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!

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Comments

[catholicisms]

( well, he wouldn't say that 8 months in a dying world was particularly enjoyable. the consensus on what happened after dying here was incredibly mixed. he's not even totally sure he believes they're all dead, but he also has no good evidence they didn't. there's too many unknowns lingering in the air for him to be confident on what might happen after his existence here.

and if he really is dead? being here, even with its dangers and occasional suffering... it's better than purgatory, or something worse. Matt is too catholic to think he's really earned a spot in a better place.

Matt is fine not shaking hands. both of his are on a walking stick, which again, doesn't necessarily say he's blind... but it's a part of the picture that might hint that way. )

Better than the last one I had, but there's still something a little eerie about it. ( the gas masks are a little unsettling, to say the least. ) Just be careful — if it's anything like the last one, if you die, you'll be reliving it for a few weeks. Even when you're awake.

( for him that translated to feeling like he was drowning every few hours. not great. )

[unwieldy]

[ ... Well, uh. Having experienced death once, that sounds excruciating and not at all like something Haein wants to go through. Again, he's left hyperaware of his surroundings, unnerved by what he's just been told, and he can't help but cast a suspcious glance to the masked people nearby.

None of them have paid him any attention throughout this strange dream, but he'll take Matt's warning to heart. He's not stupid enough to ignore it. ]

What the fuck is with this place...

[ It's not a question he expects an answer to, the tone more disbelieving than anything.

Haein's wandering gaze lands on the walking stick in Matt's hands for a moment, then he looks back to the sunglasses and something clicks into place. There's no way... right? In a place like this? ]

—Are you blind?

[catholicisms]

( Matt doesn't swear particularly often, though he's not exactly offended by it, either. in fact he huffs a somber laugh. )

Probably too many things to easily recount at the moment.

( the world was "dead"... the potentially still dangerous portal under the lake... the fact everyone was trapped there... potential eminent destruction in the form of huge creatures that consumed worlds... spirits were notorious for causing hijinks of varied stages of creepy, dangerous, or at the very least aggravating. the whole political angle that was slowly sinking in at the sidelines... look it's a lot to go over at once, okay??

considering the flow of their conversation, he almost is caught by surprise by the inquiry. almost. that comes up sooner or later with everyone. )

Outside of dreams? Yes. I'm not sure what it is about these projections, but I can see them. ( or, at least he can see them sometimes. he didn't ask to be put in this dream any more than the rest, but, he's a little uncomfortable about how much he'd like to hold on to these experiences. the chance to see, when he's spent so long in a world on fire at best and empty and black at best. ) Probably a good indication this is just all in our heads, I lost my sight when I was still a kid.

[unwieldy]

[ A lot to go over at once is right... Look, if Haein doesn't end up getting bits and pieces of it at the start, he can always just get thrown into them headfirst. Like tossing a child into the deep end of the pool and helpfully suggesting that they swim when no one ever taught them how.

Survival mode has to kick in at some point, right? Sink or swim, and Haein's always thought of himself as a survivor.

The following confirmation is expected, but still surprising. Eight months in this place while blind... And here he'd been wondering how to last half as long. ]

That's fucked. [ There he goes swearing again. ] I don't plan on sticking around in this dream for long. Figured I'd find a way out and face whatever hell's waiting for me outside.

[catholicisms]

( surely it had to. and there were plenty of resources for newcomers to get thoroughly drowned in the complexities of Beacon, between current residents, the tablet, and the spirits running around. Matt isn't against sharing nor answering questions... but just going into a long spiel seems like it might be more overwhelming than practical. and maybe there's some benefit from letting newcomers settle in a little before trying to force the existential dread and afterlife misgivings into the equation.

Matt would actually argue that 8 months living in complete darkness as a blind person is easier than trying to get used to it as someone used to being able to see, but, that's neither here nor there. 8 months is, admittedly, a hell of a long time. a long time to trapped anywhere, really, regardless of your ability to see. )

There's hopefully a way out, ( Matt muses, though, what it is, he can't quite say. ) It might have been in the lyrics of that song somewhere. But it was hard enough to understand, maybe that's asking a lot of the spirits.

( their ability to speak any language was limited, the fact they'd been singing in English is pretty remarkable. Matt had formerly had no clue any spirit had that much mastery of language. )

[unwieldy]

[ Oh, right, that song... Haein vaguely remembers tuning in for a brief moment, but it had been hard to follow along. Very little of it had made sense, but maybe that's just the way it is with spirits.

He honestly wouldn't know. The tablet had briefly touched upon the subject, and he's been warned that they could potentially be dangerous. He plans to give them a wide berth should he ever run directly into one. Better not to take any chances. He's always been the especially cautious sort. ]

Yeah, they really went out of their way to butcher the song.

[ Something, something, sands, man, handses... None of that seems to help the situation they're in now! But asking a lot of the spirits, huh... ]

I'm guessing they don't really communicate with people?

[catholicisms]

( Matt remembers the lyrics well enough that honestly, exactly how odd the spirit rendition had been a little harder to notice. it was only when he really paid attention that the mismatch had become particularly apparent. they had... the ideas down, anyway. the order of words, maybe not. )

Most of them can barely communicate in any language, let alone English. They seem to understand more than they can speak. I'm surprised they could sing an entire song at all.

( so in a way, it's pretty impressive. who knew the spirits were fans of the Chordettes? )

They can communicate, just not necessarily through language. Sometimes sounds, or music. Sometimes gesture. A few know morse code. Singing is a new one. ( and considering how hard it is to understand, hopefully it's not going to be a frequent method of discourse. )

[unwieldy]

[ HM sounds annoying and like a pain to deal with! Haein can barely communicate with people without wanting to straight up throw himself off a cliff, so going through the extra effort to try and have a chat with spirits? Hard pass!

He shakes his head, letting it be known that he'd really rather not. ]

I don't think I'll get close enough to one to try.

[ Like it's his choice, ha. The future looks bleak and filled with many hands. ]

[catholicisms]

( Matthew's brow tucks downward, but it's mostly hidden under those killer mirror shades he's got on. it's a very subdued reaction, as is pretty much all of Matt's reactions, ever, unless he's particularly bent about something and seriously out of emotional regulation. usually punching is involved. basically he finds that a curious and slightly rude response, though not much of the rest of his expression indicates that. )

You're welcome to try. There's more spirits here than there is anything else. I'm not sure how successful you'll be.

( it can be difficult to communicate with them, that's not untrue. however, they know more than one would think. many of them had valuable things to share, if you could figure out a way to manage it. the rest, well... the rest probably wouldn't care much to communicate with Haein, anyway, but avoiding them is easier said than done. )

[unwieldy]

[ There's going to be plenty of time to find out for himself. For now, he's dismissive, too caught up in his own head and filled with an abundance of not knowing what he's in for.

He has yet to meet one of these spirits and he's already formed an idea about them. Haein tends to do that a lot, whether it's being prematurely judgmental or being downright negative of all things that exist at the same time as he does. It's a bad habit that he's only semi-aware of.

With a shrug of his shoulders, Haein pushes away from the dock's railings. ]

We'll see. [ He doesn't sound too convinced of anything. ] I'm taking my leave now. Find a way back or something.

[ Gestures vaguely toward the distance. ]

[catholicisms]

Good luck.

( the impression hasn't been sour enough for Matt not to mean that. it's hard, ending up in Beacon. he's been more than long enough to know. know that it can change people. that the way they work through it and grieve is different every time. he's not gonna judge too hardly... yet.

and he does hope Haein can find a way out of here, sooner or later. Matt thinks he'd be pushing his luck to ask for an update if Haein finds one, though, so he doesn't bother. he'll find his own way out or he'll just... wait until someone comes around Beacon-side and hopefully can wake him up.

figuring out it's tired to hailing a cab is gonna take him a bit to realize, but since he's a born and bred New Yorker, it might occur to him eventually. )