42

basement.order

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ src/epistolary/00038.md
 src/epistolary/00039.md
 src/epistolary/00040.md
 src/epistolary/00041.md
+src/epistolary/00042.md
 src/bestiary/index.md
 src/bestiary/aur.md
 src/bestiary/blahoblin.md

src/epistolary/00042.md

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+---
+title: 00042
+created: Sat, 17 Dec 2022 08:01:41 -0700
+updated: Sat, 17 Dec 2022 08:01:48 -0700
+syndicated: yes
+public: yes
+---
+### 00042 {#00042}
+
+> This seems a bit strange. Certainly Blavin has been pulling strings
+> from behind the scenes the whole time, but why coordinate a special
+> escort for us when there are other retrieval teams, and we've been
+> less than amicable with the bloke the entire time.. Alex thinks to
+> himself.
+> 
+> *DM: I'd like to check for any signs of deceit in the toques
+> demeanor or communcations with us*
+> 
+> Confidence you said right? What would you do if I simply chose not
+> to accompany you? I mean, there's a whole city around us, perhaps
+> I'd prefer a drink before climbing a mountains worth of stairs. Or
+> better yet, I could get back on the boat and ride to the top and
+> same myself the hassle.
+
+Bread once again looks confused. Confidence looks surprised, caught
+off guard.
+
+<!--
+Alex rolls Investigation 2 to check for signs of deceit
+3 5 = Partial Success / Success at Cost
+//-->
+
+Confidence sputters, "Well, yes, of course. You've been traveling for
+some time now, haven't you? I can assure you that the food and drink
+at Runesocesius will be better than anything you can get here! But
+the choice is entirely yours. Feel free to avail yourself of the
+local offerings. We will wait here at the steps for you."
+
+Bread nods slowly, and seems to trailing behind the conversation just
+a second or two.
+
+Their reactions seem genuine to you despite the circumstances. They
+seem like a couple of low level employees of a luxury hotel earnestly
+trying to follow the instructions they've been given.
+
+There are a couple of stalls and vendors set up around the gondola
+station. Many of them serve mulled wine and hot chocolate. There is
+some edible fare. Hot sandwiches and pitas. Nothing that an empanada
+from Enrique's wouldn't put to shame. But they look hot and steamy,
+and of great comfort to anybody who might be hungry and cold. There
+are a few fire pits, next to which there are long benches with
+blankets, where you might sit and warm up for a bit.
+
+The gondola lift ends here, and does not continue up to the mountain
+any further. The cloud steps are the most common way to get up to the
+peak, and to the Runesocesius. But you're pretty sure one or two of
+the stalls here offers balloon rides up to the peak for thrill
+seekers and for those with accessibility needs.
+
+> "I think you already know I'm interested in neither bread nor
+> cheese, the second of which I certainly did not ask for yet you
+> tried to offer in your hasty pretence." Inky smiles thinly at the
+> toques.
+> 
+> Taking out a small bag of gold coins and weighing it slowly on one
+> hand to the sound of coins clinking inside the pouch, Inky
+> continues, "Speak, answer our questions frankly and you will be
+> rewarded. The hotelier up there need not know. Breathe a word of
+> our little chat to another soul, however …" Inky's gaze cut briefly
+> to four snow ravens perched atop a spiral lamp post and back, "and
+> you will learn the meaning of disappearing without a trace."
+
+Bread looks confused. You are starting to believe it is their default
+expression. "So, you *don't* want no chee---"
+
+"Our only desire is to help!" Confidence hastily interrupts. He
+smiles pleasingly. "We are your guides! Not just physically up the
+steps, but in all things here on Kelsun Peak. You have but to ask,
+and if it is within our power to give it, it will be yours! We are
+but humble ser---"
+
+And just then Confidence is also suddenly interrupted. A thundering
+boom like a canon sounds from somewhere nearby, followed quickly by
+an explosion somewhere up above. Snow ravens fly off in all
+directions in a panic. The sound ripples through the mountaintop,
+rattling the ground on which you stand. A bunch of small rocks and
+two large boulders shake loose from the mountainside. Shoppers and
+travelers shout and duck for cover as they are pelted by the scree.
+One of the large boulder bounces clear over the station and plummets
+down the side of the mountain before disappearing into the cloud
+ocean below. The second one falls straight toward the platform. A
+vendor selling wreaths and candles dives out of the way as his stall
+is crushed by the boulder. A bench is toppled over, spilling its
+blankets into the fire pit, and catches fire, quickly spreading to
+another nearby stall.
+
+Bread looks up at the sky, confused. You see a thin line of black
+smoke starting to rise up into the sky from over the ridge where the
+Runesocesius lies. Confidence shouts, and you see him pointing at the
+sea, where a balloonship is rising up out of the cloud bank, sailing
+quickly toward you and the summit of Kelsun Peak.
+
+It resembles a seafaring ship, but instead of masts and sails, it has
+two large, colorful, patchwork balloons that provide it lift. A large
+fan on a pivot at the rear of the ship provides thrust. As you watch,
+it fires a second canon---that *is* what the sound was!---nearly
+straight up, arcing up and over the peak at Palace Runesocesius.
+
+The crew of the ship bustle around on the deck of the ship, reloading
+the canons, firing the balloons, shouting, giving and following
+orders.
+
+"Cyberplasms," groans Confidence, and Bread whimpers. Alex, that
+quiet, dull, static roar that has been constantly tickling the back
+of your head ever since you found that dagger seems to rise in pitch
+and in tone. It conveys a sense of urgency, of warning. You can
+*almost* hear a desperate voice behind the static fuzz cautioning
+you, "Evil..."
+
+The only corporeal element of the crew are their cybernetic
+enhancements. A mechanical leg. A synthetic eye. A claw, a hook, a
+hand. An arm canon. Almost all of them have more than one, some as
+many as 3 or 5. The cybernetic pieces of each individual crew member
+are held together by plasmic energy arcs, crackling blue and green.
+And surrounding the bioware and the plasmic arcs of each crew member,
+like a blanket or a cocoon, is the translucent, wavering, ghostly
+form of some humanoid long-dead.
+
+The figure standing on the deck surveying the work of the rest of the
+crew---presumably the captain---has a synthetic eye rotating freely,
+360 degrees in all directions, inside its skull-like head; a bulky
+arm canon; and a thin robotic leg terminating in a thick boot.
+Plasmic blasts arc through its core, sometimes disrupting and
+glitching its ghostly body.
+
+The captain raises its arm canon and shouts to the crew. Its voice
+carried on the breeze sounds like something otherworldly rising
+slowly from the murky deep. "Fire the canon, boys! And fire up the 
+balloons! Drop the ballast! That crystal is *ours!*"
+
+It happens very quickly: the ship ascends to the summit and soon is
+firing grappling hooks at it to pull themselves in and breach the
+walls of the hotel.
+
+Bread looks at you, wide-eyed and trembling. They let loose a pitiful
+wail and turn and start running up the steps. "Bread!" Confidence
+yells after them. They cast a backward glance at you. "I've got to
+help Bread! We've got to save the hotel!" And they give chase to
+their fellow toque, bounding up the cloudstuff steps.
+
+WHAT DO YOU DO
+
+[www](https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00203.html)
+

www/index.html

@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ of the Were-Hare</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00039" id="toc-00039">00039</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00040" id="toc-00040">00040</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00041" id="toc-00041">00041</a></li>
+<li><a href="#00042" id="toc-00042">00042</a></li>
 </ul></li>
 <li><a href="#bestiary" id="toc-bestiary">Bestiary</a></li>
 <li><a href="#geography" id="toc-geography">Geography</a></li>
@@ -259,11 +260,11 @@ of the Were-Hare</a></li>
 </ul>
 </nav>
 <h2 id="stats">Stats</h2>
-<p>Total length: 40358 words / 172 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
+<p>Total length: 41570 words / 177 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
 length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not
 just the story.)</p>
-<p>There have been 143 messages posted over 156 days since the first
+<p>There have been 148 messages posted over 157 days since the first
-post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .91.</p>
+post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .94.</p>
 <h2 id="about">About</h2>
 <p>This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over
 email.</p>
@@ -4654,6 +4655,129 @@ cloudstuff. “Come! The hotelier will be very excited to greet you!”</p>
 <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
 <p><a
 href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00193.html">www</a></p>
+<h3 id="00042">00042</h3>
+<blockquote>
+<p>This seems a bit strange. Certainly Blavin has been pulling strings
+from behind the scenes the whole time, but why coordinate a special
+escort for us when there are other retrieval teams, and we’ve been less
+than amicable with the bloke the entire time.. Alex thinks to
+himself.</p>
+<p><em>DM: I’d like to check for any signs of deceit in the toques
+demeanor or communcations with us</em></p>
+<p>Confidence you said right? What would you do if I simply chose not to
+accompany you? I mean, there’s a whole city around us, perhaps I’d
+prefer a drink before climbing a mountains worth of stairs. Or better
+yet, I could get back on the boat and ride to the top and same myself
+the hassle.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Bread once again looks confused. Confidence looks surprised, caught
+off guard.</p>
+<!--
+Alex rolls Investigation 2 to check for signs of deceit
+3 5 = Partial Success / Success at Cost
+//-->
+<p>Confidence sputters, “Well, yes, of course. You’ve been traveling for
+some time now, haven’t you? I can assure you that the food and drink at
+Runesocesius will be better than anything you can get here! But the
+choice is entirely yours. Feel free to avail yourself of the local
+offerings. We will wait here at the steps for you.”</p>
+<p>Bread nods slowly, and seems to trailing behind the conversation just
+a second or two.</p>
+<p>Their reactions seem genuine to you despite the circumstances. They
+seem like a couple of low level employees of a luxury hotel earnestly
+trying to follow the instructions they’ve been given.</p>
+<p>There are a couple of stalls and vendors set up around the gondola
+station. Many of them serve mulled wine and hot chocolate. There is some
+edible fare. Hot sandwiches and pitas. Nothing that an empanada from
+Enrique’s wouldn’t put to shame. But they look hot and steamy, and of
+great comfort to anybody who might be hungry and cold. There are a few
+fire pits, next to which there are long benches with blankets, where you
+might sit and warm up for a bit.</p>
+<p>The gondola lift ends here, and does not continue up to the mountain
+any further. The cloud steps are the most common way to get up to the
+peak, and to the Runesocesius. But you’re pretty sure one or two of the
+stalls here offers balloon rides up to the peak for thrill seekers and
+for those with accessibility needs.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>“I think you already know I’m interested in neither bread nor cheese,
+the second of which I certainly did not ask for yet you tried to offer
+in your hasty pretence.” Inky smiles thinly at the toques.</p>
+<p>Taking out a small bag of gold coins and weighing it slowly on one
+hand to the sound of coins clinking inside the pouch, Inky continues,
+“Speak, answer our questions frankly and you will be rewarded. The
+hotelier up there need not know. Breathe a word of our little chat to
+another soul, however …” Inky’s gaze cut briefly to four snow ravens
+perched atop a spiral lamp post and back, “and you will learn the
+meaning of disappearing without a trace.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Bread looks confused. You are starting to believe it is their default
+expression. “So, you <em>don’t</em> want no chee—”</p>
+<p>“Our only desire is to help!” Confidence hastily interrupts. He
+smiles pleasingly. “We are your guides! Not just physically up the
+steps, but in all things here on Kelsun Peak. You have but to ask, and
+if it is within our power to give it, it will be yours! We are but
+humble ser—”</p>
+<p>And just then Confidence is also suddenly interrupted. A thundering
+boom like a canon sounds from somewhere nearby, followed quickly by an
+explosion somewhere up above. Snow ravens fly off in all directions in a
+panic. The sound ripples through the mountaintop, rattling the ground on
+which you stand. A bunch of small rocks and two large boulders shake
+loose from the mountainside. Shoppers and travelers shout and duck for
+cover as they are pelted by the scree. One of the large boulder bounces
+clear over the station and plummets down the side of the mountain before
+disappearing into the cloud ocean below. The second one falls straight
+toward the platform. A vendor selling wreaths and candles dives out of
+the way as his stall is crushed by the boulder. A bench is toppled over,
+spilling its blankets into the fire pit, and catches fire, quickly
+spreading to another nearby stall.</p>
+<p>Bread looks up at the sky, confused. You see a thin line of black
+smoke starting to rise up into the sky from over the ridge where the
+Runesocesius lies. Confidence shouts, and you see him pointing at the
+sea, where a balloonship is rising up out of the cloud bank, sailing
+quickly toward you and the summit of Kelsun Peak.</p>
+<p>It resembles a seafaring ship, but instead of masts and sails, it has
+two large, colorful, patchwork balloons that provide it lift. A large
+fan on a pivot at the rear of the ship provides thrust. As you watch, it
+fires a second canon—that <em>is</em> what the sound was!—nearly
+straight up, arcing up and over the peak at Palace Runesocesius.</p>
+<p>The crew of the ship bustle around on the deck of the ship, reloading
+the canons, firing the balloons, shouting, giving and following
+orders.</p>
+<p>“Cyberplasms,” groans Confidence, and Bread whimpers. Alex, that
+quiet, dull, static roar that has been constantly tickling the back of
+your head ever since you found that dagger seems to rise in pitch and in
+tone. It conveys a sense of urgency, of warning. You can <em>almost</em>
+hear a desperate voice behind the static fuzz cautioning you,
+“Evil…”</p>
+<p>The only corporeal element of the crew are their cybernetic
+enhancements. A mechanical leg. A synthetic eye. A claw, a hook, a hand.
+An arm canon. Almost all of them have more than one, some as many as 3
+or 5. The cybernetic pieces of each individual crew member are held
+together by plasmic energy arcs, crackling blue and green. And
+surrounding the bioware and the plasmic arcs of each crew member, like a
+blanket or a cocoon, is the translucent, wavering, ghostly form of some
+humanoid long-dead.</p>
+<p>The figure standing on the deck surveying the work of the rest of the
+crew—presumably the captain—has a synthetic eye rotating freely, 360
+degrees in all directions, inside its skull-like head; a bulky arm
+canon; and a thin robotic leg terminating in a thick boot. Plasmic
+blasts arc through its core, sometimes disrupting and glitching its
+ghostly body.</p>
+<p>The captain raises its arm canon and shouts to the crew. Its voice
+carried on the breeze sounds like something otherworldly rising slowly
+from the murky deep. “Fire the canon, boys! And fire up the balloons!
+Drop the ballast! That crystal is <em>ours!</em>”</p>
+<p>It happens very quickly: the ship ascends to the summit and soon is
+firing grappling hooks at it to pull themselves in and breach the walls
+of the hotel.</p>
+<p>Bread looks at you, wide-eyed and trembling. They let loose a pitiful
+wail and turn and start running up the steps. “Bread!” Confidence yells
+after them. They cast a backward glance at you. “I’ve got to help Bread!
+We’ve got to save the hotel!” And they give chase to their fellow toque,
+bounding up the cloudstuff steps.</p>
+<p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
+<p><a
+href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00203.html">www</a></p>
 <h2 id="bestiary">Bestiary</h2>
 <p>Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria</p>
 <dt>

www/rss.xml

@@ -5,6 +5,155 @@
     <title>BASEMENT QWEST</title>
     <link>https://tilde.town/~dozens/quest/rss.xml</link>
     <description>Friends having ADVENTURES! Huzzah!</description>
+    <item>
+      <title>42</title>
+      <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>
+      <guid isPermaLink="false">42 - Sat, 17 Dec 2022 08:01:41
+-0700</guid>
+      <pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2022 08:01:48 -0700</pubDate>
+      <description>
+        <![CDATA[
+          <h3 id="00042">00042</h3>
+          <blockquote>
+          <p>This seems a bit strange. Certainly Blavin has been pulling
+          strings from behind the scenes the whole time, but why
+          coordinate a special escort for us when there are other
+          retrieval teams, and we’ve been less than amicable with the
+          bloke the entire time.. Alex thinks to himself.</p>
+          <p><em>DM: I’d like to check for any signs of deceit in the
+          toques demeanor or communcations with us</em></p>
+          <p>Confidence you said right? What would you do if I simply
+          chose not to accompany you? I mean, there’s a whole city
+          around us, perhaps I’d prefer a drink before climbing a
+          mountains worth of stairs. Or better yet, I could get back on
+          the boat and ride to the top and same myself the hassle.</p>
+          </blockquote>
+          <p>Bread once again looks confused. Confidence looks
+          surprised, caught off guard.</p>
+          <!--
+          Alex rolls Investigation 2 to check for signs of deceit
+          3 5 = Partial Success / Success at Cost
+          //-->
+          <p>Confidence sputters, “Well, yes, of course. You’ve been
+          traveling for some time now, haven’t you? I can assure you
+          that the food and drink at Runesocesius will be better than
+          anything you can get here! But the choice is entirely yours.
+          Feel free to avail yourself of the local offerings. We will
+          wait here at the steps for you.”</p>
+          <p>Bread nods slowly, and seems to trailing behind the
+          conversation just a second or two.</p>
+          <p>Their reactions seem genuine to you despite the
+          circumstances. They seem like a couple of low level employees
+          of a luxury hotel earnestly trying to follow the instructions
+          they’ve been given.</p>
+          <p>There are a couple of stalls and vendors set up around the
+          gondola station. Many of them serve mulled wine and hot
+          chocolate. There is some edible fare. Hot sandwiches and
+          pitas. Nothing that an empanada from Enrique’s wouldn’t put to
+          shame. But they look hot and steamy, and of great comfort to
+          anybody who might be hungry and cold. There are a few fire
+          pits, next to which there are long benches with blankets,
+          where you might sit and warm up for a bit.</p>
+          <p>The gondola lift ends here, and does not continue up to the
+          mountain any further. The cloud steps are the most common way
+          to get up to the peak, and to the Runesocesius. But you’re
+          pretty sure one or two of the stalls here offers balloon rides
+          up to the peak for thrill seekers and for those with
+          accessibility needs.</p>
+          <blockquote>
+          <p>“I think you already know I’m interested in neither bread
+          nor cheese, the second of which I certainly did not ask for
+          yet you tried to offer in your hasty pretence.” Inky smiles
+          thinly at the toques.</p>
+          <p>Taking out a small bag of gold coins and weighing it slowly
+          on one hand to the sound of coins clinking inside the pouch,
+          Inky continues, “Speak, answer our questions frankly and you
+          will be rewarded. The hotelier up there need not know. Breathe
+          a word of our little chat to another soul, however …” Inky’s
+          gaze cut briefly to four snow ravens perched atop a spiral
+          lamp post and back, “and you will learn the meaning of
+          disappearing without a trace.”</p>
+          </blockquote>
+          <p>Bread looks confused. You are starting to believe it is
+          their default expression. “So, you <em>don’t</em> want no
+          chee—”</p>
+          <p>“Our only desire is to help!” Confidence hastily
+          interrupts. He smiles pleasingly. “We are your guides! Not
+          just physically up the steps, but in all things here on Kelsun
+          Peak. You have but to ask, and if it is within our power to
+          give it, it will be yours! We are but humble ser—”</p>
+          <p>And just then Confidence is also suddenly interrupted. A
+          thundering boom like a canon sounds from somewhere nearby,
+          followed quickly by an explosion somewhere up above. Snow
+          ravens fly off in all directions in a panic. The sound ripples
+          through the mountaintop, rattling the ground on which you
+          stand. A bunch of small rocks and two large boulders shake
+          loose from the mountainside. Shoppers and travelers shout and
+          duck for cover as they are pelted by the scree. One of the
+          large boulder bounces clear over the station and plummets down
+          the side of the mountain before disappearing into the cloud
+          ocean below. The second one falls straight toward the
+          platform. A vendor selling wreaths and candles dives out of
+          the way as his stall is crushed by the boulder. A bench is
+          toppled over, spilling its blankets into the fire pit, and
+          catches fire, quickly spreading to another nearby stall.</p>
+          <p>Bread looks up at the sky, confused. You see a thin line of
+          black smoke starting to rise up into the sky from over the
+          ridge where the Runesocesius lies. Confidence shouts, and you
+          see him pointing at the sea, where a balloonship is rising up
+          out of the cloud bank, sailing quickly toward you and the
+          summit of Kelsun Peak.</p>
+          <p>It resembles a seafaring ship, but instead of masts and
+          sails, it has two large, colorful, patchwork balloons that
+          provide it lift. A large fan on a pivot at the rear of the
+          ship provides thrust. As you watch, it fires a second
+          canon—that <em>is</em> what the sound was!—nearly straight up,
+          arcing up and over the peak at Palace Runesocesius.</p>
+          <p>The crew of the ship bustle around on the deck of the ship,
+          reloading the canons, firing the balloons, shouting, giving
+          and following orders.</p>
+          <p>“Cyberplasms,” groans Confidence, and Bread whimpers. Alex,
+          that quiet, dull, static roar that has been constantly
+          tickling the back of your head ever since you found that
+          dagger seems to rise in pitch and in tone. It conveys a sense
+          of urgency, of warning. You can <em>almost</em> hear a
+          desperate voice behind the static fuzz cautioning you,
+          “Evil…”</p>
+          <p>The only corporeal element of the crew are their cybernetic
+          enhancements. A mechanical leg. A synthetic eye. A claw, a
+          hook, a hand. An arm canon. Almost all of them have more than
+          one, some as many as 3 or 5. The cybernetic pieces of each
+          individual crew member are held together by plasmic energy
+          arcs, crackling blue and green. And surrounding the bioware
+          and the plasmic arcs of each crew member, like a blanket or a
+          cocoon, is the translucent, wavering, ghostly form of some
+          humanoid long-dead.</p>
+          <p>The figure standing on the deck surveying the work of the
+          rest of the crew—presumably the captain—has a synthetic eye
+          rotating freely, 360 degrees in all directions, inside its
+          skull-like head; a bulky arm canon; and a thin robotic leg
+          terminating in a thick boot. Plasmic blasts arc through its
+          core, sometimes disrupting and glitching its ghostly body.</p>
+          <p>The captain raises its arm canon and shouts to the crew.
+          Its voice carried on the breeze sounds like something
+          otherworldly rising slowly from the murky deep. “Fire the
+          canon, boys! And fire up the balloons! Drop the ballast! That
+          crystal is <em>ours!</em>”</p>
+          <p>It happens very quickly: the ship ascends to the summit and
+          soon is firing grappling hooks at it to pull themselves in and
+          breach the walls of the hotel.</p>
+          <p>Bread looks at you, wide-eyed and trembling. They let loose
+          a pitiful wail and turn and start running up the steps.
+          “Bread!” Confidence yells after them. They cast a backward
+          glance at you. “I’ve got to help Bread! We’ve got to save the
+          hotel!” And they give chase to their fellow toque, bounding up
+          the cloudstuff steps.</p>
+          <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
+          <p><a
+          href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00203.html">www</a></p>
+        ]]>
+      </description>
+    </item>
     <item>
       <title>39</title>
       <author>dozens@tilde.team (dozens)</author>

www/spoilers.html

@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ of the Were-Hare</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00039" id="toc-00039">00039</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00040" id="toc-00040">00040</a></li>
 <li><a href="#00041" id="toc-00041">00041</a></li>
+<li><a href="#00042" id="toc-00042">00042</a></li>
 </ul></li>
 <li><a href="#bestiary" id="toc-bestiary">Bestiary</a></li>
 <li><a href="#geography" id="toc-geography">Geography</a></li>
@@ -262,11 +263,11 @@ id="toc-acknowledgements">Acknowledgements</a></li>
 </ul>
 </nav>
 <h2 id="stats">Stats</h2>
-<p>Total length: 40358 words / 172 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
+<p>Total length: 41570 words / 177 minute read. (Mind you, that’s the
 length of this entire page, including all the extra bits and bobs. Not
 just the story.)</p>
-<p>There have been 143 messages posted over 156 days since the first
+<p>There have been 148 messages posted over 157 days since the first
-post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .91.</p>
+post on July 13, 2022 for a daily post rate of .94.</p>
 <h2 id="about">About</h2>
 <p>This is a game that me and the kids in the basement are playing over
 email.</p>
@@ -4657,6 +4658,129 @@ cloudstuff. “Come! The hotelier will be very excited to greet you!”</p>
 <p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
 <p><a
 href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00193.html">www</a></p>
+<h3 id="00042">00042</h3>
+<blockquote>
+<p>This seems a bit strange. Certainly Blavin has been pulling strings
+from behind the scenes the whole time, but why coordinate a special
+escort for us when there are other retrieval teams, and we’ve been less
+than amicable with the bloke the entire time.. Alex thinks to
+himself.</p>
+<p><em>DM: I’d like to check for any signs of deceit in the toques
+demeanor or communcations with us</em></p>
+<p>Confidence you said right? What would you do if I simply chose not to
+accompany you? I mean, there’s a whole city around us, perhaps I’d
+prefer a drink before climbing a mountains worth of stairs. Or better
+yet, I could get back on the boat and ride to the top and same myself
+the hassle.</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Bread once again looks confused. Confidence looks surprised, caught
+off guard.</p>
+<!--
+Alex rolls Investigation 2 to check for signs of deceit
+3 5 = Partial Success / Success at Cost
+//-->
+<p>Confidence sputters, “Well, yes, of course. You’ve been traveling for
+some time now, haven’t you? I can assure you that the food and drink at
+Runesocesius will be better than anything you can get here! But the
+choice is entirely yours. Feel free to avail yourself of the local
+offerings. We will wait here at the steps for you.”</p>
+<p>Bread nods slowly, and seems to trailing behind the conversation just
+a second or two.</p>
+<p>Their reactions seem genuine to you despite the circumstances. They
+seem like a couple of low level employees of a luxury hotel earnestly
+trying to follow the instructions they’ve been given.</p>
+<p>There are a couple of stalls and vendors set up around the gondola
+station. Many of them serve mulled wine and hot chocolate. There is some
+edible fare. Hot sandwiches and pitas. Nothing that an empanada from
+Enrique’s wouldn’t put to shame. But they look hot and steamy, and of
+great comfort to anybody who might be hungry and cold. There are a few
+fire pits, next to which there are long benches with blankets, where you
+might sit and warm up for a bit.</p>
+<p>The gondola lift ends here, and does not continue up to the mountain
+any further. The cloud steps are the most common way to get up to the
+peak, and to the Runesocesius. But you’re pretty sure one or two of the
+stalls here offers balloon rides up to the peak for thrill seekers and
+for those with accessibility needs.</p>
+<blockquote>
+<p>“I think you already know I’m interested in neither bread nor cheese,
+the second of which I certainly did not ask for yet you tried to offer
+in your hasty pretence.” Inky smiles thinly at the toques.</p>
+<p>Taking out a small bag of gold coins and weighing it slowly on one
+hand to the sound of coins clinking inside the pouch, Inky continues,
+“Speak, answer our questions frankly and you will be rewarded. The
+hotelier up there need not know. Breathe a word of our little chat to
+another soul, however …” Inky’s gaze cut briefly to four snow ravens
+perched atop a spiral lamp post and back, “and you will learn the
+meaning of disappearing without a trace.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+<p>Bread looks confused. You are starting to believe it is their default
+expression. “So, you <em>don’t</em> want no chee—”</p>
+<p>“Our only desire is to help!” Confidence hastily interrupts. He
+smiles pleasingly. “We are your guides! Not just physically up the
+steps, but in all things here on Kelsun Peak. You have but to ask, and
+if it is within our power to give it, it will be yours! We are but
+humble ser—”</p>
+<p>And just then Confidence is also suddenly interrupted. A thundering
+boom like a canon sounds from somewhere nearby, followed quickly by an
+explosion somewhere up above. Snow ravens fly off in all directions in a
+panic. The sound ripples through the mountaintop, rattling the ground on
+which you stand. A bunch of small rocks and two large boulders shake
+loose from the mountainside. Shoppers and travelers shout and duck for
+cover as they are pelted by the scree. One of the large boulder bounces
+clear over the station and plummets down the side of the mountain before
+disappearing into the cloud ocean below. The second one falls straight
+toward the platform. A vendor selling wreaths and candles dives out of
+the way as his stall is crushed by the boulder. A bench is toppled over,
+spilling its blankets into the fire pit, and catches fire, quickly
+spreading to another nearby stall.</p>
+<p>Bread looks up at the sky, confused. You see a thin line of black
+smoke starting to rise up into the sky from over the ridge where the
+Runesocesius lies. Confidence shouts, and you see him pointing at the
+sea, where a balloonship is rising up out of the cloud bank, sailing
+quickly toward you and the summit of Kelsun Peak.</p>
+<p>It resembles a seafaring ship, but instead of masts and sails, it has
+two large, colorful, patchwork balloons that provide it lift. A large
+fan on a pivot at the rear of the ship provides thrust. As you watch, it
+fires a second canon—that <em>is</em> what the sound was!—nearly
+straight up, arcing up and over the peak at Palace Runesocesius.</p>
+<p>The crew of the ship bustle around on the deck of the ship, reloading
+the canons, firing the balloons, shouting, giving and following
+orders.</p>
+<p>“Cyberplasms,” groans Confidence, and Bread whimpers. Alex, that
+quiet, dull, static roar that has been constantly tickling the back of
+your head ever since you found that dagger seems to rise in pitch and in
+tone. It conveys a sense of urgency, of warning. You can <em>almost</em>
+hear a desperate voice behind the static fuzz cautioning you,
+“Evil…”</p>
+<p>The only corporeal element of the crew are their cybernetic
+enhancements. A mechanical leg. A synthetic eye. A claw, a hook, a hand.
+An arm canon. Almost all of them have more than one, some as many as 3
+or 5. The cybernetic pieces of each individual crew member are held
+together by plasmic energy arcs, crackling blue and green. And
+surrounding the bioware and the plasmic arcs of each crew member, like a
+blanket or a cocoon, is the translucent, wavering, ghostly form of some
+humanoid long-dead.</p>
+<p>The figure standing on the deck surveying the work of the rest of the
+crew—presumably the captain—has a synthetic eye rotating freely, 360
+degrees in all directions, inside its skull-like head; a bulky arm
+canon; and a thin robotic leg terminating in a thick boot. Plasmic
+blasts arc through its core, sometimes disrupting and glitching its
+ghostly body.</p>
+<p>The captain raises its arm canon and shouts to the crew. Its voice
+carried on the breeze sounds like something otherworldly rising slowly
+from the murky deep. “Fire the canon, boys! And fire up the balloons!
+Drop the ballast! That crystal is <em>ours!</em>”</p>
+<p>It happens very quickly: the ship ascends to the summit and soon is
+firing grappling hooks at it to pull themselves in and breach the walls
+of the hotel.</p>
+<p>Bread looks at you, wide-eyed and trembling. They let loose a pitiful
+wail and turn and start running up the steps. “Bread!” Confidence yells
+after them. They cast a backward glance at you. “I’ve got to help Bread!
+We’ve got to save the hotel!” And they give chase to their fellow toque,
+bounding up the cloudstuff steps.</p>
+<p>WHAT DO YOU DO</p>
+<p><a
+href="https://framalistes.org/sympa/arc/tildepals/2022-12/msg00203.html">www</a></p>
 <h2 id="bestiary">Bestiary</h2>
 <p>Some of the creatures who inhabit the world of Basmentaria</p>
 <dt>