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

Ignis Scientia | FFXV | ota

[reigniter]

1. Travel from Beacon

[No, it couldn't get worse. This is as bad as it gets. Ignis had listened to man's speech with rapt attention, ignoring how scars on his skin still tingle and burn from the use of the ring. Slowly fading, as if to hide the evidence of his decisions and the outcome. He knew he was going to die. That was the price, and he was willing to pay it. What he didn't expect was this state of things. Darkness? Lantern and resets? His eyes are locked onto the Lighthouse in the distance, a frown etched between his eyebrows. He has a bad feeling about this and his gut rarely lies to him.

Being lost in thought makes him bump into someone else, maybe stepping on their feet- after all, everyone's being ushered towards the bonfire now and it's dark like in an empty barrel. Mental note- find and talk to this Rastus person about the fire. In the meantime-]

My apologies. I hope I didn't hurt you.

2. Welcome to room 206

[At least they managed to find a room. Camping is good and everything, but it is not a way a person should live their entire life. Although Gladio probably wouldn't have any problems...

Ignis is already tinkering with the kitchen- he needs to know what he has, in what amount, what shape the things are and if anything is going to implode on him if he turns it on. The room doesn't look like it would live up to the standards they lived in but, so far, everything has been working smoothly? And Ignis is surprised.

Soon enough, the smell of buttered toast and coffee fills the room. He had tried coffee downstairs- and didn't like it. Now, he's making it up to his own standards.]

a- roommates) [He turns around and leans against the counter, taking a good sip of the coffee-]

Food is done, [he announces casually.] There is some marmalade in the cupboard if you don't want plain toast.

b- other tenants) [A loud bump and crash come from the hallway and Ignis pauses in whatever he was doing. That... didn't sound so good. And it was close to the apartment too. Perhaps their neighbors? Or maybe just someone lost in the dark... He steps outside carefully, trying to gauge who it is and what happened.]

Is everything alright?

3. Open World

[Anything else you want! Exploring? Find him at the church, trying to deciphir some torn papers he saw laying around. Or near bonfire- either staring in the general direction of the Lighthouse or handing over a cup of coffee to you.

If you have any ideas, pitch them to me at WindsongWitch or PM me!]

2a

[burstmodes]

[ it's still weird getting used to things the way they are, but he's trying. if anything, prompto just pushes it down so he doesn't have to think about it, and with the three of them sharing a room, he finds it easier if he doesn't try to actively do it. yet, he can't help blinking at ignis as he moves around the kitchen. ]

Is bread the only thing you could find in here? [ he's not being mean, just curious. ]

[reigniter]

[There will always be something to remind you about it until you finally accept it as a fact that yes, they are dead, and yes, this is a thing. But this does feel like having a second life though and it was not what Ignis expected.]

I assume there are other things that we can get. Although, I am not sure how currency works here. [All he knows that they can ask for things from Rastus. Although Ignis is not sure he's in a mindset just yet to cook anything too complicated. Focus is a thing he doesn't have right now.]

[burstmodes]

[ he fiddles with the hem of his shirt as ignis speaks, eventually getting up to move closer. there's a lot he wants to say to him, a lot he thinks he should tell him, and maybe, one day, he would. bringing it up to noct is an entirely different beast that prompto isn't ready for, so he's just going to try to make the best of a bad situation and hope it doesn't get any worse. ]

Guess we'll have to ask about it when we have time. [ prompto leans on the counter, eyes still fixed on ignis' frame. ] Do you have any plans yet? I mean, on what you think we should do? I think everybody's still pretty weirded out by this whole thing. [ so, he hasn't gotten much out of talking to anyone here. ]

[reigniter]

[Putting everything into words is going to be difficult even now. Or maybe it's even harder. None of them were very open with their feelings in the past and now, with the fact that they are dead, it is only making things worse.

Ignis pours some coffee for Prompto as well, pushing the mug across the counter towards him.]

Nothing specific. [He frowns, making the scar around his eye more prominent.] However, the story about the woman at the Lighthouse is giving me a very bad feeling.

[burstmodes]

[ he smiles a little at the gesture, grateful to put his hands around something warm. maybe it was just him, but ever since he'd woken up here, he'd felt kind of off. not in a super noticeable way, just enough to keep his mind on edge. ]

You mean with the reset thing? [ prompto tries not to frown too. ] Yeah, it's – I dunno. Sounds kinda crazy, if you ask me. [ or like a video game, but this isn't one of those. it's their afterlife. or something. ] I wonder if we'll ever see her...

[reigniter]

[No, it definitively isn't only Prompto. Perhaps the afterlife is not going to be sunshine and rainbows in general, but he didn't expect this world of darkness. Didn't they go through enough already...? Ignis takes a long sip of his drink-]

Yes. It is a worrying thought. Where are those that came before us? What became of them? [He doesn't want to alarm Prompto or spread panic but if he doesn't point it out, it might make things worse later.]

The men that greeted us at the shore didn't offer much information either. They seem lucky enough to still be around.

2a

[broplaints]

[Finding an open apartment had been a blessing - camping had been okay at the absolute best, and then they'd had certain luxuries at their disposal. A large, comfortable tent and fluffy sleeping bags. A travel stove from which Ignis created brilliant meals for them. And chairs to keep them from having to sit on the hard ground.

Here, when they'd probably have to try and make their own tent out of whatever they could find? The complaining probably could have powered a small town.

Noctis, for his part, had been busy setting up their bedroom. Pushing the two beds together and piling them with as many thick blankets and soft pillows as he could find. until it looked more like a nest then anything else.

Which he had then tested out by napping.

And had woken up to the scent of coffee and toast filling the air. It wasn't much, but Ignis had made it. Which was how he ended up in the kitchen, hair a mess, picking up a piece of buttered toast and shoving it in his mouth while looking for said marmalade.]

[reigniter]

[At least Noct proved that they can actually nap here. For a moment, Ignis was afraid he wouldn't be able to sleep. If he's going to be honest, staying awake all the time around here doesn't seem appealing. It warmed his heart to see him fiddle around with the beds until they are pushed together.

The toast is still warm when Noctis gets up from his little nap. Ignis has a feeling that it was short, but who knows. Time doesn't seem to be relevant around here as much. They have no obligations to do here- no hunts, no fighting- so Ignis didn't wake Noctis until the prince himself decided to get up.

He doesn't say anything and just sips on his coffee slowly as Noctis fiddles around for that marmalade.

...]

Had a good nap?

[broplaints]

[If they had taken sleeping from him too, Noctis probably would have marched directly up to the lighthouse and complained until the lady in charge rendered him incapable of it.

You couldn't take his favorite past time from him. You just couldn't.

The marmalade located, he wastes no time with slathering it on what's left of his toast.]

Yeah. [Honestly it had mostly been emotional exhaustion that had lead him to passing out at all. Over finding Prompto. Over finding Ignis.

At least Gladio hadn't shown up yet, so maybe the big guy had actually made it out okay.] I'm guessing they don't have Ebony here.

[reigniter]

[And Ignis isn't in form to stop Noct from marching all the way to the Lighthouse because- Ignis wants to go there himself. So, in a way, they are lucky they can sleep.]

No, they do not, [Ignis sighs, clicking his tongue.] The bar offers coffee, but it tastes like watery mud.

So thank you for bringing a bag with coffee from the supply center. [When Ignis was off to see Rastus, he saw Noct snooping around the shop. Forever grateful. It still doesn't taste as good as the one he had while alive, but it is miles better than the bar coffee.]

[broplaints]

[Both of them marching up to the lighthouse would be a sight at the moment. But not even their extreme levels of determination would probably get them an audience.]

No problem. [Not even going to mention how he literally combed the entire store trying to find something, anything that even remotely resembled Ebony only to come up empty-handed.]

Besides, I've seen you without coffee. It wasn't pleasant.

[reigniter]

[The coffee Noct procured for him is more than enough. And he doesn't deny that he's unpleasant when running low on caffeine. What can he say- he can't focus and the levels of irritability are high because of it.]

Apologies. I will try to not let coffee dictate my second life as well.

[Says Ignis, lying through his teeth- he's already halfway through the mug.]

2b

[paletteswap]

[Your upstairs neighbor from 306 is currently cleaning out his apartment because for some reason there's approximately a dozen wooden chairs in there. Chairs in the bathroom. Chairs in the kitchen. There's just... too many chairs.

And instead of taking them downstairs where they can be used by people in the tavern, he's chucking them down the hall and out of his sight. He straightens up after throwing the last one, a small smirk on his face. That was a good chair toss.]

Certainly. Why do you ask?

[Not a fan of free chairs?]

[reigniter]

[The chair wheezes past Ignis and he has to take a step back to avoid it. That- was dangerous. Also a complete waste of perfectly good chair. He squints down the hall, where the chair smashed into a wall and broke in half. Then squints at the man that probably drop-kicked the said chair.]

I heard noise... was that entirely necessary?

[Things are slow and somewhat boring when you're dead but kicking a chair, that someone could use, shouldn't be a form of entertainment.]

[paletteswap]

No. But I'll not deny it was satisfying.

[He's perfectly capable of carrying all these downstairs or stacking them somewhere out of the way. But without a sparring partner he's got a lot of pent up energy he needs to burn off somehow.]

Are you in need of any chairs? I appear to have an over-abundance.

[reigniter]

[Ah- a way to deal with frustration. Ignis mostly trains when he's in such mood, but everyone probably has different coping methods.]

Ah, no, thank you for the offer. I have enough furniture.

Perhaps someone downstairs or upstairs is in need of some. Would you like some help to move them?

[paletteswap]

I suppose I should stop destroying them in case we need them for some reason. I'd say to burn for warmth, but with the state of the bonfire I'm not sure that would work.

[Sigh. He'd kind of been enjoying that.]

Thank you, but I can deal with it.

Am I your upstairs neighbor? My name is Kuai Liang.

[reigniter]

Yes... the Bonfire seems to have a mind of its own.

[And adding more firewood to it probably won't change a thing.

Sorry to burst your happy bubble, Kuai, Ignis is kind of famous for doing such things...]

I reside here, room 206. I'm Ignis Scientia.

1

[knifecollecting]

[Jo is prepared to tear into whoever just stepped on her foot, but instead she just clenches her jaw and looks up at him. At least he did apologize.]

We'll see how it is when I can feel my toes again. [The sand did give a little, she's not majorly hurt, but she's still going to be annoyed.]

Deep in thought?

[reigniter]

I am sincerely sorry, it is a bit... crowded. [Ignis says as groups of people, huddled together, pass them by.

The light from the Lighthouse has an ominous glow and Ignis finally tears his gaze away from it.]

A bit... lot had happened before, well, this.

[knifecollecting]

Never been to a state fair? [One learns to dodge boots and elbows very quickly at a state fair in a farming state.

Plus, one has to dodge animal shit.]

Death usually is a lot, if we all actually did die before our arrival. [Sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's a quiet blip in a person's sleep.]

[reigniter]

Not... in recent years, no. [He's can't remember last time there was some kind of festival in Insomnia. They were preparing one for the peace treaty signing but... that went up in the smoke. Literally.]

Yes, this isn't quite what I expected afterlife to be.

[He didn't expect sunshine and roses either, but certainly not all of this darkness.]

[knifecollecting]

Me either. [Nomads aren't usually in the right place at the right time for fairs.

And she didn't expect this of the afterlife either.]

What did you expect? There are lots of ideas about what happens after death.

[reigniter]

[What did he expect? Now that he thinks about it- he didn't think about it. Afterlife wasn't on the menu back home, dying was a certainty, but not a focus.

He hums,] Certainly not darkness.

There were stories that you join your ancestors in the afterlife and go to blissful sleep, to rest from the weary life you led. [But then again, all that plague and daemons would make people tell stories like that. To make it seem easier.]