Event: Worldhop #1 | Part II

[trainmasters]

Who: EVERYONE
When: Day 54, sunset
Where: all around Origin Star

At first, when all the totems have been deactivated and everyone has returned to the Aurora, it seems like the dire situation has still not been resolved. The sky is still dark, the miasma still floating through the air.

But then, after an hour or two, you hear the clear ringing of a bell-tone, as you've heard every time Origin Star's Prism has reached a new level of purification. If you happen to be on the beach, you'll see it too -- glowing a paler and brighter green and sending off waves of white light.

Out on the Final Island, another scream resounds. In the distance you see tendrils rising, massive vines lifting and curling into the air like tentacles. They grow, and grow, and grow, into monster of unimaginable size, screeching all along, the concentrated remains of Malice on this Star. They lash out, bridges across the sea coming right at all of you!

But before they reach the shore, the Prism shifts fully to white, and light explodes from it, bright and warm and full of square-shaped sparkle. The darkness in the sky recedes, and as the pink-and-golden beams of the setting sun touch the island, the monster screams one more time, and then... dissipates, leaving behind it a picturesque scenery, white stone ruins surrounded by jungle and dotted in colourful flowers.

On your island, equally wonderful things are happening. Any remaining emotional effects you may be under fade, and the monsters in the jungle transform back to their original shapes as normal flora and fauna. The jungle blooms in front of you, becoming a visual feast of flowers, birds, and butterflies, and off towards the remains of the town you hear the sounds of people.

In fact, some of those people are appearing right around the train -- showers of sparkles coalesce into the forms of living people, some with many wings and some with a deer's body. They're confused and alarmed at the moment, but alive and whole. Even the girl that was brought back from the far island is waking up, and within the magic bottle you found on the third mission, echoes of a soul can be sensed by those with the power to do so.

You receive a message on your Chain:

☆: Hey, look at that! You did it!
☆: That's one Star down, nine or so to go!
☆: As a reward, we've programmed in a new Bond for each of your teams, so check the board in the lounge to see those. We'll also be giving you a new train car, so keep an eye out for that announcement!
☆: Unfortunately, you can't rest on your laurels too much. Take tonight to get some rest and take in the fruits of your labour, and tomorrow morning we'll head to the next location.
☆: And, to be more formal... Congratulations, Heroes of Distant Stars. Through your efforts and your bonds, you've restored love and peace to this sector of the universe. I, Cardamom, Prince of Stars, my Circle of Knights, and all the people living in this sector, thank you with all our hearts.
☆: Now, let's party!

As of now, you may earn sparks via your new team bonds, which are displayed in the lounge with all the others. For the evening, there'll be free sweets and champagne in the lounge car. It has no special effects and is just good plain fun! You'll also hear cheerful electronic pop playing from the intercoms all over the train, because your patron is Like This.

Speaking of... after a bit, Cardamom will be hanging out in the town handing out food and supplies to the people and explaining the situation to them, if you wish to join him. You may also speak to Lily, the girl brought back from session 2. Thyme will be around as well, but he'll be busy helping the townsfolk settle, so won't have a toplevel in this post.

Additionally, after a bit, the next train upgrade suggestions gathering will appear, so make your wishes known!

Comments

[voreaciously]

Very well, then.

[she will get started on that.]

[joybound]

Thank you very much! ♥

[You're such a big help! And people really are grateful for it. A lot of structures in the town are still damaged, if less so than they were before purification, and perishable food is basically gone. There's so much to clean up, and those who were killed by monsters in the first hours of Malice taking over are not revived.

But everyone seems to trust Cardamom's title, even if they don't know him personally. Being guided and helped... helps.]

[voreaciously]

Thanks are not necessary. It is only an efficient course of action.

[joybound]

But I'm grateful, so I'll thank you whether you like it or not.

[voreaciously]

You should not do unnecessary things.

[like oh idk make everyone's secrets common knowledge

but she's not bitter about that or anything.]

But His Highness may do as he pleases.

[joybound]

A life full of only necessary things is a sad, boring life.

[He has been trying to pretend they didn't fight but HERE THEY GO.]

You know who lives that kind of life? A potato.

You're a big potato, 80H.

i'm crying

[voreaciously]

[without missing a beat]

Potatoes are full of starch, please select a better vegetable.

Re: i'm crying

[joybound]

If you're not a person, you'll be whatever vegetable you're told to be. So you just proved yourself wrong!

Anyway, potatoes are full of nutrients and I love them!

[voreaciously]

Fine, I shall be a potato. I would hate to upset His Highness.

[she's still very calm tho even if this is stupid]

You will get fat if you eat too many of them.

[joybound]

My boundless energy burns infinite calories.

[voreaciously]

[your boundless something does anyway]

I see. That is good to know.

[joybound]

Isn't it? That means I have infinite energy to love even a giant potato like you.

[voreaciously]

You do not love me.

[still passing out blankets like nbd. not slowing down or anything.]

[joybound]

There's no one I don't love.

[voreaciously]

Please spare me your empty platitudes.

[it's a rude thing to say, but she doesn't sound rude she sounds like she is sincere.]

[joybound]

Nope. I'll be nice to you until it kills you.

[voreaciously]

I am already deceased.

[joybound]

You're gonna have to get a lot more moldy to get rid of me, Potato Lady!

[voreaciously]

I suppose I will get wetter and sit in a damp and bacteria-filled place.

[joybound]

Try it.

[voreaciously]

Later, perhaps. The fact of the matter is you cannot love someone you do not know. That is empty.

[joybound]

Oh? Is that why you don't want anyone to really know you?

[voreaciously]

I simply do not deal in pointlessness.

[joybound]

Hmm...

Hey, 80H. What is it you want, actually? Do you have any goals?

[voreaciously]

[Smoothly, with the air of someone who could have said this a thousand times, if not close to it.]

What I want does not matter.