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
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pages	|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Comments

[callada]

[For a moment, he considers it, then nods. Hell, why not. He's not bleeding, he's not dying, and the sooner he knows more about this boat, the better.]

Sounds like a plan. I didn't get your name, though, right? I'm Rosinante.

[There's no room for him to stand without basically dragging himself out of the room so he'll wait on that. First, he'll hold out a hand to shake.]

[dualikey]

[He's spent too much time around the strong silent types to be bothered by beats of consideration. Cloud and Auron were never very talkative, and Leon only ever seemed to open up when he had some new job or piece of wisdom to impart- but then he's also had Riku as a best friend for as far back as he can remember. He wouldn't say that their influence has made him more patient, but at least he doesn't expect people to leap into decisions as whole-heartedly as he does.

Rosinante, he says. A name he's going to perpetually mess up.]

I'm Sora!

[Eager to meet halfway, Sora reaches into the space between them, taking his hand. It's a gesture that still feels like it doesn't fit right- like maybe he was supposed to grow into it. Now he'll never know.

When he withdraws, both palms land on the floor beside him and Sora's legs unfold. He doesn't wobble when he starts climbing to his feet, but he does find that his butt's asleep on one side. He slaps at his thigh absently.]

Oh, but maybe I should back out first? Aren't you gonna be stiff from being all hunched over?

[callada]

Sora?

[Yeah, he'll have to move, but hold on a second because that name brings a slow smile to his face. Had he not just died, he might even grin, bold and bright, but that's a hard thing to manage right now.]

Where I come from, that's the name of a great hero. A champion of justice. A good name.

[A comic book hero, not a real one. But that wouldn't sound nearly as flattering, would it? And he's developed a real soft spot for those stories over the last few months, after discovering his kid's fondness for them.]

[dualikey]

A champion of justice...

[It's not a hard thought to roll around in his head, but in a way that makes it transparent too. Sora's met all kinds of people on his journey from world to world and plenty of them had been heroic. There's even one who comes to mind first.

He takes a small step back even without the request, freeing up space where it's already in short supply and standing in the doorway instead. It doesn't stop both of his arms coming up. It doesn't keep him from flexing dramatically either. Herc, eat your heart out!]

Like in the stories!

[callada]

Yeah! He sails from island to island, helping people in need, defeating pirates who threaten their homes, stuff like that. A real role model to people all over.

[Okay, so a chunk of it is Marine propaganda, he realizes this. But as a Marine, that's not a bad thing. They do defend the innocent from pirates for a living. Having kids associate Sora with them can be a real boon when they have to step into communities that don't see them often and try and put down local insurrections. All in the name of keeping the peace and stability of their member nations, which is something to be proud of.

With a bit more space now, he turns and gets his feet under him, and stands hunched over in the little cabin.]