[audio] @albatross; Lighthouse Expedition [open]

[scrapcap]

Evening. Here's hoping you've all started to settle in and come to terms with what's happened. A new batch of you's likely to come in on the next ferry soon, so make sure to help whoever shows up come to grips, too. Community's important here.

Let's cut to the chase: It's about time we get the Lighthouse Keeper back on the network, yeah? Problem is, only way to do this is to manually reconnect the lighthouse to the network. We'll need to run cables from the church out to the lighthouse, and we'll likely need to do some repair work while we're out there.

Some of you've been antsy 'bout getting out to the lighthouse, and I been saying it's too dangerous to try, and it is. Venturing north onto that peninsula may as well be a death sentence. Not too many folks I know ever come back from it. Still, this has to be done, and part of the conditions of the Keeper holding me over from last reset is to get her up and running again. I got no problem going alone if it comes to that, but this'll work best if we team up and keep things organized. Consider this the early stages of recruitment.

Word on the street is the forest spirits are planning a sort of welcome party for y'all, set to take place 'bout a month from now. End of August. They can be a shy lot, but evidently some of you have shown 'em signs of good faith, and they been chattering about getting to know you better. Seeing as the forest spirits defend the lighthouse something fierce and it'd be in everyone's best interest to keep in their good graces, the best time to make the trip will be during the party. They'll be distracted, which will give us enough time to get out there and make the repairs. By the time they realize what's what, we can show 'em we wasn't there to hurt the lighthouse or the Keeper. That's the only way I can figure we might make it back alive.

'Course, we'll need help with this. Can't be just me and a handful of others trekking out on our lonesome. Will's agreed to play lookout on the spirits in town, and some more eyes and ears on the party wouldn't hurt. Then we're gonna need some... ambassadors, let's say. To give the forest spirits a hand with the party and to show 'em we really do want to keep things peaceful, even if we run into trouble out in the woods.

For the time being, I'm just looking for a read on who's willing to help out. We'll talk firming up numbers in a couple weeks, after the next ferry arrives. Again, we're gonna need a lot of hands on deck here, and help from all sorts. Those of you with some sorta survival experience can help out in the woods proper, while the more charismatic lot can stay behind to make good with the spirits. Anyone who's got skill in tracking or playing look out, Will'd be able to use you, I'm sure.

Right. So. Ask your questions, tell me your ideas, and let me know what skills you've got if you want to help out. As for the details, we'll be in touch.

Thanks.

•••

[ooc note:

Winters is planning an expedition out to the lighthouse with the intent of reconnecting the Lighthouse Keeper to the network. This expedition/forest spirit party will feature as the main event for next month (which you'll see on the August schedule going up in a few days). All of the organization re: which characters will help out with this (and which characters will accompany Winters personally) will happen via an OOC planning post that will go up next month, after new players/characters arrive so that they can get involved too!

If you have OOC questions about the logistics, don't worry, we'll give you tons more information once the OOC planning post goes up! Please hold onto your questions until then. This post is just a primer to get the plot started, and you are not required to tag in here in order to be considered for participation in the expedition! We'll be doing signups as part of the planning post.]

Comments

[dualikey]

ohhh like that scene from the dinosaur park movie

actually i'm just gonna hope that it won't be like that scene


is there anything we should bring with us you think? just in case not all the spirits are distracted by the party? not really a bribe but

a present?

@replica

[replicates]

if you got enough hands for combat, i can help with tracking and keeping an eye out

[scrapcap]

Mm, I think we'll be able to get away with it just this once, and only if we're lucky. The lighthouse ain't meant to be interfered with, and the forest spirits don't tend to trust our word when we say we've got good intentions. Short of a miracle, this is a one-time chance.

Though maybe the Keeper will be able to help us establish some sorta permanent route out there or something. Who knows?

[scrapcap]

Best I can figure is they see it as their job to protect the thing. The forest spirits get mighty prideful in the work they do, as you can see from the ones around town. The ones out in the forest ain't no different.

I don't know that they got a particular reason besides instinct.

[scrapcap]

Ah, I see you found the village. Good, good. Some of the spirits are a bit more, ah, charming than others, but that's good news for us, yeah.

Far as I can tell, they kill for the same reasons an animal does. Death don't mean much to 'em, so they lash out if they're feeling threatened or territorial or what have you.

But each spirit's different. The ones in town ain't likely to turn against you so long as you don't draw first blood, so to speak, though they're all capable of it. Not that I mean that as an insult—men are the same way.

@Nightshade

[primordialerebus]

I might be able to help with... keeping watch I guess. Since this sound super dangerous. I'm good at sneaking and noticing things.

[ There's more to it of course, but hey, those are the basics. And god, she really doesn't want anymore people to die. ]

[scrapcap]

Guns do plenty against 'em, usually. 'Bout as much as any other weapon. I favor a shotgun, myself. It's done the trick most of the time.

What sorta trump card?

@missprincessmary; voice

[withsadness]

[She's clearly here to volunteer--]

I'll draw you a picture that you can keep with you as a good luck charm!

[voktys]

You have heard of those who intend to build a bridge to cross, yes? It should be less crowded here quite soon. ⟪ granted, it's only crowded by the standards of a woman living in asshai, a city of less than ten thousand people scarcely populating a town meant for a million. ⟫

It isn't any different in my own world. In truth, at many points in my life, I preferred shadows and spirits to mankind. Least with them, if one is inclined to let sleeping lizard lions lie, they will not seek to fight or kill or harm for the sake of it.

⟪ unless you birth them for that purpose, but y'know. ⟫

Which one have you found most frightful thus far?

[callada]

That would be helpful of her.

By the way, I noticed you mentioned the possible need for stealth out there. I can help with that. Can make sure all the maintenance work around the lighthouse doesn't bother them too much, either, while we're out there.

[evulsed]

of course i do
it was all my Master taught me

but you already know combat won't do anything against those monsters

[scrapcap]

A trained advisor, eh? That'll be useful, both for this and in the future. I'll keep all this in mind and we'll figure out where your skills would best fit.

[i.e. oocly sign-ups + rng will happen and winters is not here to make promises]

It's in everyone's best interest to connect her to the network. She's got that power, yeah, but she don't use it lightly. She's the type of person you'll want to get to know.

[scrapcap]

Hey, as I've said, I'm open to better ideas, doctor. Just consider yourself lucky we've got the two of us around so I can shoulder this particular burden.

[Go back to your nerd hole, you nerd.]

[scrapcap]

[Hm. Yes, apparently Winters has touched a nerve. Whoopsie.]

Apologies, son. I didn't mean no offense. I more meant that I don't want any guilt plaguing you should things go south, is all. But I suppose it was a step over the line for me to assume you ain't already aware of all that's been said.

What sorta medical training do you have?

[reigniter]

[The circumstances didn't let him officially become one, but yes, he was in succession line to become Royal Advisor. So, adequate training followed.]

Very well. I am open for consult whenever. You can easily reach me on my device, that would actually be the fastest way.

Is that so?

[Okay, Winters, he's not going to be rude, but your sus-scale raised with Ignis. Is this how you survived previous wipes? Got close to the Lighthouse keeper? Ignis doesn't like the thought of someone holding all their lives in palms of their hands; easy access to delete them on a whim should they wake up on the wrong side of the bed one morning.

Again, Ignis keeps his suspicions and thoughts to himself. He has no reason to bring them up- yet.]

Very well. I shall keep that in mind.

[scrapcap]

All useful skills indeed. I'll think on things and we'll talk group organization when it comes time, but thanks for chiming in. I ain't sure how magic'll work against 'em. We don't got magic where I'm from. But, hey, could be worth a shot.

Tell me more about these protections you got.

[scrapcap]

Fair enough. So long as we're on the same page.
Who are your friends?

@scientia, audio

[reigniter]

Do you perhaps have some information on these Spirits? What they like and what they do not like? Noises, food, do they sing songs?
I do not want to antagonize them by accident and have them fleeing back into the forest.

[ordinaryannie]

Protect it from what? Or for what?

[She sounds more like she's thinking aloud than actually asking him.]

I'm trained for wilderness survival, and if I can get a few tools, I should be able to set up some basic defenses to buy some time to get the tech set up if the distraction fails.

[scrapcap]

Pretty close, yeah. It's sure better than nothing. What sort of tech are we talking?

[spitefullight]

I can hide people from an undead's sight, or grant the protections that makes it harder for evil creatures or otherwise from hurting them. Or I can instill doubt in them making them less of a threat to others to be taken care of more easily. Other than that...I can heal people without myself or the injured person from attacked.

[He purses his lips in thought of what else he might be able to add to this. ]

If there's any sort of magical protections that can stop us from moving forward, I believe I can break them and if people have ammunition or arrows I can at least empower it to make it more effective.

[He stops though now thinking all of this over.]

There's more but it's all situational, so, that's pretty much my arsenal.

[scrapcap]

Thank you. Were you imagining you'd help with diplomatic relations or venturing into the forest?

If you don't mind my asking what are you if not human?

private

[nonscriptum]

People are antsy, I'm not surprised they're jumping at the chance.

[ Particularly not since the resident highschoolers got worked up the other day when someone requested people eighteen-and-older for a short trip. Everybody feels like they have something to prove; Nate's only glad he grew out of that years ago. ]

If you don't need me there, I've led expeditions in that other world I told you about. Can tackle a different part of the area we've got instead.

[scrapcap]

True enough, though trekking out there ain't the best way to sate that curiosity. I suppose I get it, though. It's a helpless feeling, being stuck here without all that many answers. Maybe my not getting it is just 'cause I've been here long enough to know better.

In any case, yeah, our fate is kinda in her hands. That's why we gotta do this and get her reconnected so y'all can chat with her. She'll be able to tell you more than I ever will.

[chores]

Wherever you need the most help, I suppose. Although I was made to care for children, I don't have a lot of experience with people or spirits.

Oh, no, I don't mind. I'm an android.