INTRO LOG: SEPTEMBER

[nextnightmods]

INTRO LOG: SEPTEMBER
BRIGHT STARS BURNING

characters: everyone.
location: all over beacon!
date/time: the first part of september.
content: new folks, old folks, new things, dead things.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

The first thing you're aware of as you come to is the glow of a lantern, just within reach. Hazily, you start to recall the events leading up to your arrival. You died, somehow, but how does that equate to you being wherever you are?

A few answers can be found if you pick up and look through the tablet that's settled right beside the lantern. Some of the information is a little out of date at this point, but the most important details are still there: yes, you're really dead, keep your lantern close, and watch out for the spirits. You might notice mention of a ferry, but that's odd, considering you're half-submerged in water with no boat of any kind nearby.

And why does the water smell like you just walked into a Starbucks on the first day of pumpkin spice season? Boy, that's not coming out of your hair any time soon either.

Leaving where you are and using the provided map on the tablet will help you find your way to town, and along the way you might find some out of place items, like crates of food or toiletries or clothing. Feel free to grab what you find as you make your way there, your new neighbors are sure to appreciate it.

Luckily for all the newcomers, the tablet 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. It's still a little messed up (maybe someone might want to record a new message?), it has plenty of important information to share. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records that were thankfully saved from the bad storm a few months ago. If that's not enough, there's many long-time residents of Beacon that will be happy to share how things go around here. If not in person, network works too.

muffins!

In addition to the potent scent of pumpkin spice, during the first few days of September you will occasionally be able to detect the aroma of baked goods in the air. It seems the case of pumpkin spice flavoring was brought in for a reason, and that reason becomes clear when baskets of muffins start appearing at the doorsteps of buildings (even those that have been damaged and/or abandoned) and in front of occupied room doors. Some of these baskets contain flavors that are more unique than others and the baskets look a little haphazardly put together, but there was clear thought put into the gesture. You may notice a spirit lurking out of the corner of your eye, trying to hide behind a tree or in a doorway or behind furniture - don't worry, they just want to make sure you got your basket!

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to The Next Night! We're so glad to have you with us, both new and old. For a run-down on what's upcoming in September, please see the September gameplan, or check the calendar for a quick overview!

As a reminder, things like newcomer arrivals, item deliveries, and lantern repair all depend on the help of the characters in the game! If your character would be interested in assisting with the equipment at Dr. Solis' Lab in any way, please let us know!

DELIVERIES

The item request crew at the lab has always tried their best, they really have. The things people request often come in pretty close to what they had asked for, and lately they've struggled to get the things landed neatly in one place but at least they've always arrived somewhere. Maybe it's the shifting of the seasons, maybe it's pure bad luck, but it seems that they've struggled in a new way this time. Everything has landed in the harbor and is quickly sinking. Worse (or better?) is that among the supplies seems to have been an enormous pallet of boxed pumpkin spice mix which exploded on impact. Everything, including the water of the lake, tastes and smells strongly of pumpkin spice. Festive!

The following can be found, one way or another:

• The monthly store restock, which provides enough food, general sundry items, and basic supplies to comfortably last the group a month. You can check what kind of items to expect in a monthly restock here.


• For Inspector Javert: an abundance of high-quality pistol ammunition, including a bonus box of armor-piercing rounds; plenty of tools and supplies for a very nice kitchen including some polished granite countertop slabs, exotic dark hardwood panels and beams, a professional baking oven that stands floor to ceiling, and more, plus three large wheeled carts to help carry everything.


• For Cao Pi: a high-quality silk bathrobe, a very casual robe, and a travel guide to the Chinese city of Fenghuang, circa 1995.

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

QUICKNAV
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pages	|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Comments

CLARAv4 (NPC)

[candlebot]

"One, two, three..."

The small robot stands beside the bonfire with a tablet in hand, meticulously marking off each torch present before her on the ground. This is a regular routine, one which you may have noticed before - or may not have. Seems like it's going to take a while to finish, though, and how is it that she can individually count them in all that fire, anyway?

As she slowly circles the pile of flaming torches, she comes to an abrupt stop. There is an obstruction in her path and for a moment her eye-bulbs flare a dim green as she inspects it - a torch! Out of place!

"Twelve!" she announces, sounding quite pleased with the discovery, then looks around. "Could you help me?"

Alternatively, if you're walking past with one of the new deliveries, she will carefully trot over in a poor attempt to catch up. She's not the quickest. "Hello! What is that you have?"

{{Clara is one of the NPCs here and while she primarily manages the torches, feel free to come and talk to her any time about anything else! She has been near Beacon for decades and yet is still learning about the town and its people, and she loves new friends. <3))

[clarius]

"Of course," is Lorem's immediate reply. She's grown so used to helping people in her job back home. It feels strange to not be running around at the moment, doing errands of some kind for someone.

(Plus, Lorem feels bad for merely thinking she could say no to such an adorable android. Going back on her already given word is a worse feeling.) She smiles at them, doing her best to project a cheerful sort of confidence. "What do you need me to do?"

[candlebot]

"Could you pick that up? I do already have to hold this tablet and it is hard for me to reach the ground also!" she cheerfully announces. And that's fair - looking at her construction, her waist is probably not the most flexible.

"Oh and then you can put it back in the fire for me but if you prefer you can keep it and put it somewhere useful! Actually I think that would be a very good idea as these are here to be used and yet the number has remained very stable! And it is so dark out there..." she says, trailing off as her head spins independent of her shoulders to look out at all that black, before rotating back to face Lorem.

Diode Zipsell (NPC)

[prophetable]

If you were hoping to get into The Invincible, a great place to get your bearings once finding your way to Bonfire Square, you'll perhaps find yourself with a bit of a problem. Namely, there's a small boy perched on top of a soap box, tablet held before his face like whatever he's reading is far more important than your own plight, and he's absolutely blocking the door.

"Name," he demands from any newcomer. "Feel free to provide further relevant information so long as you don't prattle."

Ambassador Diode Zipsell seems far less interested in anyone else, but that doesn't mean he won't be equally difficult to all who attempt to get in or out of the building.

((Diode Zipsell is a fairly newly introduced NPC: a lighthouse keeper from a previous session of Beacon who is an expert in spirit language and diplomacy (supposedly). Anyone is free to come and get harassed by him!))

[donttalktome]

So if Will notices that Diode is almost exactly mimicking his own introduction to this group's first newcomers, he sure doesn't say anything. Not about that, anyway.

"You don't make a very good door, you know."

You're keeping him from his coffee, small child. This is The Danger Zone.

[prophetable]

If Diode notices Will at all, it's unclear, because he doesn't look up from his tablet. Things are going great already.

"I don't take constructive criticism."

He's as honest as he is small: incredibly.

[donttalktome]

About to throw hands with a 13 year old.

"It wasn't constructive. Move or I'll do it for you."

He could probably lift a child? Probably? Don't call his bluff okay.

[ultraviolents]

Well, Elektra had been planning to get inside the Invincible, but she's actually more pleased to find Diode in spite of how she's greeted.

"Elektra Natchios," she states, regarding him with crossed arms and a firm stance. "I've been meaning to talk to you." Just been a little distracted, what with her partner and friend dying and working on their lantern restoration.

[prophetable]

"Thank you." Someone with class and good taste, apparently, if she was seeking him out. Diode actually smiles as he gives her his full and undivided attention. "How may I help you?"

[ultraviolents]

Well, she is in possession of both those things, but flattery will get him nowhere. (Nah, it'll probably get him somewhere, she just has other things she's concerned about at the moment.)

"I'm part of the team that's been working on lantern restoration." She's not the one who'd been behind his restoration, since she'd been in Helix at the time, but she's worked on others since. "We were wondering if there were any records that were kept on deaths and restorations, if there was a pattern to be found with the effects of being brought back."

WEAVER ( NPC )

[nightbunny]

Weaver is a bit on the small side. A good two feet tall, and that's including the ears. Naturally, one might assume that she's a bit too small to be much help when it comes to dragging supplies out of the water.

And that's mostly true, except for the small fleet of drones she seems to have at her beck and call. There's at least three of them buzzing around, grappling boxes and items out of the water, and dragging them back to shore. Some items are admittedly in better repair than others after their drone recovery, and on occasion, the drones do accidentally retrieve workers out trying to fish things out of the water by grappling a good handful of their shirt and dragging them up into the sky.

"Sorry!!" Weaver calls. "Just hold on, I'll get you down!" Hold on to what? Good question.

Weaver would also be a good bunny to chat with if there is interest in the Helix Station (exploring or repairing), help with any technological project, or getting her help with repairs in Beacon. As a former member of the Night Market, an expert in robotics, and with some experience with portals, she could be a good asset in repairs and technical endeavors.

[callada]

Rosinante is pretty content to stay out of Weaver's way while she works, though he does admire those very cool drones. Tiny flying robots, how is that not cool! But the water is something he'd prefer to avoid, and the closest he gets is to pick up some of what's dropped off on the shore and take it back to wherever it belongs.

When things seem to have been sorted out, he waves to catch her attention as he walks over. "Hey. How are things going down there?"

[nightbunny]

Far, far down there. Weaver hardly comes up to Rosi's knee, and that's mostly ears anyway. Last time they'd talked it'd been a bit closer to eye level, but she doesn't seem put off by how opposite they were in height. Frankly, he doesn't seem more giant than anyone else to someone 2 feet tall.

Still, she will tease him. "Was that a short joke? I guess I should just be glad you didn't ask about the weather." As for how things are going... "So far, so good. Except for when I accidentally retrieved one of the people trying to fish things out of the water. No accidents since then."

[callada]

"No, I-" He cuts off his own protest, but in the lantern light a flush of pink is evident across his cheeks. Definitely not what he meant! But she seems to take it all right, probably meant it as her own joke. Like he always did with Pluto, and like he does with so many others here regularly if he's got more to say than a sentence or two, he sits himself down so that at the very least he's not looming so badly and so she doesn't get a sore neck just trying to look at him.

The awkwardness fades as she keeps talking and so he lets it go with an exhale of the smoke from his cigarette. "Heh. Well, that's good to hear. No, I meant down at the station. I've been thinking it's time to get a bunch of us back down there and sort through what's left. I hope there haven't been spirit still giving you trouble after all that."

Bucky/Soldat | OTA

[worthallthis]

I. Rescuing Supplies

What the hell even is that stuff out in the harbor? Soldat wades out to start hauling it in, though they're going to need help with the oven. Is this for the Invincible...? It's a really nice oven... and that big slab of granite seems like it's in a really familiar shape....

Soldat is going to need to be told who ordered all this weird stuff before they put together it's for the bed-and-breakfast Misty and the rest have basically turned into a home.

At that point, it's absolutely worth the weird smell.


II. Muffins!

Soldat very nearly stumbles on the muffins outside the bed and breakfast's door the next morning. They blink down at it a few times, then look around, then smile for the spirit, singing over a, "From you? Thank you!" in the spirit tongue.

After that, all day, even while making group lunch for everyone, they're munching on various flavors of muffin, and offering them to other people in passing. "Wonder how you'd make this," they muse, whether in the Invincible or by the bonfire or in the middle of nowhere on their patrol, staring at a half-eaten muffin of one of the odder mix of flavors thoughtfully. "I can make blueberry. Nothing else yet."


III. Catch-all

Soldat can be found all over Beacon, depending on when you're looking. They are in the Invincible every day for breakfast and lunch, they help with weapons practice or spirit language practice pretty much every night, and they have their patrol. They check in with people not living at the Invincible, visit various spirits (particularly the one at the radio tower and the one at the junkyard), collect any and all supplies they come across and haul them back to the general store (dry goods, linens, clothing, etc) or the Invincible (food, mostly), and keep an eye out for trouble.

Not that there's a ton of trouble to be had, right now. The spirits seem mostly peaceful for now, the residents aren't doing too many stupid things, and nothing has loomed out of the forest to try and eat them in a little while. He settles into routine and helping where he can, for now.

1

[callada]

"Oh, hell, is that an oven?"

Rosinante sighs as he walks over. It's cooler out these days, but he's also just come all the way from the lab, so pardon the hair sticking slightly to his face. Well, that and the new scrape on his elbow, but that could have happened without so far to travel.

"I saw kitchen supplies on the coordinates list, but I figured that meant pots and pans-" he starts, but lo and behold, a wave pushes a barely-buoyant crate toward them which does seem to have a skillet sitting on top. So, he wasn't wrong, technically.

He doesn't wade into the water, but he does look like he wants to help. Just, where do you start when you can't enter the lake without becoming yet another thing that needs to be hauled out by someone else?

[worthallthis]

It's fine, Soldat has it braced on the metal shoulder, kind of easing it closer to shore. They're a goddamn super-soldier assassin. They're sure they can manage this. "Yes," they answer, maybe a bit distractedly. "It is an oven. It is a huge oven. Who ordered this thing?"

They've gotta work out who they're supposed to be jealous of. Pudding, maybe? Though if it's Pudding, then surely she'll let them use it. Lorem was talking about renovating the cabins, maybe it was her.

[callada]

"Inspector Javert came in with a list, but it didn't specifically say 'enormous room-sized oven', in his defense," he says with a frown as he reaches long arms toward it and helps Soldat guide the thing around a few of the larger rocks.

"I found some kitchen coordinates in that old lighthouse document and we just punched them in. Must have hit a whole restaurant."

Whoops. Sorry to whoever this used to belong to.

( prompt: catch-all. )

[clarius]

During patrol at the village, Lorem can be found just outside her cabin. She's interacting with a spirit - Tall and lanky, energetic and passionate over whatever the conversation is about, and more than eager to make their squeaks and squawks known to the amused and bemused woman.

Lorem clearly struggles to keep up with the spirit's dialect, messing up some of her answers now and then. Perhaps there's a reason when, upon seeing someone from the corner of her eye, she's quick to rope them in the conversation too.

"Oh! Hello there!" Lorem flashes a bright and cheery smile in their direction, waving at them. The spirit perks up at the sight of Soldat and gives out a greeting squawk of their own. "I hope you don't mind asking for your time, yet again, but could you help settle a debate that we're having? It seems we're at a deadlock and need some intervention."

[worthallthis]

Soldat pads right on over amiably, changing direction from their standard route. It's not far off the path, though, and they have time. They might even build some time into their patrol for little detours, these days.

"What are you debating about? I am not great at debates. Just so you know." To the spirit, they sing over a greeting with a small smile.

[clarius]

Lorem gets to the heart of it: She gestures to the... welcome mat in front of the door?

"They're suggesting I try to make my residence more welcome in order to have more people visit me," she explains. She thinks that's what the spirit had told her. The spirit hasn't given any indication otherwise. "I'm trying to explain that, while I appreciate the gift, I'm alright and I would hate for the gift to go to waste on me. They're trying to persuade me to take it and I'm trying to persuade them to take it back."

She smiles now, looking bashful. "We're, of course, at a standstill."

Lorem doesn't seem to mind the turn of events. Not really. Lorem can tell the spirit's intentions are good-natured and they're only trying to help her. She simply likes to keep to herself when she's done for the day, is all.

1

[theimpatientone]

Merwen rises to the surface of the water beside Soldat, her skin white but quickly flushing purple again as she take a breath of air, and her pearly second eyelids sliding back out of place. The sea smells strange but it's still the sea, and Merwen has been exploring the underwater parts of the bay, examining unfamiliar species of seaweed and fish. And maybe there's a bit of mischief in sneaking up to Soldat like this.

"What have you found?" she asks.

[worthallthis]

Aw, Merwen, don't sneak up on a paranoid former assassin... maybe less paranoid now than they used to be, but still not exactly non-jumpy. They drop the box they were lifting out of the water, spin around to face her, and they have two knives in their hands before they recognize who it is.

"Merwen. Christ. Don't do that."

(Sadly for Merwen, there are no fish. There might be an underwater spirit or two, though.)

II. MUFFINS

[arsarcanum]

And here we are, back again with the the whole socializing through food song and dance. Sora juggles the muffin in his hand grinning. The spirits are really generous today!

"I mean, I guess cinnamon would be the same as blueberry? You'd put it in at the same time you'd put in whatever fruit you want, right?" He takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "It's something we should try."

/makes squeaky noises like "sorasorasorasora"

[worthallthis]

"Might have a lot of mistakes on the way that we'd have to bin. Or feed to the spirits, back." Since the spirits would eat just about anything.

With no warning at all, Soldat's metal hand flashes out to try and nab that muffin right out of the air. They're not smiling. But maybe they're the kind of bland that says they're smiling on the inside.