Here's another abandoned project. This is a reoccurring theme. I was going for a sort of tape recorder/audio log thing, but I couldn't get the ball rolling.

T̸͎͕͘͜e̴̠̮͍͂s̴̢̭̆͂̒ẗ̷̩̌͛ ̵͇̫̍̌ṫ̴̤͎͇̓e̶̩̥͇̋̅s̷̬̈́͘t̸̛̛̟̗͑.̶̧͛̌ ̷̧̢̄̂O̵͍̅͝n̷͍̈́͊͌͜e̶̺̥͆͜ ̶̧̻̭̀t̶̺̼̠͗̾̈w̷̪̳͝o̶̰͠ ̴̼̿͘ớ̷̡̎n̵͓̼̮̍ë̴͔́ ̵̤̍t̶͖͛w̵̭͊o̵̦̓.̸͓͑ ̶̮͠C̸̤̾ỏ̴̞m̷̫͝ẽ̴͉ ̷̛͖ò̷̪ń̸̯,̷̞̇ ̴̠̀ y̷o̸u̶ ̶p̸i̴e̸c̷e̴ ̶of sh- ah, there we go. This is researcher Lunata Spis’s audio log, detailing the seven zero five expedition to Penius’s Garden, starting ten ten. It’s about noon with clear skies, so I have a good amount of time to settle in. From outside the walls I can see a nice bell tower, which should make a clean hidey-hole. Here’s hoping nothing interesting happens on the way.

—

Looks like I wasn’t being original. The entire building is fortified, reinforced doors and spiked barriers. I had to climb up the side of the church and wiggle through a window. I couldn’t open the door, even from the inside, so I wasted another hour taking my equipment one piece at a time up the wall. If I had to guess, it was the oh-oh team that put it all together. The wood’s new, comparatively, and when the original villagers stayed here the divinity should have been enough protection. Twenty five years without worshipers would definitely let the aura fade. In any case, it’s almost dusk. I need to get to the bell and get a good look at the city.

—

The view almost lets me forget why I’m here, like I’m just on vacation in a regular town for the end of winter. Over there, market square’s already closed for the day, the lingering cold driving people indoors. The port is empty too, must be because the river is still frozen from the cold snap. Sure, no lantern keepers are patrolling, but that means this town is so safe none are needed. Bleh, the wind’s chilly. But no, I’m here for business. The last bit of sun is fading, so I need to look… north to the main residential district. I can see the first one out for the night. Appears to be a roughly late thirties male with a beer belly and a wool kirtle. More intact than I was expecting, but the limp really gives it away. My first zombie sighting of roughly three thousand. Actually saying it out loud makes me suddenly reconsider all of this, but at least my death will help further human knowledge. If anyone can find these logs that is.

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—

I’ve spent the last two days mapping out the church. Turns out there’s a big underground storeroom at least three layers deep. It’s a full bunker, with rows of bunk beds and preserved food. Actually, it’s weird that the oh-ohs didn’t report this, even though it’s obvious they were here. Food is missing from a few shelves, and the staircase is blocked with beds like the upper part. I do not enjoy that bit at all. If they found catacombs or any tunnel system that scared them enough to block it all, I’m not going down there.

—

It is fourteen slash ten. Guess that means I’ve put it off long enough. Come on, you got this Lunata. The sun's up, the streets are empty, it will be a breeze. Sure, a zombie might randomly decide to wake up now and see you and call down the entire herd to tear you apart piece by piece as you feel their teeth and claws ripping and I should just shut up now. That won’t happen, because the daylight will keep them indoors, and you will not, not, not create enough of a ruckus for that to change. In and out. Just get to the town hall and walk around. Just gotta… no, can’t do it today. Tomorrow though, for sure.

—

I know I said today, but I don’t want to. I’ll do it tomorrow. Definitely. I really have to, uh, look at town hall at night. Yeah, I’ll make sure no zombies are inside. Perfect.

—

Well, I am officially out of excuses. None even wandered close. It’s even a pleasantly warm day. The road is nearly straight, meaning ambushes will be slightly easier to spot. Time to climb down.