logsinthenight | INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY

Entry tags:

INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: february 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. rastus gathers the town for a debriefing meeting.
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 glowing 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.

•••

On February 3, after the newcomers have had a chance to settle in, everyone's tablets will ping with a message from @rastus!

Come tob onfier squae.Pl eaas , we wikll disucss our orogress sincereeluy rastuaas I am th ebonfire keeeeeeepr.

...Followed by another message a few minutes later, this time from @keeper

Omg will everyone head down to Bonfire Square for Rastus' town meeting please? He wants to recap what you've all learned so far!!!

And can someone please teach him that he can record an audio message and then send it to everyone instead of looping the whole dang town in on a group text?? 😂😂😂😂

Assuming you do indeed head down to Bonfire Square after all that, what you'll find is this: a series of benches and tables have been set up surrounding the bonfire, and there's enough seating for all of Beacon's residents. As people take their seats near the fire, the barkeeper forest spirits from the Invincible toddle through the crowd with trays of hot chocolate and warm cider, along with a sampler tray of acorns and pinecones, if that's your thing.

Once everyone's here and settled, sipping on hot drinks and maybe busting a tooth on an acorn, Rastus hobbles forward to address the crowd:

"Crrk. Hello. I am Rastus. I tend to the bonfire. I have tended to the bonfire, mrawk, for years and years. You are doing, rmmm, well. Good."

He nods to emphasize the point. Yes, you are doing good.

"Talk. To each other. Share what you have learned. Yes. Crarrk. It is important."

He nods again, and then... shuffles back over to his post near the bonfire, waiting for anyone who might come by with an interest in torches. Seems it's up to you all to get each other up to speed?

Luckily for all the newcomers who may find themselves confused by their sudden arrival here, their tablets and the town have some resources available for getting acquainted with their new situation! 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.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! We're thrilled to welcome so many new faces into the community, and you've come at a great time! Alongside this intro log, we have our very first cat herd, which is essentially a recap of the plot thus far, as well as a rundown on a ton of great info to help get you started in the game.

But don't feel like you have to read it all right this second! ICly, Rastus will call everyone together for the town meeting on February 3 to give new characters (and players) a chance to get their bearings before smacking them in the face with all the plot. This log will cover both the ferry arrival and the cat herd meeting, so feel free to bounce around in time in your toplevels.

Remember, too, that all of the plot info available in the cat herd can now be considered common knowledge! Newbies and oldbies alike, feel free to assume that your character learns as much of that plot info as you like at this meeting, regardless of whether or not you thread it out.

And of course, go ahead and introduce yourselves on the OOC intro, as well!

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

The monthly store restock
For Sora: A gameboy(?), 3 CPR/AED kits, a dozen CPR/first aid training manuals, two packages of capiz shells, a set of candy molds, a caldero, and 3 gameboy games: 3-D World Runner, Decapathon VII, and Sheep It Up!
For Crowley: A variety of clockwork equipment, a large clock face, and the goods
For Jason G: 2 bulletin boards with materials for mounting, 3 packs of pushpins
For Lucius: A manual sewing machine
For Castiel: A dozen flasks of holy oil and a pillowcase-sized satchel of various natural spell components
For Duster: A double bass, complete with a case
For Prompto: A polaroid camera with enough film for 50 photos and a folding sword, which is cruder than the example he gave but roughly the same size
For Aziraphale: A large crate of snowshoes, jackets, and coats in various sizes, a bottle of wine, and a bouquet of red, white, and pink roses tied together with an elegant bow
For Javert: A large crate of various fencing gear and 3 fencing handbooks

If you submitted an item request last month and we've missed it here, let us know!

QUICKNAV
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gregor's not exactly a passer-by; he's stuck outside, too. Of his own volition, though.

He's too used to being in a place where you can't smoke indoors anymore, and it just seems like the polite thing to do to step out for a few minutes. It doesn't really matter, they're all dead, and they apparently don't have enough time left to even feel the longterm effects. But it's just, like, a courtesy thing.

It's also very boring, which is why he's watching Sora sit down and stand up and look longingly into windows. He's speculating idly in his head about what's going on when, with perfect timing, Sora comes over.]

Sure. [He shrugs.] I'm not doing anything else.

Sweet. [ Sora's face splits open in a grin. (And notes the smoking. He's already made up his mind about it with Rosinante, man, it's fine here. This isn't judging. This is a minute friendship calculation taking place, my dude.) ]

Okay, question two! If you're new to Beacon, do you know how to whistle? [ Beat. ] Follow-up question if you don't know how to whistle: Do you know how to sing?

[There's a distinct look of lazy amusement on his face.]

Yes to the first, no to the second. Well, I mean, I know how to sing, but that's not something anyone wants. Least of all me.

[Was that question three, or is that still coming?]

[ That was more of a question 2a/2b sort of deal! Not that Sora really thinks to vocalize that. ]

Iunno, you can't be any worse than me. Question three! [ Dramatic pause. ] Do you wanna learn a new language so you can send a message to the spirits in there - [ A point at the tavern ] - and tell them I'm real sorry for breaking a lot of the furniture and I promise this time it's not gonna happen again?

[Hm. There's a lot to unpack here.]

Well I'd never turn down an opportunity to learn a new language. [He drops his cigarette and grinds it out with his shoe. This seems like something he'll need to not be smoking through.]

But what caused you to break so much furniture in the first place?

[ Sora... turns red. And very, very sheepish. ]

Well, uh, I broke something on my first night here? And made kind of a scene. Which was okay, but they kept ignoring me until I promised I wouldn't do it again. And then, uh, everyone's lanterns started turning different colors last week - [ He raises his own lantern, completely forgetting that everyone has a lantern here and probably has the memo on the whole lantern thing by the time they get off the ferry ] - and, uh, they made people start acting. Different? And I was real different.

[ He sighs. ] I'm trying to get in so I can see what I can do to fix what I broke, but they keep kicking me out.

[Gregor gives him a sympathetic look. Listen, kids break shit, it's just how it goes. That's hardly his fault.

... Ignoring that this "kid" is probably an adult. Everyone's a kid to Gregor, it's fine.]

Maybe if you prove how serious you are first? Fix something and bring it to show them. Or is that what I'm for?

[ Sora does not actually know if he crossed that threshold into adulthood a year ago, three years ago, ten years ago, or not at all, so he just leaves it to others to decide. Kid is good. The soldier calls him that. ]

That's a really good idea, but I can't even get in. [ Sora crosses his arms. ] I don't think I could fix the cup from the first night, but a chair or a stool I could do. [ He sighs again. ] But imagine how weird it would be if they caught me sneaking out a piece of something I broke after they've kicked me out like three times? [ He shakes his head. Really awkward. ]

So... Yeah, I mean, if you're cool with that, getting me something I could fix would be a pretty great idea.

Right. Sure thing.

[It's the verbal equivalent of a shrug, and then he's off into the tavern, on a mission. Not that you'd know it, seeing as how he isn't moving with any sense of urgency. It occurs to him that maybe he should've asked where the spirits put the broken furniture. Ah well, he'll figure it out.

Several storage rooms, broom closets, the basement (whoops, looks like someone lives there???), and leaning over the bar to look behind it later, Gregor finally returns with two halves of what are probably the same chair. They look close enough, anyway.

He plants the pieces in the snow outside the bar, then puts his hands on his hips.]

You have the tools for this, right?

Huh? W - Thanks? Thank you? Thank you! [ ... ] He didn't hear that. He's gone.

[ Sora's gone back to sitting on the snow by the time the guy returns, and he looks... Surprised! Relieved? Maybe a bit puzzled. He'll haul himself out of the snow, looking very grateful to accept the chair halves. ]

Nope! Never done this before. It's better than starting with nothing, though. Thanks. [ He frowns a little, though. ] Did you find them okay? You were gone a while. I was kind of wondering if you'd gotten lost or something.

[Hm. Gregor frowns down at the pieces of chair. Yeah, he's not about to teach this kid carpentry, mostly because he doesn't know the first thing about it. Aside from "nail goes in wood", probably. He thinks he could repair it with magic, but then that would sort of ruin the whole point.]

It wasn't exactly difficult, but the spirits seem to have cleaned up, and the way they choose their hiding spots for things is about as mysterious as anything else they're thinking.

[Remember the onion garlands and the bread-throwing? ~~Pepperidge Farm~~ Gregor remembers.]

I don't suppose the general store stocks super glue?

[ Sora nods. ] Yeah, that's legit. I have... no idea if they have glue! I should probably go and find out. Or maybe go down to the library first...? [ He's tight with the Librarian. They could probably set him up with some sweet chair repair deets. ]

Oh, uh, hey! I owe you a favor now. [ Cheesy grin! He is totally going to follow up on this. ] Wanna collect now? Save it for later?

Mm, there are probably carpentry books in the library. Or some kind of IKEA instruction booklet or something.

[Did they have IKEA in this world? Probably not. The point still stands.

Gregor looks a bit surprised about the favor thing.]

For getting you a broken chair? [He's not sure that's really worth a favor but if you insist...]

What sort of things are you good at?

[ Sora laughs. ] Man, if we gotta live in the afterlife, having an Ikea around would be fun. Imagine the pillow fights.

[ IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH A REWARD! Sora will nod vigorously! ]

I'm, uh. [ ... Wait, he's stymied. What is he good at? ] I'm strong? I've got robot parts in me, so if you need something moved, I can help. [ Hm. ] I can cook, but Midge is better, and she cooks lunch every day for everyone. If you need someone to watch your back in a fight, I can do that! Um. I'm a good listener? Sort of? I dunno if I can understand anything, uh, really complex, though. [ ... Grinding to a halt. Sora is NOT GOOD AT THIS. ]

[Well, one of the things he's good at is definitely not "writing a resume", but that's fine. Gregor was already in at the first thing on the list. Not even the robot parts, either, though that is interesting and maybe worth asking about later.]

Alright, well, listen, there's no rush on this, but at some point, would you mind moving one of the couches from the inn to the library?

[He wasn't even going to try to do it himself. He'd just sort of resigned himself to chairs.]

[ It's like Sora's a dog and Gregor just said "walk?" - his head pops up and his hands clench in determined fists, his entire being goes entirely aglow with helpfulness vibes. Manual labor? That's something he is perfectly capable of! ]

Yeah! Yeah, I can do that whenever you want! I got patrols to do every day, but let me know so I can make room for you! If you want, I can introduce you to the Librarian too! They're real nice, but they can sneak up on you 'cause they look kinda look and sound like a ghost. [ Are there a lot of exclamation points here? Sora's entire being is an exclamation point, thanks! ]

[Oh good, something Sora enjoys doing, not just something he's good at. Gregor will feel less guilty about making him haul heavy furniture across town this way.]

Well, anytime is fine, though sooner would be preferable to later. I can sleep in a chair well enough, but the couch seems more comfortable.

[And there is nothing weird about that statement whatsoever.]

Librarian? That would explain the noises.

[ Sora knows his strengths, man. It's mostly just strength. ]

There are also cots in the general store if that's your speed, but I getcha. I probably woulda liked a couch while I was staying there too. [ If there was anything weird about that sentence, it has simply gone right over Sora's head. Gregor may need to get used to that. Sora's weirdness meter is simply trashed. ]

Ah, yeah, all of the whispering and stuff. That's just them. Like, I think they eat books too, but I've never caught them doing it. Have you met them before? They're really nice, you can just go up and start talking to them if you feel lonely. [ Sora is the type to start chattering to a wall if he starts feeling lonely, so Gregor's mileage may vary on this advice. ]

[Oh good, a kindred library-dwelling spirit with a completely destroyed weirdness meter. They'll get along just great! And speaking of library spirits—]

I haven't met them formally, no. Certainly heard them, but there are a lot of little critters roaming about, I had no idea they were someone with a job.

[Just figured that if he woke up covered in bread again, that was just a part of life in Beacon.]

They eat books? Doesn't anyone ever bring them something else to eat?

[Because clearly that's the only reason you'd eat books.]

They’re good at their job, too! Not everything is in the library, but there are some things there that I never would have found at home.

[ Sora will nod in reply! To both questions. Then sort of... eh?]

Like I said, I never caught them eating anything other than food? The first time I really asked them for anything, I cooked them food to thank them for letting me stay. [ He shrugs.] I mean, I guess I could just give them whatever, but after all that help, it just kinda seems mean.

[Oh, he must've misunderstood there, whoops.]

Good to know. I'll be sure to bring things back with me when I go out. They were there first, only seems fair. Like paying rent.

[Or more like making offerings to appease a spirit— actually that's literally what it is. Hm.]

[ Or, uh, the Librarian has never done anything odd while Sora was looking! Everything in Beacon seems perfectly normal to him, after all. Or, like, at least not terribly strange. ]

Yeah! That's how I put it. That was back when I didn't know how to do the whole spirit language thing very well. [ Sigh. ] And I also didn't know that they, uh, just know how to write. They can understand us fine. They're really nice, they just let me finish. [ A little embarrassed by that, but he's learned his lesson and is much better at the whole communication thing now. ] I've been teaching them how to fist bump. They're getting pretty good at it.

Edited (word choice) 2020-02-14 19:33 (UTC)

[Listen the metric for "odd" around here is pretty skewed.]

Right, that reminds me. I already asked for a favor, but we never got around to the spirit whistling. I know there's a small database on the tablets, but are there more phrases out there?

[ ... Okay, fair. Now that Sora's got a lifetime of experience with Earth, he can at least gauge what vaguely normal is supposed to be like.

... Oh! Sora perks up again. You seem to have a talent for hitting the dog mode button, bud. ]

Should be! I know Daylight's doing some research on that. Have you met him? Huge guy, covered in metal, kinda looks like a robot. Real nice guy. Smart too! [ His favorite topic - his friends!! ]

[That's a rather dubious talent, honestly.]

I believe I've seen two huge guys covered in metal. Is he the green one, or the red one?

[Please continue to regale him about your friends, Sora. No really, he's not just being nice. This amount of enthusiasm is rare around here.]

INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY

B. I know you have six prompts and someone already picked this one but listen

waves my hands over your eyes like the witch i am. time and space? nothing but a construct

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I can't believe this is now a furniture fetch quest

gregor CLEARING those lil golden exclamation points like a REAL mmo protag

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