[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

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[onelastknight]

Does it...?

[ I will think of, a garden, and of hope??? ]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

As you all focus, the orb dims and flickers more and more, a static and sharp electrical-looking wave running over its surface, until finally it goes entirely dark.

It doesn't seem to have fully solved the problem—there's still some degree of powercap, for example. But some of the oppression seems to lift...

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[arsgoetia]

Everyone who has a phone: your phone starts to buzz and ring.

[bowtiedbones]

[PHONE??]

What? What signal's back!?

[arsgoetia]

It's a message from Madison.

Sorry. I'm back. I hope everyone's okay.

[bowtiedbones]

Oh geez...

[RELIEF and texting back quickly]

everyone's ok!! split up into two groups, but we were ok

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[troublebrewing]

[CHECKS IT IMMEDIATELY]

[arsgoetia]

It's a message from Madison.

Sorry. I'm back. I hope everyone's okay.

[troublebrewing]

[we're okay but we're on a train to hell and not sure how to stop it]

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[monere]

[i hope everyone enjoys this really tasteful ring tone

pulling her phone out to see what's up]

[arsgoetia]

It's a message from Madison.

Sorry. I'm back. I hope everyone's okay.

[monere]

aww its ok stuff happens

everyones ok cept for the train normies

and the ppl who got bit lmao

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[beginningofwisdom]

[snapping out of his reverie]

...ah, that seems to have done the trick.

[arsgoetia]

And a familiar voice in your head:

Paracelsus?

[beginningofwisdom]

Madison? I'm glad to hear from you.

[arsgoetia]

Oh, thank goodness . . .

[his voice is so heavy with relief you can practically feel it]

[beginningofwisdom]

I'm sorry that we worried you.

Everyone is all right so far, though we've had to solve a few unpleasant puzzles.

[arsgoetia]

Don't be sorry, it's not your fault! You're doing this because I . . .

Anyway, you're—you're all fine so far. That's good. I'll try to help where I can from here.

[beginningofwisdom]

It's appreciated.

The train seems to have been redirected to Hell; I expect we'll have to confront the engineer in order to stop it. Some of the group have gone that way already; it's most likely time we joined them, now that we've broken the ward on communications.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[onelastknight]

Oh, good.

[arsgoetia]

And a familiar voice in your head:

Are you alright?

[onelastknight]

We’re all unharmed. However, our train has been redirected to Hell, I think.

[arsgoetia]

That's not great.

[onelastknight]

I am not especially pleased about it either. We were briefly cut off from you, and our powers muted, by some sort of... negative energy sphere? Paracelsus figured out how to neutralize it.

Re: [THE OBJECT]

[ancestuous]

It worked.