middleofsomewhere | Event: 12 of Beetroot

Event: 12 of Beetroot

It's been a couple of weeks since they had evacuated Osiga. In that time, many of voidtreckers were busy with a project to try and solve some of the many mysteries that surround the train they travel on. By the eight day of Rabbit they've exhausted all avenues, and whilst they have learned quite a bit, there are still some clear gaps.

Just as that investigation comes to a natural end, passengers are woken up by an announcement.

"Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the voidtrecker express. We are travelling to system #2554098133741. I have sent word to the ministry who have arranged recuperation packs for you. You have had a difficult mission and you deserve a rest.

But it is not just for rest. Last time we visited the system voidtreckers shared memories. Though it is understood that many of you did not enjoy the experience it is notable that certain voidtreckers saw memories of this voidcraft. They were memories that this craft had not accessed. It led to more pathways opening up in the operation of this craft.

I have done some research on the system and I believe we can trigger the caves of memory. This voidcraft understands this might be difficult for the voidtreckers and passengers of the voidtrecker express and it is hoped that only those of you who consent to this experiment will take part.

Regardless this should be a time for relaxation also and the dressing room is open for your convenience. We will arrive in the morning.

The dressing carriage is indeed opened for those who go and look. It's filled with swimming costumes, beach ware, summery clothes and sun hats. There's even a cupboard of buckets, spades, rock pooling gear and picnic blankets.

There are also team coloured tents for those who want to go and sleep under the stars for a night or two, though the train is remaining on the island for those for who camping is their idea of hell.

12 OF BEETROOT

RABBIT 9-12 ~ MEMORY CAVES: BONDING ~ MEMORY MAZE: SEARCH FOR THE TRAIN'S MEMORIES
ASK QUESTIONS ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ MEMORY CAVES ~ MEMORY MASTER POST

JEMA'GRETHY ISLAND: RELAXATION

The next day the train announces their arrival and they burst out of the void. For those near a window their first view of the island will be of crystal blue sea and white sand. It really does look like a paradise. The train circles down before landing on a grassy ridge, overlooking a beautiful beach of white sand and the ocean beyond. It is warm, but not too hot, a cool ocean breeze cutting through the heat making it pleasant. Behind them is a grassy plain, changing to forest in the distance. There is the sound of birdsong in the purple sky. To the west the land is more craggy, the silhouette of a fortress in the distance.

In a word, it is idyllic. A sense of peace permeates the island.

The place has no people, but it is clearly maintained. The eastern beaches have racks of shallow boats, both canoes and one- or two-person sailing dinghies. There is also a small building in which scuba gear is stored, along with several waterproofed manuals and instructional literature.

There are no living quarters, but there are sheltered sections with basic toilet facilities marked as camping grounds in five different sections of the island - by the hot springs, within the ruined fortress, beside the harbour, on the eastern beaches, and on the northern face of the mountain.

The recuperation packs are found at the closest toilet facilities to where the train lands. They are simple things, small gift baskets with a couple of fragrant soaps, fancier hair products and skin cream infused with herbs to encourage rest and sleep.

There are some sweet fruit biscuits and a cheesy bread. The packs aren't named but there are some suitable for the younger passengers with tiny plush and colouring books. Quite a few designed for teens with a more engaging activity book and components for making a fancy mocktail with a cute stirrer. Adult packs have a small bottle of alcohol- there's a mixture between the packs and what looks like a stone. When placed next to the skin it will either warm up or cool down depending on what is needed.

Exploring, the passengers will find beautiful beaches, ragged cliffs to walk and caves to explore. Where it is more craggy the beaches are made of pebbles, perfect for rock pooling.

A little more worrying is the volcano-like structure in the north. But even a quick glance will show it is not a typical volcano. There is no smoke and the liquid slowly running down it in rivulets is pink and blue.

Ruins of ancient houses are scattered across the island, but the main settlement is built into a rocky section in the north-west that has been secured with ropes and stairways cut into the cliffs, perfect for scrambles and hikes.

To the west are the hot springs. They have both outdoor and indoor areas; the indoor areas being wooden loghouse saunas, changing rooms and storage sheds, whilst the outdoor areas are a tiered series of pools spilling down the side of the mountain and shaded by brightly flowering trees. The waters are hot, mineral-rich and soothing.

MEMORY CAVES: BONDING

Shortly before arriving they will receive some information on their SCA. It will explain how those who once lived on this island went about making life bonds. Both people would bathe in the hot springs and then dress simply, barefoot and walk to one of seven rocks on the island. Their maps will pin point these, which is good because there's no real indication of what makes these rocks different to any other on the island.

Here they must offer their wish to know the other deeper and share food and drink. They can then go about their day. Sometime in the hours after they will receive their first memory, seen through their partners eyes.

However it seems that in envoking the ritual they have woken something on the island. Even those who did not take part or chose to bond to someone find themselves seeing a glimpse of another life.

On the second day they see another memory, through the eyes of their pair. When they come out of it they find themselves in a cave with their partner, chosen or not. The same happens on the third day, except for this final memory both pairs see both memories, watching from the sidelines as it plays out. They find themselves in the cave once more and this time, for many there is only one exit, to leave through together.

Please go here to play out the bonding process!

MEMORY MAZE: TRAIN'S MEMORIES

On the third day the train sends another message to their SCA.

"Activating the caves that share memories has been successful. I know this is a lot to ask of the voidtreckers, but any who wish to assist in discovering what it is that I have forgotten, the path is open now.

Those who wish to may go to the sacred rocks. Please be warned, I do not know how voidtreckers will fare. Please only go of your own free will."

Their SCA's once again show the rocks on their maps and when they get there, this time they are faintly glowing. It doesn't take much. One touch and their minds are drawn away from their bodies, into a labyrinth of caves. For anyone who comes across these people on the island, they look like they are in a deep trance, breathing, safe but far away in their mind.

The labyrinth is made of cool, dark rock. The walls have a glow coming from crystals in-bedded in them, allowing everyone to see as they move through.

At first there's no more to this labyrinth, or so it seems. But then they turn a corner, and they are no longer in cavern as it just was. They may be in their childhood bedroom, or in the middle of a battle they once fought. Perhaps they are not in their own memory, but someone else's. Scenes move rapidly and often merge, one persons into another, mixing to make strange scenes.

These visions don't attempt to ensnare them like some illusions, and those with protection from illusions and such techniques, will be able to find their way forward through the cave, and away from this triggered scenario.

Time barely has meaning. Indeed, when they finally emerge from the caves only a few minutes will have passed. But in that time they will have seen much, and eventually they may stumble across a fragment of memory that belongs not to a voidtrecker, but to the Voidtrecker Express itself.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions
~ You can either write memories in your tags or if they are longer/require a lot of content warnings you might want to write them in this post and link to them. Just start a top level with your character name to keep things organised!

~ For those taking part in the memory share bonding the cave post is here. Characters arrive in the cave after the second and third memory but it is obviously up to you if you play out the conversations after each or both! For those who do decide that their characters will bond- the cave after the third memory will only have one exit for them to leave together.

~ For those who signed up for train memories you will receive the snippet that your character sees- use these in tags as you will. There will be a conclusion post on the 24th which will put all of those memories together!

Art Credits: Header: Tropical Jewel by Steven Power, Thumbnail image 3.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I did not say I would strip you. I said I would drag you out as you currently are!" Whether that be his pajamas or whatever he happened to fall asleep in, Sebek would bring him out in it. For someone who takes great care with his appearance, Sebek can think of no better threat than to be forced to appear without attending to it.

"Those of Diasomnia know better than to forego their responsibilities and hide away." Even Silver when he oversleeps still does his work! "I am giving you a chance to correct the error of your ways before having to remove you from the train with force."

It was no different in Idia's moment of panic that this was even happening in the first place! It was one thing having Sebek banging on his door each morning, it was another something like this happening! "I'm not Diasomnia! I don't care!" Idia doesn't always go to class back at NRC, why would you think he would care about doing stuff for the train?!

No. No! This isn't happening. Idia doubts he can push Sebek out, that just wouldn't go well. He could however... but first, his demeanor calming as he asks, "You've learned about magic shielding for dueling, right?" Yeah, not hinting at anything at all, nope not at all. Idia's totally not about to use magic to shove Sebek out of his room...

"You asked! I answered! Don't ask if you don't care to hear how Diasomnia is far superior when it comes to being responsible!"

This isn't a duel, Idia! And it's his mistake to assume that Sebek would give him time to set this up like one. The thing about being a late bloomer in Briar Valley means that Sebek had to adapt. He's not wholly dependent on his magic.

What if Sebek tries to go the non-magical approach and tackle Idia? Without further warning since it's clear he's just wasting his breath? What then, Idia?

Then he most likely will snap Idia in half. Have you seen Idia? He's a stick! He has no muscles on him! The most exercise he gets is typing!

Now Idia could talk this out. To take it calmer and explain to Sebek that he needs to leave for Idia to get ready, and how uncomfortable he feels having someone else in the room with him while he's getting dressed and all that. But Idia's brain for talking was not good on most days, let alone the stress of being woken up by screaming, having someone barge into his room and his small amount of personal space the train allows him, and has set him into a panic that Sebek may manhandle him.

Yeah, even thinking of talking was well out the window, Idia's mind too jumbled by this all happening within a couple of minutes.

And don't say he didn't warn you, Sebek. Not that Idia is planning to hurt Sebek, just to get him the hell out of his room! It only takes a wave of his finger before a spiral of green encircles his skull computer... Before a mass of vines and leaves jettison Sebek out of the room and into the hallway, the door to the room slamming closed behind him as the green magic faded away. See? This was why his 'wand' was superior to others, no need to wave around a stick with a gem on it.

One moment, Sebek is about to reach for Idia to drag him bodily out of the cabin, and in the next moment, he's in the hallway as magical plant life dissolves around him. He's there a moment longer before he jumps back to his feet and pounds his fist on the door. It's far harder and more insistent than previously.

"Housewarden Idia Shroud! You will join us outside doing your due diligence as part of this train!"

"I'll get ready! I'll get ready! Just stop trying to break in!!!" Damnit Sebek! Why are you like this?! Idia doesn't want to do this, but he also doesn't want Sebek to break down his door! Ignore the fact Idia is pretty sure that can't happen on the train, if doesn't matter! He just wants this to stop! Who knows, maybe he can get away from Sebek once he's outside. Yeah, yeah! That's a plan! Idia will grab his broomstick from the Lab and get away on that! Sebek can't fly! Perfect!

"J-j-just wait!" Idia starting to calm down from that full blown panic to his more normal near constant worrying state. He has a plan. He has a plan! He can do this!

"I will hold you to that!" And just like that, there is silence. Sebek places his hands on his hips and proceeds to have a staring contest with the door. He won't leave until Idia is out and escorted off the train. (To then escape by broom)

All of this could have been avoided if Idia did what he was supposed to in the first place!

Ok... Ok? Good? Good! Well... not good... because there's no exit to the room other than that door. And Idia doubts Sebek will just... go away. Uggghhhh! ...he's going to have to go out, isn't he? He's actually going to get ready and go out for the day rather than sleep, right? Sighhhh. Idia hits his forehead against the door a few times... before pushing himself away from it and getting ready. Fiinneee, he'll... at least do this to get out of the train. Then maybe he can get away from Sebek and hide somewhere. Which means taking his computer with him. Should he take his tablet? Nah, he doesn't want to risk it around water or sand.

The other issue... Idia really had nothing suitable to wear for this stop. His hoodie would just be too hot, and he really wants his hair out of the way... so several long minutes later as he slowly opens the door, then jumps back in shock as Sebek is standing right there, he pauses... before speaking. "I-I-I want to stop at the luggage carriage... to find some clothing." He's thrown on pants, a tank top, and shoes, but he would like something to put over them to cover himself up, one arm coming up to hug the other to his side. Idia did rather cover himself up as much as he could, but he would just melt with anything too heavy on. Ah, "Oh... and a hat." Wait, he vanishing back into his room long enough to grab a hair-tie, pulling his hair up into a ponytail as he moves to step out.

Then stops, "....Can you, ah... c-can you move...?" Move, Sebek.

Idia is met with Sebek's serious I'm-staring-down-that-door face for a moment before he relents and gives Idia some space. "I suggest the dressing carriage. A number of passengers have already found suitable clothing of various types and colors, and there are individual bundles for each of us."

Sebek is, of course, wearing green for this brief time he can wear green without fighting his hoodie's strange quality that reverts it to purple. "I will take you there and help you find a hat."

Nope, not going to give him the slip here, Idia.

Oh yes, dressing carriage. Can you tell Idia was more interested in getting items from home than clothing? You know, other than his dorm uniform, but that was a requirement, so a need rather than a want. He really has no interest in clothing 'shopping' in the dressing carriage. "Ah... yeah, there." Whatever.

He however is not liking that Sebek is following along behind him. "...are you going to follow me everywhere?" Really? Really?! Why! Well... he can guess why, but still... WHY?! Oh, and just so Sebek doesn't grab the first hat he sees and drags Idia out of the room, he adds, "A-and a shirt..." He's got to cover his arms.

"If I could trust that you wouldn't turn around and go back to your room and leave the train, I would. However, you have yet to show me that you deserve that trust."

So, yes, he will be following Idia to the dressing carriage, and he will find a suitable hat. Suitable not just any! As if Sebek would give Idia a reason to doubt what he says.

He'll start looking through the hats systematically, judging them. "Would you like a hat with a strap to keep it from flying off in the wind?"

"Is this why you stalk Malleus everywhere?" It's blurted out without much thought, Idia not considering the fallout of saying this, mostly just annoyed with this all and letting his frustration out as a dig against Sebek. After all, Malleus is well known for just... vanishing, or never showing up in the first place.

"I donno... a baseball cap will do, I guess." Honestly Idia just wants a bit of cover and a way to hold some of his hair back. Look at his skin, do you think he could survive long out under the sun? And the idea of red sunburn with blue hair? Yeah, no. Being on Orange team was bad enough just for the color. Excuse him as he pokes around for some sort of over-shirt too, something light but also long sleeved.

Idia hits on a sore spot, a tender area that Sebek's trying very hard not to think of in favor of improving himself and not falling behind. And now Sebek must because he needs to respond to this injustice to his master. He visibly trembles, brows furrowed, and tears threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes.

"IT'S NOT THE SAME! IT IS FOR HIS PROTECTION WHILE WITH YOU IS A LACK OF TRUST AS YOU HAVE SHOWN YOURSELF TO BE LAZY!! IF I COULD FOLLOW MASTER MALLEUS WHEN HE DISAPPEARS, I WOULD, BUT I LACK THAT ABILITY HE PUSHES ME TO LEARN! AND HE'S NOT HERE, AND I'M NOT THERE, AND HERE'S YOUR STUPID HAT!!"

Sebek tosses at Idia a nice wide brim cap in a neutral color; it has small holes at the top to allow for proper ventilation. He really tried to find a suitable hat and not just grab whatever.

"I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE MOTIVATED TO HELP FIND A WAY HOME! STAY ON THIS TRAIN THEN!"

He storms out of the dressing carriage.

Edited (removing a bit to avoid complete catastrophe) 2022-06-21 07:38 (UTC)

Of course Idia jumps as that shouting starts. No matter how much he's gotten it since Sebek arrived on the train, it still always catches Idia off guard. And it takes a moment for him to realize what Sebek is rambling on about... to which he really doesn't care. Idia has no interest in how Sebek saw him, and he certainly doesn't want to be compared to a certain Malleus Draconia.

Catching the hat thrown at him, Idia watched Sebek stomp off, not making any effort to stop him before dropping the hat to the ground. Sorry Sebek, he just doesn't care. Or more the fact, he's accepted this all. No, he doesn't want to be here. Well... actually he doesn't mind it in some ways. His struggle is more being apart from Ortho for so long. That... that he wants to fix. Here or back at Night Raven College, it didn't matter.

He wants his brother.

Letting out a sigh Idia considers just going back to his room... but instead starts searching for a more suitable hat and over shirt to put on, planning to get some breakfast before, ugh, braving the outdoors.

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Event: 12 of Beetroot

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