches what sounds like a poem, and- Nope. Nope. He is not sticking around for this-

He yanks his sword out of the creature's horns and damn near dives out of the way as a beam of light collides with the voidblob, and-

And nothing. The voidblob shakes one of its many heads, seemingly unfazed, as Wash rolls to his feet. There's a beat, and the creature rumbles, and Wash is-

Done, honestly. Between the peanut gallery and his laser light show and this godforsaken crime against nature that refuses to die, he is just done. "You know what?" he says brightly, an edge to his words as he gathers his own magic and fights down the shudder that happens every time (the phobia is his own damn fault and that doesn't make him hate it any less). "Fuck this." He extends a hand, snaps his fingers, and the air around the voidblob explodes into flame in a five-foot sphere. Even if it doesn't kill the thing, a good fireball spell sure makes him feel better.

Except the fire burns out in the next second or two, leaving behind singed grass and a charred yet oozing voidblob corpse. For a moment or two, Wash just blinks at it as that processes. He...probably should've led with that, huh.

"...okay then."

Okay, Wash is definitely glad he got out of the way of that one. It's definitely slowing down the voidblob, as it has to push through forming ice, but it's not enough to bring it down. Still, he'll take the extra second or two to try to figure out a plan. "Can you freeze it solid?"

Rezo not only hears that explosion of flame, he can even feel the heat from all the way on the sidelines. The fireball is as potent as it is unexpected, and the silence after it burns out attests to its effectiveness.

Rezo makes his way forward and prods the corpse with the bottom of his staff. He wonders how viable it would be to take this or other dead voidblobs back to the train for dissection. Probably not at all, sadly.

Once he’s assured it’s definitely dead, Rezo turns to Wash.

“Why didn’t you do that earlier?” Rezo’s tone is one of genuine curiosity, not accusation; though it’s up to Wash whether or not he takes offense to it.

[Not much distance, but enough that convection damage isn't a thing. He waits for Masumi to get clear, then swings his sword hard in a devastating strike, leaving the voidblob stunned. He doesn't think he's going to get more than a second or two out of this, but that's all he needs for a flat sprint for distance of his own. He comes to an abrupt stop and turns to face the voidblob as it shakes off its disorientation, reaches out his hand, and snaps his fingers-]

[And the air around the voidblob explodes into flame. It's a fireball spell, and he's hoping it'll be enough to drop the creature for good. The flames clear after a second or two, and he watches, sword still at the ready. Is the creature still standing?]

"I think there's something wrong with his foot. He's not putting it on the ground properly."

It was making him even more wobbly than lambs usually were!

"He's scared though!"

"Yeah, she's mine."

Athena looks up with a mrrp? but does not stop purring as Wash takes a seat at the far end of the log. He may have cheated for a hot second and looked through his familiar's eyes to figure out where exactly she was, and now he's making sure she's not bothering Seto too much. The fact that she's in his lap in full-on therapy cat mode means she definitely has his attention, at least.

"I see you've met Athena."

"I see. Well spotted."

The fear, while unsurprising, might be an issue. Rezo gently sets his staff on the ground, in case the rattling top is disturbing the lamb.

"It will be easier to treat if I can get closer. Can you herd it towards me?"

She smirked, though it faded at the display of power. She still has some respect, even if she feels slightly more secure up in her tree. She doesn't answer the question though. That question sounded like a trap.

"Do you want me to be killing it?"

She asks instead. After all the goat had tore his jacket, he might want revenge.

"I admit. I get kind of stir-crazy in the train," Soldat agrees. "Especially after all of you. Got lost, like that." They know their experience was nothing compared to those who actually got lost... but it's still nice to get out and away and have a change of scenery.

And be able to go outside in the sun. They really like that part.

"I've got a recipe for a stew that keeps well, simmering, if you make it in a big batch," Soldat offers. They're proud of their Siege Stew. Developed, unsurprisingly, during a siege. "There seems to be enough compatible ingredients here. Unless you've got one you'd like to use."

They fold the pastry again and start rolling it out. "Six months. This is definitely on the easier side so far. Though it might get more complicated. Sometimes they do that."

Oh! Soldat puts their hand over the Arms band, and "withdraws" another of the bundles, with a smile, to offer to him. It just looks like the fabric wrap simply appears in their hand. Technically Idia isn't on one of the teams they're responsible for, but frankly, Soldat would be feeding all four teams if they thought they could get away with it.

So Idia gets a bundle. "Will it take long to fix them?" they ask. "I don't think I'll need them for a few days, if you need them."

"Really?", Bruno asked, somewhat surprised. "I mean, not that I don't believe you, but you'd think a unicorn would be pretty popular anywhere, especially with little girls and things, you know?"

The chick already on Bruno's back made a few similar annoyed squeaks but fortunately allowed the other chick to be transferred and settled without issue. Bruno gave a small, relieved sigh. One down, quite a few to go. "Yeah, hopefully their nests aren't too far away. Even though I'm not really looking forward to meeting their parents given what I heard about them. And what I can hear from them." They weren't near any nests yet, but that didn't mean they couldn't hear some of the adult dralites' cries.

Poor Buttercup, forced to deal with birds and supersoldiers. They pause at the sight of her in the corner of their eye, and glance over. Then when she stops and they see her mouth moving, they shift to pull one earphone away. "What?"

They don't like limiting their senses like this, but the bird is so very loud.

"We do, but the innkeeper is very protective of them," Soldat answers, coming by with a pot in case Crowley needs a refill. Also, because they need a cup, and it's easier to just bring the whole pot for the two of them. "I'm mostly trying to adapt my own recipes when possible."

They hold up the pot, a wordless offer.

"I think it's a little closer to routine?" He pauses, considering his words, and lifts his pen off the paper so as to not leave a blot while he thinks. "We usually have a mission around the same day every month, so people who've been around for a while know how to prepare and how to help other people prepare too. There a few people who've been here for over a year, so they've got it down. We make and store food beforehand, there's weapons in the lockers for those who need them and healing supplies for everyone to carry..." He trails off and shrugs. "That's the routine. Prepare beforehand." He stops himself before he says you'll get used to it, because it's a depressing notion - even to him, and he's been on the train for six months.

He glances back up at the reference map, then continues with his own.

Soldat is in the training car every evening after dinner, and they keep a curious eye on T'Challa when he's in there, too. "Want a partner?" they ask that evening, a couple days before the mission is due to start.

Soldat has their own sniper rifle, plus the glock and Sig Sauer at their hip and thigh. The farmers are just going to have to put up with weapons.

They consider the caravan, and consider Guri's expression, and say after a pause, "I think I'll range between. And walk with you for a little before going up front." It's still cleared territory. It's safe enough. Besides, they feel like they haven't seen Guri much lately.

"They're too small."

Granted, they're bigger than most chinchillas would be - but it's not like Inigo has any idea of that. They're not exactly a common species back in Ylisse, if they even exist there at all, so he has no clue what the scale of these things is supposed to be.

Which clearly makes the important fact here that they're still not big enough to be a bear.

"It's like how you wouldn't be happy with just a puddle of water, you know?" Inigo says, putting his hands back on the shovel and tearing his gaze away from the very distant storm. "It's too small! You couldn't even swim in it!"

.. he pauses, seeming to consider this for a moment before adding: ".. I guess I could eat one of those things though? There's still some meat on those bones." These are the true important mission questions. Can they swim? Can they devour the local wildlife? What else even matters.

There's no way Inigo is ever going to pass over anyone asking him for some help.

So while he's in the middle of trying to move debris as well and he hears Aden calling out like that, he's already jogging over towards the other, recognizing him from their talk before on the train. Aden had seemed like a pretty chill guy back then, so that makes helping him out even less of a problem than it already was in the first place.

He stops when he's right next to the other, looking over at him.

"What exactly do you need a hand with? Something specific? Or do you just not want to move all this by yourself?" Hey, Inigo wouldn't blame the other! It's so much better to at least have someone to talk while doing this kind of manual labour.

In hindsight - after Tidus tells them about it - the plan isn't that surprising. Of course Tidus is always carrying a secret weapon with him like that. All three of them do in their own way. And it's not like Inigo hasn't seen Tidus use the little higglepal on plenty of missions before..

Though this is a new way of using Hibber-Gibber entirely. It makes try to conjure the mental image in his mind, trying to imagine water blasting away the debris..

...

"Is that how it works?"

At least he doesn't seem sceptical now. Just confused as to whether that sort of thing would work or not. Tidus seems so confident about it, and he's much more of a water expert than Inigo, so he's.. probably right..??

(Please, this is too much work on Inigo's single braincell.)

Surely Roland would also know more about this than Inigo though. Or be able to figure out more. That's what he's the local responsible adult for, after all.

"Do you need me to stick by you? I can protect you!"

Granted, maybe 'protect' is a bit of a big word here, especially since it's not like Nell is being threatened by anything too super serious.. but on the other hand, you never know during these missions. There could be something here in the forest that they don't know about yet. Or getting harassed by the Dralites while all by yourself can't be great either..

"It's important to stick together here, I think." Just in case there's trouble. "It's always better to deal with stuff together..!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Aden was no team player, nor was he very good at taking orders from others despite having lived years playing at being the consummate professional, but well. When it came to tidying up in ways both big and small, he was somewhat more willing to listen to someone else's input. Especially since he was still more or less playing nice.

Irritable for the most part.

But playing nice.

He headed toward that direction at a decently brisk pace, apparently ready and happy to keep working- and figuring he should go take a look up close before deciding on what tools would be needed for the job. Luckily the locals were more than willing to lend what they had. Aden had no doubt that there were Voidtreckers who could pick up a tree or two no problem, but he was not one of them.

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Swirling Consequences Start

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Coffee break

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debris

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