voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2019-07-13 08:02 am

To Climb

Preparation

Just after light on the seventh day since boarding the train everyone’s SCA glows with the colours of the void before showing a message. A briefing for the mission to come. No one gets much time to process this before there is a shaking, like turbulance before there’s a jolt and flash of colour.

”Welcome to Hub World#5739. Our next stop will be Ciyesia in a few hours.”

Outside the windows the void is gone. The train is winding through a mountain range. The mountains tower up around them. The sky is a beautiful blue though every now and again there is a swirl of colour, like the void is trying to break through.

The countryside wizzes by, sometimes you go past settlements, small villages of wooden houses. Sometimes you pass farmers in fields. Sometimes herds of animals, horses, camels, strange animals with six legs and curled horns.

Eventually the train slows. ”Now arriving at Ciyesia. Passengers must wear their Safety Control Apparatus. Please ensure you take all equipment needed for your mission with you when you leave the train and take extra care when you step from the train to the platform. Next stop Ciyesia.”

Arrival

And in a billow of steam the train comes to a stop. The doors hiss open and there is indeed a rickety wooden platform, fallen into disuse. Sat upon it were two children, a boy and a girl who were staring at the train with open mouths.

Before the doors were even fully opened they were off running, “Ma! Ma!”

The platform is in a clearing, surrounded mostly by trees but down the path the children took a building can be seen. If you follow the children you will find it a large homestead, with a sign outside. The Weary Wanderer. The children are on the doorstep talking to a woman and gesturing towards you.

As you approach she smiles, a little nervously. “Well. This is not something I thought I would see in my lifetime. Welcome Treckers, I offer you the hospitality of my inn.”

She gestures them in. Inside is a large common room with wooden tables. There is a fire place but the day is warm enough that it is not lit. At first glance it looks old fashioned to anyone from a modern world, even fantasy-esque for those who would recognise it as such. Indeed her and the children are dressed in simple layered, loose tunics. But then you may notice some of the candles are battery powered and! there’s a coffee machine on the bar.

“Maia can you ask our guests what they would like to drink?” The woman hands the little girl a slate and chalk before she begins rummaging around on the bar for mugs and glasses. “I’m sorry, it’s the quiet season so we aren’t quite guest-ready.”

They become guest ready in an impressive amount of time. The little boy runs off and returns a short while later with a plate of oat biscuits that he begins handing out.

Sheltered and soon to be fed it is time to learn more about this land and plan for your journeys ahead.

(OOC: Information for this event is here and the initial briefing is here
enthunder: (huh ☇ not sure if want)

shortly after they settle in

[personal profile] enthunder 2019-07-14 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Excuse me," Lightning has managed to catch Albany at the bar, hoping it'll keep her still long enough to get answers. Her biscuit from Enero is still held lightly in one hand, as if she's forgotten it's there. "Mind telling me when the last train came through?"
voidtreckernpcs: (Default)

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-14 08:43 am (UTC)(link)
Albany looked up with a kindly smile as Lightning spoke and moved the glasses she was polishing over so she could talk and work at he same time.

"Trains pass through all the time but we're not a main stop. Local train stop here once a week, brings through supplies and mail and sometimes tourists. Last one was two days ago."
enthunder: (what ☇ the plot thickens)

[personal profile] enthunder 2019-07-14 08:51 am (UTC)(link)
So there's a route, a network. But she could just be talking about trains that run on rails around their own planet. Rephrase.

"... anything like ours?"
voidtreckernpcs: (Default)

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-14 09:00 am (UTC)(link)
Albany laughed lightly, "There's no train quite like yours. But if you mean void trains, we get a few. Couple a year, sometimes more. Mostly tourists again, often young people wanting to escort a dralite up Ciyesia."

She shook her head, "Never seen the appeal myself, if I wanted to be whined at all the way up a mountain I'd take them two." She nodded over at the children with a fond smile.
enthunder: (snark ☇ mlia)

[personal profile] enthunder 2019-07-14 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alright, thanks."

She's not sure how to talk to Albany about her kids - would that be an in? She'll leave further conversation to someone who's good at it. Maybe later, when they've tried the missions. Speaking of... "Right. Dralites... We're meant to be escorting those as part of our mission. Any tips?"
voidtreckernpcs: (Default)

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-14 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Be strict with 'em." She shrugged, "Keep them out of danger, if they scream it'll hurt you as well as anything trying to attack you. Keep them moving, have food to bribe them with if necessary."

She tilted her head, "Not sure if you're allowed to tell me, but your mission... Should I be worried?" She looked towards the kids again, this time in concern.
enthunder: (doubts ☇ the mods are dicks)

[personal profile] enthunder 2019-07-14 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
She's already shaking her head as Albany looks at her children.

"Don't think so. It's down as a 'training mission': Clear hostiles, collect flowers, escort dralite."
voidtreckernpcs: (Default)

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-14 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right." She nodded, looking relieved. "That's a relief, guess everyone needs training every now and again."

She turns to pick up a few more glasses to polish. "You'll find plenty of hostiles up there, storms blow in all sorts."