It's been a week since the ash blotted out the sun. The slightest orange glow can be seen during the day. It's also getting colder. The electricity went out thirty-six hours ago, and the battery powered radio stopped reporting soon after that.
There has been a lot of shouting from the streets. We haven't heard about the rations that the government promised. We are scared. Probably everyone is panicking. We've barricaded the door with the dresser and couch in case anyone starts trying to loot the apartments.
Oh gods, what will become of this world?
— Jasin Ashton, six days after The Disaster
The Longest Night, Journal of Jasin Ashton, describes the experiences of a resident of Gromont in the days leading up to The Disaster and The Longest Night that followed it. It was recovered in a gas station near the northwestern outskirts of Gromont by a group of Discovery Corps explorers in 58 AD.
The original copy of the journal can be found in the archives of the main branch of the Library of IFERA in Sanctuary City. It has also been digitized and stored in IFERA's database.
Historical Details
Background
Jasin Ashton lived in a small apartment in a high rise building in Gromont with his wife, Aris Levine. He was employed as an inventory manager at ENACorp Factory up until it closed during the events leading up to the Disaster. In his journal, he describes the conditions in Gromont as the predicted eruption date grew closer and in the weeks of The Longest Night until he and his wife fled Gromont in search of food and safety.
The journal ends abruptly 40 days after the Disaster, as Jasin and his wife prepare to leave Gromont. It is not known what happened to Jasin or Aris after that time. Many speculate that they were victims of the elements or an accident, while others imagine that Jasin lost the journal, but that he and Eris were able to find their safe harbor in the end.
The Longest Night, Journal of Jasin Ashton
Excerpts from The Longest Night, Journal of Jasin Ashton
Erider 10, 2 BD (1 year, 4 days before The Disaster)
Some news outlets are reporting that the government of Amrisa has been trying to cover up a potential supervolcano event at Mount Oacana that's predicted to happen a little over one year from now. There's a lot of chatter on the networks about it too. A lot of people are demanding the governments explain themselves, others are saying it's a conspiracy theory and that there's not going to be an erruption. Some scientists are coming forward saying it's impossible to predict a supervolcano even this early, while others are saying we need to be prepared. Who to believe? Aris and I are worried, but even if it is true, what can we do?
Vosender 2, 2 BD (11 months, 12 days before The Disaster)
There was a press conference today. President Chaam says that the IFERA supercomputer at the Gromont Research Institute predicted the supervolcano event. Supposedly they have not previously announced it because they were "verifying" the prediction and didn't want to start a panic prematurely. Just how long have they been sitting on this information?
Of course, President Chaam asked everyone to not panic and that plans were being made to save the maximum number of lives possible. Do they really think that telling us to not panic is going to stop anyone?
After the announcement, all travel to and from Amrisa was immediately halted. No one is allowed in or out of the country.
Orader 12, 1 BD (6 months, 2 days before The Disaster)
It's been about 5 months since the government formally announced the eruption of Mount Oacana was coming. Since then, it's seemed like we are in some strange bubble in spacetime, where time passes by so quickly, but also seems to stretch on for ages.
The scientists say that entire continent Shinsay will be obliterated by the event. The other continents, Moramer, Jensiah and Lestin are expected to freeze over with ice and glaciers within a few months of the eruption, due to an ash induced ice age. Amrisa is lucky they say? Our continent's position close to the equator means that some of the animal and plant life may be able to survive until the ash clears enough for the sun to warm Kaiter again.
I guess that means that Amrisa is the best chance for human survival in the longterm. Obviously, this means everyone with a survival instinct is now trying to get to Amrisa, but since all travel was suspended, only the rich and well connected are able to make it. I guess the government plans to organize some sort of lottery to bring in other refugees from around Kaiter and put them up in hotels or with families volunteering to take on refugees.
I'm glad some are being saved, but what about the rest? And how will we feed and warm all the people coming to Amrisa?
Vahonder 14, 1 BD (5 months before The Disaster)
I was laid off from ENACorp today. No one is buying farm equipment when we know it will be impossible to grow anything next year. There was some work being done through a contract with the government to try to create greenhouses and snow equipment that would work well in the dark, icy conditions that's expected. I guess that work isn't enough to keep all of us employed though. What should I do with what might very well be my last five months?
Erider 8, 1 BD (6 days before The Disaster)
The scientists say that Mount Oacana will erupt in 6 days. Already there have been some rumblings from the mountain, more than usual.
Aris and I have collected as many survival supplies as we can, but it's been hard. The stores have been continuously out of most things. We haven't been receiving shipments from outside the continent. The government supposedly has stockpiles of supplies to ration out. They've already given us all emergency kits to last a few days. But what is a week of emergency supplies going to do in the grand scheme of things?
People are playing music in the apartment upstairs. What a peaceful way to face the end of the world.
Erider 14, 1 BD, (Day of the Disaster, morning)
It's finally come. After months of waiting, Mount Oacana has finally erupted. The news stations say they've lost contact with Shinsay. May the gods have mercy on the souls of those who were not evacuated...
Erider 14, 1 BD, (Day of the Disaster, afternoon)
The first of the ash has made its way over Gromont. It is the middle of the day with the sun overhead, but the sky is a dark orange, like an ominous sunset.
The radio has been giving regular updates. They warn us it will continue getting darker and that it's going to stay that way for a long time.
President Chaam has sent in the Amrisian Defence Force to keep the peace, provide aid and help distribute rations.
Aris and I are hoping for the best.
Erider 20, 1 BD (6 days after The Disaster)
It's been a week since the ash blotted out the sun. The slightest orange glow can be seen during the day. It's also getting colder. The electricity went out thirty-six hours ago, and the battery powered radio stopped reporting soon after that.
There has been a lot of shouting from the streets. We haven't heard about the rations that the government promised. We are scared. Probably everyone is panicking. We've barricaded the door with the dresser and couch in case anyone starts trying to loot the apartments.
Oh gods, what will become of this world?
Vosender 16, 1 BD (38 days after The Disaster)
We haven't seen the sun in 38 days. We haven't left this apartment in that time either. It's grown very silent and dark. The batteries are all dead now and Aris and I have been practicing a new skill of making fire from little bits of tinder and a large stash of matches Aris was able to score before The Disaster.
We will probably need to leave the apartment soon and see if we can find other people, or some way to keep surviving.
Vosender 18, 1 BD (40 days after The Disaster)
We've put on as many warm clothes as we can manage to stay warm. We've packed up the last of our rations and supplies into two backpacks and we're getting ready to head out on foot. We expect it will take us awhile to get out of the city, and hopefully we can find more supplies somehow before we get out.
It's so cold and dark...
