logsinthenight | Round 2 [open]

Entry tags:

Round 2 [open]

characters: Cao Pi and everyone who wants to show up
location: town hall
date/time: Dec. 8, starting at moonrise
content: Community meeting, take 2! After the Dreamer/Defender incident, there's a lot to talk about and Cao Pi has encouraged everyone to come and publicly share what they learned while asleep or what ideas they have to make the next massacre less massacre-y. Feel free to handwave catching his post or hearing about it from a friend.
warnings: none likely but lmk if that changes. Threadjacking likely; if you don't want to be threadjacked, make some sort of indication.

As before, Cao Pi arrives ahead of time to ensure the town hall is ready for a session, righting any chairs that might have been thrown about in recent melees and checking the logbook for recent information. When a fair amount of people have arrived and he can see the waxing moon rising through the leafless trees outside, he rises to begin with a short intro.

"By now we know that those who succumbed to the food at the feast had a strange experience - they shared dreams with each other, in which they found themselves seeing Beacon as it was in the past. I encourage all those who dreamed, and remember it well, please tell us all what you saw. There may be considerable clues to our purpose and progress in even the smallest detail.

"The rest of us, well. We managed to make it through and I believe those who were killed are whole again, but for our part we can go over what worked and what didn't. Defending ourselves isn't merely a matter of being trained to use weapons. The spirits which attacked were formidable, powerful. We will need more than just our strength to outlast another attack. Ideas are welcome, as is any new information we have on everything from communications to threats."

That's all he'll ramble about this time, he'll take a seat and allow others to have the floor before he makes any more grandiose speeches.

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[ Riku isn't here to speak unless the information he's offered to certain organizational parties neglect to share it to the group as a whole. A few might even suspect why, though he no longer wears bandages around his neck, in its place is a scarf he found at the general store.

He has his tablet, and for the most part he seems to be here to take notes. Cao Pi addresses the room and then sits. Riku leans back in his chair with his breath gusting out of him in undisguised frustration.

Then he stands up. ]

I'll keep this short.

The reason for all this was the spirits wanted to answer our questions about what happened before we arrived.

They attacked anyone who wasn't going along with it. For now, they've agreed--

[ His voice cracks. Pausing for a long second, he shuts his eyes, stone-faced around the pain in his recently-healed throat, and when he speaks again there's a hoarse unsteadiness. ]

They've agreed to stop killing us. We need to know what you saw and experienced.

[ He says it in a hurry, and by the end, that last word - experienced - is only partially there, like he's already tired out his voice in a few loud sentences. Looking more annoyed (and possibly embarrassed) than anything, Riku sits back down, crossing his arms. ]

[Maes has been itching to talk about this since he woke up. Well, after throwing up and then trying to get everything down on paper that he could remember. Some parts were too vivid and when he closed his eyes sometimes he could still see that bloody head.

But that's not what he wanted to talk about right now. Though maybe later. As soon as Cao Pi and then Riku were done, Maes rose to his feet. He had a notebook and some papers sticking out of it. Clearly he'd been busy preparing.]

I'll go first then. I didn't get a chance to meet all of you yet, before the feast, so I'll start by saying I'm General Maes Hughes. I have some previous experience with a similar situation in which I was taken to another reality and asked to 'fix' things...though the details are very different. If you want to talk with me about it after we can, I'd rather focus on the information my group obtained during the dream.

[With that, he laid out several sheets of paper. It was a rough sketch and map of the explored areas of Beacon. The areas are labeled and what will probably immediately draw attention are the multiple areas circled, places they had yet to encounter.]

I don't know how much parallel there is between the Beacon in the dream and the Beacon we now inhabit, but while I was stuck in Town Hall I discovered several areas that no one had been to yet and that might be worth organizing explorations to go check it out. Maybe set up teams to go scout or take them one at a time. [He glanced at those present.] Though we might want to wait until people have fully recovered or agree to only send those who are up to the task.

[He leaned over the map and pointed to the west.] There's supposedly a medical center here, which would be really helpful right now if not in the future. Especially if there are still any supplies lingering there.

[He then moved to the mountains.] This area was labeled as a farm and a train station, and something about a furnace. I don't know if it's another way out, nor is it the right time to grow crops, but either way it seems worth exploring for supplies and other methods of transportation.

[Lastly he traced his finger to the east.] This is marked simply as Downtown. It could mean more housing or shops, either way more space to occupy since it became clear with this most recent ferry load that we are coming up short on space.

[He moved back to let others explore the map and after a few moments added.] This was information that could help us now. We also discovered some information related to Beacon's past, if you'd like me to continue.

[He briefly heard the sound of giggling, but decidedly ignored it.]

We also came across mention of an amusement park, but it was so new that there was no depiction of it on the map. [He hesitated and then added.] Although, the flier for it was rather troubling.

[Incredible. Absolutely incredible, as Rosinante leans in wide-eyed to pore over the map. This is exactly the sort of information they've been needing all along. Must be something like what Robin has, which she had declined to share. "Wasn't fun," she'd said, as if any of this life-risking they're doing is fun. He's still bitter about that.

Alongside it, he unfolds the brochure he'd brought with him - a duplicate, as the first was lost in the wreckage of the cog. It's a dirtbike trail map from the cycling shop and among the trails listed is a very close-by trail labeled "to Downtown" that seems to start at roughly where the museum now stands.]

This is incredible, Sir. I can add this, found at the bike shop. Jason Grace and I recently tried to get there by water, figuring it would be faster to sail along the coast. I'm sure you've all seen the outcome of that, but I'd still like to try again - by land, this time.

[Rosinante sits at the periphery and pays close attention to the proceedings, occasionally offering insight. But when there's an opportune moment, a gap in the discussion, he clears his throat.]

For those who haven't met me yet, I'm Commander Rosinante Donquixote.

[A rare full name and title, but he's taking this as seriously as anyone else. Besides, there are people here who he's only seen in passing. May as well.]

I've compiled some statistics on death here in Beacon you might all want to be aware of. Spent some time searching through the past bulletins, discussions on the network, and following up on general knowledge to figure out how many people in total we've had arriving on the ferry, and what the chances of survival are here. I'd had a few people ask me, since I was one of those who arrived in the first batch of the current group, and I wanted to have an answer for them.

We've had one hundred twenty-eight people here in total since July, including survivors of previous groups. Of those, around fifty died and never returned, while approximately fourteen deaths have resulted in an individual being recovered at the church.

[Not good odds. He frowns and taps the screen, pulling up a few more of his notes.]

If you consider each death separately, your chances of returning to life are a little better than one in five. Of course, many of you have heard that in August the spirits retaliated after we went to the lighthouse to connect Robin back up to the network. Twenty-four people died or went missing from what I could find. Since that event was an anomaly, even after the most recent attack, if you remove those people, you still only have about a one in three chance of being recovered after you die here. These numbers are kind of inaccurate since it looks like news of deaths doesn't always make it to Robin, but they should be close.

[He searches the gathering for one individual. Is she here? Whether she is or not, Rosinante continues with the strange accidental finding in the list he's put together.]

There's a young woman here by the name of Eleven. She was here in July and was reported as missing in August after the massacre at the party. She returned in October, a full month and a half or so after she disappeared. All other deaths seem to take less than one week. But Eleven, when she returned, was on the ferry and not at the church. I don't know what this means, but I thought you should all know.

[And he sits back, ready to take questions he almost certainly doesn't have the answers to. All he did was comb through names, sift through data. He's good at that. Maybe someone here will know something he doesn't about the results he's found.]

[Duster doesn't think he has much to bring up - he's not the best at investigating, he's not someone that goes out and discovers things - but knowing that there's something out there for certain? That there's more to this island?]

They'd be beyond the dark forest, wouldn't they? If we build bridges across rivers and keep exploring...we'll know where to look and what to look for.

If it's the same person.

[It's an idle comment.]

Universes are vast, and have incredible similarities. There are multiple versions of all us. Who's to say it's the precise same girl?

[Maes considers the information presented by Rosi, but nods at Rosalind first.]

She has a point. I've met a few people here that I had previously met when I was with Astoria and the Circle, but they seem to have no memory of that place or who I am.

[Despite everything, it really was the map that Maes had been most excited about. It gave them a more precise direction to set off in and hints at maybe what was out there. Of course, based on other locations, it was likely that what they would find would be very different than the daylight version of Beacon.

But still, it was a purpose and a goal, which was something. His eyes light up when he notices the brochure and the marked trail.]

That's good, it means it confirms, at least in part, the accuracy of the map. That there are more parallels between what I saw and what might be out there in this version of things.

She's right.

[ loud enough to vouch for her-- but that's about it. Jason has no interest in adding to conversations, judging by how he's hanging back as the proceedings start. His arms are crossed over his chest, communicating well enough his closed off body language.

but he was already familiar with that concept. Especially for every person from Gotham. ]

Really? This is the first I've heard of that.

[He'd been about to question Dr. Lutece on how she could know that, but immediately the General adds that information and man, is that a lot to consider. Lutece had told him about alternate realities briefly once, but somehow he hadn't thought that would mean there could be more than one of himself.]

So... then this portal pulls not only from other worlds, but from mirrors of them, if I'm understanding it right.

Hm. More that it simply pulls from any universe it may encounter. You're thinking of it as though one version is the real version, and the others mirrors, but each is as valid as the last.

If--

[Hm, no.]

If another version of you was brought here-- well. I'd be fascinated to see if either of you would effect the other, but that's neither here nor there. Neither him nor you would be more the original than the other.

Noted. You all know more about this than I do, it seems.

[Always good to have corroboration. Thanks, Jason.]

[ he offers a thumbs up-- and zero actual corroboration beyond vouching. SORRY EVERYONE. ]

Chances are no.

[ seriously, how does he know this ]

Should've just stuck with the infinite universe theorem.

I beg your pardon. Chances are no what?

That other versions would affect each other.

It does. And we should definitely have people check out these other locations too. Soon, if the weather doesn't turn worse.

[That's going to be the hardest part of this, he figures. It's already absolutely freezing out there, and it's only December. They have limited time to accomplish everything in. What if January buries them in several feet of snow?]

[Good, and some of her hackles settle.]

Possibly. Possibly not. Perhaps this world is the original for some version of him, come a hundred resets ago, in which case it very much will affect them.

[His eyes follow them back and forth, and he shrugs. Another version of himself? He's not sure if he'd want to meet himself or not, honestly. He knows himself well. Doesn't much like the guy.]

Well if somehow I find myself in that particular situation, I'll let you know so we can be your guinea pigs.

[ due to being one of the dreamers, daylight raises his harms to indicate he was ready to speak. he pulls out one of his sketchbooks as he speaks, flipping through the pages to reach the notes he's been taking ever since he woke up. ]

I was with Sarissa and Kol and we were in a radio tower. It seems we were the only ones there since we couldn't find anyone or anything alive.

[ urgh- those dead birds still haunt day. ]

We were still in Beacon but, judging by what we saw and experienced, it was set in the past. When there was still light and before the World Eaters... [ he stops here, an uncomfortable look coming and going across his face before he corrects himself: ] Just as the World Eaters were approaching Beacon.

[When Ignis stands up, he has a notebook in his hand. When it comes to notes he is a bit old fashioned. But it somehow makes him think more clearly. He gives a nod to the group and shifts enough so he can see them all.]

First- I am Ignis Scientia, and I was [still kind of is] Royal advisor and retainer. During the time I spent in the shared dream, my group and I stumbled upon a research facility. I haven't found the facility on our map yet, and I have been spending time looking for it. That being said- there are some very important things that you need to note.

[He pushes his glasses up-] There is a lot of information so bear with me for a moment. I will try to keep it concise.

First thing- the name of the research facility was "Solis Labs". It was run down and surrounded by the forest and scrap metal, probably used for research purposes.

Two- as we moved into the first research laboratory, we have stumbled upon a lot of computers, tools, wires. There was a printing machine and formulas written on the board. If you need details on that, I suggest you look for Castiel, for the formulas were unknown to me. [As he's not a scientist.]

Three- the power in the building was still running, for better or for worse. The several programs that were installed on the computer are Museum Catalog, a printing program, a research log and a program called 'Sun'. I will start with the log.

The research log is focusing on building a certain portal. It had started in 1969 during the summertime. It doesn't state who was building it, but they had succeeded. They traveled back and forth through dimensions, taking items and bringing them back as proof. All of the items taken are now listed as museum items and put on display. However, beginning the springtime of the 1970s, something had spotted the scientist and considering the last entry when they say "-it wasn't worth it", I believe it followed them here. A lot of the data in this log is encrypted and lost, but this is the main gist of what I could draw out from it.

[He closes the notebook he was using as a reminder, and crosses hands in front of himself.]

And the last thing- the program called 'Sun' on the computer had put my dream to an end. I can only imagine it killed me, but it was way too fast for me to comprehend. [He looks thoughtful for a moment then nods,] If you want more information or a different point of view, I recommend talking to Miss Scarlett and Castiel.

I have my speculations on the matter, but I kept the information I passed to you clean of it. If you have questions, I will answer them as best as I can.

[All of this is completely fascinating, but the most immediately enticing to him is the idea of something following back through the portal. He can think of a few possibilities.]

That "something" that might have come through the portal. Any clues on what it might have been?

[If you can go one way in and return, it is not hard to conclude that something might follow you back.

Ignis shakes his head-]

Unfortunately no. I would've remembered if it was written. [He prides himself in his good memorizing capabilities, regardless of the short time given.] However, given the state of things in Beacon, we can assume that it could be the creatures that destroyed the light in Beacon in the first place.

Edited 2019-12-10 03:58 (UTC)

Or the spirits.

[World Eaters seem to already be able to move between stars - although recalling Dr. Lutece's idea, maybe they had been bounded by whatever keeps entire universes separate from each other. Maybe they had no equivalent in this universe. But the spirits could just as easily be part of the problem. Maybe they come from the same sort of place.]

Or something that turned residents into spirits. The possibilities are endless.

[He looks bothered and has a deep frown on his face.]

If we could find the research facility, we could try to extract the log from the computer database and try to decrypt it. I don't know many who are good in computer science, but I believe dr Ingram would have a pretty good shot at it.

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Round 2 [open]

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Maes Hughes | OTA

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Rosinante | OTA

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Ignis Scientia | ota

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