INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY

[inthenightmods]

INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY
GRAVEYARD WHISTLING

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

Comments

Feb 3

[meridio]

[Having been out and about all this time, Somnus has yet to meet or be notified of even more arrivals from Eos. For that reason, he fails to recognize Ravus when they're seated close by for the meeting.]

Communication with the spirits is a work in progress.

[His own tablet rests on his lap, untouched, as he cranes his neck toward Ravus.]

What does a covenant entail for you?

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus has heard from his sister that the Founder King walks among them, but their paths have yet to cross. He can't help but imagine the king of legends as an ancient figure, so even with his physical similarities to Noctis, Ravus doesn't immediately recognize who this man must be.

Maybe they can blame it on the poor lighting.]

Forging a covenant means beseeching the great spirits to bestow their blessings. It is the sacred duty of the blood of the Oracle.

[It had to be Lunafreya, back on Eos, but perhaps here, Ravus can serve.]

The spirits are not the Astrals of my home, but the same logic might hold to win their aid to our cause.

[meridio]

[He shifts, straightening at the mention of the Oracle. Ah, he thinks, a man of Eos.]

The Oracle's skills extend only to the Six; she said as much herself. No such sacred duty exists here.

[He pauses.]

The spirits do not seem against our cause. Like us, they merely struggle to grasp the differences between them and us.

[sonoftenebrae]

No, my sister has fulfilled her duty. She has earned the right to rest. Whatever needs to be done in this world, the burden of it can fall upon another.

[If he has a choice, he will take it up himself.]

I want to speak with the spirits. Perhaps they have some leader we can appeal to.

[meridio]

[Somnus pauses again.

He wants to say that burdens must be shared. But seeing as who prevailed before the throne that day, he has no grounds on which to make that claim.]

Previous attempts at communication with the green-eyed spirits have failed. You'll have better luck taking up the ocarina and communing with the lesser spirits.

[sonoftenebrae]

The lesser spirits won't have the power we need to see this world delivered from darkness.

[Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Ravus does not expect his course to be easy or without cost. He'll take the burden up, and gladly, to ensure it doesn't fall to his sister or the ones she has come to treasure.]

What attempts have you made?

[meridio]

I've yet to encounter a spirit with green eyes.

[In any case, Somnus thinks this man is thinking too far ahead.]

We do not spurn the Oracle, who lacks the power to vanquish daemons; however, she was blessed with the gift to hear the gods. Consider the lesser spirits as a bridge.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Something about this man angers Ravus. His eyes narrow. Lunafreya's job is not to defeat daemons, and no one could expect her to. She has a higher and nobler purpose.]

You can waste your time with the pawns. My duty is protecting the Oracle, and I will take on whatever spirits stand between myself and her safety.

[meridio]

[It rankles to be reminded that his own duty is obsolete, if it was ever his from the start. He's wasted his entire life away and all he can do even now, it seems, is to waste that borrowed time.]

Your duty is yours. Do as you will.

[They're obviously not going to reach an agreement on this topic. Somnus turns his attention back to the tablet on his lap, picking it up.]

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus sees the man turn back to his tablet, which is no great surprise nor a concern to him. Lunafreya's safety is Ravus' duty, and none other. What other men choose to do with their time is no business of his. Ravus will leave the man to his device.]

[meridio]

[Soon the meeting adjourns, leaving the people there to disperse and go about their businesses. A few hours later, Somnus returns to the cabin to retire for the night.

Settling in the living room, he lays his lantern—a sphere decorated with false flowers shaped after sylleblossoms—on the table when unexpected company arrives.]

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus has been living on the floor in this cabin for the last two days, so he doesn't bother knocking before he enters. He belongs here, and he throws upon the door as if he owns the place.

He strides in to see an unfamiliar lantern and a man he wishes was unfamiliar.

Oh.]

I should have known.

[Only a Lucis Caelum could be so off-track on fulfilling their world-saving duties, after all.

Ravus sits his own lantern, heavy iron with a purple crackle of lightning inside, down on the table with a hard, territorial clunk.]

[meridio]

[Don't be a savage. Sleep on a mattress.

Somnus snaps his head toward the doorway. Being Lunafreya's brother, he should have expected to see this man again. His eyes narrow as they follow the man; there's much to unpack in those words.]

I am Somnus.

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus lets out a huff of breath that is meant to convey 'yes I know and I am not impressed, king of old'.]

Ravus Nox Fleuret. I heard you are acquainted with my sister.

[Also, your brother is The Worst.]

[meridio]

[They both are. He looks down at his lantern. That's the sort of tone he's been expecting from everyone all along, but there's something about it that strikes him as off for rather obvious reasons.]

Is my name recognizable to you?

[sonoftenebrae]

My sister has informed me of your identity.

[He is a Fleuret, which means he has been educated in the lore and history of Eos since birth, so Lunafreya did more of filling in gaps and helping him make connections when they spoke of him.

If Somnus is expecting respect or awe, he is bound for disappointment.]

Do you know who I am?

[meridio]

[Informed of his name and more, Somnus is sure. She most likely referred to him as the Founder King, even though such regard isn't for him.]

You are brother to the Oracle—descended from the first of her line, Aera Mirus Fleuret.

[Who had to have wed his brother and birthed heirs, except Lunafreya claims no relation to her kings. He doesn't know what to believe these days.]

[sonoftenebrae]

Yes, we both bear her blood.

[But only Lunafreya had inherited the burden that came with it. Ravus is the unneeded male child of a matriarchal line, his only purpose to help her fulfill hers.]

I had the misfortune of having to work alongside your brother for a time.

[meridio]

[He really shouldn't have mentioned that they were brothers. As far as he knows, Ardyn would rather have nothing to do with him.]

It didn't conflict with your duty?

[Also as far as he knows, his brother killed Lunafreya.]

[sonoftenebrae]

[Ravus scowls. His hand balls into a fist.]

Has Lunafreya told you what befell Tenebrae in our childhood? Our home was invaded by Niflheim, and we were hostages of the empire.

[All of which he lays at the feet of Regis Lucis Caelum, who left the Fleurets behind, friendless and helpless, while he fled to safety with his son.]

The only option that afforded me the power to see my sister safe was to join their army and rise in the ranks.

[meridio]

[That explains why she calls herself a former princess.]

The empire of which Ardyn is the chancellor.

[Did he kill Lunafreya, because he no longer saw use in her? But see here. Holding her hostage meant securing Ravus' cooperation. Did both siblings lose their value at some point? Hard to believe when they descend from the prestigious House Fleuret—even harder when he considers Lunafreya's resemblance to Aera.]

Yet he killed her anyway.

[sonoftenebrae]

Yes, and that speaks to the corruption of the emperor, who took counsel from such poison.

[Ravus had hated being forced to obey Ardyn’s commands. Some days, merely looking at him had filled Ravus with a bristling rage. The hated had been mutual, though Ardyn had concealed it better until those final moments of Ravus’ life.

He paces the floor of the cabin.]

All of my planning was for naught. I tried to intervene to save her, but I couldn’t reach her in time. Lunafreya died, and Tenebrae suffered for my treason. The gods turned their backs on House Fleuret, who were ever loyal, ever faithful.

[meridio]

[Ravus makes his hatred of Ardyn no secret.

Had he met Ravus before Lunafreya, Somnus might have been inclined to agree. The gods show favor to only a select few and ignore the rest, leaving those who weren't chosen to rot. That's what he thought, and that's all he knows. Lunafreya contests that the gods have given roles to all, however, and with Ignis' rant at the church it's difficult for Somnus to claim much of anything these days.

Watching Ravus pace, he doesn't answer straightaway.]

What says the Oracle?

[sonoftenebrae]

About what? My failure? The gods' indifference?

[Ravus is working himself up into a temper, and he takes a shuddering breath and forcibly expels it.]

You have to ask, after having spent time with Lunafreya? She does as she always has. She puts on a smile and silently shoulders the burden.

[meridio]

[Somnus angles his head aside. It speaks a great deal for Lunafreya's state-of-mind that he hasn't seen her smile nearly as much as Ravus' words imply. As for this burden of hers—once again, he's reminded of Ignis' vitriol—she is in fact bearing it quite remarkably.]

Indeed. [There's a beat as he considers the differences between siblings.] You disapprove.