INTRO LOG: APRIL

[inthenightmods]

INTRO LOG: APRIL
MAN ME A SAND

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: april 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. explosive sand bottles send everyone careening into the dreamy past. some forest spirits learn a couple unhelpful lantern-haver words.
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.

•••
Scattered throughout the ferry are colorful bottles of sand! They're sitting atop packages in the cargo hold, lining the railing of the deck, even rolling around on the deck itself or nestled in bed in the newcomers' bunks. They're all over the place, and they're pretty! You feel compelled to pick them up, to check out those neat sandy patterns or take one home as a souvenir. Heck, maybe you just want to kick the rolling bottles out of the way so no one slips.

But when you get too close to the bottles, they burst like little firecrackers, showering everyone in the vicinity with sand. Contact with the sand doesn't seem to do much at first! But whether the effects hit you after a few minutes or a few hours, you'll start to feel in desperate need of a nap. And hey, a quartet of forest spirits has made their way onto the beach to sing along... in their best approximation of lantern-haver speech! Pretty cool that these forest spirits have picked up a couple of genuine words instead of hoots, but, uh, attempts to talk to them will just get them riled, and they'll croon about man door hand hook car door more loudly. They're singing in your weird language, what more do you want?

Anyway, once you've come into contact with the sand in the bottles, you'll need to lie down and sleep soon or run the risk of passing out on your feet.

Once asleep, you'll find yourself in the sunshiny Beacon of the past! This may feel familiar to some of you, but don't worry, the spirits don't seem to have any nasty tricks up their sleeve this time.

You're welcome to spend as much time in dream Beacon as you like, but once you're ready to head back to the waking world, all you need to do is hail a cab.

•••
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.

please turn on your sandy hands.

BONFIRE SQUARE

It's winter in Bonfire Square, but though the path underfoot is caked with snow and a gentle breeze whistles through barren trees, the sun shines bright overhead with only the occasional cloud to interrupt its warmth. It's chilly, but pleasantly so, and it seems you're already wearing the appropriate outerwear for the occasion! How thoughtful.

Real, live people meander around through the square, though they all seem to be wearing gas masks—unless they're one of you, of course. The dreamy extras don't seem to know you're there, even if you shove them or scream in their faces. They just go about their business, carting grocery bags from the general store or ordering another pint in the Invincible. At least they're not bothering you.

The bonfire crackles in the center of the square, magnificent as ever, and someone's laid out a whole table of goodies to roast over the fire! Marshmallows and s'more supplies, hot dogs, chestnuts, pie irons... If you've got a wintery snack in mind, you'll find the supplies to make it at the table. There's even a hot cocoa stand set up next to it.

DOWNTOWN

Downtown Beacon is bustling on this lovely autumn afternoon. There seems to be some sort of outdoor festival happening! Booths line the street, selling handmade goods and treats as musicians and street performers entertain the mask-wearing crowd. None of the residents seem to notice you're there, but that could be a blessing given that you don't have any cash to exchange. Instead, you're welcome to pluck woven bracelets and hand-painted ceramics right off the tables. Enjoy them while you can, as they can't leave the dream with you.

Food trucks sell tacos and bar food and pasties, and Kickaxe Brewing Company has an outdoor booth selling craft beers, including root and birch beer for those not interested in a buzz. If you'd like to get out of the brisk autumn air, you're welcome to catch a movie at the Delft or grab lunch at the soda fountain.

THE VILLAGE

The village is alive and experiencing a breezy, peaceful spring. The odd elderly can be seen on their porch, lazing in a rocking chair. Children scamper along the road, laughing muffled cries of joy. Although they don't notice you, following them will lead you right to the main source of fun: Boneset Park has come alive! Outdoor sports equipment of all kinds are available in different bins, the baseball field trimmed and chalked. Families dot the bleachers, sporting cracker jacks, hot dogs, and ice cream. Get a whiff? The familiar ice cream stand is stocked as a full-blown snack bar, and all available flavors and condiments are surprisingly, well, normal!

The library is appropriately quiet, but lively, with townsfolk bent over a good book or quietly studying as a group. Happy readers of all ages can be found around the village, and the collection is pristine in its maintenance. The rec center is bustling with activity, indoor sports equipment available for use in the gym, spectators on the basketball court just as they are outside. There's plenty of room to grab a seat or join in for yourself!

THE HARBOR

Down at the harbor, it's summer! Mask-wearing beach-goers are sunbathing on the sand or splashing around in the waves, taking full advantage of this warm summer day. Kayakers and the ferry tour the southern cliffs, with the ferry stopping by the dock every now and then to pick up tourists. Take a ride, if you like! The boathouse is also equipped with extra kayaks, canoes, fishing gear, and any sort of beach necessities you might need to enjoy a relaxing day.

The massive ore dock looms near the mouth of the river as masked children play along its foundation, some carrying ice cream cones from the ice cream stand on the dock. How they're eating it is a mystery, but it doesn't seem to melt despite the hot sun. None of the masked beach-goers seem to notice you, but you're more than welcome to join in the festivities.

On the cliffs to the north, the lighthouse gleams, its bright white pain shining in the sunlight.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! We're thrilled to play with you.

If you haven't already, you might want to check out the April gameplan and the recent mod announcement to get acquainted with the game! There's also the game history page to check out, where you can find all the plot info that's been uncovered so far. The game history page is due for an update, and we'll be getting the March update posted as soon as we're able!

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
  
• A lot of medical supplies. The supplies are plentiful enough that everyone may handwave finding common first aid supplies that will help to triage injuries sustained during the Wild Heart event. The supplies won't immediately cure wounds, but they will help to prevent infection and ensure proper healing. There's even an assortment of painkillers, ranging from over the counter pills to IV morphine (though, hm, it seems each character will only be able to find one dose of the hospital-grade stuff, no matter how hard they search)
  
• For kidnapped characters: A small package containing a bottle of over-the-counter painkillers, a bag of rice to be used as a hot/cold pack, a week's supply of Xanax, a coloring book and markers, a blank journal, a bag of Epsom salt, a lavender-scented bath bomb, a plush blanket in their favorite color, and a book titled PTSD SURVIVAL GUIDE
  
• For Sora: Three crates full of assorted breakable pottery, four large tarps, and a pallet of large, flat sheets of plywood
  
• For Matt: Three 12-packs of various brands of ginger ale, a braille scanner, a bouquet of orchids, and a very soft blanket that seems to somehow be made of smoke though it's very touchable and warm
  
• For Carmilla: A cooler full of individual human blood packages, a personal-sized telescope, a box set of the entire Series of Unfortunate Events, and a crate of Zoobooks

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

Ardyn "It Wasn't Me This Time, I Swear" Izunia | Final Fantasy XV | Open

[immortalaccursed]

I. The Winter Bonfire

[Ardyn slowly limps past the bonfire, eyeing its light with golden, predatory eyes. The array of snacks set out are mostly ignored, but the people aren't.]

Excuse me, good sir, where, precisely, am I? Is this Beac-

[The man Ardyn had addressed pauses a moment, looks through him, then continues walking.]

Ah, yes, walk away while I'm in the middle of a question. How terribly rude.

[He sighs and pulls his fedora from his head long enough to drag his fingers through his hair in an exasperated gesture.]

Strange that these poor ghosts care not a whit for our presence. Are we not here to help them?

II. The Village

[People passing through Boneset Park may see a man relaxing on a bench, legs crossed, a fedora pulled down over his eyes. He's idly licking an ice cream cone and humming bars of "Mr. Sandman" aloud to himself. An worn old lantern with ornate, tarnished gold decorations is settled beside him.

He seems to be handling this whole situation, whatever it is, obnoxiously well.

Of course it's mostly an act. Inside, Ardyn is boiling with rage. Many things were supposed to have happened to him... Remaining alive in some form wasn't one of them. Certainly he shouldn't be alive and cursed anymore... But the moment he'd woken up on the boat he'd felt the achingly familiar gnawing hunger of the Starscourge inside him. Wherever this is, it's not where he's supposed to be. He needs to get back to his world and finish things and to do that he'll need answers... which means rampaging won't help him.

So he continues to hum and lick at a desert that brings him no pleasure while discreetly watching and listening to everyone who walks by.]

III. The Docks (Post Dreaming)

[Ardyn continues to lurk around the docks after waking up. People who saw him whimsically strolling around in the dream may recognize him, though he's more severe now. He'd hoped to wake up and find himself back in the Crystal or, better yet, nowhere. He'd rather be truly dead than continue wandering around an alien world with his curse. He'd rather be nothing.

Who'd brought him here? Why?

He can be found at the end of the pier, arms folded over his chest as he gazes out at the lake with a steady, fiery stare.]

IV. Wildcard (Post Dreaming)

[Once he's finally left the pier one might run into him exploring the town.]

i.

[swellter]

[ Todoroki looks up at the stranger and answers matter-of-factly. ]

I don't know why we're here.

[immortalaccursed]

Alas, that seems to be the case with most of us.

[An overly showy, long suffering sigh.]

At least, in terms of the bigger picture.

I know why we're here in simple terms, of course...

We're here because we're dead.

[swellter]

[ His eyes slowly slide to the ground. He doesn't know what to make of it, yet. His death. It was easier dealing with all the turmoil that came with making landfall and the oddities of this place than to linger on his own mortality. ]

Maybe someone here knows the bigger picture.

[ That was easier to focus on. The next step forward than what was left behind. ]

[immortalaccursed]

Oh, I've no doubt someone knows.

[Dramatic pause.]

The question is whether or not they'd be willing to spill their guts!

...Metaphorically speaking.

[swellter]

[ He's not sure if he agrees with that sentiment but he does think someone here would know more than what they've been given. It was just a matter of finding out who but that still left them with the question of - ]

What if they don't?

[immortalaccursed]

That's the bigger question.

[He shrugs.]

I suppose then we wail and gnash our teeth and make nuisances of ourselves until they finally relent and explain things.

[Or he gets frustrated and devours their memories. One or the other.]

[swellter]

That's not going to work.

[ It reminds him too much of one of his classmates. ]

[immortalaccursed]

No?

[He scratches at his hair.]

Then I'm afraid I'm out of ideas.

What do you propose?

👀 II

[reigniter]

I knew it wouldn't take long before you arrived here as well.

[Ignis is speaking in the most cynical voice ever, not happy at all to see him. If there is a single being in existence that he wants to erase it would be Ardyn. He has no means to do it; yet it hadn't stopped him before. At least he knows there's a single resident he won't lift a finger for during this entire ordeal. And surroundings and people are lucky Ignis doesn't outright attack Ardyn right then and there. He doesn't want to be the sole cause for the reset of this place, after trying so hard to maintain some semblance of balance and sanity.

He doesn't know how Ardyn remembers him, but Ignis doesn't lack his eyesight; he has faded, white burn marks, however, on the side of his face and down his arm, still dressed smartly, of course, as if he's about to attend some meeting.]

What courage to walk around freely like this.

[immortalaccursed]

[Ardyn looks up when he hears the voice and briefly meets Ignis's gaze. There's a light in those eyes that should have been burned out by the Lucii... Strange.

The surprise, both at the apparent possession of sight and at Ignis's presence at all, shows only briefly on his face.]

Oh, but I'm not walking around. I'm sitting.

[reigniter]

[Afterlife was kind enough to retain his eyesight. He had lost his life, however, during the battle with this same man sitting in that chair.

Ignis seriously doesn't look impressed with that smartass response. Especially because Ardyn knows exactly what Ignis is talking about.]

You know what I meant, Ardyn.

[If they didn't unearth the information about World Eaters destroying the light, Ignis would without hesitation put blame on Ardyn. After all, he was marked as the one to bring the eternal darkness. Or so the prophecy said.]

[immortalaccursed]

What would my alternative be?

[He sits back and takes another lick of the ice cream, just to prevent it from dripping on to his glove.]

Should I go into hiding? Wear a mask like these poor souls?

[reigniter]

It wouldn't hurt. Not appearing anywhere and not meddling in with anything.

[Which is tough luck, Ignis knows, but he's still a bit reeling from seeing Ardyn here. Actual person, and not a spirit-induced hallucination.]

The masks are part of spirits, you cannot wear them as they do.

[immortalaccursed]

Not meddling? Whatever do you mean?

[A cloying smile. He's not sure what Ignis remembers from home.]

Perhaps I can help.

[reigniter]

This place doesn't need your type of "help".

[He remembers enough to know that Ardyn has ulterior motives and that is the one ruining Eos as a whole.]

You bring destruction wherever you step. Keep the ruin to yourself; this place has plenty of it as is.

II

[techtype]

[In all honesty, it wasn't unusual to Prompto for people from home to show up--and leave, unfortunately--frequently. Ignis, Noctis, and Lunafreya had been here when he arrived and both disappeared, but only Noctis returned. So it wasn't surprising for him to see someone he knew show up again. Ardyn's not someone he'd like to see around--he'd almost rather see his dad again than deal with the chancellor in the afterlife--but here they both are, and Ardyn's conveniently managed to place himself in the most direct path between Prompto and the village.

Hrm.]

Whyyy?

[Are you here? Are you dead? Are you sitting there, specifically? He means all of those, but he's just saying the one word.]

[immortalaccursed]

[Another one of the King's loyal companions... How many are here?

This one doesn't have a beard... He should have a beard.]

I died.

[That's an answer, right?]

Same for you, no doubt. How terrible!

III

[sunsbreath]

If you stare hard enough, you may make that sun rise yet.

[ ... He's heckling this man. Why, exactly? Not sure, something about the dreams and reality have left him a bit confused about when and where things happened. This sure feels like reality, though. And somewhere along the way, he's picked up this man's name. And he knows he doesn't like him.

For some reason. Gods, what was that? ]

Waiting for something?

[immortalaccursed]

The boat that brings me here, though it seems it will not take me forth.

So I'm afraid I'm out of luck.

[He says the words with a lilt of amusement. They're a joke, though he knows he's the only one who gets the reference.

...Where is the young King, anyway? If he's really here, Ardyn needs to have a few words with him.

He doesn't turn to face Ephrim, his malcontent stare remains fixed on the water.]

[sunsbreath]

Pity. Try a smile, hm? Some joviality.

[ Ephrim walks a little closer, stares into the night in the same direction. He's wondering if Ardyn is looking for anything in particular besides that ferry. ]

[immortalaccursed]

[A humorless bark of laughter. The lad is throwing his own words back at him, cute.]

Alas, my breezy nature is not breeze enough to carry the ferry back to me.

[Finally, he turns his golden eyes towards Ephrim.]

What about you, hm? What brings you back to the pier?

[sunsbreath]

[ He would bristle at being called a lad!! He feels as old as the mountains damn it!! ]

Curiosity. Haven't been cured of it yet. It's been sated, mostly. [ He looks down at Ardyn, briefly wonders... no. He's not that curious about this man's intentions. No need to know what he won't use, anyway. ]

I didn't think you'd be the sort to have something to wander back to.

[immortalaccursed]

No?

[He walks towards Ephrim with a swagger meant to conceal his limp and stops a few steps away.]

We all have something, do we not?

[And he leans forward, into the other man's personal space.]

What about you, my boy? Would you not like to get back on the boat as well?

[sunsbreath]

[ A question for a question. Ephrim leans back, face souring just a touch, if only to reclaim his personal space. No one is allowed in his space, much less this unkempt man. ]

I.

[ He bites the inside of his mouth. He is no one's boy. Hasn't been since the church. Ardyn doesn't need to know about that. His nose flares. ]

I am no vagrant. I had a home, much like anyone else.

[ ... Not the redirection he wanted, but it's general enough, he thinks. He doesn't want to think about the University either, though, and certainly not with him. ]