[Game 21] Through The Train

[arsgoetia]

The marbles from each group are inserted into the pupils in each door. The eyes blink, unnervingly, then seal shut. All at once, the lights dim down in each compartment and fade back to quiet darkness . . . though you still see the occasional spark of magic along the windows and edges of the train.

You still have no electricity, and your magic is still dampered.

You can, at least, proceed through, either back or forward along the train. The compartments are arranged in approximately this order:

[#1 - ??? - Open] - [#2 - Sariel's Group] - [#3 - Elluka's Group] - [#4 - Maon's Group] - [#5 - ??? - Open] - [#6 - ???] - [# 7???]

Comments

[Regrouping]

[arsgoetia]

It's probably a good idea to get together as a group first to swap information and catch up before heading into either of the compartments you haven't been in yet.

In compartment #2, you'll find Sariel crouched over an unconscious blond-haired human, another unfamiliar woman sitting sitting anxiously beside them.

[liarliarliar]

[rubs his arms and shifts where he stands as he watches Sariel fuss]

Re: [Regrouping]

[defendless]

[Zeno is just rolling down one of his sleeves, shining golden scales disappearing beneath nice soft cloth, but not entirely. his hand also has the scales in streaks, after all. also watching sariel fuss.]

Re: [Regrouping]

[playfair]

[his shirt is off and tied around his bleeding arm. this is cool. he is looking at unconscious people with Concern though]

I have part of a cipher...

Re: [Regrouping]

[tenebrat]

[ cys isn't immediately noticeable until someone gets close to sariel; it's coating portions of his skin like weird fabric.

It is speaking though, a little subdued ]

Will she wake up...?

Re: [Regrouping]

[beginningofwisdom]

[coming over to look at the unconscious woman himself, after seeing if he can mentally ping Maddy again. after all, he is a physician.]

I take it she was affected by the transition...?

Re: [Regrouping]

[arsgoetia]

The man who had been in compartment #3 is pacing around nervously, one hand in his pocket, headphones around his neck.

Re: [Regrouping]

[beleaving]

[Totally unharmed but you know, peering through the two compartments with our groups in them.]

Everyone present, accounted for, with most of your pieces intact? If anyone needs carrying, healing, or a nice bracing rally for the spirit, speak up.

Re: [Regrouping]

[ancestuous]

[stands out of the way of the main aisle as people start to get their bearings and find others. just holds up the lit candle that Robin provided to help others see]

Re: [Regrouping]

[rollwillpowercheck]

[looking a little pale, but otherwise fine.]

Everyone's okay?

[troublebrewing]

[from compartment 3, Robin's coming in with a lit candlestick, giving off a little bit of light]

[monere]

[exiting compartment #3, looking the same except for her right sock rolled down to expose her leg.]

Anybody want some gum?

Re: [Regrouping]

[onelastknight]

[ hey if I make my glowing holy sword visible will it like, provide light or is that also dampened. ]

[bowtiedbones]

Is she going to be okay?

[aethericbody]

[pulling a hoodie sleeve back down himself while sending a fiery looking spirit to go chill out at one end of the group in case something comes to attack]

[redetermined]

Did anyone lose a jacket and a copy of a Stephen King book?

Re: [Regrouping]

[innerdemon]

[raises a hand] Okay, can we have a recounting of everything found and learned so far?

[Planning]

[arsgoetia]

If anybody's planning to move to either of the new compartments, discuss here. How are you splitting up? What are you doing with the Strangers?

[Back - Compartment #1]

[arsgoetia]

You step through the door into the compartment at the back of the train. If there had been a barrier on this compartment, it had come down at the same time; there's nothing more for you to do in order to step inside.

It's dark, illuminated only by shifting, unearthly shapes occasionally passing by the windows. Faces, sometimes, white and eyeless; swooping tremors of color, like northern lights, that burst and disappear.

There are little over a half-dozen unconscious humans here: an elderly man whose book has fallen on the floor, a young child slumped over against her mother, and so on. Just normal passengers that look like they're in a deep, troubled sleep.

You hear a deep and unpleasant hum. There's a faint silvery glow coming from the baggage area at the back of this compartment.

[monere]

[well thank you robin for the candlestick it's actually gonna come in super handy

glancing around, a little worry on her face for once— though that dissipates once she confirms the passengers are still alive.

heading directly back to that baggage, if she can.]

[Forward - Compartment #5]

[arsgoetia]

You step through the door into the fifth compartment. There is a barrier here, but it flickers and comes down easily when you move to pass through it.

It's dark, illuminated only by shifting, unearthly shapes occasionally passing by the windows. Faces, sometimes, white and eyeless; swooping tremors of color, like northern lights, that burst and disappear.

As soon as you step inside, it becomes apparent why it may have been so easy to enter: there is blood splattered over the walls and ceiling, and at least one blue marble is sitting on the ground, nestled in a pile of scorched ashes. Someone . . . got partway through releasing the puzzles, but didn't quite make it.

There's nobody else in the compartment. The eye sigil is still activated on the far door, but that marble is there, glowing faintly.

[aethericbody]

[reaches down and picks up the marble, then looks around]

[does this mean the scales and handprints puzzle is still active here?]

[Compartment #6]

[arsgoetia]

There's a few things immediately apparent as you move into the next compartment:

1. It's First Class. The seats are bigger and nicer! They got complementary newspapers.
2. Those newspapers are now totally trashed and shredded, and there is blood on, like, everything.
3. There are three or four unconscious humans here. Probably the blood on them isn't theirs? Probably.
4. The walls and ceilings here are lit up and crackling with barrier energy keeping it contained; the doorway you enter through is the only break in the magic.
5. The door at the far end has more than just an eye sigil (which it does have, glowing gold). It has a picture of a clock, hands set to midnight; a single gold handprint; as well as some writing scrawled in scratchy, bloody handwriting.

There is also a . . . person? A living person is here. They are hanging upside down from the ceiling, dark hair dangling and swaying. They're suspended by a heavy chain, lashed and bound down to a chair. The chair is upside down, and they are spinning around, kicking their feet and occasionally getting shocked by a jolt of electric magic that passes through them.

There is a gag in their mouth and they let out a loud howl as the next shock buzzes down the chain, blood dripping from their arms into a pool below them.

Re: [Compartment #6]

[defendless]

[IMMEDIATELY BOOKING IT TO CHAINED MCTORTUREDGUY, but too small to like. reach.]

[A New Friend]

[withpizazz]

[As soon as the chains are cut and the tortured-and-tied stranger is let down, they seem remarkably lively as they struggle out of their remaining bindings and just rip the gag out, snapping it in small and slender hands.]

[She stands up quickly, dripping blood, still. She's got extremely long black hair, and is wearing what appears to be the train company uniform, a sharp black suit. And she smiles!]

Wow. Thank goodness you all were here!

Re: [A New Friend]

[aethericbody]

Are you all right, miss?

(frozen comment) [Regrouping Again]

[arsgoetia]

So, you've freed a demon named Paz. Your phones are back (ish). Madison is back in the Servants' heads again. And you have a bunch of clues leading to solve a puzzle to let you in through a gold-marked door.

Everyone has been scooped up or herded into Compartment #6. At which point . . .

(frozen comment)

[withpizazz]

So, I think we all need to be honest with each other. I'll tell you why I'm here, if you tell me what you know about Michael, and who sent you here.

And then maybe we can just go kill someone together!

(frozen comment)

[arsgoetia]

And so, with your new Friend and some ominous after party plans, we apparently nominate King Arthur Pendragon to put his hand on the door seal and call for "the world's retribution."

—and congratulations, yes, it does open the door.