quest/www/rss.xml

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    <atom:link href="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <title>BASEMENT QWEST</title>
    <link>https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml</link>
    <description>Friends having ADVENTURES! Huzzah!</description>
    <item>
      <title>60</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">60 - Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:11:47
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:11:48 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00060">00060</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex takes inventory of himself, this dream world is
          definitely strange, but fortunately its decided to provide him
          with his impecable fashion, trench coat and all. Unfortunately
          the same can’t be said for his roguish good looks, as he’s
          found himself 6 arms heavier, and a bit more octopus-y than he
          remembers.</p>
          <p>Nontheless this doesn’t appear to be much of an impediment,
          and he promptly moves on with assessing the situation.</p>
          <p>“Acorns? No, I don’t think so. I’m afraid octopus’ are
          terrible at fetching acrons, and at any rate, I have a
          dreadfully important meeting across town.” turning to address
          Inky, “We need to make a break for it, what’d the witch tell
          you? Envision our goal or something? This is really a little
          outside of my realm of mechanical magic expertise..
          unless..”</p>
          <p>Alex makes a gesture with his tentacles in the area and a
          terminal prompt appears before him. His tentacles work at
          blinding speed at the digital window, a quick bypass there, a
          root access escalation there.</p>
          <p>“Looks like this whole place runs on Linux, it’s an older
          kernel, about 2.6 or so, but it checks out. Easy to exploit as
          needed. Here I’m giving us sudo access, should we need
          it.”</p>
          <p>“Oh and squirrel, here’s your acorns”</p>
          <pre><code>find /* -name &#39;*acron*&#39; -exec mv /home/squirrel { } \</code></pre>
          </blockquote>
          <p>It takes Alectopus a couple tries, but he gets it. First he
          corrects ‘acron’ to ‘acorn’. Then he moves all the acorns to
          the <em>chipmunk</em> instead of to the squirrel.</p>
          <p>Hundreds of acorns appear at the chipmunk’s feet. It
          squeals in delight.</p>
          <p>In the distance, far below you, you hear the anguished yell
          of what can only be a Red Squirrel whose giant stash of acorns
          has just vanished.</p>
          <p>The chipmunk rubs its hands together gleefully and starts
          scooping up acorns by the armful and shoving them into its
          mouth by the dozen. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” it
          says around a mouthful of nuts. “Here…” It tosses you a large
          square silver coin with a round hole drilled in the center. On
          one side is the number twenty-one next to a picture of a
          curved, short-handled sickle. On the other side is the number
          five and a picture of a flail.</p>
          <p>“A Twenty-One Fiver! Sorry, you deserve more, but it’s all
          I have,” it apologizes as it scampers off, no doubt to hide
          its nuts. Hopefully somewhere more secure this time.</p>
          <p>If you hold the coin up to your eye and peer through the
          hole, you see the dreamscape before you as though looking
          through a cloudy film. All the same stuff is there, but it’s
          hazy and shadowy.</p>
          <p>Standing a fair distance from you on the branch, just out
          of hailing distance, is a tall figure cloaked in black robes.
          Dark shadows pool restlessly around its feet. Occasionally the
          shadows leap up and take the form of demons the like of which
          words cannot describe, before falling and returning to shadow
          once more. The figure wears a large spherical helmet of
          obsidian-like glass. You can see constant flashes of a rainbow
          of colors crackle and splinter along the inside of the helmet
          like lightning, but illuminating nothing within. You feel
          sickened at the sight, but at the edge of your mind you feels
          a tug, a familiarity. Something about this character is
          familiar to you, but you cannot place it.</p>
          <p>When you lower the coin, the figure and the dark landscape
          both disappear. When you raise it again, the distorted
          landscape reappears but the figure is gone.</p>
          <p>You notice a pair of large ravens watching you rather
          intently from the branches below.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>59</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">59 - Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:41:56
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:41:56 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00059">00059</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex procures from a pocket of his trenchcoat a tiny vial.
          On the vial is a small strip of parchment which reads:</p>
          <pre><code>#!/bin/ash
sleepy=true

sleep() {
        while sleepy; do
                sleep(10)
        done
}

trap sleep INT EXIT</code></pre>
          <p>He empties the vial into a glass of warm milk and hands it
          to bread.</p>
          <p>“Drink up friend, this’ll relax and soothe you. You’ll
          probably have the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had”</p>
          <p>Over the radio Alex provides a quick reminder to
          Marvelo.</p>
          <p>“7, remember, should you need to wake bread to get us out
          you can interrupt or cancel the sleep script, Ctrl + C should
          work for the disruption work. Or if you need to you can set
          sleepy=false, if it gets crazy and you need to modify the
          metavarbalic properties of the enchantment.”</p>
          <p>Turning to Inky, “Eight bells and all’s well, lets get this
          show on the road”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Bread smiles and thanks you for the milk. They down the
          glass, smack their lips a few times, and wipe their mouth with
          the back of their hand. Their eyelids grow heavy and close,
          and they slump down on the cushions. They’re already asleep by
          the time their head hits the pillow.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Inky nods once at Alex’s words and finishes off their own
          cuppa steeped with calea and thyme, and blended into osmanthus
          matcha. Lucida, Protege, Aware, Perfume. A meaningless
          mantra.</p>
          <p>They glance to their owlish accomplice (who, she will
          remind you, is well-trained and needs no sleeping aid, thank
          you very much, unlike her impish charge) and silently mouth
          the words “Dude 215R” with a wink. Then they settle for a nap,
          chin pillowed on their forearms, which are propped atop
          drawn-up knees. A walking stick rests on their lap. A herb
          bouquet of pink blooms becomes an owl cushion.</p>
          <p>Inky dreamforms of a cream noogle. Puko. And Fuko is, well,
          still Fuko.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You light the Nyxmaer. The flame crackles and dances. It
          smokes darkly, and the scent it gives off is thick and
          heady.</p>
          <p>You breathe deeply of it and settle down to sleep.</p>
          <p>When you open your eyes you are standing on the branch of
          an enormous white tree. It’s as wide as a narrow street. Its
          leaves are silver blades that uncurl in the dappled light from
          below.</p>
          <p>One of the first things you notice is that gravity is
          reversed here. The branches below you reach down, grazing an
          endless sky. Small iridescent jellyfish medusae drift lazily
          far, far below, catching and reflecting the light. And the
          trunk thickens as it reaches up overhead, where its roots
          drill into the ceiling above.</p>
          <p>Because of dream logic, you know that in some way this tree
          represents Kelsun Peak, Bread’s home. And also because of
          dream logic, you know that the branches furthest away from you
          in some way represent the great dragon Lucin who lives deep in
          the mountain. And they are just as dangerous. They sway in the
          breeze and seem to be aware of you, and are for now satisfied
          at the distance you keep from them.</p>
          <p>There is a chipmunk sitting cross-legged before you on the
          branch. It looks curiously up at you and says, “The Red
          Squirrel stole my acorns! Are you going to get them back for
          me?”</p>
          <p>You can feel a metaphysical tug in your gut as your orient
          yourself to dreamspace like the needle of a compass. “Inward”
          you can feel a tug toward Bread’s deep unconscious. To their
          core memories. “Outward” you can feel a tug away from Bread
          toward the shores of the Sea of Dreams, where you may continue
          your journey through the Collective Unconsciousness to the
          pocket dimension of the Wandering Bazaar. You need not move
          physically to travel in either direction. It’s more a matter
          of choosing a destination, and letting the winds blow you in
          that direction.</p>
          <p>“My acorns!” insists the chipmunk, wringing its hands. “The
          Red Squirrel has taken them all! Are you going to help
          me?”</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>58</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">58 - Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:24:45
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2023 11:02:32 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00058">00058</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p><em>(A week prior)</em></p>
          <p>The secretary collected the stack of papers that had
          accumulated at one corner of the desk. “This might help,” she
          said, setting down a bundle of herbs with white and pink
          flowers in place of the papers.</p>
          <p>Inky stared at the blooms, hands stilled over the owl’s
          plumage. “Oh! Thanks. Good thinking, really. It’ll help make
          the stench more bearable when they find the remains.”</p>
          <p>The grey elf was confused for a moment, then mortified as
          the words sank in. “That’s not what I meant! It’s for the
          circle,” she clarified.</p>
          <p>Seeing the imp’s preoccupied nod, she coughed lightly to
          regain their attention, then spoke in a hushed voice.
          “Beaker’s associates have picked up the empanada shop
          proprietor and transported him to an undisclosed location.
          There will be a retinue with him at all times.”</p>
          <p>Inky seemed to visibly pull themselves back to the room
          before responding, “Thank you, Salvia. One more thing — if I
          do not return by the indicated time, please activate the
          hitsuzen protocol. As precaution.”</p>
          <p>The secretary looked at Inky in concern. “Is everything all
          right? If you’re still troubled by the hotelier, accidents
          happen. A single incident—”</p>
          <p>“Third. An unidentified man was attacked at the docks. He
          was probably sent to investigate the melon vendor. One of the
          other stall owners heard him asking questions shortly after
          the melon vendor disappeared.”</p>
          <p>Salvia’s violet eyes narrowed. “What, the fruit vendor?
          Didn’t the tabloids say it was an accident? He tried to get
          rid of a neighbor’s nest of snakes.”</p>
          <p>Inky only raised an eyebrow at her.</p>
          <p>The secretary let out a low curse. “You didn’t tell her.
          You didn’t want her to worry,” she said aloud in realization.
          She sighed. “She’s going to be pretty angry with you when she
          finds out, you know.”</p>
          <p>Inky offered her a sardonic smile. “Making people angry is
          my job. You of all people know this well. In the event of my
          timely demise I’m sure the others would find it cause for a
          grand celebration.” They replied matter-of-factly before
          returning to smoothing the feathers of one bird wing.</p>
          <p>Salvia shook her head vehemently. “That’s not true. You’ll
          make it back, Ink. What then—”</p>
          <p>“Then our fair Lady’s ire would be the least of the
          problems.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex stared morosely into his cup of coffee. He’d received
          word of agent 5’s demise that morning, and had been the only
          thing on his mind since. 5, no Be’tram knew the risks, we all
          knew the risks defying HQ brought, but to happen so suddenly?
          He’d snuck down to the wharf once he’d heard, making sure to
          cover his tracks and dodge any potential witnesses. He even
          managed to slip past the police cordon they’d setup around the
          body. What he’d found wasn’t pretty, it looked like Be’Tram
          had suffered in his final moments. The bruising around his
          neck pointed to strangulation, with some sort of cloth,
          perhaps a rope. The bruising was deep, and there wasn’t a cut,
          burn, shot or something of the likes on his otherwise.</p>
          <p>The kill had been intimate.</p>
          <p>Alex had worked quickly that night, popping Be’Tram’s eye
          had been hard, but he’d of wanted Alex to have it. Behind his
          right eye was a recording device, it could only catch the last
          15m or so of what he had seen, but it would give him a clear
          look at what had happened. And potentially lead Alex to the
          killer. Miserable business, but Be’Tram knew it could make a
          difference.</p>
          <p>Alex had planted a bomb on the body after he had extracted
          the eye, and made his way well away from the area before it
          went off obliterating the remains. A regrettable end for an
          old friend, but it was too dangerous to leave.</p>
          <p>And then there was the matter of the zabbix alert, a little
          purple red critical for the sewer hideout. He’d had time to
          send out a drone beetle. The smoldering slag that was left was
          reassuring. Most of the equipment was utterly destroyed, racks
          upon racks of servers reduced to twisted melted metal. The
          effectively of the destruction was delightful, in a sick sort
          of desperate way. Alex felt assured that most if not all of
          the equipment was useless, but this spelled the end of a
          valuable listening outpost. And whoever had done it wasn’t
          part of the slag pile.</p>
          <p>Alex stood up, his coffee untouched. The cafe around his
          burbled in quiet excitement. The city had lit up since the
          Melon vendor’s death. A thousand rumors abounded about it, but
          none of them held true; some said the city had become
          dangerous, a crime syndicate had arisen in the neighboring
          city block another thought, and did you hear about the
          explosion at the wharf the other night, the city was electric,
          yet somehow ever so slightly off the pulse of the issue.</p>
          <p>As Alex stepped away a woman with horn rimmed glasses
          strode past the table he had just abandoned, deftly pulling
          the note from beneath the coffee cup, left for her.</p>
          <pre><code>4 -&gt; 3
Daylight breaks on the morrow
The suns rays make chase
casting soft cloth
across the nap of nature&#39;s neck

So, night relents and gives way
biding time until
it can rule
in its own domain</code></pre>
          <p>For the passerby, it was but a bit of poetry, scribbled
          carelessly on the back of a napkin in a coffee near the wharf.
          But for Agent 3 it was a warning, one part notes on Agent 5s
          demise recovered from his eyecam, one part orders; stay low
          and we’ll strike these bastards from the shadows, on our
          terms, on our ground. Similar missives were delivered to
          Agents 6 &amp; 7. The numbers were dwindling rapidly, even
          just one agent lost was hard to stomach.</p>
          <p>Alex hand gripped the pistol in his coat pocket with a
          white knuckled grip as he stepped from the coffee shop into
          the city. Whatever was after him, whatever had gotten to
          Be’Tram, it had better know he was coming, and he’d happily
          send it straight to hell. HQ be damned, the rules be damned,
          this little game of cat and mouse had just gotten
          personal.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex, Inky, Confidence, Bread, and Agent 7 find themselves
          in a dark backroom in a secluded corner of an old fish
          processing plant on the wharf. The accommodations are rough,
          and the stench is abhorrent, but it’s the best that could be
          procured in a pinch. And it should provide enough
          seclusion.</p>
          <p>The backroom is like that of many factories, high up near
          the ceiling, a single rusty rickety staircase winds its way
          along the side of the building for what seems to be 3 flights,
          before it reaches a metal room with dusty grimy windows, and a
          single steel door. The windows on the interior overlook the
          fish processing plant, where rows of belts and machinery stand
          still, covered in dust and long forgotten blood. You’re glad
          to know that the factory stopped operating years ago, hygiene
          is lacking in every sense.</p>
          <p>Alex stares forlornly out the exterior windows, the sky is
          a grey overcast, it matches his mood perfectly. He didn’t like
          what him and Inky were about to do, but they didn’t have much
          they could do about it. They would be vulnerable for the
          duration of the ritual. But Agent 7 and Confidence were there
          to help mitigate that risk. Alex and Agent 7 had taken every
          precaution they could think of.</p>
          <p>The plant floor was scattered with booby traps, trip wires,
          and alarms. The other agents were laying low, but kept drones
          around the wharf feeding in a network of twtxt data back to
          Agent 7 for recon. And that was on top of the double barred
          steel doors, and reinforced glass box they’d chosen as their
          hide out. Meticulously planned, Alex expected no less from
          Agent 7.</p>
          <p>See Marvelo had been at this as long as Alex had, and then
          some. He was sharp as a tack, with an animal-like third sense
          that came from years of close calls. He was, simply put, the
          right man for the job, when that job was keeping your
          unconscious ass alive.</p>
          <p>Alex turns away from the window and addresses Inky.
          “Apologies for the smell, it turns out there’s a strong
          correlation between disgust and seclusion, but I believe we
          should at least be safe here. Safer than we would have been
          back home. I’m ready if you are, as ready as I’ll ever be that
          is.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>The Golden Iris have summoned you to appear at the Harpoon
          Club this evening. But the Harpoon Club is nowhere to be found
          on this plane of existence. It won’t appear until a week and a
          half from now, on the last day of the month.</p>
          <p>Confidence the Guide has predicted exactly where the
          Wandering Bazaar will be on that day. With a small bucket of
          red paint and a large brush, he has drawn a Linking Sigil on
          the ground at the location. He sits nearby, making sure
          careless passersby and mischievous kids don’t disturb it, but
          otherwise letting the sigil absorb the energies of the bustle
          of shopping and commerce.</p>
          <p>At the fish market, Marvelo is posted outside. He keeps
          vigilant watch, alert to every movement and disturbance.</p>
          <p>And inside, Bread, Inky, Fuko, and Alex are huddled up in
          the office in the back near the ceiling. They all sit inside a
          dark circle that has been smudged on the floor with a paste
          made of ash and salt. Painted on the ground is a second
          Linking Sigil, connecting this spot to Confidence’s, allowing
          the energies of the two locations to co-mingle. There is also
          the Dream Sigil, which will connect this place to the
          Dreaming.</p>
          <p>Bread the Host is propped up on some pillows and cushions
          in the center of the circle, next to the Nyxmaer. The candle
          is alleged to be made of the flesh and fat of a certain
          nightmare. Its hand and eye bound in the wax. The Dream Sigil
          is the door, but the Nyxmaer is the key. The catalyst that
          will cause all of the otherwise inert metaphysical particles
          to become volatile and reactive. It is what will allow you to
          actually pass over and arrive on the shores of the Sea of
          Dreams.</p>
          <p>Per the shop witch’s instructions, the Nyxmaer has been
          placed on a thin, hard tin plate. As the candle burns, the wax
          will soften and eventually allow the large metal nail in its
          side to fall. When it strikes the plate, you will awaken,
          exiting the Dreaming. You expect hours may pass in the realm
          of sleep. But only about thirty minutes will pass here.</p>
          <p>Inky and Alex sit inside the circle, near the perimeter,
          facing Bread in the center. Fuko the owl sits at Inky’s
          side.</p>
          <p>It is dim. You are illuminated by mundane, non-magical
          candles set around the edges of the circle. Outside, a steady
          rain beats on the roof and the windows of the building. The
          smell of fish is faint but ever-present. A constant reminder
          of the small creatures that have left their bodies in a
          fashion far more permanent and irreversible than the
          separation of spirit and body you are about to experience. You
          hope.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
          <ul>
          <li><p>How do you induce a deep and powerful slumber in
          Bread?</p></li>
          <li><p>What shape or form will you take when you arrive in the
          Dreaming?</p></li>
          <li><p>What are you secretly worried or hopeful about being
          exposed in the dreamland, the realm of metaphor?</p></li>
          </ul>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>67</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">67 - Tue, 28 Feb 2023 07:24:28
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 07:24:28 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00067">00067</h3>
          <p>In the fish market, the dreamers continue to sleep soundly
          through the ringing claxon alarms with nothing but maybe the
          twitch of a finger to indicate that they hear anything at
          all.</p>
          <p>During the commotion with Marvelo and Gliftwirp, nobody but
          Rind noticed the thick rusty nail in the side of the candle
          wiggle its way out of the soft wax and clatter onto the plate
          at the base of the candle, the ringing of tin masked by the
          ringing of the claxon alarm.</p>
          <p>Still the dreamers sleep.</p>
          <p>Rind watches as the candle burns dangerously low. The
          mummified hand of the Nyxmaer in the base of the candle starts
          to wriggle, struggle, and strain against the softening wax. It
          stretches and reaches for the eye in the center of the
          candle.</p>
          <p>Rind continues to soothe the duck and stroke its feathers.
          The child looks at the space where Gliftwirp and the
          hemogoblin stumbled into the circle, smudging the line of salt
          and ash, breaking the circle and severing its continuity.
          Making a small space for something to get in. Or out.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>“Yo! Little cavatappi dude, where the hell are we?!” Alex’s
          eyes scan the room rapidly. There’s no water, aside from what
          he dragged in with his abrupt departure from the pier. The
          dark sky stretches into the nothingness of the void. Asthe
          robed figure begins speaks Alex takes note of his
          situation.</p>
          <p>‘Nowhere to hide, zero cover. A whole lot of nothing
          actually. It’s one thing after another with this dream
          thing.’</p>
          <p>As the figure finishes his address Alex nods politely.
          “I’ll be honest my guy, I haven’t the foggiest what you’re
          talking about. Looks to me you’ve got the whole sword thing,
          all I’ve got is my trusty AK. I guess back top side, in umm I
          guess the real world, I did find a wonky dagger my uncle tried
          to hide. But I’m pretty sure that got eaten by a cute little
          hemogoblin while I was busy murdering ghost pirates. Anyways
          more to the point, I’m not quite sure I follow.”</p>
          <p>Alex pauses briefly and then continues, “You say you need
          to get out of here? Now that part I follow, me the hell too. I
          just got attacked by some freaky sadist mushroom that called
          itself katsuva. Cut its head clean off just so it could try
          and chuck me in the drink. Right unpleasant fella, but I think
          I lost him when, well, I got here, wherever that is.”</p>
          <p>“Now I don’t know much, but I’m not much for trust after
          getting attacked by a talking mushroom monster. So if you’ll
          excuse me, I reckon the exit is right about that way (Alex
          jabs his finger over his back away from the figure), and I’m
          inclined to head out unless you know a better way.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You weren’t in the kobit caves with the rest of Retrieval
          Team 43, so you didn’t see the reliefs. But every Basmentarian
          is familiar with the iconography of the Trine. This figure is
          dressed in the traditional rainments of Neddas, god of sages
          and starlight. Furthermore you recognize them from your dreams
          in the Milk Market.</p>
          <p>Kasutva the small mushroom meeps and hides behind your
          leg.</p>
          <p>“You know, we each of us loved you in our own way,” Neddas
          says. “But of the three of us, I alone gave away pieces of my
          divinity. I wanted to see you thrive and grow strong.</p>
          <p>“You’ve already found several pieces of my essence.
          <em>Coin</em> in the treasure hoard below the earth.
          <em>Mirth</em> in the shipwreck under the sea. And
          <em>lore</em> in the clouds atop Kelsun Peak.</p>
          <p>“And of course you found <em>justice</em>,” they say,
          looking at the sword. “This one got a little weird.” The
          frown. “Became a little sentient, didn’t it?” They press the
          blade of the sword to their chest and absorb it into their
          being. They sigh happily.</p>
          <p>“You have found enough of my essence that I am able to
          start to materialize again. Not quite in Basmentaria yet. But
          here, a little bit.</p>
          <p>“There are still two more pieces out there. If you can
          reunite all five crystals, I will be able to cross over into
          Basmentaria again.</p>
          <p>“So yes, Alex. You are correct. It is time you head out.
          Return to Basmentaria. Find the remaining crystals, so that I
          may return and right the wrongs of the past. I will do what I
          can to assist you.”</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Inky waves back once, twice in greeting, before crossing
          their forefingers twice, touching a hand briefly to their
          chest, and strolling towards the restrooms.</p>
          <p>Leaning against a wall outside of the rest area, out of
          sight from the main dining hall, Inky pulls out the message
          from Master Alex and reads it. Engagement confirmed, it seems.
          Also in the envelope is a smooth oval grey pebble with the
          letters “sh” carved onto it. A mini dousojin. How considerate
          of him.</p>
          <p>Putting the envelope and pebble into a shorts pocket, Inky
          holds up a chewy blood berry biscuit, which they offer to the
          great horned owl patiently perched on their shoulder. “What if
          we just zip out now and have a walk around the towers? Do you
          think it will cause offence to the Grand Master of the realm?”
          Inky asks her. Fuko looks up from her treat and gives them a
          short series of disapproving clicks of her beak.</p>
          <p>“He wants more ‘intel’,” Inky says. It isn’t even a
          question.</p>
          <p>On another occasion they would be glad to see Master
          Corraidhn animated and well — when there wasn’t a demanding
          curmudgeon on the other end of an absurd fishing expedition.
          The elder sysorcerer’s presence in the Dreaming, illusion or
          otherwise, has effectively dashed any prospect of an early
          night out.</p>
          <p>“Thirteen minutes. Only because Scoops likes you.” Inky
          tells the owl.</p>
          <p>They look down at their shirt with orange horizontal
          stripes, blue knee-length shorts, blue running shoes, and
          wordlessly declare the change of clothes suitable for fine
          non-dining. The noogle’s drawstring pouch is knotted to a
          metal hoop on a pocket flap to one side of their shorts,
          having let loose a short mop of tousled red hair. A plush
          floofy duck keychain dangles next to the pouch.</p>
          <p>Emerging from the hallway, the awkward, skinny youth with
          an owl approaches the far corner table.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You approach the far corner table, weaving your way through
          the crowded tables of the Harpoon Club.</p>
          <p>“Inky!” Blavin chorttles merrily as you pull up a chair.
          The cat person nods politely at you and starts rebuilding the
          block tower.</p>
          <p>Corraidhín watches the archway behind you as you enter.
          When nobody follows you into the Harpoon Club he frowns, tugs
          on his beard, and sits up straighter in his chair.</p>
          <p>“You’re alone?” Blavin observes. “No matter. Thank you so
          much for meeting us here! I trust it wasn’t too much trouble?
          A little bit out of the way, I know. But it is so very hard to
          find a place away from prying eyes, isn’t it?”</p>
          <p>“Get to the point, Blavin.” snaps Corraidhín.</p>
          <p>“Quite right!” laughs Blavin, taking a sip of his drink.
          “Listen,” he says, suddenly very serious. “It’s time I came
          clean to you. You deserve that much. And besides, I think we
          can help each other. While it is true that I work for the
          Benefactor, I don’t actually serve their interests. You see, I
          represent another party. A <em>double agent</em> they would
          call me in the spy novels.” He waves his hand dismissively, as
          though somebody were making a fuss over him and he were
          embarrassed.</p>
          <p>“As I’m sure you already know, our organization is called
          the Golden Iris. Like the Benefactor, our goal is to collect
          the Ginnarak Cystals. I know you’ve heard all the old stories.
          <em>Together they could kill a god</em>, blah blah blah.” He
          sloshes his drink as the gestures. “But we think they’ve got
          it all wrong, Inky. That is, they have it <em>backwards</em>
          at least!”</p>
          <p>Blavin leans in, his eyes shining. “The Golden Iris intends
          nothing less than <em>creating a new god!</em>”</p>
          <p>“The Trine has been absent for years. We’re going to
          restore the balance. Now you see why the mission is so
          important, Inky. We need the crystals.”</p>
          <p>“Now I know what you’re going to say! It all sounds too
          fantastic. Yes well, that’s why I brought along somebody whose
          credibility I know you’ll trust!” He beams at Corraidhín.</p>
          <p>The wizard sighs. “As far as I can tell, the hobbit is
          telling the truth.”</p>
          <p>Blavin grins as Corraidhín continues.</p>
          <p>“The Golden Iris is trying to elevate Sitopotnia, the Corn
          Mother, to godhood. Which I admit makes a certain kind of
          sense. She’s the only mortal to have created life after all.
          Kind of the ideal candidate for the job to be honest.</p>
          <p>They’ve hitched an odd team of mules to their buggy to help
          them. And they’re managing to drag the thing forward despite
          all pulling in slightly different directions. The Cyberplasms
          want new bodies. The Gnu Zealots want to open source the
          process so everybody can create new gods. And I don’t actually
          know what the BAND wackos want.”</p>
          <p>Corraidhín shrugs, “I don’t have a particular dog in this
          fight. The Benefactor was able to excise the, ahem, ‘anomaly’
          that happened at the SS RSS. Including the second crystal,
          which is currently in his possession, and my body, which is
          still technically back at the institute and still under the
          care of Felixe here.” The black cat gives another polite nod.
          Having completed building the tumbling tower, it is now
          shuffling the tumbrot cards, face down, around on the
          table.</p>
          <p>“Felixe is Basmentaria’s preeminent expert in preserving
          entities that happen to exist between two states. Or that
          happen to exist in two states at the same time.. Bah, it’s
          complicated,” Corraidhín huffs.</p>
          <p>“Yes!” interrupts Blavin. “Now! Despite working closely
          with him all this time, I am actually none the wiser as to the
          Benefactor’s actual plans for the crystals. I just know we
          need them more.</p>
          <p>“Inky, you must retrieve the remaining crystals. And also
          the one in the Benefactor’s possession. And deliver them to us
          so we may usher in a new age for Basmentaria!”</p>
          <p>Felixe the cat deals the cards out to the center of the
          table, face down, in a cross. Three across, three high. It
          sets the remainder of the deck aside and looks at you
          expectantly.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO?</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>54</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">54 - Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:12:08
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2023 08:18:44 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00054">00054</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Once back in the Milk Bar, with the airship safely anchored
          to the roof of the building, Alex finds himself amongst the
          old belongings of his former uncle.</p>
          <p><em>sigh</em> “Best get a request to HQ for this airship,
          maybe they’ll let us operate it for a bit, if not I suppose we
          have to impound it..”</p>
          <pre><code>&lt;- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A
-&gt; OP 25120 * LOC ESPER

CLEARANCE: INFORMATIONAL
REQUEST ENCLOSED.

REQUESTING PERMISSION TO IMPOUND OR OPERATE.
ONE CYBERPLASM AIRSHIP &quot;The Rusty Maiden&quot;</code></pre>
          <p>“There’s also the matter of this little hemogoblin..” Alex
          mutters to himself while said hemogoblin happily dances around
          the room, dripping little pools of blood hither and
          tither.</p>
          <pre><code>&lt;- OP 2817 * LOC MB-A
-&gt; OP 41154 * LOC ESPER

CLEARANCE: TOP SECRET
REQUEST ENCLOSED
PACKET ENCLOSED

REQUESTING ANALYSIS
ONE GDB @gdb-readout.dat
TWO BLOOD @blood-soaked-handkerchief
NOTE GDB INDICATES SOME ANOMALY</code></pre>
          <p>“Hey little guy, lets go get an empanade. Inky says they’re
          divine.” Alex says as he scoops up the little goblin and
          gently carries him downstairs.”</p>
          <p>Striding into Enriques kitchen, and availing himself to the
          empanadas, ignoring an indignant Enrique’s protests that these
          were for paying customers until a small bag of coins is tossed
          careless over one shoulder. Alex stride through the kitchen
          and then out and away into the garden to enjoy their pilfered
          treats.</p>
          <p>“I suppose this is more interesting than being on the force
          at times”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Inky stepped into the toques’ cabin below deck with a tray
          of turmeric ginger tea and lavender biscuits. After checking
          on Bread’s bandages and offering the toque reclined on the
          berth the last bag of mango croutons — or at least the last
          one for the next two hours — Inky perched on a wooden barrel
          across from where Confidence sat on a creaking old chair next
          to the bunk and spoke. “We’ll be landing in about an hour and
          getting Bread to a medical facility. You can stay with him
          while he heals and rest up.”</p>
          <p>They paused to take a long sip from their cup, as if the
          liquid was being used to summon their next words. “On behalf
          of myself and the party, I apologise for the … disruption, and
          for what had befallen the hotelier. As you may have already
          noticed, we’re a fair distance away from the Peak and will be
          arriving in Vay’Nullar soon. This airship was taken over from
          the cyberplasms in the course of getting the crystal out and
          the injured to a safe location, and her new captain could
          hardly fly it back straight into the pirates’ hands now.</p>
          <p>What we propose is this: you and Bread may take as long as
          you need to recover. We can arrange for lodgings and new posts
          in the city. One of our party runs a Milk Market that could
          certainly use some hired help, and a garden in the back that
          would benefit from more attention. Pay will be double your
          current salary at the hotel. Master Alex may also recruit you
          for other tasks. You don’t need to have an answer just yet —
          think on it for a bit while you rest and let us know.
          Afterwards, if you find that you still wish to return to
          Kelsun Peak, we will pay for travel.”</p>
          <p>Inky winked at Bread conspiratorially. “You may be
          interested to know there is a bakery on the Milk Market’s
          first floor. If you like the look of the place, perhaps we can
          convince the chef to take on an assistant.”</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>Tess watched her adviser from her position on one end of
          the plush chaise lounge in her office, who returned her stare
          impassively as they sat in the adjoining armchair to her
          right. The ornate coffee table before them had been laid out
          for tea, but the other cup remained untouched, which was in
          itself unusual. Ink rarely turned down tea when it was
          offered, which likely meant they were preoccupied with
          something they were unwilling to discuss. This had been
          happening more frequently since their plans to intercept the
          Ginnarak Crystals, which was a little concerning, but she knew
          it would be no use to question them directly. The missive she
          had received this time through Piskin’s people was brief,
          almost annoyingly so, but they had returned earlier than
          expected with the articles that production had requested,
          which had fortunately made up for lost time from the previous
          delays.</p>
          <p>With this in mind, she settled on a lighter note as she
          picked up her own teacup. “Salvia passed on the items to the
          production team. Thank you for picking them up from the
          Runesocesius. I would send my regular couriers but they are
          tied up with another event. One of them had to care for their
          sick child and couldn’t leave the city. As usual, time and
          discretion are of the essence.”</p>
          <p>When her adviser only nodded, she continued. “How is he? He
          probably insisted on bringing the manuscripts out for you
          himself. The man is cautious with valuables.”</p>
          <p>“Quite dead but managing, or so I heard.” Ink intoned
          drily.</p>
          <p>Tess caught on immediately. “Didn’t you meet with him? The
          message only mentioned the items had been obtained. Did
          something happen?”</p>
          <p>The imp shrugged. “We met, I delivered the letter and
          collected the items. We didn’t get a chance to talk.”</p>
          <p>The hotel was slowly but steadily attracting visitors
          again, especially after their last play had prominently
          featured the Runesocesius Library as a research partner in the
          programme credits, but Tess didn’t think the hotelier was so
          busy as to entrust this task to one of his underlings. The man
          was proud of the first editions the library had amassed, and
          the notebooks of Lucidieau that the playwright sought as a
          reference were no doubt counted among the treasures, even if
          only an expensive commissioned facsimile was permitted out of
          the library. Something had happened, she was sure, but decided
          not to press further for the moment.</p>
          <p>“And the other matter?” she asked.</p>
          <p>“Someone already knew the crystal was at the hotel and
          retained a crew of cyberplasmic pirates to storm the place.”
          Ink replied flatly. “And yes, your acquaintance is very much
          dead, shot by the crew leader in the scuffle. As the rumour
          rags have it, his ghost is now overseeing the building
          repairs.”</p>
          <p>Tess was about to admonish the imp gently for the tasteless
          jest when there was a knock at the door. At her response, the
          door opened and her secretary entered with a box of pastries
          and two sets of tableware, which she placed on the coffee
          table before leaving and closing the door behind her.</p>
          <p>Noticing Ink’s look of recognition, Tess smiled and
          ventured, “This is the second time is as many months you
          awarded that empanada place a glowing review in <em>The Tiny
          Toaster</em>. I can count the ratings higher than a 10 you’ve
          ever given on one hand — of course I had to try it. Why don’t
          you have some as well?”</p>
          <p>Ink blinked. “I didn’t write the latest review.”</p>
          <p>Tess shot them an accusing mock-glare as she lifted a puffy
          golden brown pastry onto a plate. “It has your inkprints all
          over it.”</p>
          <p>“I don’t know what you mean. Surely I’m allowed to treat a
          colleague to lunch, and they are free to express their
          satisfaction with a meal openly if they wish,” Ink replied
          smoothly.</p>
          <p>Tess rolled her eyes. “There’s a name for that. It’s called
          bribery.”</p>
          <p>Ink smiled faintly. “Just so. However, the selection speaks
          for itself.”</p>
          <p>“Oh, absolutely! These mini ambrose apple empanadas are
          wonderful. In fact,” Tess prodded the open end of the pastry
          with her fork, where a light yellow filling was visible, “they
          remind me a little of the very crispy tortelli
          <em>someone</em> made several years ago just for the opening
          reception of <em>The Two Genteelkin of Virdantha</em>.”</p>
          <p>“Any resemblance is coincidental. The chef is very
          capable.” Ink said evenly.</p>
          <p>Tess sighed and returned her plate to the table. “We’ve
          talked about this before, Ink. You don’t have to hole up in
          some poor scrub’s excuse for a kitchen in a closet. If you
          need more room downstairs then expand it. Just tell Salvia and
          she’ll take care of it.”</p>
          <p>Ink lowered their gaze to the teacups. “I appreciate the
          offer, but the answer is the same. There will be no rest until
          the crystals are secured.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Some time passes.</p>
          <p>The hemogoblin turns out to be a fine housemate and less of
          a problem than you thought it would be. Be it because its not
          in the excitement of battle onboard a pirate ship, or be it
          because it is maturing slightly, it seems in better control of
          its blood sacs. Barring a few small accidents, it doesn’t make
          much of a mess. It has found and claimed as its own a few
          unused blankets, and has made a little burrow nest in an out
          of the way corner behind the furniture.</p>
          <p>Bread makes a full recovery and in fact is doing better
          than ever before. The blood goblin stays by their side during
          the first hours and days and keeps them pumped full of clean,
          synthetic blood. Afterwards the toque is flushed a healthy
          pink and has new vigor. Enrique takes them under his tutelage.
          And Bread ends up making a fine baker’s apprentice. Dough
          seems to rise more and quicker after he kneads it. “The lad
          has solar hands,” Enrique boasts of his new protegee.</p>
          <p>Confidence becomes enthralled with the semi-sentient
          Wandering Bazaar. The thirteen story building moves with
          glacial speed up and down the streets, vendors and stalls and
          shoppers following in its wake. But then also it will
          disappear in the blink of an eye only to reappear in a totally
          different part of the area known as the Wandering Bazaar
          District. Each floor of the tall, narrow tower is occupied
          entirely by a single shop. But which shop it is seems to vary
          from day to day. One day the seventh level will be occupied by
          Fedik’s Butcher shop. And the next, Lario’s Bakery. It might
          be days or weeks before one can once again buy hotlinks from
          Fedik’s. Where the shops go when they’re not here is one of
          Basmentaria’s great mysteries.</p>
          <p>The toque studies the Bazaar’s movements and are able to
          predict its route with more and more accuracy. They become a
          highly sought out guide. Tourists and visitors trust them to
          take them to the very spot the Bazaar will appear that day.
          Residents appreciate the heads up and not getting trapped in
          their houses when the Bazaar wedges its way into their narrow
          residential streets, blocking their front doors. And owners of
          traditional, less ambulatory shops are able to plan ahead for
          the crowds that will appear on “Bazaar Day”.</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>Members of the Retrieval Team who sleep in Milk Market HQ
          start having dreams of the same mysterious figure. Of course
          at first nobody knows their dreams are shared by the others.
          Not until they become more frequent, more regular. By the time
          the figure has visited you every night for nearly a week,
          somebody speaks up and you realize the coincidence.</p>
          <p>The figure is clad in voluminous robes of deep purple.
          Long, straight, blonde hair falls around their shoulders.
          Their soft features are boyish and womanly. They wear a golden
          circlet on their head and a golden eye in the middle of their
          forehead. Their passive, neutral face betrays no emotion the
          entire time.</p>
          <p>The dream is always the same. They reach out to you with
          one hand and turn their palm up. And because of dream logic,
          in the palm of their hand you can hear the jingling of coins,
          mirthful laughter, and hushed stories told around a campfire.
          They curl their fingers into a loose first and the sounds
          stop. They spread their arms wide and in the folds of their
          robes you can see three siblings fighting, squabbling over a
          broken loom.</p>
          <p>Then you’re standing next to them, and the two of you watch
          three friends, Snake, Owl, and Dolphin. Owl tells Snake that
          he is tired of flying and hooting, and doesn’t want to be an
          owl any more, he wants to be flowers. And Snake laughs and
          tells him that he is Owl, and an owl he must remain. And she
          leaves him to go eat rodents and bake in the sun. So Owl tells
          Dolphin that he is tired of flying and hooting, and doesn’t
          want to be an owl any more, he wants to be flowers. Dolphin
          doesn’t want to help Owl, because if he is flowers, they won’t
          be able to be together any longer. But Dolphin finally agrees
          to help even though they don’t want to, because Dolphin loves
          Owl. With all their strength, they create a great waterspout
          that will turn Owl into flowers. But the waterspout is too
          strong, and Dolphin is too weak to control it. It sprays Owl
          but does not turn him into flowers. Owl’s wing is broken and
          he falls to the ground in a heap of feathers. The waterspout
          shakes a great boulder from the earth and traps Snake under
          it. And Dolphin sinks to the bottom of the sea.</p>
          <p>And then you wake up.</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>Later you find a letter in the common area of Milk Market
          HQ. It is not addressed to anybody. When you open it up, it
          reads:</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Time is running out, Retrieval Team 43. Things are starting
          to draw to a close. We cannot delay our meeting any longer if
          we both are to achieve our goals. We have information that you
          are looking for. Meet us at the Harpoon Club next Selday. We
          will wear the sign.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>The letter is signed with a white iris and golden
          apple.</p>
          <p>Anyone in Vay’Nullar would be able to tell you that the
          Harpoon Club is a game room and fine dining club, and one of
          the rotating tenants of the Wandering Bazaar. But Confidence
          would tell you, were you to ask them, that the club won’t be
          there next Selday. (When the Bazaar will appear at East and
          Lowland.) It is in fact not scheduled to appear until a week
          and a half after next Selday, on Third Tensday. (When the
          Bazaar will appear at Cathedral and Pine.)</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>57</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">57 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 20:30:44
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:58:46 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00057">00057</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex lifts his teacup and sips the fragrantly tea,
          “perfumed of rosehips, and cardamum? An interesting choice. I
          appreciate it Inky, these past few days have been terribly
          rough, and I’m rather tired of field rations.” Alex takes a
          sip, and then continues hurridly. “I’ve been monitoring the
          Bazar, we are in grave danger. It started with just me, but I
          fear it’s bled over to everyone here at the Milk Market. I
          can’t be entirely certain.”</p>
          <p>Alex looks worriedly at Inky. “There’s a lot going on here.
          As soon as we got back from Kelsun I was sent on an
          assignment, normally not an issue, but they wanted me to level
          3 of the busiest coffee shops in the bazar. I planted those
          bombs, alongside listening devices, and then I bugged out. My
          team appears to have been assigned equally bizarre
          assignments, all rather violent messy things. A lot of
          innocent lives are on the line here.”</p>
          <p>“We dropped off the grid, I’ve got an isolated listening
          post in the sewers here, it’s heavily reinforced and that’s
          where I’ve been hiding out, but I’m not certain it’s safe.
          Agent 5 found a melon vendor dead in the market, and this
          vendor was specifically seeking out the Milk Market, looking
          for us. I believe it may be an assassin, could be from HQ,
          could be from Blavin. It’s entirely opaque to me.”</p>
          <p>“As far as I can tell, my agents are all loyal to me,
          there’s 5 of them in total, 6 if you count me. We could man
          the ship and get the hell out of here in a few hours, and it
          may be our best chance. But there’s the iris letter we need to
          attend to, and I cannot for the life of me find anything, not
          a damn trace, of Blavin. And I think all of this bodes very
          poorly for us.”</p>
          <p>Alex looks worriedly at Inky, and you’re telling me we have
          a ritual we have to perform, to find the iris group’s meeting
          place.. I’m leery Ink, I have to be you see. But my uncle
          trusted you, and I do as well. If you think this is our best
          shot, we can hole up in the sewers and try to perform this
          dream walk of your witch friend’s. But if this iris business
          turns out to be a trap, well, how well can you handle a
          gun?</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>“Your courage and concern are admirable, Master Alex.
          Caution is likewise advisable.” Inky nods seriously.</p>
          <p>The next moment, they gave the sysorcerer a slightly
          deranged grin. “I’m sure you have already seen many grave
          dangers. What’s another one for the bucket list? What’s life
          if not violent and messy? So many melons dismembered and laid
          waste daily—”</p>
          <p>As if suddenly recalling a detail, Inky pauses and blinks.
          “Melon vendor? Oh, poor Pepo. He has been complaining about
          his neighbour’s boa constrictors for years. The serpents were
          drawn to the rodents his fruits typically attracted, which
          might not have been a problem were it not for them hanging out
          at his stall and scaring off his customers. Maybe he finally
          took matters into his own hands, with tragic results.” They
          look at an empty mixing bowl across the table glumly. “He had
          offered to bring over a few of the new variety as soon as they
          arrived, as he was already delivering to a household the next
          district over.”</p>
          <p>They send Master Alex a sidelong glance. “Someone is after
          you? You didn’t do something horrid like help an old
          grandmother cross the street on sockless skates, for
          instance?” Refilling the sysorcerer’s cup, Inky continues, “As
          for Blavin, only 3 of the crystals have been recovered. Blavin
          knows Team 43 is his best chance of obtaining the others.
          Until he has all the crystals, he will stay his hand. If he
          doesn’t know that, then he is hardly a threat.”</p>
          <p>Setting down the teapot, Inky shrugs. “They seem eager to
          get our attention. I suppose I could spare them their twelve
          minutes of fame, for the right price. Enlightenment would
          probably be too much to ask of a nightmare. If you’d rather
          take your team and make a run for it instead, that’s fine too.
          If they come knocking I’ll just tell them you missed the hotel
          fondue at Kelsun Peak.”</p>
          <p>Their gaze skips to one of the cups before they shake their
          head. “No gun.” They turn around and take down a bamboo
          walking stick hanging from a hook on a wall next to a worn
          coat. Inky grasps the handle and pulls. It slides out quietly
          to reveal a long, thin, tapered surgical steel tube which, if
          someone were to lean in for a closer inspection, is sparsely
          covered in tiny, needle-like protrusions along the surface. On
          the underside, a transparent sliver ran the length of the tube
          to end about a forefinger’s length from the handle. Visible
          through the narrow window is a colourless liquid, most likely
          a sedative or toxin, fills the reinforced steel interior.</p>
          <p>They smile mirthlessly at Master Alex. “I don’t know that
          Master Corraidhín trusted me, because if he did, it would have
          been the most foolhardy thing the wise man has ever done. You
          would do well to not make that mistake.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>“It doesn’t sound like we have all too much of an option”,
          Alex says, as a little Scarab beetle in his pocket chimes,
          “that’ll be the dead man’s trigger going off in my
          hideout.”</p>
          <p>Alex frowns, shame to lose all of that data, those systems,
          that hideout.. but I hope whoever broke in enjoys thermite,
          assuming they don’t asphyxiate quickly enough to miss the
          fun..</p>
          <p>Inky, you’re right, life is a bit violent and messy, so
          lets bring the violent mess to these bastards. If you’ve got a
          lead on this with this dream ritual, then fuck it, lets take
          the risk. I won’t run from this fight, my uncle sure as hell
          wouldn’t. And at worst, he’d go out with a magnificient bang.
          Lets give it back tenfold, for poor Pepo.</p>
          <p>Nodding his own approval Alex continues, I have another
          hideout in the eastern quandrant, near the sysorcerer’s guild.
          It’s a little risky to head out that way, but none of my
          Zabbix alerts indicate it was compromised. It has automated
          IDS and IPS systems, so we should be safe enough in there once
          we whole up. At very least we’ll know if someone comes for us,
          and we’ll have a little bit of time to react on it. We should
          bring the Toques with us, and little blod clot, and the
          duck.</p>
          <p>Looking sorrowfully at Enrique, “I think it might be best
          if you got the hell out of dodge too friend, it isn’t safe,
          and I don’t want to see you become collateral here. Head down
          to the wharf, I’ll have agent 5 meet you there, he’ll help you
          and your family lay low until all of this blows over.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>At Enrique’s deep frown, Inky sighs and adds, “Might as
          well do as Master Alex says. He can spot danger twelve blocks
          away, and turtle soup is really out of fashion these
          days.”</p>
          <p>Then they excuse themselves to pack a few items, returning
          about fifteen minutes later with a knapsack and a cross-strap
          carrier draped in a black cloth cover. Inky says, “I hope you
          don’t mind if I bring along a guest as well.”</p>
          <p>The cover is pulled back to expose a dome-shaped birdhouse,
          with transparent circular rings at the top partially obscured
          by sliding shutters of the same shape. A wooden hoop with a
          woven, web-like pattern and adorned with a string of feathers
          hangs from one side. On the opposite side is a double door
          with a miniature knob over each door. Inky lightly taps on one
          of the doors, and at a low click coming from within in
          response, swings the doors wide enough for the kitchen lamps
          to illuminate the great horned owl resting on a pillow inside.
          The bird opens one amber eye for a moment, gaze sweeping idly
          across the occupants in the room before dozing off again.</p>
          <p>“This is Fuko. She and her twin brother Futa have certain
          shared connections. What one sees, the other will also know. I
          asked their caretaker if I could borrow them for a while. Fuko
          will accompany me for the ritual. Her brother is at another
          location and can send a message if a need arises.” Inky
          explains with a wry expression. “Think of it as a minor
          indulgence of sorts. I was told their kind, along with eagle
          owls, are very good at negotiating with those of the
          ravens.”</p>
          <p>They give the owl a small smile. “She may be a little
          temperamental, but she is well-trained.” Closing the birdhouse
          doors, Inky turns back to Master Alex. “I suppose you’d rather
          not reveal the location of your hideout to any more people
          than necessary. Her carrier will remain covered on the way in
          and out.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Gliftwirp stands under the branches of a tree, pooled in
          shadow, far from the small gathering. He has been to plenty of
          funerals. Often under these very circumstances, in fact. And
          he always keeps his distance out of respect.</p>
          <p>For one, he owns no clothes but his vest, sash, and
          trousers. And his bright red colors would be a sign of
          disrespect among the mourners. Secondly and most importantly,
          he himself is the one who put the man in the ground.</p>
          <p>Sadly, he had little choice. He had underestimated the
          sysorcer. Didn’t realize he had his own agents working for
          him. When he realized that one of the agents had been in
          contact with the melon vendor, he knew that Popplewick could
          and would identify the warpwefter if pressured.</p>
          <p>Gliftwirp had grown to enjoy his daily chats with the melon
          vendor. Popplewick was a kind, determined man. A refugee from
          the Cinderlands, his family came to Vay’Nullar following the
          Artifice Wars when he was just a boy. He grew up poor, and
          often relied on the generosity of others. But eventually he
          was able to support himself and his small family. He was proud
          of the life he had built.</p>
          <p>So Gliftwirp took no pleasure in what came next. Late one
          night when Popplewick was on his way home from the market, the
          assassin slipped a bag over his head and dragged him into a
          dark alley. He cinched the bag tight, cutting off his air.
          There was a brief struggle before Popplewick passed out and
          Gliftwirp lowered him down to the ground. He held him there,
          unconscious and not breathing, until he was gone. In only took
          but a moment. And then Gliftwirp stood up and left.</p>
          <p>Now at the funeral, the mourners leave one by one. Until
          only the widow is left, cradling a small sleeping child to her
          chest. “Oh, Pepo,” she whispers to the headstone. “What can I
          do now?”</p>
          <p>When she leaves, she does not return to the main path. She
          meanders slowly as though in a daze toward the back of the
          graveyard and down the hill. She steps into the wood. A flash
          of red follows her at a distance.</p>
          <p>She kneels on the banks of the forest river and sets the
          child down on wide flat rock. It is awake now and looks up at
          her with solemn eyes. “I am sorry, made-of-me,” she says to
          the child. And that is all the explanation it gets.</p>
          <p>She stands and turns and walks away. The child watches her
          go.</p>
          <p>When she has been gone for some minutes, Gliftwirp steps
          out of the shadows and crouches down beside the child. It
          looks up and reaches for him. “Look at you,” he says to the
          child as he scoops it up. “Who would throw you away? A
          perfectly good baby!” He stands and bounces the child. “A
          sweet little melon rind is what you are. Ha! Very well. Come,
          Rind, we have work to do.”</p>
          <p>The assassin, child in his arms, walks back toward the
          city.</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>In the aftermath, Agent 5 is found down by the docks. They
          clearly struggled in death. The assassin blamed him for
          Popplewick’s death and the widow’s weakness.</p>
          <p>Down in the sewers, two tiny mittened hands reach up and
          awkwardly turn the doorknob to Alex’s hideout. The bolt clears
          the latch with a faint click. Two tiny cloth hands struggle
          against the heavy iron door, pushing it slowly open, inch by
          inch. A mechanism clicks inside and there is a whoosh of air
          and then a boom as the bunker violently ignites. The tiny
          figure is incinerated, and blown back into the sewer
          tunnel.</p>
          <p>Gliftwirp steps forward into the light of the blaze and
          crouches down by the tiny figure. He picks it up, a tattered
          and burned bundle of cloth. “Look, Rind,” he says to the small
          child standing at his elbow. “You must always acknowledge and
          be grateful for those who sacrifice for you.” He starts to
          untie and unfold the cloth puppet as he speaks. It unfurls and
          smooths out and stitches itself back together under his touch.
          Even the burn marks fade, and soon Gliftwirp is once again
          holding his red sash.</p>
          <p>“Now, Rind,” he says standing up and taking the child’s
          hand, squinting into the fire. “Let’s see what we can salvage
          here.”</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
          <ul>
          <li>The time of the ritual is at hand.</li>
          <li>What final preparations do you make before entering
          Dreamspace?</li>
          </ul>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>63</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">63 - Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:01:53
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:01:54 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00063">00063</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>“Greetings, Great One.” Inky bows, back parallel to the
          ground while they stand on the branch, now a humanoid child in
          a black uniform and matching bookbag hanging under one arm.
          The banana boat is nowhere in sight. Fuko follows her errant
          charge and the cloaked figure from a nearby branch.</p>
          <p>“This lowly one wonders if they may be permitted to seek
          the Great Spirit’s insight, whose wisdom endures before and
          beyond.” Inky begins, staring down the blurry reflection of
          silver boughs overhead on the polished toes of their black
          shoes. They notice idly they do not see themselves in the
          reflection.</p>
          <p>Straightening from the bow, they look up at the figure and
          hold out a plate of taiyaki. After a moment, the child asks
          haltingly, “There may come a day when this one will be asked
          to choose between the chance to protect many and that which
          they desire to protect most. Should this one choose equally?
          Will the choice matter if both paths eventually lead to
          destruction? Could destruction and salvation be two sides of
          the same coin?”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You and the Dude are sitting in small upholstered chairs,
          across a small half table from each other. There is a large
          sticky bun on a white lacy doily on the table. Next to you is
          a small portal-sized window, and outside you can see green
          rolling hills and small copses of trees fly by. The other
          seats on the small train car are all empty. The two of you are
          alone.</p>
          <p>“I cannot give you advice,” the Dude says. “But I can offer
          you experience.”</p>
          <p>They raise a hand and hold a loosely closed fist out over
          the table. The walls of the train become fuzzy and blurry,
          then translucent, and finally transparent. They disappear and
          you have the sensation of rocketing through space at dizzying
          speeds.</p>
          <p>The track splits ahead you. To one side, bound to one track
          is that which you desire to protect most. Bound to the other
          are the many.</p>
          <p>“You can choose safely here. It’s just a dream, after all.”
          The Dude opens their fist. The Twenty-one Fiver coin rests in
          their palm. “Heads, you steer the train into the many, sparing
          that which you love most. Tails, the opposite. You spare the
          many, and sacrifice that which you hold dear.” They hold the
          coin out to you.</p>
          <p>The train barrels toward the fork. “But choose quickly,
          lest the choice be made for you.”</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex scrambles from the wreckage of his mech, or what
          remained from the gore portal he’d just experienced. The
          thought of what had occurred made him grimace, which was an
          unusual state of affairs for an octopus, that is until Alex
          realized he seemed to be back in his own body.</p>
          <p>“Sunset, or perhaps rise? It’s hard to tell. Pretty
          though.. could be prettier without the creepy knife dude.”
          Alex mutters to himself while he rummages through the
          destroyed cockpit of the mech. He makes quick work, detaches a
          side panel, pulls a couple of wires, and a compartment in the
          back opens revealing the smooth dark blue metal and wood grain
          of an ak74u sub machine gun. Amused Alex pulls the weapon from
          the compartment and notices a distinct lack of additional
          magazines, just the one large drum attached to the weapon with
          large red letters emblazoned on it [INFINITE AMMO].
          “Neat.”</p>
          <p>Alex pulls himself from the wreck, and jumps down behind
          one of the fallen tentacles taking a firing position behind
          cover, ak74u aimed down range at the faceless figure.</p>
          <p>“I don’t know who you are, but I don’t trust anyone who
          approaches with a weapon. Let’s both stand down and talk this
          through! I’m not supposed to be here, and I reckon you don’t
          want me here either. I’d be happy to oblige and skidaddle if
          you’d be so kind as to point the way out!” Alex pauses waiting
          for a reply.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>The tall figure halts a short distance away. It raises a
          hand and waves. In greeting? Surrender? In a fluid motion it
          continues to lift the same hand and grabs a hold of its trunk,
          a little less than a foot from the tip. It squeezes its fist
          tightly and the tip begins to swell. It raises its other hand,
          and the knife, and starts to saw into the flesh of the trunk
          behind its fist. The blade cuts cleanly as though through a
          loaf of bread. There is no blood or gore.</p>
          <p>When the creature lowers its hand, you can see that the
          center of the trunk is a solid, bright pink fleshy material
          like a grapefruit, in the center of which are two pin-prick
          eyes and a wide thin gash of a mouth.</p>
          <p>It still holds the tip of its severed trunk in its hand, a
          thin stalk and a bulging cap looking for all the world like a
          large white button mushroom. Peering up from the stem of the
          mushroom, an identical pink face regards you stoically.</p>
          <p>Both faces speak at the exact same time, one high pitched
          and one a deep baritone. “Welcome, Dreamer, to Ousia, the Sea
          of Dreams. We are Kasutva.”</p>
          <p>Big Kasutva stoops down to set the small mushroom Kasutva
          down on the ground. If they’re both Kasutva, that is. If
          that’s the way their biology and sense of self actually works.
          Mushroom Kasutva wobbles side to side a little bit and waggles
          its stalk as it looks around. Big Kasutva places its knife
          back in its satchel and takes a few small steps closer to
          you.</p>
          <p>“We did not mean to offend you,” the two say, still
          perfectly in sync. “As for the way out, that depends only
          somewhat on your destination. Whatever the answer, we can
          assure you that it lies across the sea.” Large Kasutva
          gestures broadly toward the expanse of ocean. Small Kasutva
          lacks any limbs and cannot gesture, but smiles softly at
          you.</p>
          <p>“But tell us what it is you seek. Perhaps we can be of
          help.”</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>62</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">62 - Sun, 12 Feb 2023 08:57:51
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2023 08:57:51 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00062">00062</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>One moment, Inky is half-asleep on their feet in the middle
          of Branch Avenue. In the next, they are reclining in a banana
          boat that resembles a canoe painted with long stripes of
          yellow and white with deep brown swipes. The s’more interior
          padding is soft, yet with the suppleness of fruit leather. A
          few round, matching brown mini-cushions are strewn across the
          boat interior. Also in the boat are two silver spoon paddles,
          more for looks than cooks.</p>
          <p>They don’t know where the boat came from. Things just
          appear. Like that Red Squirrel. Inky moves to holler a
          greeting, but instead recites:</p>
          <pre><code>&quot;sgb rpthqqbk hr qba sgb fgnrsr dktb
sgb qnkkr rwbbs uma rn uqb ynt
sgnt uqs ly fthahmf rsuq ul h sghmb
h rbb vbqhky ly utrohehntr rhfm
sgb kns wur snrra uma sgbm h aqbw
uma cnqstmb ruha hs rgnta db ynt ott&quot;[1]</code></pre>
          <pre><code>[1]:
&quot;The squirrel is red, the ghost&#39;s blue,
The roll&#39;s sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my guiding star, am I thine?
I see verily my auspicious sign:
The lot was toss&#39;d and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou&#39;d be you. Puu.&quot;</code></pre>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>While Inky boards her banana boat and recites poetry to the
          maddened squirrel, Alex springs to action leaping blithely
          from the branch towards the squirrel. Beneath him manifests a
          cockpit, sleek and futuristic. Around this materializes a
          large robotic weapon, octopus-oid in shape. The many tentacles
          bristle with weapons both fearsome and deadly.</p>
          <p>Alex grabs the controls, in one tentacle he latches onto
          the banana boat, that way he won’t accidentally get separated
          from Inky. With the other seven a series of feathers appear in
          every brilliant hue. The tentacle attached to the boat unfurls
          allowing Alex to draw closer to the squirrel. As the gap
          closes the most intense tickle fight the dream world has ever
          seen ensues, bringing joyous laughter to the faces of
          many.</p>
          <p>“Inky, if we need to get out of here, just jet it! That
          tentacle will yank the control pod and me with it!”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Alex basically becomes a Mech pilot, and confronts the Red
          Squirrel head on with the Octopod.</p>
          <p>You engage in the tickle fight to end all tickle
          fights!</p>
          <p>Its eight arms are more than a match for the squirrels
          eight legs. You have the advantage of reach, entanglement, and
          sucker pads. It struggles in your grasp, gnashing its terrible
          teeth, but cannot reach you. Its long tail whips around
          ineffectively, battering you softly.</p>
          <p>The agitated squirrel squeals and swells like a red
          balloon. The mech’s tentacles struggle to contain it. Just as
          the strain on the machine is about to become unbearable, the
          rodent violently deflates. It collapses in on itself with such
          ferocity that it turns itself inside out. The octopod, all
          tangled up in the collapsing squirrel, is pulled along as it
          folds in on itself until it becomes a hungry void the size of
          a marble, floating in space and sucking at the air.</p>
          <p>Inky watches from the banana boat as Alex and the squirrel
          disappear from the Silver Forest. The squirrel portal finally
          closes in on itself, severing the banana boat from the octopus
          mecha at the last possible second. Inky on this side. Alex on
          the other.</p>
          <p>Alex, you and the wreckage of the octopod are vomited out
          onto a sandy beach. Red mist and vapors dissipate from your
          entry point. Before you is a vast ocean, lapping lazily at the
          beach. The shoreline extends endlessly in both directions.
          Behind you are endless sand dunes. Though there is no sun, the
          sky seems to hover at sunset, all brilliant, swirling oranges
          and purples.</p>
          <p>A lone humanoid figure can be seen standing atop a nearby
          dune. It is tall. It has legs like a goat or fawn, and a
          paunchy belly. Its long neck protrudes into a kind of trunk
          that eventually folds over and hangs down in front of the
          creature, about chest height. It terminates in a smooth, round
          nub. No face. It wears a small satchel at its hip, its strap
          slung over one shoulder and across its chest. Its long arms
          hand loosely at its sides. Despite the lack of a face and any
          sensory organs, it seems to be watching you. Slowly, it
          descends the dune and starts walking toward you. It reaches
          into its satchel and draws a long, sharp knife as it
          approaches.</p>
          <p>Inky, you are in the banana boat in the Silver Forest. The
          turtle that was a chipmunk has holed up in its shell,
          effectively just a sticky bun.</p>
          <p>“You wanted to see me,” intones a slightly muffled voice
          behind you. A statement, not a question. You turn to see a
          figure cloaked in shadows and demons. They wear a domed helmet
          of black obsidian glass, flashes of rainbow colored light
          crackling along the inside illuminating very little of the
          smoke-filled interior.</p>
          <p>“What is it you seek from Dude 215R?”</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>66</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">66 - Sun, 26 Feb 2023 12:08:16
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2023 12:08:16 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00066">00066</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>“Thank you. May your search brings you good tidings.” Inky
          replies with a smile and nod towards the sea.</p>
          <p>“As to what brings me here, another traveller and myself
          have been summoned to the Harpoon Club at a Wandering Bazaar.
          However, despite uncovering the occasional biscuit tin or
          cotton candy wheel, my knack for thing-finding doesn’t really
          extend to sentient bazaars in pocket dimensions.” Inky
          chuckles wryly. “Might you happen to know the way?”</p>
          <p>As they end their question, Inky slips their hands into the
          pockets of their hooded vest and is met with an envelope
          nestled within one of them. A message from Master Alex. The
          packet is a bit lumpy to the touch, as though there is a small
          round object inside. The sysorcerer may have decided to spend
          some quality time with his stalker after all. Must be lovely
          to have a dedicated fan. The two wouldn’t mind if Inky went on
          a spot of sightseeing.</p>
          <p>“Also, did you say the Throne of Konsu?” They glance in the
          direction of the large tower and back to the figure before
          them.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>“Ah, you don’t know the story of Lord Konsu?” The ravenfolk
          beckons you to walk with him as you talk. “In the beginning,
          nobody knew how to dream. There were no real <em>people</em>
          then. Just beasts and creatures and horrors.</p>
          <p>“So at that point, every creature visited Ousia only twice:
          at the moment of birth, and at the moment of death. And all
          the time in between was spent longing to return to the
          sea.”</p>
          <p>At the ravenfolk’s side, the world spins under your feet.
          In mere steps, you have made it to the base of the mountain
          jutting from the center of the island.</p>
          <p>“And one day, Konsu did. He dreamed. He was the first. Each
          night he returned to the sea, and it swallowed his madness and
          his wildness. It evolved his mind. It is dreaming, you see,
          that makes you human.</p>
          <p>“The sea claims everything though eventually. But you know
          this already. You crossed the sea. Surely you saw how it can
          work on dreamers who have tarried here too long.”</p>
          <p>Still the ravenfolk guides you onward until you arrive at
          the base of the fractal tower, all purple and yellow
          stones.</p>
          <p>You step inside and find voluminous halls, walls lined with
          statues of all subjects. Fawns in revelry, elegant women in
          repose, terrible giants in agony, warriors standing at
          attention, leaping fish, and roaring lions.</p>
          <p>He leads you through a labyrinth of empty halls, up grand
          stairs, across yawning vestibules and dizzying bridges
          suspended between towers as he continues to talk.</p>
          <p>“Ousia works even on Konsu the Lord of All Dreams.
          Ephermeris is his throne, it’s true. But it is also his
          prison. The island <em>is</em> Konsu, you see. He is no longer
          at liberty to roam his domain himself, in his own flesh. But
          perhaps you have already met one of his avatars? Morpheus? The
          Dude 215R? Kilroy? Hmm, yes, I see that you have.</p>
          <p>“Well,” he says pulling up short of an archway. You can
          hear voices and laughter and the clinking of dinnerware on the
          other side. “I believe we have arrived at your destination. I
          thank you for the company, and will leave you here.”</p>
          <p>The ravenfolk withdraws, disappearing once more into the
          maze of the tower.</p>
          <p>You look through the archway and see a plush dinner club
          absolutely packed with patrons of all possible shapes and
          sizes. The Harpoon Club.</p>
          <p>You catch somebody waving at you from a table in the far
          corner. Blavin Blandfoot. He grins and beckons you
          forward.</p>
          <p>Joining him is a tall, slender cat person. Its facial
          features mostly obscured by its jet-black fur. And with their
          back to you, a wizened old man. The three of them are in the
          middle of a round of tumbrot, a complicated game of
          wagers—overly complicated, some would say—involving a special
          deck of cards, a set of dice, and a tumbling tower of
          blocks.</p>
          <p>You watch as the cat reaches out and carefully removes a
          block from the middle of the tower. It places it on top, and
          the tower sways. The group at the table excitedly holds its
          breath, and when the tower falls, the cat holds its head in
          its hands in exaggerated dismay. The old man whoops and
          gathers up his winnings and then turns and looks over his
          shoulder in the direction that Blavin is waving.</p>
          <p>Corraidhín the Sysorcerer grins and waves at you.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Alex pulls at the trigger of the ak and he plummets towards
          the waves sending a wave of cold lead towards the bigger
          Katsuva. “Son of a bitch, never trust someone who has to hide
          their face, agent 7, marvelo, always was right on that one.”
          Hell, dunno if magical dream guns work on mushrooms, but to
          hell with it, Alex thought.</p>
          <p>He plunges into the water gripping tightly to his weapon,
          the little katsuva clinging to him. As the water wraps around
          him he kicks at the little mushroom breaking its grasp on his
          leg, and begins to swim back up to the surface. “Like hell
          we’re doing this your way cavatappi dude.”</p>
          <p>Back in the real world..</p>
          <p>Marvelo stares bleakly at the child and his assailant. “Who
          the fuck do you think you are? And what the hell are you doing
          with the kid, Rind, ain’t nothin good to come from some shady
          bloke like you. The hell do you think you’re teaching
          him?”</p>
          <p>As Marvelo hurls insults as demands at his assailant he
          slyly presses his thumb and forefinger into the palm of his
          left hand, breaking a small resistor embedded in his palm
          which activates as feint electrical pulse inside his body.
          Just enough to trigger a Zabbix alarm, which kicks off a
          series out automated correction scripts. A dose of adrenaline
          here, a quick alaert to the remaining agents with a broadcast
          LAT/LONG details via encrypted twtxt feed, but most
          importantly something special Alex had each agent prepare,
          just in case their luck ran out, an alarm only the damned
          could sleep through.</p>
          <p>The screech of heavy metal music blares throughout the
          audio system of the warehouse, every alarm and speaker comes
          alive blaring heavy riffs of guitar and wicked drums fill the
          air while screaming echos around the building. Marvelo laughs
          maniacly as his uninvited guest reels at the unexpected turn
          of events.</p>
          <p>“Alex! We caught him!” Marvelo yells through his laughing
          fit.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Gliftwirp frowns as the sirens wail in the fish market. He
          tightens the rope around Marvelo’s neck. Deprived of oxygen,
          Marvelo struggles and then goes limp.</p>
          <p>The hemogoblin in the corner trembles as an overpowering
          sense of JUSTICE sings in its veins. It gnashes its teeth and
          its bloodshoot eyes become pupil-less pools of red. A single
          word dances on the tip of its tongue.</p>
          <p>It watches as Gliftwirp stands at the edge of the ritual
          circle, looking in. Pillows and blankets creep slowly toward
          the dreamers like slugs intent on smothering them.</p>
          <p>The hemogoblin launches itself into the air with a cry of
          “EEEEE! VULL!” and lands on the assassin’s back, sinking its
          teeth into the nape of his neck and reaching its claws around
          for his face.</p>
          <p>Gliftwirp cries out in pain and surprise. His hands shoot
          back to pry the thing from his back even as he is propelled
          forward by the force of the attack.</p>
          <p>Gliftwirp and the hemogoblin cross the circle of salt and
          ash and spill into the pillows in a heap and instantly both of
          them fall fast asleep.</p>
          <p>An observer would almost think they were cuddling each
          other in their sleep. If it weren’t, that is, for the goblin’s
          claws, still sunk into the side of the warpwefter’s face.</p>
          <p>Rind, sired by the melon seller, abandoned by his own
          mother, and adopted by the assassin, watches all of this
          unfold. And sits down and strokes the duck’s feathers.</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>Alex’s ascent into the waking world is interrupted by a
          surge that tugs him sideways and off track. The presence of
          new arrivals in the stream, the tenuous connection between the
          waking and dreaming worlds held open by the Dream Sigil.
          Somebody beckoning him, summoning him.</p>
          <p>He emerges from the void into an endless, featureless
          expanse. Plain, loose, dark soil as far as the eye can see,
          with only a small rock or two here and there to break up the
          monotony. The black empty sky looms ominously overhead.</p>
          <p>Before you is a tall, slender person in voluminous robes of
          deep purple. Their soft, smooth face framed by curtains of
          long, straight, blonde hair. They wear a golden circlet on
          their head and a golden eye in the middle of their forehead.
          And in their hands they wield a resplendent longsword.</p>
          <p>Shreds of a tattered red cloth lie strewn about their
          feet.</p>
          <p>They lift their head at your appearance. “Alex,” they say.
          “It is good that we finally meet. You have done me a great
          service in gathering pieces of my essence—including this, the
          Sword of Y’aml!—so that I may finally start to return to
          Basmentaria. You have done so much already, but I am afraid I
          must ask more of you still.”</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>56</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">56 - Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:10:25
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:10:25 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00056">00056</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>The agitation Alex feels bubbles just beneath the surface.
          Patterns where patterns shouldn’t be, strange orders from HQ,
          indifference where once was ample aide as well. It was
          maddening. Combine it all with the haunting suspicion that
          there was constantly someone just around the next corner, and
          it was enough to truly drive Alex mad.</p>
          <p>That uneasiness takes its toll on a long enough time line,
          but Alex wasn’t about to let it get to him. Or so he thought
          to himself as he cast a furtive look at his monitoring
          equipment. This paranoia had served him well in the past, very
          well in fact. It’s a sort of sixth sense in a way, always kept
          Alex off the edge of the cliff, especially when someone
          stepped close enough to push him off. Those were the types of
          skills HQ sought after in the first place.</p>
          <p>Alex closes the iron door on his bunker, leaving his
          monitoring equipment running, dead man’s trigger set to blow
          the place shoul anyone enter it. Can’t be too careful these
          days..</p>
          <p>Emerging from the sewer grate, sticking to the shadows,
          Alex makes his way down an alley, then another, and yet
          another, finally emerging a few blocks from the Milk Market.
          Across the street, as he had expected, was Marvelo’s Marvelous
          MurderSticks, a quaint place should one needed something, well
          you get the picture, they don’t really sell anything but
          weaponry here.</p>
          <p>Alex ducked into the entrance of the shop and strode
          towards the back rack, where a collection of knives was on
          display. A rough looking fellow, ruddy red beard, thinning
          hair, moved from the counter as he saw Alex approach. “Fine
          sampling of knives we have, could I interest you in one?”
          Marvelo says. Alex reaches for a thin stilleto style dagger,
          and hands it to Marvelo “This one seems about right, but I’d
          like an extra sharp edge put on it, if you don’t mind”.
          Marvelo takes the stilleto from Alex say “Not a problem at all
          sir”, and he heads into the back.</p>
          <p>He sets to work honing the edge, and once complete he
          places it on his work bench. Grabbing a velvet lined case from
          a stack, he deftly removes the bottom and places a rolled
          piece of paper into the bottom, alongside an m1911 style
          pistol, and a couple of clips of ammo. He then places the
          velvet bottom back over the equipment, and places the stilleto
          on top, bringing the entire package back to the front. “An
          extra fine edge on this one sir, that’ll be 15 gold, plus
          another 5 to cover the service.</p>
          <p>Alex pays, and nips out the shop and heads back to the back
          alley. Paranoia begets what it requets, Alex mutters to
          himself as he disassembles the box holstering the pistol and
          ammo, and sheathing the dagger. Can’t keep going unarmed like
          I’m some kind of beat cop, not anymore.. Alex discards the
          case and unfurls the message, quickly deciphering the
          encryption set on it by Marvelo.</p>
          <pre><code>The hunt is still on, no word on Blavin nor the Iris group, yet.
Agent 7 heard rumor of a couple of persons inquiring about the &quot;Milk Market&quot; these past few days.
Agent 3 heard similar rumors, was able to bribe a melon vendor to acertain the figure wore a red sash, and was looking for friends.
Agent 6 has kept watch on the Market, nothing strange yet, coming and goings as usual, no strange visitors
Agent 4 monitoring feeds still present glitches, something abnormal
Agent 5 found the melon vendor dead in a back alley, strangled to death, not immediate signs of blunt force trauma, caution advised</code></pre>
          <p>Alex burned the note, striding rapidly away from the alley,
          taking a meandering route away from the Milk Market, looping
          back around, and heading back towards it by yet another.
          Nobody appeared to be following him, yet he paused at each
          corner and turn, waiting for the footsteps of a pursuant.</p>
          <p>Noting nothing, he made his way through the back entrance
          of Enrique’s Empanadas greeting the cook quietly, but jovial.
          “Enrique, where’s Inky? We’ve got a problem.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>~</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Inky skims the page. They thank the witch, pay for the
          items and exit the shop, promptly discarding all notions of
          meeting Bother at the place stipulated on the note.</p>
          <p><em>(Half and one hour later)</em></p>
          <p>One-sixths into a caramel cantaloupe cream cornet, Inky
          runs into Confidence outside the Wandering Bazaar and obtains
          some of their new pamphlets, minted with luminescent ink for
          the convenience of late-night tourists. These are subsequently
          hare-mailed to every editor at the <em>Niuewstijl</em> office,
          which is almost certain to earn another chiding remark from
          Tess about etiquette and the handling of unsolicited bulk mail
          to parent editorial teams.</p>
          <p><em>(Half and two hours later)</em></p>
          <p>The installation on display at the Milk Market was
          grotesque — that is to say, a work of beauty. Inky steps
          carefully through the rooms to not disturb the piece.
          Afterwards, they sign the guestbook set up on an upturned milk
          crate by the door, delightedly pasting rows of horse head and
          thumbs-up emo Gs on a page thoughtfully titled “you can’t ed
          the unedible”.</p>
          <p><em>(Half and three hours earlier)</em></p>
          <p>Thanking Agate for her time, Inky passes her a sheet of
          paper on which were written a few questions about the
          prescribed ritual, with some space after each question should
          the witch prefer to scribble a response:</p>
          <ul>
          <li><p>What do guides in the Sea of Dreams and the Ravenfolk
          typically seek in return for directing travellers to the
          correct pocket dimension?</p></li>
          <li><p>An establishment inside the Bazaar is only open in the
          evenings whenever it appears in the city. How long does travel
          to a pocket dimension typically take, allowing for time to
          seek out a guide? Is there a way travellers can estimate the
          time to set out on their journey, in order to arrive at the
          establishment while it is open?</p></li>
          <li><p>Who are the Red Spider and “Dude 215R” mentioned in the
          ritual? How can travellers avoid summoning them?</p></li>
          <li><p>Would anything happen to the travellers if any of the
          sigils were removed during the ritual before they wake
          up?</p></li>
          </ul>
          <p><em>(Half and four hours later)</em></p>
          <p>Two sets of eyes peer down at the contents of an open tin.
          One accompanied by a focused look and a little trepidation,
          following the pinkish, flesh-like chunks speckled with white
          pockets of fat as they tumble into a hot pan and almost
          immediately begin to move of their own accord. The moving
          mounds resemble small round mouths opening, each with a rim of
          sharp teeth. The other pair of eyes belongs to a grinning face
          that beams when the mounds bloom into bright red flat caps,
          the edges beneath about to soften in the olive oil.</p>
          <p>Minutes after, The slices are ready. Inky accepts the plate
          of tostada with spicy pickled artichoke mushrooms and tomatoes
          with a murmur of thanks. Reassembling the recipe for the
          tinned spicy artichoke mushrooms had been a tedious process —
          someone had ripped out the pages from an old pickling book
          that had long ceased publication. Eventually Inky found a
          former nomad who had eaten them for two years in their youth
          and could recall or somewhat describe the taste. Flowery and
          savoury, they said. Many taste tests later, it turned out to
          be closer to partially decomposed cheese in ponderosa lemon
          juice. Canning was fortuitously easier with the increasing
          portability of sealers. Rather than telling the empanada chef
          any of this, Inky watches satisfaction slowly spread across
          his face. The tale that follows is far more entertaining.</p>
          <p><em>(Half and five hours later)</em></p>
          <p>While measuring out ingredients for the forty-second tea
          infusion since the start of the missions, not that Inky was
          keeping a close count, they hear a familiar voice a short
          distance outside the door asking for their whereabouts.
          Without pausing in their whisking, Inky simply informs the
          owner of the voice they’re not here, obviously, before
          emerging from the storage pantry with a fresh pot and bowls on
          a wooden tray, and greets the returning sysorcerer.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Agate writes back quickly:</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>What do guides in the Sea of Dreams and the Ravenfolk
          typically seek in return for directing travellers to the
          correct pocket dimension?</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Intangibles. Usually memories, hopes, or dreams.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>An establishment inside the Bazaar is only open in the
          evenings whenever it appears in the city. How long does travel
          to a pocket dimension typically take, allowing for time to
          seek out a guide? Is there a way travellers can estimate the
          time to set out on their journey, in order to arrive at the
          establishment while it is open?</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You’ll find that time is rather malleable on the Otherside.
          You’ll likely arrive exactly when you’re meant to. No need to
          worry too much about it.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Who are the Red Spider and “Dude 215R” mentioned in the
          ritual? How can travellers avoid summoning them?</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Godforms manifested by the Linking Sigil and the Dream
          Sigil, respectively. It’s not <em>terrible</em> if they show
          up. But it’s definitely not ideal. You shouldn’t register on
          their radar as long as you don’t pump too much energy into, or
          siphon to much energy out of, the sigils. If they do show up,
          just know that you’re in the presence of a godlike power, and
          behave accordingly.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Would anything happen to the travellers if any of the
          sigils were removed during the ritual before they wake up?</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>If the sigils are removed or if the circle is broken,
          you’ll likely just wake up before you wanted to. Same goes for
          if your dreamform is destroyed while in the Dreaming. The only
          real danger you may encounter is the Scissormen and their ilk.
          They will attempt to permanently sever your dreamform from
          your waking body. Which would leave your body a soulless husk,
          and leave your consciousness adrift in the Sea of Dreams. But
          that probably won’t happen! Okay good luck, have fun!</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>64</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">64 - Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:58:35
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:58:35 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00064">00064</h3>
          <p>Back at the fish market, Marvelo squints into the pouring
          rain and swears under his breath, frustrated at the limited
          visibility.</p>
          <p>His colleague is lying on the floor behind him in some kind
          of state of deeply altered consciousness, along with an
          inkling, a toque, and an owl. In fact, the only waking beings
          left inside the market are himself, a fluffy little duck, and
          a sticky hemogoblin.</p>
          <p>“I’ve seen stranger things,” he shrugs and admits to
          himself.</p>
          <p>The duck and the goblin are both fluffed up and huddled up
          next to each other softly quacking and chirping to
          themselves.</p>
          <p>He pauses and holds his breath as something indistinct
          catches his attention. Years of training have produced an
          instinct he has learned not to question. It has saved his butt
          more times than he can count. Sometimes it screams at him and
          the danger is apparent. Like that time with the Permian
          Raiders off the southern tip of Harshwind Glade. Other times,
          such as this, all he gets is the vague feeling that something
          is off. He waits. He’s been here before. His subconscious has
          spotted something, noticed some pattern that doesn’t fit its
          surroundings. He knows if he’s patient, his conscious mind
          will catch up and realize what it was.</p>
          <p>He squints out into the pouring rain. There! A flash of red
          close to the ground.</p>
          <p>“What in the world,” he wonders as a small child wearing a
          bright red dress toddles into view. It looks up at him blankly
          as the rain beats down on its head and shoulders.</p>
          <p>“What are you doing out here, little guy? You’re getting
          soaked!” Marvelo, concerned, rushes forward to comfort the
          child.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Inky gingerly takes the coin with both hands, small digits
          clamping onto the straight edges. They look at the Twenty-one
          Fiver nestled against the fuzzy outlines of one palm before
          peering up again at the figure seated before them. “Thank you,
          Great Spirit.” Inky says. “If truly allowed to choose, then,
          this one accepts the price.”</p>
          <p>They toss the coin up into the air. A beat, and they are
          hovering a few feet above the tracks, between the fork and the
          oncoming train with no walls. Inky watches as the child’s body
          begins to shrink as rapidly as the black uniform expands, the
          entire apparition thinning and becoming translucent. The shirt
          continues to grow until the hem brushes the train tracks and
          the collar peeks over the invisible tops of the train, the
          trousers and shoes having been pushed into the stones and
          earth below.</p>
          <p>A portal, the child’s voice supplies distantly. At the back
          of their awareness, Inky homes in on the coin as it continues
          to spin. When the train thunders down upon the oversized shirt
          doorway-apparent, they brace for the force of the impact.
          Instead, all they could feel is a creeping weariness, like
          water draining through tea leaves in a sieve, while being
          suddenly surrounded by and staring into a deep reflectionless
          pool.</p>
          <p>Is it two to two, or two past eight, Inky wonders.</p>
          <p>The last thing within their consciousness is a gleam of
          silver as the coin lands on one of its corners mid-spin,
          bounces off the small half table and falls into the
          shadows.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You sink into the dark reflectionless pool, letting its
          waters close over you and pull you under. You ponder its
          depths from within in its embrace, mindless of the passage of
          time.</p>
          <p>After a few minutes, or a few days, you notice faint light
          rising up here and there from below. Fuzzy, cobwebby human
          shapes float suspended in the waters. Some far away, distant
          as stars. Some drift close enough that you would be able to
          discern their features, if they had any.</p>
          <p>You realize all at once that these are the dream forms of
          sleeping Basmentarians everywhere, and that you are floating
          in Ousia, a solitary awakened dreamer in a literal sea of the
          passive slumbering.</p>
          <p>As though responding to your realization, the waters bear
          you up and you pierce the weak membrane between water and air.
          You float effortlessly and the gentle waves nudge you ever
          onward toward some unknown shore. Or merely farther out to
          sea. You’re not sure.</p>
          <p>You continue to see the dreamers all around you. You watch
          curiously as you float by two that seem to have bumped into
          one another and fused together, their cobwebby bodies
          sprouting hard crystalline growths and spreading like creeping
          vines, forming a lattice and creating a small floating
          island.</p>
          <p>After a few hours, or a few weeks, you wash up on the beach
          of a large island. There is a steep rock, a pillar of a
          mountain, jutting straight up from the center of the island
          some distance ahead. And jutting from the pillar is a fractal
          structure of interconnected towers, all sprouting and
          branching from one large central tower. The top of the tower
          disappears far overhead, obscured by a rippling aurora of
          green and pink lights in the sky.</p>
          <p>Some distance down the beach, just out of hailing distance,
          a lone figure stands gazing at the sea, their back to the
          tower.</p>
          <p>The figure waits.</p>
          <p>The tower’s strange geometry beckons.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Kasutva, how can I know that I can trust you? What do you
          gain in helping me, and was there really no way for you to
          communicate with me without beheading yourself? That seems a
          little bit distraughting. Like, do you need a bandage or some
          headache medicine or something? I feel like if I yanked my
          face off I’d need an ibuprofen. I have some if you want? (alex
          rummages in a coat pocket and finds a bottle of pain killers,
          and offers them to the being).</p>
          <p>Right anyways, answers questions. I’m looking for my Uncle
          first and foremost. He dropped off the map a few days ago, and
          I can’t find hide nor hair of him. Then the murders started.
          Shit at HQ when wild, hit the wall literally, and now I’m in
          some sort of fever dream talking to what can only be a
          manifestation of my own subconscious, or perhaps someone
          else’s. Look. I need to get back to Inky, we’re trying to meet
          someone and we’re running late, and in the scheme of things my
          problems aren’t so big if the world’s going to end because
          some mad hatter is after these blasted crystal’s we’ve been
          collecting..</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Even as you speak, you notice the edges of Big Kasutva’s
          “wounds” start to close until its flesh begins to once more
          envelop and enclose its face.</p>
          <p>The creature courteously accepts a few pills from you, but
          simply deposits them in its satchel.</p>
          <p>“No, it doesn’t hurt us,” say the two voices together. “And
          little matter if it did. It is necessary for us to speak.”</p>
          <p>They listen to your story. Big Kasutva’s voice starts to
          become muffled as its skin now grows over its mouth. Only its
          eyes are visible as the two of them continue. “If your Inky
          has come to this place, then there is only one place they can
          have gone.” They gesture to the sea. “And that place is
          Ephemeris. The Heart of the Dreaming at the center of
          Ousia.”</p>
          <p>Big Kasutva finally falls silent as it heals completely. It
          guides you to the shoreline, where a long pier has suddenly
          appeared. Mushroom Kasutva continues to speak for both of
          them.</p>
          <p>“We only ask to accompany you as you go. We wish to see
          Ephemeris ourselves. But we cannot abandon our post here on
          the dunes,” it says looking at Big Kasutva. “And we,” it says
          gesturing to itself, “are too small to brave the sea
          alone.”</p>
          <p>Big Kasutva stops short of the end of the pier. The little
          mushroom hops right up to the edge and peers down at the
          water.</p>
          <p>“All that is left is to jump, Alex. And let the waters of
          Ousia bear you up and carry you to Ephemeris.”</p>
          <p>It hops up to you and extends itself in a clear request,
          despite its lack of limbs, that it wants you to pick it
          up.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>61</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">61 - Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:59:55
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:59:55 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00061">00061</h3>
          <p>Alex the Octopus and Inky the Noogle stand on a tree branch
          as wide a street in the heart of the great white upside-down
          forest.</p>
          <p>A cry of anguish and anger echoes through the forest, and
          the branches below you sway and rustle as something rises up
          from the depths. You keep catching a glimpse of scarlet
          between the silvery white leaves.</p>
          <p>The large black ravens perched below you scream in
          agitation and fly up past you to the thicker branches up
          above, where they hop side to side and loudly scold and
          protest the disturbance. A single black feather the length of
          your hand settles to the ground at your feet, knocked loose
          during their flight.</p>
          <p>You finally see the fearsome beast crashing through the
          branches below you. Its crazed, yellow eyes as large and round
          as dinner plates, a great eight-legged rodent leaps from
          branch to branch as it swiftly ascends. It is a bloody,
          crimson red. Its long tufted ears lay flat against its
          elongated, grinning skull. Its ribbon-like tail twitches as it
          trails along behind it like a river of blood. It cries out
          again in anger, showing its overgrown incisors, and grinds and
          gnashes its back teeth.</p>
          <p>Its eyes bore into you with wild fury and blind madness as
          it climbs.</p>
          <p>“She’s not herself,” sighs the chipmunk, suddenly at your
          side once more. When you look down at the chipmunk, however,
          it has suddenly turned into a small featureless black turtle
          with a sticky sweet roll instead of a shell. Its smooth little
          head pokes timidly out of the roll.</p>
          <p>“The Red Squirrel,” laments the turtle. “She’s being ridden
          by a ghost. An angry ghost who isn’t from here. Somebody left
          the door open, and it blew in on the breeze.” The turtle’s
          voice trails off until its final words are barely a
          whisper.</p>
          <p>You can still feel two currents tugging at you and trying
          to pull you under. One inward toward your host’s deep, core
          memories. And the second pulling you outward toward the Sea of
          Dreams.</p>
          <p>You have but a moment before the Red Squirrel is upon
          you.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>65</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">65 - Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:02:22
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:02:22 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00065">00065</h3>
          <p>Marvelo fetched a fluffy blanket from the piles of blankets
          and pillows in the ritual room where the dreamers continue to
          sleep. He has wrapped up the child and is drying them off. The
          sound of rain continues to drum incessantly outside.</p>
          <p>“Poor thing, you’re chilled to the bone. Don’t worry, Uncle
          Marv will take care of you. There we go. Fix you right
          up!”</p>
          <p>The child is still and silent. It has not made a noise this
          whole time. Nor has it acted on its own to actually do
          anything besides stare up at Marvelo with wide, dark eyes.</p>
          <p>“How did you end up outside by yourself in the rain, hmm?
          No? That’s okay. What about your name? Have you got a
          name?”</p>
          <p>“Rind,” says a voice behind Marvelo. At the sound of its
          name, the child’s eyes flick over Marvelo’s shoulder. The
          mercenary starts to spin around even as the blanket writhes in
          his hands, wrapping itself around his wrists and binding them
          tightly together.</p>
          <p>“Hungh!” he cries out wordlessly and tucks into a roll,
          turning to face his assailant and—he hopes—dodging any
          potential attack from behind. And also putting some distance
          between himself and the child to get it out of harms way.</p>
          <p>Marvelo tries to push up to his knees as cords of rope
          snake their way out of the shadows and coil around his knees
          and elbows. He struggles to pull free of them. A thicker rope
          wraps around his waist, and another squeezes around his chest
          and back. The ropes contract and pull Marvelo into a ball. He
          groans and falls to his side. He looks up into the eyes of a
          man wearing a bright red sash.</p>
          <p>The child has tottled over to the man and reaches its arms
          up. The man scoops the child up and holds it in the crook of
          one arm. The child puts its arms around the man’s neck and
          looks down at Marvelo while resting its cheek on the man’s
          chest.</p>
          <p>“His name is Rind,” the man smiles.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Feeling bedraggled yet dry despite having been submerged
          under water, Inky lays on the beach, staring up at the sky
          before sitting up and looking around the landscape. They are
          now attired in a hooded azure blue vest over red shirt and
          shorts, and blue shoes over mismatched knee-high stockings.
          Their auburn hair is tied back with the drawstrings from an
          attached small pouch. A plush toy resembling a certain floofy
          duck peeks out from the hood.</p>
          <p>They sense a soft weight land on one shoulder, and smile as
          Fuko nips at their ear, no doubt partly in reproach for
          wandering off again without her, and maybe partly meant to be
          reassuring. This is followed several moments later by a low
          hiss and a series of light taps next to Inky’s ear with her
          beak. Inky murmurs, “Is that so … we should call it a wrap
          soon. Master Alex would probably be happy having Big Bother to
          himself anyway, to grill as he likes.”</p>
          <p>After a very long minute, Inky sighs and taking out a piece
          of paper and pencil from their suitcase, scribbles a
          “pome”:</p>
          <pre><code>Island tower of towers
Nowhere everywhere the sea
Keep your apples and flowers
Your suitor has come for thee</code></pre>
          <p>They roll up the paper and tuck it into a small and clear
          glass bottle with a cork stopper. Murmuring the sysorcerer’s
          name to the bottle, they lower it into the water and watch as
          the bottle drifts into the distance.</p>
          <p>Walking along the shoreline and stopping a short distance
          from the lone figure, Inky says casually, “Good day, fellow
          thing-finder.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>The figure turns in your direction and lowers their hood
          revealing a long, hooked, black beak and a face covered in
          black feathers. Beady black eyes regard you without
          blinking.</p>
          <p>The feathers around its throat bristle when it speaks like
          a thick bristling beard.</p>
          <p>“Greetings, Dreamer, and welcome to Ephemeris, the Heart of
          the Dreaming. What brings you to the Throne of Konsu?”</p>
          <blockquote>
          <p>Well Kasutva, I may as well trust you. I imagine if you
          meant me harm there are more direct and interesting ways to
          harm me than to misguide me. Give me a moment to collect
          myself, I’ve never been much for swimming you see, learned
          late and was always deathly afraid as a child. Dreadful stuff
          really.</p>
          <p>Alex steps away briefly to the edge of the pier and looks
          into the Azure blue ocean, a swirl of unending blue depth.
          Still not my thing, Alex mutters to himself. As he steels
          himself he notices a bottle adrift, nearing the pier. As it
          comes closer, he plucks it from the water, decorks it and
          inspects the note inside.</p>
          <p>“What does it say” the little Kasutva inquires.</p>
          <p>“Oh nothing, just someone trying to get in contact about
          our floating pirateships extended warranty” Alex replies
          bruskly. This definitely must have come from Inky Alex thinks
          to himself. They must have found the way.</p>
          <p>“Look Kasutva, this has been great fun, but I really think
          I ought to be going, not really sure that a sea of anyones
          dreams is my sort of thing and all that. And I seem ot have
          done not but create a mess of things” Alex says as he gestures
          to the wreckage of the Mech. Alex gestures in the air before
          him, a small split keyboard appears in front of him and he
          types out a few short commands.</p>
          <blockquote>
          <pre><code>cat &gt; /home/inky/messages/urgent &lt;&lt;EOF
Got your message
In a bit of a bind, wrapped up with some weird mushroom guy who wants to go for a swim.
Not sure how to handle it, but I might have to dip back to the real world and let you finish here.
I&#39;ve made a write mess of things, but I trust you can finish this.

Oh, see attached, if you get into a pinch just use this spell, it&#39;ll get you what you need.

grep -A4 AID ~/messages/urgent | sed &#39;s/AID//&#39; | sh

AID
4b1af3fcf4ce005ef86d83c45713ba1a548b4e79da09a6d44632cdb6c5917489
d7d500fa37b986d931b70e114b4e67375b10b373aa6649641e7132e8b3dc7d18
ef6efe98ffd070f486c00b4f50d8bf1448414ef9c2fabe0cacd40bebafba8a02
1d0d1bf0188b842d9ae08b9b37b0f266936ef38b8f07e5c90e4a9351bf018898
EOF</code></pre>
          </blockquote>
          <p>“Right!” Alex exclaims startling the little Kasutva
          accidentally. “Time for me to head back to the real world.
          Anything you need from me before I head out? Oh also, can I
          take the ak74u? I think I might need it.”</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>“Back … back to the waking world?” Mushroom Kasutva
          stammers. “But…”</p>
          <p>It looks out at the sea with a look of longing, confusion,
          and frustration. “But we were finally going to see Ephemeris,”
          they say almost wistfully.</p>
          <p>“You were going to take us to Ephemeris!” they shout at
          you, suddenly angry.</p>
          <p>Mushroom Kasutva screws up its face and roars in rage as it
          rushes at you and tries to shove you over the edge of the pier
          into the waters below.</p>
          <p>But Kasutva is less than a foot tall and quite ineffective
          at shoving a human-sized person such as Alex.</p>
          <p>Big Kasutva, on the otherhand, is roughly twelve feet tall
          and quite capable of manhandling a human-sized person.</p>
          <p>You look up in time to jerk back out of the way as they
          swipe at your chest with their face-removing knife. It was all
          a feint though. As soon as you are slightly off balance from
          dodging their attack, they reach out with their other hand and
          give you a shove.</p>
          <p>You trip over Mushroom Kasutva, who has positioned themself
          in just such a way to best tangle up your feet. You stumble
          backwards a few steps until one of your feet steps out into
          open air. You twist and and look behind you as Ousia rises up
          to meet you.</p>
          <p>Kasutva clings to your leg as you fall, crying. “We’re
          sorry. We’re sorry,” they say over and over as you are pulled
          below the waves.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
      </description>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>55</title>
      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">55 - Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:21:34
-0700</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:21:34 -0700</pubDate>
      <description>
        <![CDATA[
          <h3 id="00055">00055</h3>
          <blockquote>
          <p>The nibs had disappeared.</p>
          <p>Inky had spotted the small ceramic and wicker teapot among
          a long row of boxes and bowls at the antique shop on the
          thirteenth floor of the Wandering Bazaar while looking for a
          Near-weightless Verifying Matter enclosure (NVMe) to their
          Handy Duffer Discette as a primary storage. The witch
          shopkeeper, Agate, had helpfully mentioned the teapot could be
          used to steep very acidic or alkaline solutions, as well as
          distil solubles. The box it was subsequently packed in did not
          include instructions on activating the precipitation feature.
          With the shop not returning for another week by Confidence’s
          reckoning, Inky had used the teapot in the meantime to rinse
          off any impurities from an old set of nibs — the very first
          functional set they had made as an apprentice inkling — except
          the nibs were nowhere to be found when they poured out the
          citronella solution and removed the lid. Inky supposed it was
          to be expected — some witches liked to go on about equal
          payment for wishes, as if it were as easy as reading off a
          price tag, and it was difficult to stay irritated at a cute
          teapot for long. Inky wrote it off as a gift for what would
          hopefully thereafter be a cutely functional teapot. The shop
          had a no-refunds policy.</p>
          <p>Then came the dream. At first Inky had attributed them to
          reading the book on the mythology of The Trine that they had
          slipped out of the Runesocesius Library, along with an obscure
          cactus leather-bound manuscript containing first-hand accounts
          of the Artifice Wars. When the dream repeated itself on the
          third night, Inky suspected it had something to do with the
          crystals under the Milk Market’s roof. While not horrifically
          bloody in the way Master Corraidhín’s description of the
          vision he had from the first crystal had been, it was
          haplessly boring when lucid intervention didn’t seem to have
          any effect. It ran on like a low-budget B-Grade play that had
          only three scenes with a few props each. By the fourth night,
          the dream had become worse than a nib-nibbling teapot that
          they stayed up entire nights for the rest of that week while
          they were camping at the Milk Market.</p>
          <p>It was mostly an excuse to drop into the kitchens
          downstairs — which they could now enter on the pretext of
          visiting Bread to observe the apprentice’s progress — in the
          early morning hours and push new tea blends onto its
          unfortunate occupants. Most of the three dozen or so infusions
          had been full of fruits and spices, six of which would go well
          with items on the empanada shop’s current menu. A handful were
          medicinal after procuring a herb illustrated on one
          moth-bitten page snatched on the hotel steps back on the Peak.
          A few others were teas in the loosest sense of the word. These
          were as tasteless and colourless as tap water, only the scent
          offering a faint clue as to their ingredients. They had other
          applications, least of which was in a prank on one empanada
          chef. (Inky left him a box of zephyl tea — another Kelsun Peak
          speciality besides mulled wine — before he could too riled up,
          though.)</p>
          <p>The note left at the Milk Market was the black cherry atop
          the hassle cake. Confidence was fairly sure that the fine
          establishment mentioned in the note wouldn’t appear on the day
          indicated. Couldn’t “Mother” have chosen to meet somewhere a
          little more convenient? So it was that despite the shop having
          a no-refunds policy, or because of it, Inky found themselves
          returning to the antique shop inside the Wandering Bazaar a
          week later looking for another item. “Do you sell flight
          vessels that could transport people to and from specific
          places … such as the Harpoon Club?” they asked the witch.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>You and the witch go back and forth a few times before she
          realizes that you want to visit a place where it is when it
          isn’t there.</p>
          <p>“Transdimensional extratemporal colocation?” Agate claps
          her hands in delight. “This is going to be fun! A witchy
          problem wants a witchy solution. That’s what my Auntie
          Tenfingers always said!”</p>
          <p>“Why bother with flying contraptions when you yourself are
          a perfectly adequate vessel? I’m going to prescribe you a
          dream ritual,” she says, scribbling in a notebook. “It’s
          complex. But only because it’s a lot of steps. And the timing
          is kind of particular in a couple places. But if you follow
          the directions, you shouldn’t have any trouble.” She rips the
          page out of the notebook and hands it you.</p>
          <p>“Basically, you’ll enter a host’s dreams, and then delve
          into the Collective Unconsciousness. From there you should be
          able to find the Wandering Bazaar’s pocket dimension. Of
          course you’ll need to find a guide to take you there. You’ll
          have to find one in the Sea of Dreams.”</p>
          <p>“And you’ll need this!” She ducks behind the counter and
          reappears with a smoke-gray box bound with thick black ribbon.
          It’s about as long as her forearm. She unwraps the box and
          opens it and pulls out a thick, round candle. It is an
          unhealthy, sickening translucent yellow. In the base of the
          candle is a large, blackened, withered, and shriveled hand. It
          is within and without the candle. As though it is grasping the
          base of the candle, but also like it has been molded into the
          candle on purpose. As though the hand is imprisoned in the
          wax. You can just make out a hazy small round object in the
          center of the candle through the wax. A large nut or marble.
          The hand looks like it is reaching for it. The candle has been
          burned down a fair bit. The wick is low and trimmed, and the
          edges are black and warped where the fatty wax has melted and
          hardened. You guess there’s only about two-thirds left of the
          candle.</p>
          <p>The witch measures down from the top of the candle with a
          length of string and bores a small hole in its side. She
          wedges a large nail into the hole, leaving half of it jutting
          out. “A crude clock,” she winks at you. “Place the candle on a
          hard metal plate. When it burns down enough for the wax here
          to soften, the nail will fall out and strike the plate and
          wake you up.”</p>
          <p>She pushes it across the counter toward you and frowns.
          “Eh, should be okay,” she shrugs. “But if at any point it
          looks like the base gets soft enough that the hand might be
          able to grasp the eye,” she cautions pointing toward the round
          object in the center of the candle, “smash the thing. As hard
          as you can. Destroy the hand, and run.”</p>
          <p>“The rest of the instructions should be pretty self
          explanatory!” she exclaims, perking up. “Let me know if you
          have any questions!”</p>
          <details>
          <summary>
          Ritual Details
          </summary>
          <figure>
          <img src="https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/ritual.png"
          alt="ritual outline" />
          <figcaption aria-hidden="true">ritual outline</figcaption>
          </figure>
          <p>Ritual Steps In Brief:</p>
          <ol type="1">
          <li><p>Find a volunteer to be the Dream Host.</p></li>
          <li><p>Link your sanctum to the place where the Bazaar will be
          on the appointed date. (You can’t just do your ceremony out in
          the open in the middle of the street! Find somewhere you can
          safely leave your bodies for a few hours.)</p></li>
          <li><p>Draw a circle of salt.</p></li>
          <li><p>At the appointed time, put the Dream Host in the
          circle. Also the Travelers (you), the Dream Sigil, and the
          Nyxmaer Candle.</p></li>
          <li><p>Once the Host is asleep (Sleep spell not included),
          light the candle and enter the Host’s dream.</p></li>
          <li><p>Turn “away” from the dream, cross the Sea of Dreams to
          the Collective Unconsciousness.</p></li>
          <li><p>Find the Bazaar’s pocket dimension.</p></li>
          </ol>
          </details>
          <blockquote>
          <p>The day the letter arrived Alex was nowhere to be found. It
          was a bit strange, somewhat chilling even, that he’d disappear
          like that. Ever since they had arrived back at the Milk Maid
          he’d been seen skulking about his uncle’s study, or pacing the
          garden out back somewhat agitatedly. Unbeknownst to the party,
          Alex had anticipated the arrival of the letter, HQ had been
          following every lead they could pull in since he began with
          the Ginnarak recovery team. Not that they really had much to
          go off of, but the courier who left the letter wasn’t hard to
          track. That was, until he slipped inside one of the ever
          changing shops right as it was moving along.</p>
          <p>The trail went cold after that. Which meant Alex had to get
          it moving again, or at least the crumpled communique he’d
          received said as much. Things were moving too quickly to think
          too hard on the how, all that was needed was action, something
          drastic to flush things out.</p>
          <p>That’s why Alex finds himself on the east side of the
          market, skulk about the back alley behind The Temporal
          Cup.</p>
          <p>“Gotta get this shit ready, there’s no other options here”
          Alex thought to himself. He loathed this type of work, it was
          messy, abhorrently vile in his mind, but what choice did he
          have? His hands worked deftly at the wires in the small
          package hidden inside the recess of a loose brick. Once
          finished, the little packet came to life, muted lights
          blicking away happily as the brick slid back over it.</p>
          <p>This was the 3rd and final eavesdropping device, all placed
          at the busiest cafes in market, all rigged with self destruct
          mechanisms large enough to level the building if they’re
          found.. The eavesdropping Alex could abide by, but the wanton
          destruction for the sake of security was painful to
          swallow.</p>
          <p>But once again, it wasn’t much like Alex had a say in the
          matter. The first sign of objection, an inclination that he’d
          refuse orders, and they’d have an assassin on him before he
          could leave the alley. And if he took it out, they’d send
          double, there’d be no rest.</p>
          <p>— Later that day</p>
          <p>Alex watched twtxt feeds scroll through from his monitoring
          devices. Most of it unimportant gossip. So and so haves an
          affair, what’s for lunch, where to find good empanadas in the
          market, so on and so forth. An endless stream on the pulse of
          the market.</p>
          <p>It was errant curiosity to watch these, the Magic Lichen in
          the monitoring system was trained to hunt for any hint of what
          the courier was up to, any twinge from Blavin and his ilk.
          It’d send alerts straight to him as soon as something came up,
          but it was interesting to see the pulse of the city trail by.
          And what else could he do? It was too dangerous to go back to
          the Milk Maid, any hint he was there could blow his cover.
          Best to lay low for the time being, let the scrapers scrape
          and the agents comb the streets until they get a bead on their
          target.</p>
          </blockquote>
          <p>Milk Market HQ ought to be quiet. Alex has been
          conspicuously absent. Missing in action. Inky seems to be out
          making rounds delivering tea, or spending more time than usual
          at the empenadaria. So Milk Market HQ ought to be quiet.</p>
          <p>Instead, a certain young hemogoblin and a certain yellow
          duck (both of whom have yet to be named, by the way) are
          squealing as they rampage through the rooms on the top floor
          of the building, upsetting the furniture in their wake and in
          general making a huge mess.</p>
          <p>It took some coaxing on the hemogoblin’s part. The duck was
          determinedly uninterested in anything besides a soak in its
          tub and a nap on its cushion. And it did a good job of
          ignoring the persistent, pestering goblin for most of the
          afternoon. But jumping into a wooden tub full of blood cracked
          the foul’s disinterested facade. It gave furious chase to the
          goblin until the heat of the moment cooled down. At which
          point the two of them simply enjoyed the thrill of chasing
          each other through the apartments.</p>
          <p>Confidence is actually the first one to stumble across the
          carnage. They were just popping by to drop off some new
          pamphlets, but froze in the doorway when they saw the suite in
          disarray and the walls plastered with blood and feathers.
          “What the toque…” And then they quietly closed the door and
          left without going in after all.</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>Gliftwirp browses the stalls trailing behind the Wandering
          Bazaar. He is bare chested save for a sleeveless vest. He
          wears long, baggy, striped trousers bunched at the ankle, and
          a bright red sash tied loosely around his waist. He grins a
          wide, gap-toothed grin as he thumps a melon.</p>
          <p>“Look at the size of this melon! And perfectly ripe!” he
          beams at the stall vendor. “You’ll be here next week? With
          more like this?”</p>
          <p>Very few people would be able to tell Gliftwirp’s
          profession from his attire. For those who can, one look at his
          red sash would immediately cause them to give him a wide
          berth. Because Gliftwirp is a warpwefter. A master assassin
          trained in the ancient art of sarong-fu. That is, the deadly
          application of soft and flexible weapons. Whips, chains,
          garrotes, nunchucks. And most famously—and most
          effectively—sashes, sarongs, scarves, and the like. The saying
          goes that a clothed warpwefter is never unarmed. Nor even is a
          nude one if they can get their hands on <em>your</em> clothes.
          And a warpwefter can sneak their weapons into the most secure
          of locations.</p>
          <p>“I am a visitor here, and don’t know my way around,” he
          keeps up the small-talk with the vendor, having paid for the
          melon. “Do you know if there is a building around here called
          ‘Milk Market?’ I’m supposed to meet someone there. No, they’re
          not expecting me. It’s going to be a surprise!”</p>
          <p>He grins his wide toothy grin.</p>
          <p>~</p>
          <p>The twtxt feed from the listening devices is dull and
          quiet. The monitoring software is designed to only deliver
          messages containing certain buzzwords. And those messages are
          few and far between.</p>
          <p>You decide to tap into the unfiltered stream and let the
          endless waves of blather wash over you. It’s inane. Idle
          gossip and mindless chitter-chatter.</p>
          <p>After a day or two of this, you notice yourself getting
          uncharacteristically agitated. You squint at the lines of
          messages coming in and notice a few transposed characters in
          some of them, forming new nonsensical words. A couple messages
          are missing some whitespace, squishing words together in
          maddening run-ons. Glitchy. There’s no reason the listening
          devices should be returning errors like this.</p>
          <p>Later still, the feeds have gotten worse. Some words seem
          to be written backwards. Entire messages are garbled word
          soup, devoid of any meaning or sense whatsoever. Some of the
          timestamps are invalid datetimes. But you prefer them to the
          ones that are valid, but which are stamped years ago. And you
          far prefer them to the ones that are stamped far in the
          future.</p>
          <p>The anomalies are overall infrequent. On their own, they
          don’t amount to much. And when you show them, nobody at HQ
          gives you with much more than a slightly patronizing,
          indulgent shrug. But the glitches shouldn’t be happening at
          all, is the thing. And when you compile them all together, you
          start to notice things. Patterns insinuating themselves,
          maddeningly just short of reason or meaning. Like a song stuck
          in your head when you can’t remember the lyrics or the melody.
          But there’s something there nonetheless. The promise of
          something, at least. Something bigger. A wide tapestry of
          links and connections, wanting to be known.</p>
          <p>There are names. Ellis, the lady in red who sits at the
          center of a tangled web. Ousia, a sea of endless knowledge. A
          sea of magic. The 215R Dude, a denizen of the other side who
          can deliver you to its shores. Other strange beings who lurk
          just out of sight, just beyond the veil of perception. The
          veil that you are now beginning to pierce with the snippets
          and snatches of information you pluck from your feeds.</p>
          <p>You start to see signs of the veil elsewhere. Of the
          conspiracy. Whatever. You can’t decide what to call it. Street
          graffiti outside of a red spider spinning a red web. Phrases
          like “215R” show up in random articles in the paper. As though
          the secret world is trying to cross over. Or to draw you into
          it.</p>
          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
        ]]>
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