The Endor Express“I heard the high-pitched whistle of the train, before I even saw it arrive. It was

The Endor Express“I heard the high-pitched whistle of the train, before I even saw it arrive. It was a sinister sound, almost as if Death had come bounding on the back of its pale horse seeking to horrify all those who were unfortunate enough to listen to its knell. I had never experienced such a thing in my life before nor after. It lingered with me for years and years. Even now, when I take the train to the city, a modern kind, that glides through without a single sound, I expect to hear its call. It never happens, of course. But it makes me rather disappointed, and I do not know what that says about me.When it pulled in the station, a great gust of wind was brought along with it. Clara and I huddled together as the current raged against us, blowing at the lapels and ribbons of our dresses. Had it not been for the wall behind us we surely would have suffered quite a fall, as several of the other girls did. They went tumbling to the ground, as our seniors laughed, the sound muted by the howl of the whistle. When it quieted down, just as the train finally stopped, we saw them grab their luggage and rush for the doors that were just opening with a screech and a jolt. I felt Clara reach for my hand, pale fingers wrapping around my wrist. I took her hand in mine and squeezed softly to calm her nerves. Before us “The Endor Express” was awaiting our boarding patiently.”  Excerpt from “The Scarlet Journal”One of the most memorable sights in Twisted Wonderland is that of The Endor Express pulling into the station ready to pick up prospective witches on their way to Walpurga Nacht Academy. The massive steam locomotive is one of the oldest in the world, being in function for over 400 years, and running exclusively on magic ever since its creation. It is unclear how the train came into existence though many sources claim that it is in fact a haunted vehicle that was brought under the control of Auriga Andana. As Headmistress at the time, she was quite concerned by the problems posed for students who were unable to reach Brocken due to lack of access to transportation vehicles and such. Though going against the spirit of the ultra independent academy, she created a system where each student would have the chance to attend despite their economic class.The project had taken numerous forms during its initial inception, with proposals such as a flying ship or cars being rejected in favour of a simpler, and more effective mode of transportation. The Endor, though nameless at the time, came to Headmistress Andana’s attention when she heard many rumors circulating about a supposedly haunted train that would drive its passengers insane. Apparently, a quite large number of people were driven to madness after being on board of the mysterious train, though none could accurately figure out the reasons behind it. Intrigued by this notion, she set out to investigate it herself and found out that the train was in fact not all that mysterious. In a rather strange turn of events, it seems that the train company which owned said vehicle had acquired by unknown means a ghost train. Inhabited by a dormant spirit, the train caused unease among the passengers, who, unaware of its true nature, became paranoid and resorted to violence as a means of alleviating their fears. Hence the unexpected bouts of anger and confusion, or the hysterical weeping that would overtake people at random. Though hesitant at first, due to safety reasons, Headmistress Andana was eventually convinced by fellow staff member Frau Perchta Yaga that it would be a profitable investment. And it was so indeed. Renamed “The Endor Express” post purchase, the vehicle was repurposed as a school transportation train for the students of Walpurga Nacht. Through Professor Yaga’s craftiness it seems that the unfortunate effect the train could have on its passengers was eradicated, though it did not make all of its eccentricities disappear. While seniors of Walpurga Nacht who have taken the train before will not even flinch, first years will be caught off guard by the inhuman howl the vehicle produces as it pulls into the station. Many have described it as a dying wail of neither man, nor animal, yet both at the same time. Coupled with the incredible speed at which the train normally moves, the effect created is one that is bound to strike fear in any person witnessing such a display.Another interesting fact is that it seems that all clocks stop functioning when in the vicinity of The Endor. The cause behind this is unknown, but a Grimmaire student had once theorized that the output of magical energy the train creates is so massive that most technology is rendered completely useless. Attempts at fusing technology into the vehicle itself have also proven to be quite ineffective as well, as they never managed to function correctly. Thus, a popular saying among WNA students and alumni even makes reference to this with many witches using the expression “You’re about as useful as a watch on the Endor!” to show their dissatisfaction with somebody’s performance. Besides these two oddities, one might consider The Endor as a typical vintage train. It takes the form of a black Victorian Railways H class 4-8-4 steam locomotive with an indefinite number of passenger cars attached to it. Legend has it that a student had once tried to reach the end of the train, and has not been heard from ever since. The inside of the vehicle lies in stark contrast to its more minimalist appearance, resembling a vintage luxury train with its interior design that perfectly embodies the image of elegance and style. The main colour scheme that characterizes it is white, with accents of blue and silver, and the furniture style is Rococo. Each passenger carriage contains compartments of four people that are offset from a corridor. Luggage is stored in a special carriage that only the Nisse Tomte are able to reach, though it is unknown how. Upon boarding the girls are required to hand over their bags to them and receive a numbered ticket that they must present when they reach their destination to retrieve their belongings. The girls can take handbags with them or backpacks inside the compartments but anything larger must be stored separately. The Endor also has its own dining car where the girls can sit down and enjoy a nice hot meal or beverages if they require that. All the food is prepared on site by the Nisse Tomte at the request of the girls and is included in the ticket fare so many take advantage of that opportunity. It also has a pastry table installed at the request of a former Headmistress who was said to have been quite fond of sweets. The ticket fare for the train is 200 Madol per student. The train makes about seven trips a year as it takes students back and forth to the academy during school holidays as well as prospective candidates for admission during their first Witch Dance. It arrives precisely every year at the same allotted time on one of the ten locations shown below.           Stations across Twisted WonderlandRose Kingdom: Hornpipe and Coucus StationCoral Sea: Scuttle StationThe Isle of Lamentation: Thebes StationThe Land of Hot Sands: Diamond StationAfterglow Savannah: Taka StationValley of Thorns: Skumps StationLand of Pyroxene: Bluddle StationPort of Jubilee: Maldaquesh StationIsle of Phantasmagoria: Kymlinge StationIsle of Sages: Kisaragi Station Glacier Mountains: Vuelie StationTickets can be bought at any of the listed stations at any particular time. There are no seat numbers on The Endor so most students pick their place to sit themselves.As clocks and watches are rendered useless in its presence, nobody is truly certain just how long it takes for the train to complete its circuits and pick up all the students from every station in Twisted Wonderland. However, given that the magical qualities of the train allow it to accomplish things such as flight many consider that it must by its very nature bypass the laws of nature to be able to visit all these locations. Indeed, another advantage of travelling by The Endor is the breathtaking view it offers the girls as it glides above earth during its journey. -- source link

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