INTRO LOG: JULY

[inthenightmods]

INTRO LOG: JULY
IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: july 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. winters, will, and rastus introduce themselves and explain the situation.
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.

•••
Winters and Will are waiting for you on the beach. Winters flags you down from where he's standing atop a large rock, surveying the gathering crowd. Will stands next to him, though he's monkeying with his tablet and looks rather bored. He barely looks up as Winters speaks:

"First thing's first: I'm sorry you're here. There's no easy way to break this news, so let's just get it over with, hm? You're dead. Or, ah, you've died. Call this the afterlife if you want, or don't if that ain't your thing, but point is, you're here 'cause you died. Those are the facts.

This world's dead, too. You've noticed by now it's pretty dark, yeah? That's 'cause there's no life here, not anymore. And that lantern you've got? That's your life, so to speak. The flame goes out, you die, and vice versa. Keep it close. Should be easy enough to remember on account of how the sun don't rise. You'll need something to see by.

This place is called Beacon, and that's Lake Red Jacket. Town's 'bout a mile down the road, and we've got a bonfire there, but that's the only other light you'll see in this place. Save for the moon and all, though the sky won't do you much good out in the woods. I'll let Rastus explain the bonfire to y'all.

Ah, right. I'm Ben Winters—Winters'll do—and this here's Will Ingr— What? For christ's sake, Dr. Will Ingram. Likes to think he's the brains of the operation, as you can see. If you've got questions about these tablets, he's your guy. Rastus tends to the fire, and you'll find him in town. He's married to his job in a way. And you may never've seen a person like him back wherever you came from, but don't make a big fuss over it. He's a nice fellow. Mind your manners.

The three of us are leftovers from past resets. We came here on that ferry just like you, but it's just us left now. 'Sides the Lighthouse Keeper, but it'll be a bit before you get to meet her. She's got control over the town, see, and if she ain't satisfied with a group's performance, they get the axe. Town gets reset. If she pulls a reset on you folks, a couple of you might end up like me and Will here, giving this speech to the next crop."

The red beam of the lighthouse pulses over the group, over the trees. Winters glances up to watch it swing out over the bay.

"But don't hold it against her. Ain't her fault we're in this mess, and we've all got a job to do, including you.

For now, concentrate on accepting your lot, yeah? We're here to answer your questions, but we ain't gonna tell you all there is to know just yet. Some things are best learned on your own, and some of it we just don't want to saddle you with yet. There's a limit to how long we can stay here safely, that's true, but thing is, we do got time. Time enough to play this smart. Do better than the folks before us did. Settle in, make peace, explore a bit if you're up for it. Use these first couple weeks to come to grips. You ain't gonna be any good to the town if you don't sort yourself out before worrying about what comes next.

So listen up: You're dead. You died. Whatever your old life was, it's done now. None of us can go back, so all we've got is forward. Welcome to Beacon. Could be worse, yeah?"

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! For this intro log, all three NPCs will be available for chatting with, whether your character wants to make casual conversation or ask questions about all this. The headers on each NPC toplevel are there for easy reference as to what each of them are responsible for, but you're welcome to go to any NPC for whatever reason. You're welcome to assume your character has overheard any NPC conversation to learn more about the game. After the NPC threads have died down, we'll compile the info learned ICly and add it to the game history page. If your character would contribute something specific to the game history records, let us know!

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

• The monthly store restock

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

Comments

[policier]

Ah. ( If that's what it's for, Javert can't rightfully say no. )

Very well. I shall keep it with me, then, for that purpose.

( He's bad at names, sometimes, so it is actually quite helpful. Now that she has her box of crayons, Javert takes one last look at the store before leading them out. )

Would you like to walk with me again?

[withsadness]

I would love that!

[They'll keep the bad guys away, together! Well, Javert will, but Mary will cheer him on. Instinctively, she reaches for his hand again, unable to hide the pep in her step.]

Which way shall we go?

[policier]

Are you able to walk to the docks?

( Javert stiffens when she takes his hand, but his grip quickly relaxes. It'll take him a while to get used to it, holding hands and being touched kindly. )

Perhaps we might find something washed up on the beach.

( If they don't, that's just as well. Javert can use their time wisely and teach Mary about the law. )

[withsadness]

Mm-hmm! I like it there! The beach is amazing!

[Jury's out on how well she's going to learn about the law, but that doesn't mean that she won't be willing to listen.]

It was my first time seeing it when I woke up here...it makes me so happy. I'd always wanted to go and see the ocean.

[policier]

You never had the chance to travel?

( Look at him, trying to make polite conversation. It seems to come a lot easier with Mary, since she still has that childhood honesty about her. )

I, myself, used to live by it. For fifteen years, when I served as a prison guard in a city called Toulon. It is quite a familiar sight to me.

[withsadness]

No...but I really, really wish I could've.

[The world must be so big and beautiful. She looks up at Javert as they walk, listening with obvious interest.]

That sounds amazing! You must have been so happy to be able to see it whenever you wanted!

[policier]

Hardly.

( He says it with a snort. The only thing that makes him happy is his work. No one is surprised by this. )

Where did you live? Was it a small town or a large city?

[withsadness]

Where?

[Hmm...Mary frowns as she considers the question.]

I don't know. I don't know anything about what was outside.

[policier]

You were not allowed out?

( Javert looks a little perplexed. His childhood may not have been the best, growing up inside of a woman's prison, but even he still had a chance to go outside every now and again. As he walks, his brows knit together. )

Were you often sick?

[withsadness]

Nope...I don't get sick.

[She understands the concept; she's read about it. Sickness isn't something that she's ever had to experience.]

I just couldn't go outside. I thought about going outside all the time, though. I always wanted to! So I read about as many places as I could...that way I could imagine it better.

[policier]

I see.

( That seems odd. Javert looks a little confused, but isn't going to question it further. Mary is able to go outside now, and no harm has befallen her. That's all that matters. He stares down at his feet, looking lost in thought for a moment as they walk. )

It is good that you read, then. What else have you learned? Have you started arithmetic yet?

[withsadness]

I'm very good at reading, and I'm still practicing my spelling...

[But that seems to be pretty much it, judging by the way she trails off.]

Arithmetic...is that numbers?