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
voidtreckernpcs: (Albany)

Albany

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-13 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
Pouring drinks, making food, this woman seems to be quite confident running this inn single handedly and though she never stops doing things she is happy to chat and gossip and answer questions.
voidtreckernpcs: (Maia)

Maia

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-13 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
"What would you like to drink?"

You might have to wait a little while for your order to be carefully scratched onto the slate but Maia definitely takes her role seriously! Once drink orders have been taken and delivered she sits on a nearby table with her brother watching these strange visitors with a sense of wonder.
voidtreckernpcs: (Enero)

Enero

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-13 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
Also takes his job as biscuit waiter very seriously, though he definitely nabs one for himself and one for Maia too when he finishes his round and goes to sit with her. He's younger and seems the shyer of the two but is just as curious as his sister.
mtsilver_conquor: (Hat!)

Preparation - OTA

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2019-07-13 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
(I'll put up a Toplevel after the other stuff later. Or just tag out. Um. Also happy to do multi-person thread or whatever)

[Well. At least they're stopping somewhere and as excited as Eva is, she also knows they a mission. Missions. Whatever. She's gotten used to being proactive, what with owning and running the Alolan Battle Tree. They need to plan and there's not much time. So of course she scrambles for the nearest ICP point.]

It's Eva. Yea, I know. I want to look out the windows too. Yet, we apparently have some missions, and I think we need to maybe get a plan together or at least an idea of how to proceed? I think Princess'll be some use, but I don't know. All I know is that it's probably not the best idea to leave this train without some sort of plan.

I'll be in the gym carriage.

[And once she's grabbed her stuff, she can be found there. Pacing and buzzing with excited energy. She really, really wants to watch the scenery, but she does feel they should possibly have a plan... or as much of one as they can, seeing they're in teams..?]
Edited 2019-07-13 12:07 (UTC)
sweetnessandfight: (cheering you on)

Re: Preparation - OTA

[personal profile] sweetnessandfight 2019-07-13 12:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, Sarai does know where the gym is, so once she's dressed and has her bow slung over her back, she makes her way there. Dread will likely be along eventually...]

Hello! I'm Sarai! [Pretty cheery, she is. ] I don't think we've officially met yet. But my, I do like the way you think! I do know we're in teams, but if we can keep in touch through these things, I don't see any reason why we can't serve as backup for each other, if at all possible.

[With that, she taps her SCA.]
mtsilver_conquor: (casual)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2019-07-13 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Nice to meet you and thanks, Sarai-san. [There's a bow, but honestly? It feels like she's 13 again and about to walk out into her Championship match and that means she has far too much energy to know what to do with.]

Exactly! And while I'm hopeful it'll be easy enough without trouble, I can't help but worry too. We don't know this 'hub' world and from what I've seen it's a mostly unspoiled wilderness, which in my world means you really need pokemon with you for protection. But, like I said, I think Princess'll be of some use at least.

[She's babbling. Good lord is she babbling. Though, said Princess is in his pokeball. Which Eva brings out from the hoodie pocket.] Though I only have Princess on me, so I don't know how useful he'll be.
sweetnessandfight: (in my sights)

[personal profile] sweetnessandfight 2019-07-13 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you have any combat training? [Partly, Sarai was curious--she figured 'Princess' was probably something like a carbuncle, sight unseen--and one of those was certainly able to hold its own in a fight, so.]

You'd need to at least go armed in unspoiled wilderness where I am from, too, so I find that eminently sensible. [But that's what Failnaught was for, as she tapped the bow briefly with her claws.] What kind of abilities does he have? Princess, I mean.

[It wasn't as if she didn't have odd names for some of her minions, or her chocobo, so she's not about to judge!]
hibana_incursa: (big smile)

Re: Maia

[personal profile] hibana_incursa 2019-07-13 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Can I please have a water?" Gwen asks the little girl, giving her a kind smile. It was a child. She wasn't going to be an asshole to a child. She'd slap the taste out of someone's mouth for being rude to her brothers, so she expects the same treatment for herself should she upset the kid.

"I'm Gwen. You're doing a very good job, kid. I'm impressed."
runs_on_batteries: (all business)

Threadjacking with permission :D

[personal profile] runs_on_batteries 2019-07-13 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[The women were surely talking about something of import, but as he enters the gym carriage, he interrupts them.]

I think we should talk about these objectives. There are four color sets on here and only three on the train. Should we be expecting to pick up additional passengers?

[It was unnerving that others were about to be abducted like they were. He also doesn't like the idea of some entity giving him orders without knowing every detail about them. Who knew if these were actually helpful goals or there to destroy the culture of the people in this community? But more on that later.. he already asked a good question, in his opinion.]
mtsilver_conquor: (I can be mature)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2019-07-14 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
No. [A shake of her head.] I'm not a League Enforcement Officer. But I do have decent survival skills, so that should count, I'd hope.

[There's a brief nod when Tony interrupts, Eva shifting to include him as well.] It's possible, Stark-san. I can't say if we will here, but I'm not going to say no to more people at the very least. As for what Princess can do... He's a battler by training but it's not a bloodsport as pokemon battles are actually quite safe. If it wasn't, I wouldn't ask it of him. But, I figure he could be of use in either the red team or purple team goals at least, though I'll want him while my team collects the plants, and I don't know what to expect with that. It doesn't sound hard, unlike the rest, but I also thought that when I climbed Mt Silver.

[A quick shake of her head. Back on topic!] But, like Stark-san said, we don't have any blue team yet, so we'll probably have to work together on that at least. I don't know if it's allowed, but I didn't hear that it wasn't. So, the more organised we can get, the easier things will likely be.
sweetnessandfight: (plotting)

[personal profile] sweetnessandfight 2019-07-14 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
League enforcement? Is that like a Yellowjacket? Police force? [More a curious question than anything that really needed to be answered now. Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Sarai did offer Tony a bright smile. She felt that his was a good mind to have, if this was going to be some sort of true planning committee...]

I honestly would not want to ask Princess to do anything you--or he--would not be comfortable with. [Just as Sarai wouldn't want anyone to ask her chocobo to do anything that he'd be unhappy with, were he here.]

I am not certain if we'll pick up extra passengers, though we might? I was planning as Mistress Eva was, to work with others who wished to, on the blue team's objectives. You know, since we haven't any members assigned there.
enthunder: (dismissive ☇ this plan)

also threadjacking w/ permission 8>

[personal profile] enthunder 2019-07-14 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
We've been expected to pick up the slack on the train where Blue's concerned. Don't expect it'd be different off it.

[ What's up, Lightning slips into the gym, nodding to each of them and finding a good spot near a window to lean. ] What'd I miss?
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: (Maia)

[personal profile] voidtreckernpcs 2019-07-14 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Thanks!" Water was easy enough so Maia didn't even need to write it down she just darted off and returned a moment later with a tankard of water. It has a novelty curly straw in it.

"Here ya go." She passed it over carefully but without spilling a drop. A moment later she seemed to remember something. "It's nice to meet you ms Gwen. I'm Maia."
Edited 2019-07-14 11:56 (UTC)
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.
knifewithnoname: (yes okay)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2019-07-14 11:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Buttercup also slipped into the gym just behind Lightning and moved over to one of the walls to sit down. She had been wondering if they would ever leave the weird swirly colour place and now it seemed they had landed on a world. A world that was different than her own it seemed. Though it still had mountains.

She had been staring out the window in wonder when Eva's voice had come through the air. She had never actually seen mountains before in real life. But Eva is right. They have been given a mission to do. By who and why are questions that remain unanswered but she at least understands a mission brief. Honestly being given clear instructions is a relief after days of knowing nothing.

She doesn't speak as she enters, she's not going to interrupt. But she is here because it is a good idea to plan missions, doing missions with no plans is stupid.]
priforprince: (maxie)

ota ♔ all wildcard prompts; we forge our own path through the thorns of adversity like PRINCES

[personal profile] priforprince 2019-07-14 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A Dashing Escape ]

After their first night in the inn, the travelers will awaken to find a confused farmer showing Albany a slip of parchment, cut into a card shape, that had been left in one of their stables - a stable that had previously been occupied by the horse with the finest pedigree available on the nearby farmsteads. They'll show the card to anyone who wants to see it, though.

It reads:



"I have plundered your finest steed for the first act of Masquerade Time. Your heart is next."

What's even weirder, there were bright red flower petals in the stall. Go figure that one!

....Enterprising folk, however, may discover that there is a trail of those red flower petals scattered down the road (if you look closely - the source was traveling at a good clip, so they're spread out). And it leads past the farmsteads towards the village leader's estate!

Do you storm the premises to retrieve the noble beast?

[ When In Prome ]

Hibiki received word of the missions the teams have been allotted. Of course she did. It was hard to avoid (and even harder to hack - she tried). Caring, however, is another matter altogether. Her rightful composure has returned after a night in a quiet, lone, soft bed; while she has yet to locate any truly first-class establishments, the surroundings at least have grown marginally less offensive. Not a single thing could entice her to climb that mountain!

No, indeed. Not a single, solitary.....

......why is there a noise above you? And a cloud of dust on the horizon?



"STAY AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!"

That certainly is Hibiki (whose hoodie has somehow acquired ruffled epaulettes), swinging up the mountain on a purple rope that seems to extend from her shirt sleeve at will! She's attaching the rope to tree branches and soaring overhead like some cross between Tarzan and, well, her spider-roomies. Except her "web" is purple. And sparkles. As one does.

She swings past, and not long after, the source of her dismay comes into view: a horn-crowned goat, having apparently ventured down the mountain specifically to chase Hibiki back up it. It's, ah, charging. Towards you.

Gangway.

[ So Close, And Yet So Far ]

"Where is this?"

Hibiki pulls up her map on the SCA, frowning. "Honestly....What a useless device."

She taps it again, as if that'll make the display show her information she'd consider more relevant. But no, it blinks stubbornly with the same information as always: one inexplicable dot, right where she is. Hibiki considers this....and then smirks. Rolls down her sleeve to cover up the offending device. Relaxes.



"Well, so be it. All is still well."

Thus satisfied that she'll find her way down from the mountain in time, and that therefore her mood need not sink again, she leans against the nearest tree and takes a deep breath. Ah...the pristine air of a world without sentence enders. Without swirling void nonsense, or bottom bunks, or irritable teenagers gluing her to the wall. Such a world...is beautiful! "There's no need to rush."

Above her - high, high above her - star-shaped purple flowers wave in the breeze.
runs_on_batteries: (serious)

[personal profile] runs_on_batteries 2019-07-14 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tony didn't like that they seemed so laid back over the concept that more people would get taken and put on this train, but he decides to let that point drop. He's more concerned with planning the teams and who was trying to play puppet master. Maybe he'd investigate that part himself.

Before he can say too much, he spies Buttercup coming in the room and his frown deepens.]


Look, I can handle the red team's task myself. Peter and Gwen and I are ideal for getting the flowers as well. I think everyone else should focus on the last two. However, if I'm going to be occupied I need someone to take responsibility for ensuring Buttercup's safety. She shouldn't be included in any of this.
knifewithnoname: (heartbreak)

First Night

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2019-07-14 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
So they were here, wherever here was. On Hub world some stupid number that she hadn't bothered to memorise. It was strange, almost like the world she had known but different all at the same time. The inn... It was a world apart from the Poison Apple, literally yet so many things were familiar about it.

Not familiar was the way the innkeeper was perfectly happy for them to all stay despite the fact that Buttercup at least had no money to pay her.

They had a mission to do, she was determined to do it even if certain people thought her too little and weak to be of help. It's annoying but if this train had kidnapped her and put her in red then surely she was supposed to do the red mission.

She can't sleep and so she has snuck out of the inn. She isn't planning to go far, she has no interest in getting lost in a stupid forest.

After kicking around some sticks she moves over to the inn and begins to climb, soon she is sat on one of the lower roofs, legs dangling off the side as she looked down the mountain. She was very far from home and with people who didn't know her, people who couldn't know her because they were stupid light addled idiots who would kill her if they knew the truth.

She picked up some kind of nut, probably blown off a nearby tree and threw it idly off the roof. The stars looked all wrong, not like the sky in Gauig at all. She sighed and threw another nut.
sweetnessandfight: (I will kick you in the jimmies)

[personal profile] sweetnessandfight 2019-07-14 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[Resigned, is the proper word. Sarai doesn't like it, but it's not a thing she can stop, or prevent from happening, so she just has to do what she can to help those who arrive, when they do. And work on getting them home, just like she's trying to do with everyone else, as she can.

But as Tony says that Buttercup--she presumes that's the girl's name--shouldn't be included, she shakes her head. They're friends, and she knows Tony well enough to know he means well, but this time, he's missing the mark.
]

No. She should be. She's here, I presume, because all of us can carry our own weight. I realize you don't want her to be hurt, but if she's just going to end up where she came from eventually, overprotecting her isn't going to do her any favors.
enthunder: (argue ☇ seriously?)

quick interrupt for conversation flow, ignore in terms of tag order!

[personal profile] enthunder 2019-07-14 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ At the same time as Sarai is shaking her head: ] By yourself? You've gotta be kidding me.
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.

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