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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, so that’s it? Rezo smiles.

“As it happens I was hoping to collect a few samples for myself,” he says. “Combining forces would likely be efficient for both of us.”

Rezo has been specifically planning to keep some specimens for his own personal studying, as the orange team seems to have enough hands to go around to take care of medicine production on their own, but that doesn’t mean he’s against helping, particularly if Lioriley’s willing to help him locate the herbs in question.

“Were you planning on heading for the forest or the scrublands?”

"Not a terrible plan, truthfully. Should they be in abundance, it would be wise to see if we may transfer some onto the train while we have the chance." Given the benefits provided from said plants, it would honestly be silly not to.

She smiled, her tone accenting how pleased she was with his response. "The forest ⁠— fruit cups are my primary goal; purple stars if we are able to find a way to retrieve them from the trees without issue."

“The tree stars shouldn’t pose a problem at all,” Rezo says. “I can use a levitation spell.” Of course, that may necessitate either Lioriley having to hang onto him long enough to bring her to the level of the leaves needed, or if she’s unwilling, allowing Rezo to handle that part himself.

(He has not taken into account that the monkeys have rocks, but he’ll probably be able to handle that too if it comes up.)

“Well then, were you planning on setting out soon? It shouldn’t take long to get together the necessary supplies.”

"A man of many magical talents." She said with a soft chuckle, sounding genuinely impressed all the same. "That should be easy enough, then."

As for monkeys and other such threats — pacifist she may have been, Lioriley was no stranger to threats in the woods, and had accounted for it already. She would be as alert as she needed to be.

"As soon as we are able. I have sacks at the ready and waterskins I can replenish myself without need for a source, as well as shears to remove the flowers and leaves. Is there anything else you require?"

“I do my best.” His tone is modest, but he’s happy to have his abilities recognized.

Onto the matter of actual logistics. It sounds as if Lioriley’s already well-prepared, but he can think of something to add.

“Ms. Albany mentioned that the dralites living in the forest can stun travelers with their cries. It would be prudent to bring along something we can block our ears with.”

He’s not a big fan of having to muffle one of his senses, not when he has to rely on his hearing more than other people do, but it’s likely safer not to risk it.

“Other than that, I believe we have enough to work with.” Better to travel light, after all.

"Mm." she hummed thoughtfully at that before nodding. "A bit of cotton should do the trick. If you give me a moment I should be able to procure some." said innkeeper likely had something they could use either way.

And should he not require anything else, she would do just that: quickly flitting off to gather some small balls of cotton, placing them in her rucksack along with the other supplies needed, and then hurrying back to meet Rezo again.

"I am ready when you are, my friend."

“I shall await you outside.”

This all agreed, Rezo headed towards the front of the inn to do just that, while Lioriley went on her cotton hunt. As soon as she’s finished, she’ll be able to find him outside, as he said.

Rezo isn’t doing anything important outdoors, merely standing in a sunny spot by the wall and enjoying the feeling of sunlight falling upon his skin, quietly breathing in the scents of the outdoors. Chaotic as things may be, he’s fortunate to have this chance to actually be off the train and on actual solid ground.

Rezo catches the sound of her moving first, but he turns at the sound of her voice.

“Wonderful,” he says. “Let us be off.”

Staff chiming in hand, he moves to Lioriley’s side and starts at a leisurely pace in the direction of the forest.

She hummed her agreement and kept pace alongside him, dark eyes scanning the trees as they moved, ears pricked for any sound that might warrant a quick press of cotton balls into their ears, or a dash away from the half-worn path they were currently following along. From what she had heard, the plants they needed were fairly far into the depths of the woods, and she doubted the path itself would last for long.

"Have you had the chance to explore much, yet? I have been keeping to the inn to assist there, for the most part. And I know things have been busy since we made our landing."

Rezo is paying attention in his own way, to the way sound grows muffled as trees thicken around them and the ground changes subtly beneath their feet, to the scents of the inn and road giving way to those of the forest. Things are easy enough so far, so conversation is not a distraction.

“Not very much,” Rezo admits. “I’ve made a few excursions to the nearest roadblocks but otherwise I’ve simply been gathering information about our situation. I’m thinking of making a longer trip to the scrublands tomorrow, however.”

"Quite dangerous up that way, I had heard." She had also heard the other herb they needed was in that direction as well, and had intended to venture there when she was able. Preferably with people more inclined to deal with the roadblocks and potential ramming goats along the way. Not that she couldn't - but it was part of their job and, well, safety in numbers and all that. "Searching for more herbs, or to assist the farmers?"

“Do not worry,” Rezo assures her, “I am better at handling myself than it may seem.”

Perhaps on another occasion Lioriley’s comment might have been taken as more of a barb, but it’s a pleasant day in spite of the chaotic circumstances. He can tuck his usual gloom aside and take it as only a simple comment.

“Both, actually, although the latter is a higher priority. I’ve also volunteered to help with clearing the roads.”

Really, he just wants to do everything and anything he can.

"Oh, I-" she verbally stumbled then - a rarity for her -, cheeks growing warm upon realizing her idle comment could have been taken more personally than intended. "I was merely making an observation on what I was told by others. I did not mean to imply any inability on your part." If he was as good at magic as he said he was, he could give her a run for her money.

Hoping that would suffice and she would no further make a fool of herself, Lioriley refocused on the half broken path of dirt before them. "That is good to hear - with any luck, we will see this place back to how it is meant to be - and find those displaced a means to return."

“Please, do not fret. I’ll consider it a statement of friendly concern.”

Oh dear. They’re being apologetic over one another again. If this happens again they’ll have to consider it a recurring theme, won’t they?

Rezo’s pace slows as the terrain gets rougher, but he otherwise has no difficulty in traversing the damaged path.

“Mending the damage will take time and energy, but at least it shall be simple enough. The problem of the displaced people seems like it may be more complicated. Although, I understand this was connected to an incident that took place shortly before I arrived?”

They sure would. Thankfully, Lioriley caught on to what was about to happen and put an end to it with a soft hum and a nod.

"Yes." She confirmed with a graveness in her voice she couldn't quite conceal. As they walked her hand hovered, ready to redirect him if necessary or to brace herself if she happened to be the one to trip. Rezo had proven himself more than capable, but she honestly would have done the same for anyone traveling in such dangerous terrain. "You were not made aware of the trains attempt to send people back to their homes, then? It caused quite a disturbance."

There’s a fallen tree up ahead, and quite a large one: When they reach it, Rezo will pause and poke at it so he has a rough idea of how best to proceed. He continues chatting as he does so.

“I have heard about it, and that it did not go very well. Few seemed willing to speak of it in detail.” Which was unfortunate, because Rezo really would like more information on the tethers. It seems extremely important to working out his own situation.

Having determined the tree is long enough that going around it isn’t practical, he hoists himself up onto the trunk and turns to Lioriley, in case she needs help hauling herself over.

“I presume from your tone you were one of the individuals disturbed?” he asks.

She stilled, waited patiently for him to carry out his assessment, and readied to move once he was ready. Sometimes it was nice that he could not see the way her leylines flickered - could not tell so readily when she frowned; the memory of a time not so distant still drumming up some unpleasant emotions. Mostly with regards to those that had tried to return home.

"I did not attempt to leave." She said, not needing any help but deciding to reach for his hand anyway. After hoisting herself up she started to ease down the other side, fingers still gripping his to try and return the favor of assistance on the way down. "But the train could not exit voidspace, and it jostled quite a bit. I saw those that had attempted to return home flickering like shadows onto the platforms, vanishing and reappearing. When I and the remaining few aboard the train went to retrieve them it was unlike anything I had ever experienced."

Rezo smiles slightly when he feels her hand take his. He likes helping her navigate such obstacles, unnecessary as it might be. It helps him feel more assured of his own place in any given environment, less of an oblivious, clumsy oaf. And it makes it easier to accept her own assistance in return, although he doesn’t actually put any of his weight on her when he climbs down after her. Since she only comes up to around his shoulders, he’s a little afraid he might accidentally knock her over.

“That sounds unsettling,” he says as he joins her on the ground.

(He wonders if Zelgadis attempted to return home. Rezo hasn’t spoken with his great-grandson since Zelgadis confronted him that first day.)

“By all accounts, however, you and the others were successful in retrieving the lost passengers.”

"That is certainly one word for it." Lioriley let her hand linger in his for a few seconds longer, grip loosening only once they had begun moving forward again. Somewhere in the far distance she heard an animalistic screech - just loud enough to have her stilling for a moment to listen for any sign of an approach.

When none came, she continued: "We were, but it was exhausting work. When we made connections with those that had ventured into the void, we could hear their thoughts, feel their emotions, envision all the terrors they wished to combat and all the pleas for help from the world they truly could not return to." Her voice wavered, just a little. "I feel so terribly for those that wished to return, to have to suffer such devastation."

Rezo likewise tenses when he hears that distant screech, only relaxing when it becomes apparent that it isn’t going to come closer. Lioriley’s the one carrying the cotton, after all.

It does sound exhausting. And terrifying, to be on either end of such an intense psychic connection. Moreover it sounds as if simple homesickness isn’t the average voidtrecker’s primary motivation for returning to their own world. Which makes him curious…

“Why did you not wish to return to your own world?”

A pause. Silence from the Lunari save for the soft crunch of leaves under her feet.

"I did wish to." She finally said after those seconds of silence, "but I had only just arrived aboard the train. I felt that if I had been pulled here - arbitrarily or not - that I should do what I could to help it and those worlds it visited. Not only that, but I felt the trains sudden desire to simply send so many home was...too good to be true." She didn't like to be so pessimistic, and maybe as much was obvious by the tinge of pain in her voice, but she hadn't felt right then; hadn't thought it would be so easy given everything the other passengers had told her. "I did not enjoy being right."

He’s slightly concerned he may have transgressed here, but in the end she explains and Rezo listens to her pained words.

It occurs to him, then, just how much the tethers must mean for other people. He’s sort of known, intellectually, but the problem of Rezo’s own revival and what that means for his own connection to Shabranigdu has preoccupied his thoughts. Even now, he can’t help but consider the danger of the Dark Lord to be a more pressing concern than that of others finding their way home, but…

Well. He hopes if he can solve his own problem, that he’ll find answers for other people along the way. Right now, the only thing he has to offer is a simple condolence.

“I’m sorry,” he says gently.

They’re a good way into the woods now, he thinks, so perhaps soon they’ll be able to start their gathering. If he cannot fix her worries, then perhaps he can at least distract her for a while.

Rezo would feel another brush of her fingers against his palm, and of he didn't pull away from it, Lioriley would gently squeeze his hand. If not that - she would aim a little higher, softly touch his forearm and then let her hand drop again. A simple gesture of thanks for the apology he truly did not have to offer. She did not say anything else about it, about as willing to distract herself as he was.

"There looks to be a patch of fruit cups to our north east." She said, moving along in that direction. The sound of her bag being shifted off her shoulder heard while she pulled a few small burlap bags out, offering one to Rezo once their pace began to slow. "How many would you like to keep for yourself?"

His fingers twitch slightly at the contact, but he accepts the gentle squeeze with only a trace of bewilderment. When she withdraws, he wonders, should he say something…?

But no, at that moment Lioriley spots some of the flowers they’ve been looking for. Rezo takes the bag she hands him and tries to think about herb collecting. Such things are far simpler. He considers the problems of storage, transportation, examination, and what equipment there is available on the train, and comes up with a rough estimate of how much he can practically handle.

Relaying it to Lioriley, he adds, “By all accounts, however, we should focus on gathering as much as we can find.”

When they reach the spider plant patch, Rezo will pause at the edge of it, considering. He can smell the sap coating the vines, and the sweet, almost citrus-y hint of the fruit cups underlying it.

…This could get messy. But, he thinks if he proceeds slowly, he’ll be able to grab the flowers without getting too wrapped up in the sticky vines.

“Would you pass me one of the shears?”

"Of course." She had planned to take all she could, maybe find another patch further in while on the search for those tree stars. If he needed more beyond that, they could probably make room or even take another trip later on. They had the time.

Lioriley could not recall if she warned him of the web-like plants, but decided it best to err on the safe side and say it regardless: "The ones we need are surrounded by those dreadfully sticky spider plants. Do be careful." and with that she handed him the second pair of shears, carefully placing the handle against his palm. She got out her own a moment later and moved off to his left, crouching down to carefully start her own extraction.

She hadn’t, but fortunately he’d already heard about it back at the inn. Rezo nods and wordlessly takes the shears, preoccupied with the task of reaching through obstacles he can’t see but can sort of sense hovering around him.

Hands stretch slowly through the tangle of vines, fingertips brushing against a leaf, then shifting, and touching a petal. He feels out the stem of the flower, takes out the shears, and snips.

One down. Not too bad so far.

He gets another one without incident, but the third flower requires him to venture partly into the spider’s web. He takes a few steps, retrieves the flower, shifts to exit- and his leg brushes a vine.

“Ah-”

The slightly alarmed sound is involuntary. He’s not even sure yet if he’s actually stuck.

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ill have her get caught next tag lol

oh boy, impending doom.