logsinthenight | INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: october 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. scavenger hunt prizes are awarded. the ferry capsizes in a blaze of glory.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

It's dim, and the room won't stop swaying, gently rocking you back and forth. A loud sound startles you fully awake, a deep, moaning call: a foghorn. As your eyes adjust, you note faint red light streaking through the room from a tiny, round window.

You've found yourself in a private room, lying on a bed. The last things you remember are the events that led up to your death. Beside you is a folded tablet and a lantern that glows steadily with a healthy flame.

You're on a ship. And that ship is docking.

Making your way to the deck, and eventually the pier, you find only moonlight to greet you, and a dark forest beyond. There are other people here, each with their own unique lantern, and many of them look just as lost as you are. On the ferry you've just disembarked from, the speaker system begins to play a song.

In the distance, across the waters of the lake, you can see the tall silhouette of a lighthouse, its red light slowly turning.

•••

Luckily for all the newcomers, the tablet and the town have some resources available for playing catch up! In fact, as soon as they're prompted to enter a network username, an app containing all sorts of useful welcome information will launch. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records in town hall as well, and everyone's welcome to get in touch with the NPCs through their inboxes.

When the ferry docks, it seems as though you've been spared from any weirdness this month! It's good to have a break now and then, isn't it? And if you participated in the scavenger hunt, you're probably eagerly awaiting your promised prize—

But, ohp, what's that sound? Is that the ferry's engine firing up again? The ship roars to life again as some brave mutineers overthrow its autopilot system. Crowley and the Winter Soldier man the ferry's control room while Aziraphale flits between the cargo hold and the deck, attempting to assuage any accidental kidnapees with reassuring words and cake.

Unfortunately, the joyride is shortlived. Between the ferry's complex control panel and the haphazard attempts to override it, all the group manages to do is send the boat charging full speed ahead—which would be great if it wasn't facing the beach. The ferry jolts forward and careens smack into the dock, tearing down the entire structure and punching a sizeable hole in the ferry's hull.

Well, that could've gone better. But there's no time to dwell on the mistakes of the very recent past! The ferry is sinking, and quickly! Looks like you'll have to scramble if you want to save what's left in the cargo hold before the whole thing goes under... And that's gonna be awfully tricky without a dock.

Oh, and maybe save the new arrivals? Make sure they don't drown? But, then again, if they go down with the ship, they'll just show up again in the church... The same can't be said for the restock for the general store!

As smoke billows from the damaged ferry and the last the harbor disappears into the lake, the Lighthouse Keeper appears on the network with a pretty straightforward question. Also, the ferry's song changes, so. That happens.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! For this intro log, you are officially without a chaperone. Rastus is back at the bonfire, Will is characteristically elusive, and Robin is, well, you know where she's at. It's up to the veteran residents to fill in the new folks.

And regarding the ferry disaster... Well, you have some options. Here's what you need to know:
This is a player plot organized by MJ, Xy, and Gail! A big thank-you to them for providing us with this intro log event!

Whether or not your character and any packages addressed to them are affected by this plot is up to you! If you would like to assume your character avoids dealing with this chaos and somehow grabs their delivery without issue, go right ahead!

Similarly, if you're looking for an opportunity to make your character's life harder, injury and death are always on the table! Or maybe it's your package that takes the abuse, lost forever to the lake's depths or washing up all waterlogged a week or two down the road. In short: How you engage with this plot is entirely up to you.

What happens to the ferry and the dock? Within a couple of hours, the ferry will sink completely, and anything on board when it goes down is lost forever. Which bodes super well for the ferry, huh? Sure hope the next batch of newcomers has some strong swimmers. Oh, and the dock is gone, too. If you want it back, you'll have to rebuild it.

As for Crowley, Aziraphale, Bucky, and anyone else on the ferry or dock during the collision... Hope you boys like concussions, bruised ribs, and a broken bone or two, because you've got 'em! The exact injuries are up to you, but they're the equivalent of a semi-serious car accident.

One last thing: The fate of the shop restocks, including all of the food for the month, depends on you! Let us know if your character will be participating in the rescue attempt. In exchange for letting us beat up your character, you can save a portion of the month's supplies! We'll let you all know on October 3 what the rations for the rest of the month will look like.

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

The monthly store restock
For Daylight: A variety of gardening tools piled into a wheelbarrow, as well as packets of seeds for the following plants: Boneset, dogtooth violet, starflower, Carolina springbeauty, pipsissewa, bloodroot, red columbine, narrowleaf blue-eyed grass, harlequin blueflag, and purple pitcherplant; he will also receive a translation for the following: An invitation to join the speaker as company
For Aziraphale: A record player, the complete discographies of a variety of bands (Abba, Rob Zombie, Tool, Hanson, Eiffel 65, and Spice Girls), a two-tiered wedding cake, and packets of seeds for the following plants: Strawberry, cherry tomato, cucumber, blackberry, carrot, potato, raspberry, and pumpkin; he will also receive a familiar copy of a familiar book: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, along with a blue ribbon that reads "BEST IN SHOW"
For Bruce: A handheld metal detector and a rechargeable battery for it, a chisel, a climbing harness (that, according to the packaging, is the #1 Safety Rated!) and a 50 ft. coil of rope
For Cao Pi: A go board
For Rosinante: A sextant, and 3 cartons of cigarettes; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Danger! Run and hide!"
For Kuai: A basket of 16 mooncakes, as well as incregredients for more
For Javert: 3 pairs of handcuffs, a greatcoat in Javert's size, and a trunk full of swords in varying styles and conditions; he will also receive an electric chainsaw
For Kol: A record player, the complete discographies of a variety of bands (New Kids on the Block, Weird Al Yankovic, Sound Garden, Ke$ha, INXS, and Spinal Tap), a cooler full of blood bags and ice packs, and an assortment of stamps; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "I'm lost" or "Need directions"
For Elena: A journal; she will also receive a portable generator (powerful enough for a single power tool or small appliance; can be charged through a typical wall outlet)
For Xayah: A thick journal and a glass vial of black ink; she will also receive a sizeable roll of barbed wire, as well as a stuffed animal
For Ignis: A spice restock (with a few new ones mixed in!), 3 paired of leather gloves, and... 12? pairs? of glasses? They're all in slightly different prescriptions, though. A variety pack!; he will also receive a power drill (runs on a rechargeable battery or can be plugged directly into a wall socket)
For Riku: A wood stove, a set of paints, and 5 canvases; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Looking for water" or "Thirsty"
For Matt: A rosary and a Braille Bible... which is more of a collection of volumes, really; he will also receive a translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Looking for food" or "Hungry"
For Noctis: Two complete sets of the Lord of the Rings series (except, wait a minute... they appear to be the novelizations of the movies); he will also receive an SD card that, when plugged into a tablet, will upload GPS directions to a new location...
For Rosalind: A crate of basic all-purpose lab equipment, a fancy microscope, an emergency eye wash station, a mortar and pestle, a lab coat, a Lite Brite, and... the things she needs to make things float, whatever those are; she will also receive a pair of dousing rods (that will actually point in the direction of water, checkmate atheists)
For Jason: A translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Sympathy" or "I'm sorry"
For Coraline: A translation for the rough equivalent to the following phrase: "Teach me"
For Eliot: A bottle of hospital grade painkillers (it contains 10 doses and functions similarly to Vicodin)
For Allie: A bottle of strong antibiotics (it contains 10 doses and can fight off most any infection)
For Vanitas: A portable camping stove (runs on a portable battery or can be plugged directly into a wall socket)
For Hope: A soldering iron (runs on a portable battery or can be plugged directly into a wall socket)
For Quentin: A cannister of foaming bandage (can be used 5 times to immediately close a wound/stop semi-severe bleeding)
For Mary: An SD card that, when plugged into a tablet, will upload GPS directions to a new location...

If you submitted an item request last month and we've missed it here, let us know!

QUICKNAV
comms	\|	network • logs • memes • ooc
pages	\|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It is," because she's not going to even talk about that ankle right now. He's done enough, he's worried enough. Her smile widens a little bit, and she gently pats his cheek. "Aziraphale is a beautiful name to match someone with a beautiful soul."

But she shakes her head again, gently urging him to sit down on the sand. "I think what you need to do right now, is rest. You are doing the right thing now, are you not? You've been helping people. In the big scheme of things, isn't that the right thing?"

Oh, she's so kind to him. She has such a pure soul, perhaps she should be the one who's an angel. But he knows better, he knows that they can be selfish and wrong, and perhaps that is why he has so many questions and doubts.

"Thank you," he says. "But really-- I, I'm fine." He isn't, but he sure likes to think he is. And even though she's lifted some of the burden off his chest, he still feels an overwhelming sense of guilt. He repeats to himself that so far there have not been any casualties. He would know. He was pulled onto this mission to keep everyone safe and calm.

People are injured so he has failed. A little. But so far, no deaths that he knows.

He says he's fine, but he certainly doesn't look the part of someone who is either looking or feeling fine. He looks upset, frustrated, and injured. But she isn't going to point that out, the goal here isn't to make him feel worse, after all. Far from it, really.

"Then be a dear and sit here for a little while, won't you? What seeds were you looking for, by the way?" Because she's going to have to skim through dark, murky water to look for them and she's still not entirely sure what's lurking in that water, stalking for it's next prey.

"Oh," he says, perking up from his state of staring off into the distance. "All sorts-- I requested any sort of seeds that might grow in the garden. Thought we could-- tend to them, have different harvesting periods. Maybe year-round in the greenhouse. While we. Waited, for the ferry to return with good news."

Oh no, his lip is going to do that quivering thing again.

"It's just. I saw them, they were in reach. And I didn't take them, I thought we'd. We'd make it through, I didn't even think-- I would have needed to get them to shore somehow-- we would have. Taken a whole month's of supplies!"

"That seems like a lovely idea, yes. And a very smart one, too," she replies gently. "I was thinking of doing something similar, though admittedly I'm not well versed in growing vegetables and fruits. I am used to dabbling in flora, I'm afraid. Do you enjoy gardening?"

Ah, that's not good. Just as quickly, he's beginning to start the blame game upon himself, and once again she places a hand to his cheek. "Aziraphale, it's alright. Be calm... let us focus on the here and now. We will gather as many supplies as we can, seeds included." Well... she will. She mostly just wants for him to sit down and settle for a bit. "You wished to take the ferry home... you had good intentions. Please, try not to blame yourself... you had very good intentions."

He tries to calm down, if not for his own sake then for Lunafreya's, who's trying so hard to mediate the situation at hand when she could be doing so many other useful things for everyone else. Healing anyone else.

"Yes. Yes, gardening. I used to be a gardener," he tries.

No, now's not the time for this. He shakes his head. "I won't-- won't cause you trouble. I'll stay, I'll try to help people on shore. But please be careful, Lunafreya."

She's not going to just leave Aziraphale to fend for himself, and she's certainly not going to let him go back into the water, not as injured as he is. Not to mention she's no idea if anything truly lurks in the depths. It wouldn't surprise her, honestly; she thinks she can feel a presence lurking, but this place has thrown her magic and senses off something fierce.

"I tended to a large field of flowers at home, one that my ancestors have been growing and caring for for nearly two thousand years," she states gently; not that it matters now. She's certain that Niflheim has gone in and burned her beloved Sylleblossoms and her home at this point. Assuming that her star hasn't already been plunged into eternal darkness.

She pushes that thought out of her head for now. "Take it easy... ah. Did you happen to see anything lurking about in the water at all?"

"Hm? Lurking in the water? No, I don't think so. Why? Is there something out there?" he asks.

"--But that is quite nice, your flowers. Two thousand years is quite a long time, I'm sure they are very lovely. I... it would be nice for you to see them again," he starts. Because, as he reminds himself, that's why he even bothered with all of this in the first place. He'd wanted to return everyone home where they belonged.

It just... wasn't right to be here.

"I don't know. But I would not put it past this place," she shifts, considering, before she outstretches her arm and summons her Trident into her hand. It appears in a brief, dull flash of blue light, and she squints into the water. "but perhaps it is better safe than sorry."

She doesn't trust the water, after all. Or anything in it. "Ah! They were, yes. They were my favorites," she replies, smiling fondly. "I would love to see them again, but even if that were possible... my fate was sealed and it is simply impossible for me, unfortunately... I just hope that our enemies didn't burn them all. I hope that they are able to be around for future generations to come."

She agrees, though. It's wrong that everyone is here, because not everyone is supposed to be here. She's supposed to be dead, but she's not supposed to be here. Noctis is not meant to be dead at all, and his presence here means her world is doomed. She can't imagine Aziraphale is meant to be here, either. And that is extremely frustrating.

He looks at her with utmost empathy - not sympathy, but true empathy, because he had lost after a long-fought battle and he had won and been executed for his efforts.

Then he smiles at her trident, but also just that she pulls it out so easily, without worry or fear of judgment.

"But yes, perhaps better safe than sorry, It is a lovely weapon," he remarks. "Can you breathe underwater?" He's only asking because technically, he doesn't need to breathe.

Poor Aziraphale. She hopes that, after all of this is over and the dust has settled, they are able to sit down over tea and talk about their respective worlds and about this one. There's something about him that seems like he could be a kindred spirit of sorts, honestly.

"Thank you! It has been in my family for... two thousand years, like the flowers. It was a gift from the Gods and has been handed down from Oracle to Oracle, from the first to the last," the last being her, unfortunately. "Though our Kings are able to access and wield it as well."

She's only seen Noctis use it once, but boy had he used it. That question has her shaking her head, though. "I'm afraid not, though I wish I could. It would come in handy, especially now."

Two thousand years was a long time - he, of course, had things, or, in his life had had things that had been so old and in his possession for so long, but only one had been given to him and he'd given it away.

It was impressive that any human with a human's lifespan would be able to hold onto such an artifact; it must be extremely useful.

"I can," he says. "Breathe underwater, I mean - I should go," he insists.

She can recall fond memories of her mother summoning the weapon forth when she addressed their people not just as Oracle but as the Queen of Tenebrae, and how people would look upon her with awe. She also remembers the Trident being handed to her and the absolute sadness in her mother's eyes when she'd had to explain to her very small daughter that she was to play Oracle to the Chosen King. That her life would be forfeit for the greater good, to not be afraid of death and to follow her destiny to a tee.

This weapon has seen a lot of good times, a lot of bad, and has killed a whole lot of not good things in the hands of both the Kings of Lucis and Queens of Tenebrae.

"That is a good skill to have," she responds thoughtfully, wading into the inky black. "No, no. That will not be necessary. Please just keep an eye on my lantern, and I will return momentarily."

That's it, that's all Aziraphale gets as she dives head first into the depths and prepares to swim and try to find as much as she can. It's a good few minutes, though, until she finally surfaces, taking in a large, sharp gasp of air. She's got a small box under her arm, and she makes her way back up to shore.

"I lost some on the way, forgive me, but... there should be some packets left in here. Hopefully they did not sustain water damage."

He holds out a hand to stop her but she's too quick and disappears like tendrils of smoke between fingertips. Quite fitting for someone from a place called Tenebrae, he supposes.

He rushes to her when she surfaces, with relief. "Yes, I'll get these to shore quickly. Are you alright?" he inquires. There could be any number of things in the water - other people, spirits, plastic soda rings, who knows what dangers lurk! "I'm sure-- even if they are damaged, they can still sprout. Hopefully."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject