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!

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"What do you mean, how did I do that? You just watched me do it," he says, snippy as always.

"Hold on dear, I can't do it with my other arm."

"No, I meant----" He lets out a long-suffering sigh. "Oh nevermind, angel."

He turns his head abruptly to the side, as though trying to look back at the angel.

"Wait, what did you say happened to your arm?"

"Ah, it's. Broken, I think. Can't heal it, whatever happened to my powers affected that as well as the light." He frowns. Can frowns be audible? This frown was audible.

"Ribs too, I think, from protecting the lantern. Crowley, you really hadn't needed to come back for me, I would've made it out fine. Dear, I think it's broken."

"I'm not going to just leave you," Crowley says, feeling more than a bit pathetic, hanging limply from Aziraphale's shoulder while he's so injured. He should be helping Aziraphale, not the other way around. He should be rescuing him, healing him, keeping him safe.

Instead, here he is, with his leg most definitely broken, with Aziraphale carrying him so he doesn't drown in the middle of their failed plan.

"I'm the one who got you into this," he says.

"Be that as it may, Crowley, you're currently the one with the broken leg. Could you get that hatch, darling?" he asks, as they hit ceiling.

"And I knew the consequences when I agreed. Come now, I'll have to put you ashore and come back for the others. We haven't got time."

"Come back?" Crowley barks, horrified. "Angel, no! You have to get off the ship, you have to get to the shore, too!"

He reaches up and struggles with the hatch, before giving up and waving his hand, causing it to fly out of the way.

"I'm not getting off this ship without you," he insists.

"Crowley," he says, very stern. "I am not letting this ship sink with anyone still on it. I won't have that blood on our hands." There's something ethereal and threatening about his voice, which he generally doesn't use for Crowley.

"You will get to safety, and so will everyone else."

Crowley is impressed by Aziraphale's angelic voice. When he is commanding, Crowley feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, like he's too close to electricity. And normally, he would comply. Because Aziraphale is, frankly, just a bit terrifying when he's stern like this.

But this is Aziraphale's life. If there's anything that Crowley would fight for, it's Aziraphale's safety.

"I can live with their blood on my hands," he says. "I can't live with yours."

"You made a gamble, Crowley, and you lost," he says, voice still crackling with divine faith. "At least allow me the same respects. This is not up for debate."

The usually calm sea feels choppy when they get to the deck, and Aziraphale feels his wings unfurl. His voice softens again, to its usual state. "Forgive me, dear."

"Aziraphale, don't!"

He knows what will happen next. Aziraphale will take him to shore and he'll sit there, helplessly watching as the ferry sinks and Aziraphale works to save the people on board. Aziraphale will put himself in danger and there will be nothing Crowley can do but stand there and hope that the angel can come back to safety. He'll do nothing. Aziraphale will be in danger.

"Leave me here, I can help. I can do something."

"Not on your leg," Aziraphale answers, as he flies them off of the boat and towards the shore. "Please, Crowley. This hasn't gone the way we planned, we need to do everything we can to salvage what we've done."

He gets to the shore and starts to lower him, carefully to avoid putting pressure on his leg.

Crowley grips Aziraphale's arm even as he's lowered down. He knows he can't fight this. He knows he can't, he knows Aziraphale is stronger than he is. But this can't end like this.

"This was supposed to be our way out, angel, we have to get out of here!" he says. He feels like he's said this a lot today. What this was supposed to be.

It's always about Plans, though, isn't it? Best laid Plans. Ineffable Plans. Plans with a capital P.

"I know it was. And we'll find a way out, dear. But not right now. Right now we have a ferry to salvage and people to assure." He's about to leave again when he places Crowley on shore, but he thinks better of it for one moment and he takes Crowley's hand and pulls him into a loose embrace.

"Stay here," he commands.

Crowley leans into the embrace. He can't think of a time that Aziraphale has ever embraced him, ever held him. He can't think of a time he's actually earned it. He wants to hold Aziraphale tightly, he wants to tell the angel how much he means to him, that he can't just go because he's too important to him.

But he can't keep him here. Even if he wanted to, he's too weak.

"Aziraphale," he says. "Aziraphale, please---"

"I'll be back," he says, even though he can't guarantee it. Crowley feels-- solid, underneath his touch, and he thinks that he might feel that way too. He feels much less so when they part, like he might tremble and fall to pieces.

But he can't dally.

"Wait for me," he says, phantom warmth still on the parts where Crowley has been like static cling.

Crowley won't. He already knows he won't. He'll find something, he'll hobble back onto the ferry, he'll try to help. He knows that's what he'll do. He can't just stay here.

But he stays on the ground, soaking wet, leg broken, and looks up at the angel pitifully.

"Don't die," he says, firmly. "I can't do this alone."

Aziraphale looks back at Crowley, and then comes back to him, drawn back by the look in his eyes, by the sweet of his words.

"I won't. I wouldn't-- wouldn't leave you." He says, with no ill intent, but hearkening to his worries that Crowley might have pushed him back to their world and come back here alone. "Watch over our lanterns, dear."

Aziraphale is trusting Crowley with his lantern.

That stupid stupid angel. If nothing proves that Aziraphale is going out to risk himself right now, then nothing else does.

And how the hell is Crowley supposed to deny him?

"Just don't do anything stupid," he says. He hears something over in the ferry crack, perhaps as another part of it falls apart. "You know, anything more stupid than we already have."

"I'll try, dear," he responds, lifting his wings as he turns to look at whatever cracked. "Stay safe. Please. For me."

And then he flies off, several unpreened feathers dropping from his wings, one brushing across Crowley's cheek.

Crowley catches the feather, holding it in his wet hands.

He has their lanterns, now. He watches the ferry, still sinking, and all their plans to escape going down with it.

His eyes turn up to the Lighthouse.

If Aziraphale survives this, what will become of them?

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INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

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