Resolved. I had three different browsers open. I signed in under a private browser option on one of them and the log in worked, and is now working as normal on the other three browsers. Thank you for your timely assistance.
Once I initially log in, it takes me to the redirected page as designed, but still as logged out. The log in attempts after just take me to the forum layout, as a guest view. All permissions are still as guest as well. There are no cache programs installed. I deleted them already, in attempts to remedy this.
